Agriculture is increasingly shaped by the convergence of technology, climate resilience and market opportunities. This edition highlights major developments, including the first reported occurrence of a plant-parasitic stunt nematode affecting flooded rice in Brazil and the estimated US$36.8 million in losses caused by herbicide drift in the country’s wine industry.
Meanwhile, investments in precision biopesticides, salt-tolerant wheat and AI-powered crop monitoring reflect growing efforts to make crop production more resilient and resource-efficient. The acquisition of an AI platform by the Better Cotton Initiative also signals the expanding role of digital tools in regenerative agriculture and supply chain transparency.
In India, rising rice export earnings, new postharvest technology for mangoes and government-backed seaweed cultivation initiatives highlight opportunities across agricultural trade, horticulture and the blue economy. Together, these developments underline the importance of innovation, effective policy and sustainable production in shaping the future of global agriculture.
First Occurrence of Tylenchorhynchus annulatus Nematode Reported in Brazilian Flooded Rice
Researchers have confirmed the first reported occurrence of the plant-parasitic stunt nematode Tylenchorhynchus annulatus infecting flood-irrigated rice roots in Brazil. Discovered during the 2024–25 growing season in commercial fields across Formoso do Araguaia, Tocantins, the pest was present in 85 of 90 sampled root collections, with rhizosphere densities reaching 369 nematodes per 100 cm³ of soil on cultivar IRGA 424 RI.
Infested crops exhibited stunted development and poorly formed root structures, culminating in a 16.5% reduction in grain yield compared to uninfected adjacent acreage—yielding 4,425 kg/ha versus 5,300 kg/ha. Morphological profiling and 28S ribosomal DNA sequencing matched known GenBank strains with 100% identity, confirming the species.
In companion greenhouse pathogenicity trials, inoculated plants developed chlorosis and stunting while generating a reproduction factor of 6.0, verifying that the parasite actively proliferates within this cropping environment. Having previously been recorded on rice primarily in Asia and Africa and on corn in the United States, this identification reveals an emerging pathogen in South American rice farming.
Published in the Journal of Phytopathology, the findings underscore an urgent need for broader surveys to map the pest’s geographic distribution and establish management protocols to protect irrigated yields.
Herbicide Drift Causes US$36.8 Million in Losses to Southern Brazil’s Wine Industry
A study by Consevitis-RS estimates that herbicide drift caused R$210 million (US$36.8 million) in economic losses to Rio Grande do Sul’s wine industry between 2018 and 2025. Researchers analyzed more than 400 recorded incidents, which directly affected approximately 700 hectares of vineyards.
While officially documented losses amounted to R$161.6 million, additional production damage, management costs and vineyard replacement expenses raised the estimated total. The study warns that losses could reach another R$150.1 million over the next five years if the problem persists. Beyond reducing grape production, herbicide drift is discouraging investment in vineyard renewal, product development and wine tourism.
All interviewed producers reported reducing or postponing investments due to recurring incidents and uncertainty. The findings highlight the need for evidence-based solutions to protect viticulture while enabling coexistence with other agricultural activities.
Groundwork BioAg Secures BBB Rating for Rootella Carbon Programme
Groundwork BioAg has received a BBB rating from BeZero Carbon for its Rootella Carbon programme, strengthening its position in the agricultural soil carbon removal market. The programme uses Rootella® mycorrhizal inoculants to support plant-root interactions and transfer atmospheric carbon into soil, following Verra’s VM0042 methodology in the United States.
It relies on direct soil sampling and field monitoring to measure changes in soil carbon stocks. The company reported issuing 19,568 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) in Q2 2026 and is targeting 245,000 tCO₂e in the next verification cycle by Q1 2027.
It forecasts potential issuance of 500,000 tCO₂e by Q4 2027. The programme also plans to allocate up to 70% of net project proceeds to participating growers, linking farmer incentives with soil carbon sequestration.
Better Cotton Initiative Acquires AI Platform Co to Accelerate Global Regenerative Farming
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has acquired Co, an artificial intelligence-driven platform developed by Materra, to scale regenerative agricultural practices across the global cotton sector. Announced by BCI CEO Nick Weatherill, the acquisition will expand the platform’s reach from 10,000 farmers to more than 1.3 million producers aligned with BCI’s sustainability standards.
Co streamlines farm-level data collection, reduces administrative burdens, and provides actionable agronomic guidance to help growers adopt regenerative methods tailored to local conditions. For brands and retailers, the technology delivers verified impact datasets and performance dashboards, significantly increasing supply chain transparency and traceability.
Materra CEO Ed Brial noted that the integration enables farm-level solutions to connect effectively with consumer-facing supply networks on a massive scale. Full deployment of the platform is scheduled for the 2027–28 cotton season, with a comprehensive rollout roadmap set to be presented at BCI’s Marrakech conference in January 2027.
Ultimately, the acquisition positions digital intelligence at the core of BCI’s transition toward verifiable, large-scale regenerative agriculture.
Molagri Secures $5.8M to Develop Updatable, Precision Biopesticides
Toronto-based agtech startup Molagri has raised $5.8 million in seed funding, led by Convective Capital with backing from Y Combinator, to develop precision biopesticides that adapt to evolving insect resistance. Co-founded by Zaky Hassan and Min Jin, the company utilizes non-infectious virus-like particles (VLPs) to deliver targeted mRNA payloads that prompt specific pests to produce their own lethal toxins.
Because the particles are engineered to bind strictly to unique gut receptors of targeted pests, vital pollinators like honeybees remain unharmed by the treatment. The platform’s modular architecture allows Molagri to update targeting proteins or insecticidal mechanisms as pests mutate, eliminating the need to design entirely new chemicals from scratch.
Initially focusing on tree nut and fruit threats such as navel orangeworm and codling moth, the startup plans to manufacture these biopesticides using scalable yeast fermentation. While field efficacy, manufacturing economics, and regulatory pathways for updatable biologicals are still being established, the new capital will expand lab operations and fund recruitment in insect biology and virology.
Ultimately, Molagri aims to replace indiscriminate, broad-spectrum chemicals with a durable crop protection platform that preempts pesticide resistance.
OlsAro Secures $5.5M to Commercialize Salt-Tolerant Wheat and Expand SeedAX Platform
Swedish agtech startup OlsAro has raised a €5 million ($5.5 million) seed round—co-led by Industrifonden and Nordic Foodtech VC—bringing its total funding to €7.5 million to scale its proprietary SeedAX platform ahead of a planned 2027 commercial rollout.
Aiming to restore productivity to degraded agricultural soils, the company has developed salinity- and heat-resilient wheat varieties that achieved up to a 41% yield increase over existing benchmarks in Bangladesh field trials.
OlsAro relies on two development pathways: non-GM EMS mutagenesis to navigate global regulatory barriers smoothly, alongside AI-driven genotypic and phenotypic screening coupled with targeted gene editing. Advanced field trials are actively progressing across diverse international markets, including Kenya, Pakistan, Egypt, Canada, Australia, and key Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar through local partnerships like DCM Shriram.
Beyond mitigating soil salinity, the newly secured capital will fund research into complementary traits like drought tolerance and nitrogen-use efficiency, while expanding the platform into other staple crops such as rice. By pairing deep genomic datasets with predictive AI, OlsAro intends to provide seed companies with a scalable breeding engine to counter climate-driven crop losses worldwide.
PerPlant Partners with Valtra to Offer Factory-Fitted AI Crop Sensors on Tractors
Danish agtech startup PerPlant has partnered with AGCO-owned tractor manufacturer Valtra to offer its AI-powered crop sensor directly factory-fitted via the Valtra Unlimited customization studio. Mounted on the tractor roof, the dual-camera AI sensor continuously scans crops during regular passes to enable real-time spot spraying and variable-rate applications of fertilizers, fungicides, and growth regulators.
Compatible with standard ISOBUS implements, the technology allows growers to modernize existing field operations without buying expensive dedicated spraying rigs, cutting chemical inputs by 40% to 87% at an average operational cost of €4 per hectare. Factory installations will debut across multiple Valtra series—including the newly launched sixth-generation T Series—initially focusing on key European markets.
Beyond instant chemical savings, PerPlant views the partnership as an opportunity to passively harvest centimetre-level, season-long agronomic data across millions of driving hours. To capitalize on this, the Copenhagen startup is preparing to launch “Nexus,” a dedicated platform allowing agronomists and input providers to build custom AI tools from collected field data to construct a comprehensive “world model” of agricultural land.
Backed by fresh capital and international traction spanning over 250,000 mapped hectares, PerPlant is currently raising €5 million to deepen its European market presence before eyeing an expansion into North America.
India Special
India’s Rice Export Earnings Rise 12.9% to ₹45,739 Crore
India’s rice export earnings increased 12.9% to ₹45,739 crore during April–August 2026, driven by growth in both basmati and non-basmati rice exports. Basmati exports generated ₹22,864 crore, while non-basmati rice contributed ₹22,874 crore.
The Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026, scheduled for October 23–25 in New Delhi, will focus on policy stability, export incentives, trade agreements and access to export financing.
India’s government rice stocks exceed 38 million tonnes, providing a buffer against potential production pressures. However, the USDA projects rice production to decline from 154 million tonnes in 2025–26 to 147 million tonnes in 2026–27.
The conference will also examine tariff concessions, changing import regulations and market diversification. A proposed Rice Export Policy Watch aims to identify five key policy developments affecting the sector over the next 12 months.
ICAR-IIHR Develops New Technology to Control Fruit Fly and Anthracnose in Mangoes
ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (ICAR-IIHR), Bengaluru, has developed a postharvest treatment protocol to control fruit fly infestation and anthracnose disease in mangoes through a single treatment. The process involves immersing mature green mangoes in water at 55°C for 20 minutes, followed by a 30-minute dip in a 5% salt solution.
The technology has been evaluated on Alphonso, Banganapalli and the institute’s Arka Uday and Arka Suprabhat hybrids. It also aims to prevent internal breakdown in Alphonso mangoes associated with earlier hot water treatment methods. A 1.2-tonne shipment of Banganapalli mangoes treated using the protocol was exported to Brunei in June 2026, with the buyer reporting satisfactory quality.
The approach could reduce postharvest losses, simplify handling and improve export quality. However, exports to markets requiring approved quarantine treatments will depend on regulatory acceptance by the relevant authorities.
India Approves ₹181.11 Crore for Seaweed Farming, Identifies 384 Suitable Sites
India is expanding seaweed cultivation to strengthen its blue economy and improve livelihoods in coastal communities, with ₹181.11 crore worth of projects approved under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for 2020–2027. Researchers have identified 384 suitable sites covering 24,707 hectares across coastal states and Union Territories.
India’s seaweed production increased from 18,890 tonnes in 2015 to a record 82,728 tonnes in 2025. Financial assistance has supported the establishment of 37,255 cultivation rafts and 44,080 monoline units. During a visit to Mandapam, Tamil Nadu, Fisheries Department Secretary Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi highlighted the contribution of women-led self-help groups (SHGs) to seaweed farming.
The upcoming Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu is expected to strengthen processing, value addition and export opportunities. Future priorities include decentralised seed banks and expanding seaweed applications in food, animal feed, biofertilisers and cosmetics.