NewLeaf Symbiotics launched New vegetable transplant technology launches in California.(Image credit: NewLeaf Symbiotics)

Vegetable growers transitioning seedlings from greenhouse to field face one of the most vulnerable stages of crop production.

To help farmers better manage transplant shock and unpredictable growing conditions, NewLeaf Symbiotics has announced the launch of a new vegetable transplant (VT) biostimulant technology in California for the 2026 season.

The innovation, registered as Terrasym VT, is specifically designed to support vegetable transplants during periods of abiotic stress, such as temperature fluctuations, nutrient limitations and environmental pressure. Following regulatory approval in late November 2025, the technology is now available to growers across key agricultural regions in the United States.

Terrasym® VT has already demonstrated strong performance across a wide range of high-value specialty crops, including strawberries, tomatoes and cucurbits, delivering measurable yield improvements and stronger early plant establishment. The technology is built on NewLeaf Symbiotics’ expertise in Pink-Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFMs), a specialised class of beneficial microbes that enhance plant performance through natural biological processes.

"NewLeaf VT technology is a combination of PPFM strains that work together to improve nutrient uptake and mitigate abiotic transplant stress to enhance seedling vigor," says Aaron Kelley, Chief Commercial Officer of NewLeaf Symbiotics. "These plant benefits result in more fruit being harvested when compared with the grower standard practice as a control in trials."

Growers can apply VT technology flexibly, either as a drench prior to transplanting or through the dripline after transplant, allowing seamless integration into existing crop management systems. This adaptability makes the solution particularly attractive for modern, efficiency-driven vegetable production.

NewLeaf Symbiotics is recognised as the global leader in PPFM research and development, with a proprietary library of more than 12,000 microbial strains. Each strain is selected based on its unique genetic characteristics and its ability to work symbiotically with specific crops. The strains used in Terrasym  VT were chosen for their proven compatibility with vegetable transplants and their capacity to support consistent growth under stress.

"VT technology has been tested for more than 8 years in labs, greenhouses, small-plot field trials and on-farm large-scale field trials. NewLeaf puts that time and resource investment into our technology so we can deliver consistent performance for fruit and vegetable transplant production," says Kelley. "As we awaited critical approvals, like California, we were able to document strong results, including an average yield increase of 2.3 tons/A in processing tomatoes on 20 large scale farm trials from 2022-2024 when compared to grower standard practice."

As growers seek resilient, sustainable and yield-enhancing solutions, Terrasym VT positions itself as a powerful tool in next-generation vegetable production.

Reduco emerged as the successor, operating as the production arm of the cooperative Beyond Wood. (Image credit: Greenport West-Holland)

Turning eggplant residuals into high-performance construction panels may sound unconventional, but Dutch innovator Reduco is proving that circular building solutions can come from the most unexpected places.

According to Greenport West-Holland, these panels are fully circular, moisture resistant and fire safe, offering a promising alternative to conventional construction materials. Founder Wilfried Martens now hopes the market will adopt the product, enabling large-scale production in the coming years.

Martens did not originally come from the construction sector. After working as a dairy farmer, he decided to leave agriculture behind and pursue a new direction. A chance encounter with eggplant nursery Greenbrothers in Zevenbergen sparked an innovative idea: could residual streams from eggplant cultivation be transformed into durable building panels? This question led to the creation of Nova Lignum thirteen years ago. Although that company eventually went bankrupt, the concept itself proved resilient.

Reduco emerged as the successor, operating as the production arm of the cooperative Beyond Wood. The cooperative’s mission is to add value to agricultural residual streams for the construction industry. Initial success came from using willow residuals, and once that process was proven, the earlier eggplant concept was revived as a next step towards fully circular construction materials.

Wilfried Martens explained the reasoning behind this structure, and said, "It is important to create a high-quality building material to compete in construction, because you are dealing with competition from current products. By working together in a chain, you can create value together and strengthen each other. That is why the entire chain is represented in the cooperative Beyond Wood. It is a way to work together towards social goals and find better solutions than each on their own."

The collaboration with Greenbrothers was built on trust and shared innovation. Processing eggplant stems presented technical challenges, particularly the need for intensive manual preparation.

For now, production is paused, but momentum is building. The eggplant initiative is also featured on the Bioboost platform, which connects and promotes biobased innovations within horticulture, reinforcing the role of plant-based residuals in the future of sustainable construction.

The greenhouse is equipped with cutting-edge agricultural technologies.(Image credit: Turkmen portal)

Turkmenistan has taken another significant step towards advancing high-tech agriculture with the launch of a modern greenhouse complex in the Balkan province.

The new facility has been constructed and commissioned at the Nurly meýdan farming enterprise in the Bereket district, underscoring the country’s growing focus on sustainable food production and agricultural innovation.

The opening ceremony brought together a wide range of attendees, including representatives of the Balkan province and Bereket district administrations, members of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, public organisations, deputies of the Mejlis, members of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council), respected elders, and local residents. The event reflected the importance of the project for both regional development and national food security.

During the celebrations, builders who played a key role in completing the project were honoured with valuable gifts presented on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan. The ceremony was enlivened by traditional songs and dances performed by local artists, creating a festive atmosphere that highlighted the cultural significance of the occasion.

Following the elders’ blessing, guests were invited to tour the greenhouse and explore its advanced infrastructure and production systems. Spanning an area of 10 hectares, the complex is complemented by fully landscaped surroundings and a range of technical and auxiliary facilities designed to support efficient operations.

The greenhouse is equipped with cutting-edge agricultural technologies supplied by companies from the Netherlands, Türkiye, Greece, Italy, Spain, and other countries. With an annual production capacity of up to 2,000 tonnes of tomatoes, the facility is expected to make a substantial contribution to domestic food supply.

Elite tomato seeds imported from European countries have already been planted and are beginning to produce their first harvest, highlighting the project’s strong production potential and its role in strengthening agricultural development and food security in the region.

The park’s strategic location enhances its role as a gateway for international flower commerce.(Image credit: Floral daily)

China’s floriculture sector reached a major milestone on 8 December with the official opening of the Beijing International Flower Industrial Park.

The inauguration ceremony brought together around 100 representatives from across the national flower industry, underlining the project’s significance for both domestic and international markets.

Situated in Panggezhuang Town, Daxing District, the park spans 552.6 mu (approximately 36.84 hectares) and is equipped with 60,000 square metres of state-of-the-art greenhouses. Designed as a next-generation floriculture hub, the park aims to integrate “innovation and R&D + production demonstration + digital trade + cultural tourism experience,” with a strong emphasis on bulb flowers for research, cultivation and global trade.

The park’s strategic location enhances its role as a gateway for international flower commerce. Just 20 minutes from Beijing Daxing International Airport and close to the Jingkai Expressway, it offers efficient logistics for both imports and exports. A number of leading domestic and international flower companies have already established a presence, creating a vibrant ecosystem for collaboration, innovation and commercial growth.

Looking ahead, the park plans to introduce more premium international flower varieties while actively promoting distinctive Chinese local breeds to overseas markets. This dual strategy is expected to strengthen China’s competitiveness in the global floriculture industry and support domestic enterprises in expanding internationally.

The opening was marked by a Home Gardening Forum, where industry experts and business leaders shared insights on popular ornamental plants including Phalaenopsis, Amaryllis, Paphiopedilum and Rhododendron. Together, these initiatives position the park as a key driver of innovation, trade and sustainable growth in China’s rapidly evolving flower industry.