AI-assisted international press reviewPress review

EagleNXT Invests in Aerodrome to Enhance Its Defense Capabilities

EagleNXT, a leader in drone systems, announces a strategic investment in Aerodrome Group, an Israeli innovator in precision munitions. This initiative aims to enhance autonomy and precision strike technologies while paving the way for future collaboration in the United States. The agreement aligns with EagleNXT's mission to develop innovative solutions for defense and other sectors, thereby strengthening its position in the advanced defense technology market.

Source: Ageagle Aerial Systems, published under the title "EagleNXT Announces Strategic Investment in Leading Israeli P..." - 19 March 2026

EagleNXT's eBee VISION Drone Selected by U.S. Army for Training

EagleNXT has announced that its eBee VISION drone has been selected by the U.S. Army to enhance the training of unmanned systems operators. This drone, compliant with NDAA standards, is optimized for realistic training missions, offering a 90-minute flight time and real-time data transmission. This acquisition underscores EagleNXT's commitment to the defense sector, reinforcing its previous sales to military units for operational simulations.

Source: Ageagle Aerial Systems, published under the title "EagleNXT eBee VISION ISR Drone Selected by U.S. Army for adv..." - 19 March 2026

Energy & Construction

Equinor Strengthens Market Focus with Two New Business Areas

Equinor announces the establishment of two new business areas to better capture opportunities in the energy market. The first focuses on refining and infrastructure, while the second aims to enhance trading and integrate digital solutions. These changes are designed to improve value creation and align strategy with market needs, with implementation planned for 2027.

Source: Equinor, published under the title "Stronger market orientation to capture more value" - 19 March 2026

Energy & Construction

TotalEnergies Opens France's First Advanced Plastic Recycling Plant

TotalEnergies has inaugurated an advanced plastic recycling plant in Grandpuits, marking a key step in transforming its site into a zero-crude platform. With a capacity of 15,000 tons per year, this facility employs pyrolysis technology to convert hard-to-recycle plastic waste into synthetic oil, enabling the production of recycled plastics of equivalent quality to virgin plastics. This initiative, in partnership with Plastic Energy, Citeo, and Paprec, aims to support the development of a new recycling industry in France.

Source: Totalenergies, published under the title "Grandpuits Zero-crude Platform: TotalEnergies Starts Product..." - 19 March 2026

Energy & Construction

TotalEnergies Calls for Its General Assembly in May 2026

The Board of Directors of TotalEnergies has decided to convene its Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assembly on May 29, 2026, with proposals for the renewal of mandates and the addition of a new director. Gender parity within the Board will be maintained, and amendments to the statutes regarding age limits for executives will also be on the agenda. A discussion on sustainable development ambitions and energy transition will take place.

Source: Totalenergies, published under the title "Convening of the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on May 29, 202..." - 19 March 2026

AgrifoodInvestors

Agrifoodtech Funding Stalls as Dynamics Shift

AgFunder's report on agrifoodtech investment for 2026 reveals a funding stagnation at $16.2 billion, with increasing focus on upstream startups and a rise in debt financing. Despite growing environmental challenges, interest in deep technologies is strengthening, although investors remain cautious due to past failures. Companies must navigate a changing market to attract the necessary capital for growth.

Jennifer Marston, Source: Agfundernews, published under the title "New report: Agrifoodtech funding is flat but the story is sh..." - 18 March 2026

AI & Data

Cargill Leverages AI to Accelerate Food Innovation

The American agribusiness giant Cargill is deploying artificial intelligence across its entire innovation process to enhance ingredient formulation and sensory optimization. The company relies on these tools to speed up product development while combining human expertise, external collaborations, and sustainability requirements in its decision-making.

Jennifer Marston, Source: Agfundernews, published under the title "Unpacking Cargill’s AI strategy to transform R&D in an incre..." - 18 March 2026

Energy & ConstructionEurope

Farms: New Renewable Energy Hubs by 2050

FRANCE - In light of the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, farms could play a key role in renewable energy production. France is focusing on biomass to develop biofuels, but concerns are emerging regarding the availability of this resource. The multiannual energy programming anticipates an increase in biogas injection capacity, while agrivoltaics could enable farms to produce as much electricity as nuclear power. A forward-looking study suggests that by 2050, 80% of farms could become energy producers, thus transforming the agricultural and energy landscape.

Publié par Pleinchamp, Source: Pleinchamp, published under the title "[Dossier] Produire de l’énergie sur les fermes, ou comment c..." - 18 March 2026

Energy & Construction

Iberdrola: Global Leader in Business Ethics for the 13th Year

Iberdrola, the only Spanish energy company in the ranking of the most ethical companies, reinforces its commitment to responsible governance practices. With its subsidiary Avangrid, it stands out among global leaders in ethics, having been evaluated on over 240 criteria. This recognition highlights the growing importance of integrity in the energy sector while consolidating Iberdrola's reputation as a model of compliance and transparency.

Source: Iberdrola, published under the title "Iberdrola, selected among the most ethical companies in the ..." - 18 March 2026

Energy & Construction

Upgrade of the Electric Network in Salford: ScottishPower Moves Quickly

ScottishPower Electricity North West, a subsidiary of ScottishPower, is investing over €27 million in modernizing Salford's electric network. This project includes the installation of powerful transformers and the replacement of outdated cables to meet the growing electricity demand driven by the rise of technologies such as electric vehicles and modern heating systems.

Source: Iberdrola, published under the title "ScottishPower’s Greater Manchester grid upgrade project is p..." - 18 March 2026

Energy & Construction

Iberdrola to Invest €20 Billion in the UK by 2028

The meeting between Rachel Reeves and Ignacio Galán in Madrid highlights Iberdrola's commitment to the UK, with a strategic investment of €20 billion planned by 2028. This amount will primarily be allocated to modernizing electrical networks, a crucial issue for the electrification of the economy and the country's energy security.

Source: Iberdrola, published under the title "Rachel Reeves, the UK Secretary of State for Business, meets..." - 18 March 2026

AgrifoodInvestors

Local Bounti Raises $15 Million Through Convertible Note

The American controlled-environment salad producer Local Bounti has raised $15 million through a convertible note from an existing investor. This operation, the second in less than a year, comes as the company seeks to strengthen its financial position, despite sales growth and cost-cutting efforts, amid pressure from NYSE market capitalization requirements.

MADISON HONG, Source: Igronews, published under the title "Local Bounti Secures $15M Convertible Note From Strategic In..." - 18 March 2026

AI & Data

Wikifarmer Leverages AI to Structure Global Agricultural Trade

The Greek platform Wikifarmer has raised $7.7 million to develop its B2B marketplace dedicated to agriculture. By leveraging artificial intelligence to connect buyers and producers in over 45 countries, the company aims to accelerate its expansion in Latin America and Africa while enhancing the digitization of agricultural supply chains.

SEPEHR ACHARD, Source: Igronews, published under the title "Wikifarmer Bags $7.7M to Build AI-Powered Operating System f..." - 18 March 2026

Investors

Solugen Raises $50 Million to Expand Organic Fertilizer Production in Canada

Solugen, a company specializing in organic fertilizer production, has announced a $50 million funding round to increase its production capacity of Azogen, a liquid nitrogen fertilizer derived from pig manure. This financing, led by Idealist Capital, will enhance the capacity of the existing plant in St-Patrice-de-Beaurivage and build a new facility in Quebec, while preparing for an expansion into the U.S. market. The initiative addresses the growing demand for sustainable and circular agricultural solutions, supporting the transition to low-carbon agriculture.

SEPEHR ACHARD, Source: Igronews, published under the title "Solugen Raises $50M to Scale Organic Nitrogen Fertilizer Pro..." - 18 March 2026

Soils, Inputs & Water

Syngenta Innovates with INSIOR® Gr A to Combat Beet Yellowing

As part of its agro-environmental transition strategy, Syngenta invests in biosolutions with INSIOR® Gr A, an innovation in olfactory biocontrol. This solution, which uses allomones to repel the green aphid vector of yellowing, has shown promising results in 2025 trials. The renewal of its exemption for the 2026 campaign allows for new approaches in integrated protection of beet crops.

Source: Syngenta, published under the title "INSIOR® Gr A : une innovation contre la jaunisse de la bette..." - 18 March 2026

Biotech & Genetics

Resurrect Bio and Corteva Partner to Enhance Corn Disease Resistance

American biotech Resurrect Bio has entered into a development agreement with Corteva to combat some of the major corn diseases in the United States. The company is developing a technology that combines artificial intelligence and in-plant screening to identify and reactivate natural resistance genes bypassed by pathogens. This partnership aims to accelerate the development of more resistant varieties while reducing reliance on chemical inputs.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Resurrect Bio and Corteva join forces to unlock nature’s own..." - 18 March 2026

Energy & Construction

Equinor Strengthens Helicopter Fleet in Bergen with New Contract

Equinor has awarded a contract to Bristow Norway AS for helicopter services in Bergen, Norway. This contract, valued at approximately 1.1 billion NOK, will commence on May 1 and will include two S-92 helicopters for offshore transport from Flesland Airport. With this new agreement, Equinor, which operates around 5,000 helicopter flights annually, ensures operational continuity by maintaining two existing helicopters while collaborating with other operators.

Source: Equinor, published under the title "Equinor strengthens helicopter capacity in Bergen" - 18 March 2026

Soils, Inputs & Water

The Strait of Hormuz: A Key Point for Global Fertilizer Supply

The International Fertilizer Association (IFA) urges policymakers to act to ensure the stability of fertilizer supply chains to support global food security. Recent conflicts in the Middle East highlight the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz for fertilizer trade. With 30% of global fertilizer exports coming from this region, any disruption could have dramatic consequences for global food production, particularly for vulnerable smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Source: Agropages, published under the title "Le détroit d’Ormuz, point clé pour l’approvisionnement mondi..." - 18 March 2026

Energy & Construction

Oil Discovery Strengthens Development of Johan Castberg Field

Equinor announces a new oil discovery in the Johan Castberg field, with estimates of 14 to 24 million recoverable barrels. This advancement is part of a continuous exploration strategy, aiming to drill one to two wells per year to increase resources and extend production. The initial volume of the field is 500 to 700 million barrels, with a significant increase target. Construction of the Isflak discovery has also begun, marking a key milestone in the development of this region.

Source: Equinor, published under the title "New oil discovery strengthens the development of Johan Castb..." - 18 March 2026

Agrifood

Protix Shifts Focus to Asia for Insect Farming

Protix, the Dutch pioneer in insect farming, is changing course by focusing on Asia, where production costs and regulations are more favorable. CEO Maiko van der Meer announces a strategy of acquisition and construction to develop facilities for aquaculture, livestock, and pet food. While Europe remains a development hub, Protix is betting on joint ventures with local partners in Asia to overcome the economic and regulatory challenges faced in Europe and North America.

Elaine Watson, Source: Agfundernews, published under the title "Dutch insect ag firm Protix shifts focus to Asia: ‘We could ..." - 18 March 2026