Welcome to today’s GrowinAgri Daily. Agriculture is rapidly moving toward a more technology-driven, resilient and globally connected future. From Chinese researchers exploring new rice breeding possibilities to China strengthening its biopesticide evaluation ecosystem, innovation is emerging across the entire agricultural value chain.
India is also seeing major developments, including AI-powered monitoring for tea plantations, digital tools for fisheries research, a proposed increase in glufosinate anti-dumping duties and growing agricultural exports from Purvanchal.
Meanwhile, global agribusiness is witnessing major moves such as COFCO’s planned acquisition of sugar mills in Brazil, John Deere’s partnership with Reservoir to advance rugged AI, and the launch of a solar-powered electric tractor.
Traditional agriculture is also gaining attention, with Goa preparing a GI application for its distinctive Pipyri cucumber. In this edition, we bring you the key developments, technologies, investments and policy moves that matter across agriculture.
Let’s start…
Chinese Scientists Identify Genetic Barrier to Crossbreeding Asian and African Rice
Chinese scientists have identified three genes that create a reproductive barrier between Asian and African rice, potentially opening new possibilities for developing high-yielding and climate-resilient hybrids. The research found that the RHS3 genomic region causes around half of the pollen produced by first-generation hybrids to become sterile.
The three genes, named mao, dun and jia, work together to determine whether pollen develops normally or aborts. Researchers also identified a compatible rice germplasm that can largely suppress the genetic barrier and restore fertility when crossed with both rice species.
Asian rice offers high yields and good grain quality, while African rice provides valuable traits such as drought, heat and poor-soil tolerance along with pest and disease resistance. Combining these characteristics could potentially increase yields by more than 10% compared with existing Asian hybrid rice varieties.
Published in Science, the study provides a theoretical foundation for cross-species rice breeding, although further research is needed to develop commercially suitable hybrids with desirable grain quality and resistance traits.
China Establishes National Biopesticide Evaluation Platform to Standardize Biological Crop Protection
China has established a National Biopesticide Evaluation Center at the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences with a construction budget of 42.8 million yuan, creating one of the country’s first full-chain platforms for biopesticide evaluation.
The center will cover microbial pesticides, RNA interference-based products and botanical pesticides, connecting research and development with efficacy testing, safety evaluation, registration and application.
Its five laboratories will focus on product chemistry, efficacy, environmental safety, toxicology and crop safety, supported by CMA, CATL and GLP quality-management systems. The platform aims to address gaps in China’s traditional pesticide evaluation framework, which has largely been designed around chemical products.
It will also support strain identification, active-ingredient screening, mode-of-action studies, safety assessments and registration guidance. The initiative is expected to improve product quality, regulatory consistency and the reliability of evaluation data while supporting international recognition.
The investment highlights China’s growing focus on biopesticides as a strategic tool for sustainable agriculture, food security and reducing agricultural pollution.
BioWorks Launches BioRain Ax to Help Crops Manage Water Stress
BioWorks has launched BioRain Ax, a microbial inoculant designed to help crops cope with limited-water and drought-stress conditions while supporting plant health and yield potential. The product contains a targeted consortium of beneficial microorganisms that colonizes the plant rhizosphere, helping improve soil structure, water retention and nutrient availability.
This supports stronger and deeper root development, enabling plants to use water and nutrients more efficiently. BioRain Ax can be applied through soil and irrigation systems and is designed to integrate with existing crop protection programs. The product is intended for specialty crops, ornamentals, greenhouses, nurseries and other high-value crops.
Its active ingredients include Priestia megaterium, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus paralicheniformis, and it is available in liquid formulation. BioRain Ax is currently available through authorized BioWorks distributors across the U.S., except California.
COFCO International to Acquire Two Sugar Mills from Bunge in Brazil
COFCO International has agreed to acquire the Rio Vermelho and Nova Unialco sugar mills in Brazil’s São Paulo state from Bunge, expanding its sugar operations in the Araçatuba region.
The acquisition is part of COFCO International’s long-term strategy to strengthen its sugar business and expand its industrial presence across key agricultural regions. The two mills are expected to create opportunities for greater operational efficiency, diversification and business resilience when combined with COFCO’s existing Brazilian operations.
COFCO International has operated in Brazil for more than a decade and continues to invest in connecting Brazilian agricultural production with global markets. The transaction also supports the company’s broader efforts to strengthen its integrated agricultural supply chain in the country.
The Rio Vermelho and Nova Unialco mills became part of Bunge’s portfolio following its combination with Viterra in July 2025. Completion of the acquisition remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
GoSun Enters Farm Machinery Market with $19,995 Solar-Powered Electric Tractor
GoSun has launched the Moonrider, an all-electric tractor priced at $19,995 and designed to offer farmers, smallholders and property owners an alternative to conventional diesel-powered equipment. The tractor features a high-torque electric drivetrain that provides immediate power while reducing noise, emissions and fuel consumption.
An optional fold-out solar panel system can charge the onboard battery while the tractor is working or parked outdoors, while a dedicated solar charging station can further support off-grid operation. The Moonrider is designed for tasks such as hauling, tilling, mowing and navigating challenging terrain, with fewer moving parts potentially reducing maintenance requirements.
Manufactured in India by Moonrider, the tractor will be distributed in North America through a cooperation and marketing agreement with GoSun. An optional power generator also allows the tractor’s battery to operate electric tools, water pumps and emergency equipment.
The launch reflects a growing trend toward electric farm machinery that combines field operations with solar generation and mobile energy storage.
Bindbridge Targets Black-Grass with AI-Discovered Molecular Glues
Bindbridge has secured approximately £400,000 in public funding through the UK’s Farming Innovation Programme to advance its AI-driven crop-protection technology targeting black-grass, a major herbicide-resistant weed affecting wheat production in England.
Over a 24-month programme with Niab, the company will use its BRIDGE platform to discover molecular glues that selectively trigger the degradation of proteins essential for black-grass survival. The programme will take potential candidates from computational discovery through laboratory testing and whole-plant studies.
Researchers will also develop herbicide-resistant wheat through targeted genetic transformation to improve crop selectivity and support future product development. The initiative combines AI-based molecular discovery with biological validation and crop engineering to develop new herbicide solutions.
Bindbridge aims to generate experimentally validated molecules and strengthen its proprietary crop-protection pipeline. The project could provide a new mode of action for managing black-grass while creating opportunities for broader application against economically important herbicide-resistant weeds.
Reservoir Announces $10 Million Partnership with John Deere to Advance Rugged AI in Agriculture
Reservoir has announced a $10 million, three-year R&D partnership with John Deere to accelerate the development and commercialization of rugged AI technologies for high-value crop agriculture.
The partnership will support real-world testing and validation of AI solutions under challenging farm conditions, helping move technologies from field trials toward commercial deployment.
Reservoir will use the funding to expand access to its on-farm technical community, including startups, founders and deep-tech innovators, by reducing participation barriers and providing access to field infrastructure.
The initiative will connect innovators with growers and agricultural operations across California, Arizona and other major farming regions. Since opening its Salinas and Sonoma sites in 2026, Reservoir Farms has hosted more than 20 startups.
The partnership builds on the relationship between Reservoir and John Deere that began in 2024 and complements Western Growers’ three-year commitment to Reservoir.
Together, the partnerships aim to accelerate practical AI, automation, data and connectivity solutions that can address labor, efficiency and other challenges facing commercial agriculture.
Tea Board, ISRO and NIT Rourkela Partner to Bring AI into India’s Tea Gardens
The Tea Board of India has partnered with ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and NIT Rourkela to develop CHAAYANKAN, an AI-based system for monitoring tea plantations across major growing regions.
The project, running until March 2029, will combine satellite and UAV-based hyperspectral and optical imagery with ground observations, weather information and entomological data.
AI and machine learning will be used to map tea-growing areas, detect crop stress caused by pests, diseases and environmental factors, and forecast major pest and disease outbreaks. The initiative will also use hyperspectral data to estimate green leaf yields, potentially providing more detailed and frequent production assessments.
The Tea Board will support field-level implementation, while NRSC will contribute remote-sensing expertise and NIT Rourkela will focus on AI, machine learning and data analytics. A dedicated data repository is also planned to integrate plantation, crop health, weather, pest and yield information.
The project aims to build a data-driven technology infrastructure that can help improve productivity, early warning capabilities and sustainability across India’s tea sector.
CMFRI Develops App to Measure Fish Length and Width Without Handling
The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has developed MatsyaMetri, an Android application that uses image-based measurement technology to measure fish length and width without physically handling the specimens.
The ARCore-enabled app is designed to simplify biological data collection and automatically generate standardized length-frequency datasets used for fisheries stock assessment and resource monitoring. Researchers can create sampling sessions, capture fish images and record measurements using a smartphone camera.
The application can measure multiple fish during a session and automatically generate length-frequency distributions using suitable class intervals. Photographs and measurements are stored together, while the resulting datasets can be exported in CSV format for further scientific analysis.
Developed by CMFRI Senior Scientist Dr Eldho Varghese, the tool aims to reduce manual measurement, transcription and data-processing work during field surveys.
Supported by ICAR under the National Fellow Project, MatsyaMetri could help make fisheries research faster, more consistent and increasingly digital.
India Proposes Raising Anti-Dumping Duty on Chinese Glufosinate to $5,004 per Ton
India has proposed a significant increase in the anti-dumping duty on glufosinate-ammonium and its salts imported from China, raising the rate from $2,998 to $5,004 per ton.
The proposal follows an anti-absorption investigation that found Chinese exporters had reduced export prices, weakening the impact of the existing anti-dumping measure.
The Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued its affirmative final ruling on September 1, 2026, recommending the higher duty. The measure still requires approval from India’s Ministry of Finance before it can officially take effect.
If implemented, the higher duty will substantially increase the cost of Chinese glufosinate imports and could reduce their price competitiveness in the Indian market.
The development may put additional pressure on Chinese pesticide exporters while potentially supporting domestic manufacturers. Companies involved in the trade are advised to monitor the final customs notification and assess market and compliance risks.
Brazil’s Pesticide Imports Hit Record Volume as Prices Fall to Four-Year Low
Brazil’s pesticide imports rose by around 370,000 tonnes between 2022 and 2025, reaching a record 1.43 million tonnes, while the total import bill fell by approximately US$2.6 billion.
The average import price declined from US$13.83/kg in 2022 to US$8.42/kg in 2025, showing that market recovery has been driven mainly by volume rather than value.
Formulated products saw the strongest shift, with imports increasing 61.4% while average prices nearly halved to US$5.42/kg. Technical materials remained higher priced, with their average price easing to US$15.55/kg in 2025. China remained Brazil’s largest supplier, while India steadily increased its market share to 14.5%, supported by rising exports.
Meanwhile, premium suppliers such as the United States, Germany and Switzerland continued to command significantly higher prices, reflecting stronger demand for patented and originator products.
The market’s key outlook will depend on where formulation prices stabilize, India’s expansion in Brazil and the balance between imported formulations and domestic processing.
Purvanchal’s Fresh Produce Exports Cross 1,000 Tonnes Annually
Agricultural exports from Purvanchal in eastern Uttar Pradesh have grown significantly in recent years, with fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers reaching markets across the Gulf, Europe, Bangladesh and Nepal.
According to APEDA, exports of perishable agricultural products through Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi increased from just 4 tonnes in 2020-21 to 1,032 tonnes in 2024-25. Exports remained above 1,000 tonnes in 2025-26 despite a slight decline to 1,010 tonnes due partly to trade disruptions in the Middle East.
Efforts are also being made to connect farmers more directly with export markets and reduce dependence on intermediaries. Around 50 FPOs and nearly 20,000 farmers in Purvanchal are now directly or indirectly linked to the export chain.
More than 180 FPOs across Uttar Pradesh have been promoted as exporters over the past five years, supported by capacity-building programmes and buyer-seller meetings.
Key products exported from Varanasi include green chilli, okra, pointed gourd, mango, litchi, banana, guava, jackfruit, amla and muskmelon.
Goa Moves to Secure GI Tag for Traditional Pipyri Cucumber
The Goa government is preparing to seek a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Pipyri cucumber, a distinctive traditional variety associated particularly with Ponda, Madkai and Honda. The tender, finger-sized cucumber is yellowish-green, sweeter than common varieties and known for its unique flavour.
The GI proposal is expected to be filed next month, with the registration process likely to advance before the end of 2026. The Agriculture Department is currently collecting cultivation and production data through the ongoing AgriStack digital crop survey to understand the variety’s distribution and scale.
Traditional cultivation practices, including avoiding chemical pesticides after flowering and using locally prepared pest-control methods, could strengthen the GI documentation.
Community seed banks and Biodiversity Mitras are also working to conserve indigenous seeds and prevent traditional varieties from disappearing.
If approved, Pipyri would become Goa’s first GI-recognised cucumber, potentially creating stronger market opportunities and economic benefits for farmers and traditional seed keepers.