Europe: AI-assisted international press reviewPress review

European Parliament Rejects Proposal to Classify Soybean Oil as High ILUC Risk

The European Parliament's rejection of a regulation classifying soybean oil as a high risk of ILUC (indirect land use change) is seen as a pivotal moment for the soybean value chain in Europe. This decision, backed by a coalition of agricultural organizations, aims to enhance the sector's competitiveness and resilience while promoting innovation and investment.

Vertical Farms: Demand-Driven Planning Becomes a Profitability and Waste Reduction Lever

British companies Harvest London and Crate to Plate have received financial support from the ADOPT program of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to deploy Ani, a production planning platform that links confirmed customer orders to real-time crop planning. This project, taking place across multiple sites in London, aims to enhance the efficiency of controlled environment farms, with estimates of resource and waste reduction.

In France, Leclerc Partners with Vivescia Cooperative and Roquette to Develop Low-Carbon Ethanol Sector

The French retail chain Leclerc is teaming up with the Vivescia cooperative and industrial player Roquette to establish a French low-carbon ethanol sector as part of its decarbonization strategy announced for April 2025. This initiative aims to produce E85, a more environmentally friendly fuel, and to enhance the industrialization and sustainability of biofuels in France.

Carbon Transition: Agricultural Cooperatives Seek Economic Solutions

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in industrial tools and 25% among farmers will cost over one billion euros by 2030, emphasized Christophe Grison, Vice President of La Coopération Agricole, during a morning session dedicated to carbon storage. In light of this investment challenge, industry stakeholders stress the urgency of transforming climate goals into concrete economic levers to engage producers. A central question remains: how to direct this funding?

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Reducing acrylamide formation during cooking by 59% without yield loss: this is the achievement of a new wheat variety developed by CRISPR, which has just received official "biological precision" status in the UK. Developed under the PROBITY project, this groundbreaking innovation provides a direct response to future European standards on this carcinogenic contaminant, paving the way for real-world trials among grain producers and processors.

Controversial Adoption of Emergency Agricultural Bill by the Senate

The emergency agricultural bill, passed by the Senate, raises concerns about its environmental impacts. Both chambers of Parliament have approved very different versions, with provisions deemed contrary to European law and relaxations on pesticides. Upcoming negotiations are expected to be tense, with strong mobilization from agricultural unions and environmental associations, reflecting the political divides surrounding this text.

Surus Connect Expands Its Alert System for Isolated Workers in Agriculture

Following agricultural operations, Surus Connect broadens its focus to include agricultural service providers, cooperative unions, and collection silos. The young Bordeaux-based company, which develops a protection device for isolated workers specifically designed for agriculture, aims to address the safety challenges in structures where employees often work alone in dispersed areas or poorly covered by networks.

InSoil Secures €120 Million to Fund Regenerative Agriculture in Europe

Lithuanian climate finance company InSoil has secured a €120 million loan to expand its support for agricultural SMEs adopting sustainable practices. This funding, one of the largest in Europe for sustainable agriculture, is backed by the European Investment Fund and aims to address the growing need for capital to modernize equipment and improve soil health. InSoil, which has already financed over 3,500 SMEs, is committed to reducing CO2 emissions through carbon credits while participating in a rapidly expanding investment cycle in the sector.

Stenon Raises $20.5 Million to Enhance Nitrogen Management Amid Rising Fertilizer Prices

Yara Strengthens Its Position with Acquisition of Ammonia Plant in the U.S.

Norwegian company Yara International ASA has announced the acquisition of the Gulf Coast Ammonia plant in Texas for $1.3 billion, as part of its energy diversification strategy and competitiveness enhancement. With a capacity of 1.3 million tons per year, the plant is expected to achieve stable production by the end of 2026, thereby strengthening ammonia supply for its internal and external customers. This operation is part of a financial discipline framework aimed at maximizing shareholder value.