From breakthrough crop genetics and AI-driven agricultural innovation to changing global trade flows and food-system modernisation, this edition of GrowinAgri Daily brings together key developments shaping agriculture across markets.
The latest updates highlight the growing role of international collaboration in developing climate-resilient crops, while companies are investing in new technologies for seed enhancement, livestock methane reduction and sustainable production.
Global trade is also evolving, with overseas rice buyers looking more directly to India and Peru expanding its blueberry presence across Asian markets. Meanwhile, India is strengthening carbon-market integration, fisheries innovation and foodgrain management, while Coal India explores productive uses for abandoned mine pits.
Together, these developments reflect a broader shift toward more technology-driven, resilient, efficient and interconnected agriculture and food systems.
James Hutton Institute Joins Global Network to Accelerate Crop Genetics Innovation
The James Hutton Institute has joined the newly launched International Plant Pangenome Network (IPPGN), a global initiative focused on advancing plant pangenomics and crop genetics. Plant pangenomics captures the full genetic diversity within a species, helping researchers identify variations linked to crop performance, resilience and productivity.
The approach could support the development of higher-yielding, climate-resilient and disease-resistant crop varieties. IPPGN brings together researchers, industry partners and technology developers to share expertise, data, tools and best practices.
The network will also address challenges in analysing complex plant genomes and developing specialized computational tools. Another key focus is establishing standards for graphical pangenomes to improve data interoperability and reproducibility.
By strengthening international collaboration, IPPGN aims to accelerate crop improvement research and contribute to sustainable agriculture and global food security.
Global Plant Pangenome Network Targets Next Breakthrough in Crop Genetics
The global plant science community is joining forces to unlock the full genetic diversity within crops through the newly launched International Plant Pangenome Network (IPPGN), with the James Hutton Institute among its members. Plant pangenomics goes beyond a single reference genome by mapping genetic variations that could improve crop yield, resilience and adaptation.
The approach could help breeders access traits for drought tolerance, disease resistance and stable productivity as climate conditions become more unpredictable. However, complex plant genomes and challenges such as repetitive DNA and multiple chromosome sets make large-scale analysis difficult.
IPPGN aims to address these barriers by connecting researchers, industry and technology developers to share data, expertise, tools and best practices. The network is also working toward common standards for graphical pangenomes to improve data interoperability and reproducibility.
By turning broader genetic diversity into practical breeding resources, IPPGN could help accelerate the development of climate-resilient crops and strengthen long-term global food security.
ADAMA’s Ferrabait® Wins First EU Registration, European Launch Set for 2027
ADAMA has secured the first European Union registration for Ferrabait®, its new molluscicide powered by the novel Feralla® active ingredient, in Latvia. The approval marks a major step toward the product’s wider European rollout, with launches planned in France, Sweden and Lithuania from 2027.
Ferrabait® is designed to control slugs and snails quickly, with stop-feeding activity and control within three days of application. The product is approved for cereals, rapeseed, potatoes and high-value vegetable crops.
Its proprietary Desidro® Technology produces durable, highly palatable pellets designed to perform longer under wet conditions and resist mold. Feralla® was approved by the EU as a low-risk active substance in 2025.
ADAMA says Ferrabait® offers European growers an additional tool to manage rising slug and snail pressure while meeting evolving sustainability and regulatory expectations.
Incotec Expands Brazil Seed Enhancement Capabilities with Renewed Laboratories
Incotec has expanded its seed enhancement capabilities in Brazil with the opening of renewed laboratory facilities at its Holambra site. The upgraded labs are designed to strengthen research, testing and customer collaboration for advanced seed enhancement solutions.
The facilities will enable customers to work directly with Incotec experts to develop and optimize technologies aimed at improving seed performance. The new site brings together three core units: the Application Laboratory, Seeds and Plants Laboratory, and Biolab. Each unit will focus on developing high-value technologies and practical applications aligned with market needs.
Incotec says the investment reinforces its commitment to innovation, operational excellence and a customer-centric approach. The facilities will also support practical workshops and hands-on customer assistance to help growers and industry partners achieve better performance from seed enhancement technologies.
Sunshiki Raises ¥80 Million to Scale Seaweed-Based Cattle Feed for Methane Reduction
Japanese climate-tech startup Sunshiki has raised ¥80 million in pre-seed funding to scale production and commercialize a seaweed-based cattle feed additive designed to reduce methane emissions. The Kochi University spin-out uses Asparagopsis taxiformis, a seaweed associated with reported methane reductions of 49–77% in cattle.
The funding will support production expansion, commercialisation-focused R&D and new hiring as the company works to make cultivation more consistent and cost-effective. Sunshiki has already achieved stable output in 7,000-litre commercial-scale test tanks and is developing an AI-enabled platform to optimize seaweed cultivation.
The company is also building capabilities across the supply chain, from seaweed seed production to cultivation and processing. Its approach aligns with Japan’s growing interest in seaweed for livestock emissions reduction, blue carbon and coastal economic opportunities.
Sunshiki’s long-term challenge will be proving that Asparagopsis can be produced reliably and economically enough to become a scalable methane-reduction solution for the livestock industry.
Yili Launches Shanxi Forage Initiative to Cut Dairy Feed Costs
China’s Yili has launched a local forage development initiative in Shanxi Province to help dairy farms reduce feed costs, improve feeding efficiency and strengthen domestic feed security. The programme focuses on forage resources suited to the Yanmen Pass agro-pastoral ecotone, with the aim of reducing reliance on imported feed such as alfalfa.
Yili says its locally sourced forage technologies can replace more than 8% of imported alfalfa in applicable feeding programmes. Farms using the technologies have reported daily feed-cost savings of RMB2.06 per cow, alongside an average increase of 1.38 kg in daily milk production per cow.
The company has developed solutions covering more than 40 types of local forage and eight categories of compound silage fermentation technologies. The initiative also supports stronger integration between crop production and dairy farming while improving regional feed resilience.
As China’s dairy sector shifts toward greater efficiency and profitability, locally produced forage could become an increasingly important tool for controlling costs and supporting sustainable milk production.
Overseas Rice Buyers Turn Directly to India as Global Sourcing Patterns Shift
A Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026 survey indicates that overseas rice buyers are increasingly looking directly to India as geopolitical uncertainty reshapes global sourcing and trade-event participation. Around 37% of registered overseas buyers said instability in the Gulf influenced their decisions regarding international trade events.
BIRC has recorded registrations from 3,317 international buyers representing 138 countries, with Bangladesh, Benin and Nigeria among the leading participants. The conference will be held on October 23 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, providing buyers direct access to India’s rice production, milling, processing and export ecosystem.
The survey suggests companies may increasingly diversify their sourcing and networking locations rather than depend on a single geography. Geopolitical tensions and disruptions linked to the Iran conflict are also affecting corporate travel and international business gatherings in the Gulf.
For Indian rice exporters, the shift could create opportunities to establish stronger and more direct long-term relationships with buyers across global markets.
Peru Expands Blueberry Exports to India, Thailand and Singapore as Asia Emerges as Key Growth Market
Peruvian blueberry exporter Euroandes Foods Import is expanding its focus on India, Thailand and Singapore as part of a broader strategy to diversify into growing Asian markets. The company is using a bimodal logistics model, combining sea freight to Europe with onward air shipments to Asia to improve delivery efficiency and preserve fruit quality.
India, Thailand and Singapore are viewed as long-term opportunities, with rising consumption and increasingly demanding quality standards. Logistics remains a major challenge, with shorter sea transit times from South America seen as important for making Peruvian blueberries more accessible.
Peru continues to be the world’s leading blueberry exporter, with its main export season running from August to February. Weather-related production declines of 40–50% have been reported in some varieties and fields, although total volumes could remain similar to last season with more stable prices.
Danper is also expanding its production base, targeting nearly 800 hectares of grapes and around 1,000 hectares of blueberries while strengthening direct relationships with customers across Southeast Asia.
UK Recognises India’s Carbon Credit Scheme, Easing CBAM Burden for Exporters
The UK has recognised India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) as an eligible carbon-pricing mechanism under its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), potentially reducing carbon-related costs for Indian exporters.
The recognition means eligible carbon prices already paid in India could receive relief when calculating UK CBAM liabilities, subject to documentation and verification requirements. The development is particularly relevant for exporters of steel, aluminium, fertiliser and cement, among other carbon-intensive products.
The UK is scheduled to implement its CBAM from 2027, increasing the importance of carbon-price recognition for Indian businesses targeting the UK market. The move could help exporters avoid effectively paying carbon charges twice—once under India’s domestic framework and again through the UK’s border mechanism.
India’s CCTS aims to create a market-based system for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through tradable Carbon Credit Certificates. The recognition is also expected to strengthen India-UK cooperation on carbon markets while potentially improving the competitiveness of Indian carbon-intensive exports in the UK.
CIFT Kochi Secures Indian Patent for Waterless Live Transport of Aquatic Species
ICAR–Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi, has received an Indian patent for an innovative system enabling waterless live transportation of aquatic species. The technology aims to overcome challenges associated with conventional water-based transport, including the weight of water, continuous power requirements and the need for separate aeration, filtration and cooling systems.
It operates under controlled hyperbaric-hypothermic conditions, using elevated pressure and reduced temperatures inside an insulated container. Integrated sensors continuously monitor oxygen, humidity and temperature, with alerts triggered when parameters move beyond predefined limits.
The system supports both manual and automatic operating modes, offering a more flexible approach to live aquatic transport. Trials involving different aquatic species recorded survival rates of up to 95%.
The patented technology could provide a cost-efficient, sustainable and less power-intensive solution for fisheries and aquaculture supply chains.
Coal India and CIFRI Partner to Turn Abandoned Mine Pits into Sustainable Fisheries Assets
Coal India Limited (CIL) and ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) have signed an MoU to explore sustainable fish farming in suitable abandoned, water-filled coal mine pits. The partnership will focus on scientific pisciculture, particularly cage fish farming, alongside fisheries research, training, capacity building and community extension.
CIFRI will assess mine-water toxicity, contaminants, ecological balance, fish productivity and environmental suitability before and during project implementation. Local communities and Self-Help Groups will receive technical training to develop skills and create sustainable livelihood opportunities.
CIL and its subsidiaries will identify suitable mine voids, support logistics and provide project funding on a case-by-case basis. The initiative aligns with CIL’s Mission GREEN, Just Transition and sustainable mine-closure goals by converting suitable post-mining water bodies into productive resources.
With a five-year MoU, the collaboration could establish a scalable model linking fisheries development, environmental restoration, food security and livelihood generation in mining-affected communities.
Food Ministry and FCI Sign MoU to Boost Operational Efficiency and Modernise Foodgrain Management
The Department of Food & Public Distribution and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) have signed an MoU for the 2026–27 fiscal year to improve operational efficiency and modernise foodgrain management. The agreement establishes measurable annual targets focused on storage, logistics, quality control, digitisation and organisational performance.
Key priorities include reducing storage losses, optimising storage capacity and strengthening logistics and supply chain management. The MoU also aims to improve foodgrain quality control through stronger monitoring and management systems.
FCI will accelerate the digitisation of business processes and adopt modern information technology solutions to improve efficiency and accountability. Capacity building and skill development programmes for FCI employees are also part of the modernisation agenda.
The outcome-oriented framework is expected to strengthen FCI’s performance and improve the efficiency of India’s foodgrain procurement and distribution system.
Uttar Pradesh Livestock Insurance Scheme: Government to Cover 85% of Premium
The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing to implement the “Mukhyamantri Risk Management and Livestock Insurance Scheme” in the financial year 2026–27 to protect livestock farmers from financial losses arising from animal deaths and other specified risks.
Under the proposed scheme, the state government will cover 85% of the insurance premium, while livestock owners will contribute only 15%. Cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep and pigs are proposed to be covered, with insurance options of one, two and three years.
The maximum insured valuation is proposed at ₹75,000 for classified-breed buffaloes, ₹65,000 for indigenous or crossbred cows and ₹6,500 for small animals. Beneficiaries of key dairy schemes under the Nand Baba Milk Mission are expected to receive priority coverage.
Insurance coverage of up to 25 Large Animal Units per family is also proposed. The government is focusing on affordable premiums, simpler claim procedures and timely settlements to ensure the scheme provides meaningful financial protection to livestock farmers.