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Global/Regional News
UPCOMING EVENT: Webinar: Global Impact of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops
Join the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), Inc. and CropLife Asia for a Global Launch Webinar on the Global Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts of Biotech/GM Crops on September 17, 2026, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM (SGT) via Zoom and live streaming on social media platforms. Registration is now open to all interested participants. Register now for free to secure a slot at bit.ly/GlobalGMCrops2026. Click here for more details.
ISAAA Inc. Announces Panfilo de Guzman as New Deputy Director
The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), Inc. has announced the appointment of Mr. Panfilo de Guzman as its new Deputy Director. Prior to his appointment, Mr. de Guzman served as a Senior Associate Scientist at ISAAA, where he was responsible for the administration and management of projects supported by local and international collaborators. Read more…
Australia/New Zealand
Industry backs launch of National Bioenergy Feedstock Strategy
THE FEDERAL Government has launched a National Bioenergy Feedstock Strategy aimed at helping agricultural and forestry industries seize economic opportunities from producing crops and raw materials suited to the production of low-carbon liquid fuels. Read more…
Australian and US officials meet to advance agricultural trade
Delegates including USDA officials and US state and industry representatives are visiting Melbourne for the USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission from 30 August to 3 September. As part of the visit, Minister Collins will meet with Under Secretary Lindberg to discuss issues including improved market access, tariffs and biosecurity. Read more…
Govt working to develop new rice varieties: Amin Ur Rashid
“BRRI Dhan-118 will be released for the haor region in the next season. The cold-tolerant variety will allow early transplantation and early harvesting. As a result, farmers will be able to bring their crops home before flash floods, significantly reducing losses,” Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said. Read more…
Govt to import 365,000 tonnes of fertiliser to shore up stocksv
The government is set to import 365,000 tonnes of fertiliser in its effort to build up stocks amid concerns over the supply of the essential crop nutrient due to the US-Israel war on Iran and China’s export ban. Read more…
Govt targets sustainable farming on 50% of land
Currently, 44.37 percent of the country’s agricultural land is under such practices, a share the government plans to raise to 50.01 percent, said Kamrul Hasan, joint secretary of the policy and planning branch at the Ministry of Agriculture, at a conference. Read more…
China approves law to enhance food security and modernize farming
With 14 chapters, the law sets out the basic goals of agricultural and rural economic development, including raising the overall production capacity, quality and efficiency of agriculture. Read more…
From robot dogs to homegrown seeds: how technology is transforming China’s vegetable powerhouse
In a greenhouse in Shouguang, east China’s Shandong Province, a robot dog patrols the aisles. Its cameras scan bell pepper leaves for early signs of disease — spotting problems days before they become visible to the human eye. Read more…
China’s Summer Grain Output Crosses 150 Million Tonnes for First Time
China’s summer grain production reached a record 150.75 million tonnes in 2026, crossing the 150-million-tonne mark for the first time, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Read more…
China unveils new IP system for plant breeding to boost innovation in the seed industry
China has formally launched a new intellectual property protection system for plant breeding, aiming to encourage innovation in the seed industry and support the country’s drive to improve food security by developing superior crop varieties. Read more…
Chouhan Asks States To Ensure 100% Coverage Of Digital Agriculture Schemes
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan asked states to achieve full coverage under the government’s Digital Agriculture Mission and Pulses Self-Reliance Mission, saying the success of the programmes should be measured by their impact on farmers rather than government records. Read more…
Govt expands digital fertiliser tracking system to link farmers, subsidies
The department has been developing new dashboards that give officials a consolidated view of production, imports, dispatches, stocks and retail sales at the national, state, district and retailer level, aimed at flagging unusual trends or supply shortfalls earlier. Read more…
Indonesia and FAO Launch 2026-2030 Agrifood System Plan
The Indonesian government and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) officially launched the Country Programming Framework (CPF) 2026–2030 on Thursday, August 21, 2026. The five-year cooperation plan aims to build more sustainable, resilient and inclusive agrifood systems in Indonesia. Read more…
Indonesia confident on food security outlook as farm output rises
Indonesia expressed confidence about its food security outlook, citing rising agricultural production, stronger government food reserves, and improved policy incentives as it advances long-term efforts to build a more productive, resilient, and self-sufficient food system. Read more…
Indonesia Drives APEC’s Digital Food Agenda
Indonesia is pushing innovation and digitalization higher on the regional food-security agenda, using its active role in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to promote more resilient, efficient and interconnected food systems. Read more…
Combined with the revised Plant Variety Protection and Seed Law, enacted this summer to tighten export controls prior to variety registration, the ministry is stepping up efforts to protect brand agricultural products through this two-pronged approach, with the institution handling everything from licensing and monitoring to legal battles on behalf of developers. Read more…
Japan rice stockpile buyback targets price floor in 2026
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) plans to start purchasing rice for government reserves as early as September, after it reviews the 2026 harvest outlook and receives input from an expert panel. Read more…
Laos launches project to boost sustainable agri-food systems
The project will provide financial, technical and nutrition-related services to smallholder farmers to strengthen their livelihoods. Read more...
The High-Level Policy Dialogue at UN House in Vientiane concluded the Youth4Laos Digital Agriculture Challenge, in which students from the Republic of Korea, Japan and Lao PDR were invited to propose practical digital solutions to the problems facing small-scale farming families in Lao PDR. Winning proposals were announced at an award ceremony at the close of the morning programme. Read more…
GMO rice trial aimed at strengthening future food security, says ministry
The proposed controlled field trial of genetically modified rice is aimed at gathering scientific data that could help Malaysia strengthen long-term food security amid growing pressure on agricultural land. Read more…
The Malaysian government published the Food (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2026 in the Federal Government Gazette. This amendment revises Food Regulations 1985, introducing new requirements for imported food and making specific changes to persticide residue limits. The new regulations will come into operation on March 1, 2027. Read more…
Mohamad Sabu: Malaysia must leverage technology, rural development to strengthen food securityv
In a recent statement, Malaysia’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, emphasized the need for Malaysia to draw lessons from China to bolster its agricultural sector and food security. Read more…
Consensus reached on GM, non-GM maize coexistence framework
Pakistan has moved a step closer to commercialising genetically modified (GM) corn as a government committee, after weeks of consultations, reached a broad consensus on a transition framework allowing GM and non-GM maize to coexist while addressing industry concerns over seed availability, prices and safeguards. Read more…
Finance Minister Backs Plan to Finally Bring Local GM Corn to Market
Aurangzeb chaired a government committee meeting in Islamabad on Monday to review Pakistan’s policy on genetically modified maize and discuss the framework needed to introduce it commercially. The committee reached agreement on the way forward and decided to finalize a detailed plan for the transition and implementation of genetically modified corn. Read more…
PM directs comprehensive reforms to modernise agriculture sector
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif directed the greater activation of agricultural research institutions to promote the development of the country’s agriculture sector and bring research activities in line with international standards. Read more…
DA intensifies crackdown on fake farm inputs nationwide
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is tightening its campaign against counterfeit, unregistered, adulterated, and illegally manufactured farm inputs. Read more…
DA eyes AI-driven drones to bring Philippine farms closer to smart farming
The DA is exploring the use of drones and artificial intelligence to forecast, predict, and prevent crop problems, as it seeks to raise farm productivity and strengthen the country’s food security. Read more…
DOST-PCAARRD rolls out science-based solutions to ease rising agricultural costs
As rising fuel, fertilizer, transportation, and other input costs continue to pressure farmers and fisherfolk, the DOST-PCAARRD has launched the GALING-PCAARRD Kontra Krisis (GPKK) program to provide science, technology, and innovation (STI)-based solutions to crises affecting the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sector. Read more…
Protein security is now Singapore’s top priority
Singapore has stopped treating food supply shocks as rare events. For a country that imports over 90% of its food, disruption is now the baseline assumption. Read more…
Singapore steps up cabbage testing following reports of formaldehyde use in China
This comes after South Korea similarly stepped up inspections of Chinese cabbage imports as the food safety scandal in China, involving the vegetables being dipped in formaldehyde, stirs regional concern. Read more…
South Korea
South Korea Begins CPTPP Accession Talks, Pledges Livelihood Impact Assessment
Government to analyze economic effects, address agricultural opposition during accession discussions. Read more…
South Korea mandates proactive rice supply control under revised Grain Act
Under the revised Grain Management Act, the government must establish an annual grain supply and demand plan and set in advance the appropriate rice paddy cultivation area and the cultivation area for alternative paddy-field crops such as soybeans. Read more…
No formaldehyde detected in Chinese cabbage shipments to South Korea so far, say authorities
The South Korean food safety authorities said on Aug 26 that they had found no detectable formaldehyde in eight shipments of Chinese cabbage tested since reports emerged that the chemical had been used to preserve cabbage in parts of China. Read more…
Agriculture Is Sri Lanka’s Top Investment Bet Right Now, Says Deputy Minister
The Deputy Minister made the remarks while addressing questions about where capital should be directed as Sri Lanka continues its gradual economic recovery. Read more…
ProFood ProPack & AgBiz 2026 Concludes Successfully
The 23rd edition of ProFood ProPack & AgBiz 2026, Sri Lanka’s leading exhibition for the food processing, packaging and agriculture sectors, concluded successfully, attracting nearly 30,000 visitors and bringing together industry stakeholders from across Sri Lanka and overseas. Read more…
At a press conference by the Taiwan Science and Technology Media Center, scholars said that the biggest difference between gene editing and genetic modification is that there is no foreign gene. They hope that Taiwan can refer to these regulations to strengthen the plant’s ability to resist stress. Read more…
Taiwan, Thailand Agriculture Ministries hold online meeting on AI applications
Taiwan’s Agriculture Ministry and Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives held an online meeting focused on geospatial technology and agricultural survey applications. The discussions particularly focused on the use of AI and digital twin technology, according to a ministry statement. Read more…
Taiwan calls for inclusive smart agriculture at APEC meeting
This year’s meeting discussed how innovation and digital technologies can drive agricultural development and ensure food security, according to the agriculture ministry. Read more…
Thailand links AI and agriculture in new industrial strategy
Thailand has launched a new industrial strategy, dubbed “AI squared,” which aims to integrate artificial intelligence with agricultural innovation to boost the economy. Read more…
New roadmap aims to turn Thai agriculture into a global food powerhouse
Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister, Kobsak Pootrakool, has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap to elevate Thailand’s agricultural sector and ensure end-to-end food security. Read more…
Improving maize varieties through precision breeding: AMC 14
Biotechnology is enabling the precise design of maize varieties tailored to specific environments, replacing traditional selection methods based on empirical experience. Read more…
Policies paving the way for high-tech agriculture
A wave of new policies is expanding support for agricultural extension, digital transformation, raw material zone development, product traceability, and value chain integration, fueling momentum for high-tech agriculture. Read more…
Quang Ngai restores precious sticky rice genes
Applying biotechnology, Quang Ngai Province successfully restored the genetic resources of two specialty sticky rice varieties. Read more…
Vietnam: Grain and Feed Quarterly
Vietnam’s economy posted strong growth in the first half of CY 2026, boosting agricultural demand, with livestock and aquaculture production expected to grow steadily. Read more…
Industry Updates
Camilla Corsi, Head of Crop Protection Research & Development at Syngenta, is the winner of the prestigious 2026 American Chemical Society (ACS) International Award for Research in Agrochemicals. Read more…
Plant Gene-Editing Regulation Roundup
This edition provides updates to track plant gene-editing regulations. Read more…
New interactive GE regulation map now live
Country data is now displayed in a fully interactive map that can be moved and zoomed to different magnifications – great if you’re interested in areas of smaller countries that are harder to see as more global scales. Click to see the map.
Australian OGTR Receives License Application for Commercial Release of Insect Resistant Cotton
Australia’s Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received a license application (DIR 228) from Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd seeking approval for the commercial release of MON 15985 x COT102, a cotton variety genetically modified (GM) for insect resistance. Read more…
Researchers Develop AI Tool to Detect Tomato Diseases in the Field
Academics from Charles Darwin University (CDU), the University of Peradeniya (UoP), and partners developed a nearly 9,000-image tomato leaf dataset to improve AI-powered crop disease detection under real-world field conditions. Read more…
Rice Gene Variant Provides Combined Protection Against Drought and Blast
A team of researchers from Huazhong Agricultural University has identified a naturally occurring gene variant in rice that enhances both drought tolerance and resistance to blast disease. Read more…
Engineered Lettuce and Tobacco Plants to Produce Meat Protein
Scientists from Imperial College London and partners have engineered lettuce and tobacco plants to produce myoglobin, a protein found in animal muscle that gives meat its red color and contributes to its flavor. Read more…
Corteva Seeks Australia Approval for DP73496 x RF3 Canola
Australia’s Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received a licence application from Pioneer Hi-Bred Australia (Corteva) for the commercial release of its genetically modified DP73496 x RF3 canola. The canola variety confers tolerance to the herbicides glyphosate. Read more…
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