This edition of GrowinAgri Daily brings together developments shaping agriculture, food and climate innovation across India and global markets. Biotechnology is advancing climate-resilient strawberries, while AI is moving deeper into farm advisory and crop monitoring systems.
New investments are supporting agrifood expansion, food-tech commercialisation and crop protection manufacturing, alongside major initiatives in Amazon restoration and green maritime fuels.
In India, policy and infrastructure developments are strengthening support for bajra farmers, apple growers and aquaculture producers, while fisheries conservation and digital procurement systems are gaining momentum.
Together, these updates reflect a broader shift toward technology-enabled, climate-resilient and increasingly connected agrifood value chains.
Let’s start…
Plantik and Hudson River Biotechnology Partner to Develop Heat-Tolerant Strawberries
Plantik Biosciences and Hudson River Biotechnology have partnered to develop heat-tolerant strawberry varieties using machine learning and genome-editing technologies.
Plantik will use its ATLANTIS platform to identify and validate genomic targets linked to heat tolerance, while Hudson River Biotechnology will apply its BioMaas platform to introduce these traits into commercial strawberry germplasm.
The collaboration aims to help strawberries maintain flowering, fruit set, yield and quality under rising temperatures. Validation trials are already underway, with the companies targeting improved varieties that breeders can license.
The partnership is particularly notable because strawberries are genetically complex octoploid crops, making genome editing more challenging. The companies also aim to reduce the technical, financial and development risks associated with heat-tolerance trait development for breeders.
Velocity Agri-Capital Raises $150 Million to Support Canadian Agri-Food Expansion in Southeast Asia
Velocity Agri-Capital has secured a $150 million commitment from Farm Credit Canada as the lead investment for a new growth-equity fund targeting $500 million. The fund will support around 12 Canadian agriculture and food companies seeking to expand beyond the US market and enter Southeast Asia.
It will provide initial investments of at least $25 million to established businesses across vertical farming, aquaculture, food processing and packaging. The strategy focuses on companies that have moved beyond the startup stage but require significant capital for production growth, market expansion and international operations.
Velocity plans to maintain a presence in Southeast Asia to support market entry and commercial partnerships. The fund also aims to help Canada capture more value through higher-value agricultural products, food processing and international expansion.
MicroLub Raises $10 Million to Reduce Fat and Calories Without Compromising Mouthfeel
UK food technology company MicroLub has raised $10 million to accelerate the commercialisation of its protein-based fat reduction technology and expand into the US and Asian markets.
The University of Leeds spinout has developed patented ingredients that use water to replicate the lubrication properties of fat, helping reduce calories while maintaining creaminess, smoothness and texture.
MicroLub says its technology can enable fat and calorie reductions of up to 75% in some formulations across dairy, plant-based foods, bakery, sauces and dips. The company uses tribology, rheology and sensory testing to develop application-specific formulations rather than a single universal fat replacer.
Its technology may also help manufacturers develop higher-protein foods while addressing texture and mouthfeel challenges. The latest funding will support manufacturing scale-up, customer validation, regulatory work and the transition from development trials to commercial food products.
Qingdao Rainbow Chemical Plans $29.5 Million Expansion for 2,500 TPA Insecticide and Fungicide Capacity
Qingdao Rainbow Chemical is planning a $29.5 million expansion at the Pingdu Xinhe Chemical Industry Park in Qingdao, China, to establish 2,500 tonnes per annum of new insecticide and fungicide production capacity.
The project will be developed in two phases, with Phase I establishing three technical-grade production lines covering 1,550 TPA of fungicides and 950 TPA of insecticides.
Initial production will include active ingredients such as fluxapyroxad, fluopyram, cyantraniliprole and sulfoxaflor. Phase II will expand production flexibility through additional equipment and co-line switching capabilities for a wider range of products.
The expanded portfolio will cover 13 fungicide and insecticide active ingredients, including cyazofamid, bupirimate, propineb, fenpropathrin, etoxazole and dithianon.
The project is expected to strengthen Qingdao Rainbow Chemical’s manufacturing footprint and broaden its technical-grade crop protection portfolio.
Mombak Secures BNDES Backing and Targets $150 Million for Amazon Restoration
Brazilian carbon removal company Mombak has launched its second Amazon Reforestation Fund with a target of $150 million to expand native forest restoration and carbon removal projects across the Amazon. The company has secured access to a $200 million credit line from Brazil’s BNDES through its Climate Fund to support the expansion.
Mombak has also signed a multi-year carbon removal purchase agreement with Salesforce, adding to corporate buyers including Google, Microsoft and McLaren Racing. Its first $120 million fund supported restoration across 15 Amazon farms, with nearly 15 million native trees planted and more than 21,000 tonnes of carbon removals already issued.
The company expects to issue around 80,000 tonnes of reforestation carbon removal credits by the end of 2026. The new fund is intended to expand restoration activities and develop a larger pipeline of nature-based carbon removal projects.
The initiative highlights growing investment in large-scale forest restoration and carbon removal as companies seek nature-based solutions for their climate strategies.
BASF Approaches Evonik Over Potential Takeover to Strengthen Global Chemicals Portfolio
Germany’s BASF has approached fellow chemicals company Evonik regarding a potential takeover, as European chemical producers face rising costs, weak demand and increasing competition from Asian markets.
BASF said it is holding exploratory discussions focused on acquisitions that could strengthen its core businesses and support profitable growth, while Evonik confirmed receiving a non-binding approach.
The proposed transaction could expand BASF’s presence in specialty chemicals, with Evonik’s portfolio spanning high-tech plastics, feed additives and ingredients for coatings and household products.
However, the talks remain preliminary, and both companies have indicated that no outcome is certain at this stage. BASF is also seeking to streamline its portfolio and increase its exposure to faster-growing markets outside Europe.
The potential deal comes as European chemical manufacturers face structural pressure from high energy costs and shifting global industrial capacity.
NBFGR Lucknow Launches Living Fish Gene Bank and Community Aquaculture Centre in Manipur
ICAR-NBFGR Lucknow and Dhanamanjuri University have launched a living fish gene bank and community aquaculture centre at Chakpikarong in Manipur’s Chandel district. The facility will support the conservation, preservation and ex-situ management of indigenous and endemic fish genetic resources along the Chakpi River.
It also aims to promote sustainable aquaculture and create livelihood opportunities for local communities. The two institutions signed an MoU covering fish genetic resource conservation, research, community aquaculture, capacity building and sustainable fisheries development.
A book documenting the diversity, taxonomy and conservation of 107 fish species found in the Chakpi River was also released. More than 100 local fish farmers received aquaculture materials including fish feed, fishing nets and buckets through the community outreach initiative.
The centre is expected to strengthen community participation in aquatic biodiversity conservation while supporting sustainable fisheries development in the region.
India to Launch First Port-Based e-Methanol Plant to Supply Green Fuel to Ships
India has laid the foundation for its first port-based e-methanol production facility at Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla, Gujarat, marking a step toward developing green fuel for maritime transport. The 150-tonne-per-day plant will use renewable power, water and biogenic CO₂ to produce e-methanol for vessels operating on the Asia-Europe trade corridor.
The ₹2,300 crore project is being developed jointly by Deendayal Port Authority and Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd. in two phases, with the full capacity targeted for completion by March 2027. The facility is expected to produce e-methanol at around $750 per tonne, compared with the cited global rate of about $1,300 per tonne.
The project is also expected to create more than 3,500 direct and indirect jobs and support green-fuel infrastructure around Kandla. The initiative forms part of India’s broader efforts to expand green shipping, renewable fuels and its role in the global clean-energy supply chain.
Assam-Gujarat Partnership Advances ₹2,300 Crore E-Methanol Plant at Kandla
Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited (APCL) and Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) have partnered to develop a 150-tonnes-per-day e-methanol plant at Kandla, Gujarat, with an estimated investment of ₹2,300 crore.
The foundation stone for the project was laid by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. DPA will provide port infrastructure, including storage and pipeline connectivity, while APCL will establish and operate the production facility.
E-methanol is produced using green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide with renewable electricity, offering a lower-emission alternative for maritime fuel. The facility is expected to support green bunkering and serve vessels operating on major international shipping routes, including the Singapore-Rotterdam corridor.
The project follows an MoU signed in January 2026, when the proposed investment was estimated at over ₹1,200 crore. The expanded project is also expected to create more than 3,500 direct and indirect employment opportunities across engineering, technical services, transportation and related supply chains.
Wadhwani AI Showcases AI-Powered Agriculture Solutions to Rajasthan Government
Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence has conducted a workshop for agriculture officers from 13 districts in Rajasthan, showcasing AI and data-driven solutions for agriculture administration and extension services. The initiative aims to integrate AI into agricultural planning, monitoring, decision-making and farmer service delivery.
The proposed solutions can use weather, crop and field data to support more localised advisories for sowing, irrigation, fertiliser management, pest control and harvesting. AI, remote sensing, image analytics and drones could also improve crop monitoring, pest and disease detection and crop damage assessment under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Wadhwani AI plans to test these solutions with Rajasthan’s agriculture extension teams and incorporate feedback before making them available to farmers during Kharif 2027.
The state is also working on an institutional framework to develop and scale AI-based agricultural innovations. These efforts aim to build a more technology-, data- and AI-driven agriculture service ecosystem in Rajasthan.
Himachal Pradesh Procures Over 8,000 MT of Apples Under Market Intervention Scheme
The Himachal Pradesh government has procured more than 8,000 metric tonnes of apples under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), with over 17,000 farmers registered on the HPMIS portal. Procurement began on August 1 through 213 Apple Collection Centres operated by HPMC and HIMFED and will continue until October 31.
Himachal Pradesh accounts for around 80% of the state’s total fruit production and nearly half of the area under fruit cultivation, while contributing about 22% of India’s apple production. The 2026-27 procurement season has been fully digitised through HPMIS, covering farmer registration, procurement, digital receipts, transportation, processing, monitoring and payments.
Farmers receive digitally generated receipts for deposited produce, while eligible payments are transferred directly to registered bank accounts through DBT after verification. The system also enables real-time monitoring of apple movement and processing at HPMC facilities in Parala, Parwanoo and Jadol.
The state government said the digitised MIS is aimed at improving transparency, protecting growers during market gluts, supporting value addition and making procurement more efficient and farmer-friendly.