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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 This project includes the installation of powerful transformers and the replacement of outdated cables to meet the growing electricity demand driven by the rise of technologies such as electric vehicles and modern heating systems.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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Syngenta Invests $130 Million in Agricultural Biosciences Research Center
Syngenta announces the construction of BioSTaR, a state-of-the-art agricultural biosciences research center in the UK, with a $130 million investment. This center will bring together 300 scientists to develop innovative agricultural solutions, integrating advances in biology, chemistry, and digital technologies, including artificial intelligence. The initiative aims to strengthen the UK's position as a global leader in agricultural innovation while creating quality jobs and supporting sustainable farming practices.
Source: Agropages, published under the title "Syngenta builds world-leading research center for agricultur..." - 18 March 2026
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Solugen Raises $50 Million to Develop Innovative Organic Fertilizer
Texas-based Solugen has raised $50 million to accelerate the production of Azogen, a liquid organic fertilizer aimed at organic farming. Derived in part from pig manure, this product seeks to close the yield gap with conventional systems. The company plans to expand its industrial capacity in North America to meet rising demand.
Source: Agropages, published under the title "Solugen raises $50 million to scale production of Azogen, a ..." - 18 March 2026
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Enza Zaden Develops 18 Tomato Varieties Resistant to ToBRFV in Seven Years
Dutch seed company Enza Zaden has developed 18 high-resistance tomato varieties against the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), a disease that has rapidly spread worldwide since 2015. The company published in the scientific journal Breeding Science the methodology that enabled the development of these varieties in seven years, utilizing molecular tools such as marker-assisted selection.
Source: Agropages, published under the title "How Enza Zaden developed 18 ToBRFV HR resistant tomato varie..." - 18 March 2026
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Iberdrola to Hold Its Annual General Meeting on May 29
Iberdrola, a major player in the energy sector, has announced that it will hold its Annual General Meeting on May 29. This event will provide an opportunity for investors to discuss the company's performance and development prospects, particularly in the context of the energy transition and sustainability initiatives.
Source: Iberdrola, published under the title "Iberdrola calls its General Shareholders' Meeting for 29 May" - 18 March 2026
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Enel Announces Purchase of 13.27 Million Own Shares in March 2026
Enel S.p.A. has revealed the acquisition of 13.27 million own shares between March 9 and 13, 2026, as part of a buyback program aimed at providing additional remuneration to shareholders. The average purchase price is set at €9.3459 per share, totaling €124 million. Since the start of the program, the company has repurchased over 51 million shares, bringing its total holding to nearly 188 million own shares.
Source: Enel, published under the title "Enel informs about the purchase of treasury shares between M..." - 18 March 2026
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Transition from Venture Capital to Infrastructure Capital in Controlled Agriculture
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) has experienced a rapid expansion period due to historically low interest rates, but the recent rise in rates has exposed financial vulnerabilities. Operators must now adapt to a market structure that imposes limits on price flexibility while adopting more disciplined industrial practices to ensure sustainable growth.
SEPEHR ACHARD, Source: Igronews, published under the title "The Shift From Venture Capital to Infrastructure Capital in ..." - 17 March 2026
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Frontera Ag Acquires Spanish PlantSustain to Enhance Biocontrol Offerings
American company Frontera Ag has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Spanish firm PlantSustain, which specializes in plant and soil health technologies. Based in Malaga, PlantSustain develops solutions aimed at improving crop resilience and promoting sustainable agricultural systems. This acquisition is expected to enhance Frontera Ag's capabilities in biological crop protection and large-scale solutions, subject to customary closing conditions.
SEPEHR ACHARD, Source: Igronews, published under the title "Frontera Ag Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire PlantSusta..." - 17 March 2026
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Unibio and SIIG Launch World's Largest Single-Cell Protein Plant in Saudi Arabia
The joint venture between the Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG) and Danish biotech Unibio International PLC aims to establish a single-cell protein production facility in Al Jubail, with an initial capacity of 50,000 tons per year and ambitions to expand to over 300,000 tons. This project, utilizing innovative fermentation technology, addresses the need to reduce Saudi Arabia's dependence on animal feed imports while aligning with the country's Vision 2030.
SEPEHR ACHARD, Source: Igronews, published under the title "Unibio & SIIG to Build World’s Largest Single-Cell Protein P..." - 17 March 2026
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Crop Genomics: R&D Infrastructure Surpasses Patents
The plant genomics sector is undergoing a strategic shift: competitiveness no longer primarily relies on intellectual property, but on research infrastructures capable of accelerating breeding cycles. Companies like Enza Zaden and Syngenta are investing in platforms that allow for the multiplication of crop generations each year, reducing varietal development timelines from over ten years to just a few years.
SEPEHR ACHARD, Source: Igronews, published under the title "Crop Genomics’ New Moat: Why Physical Infrastructure Now Bea..." - 17 March 2026
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