FRANCE. To support the evolution of agricultural practices, the association movement For a Living Agriculture has launched COVALO, an unprecedented coalition bringing together farmers, sectors, industries, financiers, and public actors. Interview with its General Director, Anne Trombini.
8 December 2025
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Michel J. F. Dubois, a leading expert in agricultural sciences at UniLaSalle University, expresses concern over the relentless decline in the relative weight of agriculture and calls for a genuine relationship between farmers and urban dwellers.
22 October 2025
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As Europe has just adopted its new framework on new genetic techniques (NGTs), Inf’OGM has unearthed a report published in 2023 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding competition in the seed sector. The document already highlighted the tensions between intellectual property, innovation, competition, and access to seeds.
Source: Info Ogm, published under the title "NTG et brevets : l’UE a choisi d’ignorer le précédent étasun..." - 16 September 2026
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On September 7, 2026, Yara inaugurated a COâ‚‚ capture facility at its ammonia production site in Sluiskil, Netherlands. With a capacity of 800,000 tons per year, this facility is the largest in Europe and aims to reduce emissions from the plant while transporting the gas to Norway for permanent storage under the North Sea. This project is part of a broader strategy for decarbonizing the fertilizer industry in Europe.
Source: Agro Matin, published under the title "Engrais : Yara inaugure une installation de captage du CO₂ a..." - 16 September 2026
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BASF has tasked Citi, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, and J.P. Morgan with preparing for the IPO of its Agricultural Solutions division, scheduled for 2027. This initiative aligns with the company's 'Winning Ways' strategy, aimed at maximizing the value of this branch as an independent entity. Concurrently, 80% of the business has been separated into distinct legal entities, enhancing agility and customer proximity. A strategic overview will be presented at the Capital Markets Day in November 2026.
Source: Agropages, published under the title "BASF mandates investment banks for planned IPO of Agricultur..." - 15 September 2026
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The evaluation of rapeseed varieties is experiencing significant advancements through the integration of modern technologies such as genomic editing and data analysis. These innovations aim to optimize yields and address sustainability challenges in the agri-food sector. The new methods enable more precise and rapid selection of varieties, thereby promoting the adoption of crops that are more resilient to climate change and market demands.
Source: Geves, published under the title "De nouvelles évolutions pour l’évaluation des variétés de co..." - 8 September 2026
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The biofortified 'Sunshine' tomato, developed at the John Innes Centre, has received commercialization approval in the UK. This fruit, rich in provitamin D3, could provide an economical solution to vitamin D deficiency, a major public health issue. Research indicates it may contain as much vitamin D as two eggs while maintaining its appearance and yield. Next steps include breeding to enhance flavor and obtaining approval from the FSA.
Source: Agropages, published under the title "United Kingdom - Biofortified ‘Sunshine’ tomato one step clo..." - 8 September 2026
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The Slovak government, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, has decided to challenge the European regulation that relaxes rules on new genomic techniques, allowing for the development of more resilient plants. This decision follows the European Parliament's approval of these techniques, which raise concerns among environmental advocates.
Source: La France Agricole, published under the title "Les nouvelles techniques génomiques dans le viseur de la Slo..." - 8 September 2026
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The OrphanCrops project from INRAE has received €1.45 million from the ERC to study several hundred crops that are currently neglected by research. The goal is to identify species capable of diversifying agricultural systems and better responding to future climatic conditions.
Source: Inrae, published under the title "Une bourse ERC pour explorer le potentiel des cultures orphe..." - 4 September 2026
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Researcher Germain Montazeaud has received a €1.5 million grant from the European Research Council (ERC) to test the 'green beard' hypothesis in plants: certain genes may allow related individuals to recognize and cooperate with each other. Ultimately, this research could pave the way for the development of more efficient and resilient varietal mixtures.
Source: Inrae, published under the title "Une bourse ERC pour tester l’hypothèse de la « barbe verte »..." - 4 September 2026
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The Swisspatat press conference highlights the future challenges of potato cultivation in Switzerland, featuring insights from Agroscope scientists on the use of modern technologies like CRISPR to develop resistant varieties in response to climate and phytosanitary challenges. The event, set to take place in Zurich, aims to promote sustainable agriculture and meet high-quality standards in the sector.
Source: Agroscope, published under the title "Préparer la culture de la pomme de terre aux défis à venir" - 4 September 2026
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The detection of Thrips parvispinus across all pepper production areas in AlmerÃa raises concerns among farmers. While not all farms are affected, vigilance is essential as the transplanting season comes to a close. Strict control measures and financial support are being implemented to address this invasive threat.
Team AgriMaroc.ma, Source: Agrimaroc, published under the title "Thrips parvispinus détecté dans toutes les zones de producti..." - 4 September 2026
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