Agriculture & Food Production

Solon, Ohio – September 15, 2026 -- Locus Agriculture is scaling deployment of Unpac, its glycolipid-based soil conditioner, across row and specialty crop systems after third-party lab testing showed reduced soil density and improved water penetration in California agricultural soils.

USDA data shows compaction affects nearly one-quarter of surveyed cropland

A USDA Economic Research Service analysis found growers identified soil compaction as a resource concern on 22% of surveyed wheat, soybean, oat and cotton fields. Compacted soil restricts root development and limits crop access to available water and nutrients, according to Locus.

Arkansas – September 14, 2026 -- Japan remains the largest foreign investor in Arkansas, operating more than 65 offices, research facilities, and manufacturing plants through over 30 companies, a footprint now extending into agricultural technology collaboration.

IEEE-USA and NARO convene the IWRC Smart Agriculture Technology Summit in Arkansas

The summit brings together NARO leadership, U.S. and Japanese agtech companies, entrepreneurs, researchers, and government officials to address open-field agriculture, controlled-environment farming, and food technology. Breakout sessions will cover advanced farming equipment, international research collaboration, and fertilizers and pesticides.

Hong Kong – September 13, 2026 -- YIKEDATM, a premium tomato brand, unveiled cherry tomatoes with an exclusive traceability label at ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA 2026, held September 2-4 at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. The launch marks the first international trade show debut of the traceability system, designed to address consumer food-safety concerns through visible quality management.

Buyers from multiple countries sought collaboration at YIKEDA's booth

International buyers converged on the YIKEDATM stand to discuss partnerships, with the brand's global expansion strategy drawing significant attention at the fair. YIKEDATM products are currently sold in Hong Kong and Macao and exported to the United States, Canada, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

Indianapolis – September 13, 2026 -- Corteva (NYSE: CTVA) and Belgium-based Globachem N.V. have signed a definitive agreement to launch a 50/50 joint venture aimed at developing and delivering new crop protection solutions for farmers in Europe and the Americas, with the deal expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Joint venture will pool late-stage pipeline technology from both parent companies

The independently operated JV will draw on late-pipeline to commercial-stage technology from Corteva and Globachem to develop, register and market new products. Resulting solutions may be commercialized independently by one or both parent companies once ready.

New products targeted for launch in the early 2030s

The venture builds on an existing multi-year partnership between the two companies. New solutions are expected to reach the market in the early 2030s through established commercial channels.

Vienna – September 13, 2026 -- Elizaveta Rîmscaia of Moldova was crowned Overall Champion at the Julius Meinl International Barista Cup 2026 Grand Finale, held September 4 in Vienna's MuseumsQuartier, beating 14 other national champions across three brewing disciplines.

Austrian barista Mario Benetseder claims cappuccino title on home turf

Benetseder secured the win in the Cappuccino discipline, judged on the interplay of espresso and milk plus latte art execution. Stefan Kot of Poland took the Espresso category, evaluated on taste, balance and crema, while Luka Darispanashvili of Georgia won Signature Drink for creativity and flavor cohesion.

Competition drew over 350 applicants across 15 countries

National qualifying rounds ran in 15 markets including Austria, Italy, Germany, China, Georgia and Croatia, narrowing more than 350 barista applicants down to 15 national champions who advanced to the Vienna final.

Vienna – September 12, 2026 -- Julius Meinl named Elizaveta Rîmscaia of Moldova as Overall Champion of its International Barista Cup 2026 Grand Finale, held September 4 at Vienna's MuseumsQuartier, capping a global competition that drew more than 350 applicants across 15 countries.

Fifteen national champions competed across three judged disciplines

Baristas from markets including Austria, Italy, Germany, China, Georgia and Croatia advanced through national rounds to Vienna's finale, where an independent international jury scored competitors on Espresso, Cappuccino and Signature Drink categories.

Los Angeles – September 12, 2026 -- An estimated 7 billion male chicks are killed globally each year, roughly 200 every second, as the egg industry continues routine chick culling despite the commercial availability of in-ovo sexing technology, according to a new investigation released by Mercy For Animals.

Investigation documents culling methods inside a commercial hatchery

The nonprofit's probe shows newly hatched male chicks being separated from females and killed shortly after hatching through maceration or gassing, depending on the facility. The investigation also documented deformed or unsold female chicks being discarded through the same methods.

Shanghai – September 12, 2026 -- The FHC Shanghai Global Food Trade Show will convene more than 3,000 exhibitors and 180,000 professional buyers across 200,000 square meters at the Shanghai New International Expo Center from November 10-12, 2026. The event will feature 50-plus international pavilions and 500 overseas exhibitors spanning 15 core food and beverage sectors.

Fifteen sectors cover the full food value chain from meat to prefabricated dishes

Exhibition segments include meat, aquatic products, dairy, sweets and chocolate, coffee and tea, bakery, food processing and packaging, prefabricated dishes and central kitchen, canned food, machinery and equipment, hot pot ingredients, baby and child food products, and food-medicine homology categories. Organizers state procurement decision-makers can complete cross-category supplier comparisons within the three-day window.

Tel Aviv – September 12, 2026 -- ADAMA Ltd. has secured its first European Union product registration for Ferrabait®, a molluscicide built on the company's novel Feralla® active ingredient, with approval granted in Latvia.

Latvia registration opens door to 2027 rollout across France, Sweden and Lithuania

The Latvian clearance is the initial step in a phased European commercialization plan, with additional national registrations and launches slated to begin in 2027 in France, Sweden and Lithuania. ADAMA positions the product against rising slug pressure that milder European winters have intensified for growers.

Chicago – September 12, 2026 -- Protein2o has appointed Mark Rappaport as Chief Executive Officer and Board member, pairing the leadership change with a new growth investment aimed at expanding the clear protein beverage maker's retail footprint and innovation pipeline.

Rappaport joins from Congo Brands, where he served as Global Chief Commercial Officer

Rappaport most recently led the global commercial organization at Congo Brands, overseeing a portfolio that includes Alani Nu. He spent over two decades scaling beverage and consumer brands, including senior leadership roles at Red Bull, where he ran the company's U.S. business and distribution organization during a period of significant growth.