Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin Launches Clock Tower Farms to Aid Community
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin has partnered with Rockwell Automation and Fork Farms to launch Clock Tower Farms, a hydroponic facility housed in Rockwell’s Milwaukee headquarters. The farm will operate 72 Fork Farms Flex Acre systems managed by Rockwell’s Plant PAx automation, targeting 200,000 lb of leafy greens per year. It is designed to save 5.9 million gallons of water and preserve 5.5 acres of cropland compared with conventional farming. The project is under construction and slated to be fully operational later this year.
Brazilian Table Grapes Seal Zero-Tariff Deal with the EU
Brazilian table grapes entered the EU tariff‑free on May 1 under the provisional EU‑Mercosur agreement, marking the first phase of a broader trade liberalisation. The deal eliminates duties on nearly 39% of Brazilian agri‑products now, with a target of 93% tariff‑free...
South African Table Grape Exports Remain Steady Despite Logistical Challenges
South Africa’s table grape sector posted a modest 0.2% export increase in the 2025/26 season, shipping over 78 million cartons despite a record‑size harvest and severe logistics bottlenecks. Early ripening pushed volumes ahead of schedule, but wind‑driven disruptions and congestion at...
Greenhouse Production Drives Dominican Cherry Tomato Exports Up
Dominican cherry tomato exports jumped to 12.8 million pounds in 2025, a 27% rise from 2024, driven by expanding greenhouse production. The Ministry of Agriculture highlighted that greenhouse farms have stabilized supply, improved quality, and helped meet stringent U.S. market standards....
New South Wales Announces AUD 20 Million in Funding for Aquaculture, Fisheries, Waste Reduction Projects
New South Wales announced AUD 20 million (about $14.5 million) to boost kelp, oyster and sea‑urchin aquaculture, fish‑waste recycling, and supply‑chain upgrades on the South Coast. The first funding round allocated AUD 7.4 million from the state and AUD 6.9 million from ten private firms, while a...
Regenerative Agriculture’s Core Tensions Unpacked
Regenerative agriculture has shifted from a niche concept to a mainstream priority, backed by most of the top 100 food companies. Yet its definition remains broad, with practices ranging from rotational grazing on dairy farms to agroforestry in coffee production....
How China's Evolving Consumer Habits May Protect the Amazon Rainforest
China's Tianjin Meat Industry Association, representing 40% of Chinese beef imports from Brazil, has pledged to purchase 50,000 metric tons of deforestation‑free certified beef by year‑end, roughly 4.5% of Brazil’s beef destined for China. The initiative includes a new “Beef...
Weekly Kill: Some Qld Grids Sharply Higher, as Supply Tightens
Direct‑consignment grid prices in Queensland surged this week as heavy‑cow offers jumped 30‑40 c/kg to 670‑680 c/kg and four‑tooth‑grass steer rates climbed to 755‑760 c/kg. Central Queensland grids also rose about 20 c/kg, widening the price gap between south and central regions. The rally...
Heytesbury Acquires Livestock Express Fleet in Major Live Export Deal
Heytesbury has acquired the Netherlands‑owned Livestock Express, taking control of its 11 purpose‑built livestock vessels, Singapore office and third‑party technical management services. The fleet transports 600,000‑750,000 head of cattle annually, underpinning northern Australia’s live‑export supply chain. Financing was provided by...
Moolec Science Advances GLA-Rich Safflower Oil for Use in Pet Food, Nutrition & Green Energy
Molecular farming pioneer Moolec Science announced the completion of phase one industrialisation of its GLASO1 platform, a GLA‑rich safflower oil, after a record 2025 campaign that delivered high‑purity oil with about 45% gamma‑linolenic acid. The product secured USDA APHIS approval,...
Mosaic to Scale Back US Phosphate Production over High Input Costs
Mosaic, the largest U.S. phosphate producer, announced it will halve output at its Faustina, Louisiana, and Bartow, Florida plants due to soaring sulfuric acid prices, a key input for monoammonium phosphate. The curtailment trims U.S. production by roughly 3.4 million tons, undermining...
IFF Bets on Origin-Based R&D with New Madagascar Facility for Vanilla Innovation
International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has opened a 650‑square‑meter Vanilla Innovation Center in Toamasina, Madagascar, bringing laboratory, extraction and application labs directly to the source of the world’s vanilla. The facility combines molecular profiling, a scalable extraction unit and an...
After Indian PM’s Appeal to Cut Fertilizer Use, Govt Says It Has Ample Stocks
The Indian government announced that fertilizer stocks are sufficient for the Kharif 2026 season, covering more than 51% of the estimated 390.54 lt demand, well above the typical 33% buffer. Sales of the four key fertilizers rose 25% in April to...
US Government Spends Hundreds of Millions on Biotech Pilot Plants as National Security Priority
The U.S. government is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into BioMADE, a public‑private consortium aimed at scaling bio‑manufacturing for food, defense and industrial applications. Since its 2021 launch, BioMADE has secured $87 million from the Department of Defense (DoD), $450 million...
Decarbonizing Desert Greenhouses with Direct Air Capture
A research team has demonstrated a pilot greenhouse in the Sahara that integrates a direct‑air‑capture (DAC) unit to harvest ambient CO₂ and feed it to crops. The system, powered primarily by solar panels, captures roughly 2 tons of CO₂ per hectare...
AgroDrone Europe Deploys Industrial-Scale Robotic Shading to Mitigate Structural Risks and Maximize Greenhouse ROI Across Germany and Poland
AgroDrone Europe is rolling out a Drone‑as‑a‑Service platform that uses DJI Agras T50 drones equipped with centimeter‑level RTK to apply shading agents inside commercial greenhouses in Germany and Poland. The autonomous system replaces hazardous manual labor, protects glass and aluminum...
Ukraine Growers Shift to Longer-Life and Light-Diffusing Greenhouse Films
Ukrainian growers are now choosing greenhouse films based on service life rather than price per roll, as stronger solar radiation shortens the durability of standard materials. Light‑stabilising additives extend film lifespan, reducing replacement frequency and greenhouse downtime. At the same...
Saudi Grower Announces Greenhouse Expansion Mega-Project
Saudi Dava Agricultural announced a massive expansion that includes a 1,000‑hectare glass greenhouse complex in Taif, part of a broader roadmap to scale production to 250 tons per day by 2028 and 1,000 tons by 2030. The company, which already supplies 13.8%...
KVK Nyoma Leads Sustainable Agriculture Initiative in Ladakh
Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Nyoma, led by Dr. Phuntsog Tundup, launched a sustainable‑agriculture programme in Ladakh’s Changthang region. The effort distributed UV‑filter greenhouse films to farmers in Tsaga and Kargyam valleys and held a soil‑fertility camp for over 40 growers...
Assessment of Nigeria’s Agrivoltaic Potential Identifies Northern States as Optimal Areas
A geospatial study by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Indiana University and Cornell identifies Nigeria’s northern states—Kano, Katsina and Jigawa—as having the highest agrivoltaic potential. The analysis shows that meeting projected 2050 solar capacity in these states would...
Consumers Don’t Care About Regenerative Agriculture - Yet
A recent analysis finds that consumers, squeezed by inflation, are indifferent to sustainability and therefore unlikely to seek out regenerative agriculture products. Food and drink brands are advised to shift messaging toward nutrition, taste, and soil‑health benefits rather than planetary...
Agritech Attracts Strongest African Angel Investor Interest Despite Funding Decline
A new African Business Angel Network (ABAN) report shows agriculture and agritech startups captured the strongest interest from African angel networks in 2025, even as sector funding fell to $168.1 million, down 18% from 2024. The survey of over 60 angels...
Maize Emerges as India’s Top Ethanol Feedstock as Supplies Surpass 515 Crore Litres
India’s ethanol supplies hit roughly 515 crore litres in the first half of the 2025‑26 Ethanol Supply Year. Maize emerged as the leading feedstock, delivering about 182 crore litres and surpassing rice and damaged‑grain contributions. Grain‑based distilleries overall supplied 333 crore litres, while sugarcane‑juice distilleries added...
Malaysian Durian Farmers Use Technology to Fight Fake Penang Fruits
Malaysian durian growers in Penang have rolled out a QR‑code verification system that lets shoppers trace each fruit back to its orchard within seconds. The initiative, spearheaded by the Penang Fruit Farmers Association, tags each durian’s stem with a code...
APOA Welcomes Sri Lanka’s Move to Lift Ban on Oil Palm Cultivation
The Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA) welcomed Sri Lanka’s announced intention to lift its ban on oil‑palm cultivation, pending final approvals and sustainability safeguards. APOA framed the move as a pragmatic step toward greater edible‑oil security, reduced import dependence, and stronger...
For California Farmers, a Clean-Energy Dilemma
New Leaf proposes the 200‑MW Seahawk battery‑storage project near Watsonville, aiming to supply power for roughly 200,000 homes. After the 2025 Moss Landing fire, local farmers and officials raised safety and farmland‑contamination concerns, prompting Santa Cruz County to draft stricter...
Mathematical Models Help Farm Robots Work Together in Real Time
Researchers at the Dutch University of Groningen have unveiled the FARMLAB project, which uses mathematical control systems instead of data‑heavy AI to coordinate drones and ground robots in agriculture. The approach leverages systems‑and‑control theory to predict and synchronize robot movements...
Weeding Robot Part of Integrated Weed Management
Wageningen University & Research’s 2025 field trial in Valthermond tested three autonomous weeding machines—Ekobot, Andela Electro Weeder, and Ecorobotix Ara spot sprayer—within an Integrated Weed Management (IWM) framework for direct‑drilled onions. Full chemical control still produced the highest yields, while...
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Iraq Drops Out of Thai Rice Market Due to Hormuz Blockage
Thailand's rice exports to Iraq have stopped completely for three months after the war in the Middle East blocked the Strait of Hormuz. Iraq, previously Thailand's largest rice market at 80‑90 000 tonnes per month, now receives no shipments. The disruption...
Durian Prices Tumble in China as Faster Deliveries From Southeast Asia Boost Supply
Durian, once a luxury fruit in China, has seen its wholesale price plunge as faster cold‑chain rail and sea routes from Southeast Asia boost supply. In Kunming, Thailand’s Monthong durians now sell for 28 yuan per kilogram (about $4), a drop...
How Asean Can Reduce Its Heavy Dependence on Imported Agricultural Inputs
ASEAN’s agriculture relies heavily on imported fertilizers, pesticides and seeds, exposing the region to price spikes and geopolitical shocks. China, the Middle East and Russia dominate fertilizer imports, while China supplies most pesticides and the US/EU control high‑value seeds. The...
Inside Live Animal Logistics
Air Canada Cargo reported a strong uptick in live‑animal transportation over the past year, fueled by expanded partnerships with specialist agents and rising demand for pet travel and niche shipments such as livestock and marine animals. Complex moves—including sea lions...
GRDC Awards National Chickpea Breeding Program to AGT
Australian Grain Technologies (AGT) has been awarded the national chickpea breeding program by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) after a competitive tender, taking over from the NSW Department of Primary Industries. The transition moves chickpea improvement into a...
The Worst Spring Drought on Record Is Putting U.S. Crops at Risk
The United States endured its worst spring drought on record, with more than 60% of the lower 48 states in moderate drought or worse. The Southeast was hit hardest, as nearly 100% of the region experienced moderate to exceptional drought—the...
The World’s Great Deltas Are Sinking, Threatening Global Food Supplies
A new Nature study reveals that 40 of the world’s largest river deltas are losing elevation, with 19 sinking faster than global sea‑level rise. In the Mekong Delta, sediment delivery has dropped by more than 90% because of 745 dams...
Agroecology Urged as Mideast Crisis Deepens Food Insecurity
The US‑Iran conflict has choked the Strait of Hormuz, curbing fertilizer exports and driving up global food prices. Experts warn that Africa’s 673 million hungry people could swell by 45 million as chemical‑fertilizer shortages hit staple crops. Agroecology—using crop rotations, compost and...
Fertilizer Squeeze: Why Soaring Import Costs Are a Policy Tightrope for India
India’s fertilizer import costs have surged after US‑Israel strikes on Iran, pushing global urea prices up 81 % in two months. The country relies on imports for 25 % of its urea, 90 % of phosphate and all potash, making the shockwave a...
Gourmet Mushroom Startup Finds Fertile Ground in Bangkok
American brothers Alex and Sam Turner have launched Earthling Mushroom Farm, an urban gourmet mushroom operation in Bangkok’s On Nut district. The warehouse‑style facility claims to be one of the world’s first city‑based farms dedicated to premium fungi, supplying top...
‘Like a Treasure Map’: New Tool Points CHB Farmers to More Profitable Crops
Central Hawke’s Bay District Council has launched an interactive Crop Suitability Map that lets farmers test the viability of 16 high‑value crops on their land. The tool blends long‑term climate forecasts, soil characteristics, yield potential and economic data, assuming reliable...
India’s National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture Strengthens Climate-Resilient Farming
India’s National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), launched in 2014‑15, is scaling climate‑resilient farming through rain‑fed area development, micro‑irrigation and soil health initiatives. The programme has allocated roughly $255 million to support 850,000 hectares and 1.44 million farmers, while the “Per Drop...
How This Offaly Farmer Fits Herefords Into His Dairy-Beef System
The Rigney family in Offaly has shifted from a pure suckler beef operation to a mixed dairy‑beef system, installing two Lely robotic milkers for a 120‑cow herd split between Fleckvieh and Holstein‑Friesian genetics. They now raise 60 Hereford‑cross calves each...
Good Until April 2027: PH Secures Rice Supply From Vietnam
The Philippines and Vietnam have signed a one‑year agreement to supply 1.5 million metric tons of rice through April 2027, locking in a price of $450 per metric ton for the premium Dai Thom 8 variety. The deal was announced at the ASEAN...
Armyworm Moths Already Plentiful
Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has been trapping true armyworm moths since March, recording 250‑550 moths per week at several sites. Entomologist Krista Hamilton cautions that while the high catches don’t guarantee immediate damage, they could foreshadow...
Higher Diesel, Seed Prices May Temper Cover Crop Interest
Rising diesel fuel and seed prices are creating cost pressures that could curb the growing enthusiasm for cover‑crop planting in the Upper Midwest. University of Minnesota extension educator Dave Nicolai notes that while farmer interest remains high, economics may temper...
A USDA Cow Scientist Won an Award for Helping Dairy Farmers Produce More Milk. He’s Worried About the Future of...
Paul VanRaden, a USDA dairy‑genetics scientist, received the 2026 Service to America medal for developing a genomic prediction system that lets farmers pinpoint high‑milk‑production calves. His methodology helped raise U.S. milk output since the 1980s even as the national herd...
Long-Term Crop Research Studying Ways to Lower Input Costs and Improve Soil Health
Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station long‑term agroecosystem research (LTAR) is testing an aspirational cropping system that slashes nitrogen fertilizer use to about one‑third of conventional rates. By pairing cover crops, no‑till practices, and a diversified rotation of corn, soy,...
Unified Farm Data Layer Brings AI-Ready Agronomy Analytics to Agriculture
Leaf Agriculture has launched a unified farm data layer that aggregates inputs from major equipment manufacturers, soil labs, satellite imagery, and weather services into a single, SQL‑queryable environment called LeafLake. The platform leverages Wherobots to spatially process telemetry and imagery,...
Global Agtech Leader Hectre to Welcome Fruit Industry Executives From 10 Countries in Chile Tour
Hectre, a New Zealand agtech firm, is hosting more than a dozen senior fruit‑industry executives from ten countries on a week‑long tour of Chile’s top packhouse operations. The delegation will see the company’s Arc camera, which delivers near‑99 percent accuracy in fruit...
"Vertical Farms Are Uniquely Positioned to Be a Trusted Local Supplier"
Mighty Harvest runs a 5,500‑square‑foot indoor vertical farm in Ajax, Ontario, delivering pesticide‑free salad greens, herbs and edible flowers to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC). Over the past year the farm has supplied more than 820 lb of greens and...
"Instead of Showing Data, It Thinks About Your Data"
Ecobloom unveiled EcoSense, an AI‑driven virtual agronomist, at CEAIF 2026. The platform, called I.V.A., fuses multispectral imaging, climate sensors and a 72‑hour weather forecast to move from reactive dashboards to proactive decision‑making. It can spot stress and disease up to ten...