China’s floriculture sector reached a major milestone on 8 December with the official opening of the Beijing International Flower Industrial Park.

The inauguration ceremony brought together around 100 representatives from across the national flower industry, underlining the project’s significance for both domestic and international markets.

Situated in Panggezhuang Town, Daxing District, the park spans 552.6 mu (approximately 36.84 hectares) and is equipped with 60,000 square metres of state-of-the-art greenhouses. Designed as a next-generation floriculture hub, the park aims to integrate “innovation and R&D + production demonstration + digital trade + cultural tourism experience,” with a strong emphasis on bulb flowers for research, cultivation and global trade.

The park’s strategic location enhances its role as a gateway for international flower commerce. Just 20 minutes from Beijing Daxing International Airport and close to the Jingkai Expressway, it offers efficient logistics for both imports and exports. A number of leading domestic and international flower companies have already established a presence, creating a vibrant ecosystem for collaboration, innovation and commercial growth.

Looking ahead, the park plans to introduce more premium international flower varieties while actively promoting distinctive Chinese local breeds to overseas markets. This dual strategy is expected to strengthen China’s competitiveness in the global floriculture industry and support domestic enterprises in expanding internationally.

The opening was marked by a Home Gardening Forum, where industry experts and business leaders shared insights on popular ornamental plants including Phalaenopsis, Amaryllis, Paphiopedilum and Rhododendron. Together, these initiatives position the park as a key driver of innovation, trade and sustainable growth in China’s rapidly evolving flower industry.

The Philippines has taken a decisive step toward strengthening its position in global aquaculture with the launch of its largest crayfish nursery—a flagship development designed to scale production of the high-value Australian Redclaw crayfish.

The project, built through the partnership of Farm Fresh Early Catch Inc., Taiwan’s Da Shin Biotech Ltd., and the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), marks a defining moment for the country’s fast-growing aquaculture sector.

The new nursery will focus on mass-producing Cherax quadricarinatus, a resilient and fast-growing species prized by both domestic and international markets. Government officials say the initiative supports national efforts to strengthen food security while boosting long-term livelihood opportunities in rural areas.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., in remarks delivered by Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa, highlighted the power of collaboration behind the facility. “Built through the partnership of Farm Fresh Early Catch Inc., Da Shin Biotech, and the DA-BFAR, this nursery shows that when government, private innovators, and fisherfolk come together, progress stops being a dream—it becomes our shared reality,” he said.

Tiu Laurel added that crayfish aquaculture “opens new doors for our fisherfolk—bringing in more income, more livelihood, and more food on our tables,” while underscoring the need for responsible production and adherence to BFAR’s ecological protection guidelines. Every pond, he said, must “nurture care, discipline, and respect for the balance of our ecosystems.”

Situated in Candaba - a wetlands area renowned for its freshwater abundance—the 1,280-square-metre facility features 16 tanks capable of producing up to 48,000 fry every two weeks. It also introduces advanced water-recycling systems that help reduce waste and conserve freshwater, addressing one of the most common environmental criticisms of aquaculture operations.

The nursery will supply Farm Fresh’s existing 3-hectare grow-out ponds, which already produce around 30 tonnes of market-ready crayfish each year. It will also support a broad network of partner growers as production expands nationwide.

From 2026, Farm Fresh plans to roll out large-scale grow-out operations covering 1,500 hectares in Luzon and 750 hectares each in the Visayas and Mindanao. When these sites reach full capacity, they are projected to deliver more than 1,200 tonnes of crayfish every six months—volumes that could position the Philippines as a competitive player in the regional and global aquaculture market.

Crayfish provide a nutrient-dense, low-impact protein source that requires minimal feed. The project is expected to generate over 3,000 direct jobs and stimulate additional enterprise in farming communities.

The launch marks the beginning of a world-class crayfish industry designed to place the Philippines firmly on the global aquaculture map.

Digital transformation in agriculture is gaining momentum across Europe, yet adoption remains uneven. In Italy, only 9.5% of agricultural land is currently digitised, according to data from the Smart Agrifood Observatory.

Despite this modest uptake, the pace of technological change has been rapid. As the team at EVJA explains, “Despite this marginal progress, the sector has transitioned from a few isolated sensors in the field to a wealth of data, forecasting models, regulatory requirements, and sustainability metrics in just a few years.”

This fast evolution has created a new challenge for farmers and agronomists. Multiple digital tools often operate in isolation, using different data standards and interfaces. “The risk is clear. There are so many disconnected solutions, each with its own language. This increases complexity instead of simplifying the work of farmers and technicians,” EVJA notes. To address this, the company developed its Agronomic Intelligence Platform, a single, integrated solution designed to turn complex agricultural data into practical, on-farm decisions. “It is a unified platform for monitoring, analyzing, advocating, and ensuring sustainability by transforming complex data into actionable decisions.”

At its core, the platform aims to simplify data-driven agronomy through one website and mobile app. Farmers and technicians gain access to real-time monitoring of soil, climate and crop conditions, alongside disease forecasting models, an event calendar, complete historical datasets, yield estimation tools and an up-to-date CO2 balance. This all-in-one approach supports precision agriculture, climate-smart farming and measurable sustainability outcomes.

A standout feature of EVJA’s solution is its modular structure. Farms can begin with a Basic plan, which includes monitoring, data history and a digital calendar, and then expand as needs grow. Advanced modules such as Defense, Agronomic Modelling, Yield and CO2 allow the platform to scale alongside the business, supporting a transition towards more efficient, transparent and sustainable farming practices.

The EVJA control unit, equipped with essential sensors, underpins the platform. Through the app, users can view real-time graphs showing soil moisture, temperature and other key parameters, as well as analyse historical data by season, plot or crop. The Defense modules integrate seamlessly, offering AI-powered forecasting for diseases such as downy mildew, alternaria, botrytis and powdery mildew. These models are refined using user-recorded observations, treatments and notes, improving accuracy over time.

Beyond plant protection, the platform includes advanced agronomic models covering evapotranspiration, accumulated temperature, light exposure and chilling hours. These tools help farmers plan irrigation and crop development without complex calculations. The yield module, designed for leafy vegetables and castor beans, supports production forecasts, harvest timing and supply chain planning. Meanwhile, the CO2 module calculates emissions and sequestration, providing reliable data for ESG reporting and retailer requirements.

Through this platform, EVJA aims to make digital agriculture practical and accessible. As the company puts it: “Innovation in the field, sustainability in the yield.”

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) has designated seven provinces Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Jeollanam-do as the first-ever “Green Bio Industry Promotion Zones” in accordance with Article 15 of the Act on the Promotion of the Green Bio Industry.

This milestone marks a significant step in the Republic of Korea’s strategy to strengthen its green bioeconomy and drive sustainable industrial growth.

Introduced for the first time this year, the Green Bio Industry Promotion Zone system is designed to establish a comprehensive, region-led framework for business support. The initiative is built around provincial hubs where green bio companies, universities, research institutes, and essential infrastructure for technology verification and certification are closely integrated. Through this clustered approach, local governments are expected to play a leading role in nurturing innovation, accelerating technology transfer, and supporting market-ready solutions.

The selected zones were evaluated and designated following a rigorous assessment process. Key criteria included industrial growth potential, implementation capacity, policy relevance, and overall feasibility. This ensures that each province is well positioned to contribute effectively to the national green bio strategy while leveraging its own regional strengths and resources.

The green-bio industry itself is regarded as a next-generation growth engine, encompassing six major sectors: microorganisms, natural products, food materials, insects, seeds, and veterinary medical products. With the designation of the Green Bio Industry Development Zones, collaboration networks among provinces are expected to deepen. In parallel, processes for verification, evaluation, certification, and commercialisation of green bio technologies and products are set to accelerate, helping to create a dynamic and competitive innovation ecosystem.

MAFRA plans to support the designated provinces by granting eligibility to participate in government-funded infrastructure development projects, including the Green Bio Venture Campus and advanced biofoundries. In addition, policy incentives will be provided to companies operating within the zones, further encouraging private-sector participation and investment in sustainable bio-based industries.

To ensure accountability and continuous improvement, MAFRA will receive quarterly performance reports from the local governments managing the designated zones. Annual performance evaluations will also be conducted to closely monitor implementation progress. Importantly, the results of these evaluations will be reflected in the formulation of policies for the following year, reinforcing a results-driven and adaptive governance approach.

Through these measures, the ROK aims to position itself at the forefront of green bio innovation, fostering regional development while advancing a resilient, sustainable bioeconomy aligned with global green growth trends.