Today’s edition highlights advances in climate-smart rice farming, biological nitrogen fixation, alternative dairy and seed technology.
In India, new horticulture partnerships, seed-sector policy changes, agribusiness expansion and farm machinery innovations reflect ongoing efforts to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen supply chains and create new opportunities for farmers.
Here is what you need to know today.
BioLumic and IRRI Launch Field Trials of Light-Activated Rice Technology to Reduce Water Use and Methane Emissions
New Zealand-based BioLumic and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have launched field trials in the Philippines to test light-activated seed technology designed to improve rice establishment, protect yields, and reduce water consumption and methane emissions.
Supported by the Gates Foundation, the 15-month program will evaluate BioLumic’s xTraits platform, which uses light to activate or suppress gene expression without chemical inputs or genetic modification. The trials will assess six IRRI-bred direct-seeded rice varieties across the 2026 wet season and 2026/27 dry season.
Earlier pre-field testing reportedly demonstrated repeatable improvements in early establishment traits across 11 rice varieties. Direct-seeded rice can reduce water requirements and methane emissions compared with traditional flooded rice cultivation, but inconsistent crop establishment remains a major barrier to adoption.
The research will evaluate germination, early seedling vigour, crop establishment and yield-related traits under real-world conditions. Successful results could support future commercial seed deployment in India and other South Asian rice-growing regions, advancing climate-smart rice production.
Bayer Crop Science and Switch Bioworks Partner to Advance Biological Nitrogen Fixation
Bayer Crop Science has partnered with US-based biotechnology company Switch Bioworks to develop biological solutions for crop nutrition using genetically engineered microbes.
The collaboration will focus on biological nitrogen fixation, aiming to improve nitrogen availability to crops and reduce dependence on conventional fertilizers. Switch Bioworks’ programmable biology platform is designed to help microbes establish themselves on plant roots before activating nitrogen production.
According to the company, laboratory studies showed that programmed microbes produced five times more nitrogen than control strains designed for continuous production. Field trials are underway at multiple sites across the US Midwest, with regulatory approvals also secured in Brazil.
Bayer will contribute its expertise in product development, formulation, field testing and commercialization. The technology’s commercial potential will depend on field performance, consistent results and demonstrated benefits for growers.
Japan’s Kinish Raises $3.1 Million to Scale Rice-Based Ice Cream and Dairy Protein
Japanese food-tech startup Kinish has raised ¥490 million ($3.1 million) in the first close of its Series A funding round to expand its rice-based ice cream business and advance the development of rice-derived casein protein.
The company markets its dairy-free ice cream under The Rice Creamery brand, with products available across approximately 500 stores in Japan and selected outlets in Washington, DC.
The funding will support sales expansion in Japan and the US, research and development, plant-factory operations, and recruitment. Kinish is using molecular farming to produce casein, a key milk protein, inside genetically engineered dwarf rice plants grown in vertical farming facilities.
Its demonstration facility reportedly produced 2,080 grams of brown rice per square metre in three months, compared with Japan’s average open-field yield of 539 grams per square metre per annual crop.
The company aims to scale production and develop new dairy alternatives, including cheese and yoghurt, using rice-derived proteins. The initiative could create new opportunities for rice-based food innovation and more resource-efficient alternative dairy production.
DSV UK to Invest £3.7 Million in Plant Breeding and Seed Processing Facilities
DSV UK Ltd is investing £3.7 million in new offices, seed processing facilities and a plant breeding station at its Wardington site in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. Construction, led by Midlands-based Deeley Construction, is underway, with completion expected in summer 2027.
The development includes three agricultural buildings designed to streamline operations from early-stage plant breeding to commercial seed preparation. The facilities will support seed cleaning, treatment, quality analysis and the development of new crop varieties.
DSV’s breeding programme focuses on wheat and other crops, including oilseed rape, barley, maize, grasses and cover crops. The company aims to develop varieties with improved disease resistance, higher yields, reduced chemical requirements and characteristics suited to changing consumer preferences.
The investment is expected to strengthen breeding efficiency, expand research capacity and support the long-term development of UK agriculture.
India Special
India–New Zealand FTA Opens Horticulture Opportunities Through Centres of Excellence for Apples, Kiwifruit and Honey
The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into force on 20 October 2026, opening new trade opportunities and strengthening agricultural cooperation between the two countries.
A key component is the Agricultural Productivity Partnership, which includes action plans for apples, kiwifruit and honey, supported by technology transfer, training and improved cultivation practices.
New Zealand will provide technical assistance to establish Centres of Excellence for these sectors, with initial kiwifruit centres identified at Pfutsero in Nagaland and Magra in Uttarakhand.
Additional centres for apples are proposed in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, while honey centres are planned in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The initiatives aim to improve productivity, orchard management and post-harvest handling while strengthening farmers’ incomes.
Tariff rate quotas for apples, kiwifruit and Mānuka honey are linked to the implementation of these action plans, with oversight from a Joint Agriculture Productivity Council.
The agreement also provides duty-free market access for Indian goods in New Zealand, while sensitive sectors such as dairy, sugar and edible oils remain protected from tariff concessions.
KisaanSay Targets 2 Lakh Farmers by FY27, Expands Sourcing Network to 15 States
Gurugram-based direct-from-origin food brand KisaanSay plans to expand its farmer network from 50,000 to 2 lakh by FY27, while increasing its sourcing footprint from 10 to 15 Indian states. The expansion will include new sourcing partnerships in Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.
The company currently works with 25 Farmer Enterprises and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), offering more than 100 single-origin products across 12 categories. Under its Co-Brand/Co-Profit model, KisaanSay states that over 50% of consumer spending on each pack goes directly to farmers.
Its revenue grew fourfold to ₹20 crore in FY26, compared with ₹5 crore in the previous financial year. In April 2026, the company raised ₹34 crore in a Series A funding round led by NABVENTURES through the AgriSURE Fund to strengthen distribution, technology and supply chains.
With 60% of revenue coming from direct-to-consumer sales, KisaanSay aims to expand market access for farming communities through traceable sourcing and multi-channel distribution.
FSII Welcomes Proposed GST Exemption on Seed Storage and Warehousing Services
The Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) has welcomed the GST Council’s recommendations to exempt storage and warehousing services for seeds meant for sowing, a move expected to reduce costs across the seed value chain.
Although seeds remain nil-rated under GST, taxes paid on their storage and warehousing have previously been an unrecoverable expense for the industry. The proposed exemption could help preserve seed quality and viability while improving affordability and supply chain efficiency.
FSII also welcomed proposed measures to accelerate export refunds, expand input tax credit refunds on capital goods for eligible exporters, and simplify e-way bill procedures, registrations and penalties.
However, the federation highlighted concerns regarding 5% GST without input tax credit on specified e-commerce delivery services and 2% TDS on certain business-to-business waste and scrap transactions.
FSII Chairman Ajai Rana said reducing costs across storage, transportation and exports could strengthen farmers’ access to quality seeds. Most proposed procedural reforms are expected to take effect from 1 April 2027.
Mahindra Launches 475 DI MS XP Plus and 575 DI XP Plus Tractors with Smart LIFT Technology
Mahindra Tractors has introduced the Mahindra 475 DI MS XP Plus and 575 DI XP Plus, featuring Smart LIFT technology designed to improve precision, convenience and productivity in farming operations.
The new hydraulic system automatically maintains the desired implement working depth, helping farmers achieve more uniform field preparation and consistent results.
It also reduces the need for frequent hydraulic lever adjustments, making operations easier and helping minimise operator fatigue, particularly during long working hours. By improving operational consistency, the technology may also help save time and fuel in suitable field conditions.
Both tractor models feature a heavy-duty Transcase designed to improve durability, reduce wear under heavy loads and support demanding agricultural applications.
The launch reflects Mahindra’s focus on integrating practical technologies into its tractor range to address everyday farming challenges. Smart LIFT aims to provide farmers with greater control, comfort and efficiency across a range of field operations.
ICAR-IIHR Develops Hot Water Treatment to Prevent Internal Breakdown in Alphonso Mangoes
The ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (ICAR-IIHR), Bengaluru, has developed a postharvest hot water treatment protocol to control fruit fly infestation and anthracnose in mangoes while preventing internal breakdown in Alphonso varieties.
The treatment 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 protocol offers an alternative to earlier treatments that required separate temperature and duration settings for fruit fly and anthracnose management.
Trials involving Alphonso, Banganapalli, Arka Uday and Arka Suprabhat mangoes reportedly demonstrated effective control without causing internal breakdown in Alphonso fruit.
In June 2026, a 1.2-tonne consignment of treated Banganapalli mangoes was exported from Chennai to Brunei, with the buyer reporting that the fruit arrived in good condition without fruit fly or anthracnose.
Commercial use in export markets remains subject to approval from the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (DPPQ&S). If approved, the technology could reduce quarantine hot water treatment time by approximately one-third, improving efficiency in mango export operations.