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Global/Regional News
Compliance wall: China rewriting world’s agriculture trade rules
Sharp contrasts have emerged across Asia’s agricultural trade landscape, revealing how China’s updated import rules are restructuring supply chains throughout the region. Read more…
U.S. House passes farm bill that would reshape global food aid program
The U.S. House advanced legislation that could change how the U.S. delivers international food assistance. Senate consideration is next. Read more…
Country News
Australia’s food prices could increase due to the Iran war
Input costs surge by up to 61 percent as Middle East conflict drags on
Australia’s vegetable growers have been hit by a 61 per cent spike in median diesel fuel costs and a 51pc surge in median fertiliser costs since the start of the Middle East conflict… Read more…
Severe weather warning for Australia as rain band, damaging winds and dangerous surf intensify
Heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds are expected to affect every state and territory over coming days, with flooding possible in parts of NSW and Tasmania. Read more…
AZM Zahid inaugurates IRRI-Boro procurement in Ghoraghat
“The initiative would not only benefit farmers but also play an important role in ensuring the country’s food security,” said Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister AZM Zahid Hossain. Read more…
Reforming agricultural research system
Today, Bangladesh agriculture stands at another critical turning point. The challenges facing the country are becoming increasingly complex. Read more…
Shouguang strengthens role as national vegetable seed breeding hub
Shouguang, a county-level city in Weifang, Shandong province, has once again been designated as a national regional high-quality seed breeding base by China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Known as one of China’s leading vegetable production centers, Shouguang focuses on developing domestically bred seed varieties for the vegetable industry. Read more…
New technologies, equipment make farming smarter in China
Improved crop variety coverage in China has exceeded 96 percent, and the comprehensive mechanization rate for crop cultivation and harvesting has reached 76.7 percent. Intelligent tools are making farming more efficient and less labor-intensive. Read more…
Canada-China Trade Talks: Progress Made on Canola Tariffs
The Canadian government has yet to secure a permanent elimination of tariffs on Canadian products like canola due to ongoing discussions with Beijing regarding Chinese steel and aluminum. Read more…
Seed Industry Calls for Strengthening India’s Agrobiodiversity Amid Global Supply Shocks
Highlighting the growing impact of geopolitical disruptions, climate variability, and global supply chain uncertainties on agriculture, Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) called for stronger national focus on preserving and strengthening India’s agricultural biodiversity. Read more…
Odisha: SOA, ICAR-CRRI ink MoU to boost rice research, climate-smart agriculture
The collaboration will focus on promoting cutting-edge agricultural research through joint academic and research initiatives involving the different institutions. Read more…
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), in collaboration with Gourmet Popcornica Private Limited, India’s largest popcorn company, is witnessing the successful outcomes of a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening India’s popcorn maize value chain, enhancing farmer incomes, and advancing India’s ambition to become a global hub for high-quality popcorn maize production. Read more…
Indonesia expects stable rice output despite El Nino risk
Indonesia’s rice production is expected to remain stable despite the risk of El Nino-triggered drought later this year. Read more…
Sudan Invites Indonesian Investment in Agriculture and Halal Industry
Sudan is seeking a strategic partnership with Indonesia by positioning itself as a gateway to Africa’s growing halal economy, offering access to vast agricultural resources and regional markets across the continent. Read more…
How Low-Emission Rice Is Produced in Central Java
The Singaporean agricultural technology company, Rize, and Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL), a research institution based in Singapore, have agreed to expand the low-emission rice project in Indonesia. Read more…
Next-Generation Variety Development Service Combines Neutron Breeding and Smart Breeding Platforms
Quantum Flowers & Foods (QFF), based in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, has initiated a collaboration with Grand Green, headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. This partnership aims to harness neutron beam breeding technology and smart breeding platforms to structure an advanced variety development support service. The initial phase of their collaboration will focus on tomato variety development. Read more…
Japan to buy back up to 150,000 tons of released stockpiled rice as inventories climb
Japan’s agriculture ministry plans to buy back up to 150,000 metric tons of rice in fiscal 2026 from the 590,000 tons it released from stockpiles on an emergency basis in 2025 following nationwide shortages. Read more…
Japan designates broccoli as essential vegetable amid rising demand
Broccoli was added this spring to Japan’s list of “designated vegetables,” becoming the first new entry in 52 years to be recognized as essential to the Japanese diet. Read more…
Through the 1H4FS project, FAO will support national authorities to place risk analysis at the centre of food safety governance, helping to identify priority risks, guide evidence-based decision making, improve risk communication and strengthen multisectoral collaboration. Read more…
France sows seeds of climate-resilient agriculture in Laos
The first initiative, Promoting Climate-Resilient Irrigation, is led by the Department of Irrigation with technical support from Ginger SOFRECO and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Read more…
Padi Bill to boost Sarawak food security
Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang said the establishment of the Bill would help reduce the state’s dependence on external food supply while improving long-term sustainability. Read more…
Govt’s decisions based on thorough study, Mat Sabu says over subsidy cuts
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu emphasised that all government decisions, including the cessation of price controls and chicken subsidies as well as the retargeting of egg subsidies, were made based on thorough research and consideration for the long-term interests of the people. Read more…
Punjab agriculture minister holds talks with Chinese delegation
Punjab offered Chinese companies opportunities in agricultural machinery manufacturing as a Chinese delegation expressed interest in investing in the province’s farming sector. Read more…
Layyah sets 5,000-acre early cotton target, DC orders full achievement
A meeting of the District Cotton Management Committee was held, where targets for cotton cultivation and measures to enhance production in the district were reviewed. It was mentioned that there is no shortage of seed, fertiliser or pesticides in the district, while farmers are being continuously guided on Bt cotton cultivation. Read more…
Pakistan’s EO-3 satellite to strengthen climate monitoring, agriculture, urban planning
Experts say the satellite’s operational capabilitiesare particularly important for Pakistan, which remains highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters. Read more…
Pakistan plans export zones, disease-free compartments for livestock exports
Pakistan plans to accelerate livestock exports by establishing dedicated meat processing export zones and disease-free compartments for major animal diseases. Read more…
PHL to grow rice with higher iron, zinc content
The government has approved the commercial propagation of a rice variety with higher iron and zinc content in its bid to minimize deficiency-linked diseases among Filipinos. The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) issued a biosafety permit for the commercial propagation of HIZ039 rice, which is owned and licensed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). Read more…
Drone farming takes off in Cagayan as FPA brings tech caravan to 237 farmers, students
The caravan gave attendees a firsthand look at Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) or agricultural drones, through live field demonstrations and information sessions. Read more…
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca), held a forum on how to “effectively respond to the triple shocks impacting the Philippine agriculture sector.” The triple shocks referred to are skyrocketing fuel costs, rising fertilizer prices, and the strong El Niño predicted to hit the country the second half of this year that can last till early next year. Read more…
Digital agriculture reborn: Korea-Philippines ODA Project launches ‘AbCDE 1.0’
AbCDE is an integrated platform designed to consolidate, validate, and analyze beneficiary data across all Department of Agriculture (DA) programs. Read more…
BPI buys analyzer to strengthen rice quality enforcement
The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has acquired a rice quality analyzer (RQA) aimed at strengthening government efforts to enforce Philippine rice standards and establish technical benchmarks that could eventually distinguish locally produced rice from imported varieties. Read more…
El Niño, Middle East conflict threaten Philippine rice output
The Philippine agriculture sector estimates El Niño could cut the country’s rice output by up to 4 million tonnes this year. The Department of Agriculture has lowered its production forecast for 2026 from 20.28 million tonnes to 19.87 million tonnes. Read more…
USDA: Philippines to produce less sugar this year
Local sugar production is estimated to decline by 200,000 metric tons (MT) this year due to the effects of the incoming El Niño weather phenomenon and the lack of sugarcane expansion areas, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said. Read more…
More rice for less methane? This Singapore lab is already seeing success with regional rice farmers
Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) scientists, with the help of local partners, introduced to the farmers a new method involving a different concoction of fertiliser, a more weather-resilient rice variety and a different irrigation method called alternate wetting and drying (AWD). Read more…
Muddy boots, drones and makgeolli: Lee takes wheel in rural Daegu
President Lee Jae Myung stepped into the rice paddies of rural Daegu on Friday, driving a rice transplanter and later sharing Korean rice wine, or makgeolli, with farmers in an outreach to rural communities. Read more…
Korea expands Latin American footprint with advanced farm tech tests in Bolivia
Korea is turning to Bolivia’s rugged farmlands to test a new generation of export-ready agricultural machinery, betting that tractors built for the Andes could unlock wider markets across Latin America. Read more…
Korea, Netherlands sign upgraded MOU for agriculture cooperation
Korea and the Netherlands have upgraded their memorandum of understanding (MOU) on bilateral agriculture cooperation for the first time in 13 years. Read more…
Sri Lanka launches a new digital seed-sector system (CROPIX)
One of the more notable agri-innovation developments this month was the launch of CROPIX, a digital system intended to modernize Sri Lanka’s seed sector. The platform is expected to improve seed traceability, certification, and coordination—important for productivity, crop quality, and future agricultural innovation. Read more…
Sri Lanka Invites WTO Members to Comment on Draft Food Labelling and Advertising Regulations 2026
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a draft regulation on food (labelling and advertising) regulations 2026. WTO members are invited to submit comments on notification G/SPS/N/LKA/38/Add.3. The comment period expires on June 06, 2026. Read more…
Banana fiber extraction site set up in Pingtung
An automated banana pseudostem fiber extraction site has been set up in Pingtung County to promote the circular use of bananas, the Agriculture and Food Agency said, hailing the site as a first for Taiwan. Read more…
International climate change workshop held in Taipei
Experts from Japan’s Center for Climate Change Adaptation and the Korea Adaptation Center for Climate Change together with local experts joined discussions on three topics: impact drivers and analysis, adaptation and support systems, and adaptation framework and policies, the NSTC said. Read more…
Bridging Food Ecosystems: Inside the EU’s Strategic Agri-Food Push in Thailand
As THAIFEX 2026 takes centreer stage in Bangkok, the European Union is stepping into the spotlight not just as an exhibitor, but as the event’s Official Partner Region. Read more…
Representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) outlined ongoing regulatory reforms designed to accelerate Thailand’s drone industry development. CAAT shared updates on revised regulations permitting larger drones exceeding 25 kilograms and announced progress on the country’s upcoming National Drone Master Plan… Read more…
Ho Chi Minh City views biotechnology industry as new groundbreaking growth driver
Ho Chi Minh City is accelerating the development of the biotechnology industry, viewing it as a groundbreaking sector capable of supporting green growth and sustainable development. Read more…
Vietnam, Philippines further boost cooperation in food security
Vietnam and the Philippines are stepping up cooperation to ensure food security, with rice trade emerging as a key pillar of their partnership amid growing global uncertainties. Read more…
New Fertilizer Supply Chain Network Formed to Support Vietnam’s 1-Million-Hectare Rice Program
Under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded Fertilize Right (FerRight) project, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in collaboration with the Plant Production and Protection Department (PPD) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) and the Department of Agriculture and Environment (DAE) of Can Tho City, teamed up to scale efforts in implementing a government program that focuses on the sustainable development of one million hectares of low-emission rice cultivation in the Mekong Delta region by 2030 (the 1mHa Program). Read more…
Rice farmers can reduce the amount of seeds sown to 60-80 kg/ha.
Recommendations from the agricultural sector indicate that dense sowing is detrimental, leading farmers in many localities in the Mekong Delta to begin implementing solutions to reduce seed usage. Read more…
On May 26th, the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture held a conference to summarize the 2026 Science and Technology Month, and to review the Academy’s science, technology, and innovation activities for the 2023-2025 period. Read more…
Industry Updates
Research Finds Genetically Modified Feed Safe for Livestock
Researchers from Arba-Minch University and Borena University in Ethiopia evaluated the effects of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) used as livestock feed. Read more…
Genetic basis for ‘umami’ taste in Yamagata’s ‘edamame’ found
The “Dadachamame,” a specialty product of this northeastern city, is a line of “edamame” soybeans that are eaten green and known to be delicious. Read more….
How New Maize Hybrids Are Giving South Asia’s Farmers a Fighting Chance
The new batch of five hybrids from CYMMYT’s maize research addresses two distinct and increasingly prevalent stress conditions across South Asia’s maize belt. Three varieties (CIM20ADTY-41, CIM20ADTY-66, and CIM20ADTY-70) were developed under CIMMYT’s South Asia Drought Tolerant (SADT) pipeline, targeting rainfed cultivation in lowland tropical environments where unpredictable rainfall with prolonged dry spells is a persistent constraint. Read more…
Wild Legume Genes Offer Hope for Salt-Tolerant Crops
Researchers identified four candidate genes linked to salt tolerance—especially CIPK6, whose unique promoter features in salt-tolerant plants may explain its stronger response to salt stress and potential use in developing salt-tolerant crops. Read more…
The Transformative Role of Plant Genomic Studies in Advancing Crop Resilience
Learn what is Plant Genomics and why it matters. Read more…
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