Agriculture is entering a phase where technology, sustainability and scale are increasingly shaping the global agri-food landscape. In today’s GrowinAgri Daily, scientists are using prime editing to fine-tune rice quality, while FAO data points to rising food prices amid weather and transport disruptions.
Massey Ferguson is expanding its compact tractor portfolio through a partnership with ITL, and IRRI and BASF are advancing research into soil carbon and low-emission rice.
Corteva is also entering a new chapter as a pure-play crop protection company with an $11 billion innovation pipeline. In India, Dhanuka Agritech and Aries Agro are expanding crop solutions and manufacturing capabilities, while NABKISAN is bringing new financing to rural development.
ICAR and FCI are working on safer grain storage technologies, and Andhra Pradesh is planning a ₹1 lakh-crore horticulture hub to scale production, infrastructure and market access.
Let’s start…
Scientists Use Prime Editing to Fine-Tune Rice Texture and Cooking Quality
Scientists in China have used prime editing to develop rice varieties with lower amylose content, aiming to improve texture and eating quality. By precisely modifying the promoter region of the Wx (Waxy) gene, researchers reduced its expression without completely disrupting the gene.
The resulting rice lines showed amylose reductions of up to 3.95 percentage points, along with softer texture, improved cooking properties and better instrumental taste scores. Field evaluations found no significant differences in the agronomic traits tested compared with the original variety.
The edited promoter sequences were also not found among 3,032 rice accessions examined, suggesting the approach can create useful genetic variations not readily available in nature. Further field trials and human sensory evaluations will be needed to confirm the potential of this technology.
FAO Food Price Index Rises as Weather and Transport Disruptions Pressure Markets
The FAO Food Price Index rose 1.5% in September 2026 from August, reaching 136.0 points, driven by transport disruptions, weather concerns and higher crop commodity prices. Cereal prices increased 5.1%, with wheat and maize affected by Black Sea logistical constraints, dry weather and supply concerns.
Sugar prices jumped 6.1% amid tighter production prospects in Thailand, India, Brazil and the European Union. FAO also lowered its 2026 global cereal production forecast by 2.1% from 2025, although output is expected to remain the second-highest on record.
Global cereal trade is projected to decline 3.5% as shipping disruptions constrain wheat and maize exports. Strengthening El Niño conditions are adding further uncertainty, particularly for rice production across South and Southeast Asia.
Massey Ferguson Partners with ITL to Expand Compact Tractor Portfolio
Massey Ferguson is expanding its presence in the low-horsepower and compact tractor segment through a new strategic supply partnership with International Tractors Limited (ITL). The collaboration will introduce a new value-oriented range of compact tractors starting from 20 hp, built to Massey Ferguson specifications.
The tractors will target private landowners, municipalities, grounds care professionals and part-time farmers. ITL brings an annual production capacity of 300,000 tractors and experience in Stage V and Tier 4 compliant platforms.
The initial rollout is planned across Europe and the Middle East in phases throughout 2027. The partnership highlights the growing importance of compact tractors as manufacturers seek to serve a broader and more diverse customer base.
IRRI and BASF Expand Soil Carbon Research to Advance Low-Emission Rice
IRRI and BASF have launched the second phase of the OPTIMA project to study how low-emission rice practices affect soil carbon, soil health and long-term climate resilience. Building on earlier research, the project will examine alternate wetting and drying (AWD), nutrient management and direct-seeded rice as tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water use.
OPTIMA 2 will focus on how different AWD practices influence soil carbon and how straw and biochar can affect productivity and carbon accumulation. Researchers will also further develop the ORYZA rice model to improve long-term simulations of methane emissions and soil carbon dynamics.
The two-year project aims to identify potential trade-offs between reducing emissions and maintaining soil carbon stocks. The findings could help develop science-based rice production systems that combine productivity, profitability and environmental sustainability.
Corteva Enters New Era as Pure-Play Crop Protection Company with $11 Billion Pipeline
Corteva has completed the spin-off of its seed and genetics business, becoming a focused global crop protection company serving growers across approximately 110 countries. The company is now concentrating on differentiated chemistry, biologicals and new crop protection technologies to address resistance, regulatory and sustainability challenges.
Between 2020 and 2025, Corteva’s crop protection revenue grew by more than $1 billion, while operating EBITDA margins increased by around 250 basis points. Differentiated technologies now account for about 65% of its crop protection sales.
Corteva has also highlighted an approximately $11 billion innovation pipeline, including 12 new active ingredients expected over the next decade, five of which are biologicals.
With nearly 9,000 employees supporting growers globally, the company is betting on innovation and biological solutions to drive its next phase of growth.
India Special
Dhanuka Agritech Launches Wetcit Neo to Boost Crop Spray Efficiency
Dhanuka Agritech has launched Wetcit Neo, a plant-based biosolution adjuvant designed to improve the effectiveness of crop protection and crop nutrition applications in India. The product is formulated to reduce spray water surface tension, helping droplets spread more uniformly and adhere better to plant surfaces.
It is particularly designed for crops with waxy leaves, where conventional sprays can roll off and limit absorption. Wetcit Neo aims to improve spray coverage, reduce drift and support better absorption of agricultural inputs. The adjuvant can be used with a range of agrochemical formulations, subject to product-label recommendations.
The launch reflects Dhanuka Agritech’s focus on application-efficiency technologies that can help optimise input use and strengthen crop management practices.
Aries Agro Expands Manufacturing Capacity to 101,400 MT with New Gujarat Facility
Aries Agro has expanded its annual manufacturing capacity in India to 101,400 MT following the commissioning of a new 6,000 MT facility in Sayakha, Gujarat. The company has also increased its depot network to 30 locations and strengthened automated facilities in Vijayawada and Nashik.
During the year, Aries Agro expanded its product portfolio with plant nutrition and agricultural solutions including Aries Trillion, Aries Silica and Agromin Max HD. The company is also advancing digital agriculture through its app, QR-based traceability, soil testing and recommendation systems.
Its farmer outreach covered 54,948 farmers through more than 3,958 meetings during the previous year. Aries Agro reported 17.87% growth in gross revenue to ₹917.64 crore in FY 2025–26.
Going forward, the company plans to focus on automation, backward integration, climate-resilient solutions, plant protection and agricultural equipment.
NABKISAN Raises ₹180 Crore Through India’s First WASH-Focused Social Bond
NABKISAN Finance Limited, a subsidiary of NABARD, has raised ₹180 crore through India’s first Social Bond dedicated exclusively to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector. The five-year bond carries an 8.10% coupon rate, matures in September 2031 and has received CRISIL AAA (Stable) and CARE AAA (Stable) ratings.
The issue was oversubscribed 1.8 times, reflecting strong investor participation in sustainable finance. Proceeds will support safe water, sanitation and hygiene solutions for rural and underserved communities.
The initiative aims to improve health, livelihoods and quality of life while expanding access to essential services. The bond also highlights the growing role of innovative capital-market instruments in financing inclusive and sustainable rural development.
ICAR and FCI Partner to Develop Safer, Sustainable Foodgrain Storage Solutions
ICAR and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) have signed an MoU to research alternative fumigation technologies for safer and more sustainable management of storage pests in wheat and rice. The two-year Phase-I project will be implemented by ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana, with support from the Department of Food & Public Distribution.
The research will explore nitrogen, carbon dioxide and combined CO₂-phosphine fumigation as alternatives to conventional chemical treatments. The initiative aims to address rising pest resistance, occupational exposure risks, environmental concerns and fumigant residues associated with existing practices.
Phase-I will include trials in metal silos, warehouses and hermetic storage systems. A subsequent multi-location Phase-II trial will help develop region-specific Standard Operating Procedures for wider adoption.
Andhra Pradesh Unveils ₹1 Lakh-Crore Horticulture Hub to Double Output
Andhra Pradesh has launched an ambitious ₹1 lakh-crore plan to develop a global horticulture hub across 10 districts, targeting a major expansion in cultivation, technology and market infrastructure. The state aims to increase horticulture acreage from 8.41 lakh hectares to 14.41 lakh hectares and raise production from 222 lakh metric tonnes to 435 lakh metric tonnes.
The project will be developed across 201 clusters covering 303 mandals and 5,869 villages, with around 9.6 lakh farmers expected to benefit. The government plans to contribute ₹40,352 crore while mobilising another ₹60,000 crore from private investors.
The initiative will also integrate research, digital agriculture, precision farming, smart irrigation and market intelligence through a proposed Indian School of Agriculture.
The scale of the project highlights Andhra Pradesh’s push to strengthen productivity, supply chains and farmer incomes while positioning the state as a major global horticulture hub.