June - July 2026
From sea urchin barrens to farm fields Early greenhouse trials in northern Norway suggest that sea urchins harvested from degraded coastal ecosystems could become a valuable source of crop biostimulants, offering farmers a locally produced alternative to imported agricultural inputs while helping restore marine habitats. Janet Kanters writes.
From ocean farms to crop fields A new seaweed processing facility on British Columbia's north coast is positioning Canadian-grown kelp as a larger player in North American agriculture. Janet Kanters writes.
Formulation for biologicals The adoption and efficacy of biological inputs is very dependent on formulation, but what are their requirements compared with more conventional products? Luke Hutson writes.
Inside Rovensa Next’s new Brazil pilot plant Rovensa Next has invested in a new pilot fermentation plant in Brazil, a facility the company says will help accelerate the development of microbial biosolutions while reducing the risks that often emerge when products move from the laboratory to industrial production.
Study shows RNA biopesticides can move from leaves to roots Researchers at the University of Queensland have found that double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-based biopesticides sprayed on plant leaves can move throughout the plant, including into root systems, potentially opening new opportunities to control difficult below-ground pests and diseases. Janet Kanters writes.
Mycoverse targets potato late blight with fungal-based crop protection platform Mycoverse, a spin-out from Technical University of Denmark, has raised €2.4 million in pre-seed funding to support development of fungal-based biological controls targeting potato late blight, one of the crop’s most damaging diseases. Janet Kanters reports.
BASF Agricultural Solutions commissions new fermentation plant for biological products BASF Agricultural Solutions has commissioned a new fermentation plant for biological crop protection products in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Luke Hutson reports.
Biocontrol NewsAgriodor secures €15 million to revolutionize crop protection with scent-based technology / IVIA reports strong results from biocontrol targeting citrus psyllid in Cyprus
Precision Agriculture NewsOneSoil launches AI Agronomist to deliver daily field insights for farmers / AGMRI launches AI Agent for real-time field-level agronomic decisions / FA Bio and Rhizocore among companies benefiting from UK Innovate funding
Brazil’s Embrapa looks to struvite technology to turn swine waste into fertilizer Brazilian researchers are advancing a new technological route for phosphate fertilization based on struvite, a slow-release mineral fertilizer recovered from swine manure, in a development that could significantly reduce the country’s dependence on imported phosphorus inputs while strengthening circular agriculture practices. Leonardo Gottems writes.
Tiny bubbles, big results Nanobubble technology is not new, and its adoption has grown especially over the last decade, a testament to its effectiveness. Treena Hein writes.
Products and Trends News Ostara unveils higher-analysis CG P2X fertilizer to boost nutrient efficiency / Svalbard Global Seed Vault nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Mapping orchard moisture tree by tree y As drought, rising water costs and tighter groundwater regulations continue to challenge crop production, researchers at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) have developed a precision irrigation system designed to help growers apply water only where it is needed. Janet Kanters reports.
Irrigation News Netafim study links drip irrigation to improved coffee production / Spherag teams with Rivulis to accelerate adoption of irrigation automation across Europe
Greenhouse Cropping NewsWUR launches global network to advance CEA / Vertical strawberry grower Oishii raises $150M
Cherries lead and hazelnuts surprise: keys to Chile's booming fruit exports Chile's solid position as one of the world's great agri-food powerhouses is largely due to its current agro-export dominance. It is the largest supplier of fresh fruit in the Southern Hemisphere and has just broken its historic export record for goods in the first month of the year. Manel González reports.
Study finds crops shape beneficial soil microbe functions regardless of where they grow Plants may have more control over their microbial partners than previously thought, according to new research showing that crop species consistently select microbes with specific beneficial functions regardless of soil type or geographic location. Janet Kanters writes.
Low-cost ‘electronic nose’ detects salt stress before crops show damage Researchers at U.S.-based Pennsylvania State University have developed a low-cost sensor network that can detect salt stress in crops before visible symptoms appear, offering a potential new tool for growers managing one of agriculture’s most persistent production challenges. Janet Kanters reports.
Agnomics and Economics NewsEvonik unveils Innovation Factory / GrainCore Dynamics unveils autonomous agriculture ecosystem / Pivot Bio invests $7 million in manufacturing and research centers
Spring leadership shuffle signals growth ambitions across agtech, biologicals and crop protection Spring 2026 has brought a steady stream of leadership appointments across the agricultural technology, crop protection and biologicals sectors. From executive-suite promotions and strategic hires to boardroom changes, companies are strengthening their teams to support commercialization, research, international expansion and grower engagement.
Look out for our next issue, where the theme will be combating heat stress.
This promises to be an essential issuewhere we tackle one of agriculture's most pressing problems.
We'll be looking at this topic fromvarious angles:
how plants protect themselves
the different ways that biosolutions work
what products are out there for growers
application practices, and future trends