In this issue, we feature MTU, a new active compound sold as a biostimulant product. In biocontrol, we have a review of the winners in the Bernard Blum Awards. Moving to geopolitics and markets, Professor Michael Tanchum maps the market opportunities for Biostimulants and Fertigation in Africa. In “Pulp fiction?”, producing potassium sulphate (SOP) from the residues of car batteries, wood pulp and paper production is set to become reality in 2024.
Why is Italy a market leader in biostimulants? See how country report where founder of Valagro (now part of Syngenta Biologicals) Giuseppe Natale provides an overview:

“Italy is more than a pasta machine – it produces a vast amount of fruits using various biologicals, there’s viticulture, olive groves, and open tomato fields for the canned industry. Recent trends include becoming the largest producer of soybeans among EU member states, and rising production of sorghum that survives well under drier conditions.”

To read the issue, here. A summary of the contents below:

BIOSTIMULANTS

MTU – a new European biostimulant
MTU, a new active compound, became available to farmers in the UK in 2022 and in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland in the spring of 2023. Janet Kanters investigates. Read here.

Biostimulant News
Valent BioSciences announces construction of new Oregon facility / Toopi Organics secures €16M to flood European agricultural markets with urine-based biostimulants / Syngenta launches biologicals service centre for seed treatment / Bionema launches RootVita

PLANT PROTECTION

Winners of Bernard Blum Award for Biocontrol Product 2023 Announced
The winners of the Bernard Blum Award for the most innovative biocontrol products were announced 22 October 2023 at Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM) in Basel, Switzerland. Read here.

Biocontrol News
BioConsortia Inc. announces expansion to Brazil / Natural soil bacterium may provide treatment to citrus greening / Invaio achieves registration for citrus greening solution / Partnership develops natural biocontrol products from microalgae / Novel biopesticide discovered by Rhodes University PhD researchers / PlantwisePlus launches in Bangladesh / Vestaron announces strategic collaboration with Bioinsectis / Andermatt Canada building new plant / IPL and government of Uzbekistan sign agreement / Futureco Bioscience’s BestCure biological fungicide receives OMRI organic certification

PRECISION AGRICULTURE

Precision Agriculture News
AGCO to acquire majority stake in Trimble’s precision agriculture business / Kansas State University launches next-gen Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics / Monarch autonomous tractor makes European debut

PRODUCTS AND TRENDS

Africa is the Geopolitical Future for Agri-Food Production
Mapping Market Opportunities for Biostimulants and Fertigation. By Michael Tanchum. Read here.

Pulp fiction?
Producing potassium sulphate (SOP) from the residues of car batteries, wood pulp and paper production is set to become reality in 2024. Read here.

Products and Trends News
De Sangosse Group acquires stake in ISCA Inc. / BIOWEG and Bayer forge collaborative partnership

IRRIGATION

Experimental area explores fertigation potential in Brazil
Embrapa and Netafim recently opened the Water Management Reference Unit (URMA) in Brazil. Leonardo Gottems writes.

IA honours dedicated industry contributors
By Anne Blankenbiller, IA Senior Communications Manager

REGIONAL REPORT

Why is Italy a market leader in biostimulants?
Italy’s rich agricultural heritage can be found across its regions. Read here.

AGRONOMICS AND ECONOMICS

Agronomics and Economics News
John Deere and Yara partner to increase fertilization efficiency / Sustainable smart agriculture with a biodegradable soil moisture sensor

PEOPLE
Bruce Bodine to succeed Joc O’Rourke as president and CEO of Mosaic Company
Pivot Bio names Chris Abbott CEO
Biotalys appoints Kevin Helash as CEO and director
Mark Slavens named president and COO of Nano-Yield
Jeff Rowe named CEO of Syngenta Group