In the fertile plains of Punjab, India, farmers have been experimenting with mycorrhizal fungi to boost crop yields. By introducing these fungi into the soil, they’ve seen a remarkable increase in wheat and rice production, reducing the need for chemical fertilisers. This case study highlights the transformative potential of fungi in Indian agriculture, setting the
A group of U.S. lawmakers urged the Biden administration recently to address potential national security risks posed by Chinese-manufactured agriculture drones, highlighting concerns over their use on American farms. The Republican House members, including Representatives Elise Stefanik, Ashley Hinson, and John Moolenaar, emphasised the danger these drones could pose, particularly those made by Chinese company
Maine’s lobster industry, a cornerstone of the state’s economy, is bracing for a significant challenge as new regulations mandating stricter minimum sizes for harvested lobsters are set to take effect next summer. While the size change may appear minor—just 1/16th of an inch—the impact on the industry could be substantial, particularly as it already grapples
In a bid to enhance irrigation efficiency and promote sustainable cotton farming, commodity trading giant Cargill has partnered with Australian agtech company Goanna Ag. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in advancing agricultural technology in the southern United States, particularly in the cotton industry. The partnership involves testing Goanna Ag’s GoField technology platform on
Phuc Sinh Corp., a leading coffee and pepper producer based in Ho Chi Minh City, has secured a significant loan of over $25 million from the &Green Fund, an ESG-focused investment fund managed by SAIL Investments and based in the Netherlands. This marks a milestone as Phuc Sinh becomes the first Vietnamese company to receive
Agrobiomics, a Danish agtech developing sustainable biological solutions for agriculture, has raised €4 million from NOON Ventures to bring the most potent abiotic stress protectant, called Fortify, to the market – making plants climate resilient. A solution that can save more than 100 million tons of CO2 annually and save food worth up to €90
Nigeria’s federal government recently explained the rationale behind the proposed ministry of livestock development, saying that it is needed to enhance protein production, increase employment opportunities and government revenue. President Bola Tinubu had announced the establishment of the ministry from the current ministry of agriculture. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef
The Taliban-ordered crash in opium production in Afghanistan, long the world’s dominant supplier, could drive up overdose deaths as heroin users switch to synthetic opioids already proving deadly in Europe, a UN report has said. The cultivation of opium, from which heroin is made, fell by 95% in Afghanistan last year after the Taliban banned
In a jungled corner of Indonesia’s Papua, the Awyu tribe await a Supreme Court verdict that will determine whether thousands of hectares of rainforest will be cleared for a vast palm oil concession to be planted atop the graves of their ancestors. “Birds of paradise, cassowaries… sacred places, and the paths of our ancestors are
Italian agricultural production shrank last year as wine, fruit and olive oil output all took a hit from extreme weather events linked to climate change, national statistics bureau ISTAT has said. Europe suffered its hottest summer in 2,000 years in 2023 — a finding based in part on an analysis of tree rings — and
