In The Spotlight
GEA Direct Sprayer DS 25 delivering powerful cleaning performance with five kilograms of spray force and a full-cone jet reaching up to five metres. (Image source: GEA)
GEA has introduced its new patented technology – the GEA Direct Sprayer DS 25 – for industrial tank cleaning in the food and beverage industry
The patented spray technology effectively removes residues from the undersides of agitators, pipes, and flow breakers. It has been developed for use in the beverage, food, dairy, pharmaceutical, and home and personal care industries, and is particularly advantageous in production environments with frequent recipe changes, strict hygiene standards, and demanding cleaning requirements.
In the food and beverage industry, cleaning tanks with internal installations often go through a major challenge. The undersides of agitator blades being in the spray shadow, prevents them from being adequately cleaned by conventional methods. This is where the Direct Sprayer DS 25 comes into picture. This technology sprays directly onto the undersides of the agitator blades while ensuring that the agitator mechanics remain unaffected. The cleaner is flush-mounted into the tank wall and can be positioned flexibly, ensuring full coverage inside the tank. The patented valve disc only opens when activated, ensuring an even distribution of the cleaning fluid. Since the valve plate opens inward, it does not interfere with the agitator.
The mechanically powerful full-cone spray targets the undersides of the agitators and efficiently removes residues. While conventional cleaning systems operate at lower forces, the GEA Direct Sprayer DS 25 operates with a spray force of up to 5 kg, allowing it to remove even tough residues. A case study from yogurt production has revealed the ability of the GEA Direct Sprayer DS 25 technology to reduce water usage by 84.5% and cleaning time by 87.5%, making it one of the most efficient cleaning methods for tanks with agitators.
“This time saving can be directly used for additional production capacity,” explained product sales manager for Cleaning Technology at GEA, Jana Zimpel. “In yogurt production, for example, this means more batches per day or faster recipe changes without compromising efficiency.”
Agmatix BASF Partner to develop Soybean Cyst Nematode detection tool. (Image source: BASF)
Leading AI-powered solutions provider, Agmatix recently announced a strategic collaboration with BASF, one of the world’s largest chemical and agricultural solutions companies, to develop a cutting-edge digital solution aimed at detecting and predicting the presence of soybean cyst nematode (SCN)
The collaboration began through AgroStart, an open innovation and partnership platform by BASF, that aims to empower soybean growers with real-time, scalable insights to mitigate yield losses caused by SCN, one of the most damaging and often invisible soybean pests. Axiom, an advanced AI technology engine developed by Agmatix is the core of this initiative. It transforms vast amounts of raw agronomic data into highly standardised and enriched datasets. This rigorous data process enables the development of a robust machine-learning model capable of detecting and predicting SCN infestations with unprecedented accuracy and scalability.
Developed through AgroStart by BASF, this initiative combines Agmatix’s AI-driven agronomic platform with the deep expertise of BASF in seed and crop protection solutions and will foster the development of a scalable, user-friendly digital model. The tool will integrate with existing farm management practices, enabling users to access near real-time SCN risk assessments and tailor their pest management strategies accordingly.
SCN remains the leading pest in soybeans, with infestations frequently going undetected until yields are significantly affected. Traditional detection methods, such as soil sampling or mid-season root digs, are time-consuming, labour-intensive and not widely adopted. A digital tool could help create awareness and compliment these traditional methods.
By providing accurate, predictive data on SCN infestations, the Agmatix-BASF collaboration paves the way for future innovations in pest management and digital agriculture. The joint effort represents a significant leap forward in integrating digital agriculture with crop protection strategies, demonstrating how advanced analytics can drive on-farm decision-making and improve agronomic outcomes.
“Our collaboration with BASF is driven by the urgent need to provide a practical, data-backed tool that helps growers minimise yield losses caused by SCN,” added Ron Baruchi, president & CEO at Agmatix. “By digitising large volumes of field trial data within Axiom, we believe our machine learning model will give growers the power to act before SCN causes irreversible damage.”
Replacing normal polyethylene with Symphony's NbR resin is considered more environmentally friendly due to its ability to biodegrade after the harvest. (Image source: Symphony Environmental)
Leading sustainable plastics manufacturer, Symphony Environmental has urged farmers and growers to halt their use of ordinary plastic mulch films that are capable of contaminating soil and affecting food quality, thus calling for new plastic-manufacturing methods
To prevent the ongoing environmental damage caused by plastic pollution year after year, CEO of Symphony Environmental, Michael Laurier argues that farmers and growers must switch to the right kind of biodegradable plastic. To protect crops and reduce water evaporation, farmers and growers generally spread plastic mulch films on their fields. However, conventional plastic films cannot be recycled easily after use due to contamination and degradation. Moreover, when being removed from the field post exposure to sunlight and weathering, they tend to release fragments and microplastics that are extremely detrimental to the environment.
Replacing normal polyethylene with Symphony's NbR resin is considered more environmentally friendly due to its ability to biodegrade after the harvest , without needing to be collected and transferred to a composting facility. Its degradating can be programmed to occur in the timescale required for each crop type. It will then act as a carbon source for next year's plants.
“This resin can be produced by mulch-film manufacturers at lower cost than normal polyethylene using their standard equipment, as it contains 20% less fossil-derived plastic,” said Laurier. “Plastic pollution of the countryside needs to be addressed urgently, and farmers and growers now have the opportunity to do this at no extra cost.”
These discussions provided valuable perspectives on the future of regenerative agriculture, advanced horticulture techniques, and technological innovations shaping the industry. (Image source: Horti Agri Next)
The first edition of Horti Agri Next Asia 2025 has successfully concluded last week, marking a significant milestone in bridging agriculture, horticulture, feed technology, and crop technology within the industry
The event welcomed 5,663 trade visitors from 36 countries, who explored cutting-edge solutions from 70 leading companies representing 14 countries across Asia. It highlighted the strong synergy between Horti Agri Next Asia (HAN Asia) and VIV Asia 2025, fostering collaboration across key sectors.
Beyond the product showcase, the event served as a dynamic networking hub, bringing together industry professionals, thought leaders, and innovators to exchange insights on market trends, emerging business opportunities and the latest advancements. A key highlight of the event was the comprehensive conference programme, featuring 18 sessions and 77 expert speakers from across Asia. These discussions provided valuable perspectives on the future of regenerative agriculture, advanced horticulture techniques, and technological innovations shaping the industry.
Co-located with VIV Health & Nutrition Asia 2026, the next edition of Horti Agri Next Asia will take place from 11-13 March 2026, at BITEC in Bangkok, Thailand.
Paragon commits to supply of high-quality Hubbard Premium PS day-old chicks to meet the growing demand for Premium birds in Bangladesh. (Image source: Hubbard))
Paragon Group successfully hosted the Hubbard Color Bird Launching Programme on 15th February at the Intercontinental in Dhaka, marking a significant advancement in the country’s poultry sector
Attended by industry leaders and experts, the event focused on the increasing demand of coloured chickens in Bangladesh and the benefits of the Hubbard Premium Colour breeds. Paragon commits to supply of high-quality Hubbard Premium PS day-old chicks to meet the growing demand for Premium birds in Bangladesh.
The event commenced with a welcome speech from Md Rafiqul Haque, CEO of Poultry Consultant & Development Service, followed by Olivier Rochard, managing director Hubbard, who elaborated on the company's global operations and its commitment to advancing poultry genetics. Bruno Briand, Hubbard global commercial director presented more details about the use of the Hubbard Premium breeds for various Premium Concepts, emphasising how the introduction of Hubbard Premium will enhance local farming efficiency.
A management session was led by Ehsanul Kabir Mosru, Hubbard senior technical manager and a closing remark was given by Moshiur Rahman, managing director of Paragon Group who provided an in-depth overview of his company and its vision for the future.
The first Hubbard Premium GP flock has been delivered from France to Dhaka in the middle of January. The day-old chicks arrived in particularly good condition and were handled with great success and care as part of Hubbard’s high standards of logistics and quality assurance. They are placed on a well isolated GP farm, meeting the highest biosecurity standards.
The Synergen Guard range was in focus at CAC 2025, along with its new Dispersogen TP 100 T and the Sapogenat T range. (Image source: Clariant)
During the 2025 China International Agrochemical and Crop Protection Exhibition (CAC), Clariant unveiled its next-generation solutions for biologicals and innovative approaches to sustaining plant health by optimising soil water management
As global population continues to grow, climate change is posing a major threat to agriculture and food security. To combat these challenges, Clariant has launched an advanced soil adjuvent that is aimed at optimising the efficiency of water used for sustainable agricultural practices. This helps improve vertical and lateral water movement within the soil, thereby ensuring a consistent distribution of moisture.
The Synergen Guard range was in focus at CAC 2025. This included Synergen Guard 100, a performance booster and rainfastness agent for biologicals. This innovative nano-emulsion-based tank-mix adjuvant contains renewable wax and is produced by a unique proprietary highly efficient emulsification technology. It is biocompatible with a broad range of microorganisms, giving a powerful boost in coverage, efficacy, and rain protection to the biocontrol agent.
Besides this, Clariant will also be showcasing its new Dispersogen TP 100 T and the Sapogenat T range. The former is a high-performance anionic dispersing agent that finds application in suspension concentrate (SC) and can be used in conventional SC formulations with high cost-effectiveness, under a recommended dosage ranging approximately between 3-5%. It can also be used to solve common SC issues such as poor wetting, rapid growth of particle size, viscosity build-up, bad flowability, and even pseudoplastic and creaming issues. The latter on the other hand, has been designed as a replacement for nonylphenol ethoxolates (NPE), which has been restricted since March 2023. It functions as a non-ionic emulsifier based on tri-sec-butylphenol with various ethoxylation degrees. Considered the best-performing NPE alternative, it offers excellent emulsification power, making it a good wetter capable of increasing pesticide efficacy in foliar application.
Clariant's innovative solutions will be on display at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre from 17-19 March in Shangahai.
Sudan, the Philippines and Malawi made notable contributions to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
More than 14,000 seed samples from 21 genebanks were deposited in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault last month
These samples included essential varieties of sorghum and pearl millet from Sudan’s crop genebank; a collection of velvet beans from Malawi; and critical food crops from a Philippine gene bank that is being destroyed by typhoons and fires. Brazil, the host of this year’s global climate negotiations, also deposited a major collection of more than 3,000 varieties of rice, beans and maize.
Following the deposit ceremony, the first-ever Svalbard International Dialogue brought together high-level government officials, crop experts and global thought leaders to discuss the challenge of safeguarding crop diversity amid increasing environmental pressures and escalating global conflicts.
Sudan’s contribution
Sudan made its sixth deposit of seed samples of 15 species, including many varieties of sorghum, a crop that is deeply tied to Sudanese cultural heritage, and is also a lifeline for food security in the country. With the help of the Emergency Reserve for Genebanks, hundreds of seed samples that were impacted during the civil war, were transported to NordGen to be sorted catalogued, packed and documented as part of the Sudanese deposit. These were then transported to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.
The Philippines’ contribution
After several seed stocks were destroyed by natural extreme events like typhoons and fires, partners from the Philippines with support from the BOLD Project, visited Svalbard to deposit seeds of eggplant, rice bean, lima bean and sorghum.
Malawi’s contribution
Being another BOLD partner, Malawi deposited velvet beans, a crop that enables farmers to boost production and keep their soils healthy, while also offering important medicinal benefits. Velvet beans are a nitrogen-fixing legume that when used as a fertiliser can more than double maize yields. The species, which is also used in traditional medicine, boasts high levels of levodopa, a compound used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
“This moment is a powerful reminder that securing our food future requires collective action,” said Stefan Schmitz, executive director of the Crop Trust. “Through our partnerships, including the BOLD project, we’ve worked with institutions around the world to safeguard vital crop diversity.” He further highlighted how the deposited seeds represented not only biodiversity, but also the knowledge, culture and resilience of the communities that steward them. “We must find a way to protect this crop diversity for generations to come,” Schmitz added.
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HSW ECO MATIC® 6ml _ 10ml (for injection, oral and pour-on application)
Replacing normal polyethylene with Symphony's NbR resin is considered more environmentally friendly due to its ability to biodegrade after the harvest. (Image source: Symphony Environmental)
Leading sustainable plastics manufacturer, Symphony Environmental has urged farmers and growers to halt their use of ordinary plastic mulch films that are capable of contaminating soil and affecting food quality, thus calling for new plastic-manufacturing methods
To prevent the ongoing environmental damage caused by plastic pollution year after year, CEO of Symphony Environmental, Michael Laurier argues that farmers and growers must switch to the right kind of biodegradable plastic. To protect crops and reduce water evaporation, farmers and growers generally spread plastic mulch films on their fields. However, conventional plastic films cannot be recycled easily after use due to contamination and degradation. Moreover, when being removed from the field post exposure to sunlight and weathering, they tend to release fragments and microplastics that are extremely detrimental to the environment.
Replacing normal polyethylene with Symphony's NbR resin is considered more environmentally friendly due to its ability to biodegrade after the harvest , without needing to be collected and transferred to a composting facility. Its degradating can be programmed to occur in the timescale required for each crop type. It will then act as a carbon source for next year's plants.
“This resin can be produced by mulch-film manufacturers at lower cost than normal polyethylene using their standard equipment, as it contains 20% less fossil-derived plastic,” said Laurier. “Plastic pollution of the countryside needs to be addressed urgently, and farmers and growers now have the opportunity to do this at no extra cost.”
The Synergen Guard range was in focus at CAC 2025, along with its new Dispersogen TP 100 T and the Sapogenat T range. (Image source: Clariant)
Sudan, the Philippines and Malawi made notable contributions to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Paragon commits to supply of high-quality Hubbard Premium PS day-old chicks to meet the growing demand for Premium birds in Bangladesh. (Image source: Hubbard))
Paragon Group successfully hosted the Hubbard Color Bird Launching Programme on 15th February at the Intercontinental in Dhaka, marking a significant advancement in the country’s poultry sector
Attended by industry leaders and experts, the event focused on the increasing demand of coloured chickens in Bangladesh and the benefits of the Hubbard Premium Colour breeds. Paragon commits to supply of high-quality Hubbard Premium PS day-old chicks to meet the growing demand for Premium birds in Bangladesh.
The event commenced with a welcome speech from Md Rafiqul Haque, CEO of Poultry Consultant & Development Service, followed by Olivier Rochard, managing director Hubbard, who elaborated on the company's global operations and its commitment to advancing poultry genetics. Bruno Briand, Hubbard global commercial director presented more details about the use of the Hubbard Premium breeds for various Premium Concepts, emphasising how the introduction of Hubbard Premium will enhance local farming efficiency.
A management session was led by Ehsanul Kabir Mosru, Hubbard senior technical manager and a closing remark was given by Moshiur Rahman, managing director of Paragon Group who provided an in-depth overview of his company and its vision for the future.
The first Hubbard Premium GP flock has been delivered from France to Dhaka in the middle of January. The day-old chicks arrived in particularly good condition and were handled with great success and care as part of Hubbard’s high standards of logistics and quality assurance. They are placed on a well isolated GP farm, meeting the highest biosecurity standards.
BetaTrace has been built by combing betaine and organic trace minerals. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
The partnership advances the One Health platform of animal health solutions. (Image source: Elanco)
Monarch MK-V tractor demonstrating V2G through Borg Warner DCFC and Gridtractor CMS. (Image source: Gridtractor)
Gridtractor, Monarch Tractor, and Borg Warner have achieved a significant milestone by successfully demonstrating Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capabilities utilising a Monarch MK-V tractor, a Borg Warner 60 kW DC fast charger, and Gridtractor’s cloud-based charge management system employing the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP)
The platform is slated for launch later this year and focuses on both domestic and international markets. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
The LightWeeder is an agri-robot that can kill weeds using a unique concentrated light method. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
GEA Direct Sprayer DS 25 delivering powerful cleaning performance with five kilograms of spray force and a full-cone jet reaching up to five metres. (Image source: GEA)
GEA has introduced its new patented technology – the GEA Direct Sprayer DS 25 – for industrial tank cleaning in the food and beverage industry
The patented spray technology effectively removes residues from the undersides of agitators, pipes, and flow breakers. It has been developed for use in the beverage, food, dairy, pharmaceutical, and home and personal care industries, and is particularly advantageous in production environments with frequent recipe changes, strict hygiene standards, and demanding cleaning requirements.
In the food and beverage industry, cleaning tanks with internal installations often go through a major challenge. The undersides of agitator blades being in the spray shadow, prevents them from being adequately cleaned by conventional methods. This is where the Direct Sprayer DS 25 comes into picture. This technology sprays directly onto the undersides of the agitator blades while ensuring that the agitator mechanics remain unaffected. The cleaner is flush-mounted into the tank wall and can be positioned flexibly, ensuring full coverage inside the tank. The patented valve disc only opens when activated, ensuring an even distribution of the cleaning fluid. Since the valve plate opens inward, it does not interfere with the agitator.
The mechanically powerful full-cone spray targets the undersides of the agitators and efficiently removes residues. While conventional cleaning systems operate at lower forces, the GEA Direct Sprayer DS 25 operates with a spray force of up to 5 kg, allowing it to remove even tough residues. A case study from yogurt production has revealed the ability of the GEA Direct Sprayer DS 25 technology to reduce water usage by 84.5% and cleaning time by 87.5%, making it one of the most efficient cleaning methods for tanks with agitators.
“This time saving can be directly used for additional production capacity,” explained product sales manager for Cleaning Technology at GEA, Jana Zimpel. “In yogurt production, for example, this means more batches per day or faster recipe changes without compromising efficiency.”
Agmatix BASF Partner to develop Soybean Cyst Nematode detection tool. (Image source: BASF)
Perstorp has long been dedicated to driving the transformation of the chemical industry with a clear ambition to become Finite Material Neutral. (Image source: Perstorp)
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GEA Direct Sprayer DS 25 delivering powerful cleaning performance with five kilograms of spray force and a full-cone jet reaching up to five metres. (Image source: GEA)
Agmatix BASF Partner to develop Soybean Cyst Nematode detection tool. (Image source: BASF)
Replacing normal polyethylene with Symphony's NbR resin is considered more environmentally friendly due to its ability to biodegrade after the harvest. (Image source: Symphony Environmental)
Paragon commits to supply of high-quality Hubbard Premium PS day-old chicks to meet the growing demand for Premium birds in Bangladesh. (Image source: Hubbard))
The Synergen Guard range was in focus at CAC 2025, along with its new Dispersogen TP 100 T and the Sapogenat T range. (Image source: Clariant)
Sudan, the Philippines and Malawi made notable contributions to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
BetaTrace has been built by combing betaine and organic trace minerals. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
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GEA Direct Sprayer DS 25 delivering powerful cleaning performance with five kilograms of spray force and a full-cone jet reaching up to five metres. (Image source: GEA)
Agmatix BASF Partner to develop Soybean Cyst Nematode detection tool. (Image source: BASF)
Perstorp has long been dedicated to driving the transformation of the chemical industry with a clear ambition to become Finite Material Neutral. (Image source: Perstorp)
By controlling the moisture during the weighing up of the raw materials, it is possible to correctly control the protein content of the final pellet and guarantee superior product quality. (Image source: Hydronix)
BKT has analysed the main trends that will shape the future of agricultural tires, matching the expectations of leading tractor and farm machinery manufacturers. (Image source: BKT)
Westfalia Fruit’s sustainable dye extraction on display at Fruit Logistica 2025. (Image source: Westfalia Fruit)
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The ARA sprayer now supports over 20 crop algorithms, offering unmatched precision. (Image source: Ecorobotix)
These awards recognise the most innovative designs in engineering products or systems for the food and agriculture industries. (Image source: New Holland)
The platform enables more frequent datasets to be gained with no additional stress. (Image source: UK Agri-Tech Centre)
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