Generative AI models support the agricultural industry in their small molecule discovery process. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Computational biology company, Evogene Ltd has developed a generative AI foundation model, version 1.0, for small molecule design, in collaboration with Google Cloud

The new model expands on Evogene's ChemPass AI by identifying novel small molecules that meet multiple complex product criteria.

Generative AI models support the agricultural industry in their small molecule discovery process by enabling the simultaneous consideration of multiple complex product requirements, all while creating truly novel molecular structures. This allows the industry to access strong, defensible IP portfolios.

Ofer Haviv, president and CEO of Evogene, said, "Completing our foundation model is a major milestone in our offering. It unlocks new frontiers for ChemPass AI, giving us the power to generate wholly novel molecules—ones that not only perform but also create new IP space. This is key to overcoming long-standing challenges in life-science R&D: from reducing late-stage failure in pharma to developing ag-chemicals that are effective, sustainable, and proprietary."

Boaz Maoz, managing director, Google Cloud Israel, said, "We're pleased to collaborate with Evogene's innovation in AI-powered molecule design. Their progress with ChemPass AI highlights the strength of pairing advanced AI infrastructure with deep scientific insight. We look forward to seeing the impact of this new model in drug discovery and agriculture."

The development will empower thousands of smallholder farmers. (Image source; Adobe Stock)

Blue Earth Capital has announced a US$30mn private credit commitment of its investment vehicles to Valency International

Based in Singapore, Valency is a global trader, processor, and exporter of agricultural commodities with a specialty in edible nuts (particularly cashew & sesame) and agricultural inputs (agrochemicals & fertilizers). The company operates large-scale commodity processing facilities across four countries in Africa and Asia.

The investment marks BlueEarth’s fourth impact-linked facility (ILF), which are designed to encourage borrowers to align with pre-defined impact goals.

The additional funding will provide Valency with working capital to buy agricultural commodities from the company’s network of smallholder farmers and local traders across Africa.

Amy Wang, Head of Private Credit at BlueEarth, said, “By providing this impact-linked facility to Valency, BlueEarth is excited to not just support a market leading business but also empower thousands of smallholder farmers and support critical local processing capacity while reducing the carbon footprint of cashew nuts. Valency’s approach to bridging agricultural value chains between Africa and Asia demonstrates exactly the kind of measurable, scalable impact our capital is designed to accelerate.”

Sumit Jain, Chief Executive Officer of Valency, comments: “We are excited to partner with Blue Earth Capital on this $30 million sustainability-linked financing, which strengthens our commitment to supporting smallholder farmers and driving local value addition in Africa. This investment will help us enhance our sourcing network, reduce environmental impacts, and contribute to the sustainable development of agriculture in the region, all while aligning with our mission to create lasting social and environmental impact.”

Yoshifumi Kanao, president & CEO of welzo Inc. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Agri-horticultural player, welzo Inc, has established a wholly owned subsidiary, welzo Singapore PTE LTD, in Singapore, expanding into the Southeast Asian market

The company chose Singapore as it is a key hub for accessing ASEAN countries. This base will primarily serve marketing and business development activities across Southeast Asia, focusing on the development and execution of marketing strategies for Southeast Asia; import and export of agricultural products, feed ingredients and pet supplies; building local partnerships and supply chain optimisation, and recruitment and development of local talent.

Yoshifumi Kanao, president & CEO of welzo Inc, said, "Singapore is not just a gateway to Southeast Asia—it's a global hub where innovation and agriculture can converge. With this new subsidiary, we aim to deliver high-quality Japanese products to local markets while building sustainable partnerships rooted in mutual growth. This marks a crucial step in our journey toward global co-creation."

Huawei Cloud is developing applications that use AI for tasks such as crop monitoring. (Image source: Huawei Cloud)

Huawei Cloud, in collaboration with Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), hosted the Huawei Cloud Summit Thailand 2025, where the two parties jointly announced a strategic initiative to position Thailand as ASEAN’s leading AI hub.

While the summit highlighted the nation’s overall digital acceleration, a notable focus was placed on the growing application of AI and cloud technologies in agriculture.

As part of MDES’s “Cloud First” strategy, which aims to build an inclusive and opportunity-rich digital economy, Huawei Cloud is advancing smart agriculture initiatives that leverage artificial intelligence to enhance productivity, sustainability, and environmental stewardship in the farming sector.

Through partnerships with local stakeholders, Huawei Cloud is developing applications that use AI for tasks such as crop monitoring, pest prediction, and precision irrigation, which are essential tools for a country where agriculture plays a critical economic role.

Cloud and AI technologies not only boost production efficiency but also bring a positive impact on human life, natural environment, and sustainable development, explained Aka Dai, director of Huawei Cloud Marketing, during the summit. He pointed to ongoing efforts in smart agriculture as a core example of Huawei’s “Cloud for Good” initiative.

Huawei Cloud is strengthening its local collaborations in this field as part of a broader push that includes nature conservation, inclusive finance, and carbon reduction. The company’s initiatives already include paperless solutions for government departments, saving thousands of trees annually, and now extend to optimising agricultural operations to reduce water usage, cut emissions, and increase yields.

William Dong, president of Huawei Cloud Marketing, introduced several innovations to support this AI-driven transformation. These included the Pangu models, which are tailored for specific use cases, from steel manufacturing to weather forecasting, and are now being adapted to meet agricultural needs.

AI has become the most influential general-purpose technology in the industry, according to Dong, who noted Huawei Cloud’s shift from “Cloud-Native” to “AI-Native” infrastructure.

The summit also featured a demonstration of AI in action, where a humanoid robot and a human with a bionic hand performed collaborative tasks, showcasing the real-world potential of intelligent technology.

Having worked with over 1,000 customers and 500 partners in Thailand over the past seven years, Huawei Cloud is now focused on accelerating intelligent transformation in key industries. With smart agriculture as one of its emerging pillars, the company aims to support the sustainable growth of Thailand’s digital and environmental ambitions.