Rae Gara

Cherry Tomato Cultivation in the Tropics 🌴 Step into our bamboo-structured greenhouse, where we're cultivating these beautiful cherry tomatoes with a sweetness level ranging between 9-10 Brix In these tropical conditions, achieving year-round cultivation can be a real challenge, especially in protecting our precious plants…

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US (CA): Rooftop greenhouses set up for ag research center

Architecture studio Perkins&Will has placed a series of greenhouses on top of a concrete structure to create this agricultural research centre in California. Called Riverside Plant Research One 1, the two-storey structure was created for the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) at the…

New global reporting tool keeps farmers on track

"“We’ve seen a direct advantage in unit economics with farmers that are using AmpEDGE software. When managing a farm, it all comes down to yield and how fast you can turn plants over. With backend business management built into the platform, all data can be correlated to what the growing elements were at…

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Qatar: Water use in farming to be cut by 40% by 2030

As part of efforts to enhance water security, food production, and security as well as promote sustainable agriculture, Qatar targets to reach an average of 40% improvement in water consumption per tonne of crop produced by 2030, said an official. “It’s not easy to replenish water, especially in arid…

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Are seed-propagated strawberries the future?

In November, 2023, Sakata Seed Corporation will start an activity to commercialize F1 seed strawberry varieties suitable for greenhouse cultivation in the near future. Japanese strawberry varieties are highly praised internationally for their delicious flavor. However, Japanese strawberry varieties are…

Russia: In recent years, growing microgreens has become a trend in Yekaterinburg

In recent years, microgreens cultivation has surged in Yekaterinburg, with several growers achieving efficient processes and production scalability. Entrepreneurs Alexey…

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Vietnam: Growers switch to high-value crops in unproductive rice fields

Farmers in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap have switched to growing short-term crops and perennial trees and breeding aquatic species on nearly 5,000ha of paddies. The crops include vegetables, watermelon, corn, and lotus and the trees include mango, jackfruit, lime, and orange. Mango, jackfruit,…

How to conquer downy mildew and botrytis

Downy mildew and Botrytis diseases of roses are among the few challenges that a grower can deduce their occurrence based on the prevailing weather conditions and climate inside the greenhouse. This is primarily because the development of the two diseases is affected by climate and, to a great extent,…

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US (CA): Department of Pesticide Regulation proposes regulation to provide public access to pesticide information prior to applications

The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) noticed a proposed regulation for a statewide system that will provide the public with information prior to intended applications of restricted material pesticides in California. DPR’s proposed regulation builds on the process in the state of California to…

US (MA): State Agricultural Resources Commissioner Randle tours storm-damaged farms in Western Massachusetts

Following devastating storms that washed out roads and flooded fields and farms, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle visited Western Massachusetts two days this week to meet with farmers impacted by the storm. Commissioner Randle joined state and local…

Rising imports should cause greenhouse vegetables price drop

In Belgium, both loose and truss tomato prices fell last week, thus halting the recent price increase. That was not unexpected now that volumes from Spain are picking up. Last…

Ethiopian Ministry points out major areas to boost horticulture’s export performance

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture has pointed out that enhancing productivity and ensuring quality would boost the export performance of the horticulture sector. Agriculture Minister Girma Amente has stated that the horticulture sector has allowed in creating employment opportunities with limited space,…

11 bankruptcies, more stoppers and mostly ornamental horticulture

The number of bankruptcies and business terminations without bankruptcy in Dutch horticulture did increase slightly in 2022, but large numbers of bankruptcies were avoided.…

Global fertilizer market set to recover, despite potential disruptions due to the Israel-Hamas war

According to a recent report by Rabobank, the outlook for the global fertilizer market is positive in the coming years, with some challenges and potential risks to be monitored. The global fertilizer market is recovering, with an estimated increase in usage of around 3% in 2023, following a 7% drop in…

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Breeders welcome the adoption of the new Explanatory Notes on Essentially Derived Varieties by the UPOV Council

After four years of debate, the UPOV Council, in its 57th Session on October 27, 2023, adopted the new Explanatory Notes (EXN) on Essentially Derived Varieties, which replaced the EXN of 2017. During the revision process, the worldwide breeders’ community was represented by the International Seed…

US (NY): New plot-labeling program supports plant breeders in Global South

Plant breeding is a numbers game – to quickly develop needed crop varieties in the face of rapidly changing climatic conditions, plant breeders need to screen thousands of plants each year. Now, a new, free program that creates QR labels for field plots will help plant breeders in lower-income countries…

Zucchiolo, a cross between cucumber and zucchini

Granada La Palma SCA and UNICA Group, where the SCA Group is integrated, have signed an agreement for the joint commercialization of Zucchiolo, a product of the biotechnology group Beyond Seeds. La Palma and El Grupo, which are based on the Costa de Granada and associated with Cooperativas Agroalimentarias…

Model calculates mixtures with peat alternatives

The use of peat in potting soil and substrate is under pressure. That is why producers are looking for alternative ingredients. The aim is for professional substrate to consist of 35% renewable raw materials by 2025 and at least 90% by 2050. Producers off course want to know what properties such a new…

Ukraine: Business cultivates and sells microgreens and edible flowers

Due to the war, Volodymyr Mironenko and his girlfriend Veronica moved from Kharkiv to Ivano-Frankivsk. In their new location, they started their own business growing…

"In the end, rising freight costs lead to higher offer prices in retail"

The upcoming toll increase on 1 December is causing a stir in the German haulage industry, including in the fruit and vegetable haulage sector. The planned massive increase in the toll rate will lead to a significant increase in freight costs, which will have to be passed on to the freight payer.…

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Guyana makes headway in food security with hydroponics

With Guyana leading CARICOM in its ambitious goal of reducing its import bill by 25 percent by 2025, the National Agricultural and Research Extension Institution (NAREI) has launched a hydroponics project in collaboration with private-owned company Victoria Greens. Hydroponic farming is an efficient…

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Horticultural lighting workshop at Michigan State University

Registration fee is $65 per person and includes light morning refreshments, lunch, educational program, and tour. Participation is limited to 75 people. Registration ends on December 12th, or when the event reaches capacity.

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Pumpkin consumption is increasing in Hungary

Germany: Mark Hübner to lead Knuspr & Gurkerl as new CEO, aiming for Rohlik Group growth to €10bln by 2030The Rohlik Group has embarked on a new chapter with Mark Hübner taking the reins as CEO of Knuspr.de and Gurkerl.at from November 1, 2023. Lorenz Diederichs will continue as co-managing director,…

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US: Secretary Vilsack highlights USDA’s commitment to future generations in agriculture

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed students, agricultural educators, and guests at the opening session of the 96th National FFA Convention and Expo before signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the organization formalizing a partnership to prepare more students for careers in food,…

Denmark: New top lighting LED launched for greenhouses

LED iBond has developed a new top lighting lamp (marketed as Hortisabertm) with a design targeted at the established market for top lighting lamps used in modern greenhouse facilities around the world. Martin Løbel, CEO of LED iBond International comments: “We enter a large market with a competitive…

Portugal will use seawater for irrigation in agriculture

From the 2028 agricultural harvest onwards, farmers in the Odemira irrigation perimeter will start using desalinated water. This water will be coming from a plant in Sines, being distributed through a pipeline, possibly by the sea. Luís Mesquita Dias, president of AHSA, believes that the desalination…

US (CA): Ribbon-cutting at Salinas' crop improvement and protection research center

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today for the opening of the newly constructed Sam Farr United States Crop Improvement and Protection Research Center in Salinas, California. The over 117,000-square-foot research center features…

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US (MO): MARSfarm inspires urban farming education with classroom greenhouses

MARSfarm, a STEM-education startup based in Overland, designs and manufactures greenhouses that can fit on a classroom desk. Cofounders Peter Webb and Drew Thomas have been manufacturing counter-sized greenhouses since 2020 and are now in 600 schools across the country. Their goal is not only to impact…

Chinese astronauts grew tomatoes and lettuce in space

Chinese astronauts from the "Shenzhou-16" mission, who returned to Earth after spending several months in space, have successfully grown lettuce, tomatoes, and green onions on…

NL: Wageningen horticultural scientist appointed top expert at Netherlands Academy of Engineering

Silke Hemming, a researcher in horticultural technology affiliated with Wageningen University & Research, has been appointed top expert of the Netherlands Academy of Engineering (NAE). This new national organization brings together 62 experts in technological sciences, applied engineering research, and…

Zimbabwe: Ebenezer ag training center's a beacon of hope for young growers

In the heart of Zimbabwe, just 65 kilometers from Bulawayo, lies a farm with a profound mission. Ebenezer Agricultural Training Centre, affectionately known as 'Ebenezer,' isn't just a place where crops grow and livestock are tended to. It serves as a beacon of hope and knowledge for young, aspiring…

Bananadrama

An alleged banana robbery recently caused a stir in the Thai village of Buriram, where a neighbor boy had feasted on a bunch of bananas without asking. The owner of the 'stolen' bananas, 33-year-old Kung, demanded 100 euros in compensation. The issue was brought to light after the parents approached the media about what they saw as an absurd fine, which was eventually reduced to 80 euros, according to The T…