Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical has announced a major step towards advancing sustainable agriculture by reorganising its U.S. operations to strengthen its biorational business

The company will merge Valent BioSciences LLC (VBS), McLaughlin Gormley King Company (MGK), and Valent North America LLC (VNA) into one integrated entity. The newly formed company, Sumitomo Biorational Company LLC (SBC), will begin operations in Libertyville, Illinois, in April 2026. This hub will lead innovation in environmentally friendly farming technologies and deliver comprehensive, sustainable solutions worldwide.

Sumitomo Chemical’s Agro & Life Solutions Sector operates on two strong foundations – crop protection products and biorationals. With growing global demand for agricultural solutions that reduce environmental harm, the market for biorationals is set to expand steadily. The company aims to more than double its biorationals sales to around 150 billion yen by the 2030 financial year, compared to 2024 levels.

According to the company, “Valent BioSciences LLC (“VBS”), McLaughlin Gormley King Company (“MGK”), and Valent North America LLC (“VNA”)—Sumitomo Chemical’s U.S. subsidiaries will be integrated into the surviving company VBS, which will be renamed Sumitomo Biorational Company LLC (“SBC”). SBC will commence operations in Libertyville, Illinois, starting April 2026, as the Group’s global hub driving innovation in this field, and it will provide comprehensive and sustainable biorational solutions across the world.”

By consolidating research, manufacturing, and sales within SBC, Sumitomo Chemical aims to build a more efficient and streamlined structure. This integration is expected to enhance collaboration, reduce duplication, and strengthen the company’s position as a global leader in sustainable agricultural technologies.

SBC will serve as the central hub for the company’s innovation in biorationals, driving new advancements that support sustainable development, environmental protection, and improved agricultural productivity. Its work will span various sectors including crop health, pest management, forestry, and animal health.

Additionally, Valent USA LLC will become a wholly owned subsidiary of SBC and continue to manage crop protection product development and sales across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Through this reorganisation, Sumitomo Chemical aims to promote regenerative agriculture and build a more sustainable global food system. The company continues to focus on delivering unique technologies that help farmers produce healthy crops, protect the environment, and ensure long-term agricultural growth.

The poultry farming equipment market is expected to grow steadily over the next decade, rising from a value of US$4.0bn in 2025 to around US$7.1bn by 2035

This reflects a CAGR of 6.0%, driven by increased global demand for efficient, scalable, and sustainable poultry production systems.

As demand for poultry-based protein grows, both developed and developing markets are investing in smarter and more automated systems. Manufacturers are increasingly focusing on solutions that improve feed efficiency, water conservation, hygiene, and biosecurity. The integration of intelligent technologies, such as IoT-enabled monitoring and predictive maintenance, is playing a key role in transforming poultry operations.

In particular, the watering and feeding systems segment is set to dominate the market by product type, accounting for 22.5% of the market share in 2025. These systems are vital for flock health and are now widely adopted in both broiler and layer production. Advanced features like sensor-based regulation and adjustable flow have helped farms reduce waste, cut labour costs, and improve biosecurity.

The chicken segment continues to lead by poultry type, with a projected market share of 65.0% in 2025. Chicken farming remains popular globally due to its fast production cycles, low input costs, and high efficiency. Equipment manufacturers are tailoring solutions to meet the specific needs of chicken farms, especially in export-driven and urban markets. Vertical integration and demand for traceable, high-quality poultry products are also fuelling investment in standardised, scalable equipment for chicken production.

By mode of operation, automatic systems are expected to take the lead, holding a 48.0% share in 2025. Automation is increasingly essential to manage labour shortages, enhance precision, and meet hygiene and welfare standards. Automatic feeding, egg collection, climate control, and waste management systems are now core to modern poultry farms. Integration with digital platforms and data analytics tools further boosts their value in achieving consistent performance and compliance.

Government initiatives in emerging economies are also contributing to market expansion, particularly in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa. These initiatives support local farming enterprises and promote automation for increased productivity. At the same time, developed countries are focusing on next-generation farming systems that balance output with sustainability and welfare.

As consumer awareness grows around food safety, animal welfare, and environmental impact, the trend towards cage-free systems and eco-friendly equipment is gaining momentum. With ongoing innovation and rising global demand for poultry products, the poultry farming equipment market is well-positioned for continued expansion.

XAG, a global pioneer in agricultural robotics, presenting a comprehensive portfolio of smart farming tools from autonomous drones and lightweight field rovers to AI-driven tractor consoles, precision fertigation systems, and advanced IoT sensors.

Together, these solutions highlighted how automation and digital intelligence are helping farmers boost productivity, use resources more efficiently, and reduce variation in crop performance.

At the centre of XAG’s display was the P150 Max, a high-payload, multi-function agricultural drone engineered to deliver exceptional performance across diverse field operations. Designed for flexibility, the drone allows operators to switch effortlessly between systems for precision spraying, granular spreading, field mapping, and aerial logistics. This modular capability gives farmers a powerful tool to perform critical tasks with improved accuracy and efficiency.

Equipped with an impressive 80 kg payload capacity and capable of flying at speeds of up to 20 m/s, the P150 Max can take on demanding jobs and uneven terrain with confidence. Its RevoSpray 5 System includes an 80-litre intelligent liquid tank paired with dual centrifugal nozzles capable of spraying 32 litres per minute. When upgraded with XAG’s four-nozzle kit, the output increases to 46 litres per minute, making it highly effective for orchards and dense crop canopies. With droplet sizes adjustable from 60 to 500 microns, farmers can fine-tune applications for everything from row crops to fruit trees.

For spreading tasks whether fertiliser distribution, direct seeding, or powder application the RevoCast 5 System offers up to 300 kg per minute and features a vertical waving mechanism that improves precision and wind resistance. Its 115-litre smart granule container ensures accurate metering and uniform coverage across the field.

The drone integrates the RealTerra Field Mapping System, enabling autonomous surveying of up to 20 hectares per flight. High-resolution imagery is processed instantly to produce detailed maps, while onboard AI detects obstacles, field boundaries, and crop structures to enhance safety and workflow planning.

Fitted with the RevoSling Module, the P150 Max becomes a powerful aerial transporter, ideal for moving supplies, harvest produce, or equipment—particularly across rugged or inaccessible terrain.

At the heart of the drone is the advanced SuperX 5 Ultra Intelligent Control System, delivering fully autonomous flight with centimetre-level precision. Its 4D imaging radar and wide-angle FPV camera help the drone navigate around irrigation systems, posts, and overhead lines. Whether in complex orchards or open fields, the P150 Max maintains stable and secure operation.

Farmers can plan missions effortlessly using the XAG One App or the SRC 5 Remote Controller, which calculates optimal flight paths based on field contours and elevation. The drone’s accuracy is supported by the XRTK 7 Mobile Station, ensuring consistent positioning even in remote areas with limited connectivity.

Downtime is minimised thanks to the Smart SuperCharge Battery, which can recharge in as little as seven minutes using the Parallel Charging Kit—allowing for continuous field operations.

With nearly two decades of research underpinning its development, the P150 Max represents XAG’s most refined drone design yet, combining robust construction, intelligent automation, and superior terrain adaptability. Purpose-built for real-world farming, it offers a powerful boost to operational efficiency, sustainability, and precision agriculture.

The SoLAR project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), is entering its second phase, aiming to deepen agricultural resilience and climate transformation in smallholder farming

Launched by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the initiative runs from July 2025 to December 2029 and expands its geographical and thematic focus, now incorporating Ethiopia and Kenya, while continuing its work in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Building on the success of its first phase (2019–2024), SoLAR looks to scale solar energy solutions for agriculture and position them as a replicable and scalable model for climate-resilient agriculture across the Global South.

In its first phase, SoLAR focused on generating evidence, piloting innovative financing models, and influencing policy to integrate solar-powered irrigation systems (SIPs). These solar pumps have proven effective in mitigating climate impacts by replacing diesel pumps and promoting sustainable groundwater usage. “Across the four South Asian countries, we have seen promising steps toward scaling solar irrigation sustainably and inclusively,” said Darshini Ravindranath, Project Lead and Research Group Leader at IWMI. The project has helped governments in Bangladesh and India integrate solar irrigation into national strategies, while in Nepal, it led to a significant policy shift, including revised subsidy criteria supporting women farmers and smallholders.

Key outcomes include the promotion of gender-sensitive policies, innovative financing such as micro-financing and grants, and the adoption of solar irrigation systems that reduce carbon emissions, conserve groundwater, and support high-value crops. IWMI’s work also extended to grid-connected solar irrigation in Nepal, enabling farmers to sell surplus energy, providing them with additional income streams while promoting responsible groundwater use.

In phase two, SoLAR will expand its reach to East Africa, focusing on scaling solar-powered solutions for irrigation, cooling, and processing. With Kenya and Ethiopia facing climate and energy challenges, the project sees solar technology as a transformative tool for boosting year-round agricultural production and enhancing food security. Muluken Elias Adamseged, Deputy Country Representative at IWMI in Ethiopia, remarked, “Scaling solar-powered irrigation, cooling, and processing can boost year-round production, cut losses and costs, and enhance food security.”

The second phase aims to drive an integrated approach with evidence-based policy design, accelerated funding for solar adoption, enhanced capacity building, and the establishment of Living Labs to test solar solutions in diverse settings. The program will directly benefit smallholder farmers in India, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Ethiopia by improving water and energy security, reducing emissions, and enhancing resilience to climate risks, according to Philippe Sas, Head of Cooperation for SDC in India.