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Walker S marks a significant milestone for sustainable farming in Asia and globally. (Image credit: Agroz Robotics)

Equipment

In an exciting leap for automated agriculture, Malaysian vertical farming company Agroz has launched Agroz Robotics, a cutting-edge initiative aimed at revolutionising the way we farm.

In collaboration with UBTECH Robotics, Agroz is set to introduce the Walker S, a state-of-the-art humanoid robot designed to automate crucial farming tasks such as seeding, monitoring, harvesting, and crop optimisation. This partnership combines engineering innovation with real-time agricultural intelligence, creating a fully integrated Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) ecosystem through Agroz’s proprietary operating system, Agroz OS.

The Walker S humanoid robot will serve as a core hardware platform within Agroz’s vertical farms. This advanced AI-driven robot is set to streamline farm operations, improving efficiency, productivity, and crop quality. According to the Agroz team, “This next-generation autonomous farming system will significantly boost productivity, reduce reliance on human labour, and ensure more precise and consistent crop quality.” Through Agroz Robotics, the company hopes to not only enhance farm operations but also support the scalable production of cleaner, safer, and more sustainable food.

Gerard Lim, CEO of Agroz, highlighted the significance of this collaboration: “Through Agroz Robotics, we hope to make sustainable agriculture a reality. Our collaboration with UBTECH is a major milestone in our mission to redefine agriculture by using robots and artificial intelligence. This new collaboration enables us to combine cutting-edge humanoid robotics with data intelligence to build smart, self-optimising farms to support the scalable production of cleaner, safer, and more sustainable food.”

As part of this game-changing initiative, Agroz and UBTECH also express their gratitude towards the Malaysian government, which has cultivated an environment where deep-tech solutions like these can flourish. Mr. Lim added, “We also thank the Malaysian government for cultivating an environment where such deep-tech solutions can thrive, directly strengthening our nation’s food security, sustainability, and economic resilience.”

The introduction of Walker S marks a significant milestone for sustainable farming in Asia and globally. Leon Li, General Manager of UBTECH's Industrial Robotics Division, noted, “We are delighted to collaborate with Agroz to apply our artificial intelligence and robotics technologies across a wider range of industries, contributing to the sustainable development of agriculture in Asia and around the world.”

The partnership between Agroz and UBTECH signals a bright future for precision agriculture, combining robotics, AI, and sustainability to meet the growing demands of food production, ensuring a smarter, more resilient agricultural sector for the future.

PATS’ data-driven approach is also helping reveal regional and national pest patterns. (Image credit: PATS)

Equipment

Growers across the world are set to step into 2026 with a powerful new advantage: earlier and more accurate detection of four major moth pests, thanks to an upgraded PATS-C monitoring model.

From the start of the year, users of this cutting-edge system will gain faster insight into early pest pressure, enabling them to intervene long before caterpillar damage takes hold an increasingly vital capability as chemical control options become more restricted.

The newly enhanced model is the result of years of intensive data collection combined with invaluable on-the-ground feedback from growers. PATS has built this breakthrough on over half a million recorded insect flights and more than 12,000 minutes of visual reference data across eight key crops, including tomato, bell pepper and gerbera. Each report of a false positive helps refine the system further, and with hundreds of companies worldwide contributing standardised data, the accuracy continues to strengthen for the entire industry.

At the core of the upgrade is the ability of PATS-C to capture the unique flight paths of each moth, generating precise biometrics that allow the model to differentiate between pest species with remarkable accuracy. The update specifically supports early identification of four of the most economically damaging pests: Tomato looper moth (Chrysodeixis chalcites), Tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta), European pepper moth (Duponchelia fovealis) and Banana moth (Opogona sacchari). These pests threaten vegetables, fruit crops and ornamentals globally making accurate detection essential for preventing damaging outbreaks.

With PATS-C already deployed in more than twenty countries, this update marks a major step forward for global crop protection and greenhouse pest management. The timing could not be more significant: from 1 January 2026, growers will face tighter restrictions on crop protection products, reducing the availability and flexibility of chemical solutions. In this landscape, early detection and real-time monitoring become critical tools for maintaining healthy crops.

The new model also strengthens predictive capabilities. Integrated with PATS-Vinder, the system can forecast the appearance of the first caterpillars up to seven days before hatching. This allows growers to plan labour, biological controls and interventions with pinpoint accuracy something traditional pheromone traps simply cannot achieve. Many early pest generations slip through unnoticed using older tools, often leading to severe outbreaks later in the season.

PATS’ data-driven approach is also helping reveal regional and national pest patterns. As Bram Tijmons from PATS said,"A significant moment occurred on the first real hot night of 2025, when large numbers of Tomato loopers entered nearly all monitored greenhouses across the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. This enabled us to send highly targeted warnings to vegetable growers. The response was remarkable: both users and non-users immediately recognised the first signs of increased pressure and were able to act accordingly."

New PATS-C users will begin with the upgraded system immediately, while existing users will transition gradually, with all installations updated by early January. With stronger forecasting, real-time insights, and earlier alerts, growers now have a powerful, sustainable tool to stay one step ahead of moth pests throughout 2026 and beyond.

The latest generation of Braud harvesters demonstrates impressive versatility across a wide range of vineyard structures. (Image credit: New Holland)

Machinery & Equipment

New Holland Agriculture continues to set new standards in modern viticulture with its acclaimed Braud grape harvester range - a series celebrated globally for precision, productivity and long-lasting reliability.

Built on decades of specialist expertise, the Braud brand has become synonymous with exceptional grape-harvesting performance, and under the New Holland umbrella it remains a trusted partner for winemakers seeking both efficiency and gentle crop handling.

Each Braud harvester reflects a signature blend of engineering excellence and vineyard-friendly design. The machines are created to treat vines with care while delivering powerful harvesting capability, ensuring that grapes are collected cleanly and with minimal damage. This focus on protecting fruit integrity directly enhances vineyard productivity and supports the production of higher-quality wines.

The latest generation of Braud harvesters demonstrates impressive versatility across a wide range of vineyard structures. With both high-capacity and extra-high-capacity models, including the popular 9000 L and 9000 X series, the range adapts effortlessly to narrow boutique vineyards, expansive commercial estates, and even sloped terrain. Their advanced systems  such as the industry-proven Noria basket conveying system, optional destemmer technology, and innovative side-conveyor configurations  ensure consistently clean, gentle and efficient fruit handling.
This adaptability makes Braud harvesters an ideal choice for growers looking to streamline operations while maintaining strict quality standards. Backed by a global legacy and trusted by thousands of vineyard operators, these machines are built to deliver season after season, reducing labour needs, improving harvest speed, and preserving overall vine health.

Engineered for durability and operator comfort, the Braud range combines robust construction with intuitive controls, offering ease of use without compromising on precision. The result is a harvester that not only boosts productivity but also supports sustainable agricultural practices, helping vineyards reduce waste and optimise long-term output.

Choosing a Braud grape harvester means investing in a heritage of innovation, reliability and world-leading vineyard technology  giving growers confidence in every harvest and reinforcing New Holland’s reputation as a champion of next-generation viticulture solutions.

African Farming
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New mobile app for real-time engagement between horticultural AI and indoor growers

The mobile app bridges the gap between growers and operators. (Image source: FarmVisionAI)

Agriculture AI company FarmVisionAI has introduced a new mobile app designed to engage growers in-field with vision AI stress detections

The mobile app brings FarmVisionAI’s horticulturist trained AI to a smartphone platform that can be used while scouting plants and walking the farm.

Location-specific information allows the grower and FarmVisionAI to validate the detections and complement the close-up images taken with the phone camera. The photos of the grower are geo-tagged to the location and appear in the desktop application that shows the grow in a ‘Google-earth’ like visualisation. To add value and explain what is happening in progress and what needs to be done, notes, recommendations, and actions can be applied to the imagery.

“The FarmVisionAI mobile app is a critical piece of functionality that bridges the gap between growers and operators,” said Jeff Bisberg, Illumitex CEO. “Our real-time imagery is the ground truth and provides transparency that can cut through communication barriers and finger-pointing.”

“Growing at scale can be extremely complex. The ability for FarmVisionAI users to capture images of specific issues through the mobile app is huge,” said Mark McDevitt, FarmVisionAI horticulture science leader. “First, the pictures are stored securely and organised in the FarmVisionAI system instead of the grower’s phones. Second, it makes it possible to analyse and diagnose individuals from anywhere in the world. And thirdly, it is an intellectual property repository in the form of visually based knowledge, specific to that site, which can be used for training, benchmarking and SOPs.”

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Crops

PSAV, NAEC, PepsiCo and CARE launched Phase II. (Image credit: NhanDan)

Agriculture

PepsiCo Foundation, the Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture in Vietnam (PSAV), the National Agricultural Extension Center (NAEC), and CARE have officially launched Phase II of the “I am happy to sow” project, now known as the New Crop: Sustainable Agriculture Initiative, in Vietnam.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed during the Vietnam–US bilateral trade mission in Washington DC from 10–14 November 2025, formalising the continuation of a successful public–private partnership (PPP) model designed to support smallholder farmers.

Running from January 2026 to December 2028, the New Crop project will operate in Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and Thanh Hoa provinces, with a strategic focus on regenerative agriculture and inclusive value chains to tackle climate change. It is expected to directly benefit 13,600 smallholder farmers, including 8,160 women and 5,440 men, and indirectly impact more than 73,400 people across the region. The initiative forms part of the global She Feeds the World programme, which empowers women and smallholder farmers to improve productivity, nutrition, and overall community well-being.

C.D. Glin, President of PepsiCo Foundation, said, “The New Crops project demonstrates our unwavering commitment to equality in the global supply chain. By supporting women farmers and smallholder farmers, we not only help increase productivity but also empower women, promote financial independence, and build a more sustainable future for their communities. This is how the company realizes its pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) Strategy.”

The project’s success relies on a strong PPP model linking ministries, research institutes, local partners, and private-sector actors. PSAV and NAEC provide technical support, develop policies, and coordinate with local authorities, while the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI) contributes scientific expertise. Deputy Minister Hoang Trung, said, “The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is pleased that PSAV and NAEC are meaningfully accompanying the project in the role of connecting and promoting the public-private partnership (PPP) model… PepsiCo Foundation, CARE and the business community will continue to play a pioneering role – not only in finance, but also in technological innovation, value chain management and shaping sustainable consumption trends.”

The New Crop project focuses on three interconnected objectives: building climate-resilient food systems, empowering smallholders—especially women and ethnic minorities—to adopt regenerative agriculture, and establishing inclusive value chains by improving access to inputs, finance, technology, and markets. Successful practices will be documented, scaled, and disseminated through the Food Innovation Hub Vietnam (FIH-V) for long-term impact.

Crystal Lander, Vice President of Global Advocacy at CARE, added, “The New Crops project not only helps smallholder farmers increase productivity, but also regenerates soils and protects livelihoods in the face of increasingly complex climate change. This is an important step towards long-term sustainability.”

Navigating the drought: Iraq's struggle for food security.

Korea is reinforcing its commitment to building a more secure and sustainable farming environment.

Livestock

The future of marine resources.

Aquaculture

The Philippines is intensifying its efforts to ratify a landmark international treaty aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), reinforcing its commitment to ocean conservation and sustainable marine resource management

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has pledged full support to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in promoting the Senate’s concurrence to the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). Signed under the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the BBNJ treaty addresses the conservation and equitable use of marine resources in high seas and other regions beyond exclusive national control.

Although Ferdinand Marcos Jr., President ratified the agreement in 2024-a year after its global adoption - the treaty still requires Senate concurrence before the Philippines can officially participate.

Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., Agriculture Secretary emphasised the agreement's relevance for the Philippines, said, “The BBNJ Agreement is crucial for conserving and sustainably managing marine biodiversity in areas beyond the Philippines’ jurisdiction, allowing the country to safeguard its rich marine ecosystems while ensuring fair access to and equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources.”

As a nation composed of over 7,000 islands and located near areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), the Philippines has a strong stake in the treaty’s success. It was an early signatory and active participant in the negotiation process, aligning with global conservation goals and the principles of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award.

Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate stressed the strategic timing of the ratification: once approved by the Senate, the Philippines will be eligible to participate in the first Conference of Parties (COP1). This milestone event is expected to take place shortly after 60 countries submit their ratification instruments to the United Nations. As of late August, 55 nations have completed the process, with momentum building towards reaching the required threshold during the UN General Assembly from September 23–26.

The BBNJ treaty represents a critical tool for archipelagic nations like the Philippines—not only to influence global marine governance but also to safeguard marine ecosystems, promote fair benefit-sharing, and support the livelihoods of coastal communities reliant on ocean resources.

Crayfish provide a nutrient-dense, low-impact protein source that requires minimal feed.

Hamlet Protein manufactures high-quality soy-based protein ingredients designed for young piglets, poultry, and calves.(Image credit: Hamlet Protein)

Equipment

Walker S marks a significant milestone for sustainable farming in Asia and globally. (Image credit: Agroz Robotics)

Equipment

In an exciting leap for automated agriculture, Malaysian vertical farming company Agroz has launched Agroz Robotics, a cutting-edge initiative aimed at revolutionising the way we farm.

In collaboration with UBTECH Robotics, Agroz is set to introduce the Walker S, a state-of-the-art humanoid robot designed to automate crucial farming tasks such as seeding, monitoring, harvesting, and crop optimisation. This partnership combines engineering innovation with real-time agricultural intelligence, creating a fully integrated Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) ecosystem through Agroz’s proprietary operating system, Agroz OS.

The Walker S humanoid robot will serve as a core hardware platform within Agroz’s vertical farms. This advanced AI-driven robot is set to streamline farm operations, improving efficiency, productivity, and crop quality. According to the Agroz team, “This next-generation autonomous farming system will significantly boost productivity, reduce reliance on human labour, and ensure more precise and consistent crop quality.” Through Agroz Robotics, the company hopes to not only enhance farm operations but also support the scalable production of cleaner, safer, and more sustainable food.

Gerard Lim, CEO of Agroz, highlighted the significance of this collaboration: “Through Agroz Robotics, we hope to make sustainable agriculture a reality. Our collaboration with UBTECH is a major milestone in our mission to redefine agriculture by using robots and artificial intelligence. This new collaboration enables us to combine cutting-edge humanoid robotics with data intelligence to build smart, self-optimising farms to support the scalable production of cleaner, safer, and more sustainable food.”

As part of this game-changing initiative, Agroz and UBTECH also express their gratitude towards the Malaysian government, which has cultivated an environment where deep-tech solutions like these can flourish. Mr. Lim added, “We also thank the Malaysian government for cultivating an environment where such deep-tech solutions can thrive, directly strengthening our nation’s food security, sustainability, and economic resilience.”

The introduction of Walker S marks a significant milestone for sustainable farming in Asia and globally. Leon Li, General Manager of UBTECH's Industrial Robotics Division, noted, “We are delighted to collaborate with Agroz to apply our artificial intelligence and robotics technologies across a wider range of industries, contributing to the sustainable development of agriculture in Asia and around the world.”

The partnership between Agroz and UBTECH signals a bright future for precision agriculture, combining robotics, AI, and sustainability to meet the growing demands of food production, ensuring a smarter, more resilient agricultural sector for the future.

The High-Performance ECU to which you can connect sensors and subsystems to meet the features enabled.(Image credit: Volvo Penta)

Volvo Penta is driving progress in agriculture through smarter, sustainable power solutions built to perform season after season. (Image credit: Volvo Penta)

Technology

Feeding Management offers significant cost savings, improved transparency of feeding programs.(Image credit: SILOKING)

Machinery & Equipment

SILOKING’s Feeding Management platform is transforming livestock nutrition by combining precision, transparency, and convenience in one digital solution

Designed for users of SILOKING Data and Wireless weight systems, this web-based feeding tool enables farmers to manage feed rations, monitor costs, and optimise mixing accuracy—all from any internet-connected device. Best of all, it is included free of charge with compatible SILOKING hardware, making advanced feeding management accessible to modern farms.

The platform operates through four key steps: planning rations, executing feeding operations, controlling results, and driving success. During the planning phase, farmers can define feed components, including dry matter and costs, create custom animal groups or unloading points, and build tailored loading and unloading programs. During feeding, actual loads are captured automatically, mixed, and recorded, with data export available in Excel or PDF formats for easy archiving and reporting.

Control and monitoring are enhanced through precision comparisons of target versus actual feed loads, time-filtered reports, and detailed consumption analyses. These insights feed directly into performance metrics such as feed cost per kilogram of milk, feed efficiency, and concentrate efficiency, helping farms reduce waste and improve productivity.

Being fully web-based, Feeding Management eliminates the need for manual updates and allows access via PC, tablet, or smartphone, whether on the farm, in the office, or even remotely. Optional SIM-based mobile data transfer from on-machine weight systems ensures real-time documentation and seamless integration with SILOKING hardware.

Beyond operational benefits, Feeding Management offers significant cost savings, improved transparency of feeding programs, and enhanced compliance with dairy industry regulations and quality assurance programs. By aligning feed mixes with planned rations and analysing load data, farms achieve higher efficiency and better animal performance while minimising waste.

Designed with direct input from farmers, the platform features intuitive dashboards, intelligent recipe management, and actionable analytics, making deviations easier to identify and corrective measures simpler to implement. SILOKING Feeding Management is more than software—it’s a comprehensive tool for smarter feeding and better farm management, bringing precision, efficiency, and profitability to modern livestock operations.

 

ROK aims to position itself at the forefront of green bio innovation.

The latest generation of Braud harvesters demonstrates impressive versatility across a wide range of vineyard structures. (Image credit: New Holland)

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