Soils, Inputs & Water: AI-assisted international press reviewPress review

Enfant avec des outils dans un atelier artisanal apprenant des compétences en métallurgie.

Biobest Strengthens Its Presence in Morocco with Full Acquisition of Subsidiary

BioFirst Group announces that its division Biobest has finalized an agreement to acquire 100% of its biocontrol agent production subsidiary in Morocco, increasing its stake from 50% to 100%. This transaction, pending approval from the Moroccan competition authority, marks a key milestone in Biobest's development in the region, where beneficial insects for crop protection are produced. BioFirst CEO Jean-Marc Vandoorne emphasizes the company's commitment to providing high-quality biological solutions to growers.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Biobest to take full ownership of its production entity in M..." - 15 September 2026

Un agriculteur en tenue traditionnelle répand de l'engrais dans un champ verdoyant.

Fertilizer Management: A Climate Pathway for Pakistan

A recent study reveals how smarter fertilizer management can help Pakistan reduce its agricultural emissions while supporting food production, focusing on nitrogen use efficiency, particularly in wheat cultivation, the main source of N₂O emissions.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Fertilize right, emit less: A climate-smart pathway for Paki..." - 15 September 2026

Vue aérienne d'un tracteur travaillant dans un champ verdoyant, avec des vaches qui paissent à proximité, illustrant l'agriculture rurale.

BASF Prepares for IPO of Agricultural Solutions Division by 2027

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

Tracteur pulvérisant un champ agricole vibrant. Capture de l'agriculture moderne en action.

Eden Research Raises £10.8 Million to Accelerate Biopesticide Development

British company Eden Research has raised £10.8 million to support the development and testing of its biopesticide solutions. The company has also secured new approvals for Mevalone®, targeting downy mildew in vineyards in France and California, as well as a temporary approval in Italy for Ecovelex™, intended for corn seed treatment.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Eden Research: £10.8M fundraise backs biopesticides as Meval..." - 8 September 2026

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Google Funds Water-Efficient Irrigation in Texas Rice Fields

Specializing in agricultural sustainability programs, American company AgriCapture partners with Google and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to reduce water consumption in Texas rice fields. Google will finance the installation of more water-efficient irrigation systems and provide incentives to producers, with a stated goal of saving 5.4 billion gallons of water over 6,000 acres.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "AgriCapture partners with Google to advance water stewardshi..." - 8 September 2026

Kazakhstan Innovates with Drones for Crop Protection

Kazakh scientists have developed a revolutionary technology, BioDrop, which utilizes drones to release beneficial insects over agricultural fields. This method is faster and more efficient than manual techniques and could transform pest control while reducing the use of chemical pesticides.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Kazakhstan deploys drones to release beneficial insects onto..." - 8 September 2026

Pest Alert: Thrips Parvispinus Threatens Pepper Production in Almería

The detection of Thrips parvispinus across all pepper production areas in Almería 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

Kekkilä-BVB and Arevo Adapt Crop Nutrition Innovation for Nordic Gardens

European growing media specialist Kekkilä-BVB partners with Swedish AgTech Arevo to integrate its plant nutrition technology, Arginex, into gardening products for Nordic and Baltic countries. Already utilized in agriculture and forestry, this arginine and phosphorus-based formulation aims to enhance nutrient use efficiency and minimize leaching.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Kekkilä-BVB and Arevo partner to bring arginine-based crop n..." - 4 September 2026

Rangs de plants de tomates vibrants poussant dans un environnement de serre bien éclairé.

Lidea Launches Seed Coating to Reduce Nitrogen Inputs

European seed company Lidea has introduced Nitro Boost, a seed coating developed in collaboration with Agronutrition by DSG that combines biofertilization and biostimulation. Targeted primarily at corn and cereals, this solution integrates bacteria capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen, a biostimulant, and a zinc and manganese complex. According to the seed company, it could reduce mineral fertilizer applications by 20 to 40 nitrogen units per hectare. Over 33 trial sites from 2022 to 2025, Lidea reports yield gains of up to 4.1 q/ha under water stress conditions.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Nitro Boost: Lidea launches an innovative seed coating solut..." - 31 August 2026

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Poland Leverages NGTs to Accelerate Wheat and Sugar Beet Breeding

Four plant breeding companies from Krajowa Grupa Spożywcza are partnering with the University of Silesia to test innovative genomic techniques. This three-year pilot project aims to assess the effectiveness of NGTs in developing new winter wheat and sugar beet varieties, while enhancing local expertise and reducing reliance on foreign technologies.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Poland turns to NGTs to speed up wheat and sugar beet breedi..." - 28 August 2026