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Taiwan has approved two new blue carbon methodologies aimed at enhancing mangrove and seagrass ecosystems to help meet its net-zero emissions target by 2050

These new carbon reduction strategies - Mangrove Afforestation and Seagrass Restoration - were developed collaboratively by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the Ocean Affairs Council (OAC).

A "carbon sink" is a natural system that absorbs more carbon dioxide (CO₂) than it releases, playing a vital role in tackling climate change by reducing greenhouse gases. Taiwan’s new methodologies will now calculate and manage the carbon stored in mangroves and seagrasses, both of which are considered blue carbon sinks.

The Mangrove Afforestation methodology involves planting mangroves in designated areas, such as abandoned salt pans, fish farms, and reservoirs, to increase carbon storage in the ecosystem. According to the MOA, the site must have been free from industrial activities for at least two years before the project begins. Moreover, the initiative should not interfere with existing industries to avoid negatively impacting local livelihoods. The species of mangrove used must be suitable for the local conditions. Developers are also required to manage hydrology, sediment, salinity, and water quality to optimise growth and carbon capture while preventing the overgrowth of mangroves.

Similarly, the Seagrass Restoration methodology focuses on planting seagrass in marine and coastal areas, including artificial wetlands. Like the mangrove strategy, developers must ensure the right conditions for seagrass growth, managing water movement, sediment, salinity, and water quality. Marine life can only be removed from the area if necessary to protect the seagrass.

Before starting, developers must verify land use legality, conduct environmental assessments, and hold public consultations. All findings must be documented.

Taiwan is committed to using blue carbon ecosystems to achieve its net-zero target by 2050. The government hopes these new methodologies will encourage more organisations to take part in blue carbon projects. A 2023 study found that seagrass beds cover around 5,481 hectares in Taiwan, while mangroves span 681 hectares.

In addition to the new blue carbon methods, Taiwan has also added three new agricultural carbon offset methodologies since 2024. The MOA continues to refine these strategies to help companies access voluntary carbon credits.

Quhuo Limited, a leading tech-enabled service platform, has announced a strategic partnership with NIU World, a local Chinese food group, to launch a new chain brand incubation platform focused on fresh beef.

The platform is based on a fully localised supply chain and aims to meet rising consumer demand for high-quality fresh beef in China.

This collaboration will create a vertically integrated ecosystem that connects slaughterhouses directly to dining and retail outlets, helping to upgrade product quality and enable large-scale expansion in the fresh beef sector. The joint initiative combines NIU World’s strong industry presence—from cattle farming and slaughtering to deep processing—with Quhuo’s nationwide, on-demand food delivery network. Together, they will improve supply chain efficiency and enhance the consumer experience in this rapidly growing market.

The partnership features a unique business model that supports high-potential brands through a newly formed joint venture company. This company will provide end-to-end services in supply chain management, digital operations, financing, and strategic investment to accelerate brand growth and expansion.

The project is led by Du Xin, a veteran with extensive experience in brand development. It has already achieved sales of over RMB 20 million within its first month, showing strong demand and effective execution. The platform uses both direct-to-store and platform-based delivery models, integrating online and offline sales channels. A co-managed model will also help standardise store operations and promote asset-light growth nationwide.

Several successful brand partnerships are already in place, including with Zhuang Popo Chinese Fresh Claypot and Qingshan Ingredient Store. These collaborations offer differentiated fresh beef products tailored to local markets. The platform’s long-term goal is to build a national network of fresh beef chain brands.

Supply chain financing will play a key role, helping NIU World expand its procurement and slaughtering capabilities while reducing costs and improving efficiency.

Leslie Yu, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Quhuo, said, “This strategic collaboration with NIU World marks a significant milestone in Quhuo's expansion into the 'Fresh Beef + New Chain Brands' sector. With our combined strengths in supply chain integration and multi-channel operations, we are confident in driving widespread adoption and upgrading of fresh beef consumption in China, delivering sustained value to our shareholders while meeting the increasing demand from Chinese consumers for high-quality, healthy food choices.”

DJI, the global leader in drone and camera technology, has officially launched its latest agricultural drones - the Agras T100, T70P, and T25P — for worldwide use.

These new models represent the next step in DJI agriculture’s development, offering more power, smarter features, and greater efficiency for farming operations of all sizes.

With over 12 years of research and development behind them, the new Agras drones are designed to handle bigger jobs and suit a range of farming tasks, from spraying and spreading to lifting. Each drone is built with advanced safety features and automated systems to support smarter, safer, and more efficient farming.

Agras T100: for large-scale farming

The Agras T100 is built for commercial farming, with a maximum payload of 100 litres for spraying, 150 litres for spreading, or 100 kilograms for lifting. It has a top operating speed of 20 m/s, making it twice as efficient as the previous model. Its powerful safety system includes LiDAR, millimetre-wave radar, and a Penta-Vision system, helping it navigate safely and operate with high accuracy.

Agras T70P: balanced power and efficiency

Designed for a wide range of uses, the Agras T70P can spray with 70 litres, spread with 100 litres, or lift up to 65 kilograms. Like the T100, it reaches speeds of up to 20 m/s and includes a fine mist spraying system. It features the Safety System 3.0 with improved obstacle detection using radar and a Tri-Vision system.

Agras T25P: compact and ideal for solo use

The T25P keeps its compact, foldable frame, making it ideal for single-person use. It includes the new 25 kg high-precision screw feeder system for spreading and the Safety System 3.0. It is well-suited for smaller farms or precision tasks, with full automation for mapping and plant protection.

New training for drone pilots

DJI is also rolling out new pilot training courses under the DJI Academy, starting in 15 countries across the Americas and Asia. These courses will teach safe flying, efficient spraying and spreading, and how to get the most out of DJI’s agricultural drones.The new Agras drones will first be available in Southeast Asia.

Yuan Zhang, head of global sales at DJI Agriculture, said, “We are proud to launch these advanced drones to support global farming. They help growers feed communities while reducing the environmental impact on our planet.”

Unitree Robotics, known for creating user-friendly and affordable robots, is now bringing its technology to farming.

As rural areas face a shortage of younger workers and an ageing labour force, many tech companies are turning to robotics and digital solutions to modernise agriculture. In line with this, Unitree has teamed up with a top agricultural research institution to explore how robots can support smarter, more efficient farming practices.

Traditionally, farmers have relied on their experience to judge the health and condition of crops. But modern robotics, powered by AI vision and edge computing, can now carry out these tasks more accurately and efficiently. These technologies also make farming more accessible for younger generations, who can become "robot managers" and take on farming roles without needing years of experience.

Unitree’s consumer-grade quadruped robot, Go2, is leading this change. Priced from just US$1,600, Go2 is affordable and well-suited to agriculture, thanks to its strong performance, adaptability, and ability to work in tough conditions. Farming environments pose unique challenges, such as varying lighting and ever-changing crop shapes, which demand advanced sensing and recognition abilities.

To meet these needs, Go2 has been equipped with a specialised camera and agricultural sensors that track the growth of seedlings in real time. It uses a custom AI vision model tailored for farming. This AI, supported by edge computing, allows the robot to analyse and identify plant conditions on the spot. The data collected is then sent to a central system, which uses agricultural big data to suggest specific farming strategies based on the crop’s growth stage.

This integrated setup, from the robot in the field to the cloud-based platform, helps reduce the physical burden on farmers. At the same time, it offers researchers detailed and frequent field data, helping to speed up scientific progress in agriculture.

As one industry observer noted, “civilian-grade robots, through deeper integration into agricultural environments, are opening up broader application prospects for advanced legged robotics.”

Unitree continues to develop high-quality legged and humanoid robots for the public. With practical tools like Go2, the company is helping to replace hard, repetitive, and risky work with smart automation-making farming more efficient and improving the overall quality of life.