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Syngenta Canada has introduced Equento Cereals, a new seed treatment designed to give cereal growers in Western Canada stronger protection against wireworms and early season diseases.

The product is the first of its kind to combine both contact and systemic activity against wireworms, offering farmers a more effective way to protect crops from one of the region’s most persistent soil pests.
Equento Cereals brings together two insecticides and four fungicides to provide broad and reliable protection for cereal seeds and young plants. At the core of the treatment is PLINAZOLIN technology, a breakthrough active ingredient developed by Syngenta with a novel Group 30 mode of action. This is paired with Group 4 thiamethoxam to enhance insect control and help manage wireworm populations more effectively.

Justin Bouvier, product lead for Seedcare with Syngenta Canada said,“Equento Cereals seed treatment gives growers in Western Canada facing significant wireworm pressure a reliable tool to control populations this season and reduce wireworm populations in the following season.Equento Cereals protects seeds and young plants from wireworm feeding, known to lower plant health and crop yield.”

The contact activity in Equento Cereals works quickly to stop wireworm feeding, while its systemic action helps disrupt the pest’s lifecycle, reducing pressure over time. Alongside insect control, the treatment includes four fungicides that guard against a wide range of seed and soil borne diseases, supporting healthy crop establishment.

Shad Milligan, western technical lead for Seedcare with Syngenta Canada, said,“Equento Cereals delivers the same comprehensive level of disease protection cereal growers have come to expect from Cruiser Vibrance Quattro seed treatment paired with a novel mode of action to control wireworms.”

“With Equento Cereals, farmers can expect even crop emergence and uniform stand establishment, helping mitigate future weed management challenges caused by wireworm damage,” adds Milligan.

Equento Cereals contains six proven active ingredients that also deliver the benefits of Vigor Trigger and Rooting Power, helping crops establish strong roots and achieve a vigorous start. The product will be available in Western Canada for the 2026 growing season, sold either in cases or bulk packaging to suit different farm needs.

The launch marks the first approval of PLINAZOLIN technology for use in Canada. “This is a proud moment for Syngenta Canada,” says Scott Ewert, Head of Seedcare for Syngenta Canada. “Bringing PLINAZOLIN technology to Canada reflects our commitment to investing in breakthrough innovations that keep farmers competitive, productive, and profitable. Our customers entrust us to advance tools and technology that will keep them competitive in a global market.”

Brazil began the year with strong export performance in both chicken and pork, setting new records for January and reinforcing the country’s position as a leading global supplier of animal protein.

Data from the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein shows rising shipment volumes and export revenues despite the month traditionally being a period of weaker international demand.

Chicken meat exports, covering both fresh and processed products, reached 459,000 tonnes in January. This marked a record for the month and represented a 3.6 percent increase compared with the same period last year. Export revenue also reached a new January high, totalling US$874.2 million, up 5.8 percent from US$826.4 million recorded a year earlier.

The United Arab Emirates remained the largest destination for Brazilian chicken, importing 44,300 tonnes, a rise of 14 percent year on year. South Africa followed with 36,800 tonnes, showing strong growth of 34 percent, while Saudi Arabia imported 33,500 tonnes. China also received 33,500 tonnes, although volumes declined sharply compared with last year. Japan, the European Union, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, and Chile all posted increases, highlighting broad based demand across multiple regions.

At state level, Paraná led chicken exports with shipments of 187,700 tonnes, followed by Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. São Paulo and Goiás also recorded growth, contributing to the overall strong performance.

“The record performance with increases in practically all major destinations, during a period of typically reduced demand, such as the month of January, signals optimistic prospects for 2026. This indicates sustained growth in several importing markets, especially in the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, the countries of the European Union and certain Asian markets with significant demand,” advises the president of ABPA, Ricardo Santin.

Pork exports also reached record levels in January. Shipments totalled 116,300 tonnes, an increase of 9.7 percent compared with the same month last year. Export revenue rose to US$270.2 million, up 13.6 percent and the highest January result on record.

The Philippines remained the leading market for Brazilian pork, followed by Japan and Hong Kong. Santa Catarina was the largest exporting state, while Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná recorded strong growth.

"The trend that occurred throughout 2025 continues this year, with a decentralization of shipments from China to new destinations, including the Philippines and other high value-added markets, such as Japan. The record balance in January points to a positive flow again in 2026," emphasizes the president of ABPA, Ricardo Santin.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has taken a major step towards modernising desert locust management with the launch of its first regional drone pilot training programme.

Led through the Desert Locust Control Commission in the Central Region and the Desert Locust Control Commission in the Western Region, the initiative is being implemented in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources of the Sultanate of Oman.

Hosted in Oman, the programme brings together technical specialists from countries most affected by desert locust infestations across the Central and Western Regions. Its aim is to strengthen national and regional capacity in using unmanned aerial systems for desert locust survey, monitoring and control. The initiative reflects a growing shift towards digital agriculture and precision technologies to protect crops, livelihoods and food security.

The training marks an important transition from limited pilot trials to a structured and institutional approach to drone use in locust operations. By focusing on standardised procedures and certified skills, FAO is ensuring that Member States are better prepared to respond quickly and safely to emerging locust threats. The five day programme combines classroom learning, simulator sessions and extensive hands on field exercises, offering participants a practical and immersive experience.

The programme is delivered in partnership with Micron, a leading provider of aerial spraying systems, and is supported by the FAO office in Muscat alongside strong logistical backing from Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources and local partner Ankaa Space Company.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Mamoon Al Sarai Al Alawi, Executive Secretary of the Desert Locust Control Commission in the Central Region, said, “This training marks a critical step in moving from pilot initiatives to full operational integration of drone technology in desert locust management. It will empower national teams with advanced technical skills, enhance operational safety, and ensure the effective and sustainable use of these tools in protecting crops, livelihoods, and food security.”

Beyond technical skills, the programme strengthens regional cooperation and encourages the sharing of experience and best practice. It also supports FAO’s wider strategy to modernise desert locust control through digital tools such as remote sensing, satellite monitoring, geographic information systems and eLocust platforms.

Through initiatives like this, FAO continues to support Member States in building resilient systems to manage transboundary pests, contributing directly to global food security, sustainable development and the organisation’s Four Betters agenda.

Key Technology (Key), a member of Duravant’s Food Sorting and Handling Group, has introduced its COMPASS optical sorter, a next-generation solution designed specifically for fresh-cut leafy greens processing.

Engineered to inspect product directly from the field, this belt-fed optical sorting system combines high-precision foreign material (FM) detection with gentle, hygienic handling to support food safety and operational efficiency.

Designed for early-stage processing, COMPASS helps processors address one of the most critical challenges in leafy greens operations foreign material contamination while maintaining simplicity and cost-effectiveness. As Jack Lee, Duravant Group President of Food Sorting and Handling, said,“Foreign material is one of the biggest challenges at this early stage of leafy greens processing, but many processors can’t justify the expense or complexity of traditional optical sorting systems. COMPASS changes that,” he said. “It delivers accurate and reliable FM removal in a user-friendly, cost-effective solution engineered to withstand the dirt and debris common at the front end of leafy greens lines.”

Ideal for spinach, arugula, salad mixes and other unwashed leafy greens, COMPASS accurately detects and removes a wide range of foreign materials, including dirt clods, rocks, sticks, insects and animal parts. When processing single varieties, it can also identify and reject product defects, enhancing overall product quality.

To reduce labour dependency and simplify training, COMPASS features a recipe-driven system with a touchscreen interface designed to mirror smartphone navigation. Operators can learn to run the sorter in under 30 minutes, quickly switch between products and create new recipes with ease. Intelligent belt control ensures precise tracking, reducing downtime and eliminating manual adjustments.

COMPASS offers flexible camera configurations with up to eight channels of multispectral sensor data, delivering advanced detection at a lower total cost of ownership. When equipped with Key’s Pixel Fusion technology, the sorter combines visible, infrared and shortwave infrared data to improve contrast and identify even hard-to-detect contaminants. An optional chlorophyll-sensitive channel further enhances detection accuracy.

The system is designed for optimal product flow, using specialised infeed conveying and optional air-assist features to prevent clumping and sticking. Sanitation is prioritised through an open-frame design, sloped surfaces and a clean-in-place system that supports fast, effective washdowns.

Each COMPASS sorter includes Key Discovery, transforming the machine into an IIoT-enabled data hub that provides real-time performance insights and quality analytics helping processors maximise uptime, safety and return on investment.