Biotech & Genetics: AI-assisted international press reviewPress review

Eight Nordic Institutions Unite to Industrialize Plant Phenotyping

In response to climate change, Nordic countries are accelerating agronomic data initiatives with NordPheno, a project led by the University of Helsinki and funded by NordForsk. Bringing together eight research institutions, it aims to establish a digital plant phenotyping infrastructure that combines AI, IoT, and interdisciplinary training. The goal is to expedite varietal selection and enhance crop resilience while training over 100 researchers in five years, aligning with the European Green Deal.

Syngenta Bets on Seedless Angello Peppers to Meet Plant Snack Demand

Syngenta's seedless Angello sweet peppers, valued for their taste and convenience, meet the growing consumer demand for healthy, ready-to-eat products, enabling farmers to position themselves in the rapidly expanding plant snack market. Through agronomic innovations, these seedless peppers offer increased disease resistance and better adaptation to climatic conditions, while allowing producers to maintain consistent yields.

Non-Alcoholic Beers: Lesaffre Launches Dedicated Yeast to Meet Growing Demand

Agritech and Foodtech: Primogene, Opalia, and Earlybird Lead a Wave of Investments and Innovations

The latest news from the agritech sector reveals significant fundraising, strategic acquisitions, and government initiatives to support innovation. Primogene and Opalia stand out with their innovative projects in biomolecules and cell-based dairy products. Meanwhile, Earlybird announces the closing of its largest fund at 360 million euros, strengthening the startup ecosystem in AI and deeptech. The passage of the U.S. farm bill also raises crucial issues for the sector.

Plant Proteins: Green Boy Invests in Fudi Protein and RuBisCO Valorization

Green Boy Group, a global supplier of plant-based food ingredients, has made an early investment in Fudi Protein, an innovative Dutch startup that extracts RuBisCO protein from alfalfa using a localized processing model, allowing the by-products to be returned to local farmers. This protein positions itself as a viable alternative to animal and dairy proteins, meeting the growing demand for high-quality proteins.

Afyren Secures 3 Million Euros for Its Bio-Based Refinery Afyren Neoxy

Biotalys Secures EPA Approval for EVOCA, Refocusing on Biofungicides

Biotalys reaches a key milestone with the EPA's approval of its biofungicide EVOCA, validating its AGROBODY™ technology platform. Concurrently, the Belgian company forms a strategic partnership with AgroFresh to strengthen its post-harvest positions and refocuses its efforts on advanced biofungicide programs. Despite losses in 2025, the company aims for an EVOCA NG launch in the U.S. by 2029, in a market estimated at over one billion dollars.

Syngenta Reports 2% Growth and Strengthens Focus on AI and Bioproducts

In the first quarter of 2026, Syngenta Group recorded a 2% increase in sales, reaching $6.4 billion. The company emphasizes innovation, particularly through next-generation trait technologies and AI-based agronomy solutions. Crop Protection sales performed particularly well in China and Europe, driven by strong demand for biological products.

Biocontrol: Green Algal Oligosaccharides Pave New Path Against Crop Diseases

As global agriculture shifts towards more sustainable solutions, derivatives of green algal oligosaccharides emerge as an innovative response to reduce chemical use while maintaining disease control effectiveness. With dual action mechanisms, these molecules not only activate plants' natural defenses but also directly inhibit pathogens, as evidenced by their success in controlling tea anthracnose, citrus canker, and grape downy mildew.

Biosolutions and Seeds: Syngenta Reports 2% Growth in Q1 2026

In the first quarter of 2026, Syngenta Group reported sales of $6.4 billion, reflecting a 2% increase compared to the previous year. The Crop Protection division achieved sales of $3.5 billion, driven by strong demand for biological products, while the Seeds division experienced significant growth, particularly in Latin America.