SaliCrop’s seed innovation is bearing fruits of success in tomato cultivation: More yield and flavorful tomatoes. (Image source: Guy Shery)

Leveraging its expertise in desert technology, agritech start-up, SaliCrop Ltd., recently introduced a breakthrough seed treatment innovation that is capable of transforming arid terrains into flourishing landscapes for growing food

Boosting crop cultivation in arid regions raises yields, eventually promising greater food security for the future. With a focus on crops such as onions, chili rice and broccoli, field trials are currently being carried out across Africa, India and Europe.

Tackling abiotic stress

Two main abiotic stressors that hinder crop development include saline soil and heat stress. To combat these issues, SaliCrop has developed a novel, non-GMO approach to bolster seeds' resilience to abiotic stresses. The various seed enhancement protocols that have been designed, target a plant’s internal stress-response mechanisms by intentionally exposing the plant to controlled abiotic stressors, while at the same time, ensuring to keep the plant DNA intact. In brief, SaliCrop's green solution acts as a gentle nudge to preemptively stimulate the stress responses even before the plant finds itself in salty or hot conditions.

"Under SaliCrop's treatment, plants not only thrive in poor quality, highly saline soil through enhanced nutrient absorption and improved root structures, but they also exhibit increased vigor and superior germination rates," affirmed CEO of SaliCrop, Carmit Oron. "This innovation turns marginal lands, previously considered barren, into fertile grounds capable of abundant food production. As climate change intensifies, farmers globally are in urgent need of sustainable solutions to adapt and succeed. SaliCrop is at the forefront, with leading agricultural players already integrating our technology," Oron added.

The SaliCrop solution is currently bearing fruit in tomato cultivation in multiple locations, including Spain.

For more information, visit: www.salicrop.com 

The new bioinsecticide from Bayer can be used in oilseed rape and cereals. (Image source: Bayer)

Global healthcare and nutrition company, Bayer announces its signing of an agreement with leader of crop protection solutions, AlphaBio Control, to secure a license for a new biological insecticide, targeted towards arable crops

Infestation by insects like the cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB), can be devastating for oilseed rape crops throughout the growing season and even cause seedling death. Keeping this in mind, the new bioinsecticide has been designed for use against coleoptera insects like these. 

Moreover, by including it in a digitally-supported integrated pest management system, Bayer’s systems approach—which combines various solutions—will help to maximise the cost efficiencies of this new product. 

“We are delighted to license Bayer exclusive rights to our latest bioinsecticide which will significantly improve the choices available to arable farmers wishing to reduce the environmental impact of food production,” said general manager for AlphaBio Control, Marta Ruiz.

Moreover, the new insecticide also aligns with Bayer's commitment to help reduce the environmental impact of crop protection products by 30% by 2030. The initial launch of the product is planned for 2028. 

For more information, visit: www.bayer.com and www.alphabiocontrol.com

In addition to the tea garden, East China's Mengzhuang Town targets local characteristic agricultural development. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The tea garden located at Daguozhuang Village of Mengzhuang Town in east China's Shandong Province, has developed characteristic agriculture to propel rural prosperity

According to this new mode, the tea garden pays land rent at market price to local farmers each year and offers plenty of job opportunities. In addition to the tea garden, the town targets local characteristic agricultural development, and has made great efforts in developing other agricultural parks, including strawberry varieties research centre, agriculture and tourism integration park, herbal medicine park, and chicken breeding park. Moreover, the town has also mobilised related parties, creating various development models, such as village-enterprise joint venture, 'common prosperity company' and rural partners.

Thanks to all these efforts, in 2023, the collective income of all five administrative villages in the town exceeded US$27,607. More than 3,500 jobs were created by 75 enterprises within the area and surrounding areas. Local incomes went up significantly, and the entry of 48 new agricultural business entities in the town resulted in a boost in the annual output value. 

Examination of fatty acid and sterol compositions are the most common analytical methods used to identify adulterated products. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

As the olive oil industry continues to face unprecedented challenges, there has been a gradual increase in fraudulent activities involving the sale of counterfeit mixtures that closely resemble authentic olive oil

The Mediterranean region responsible for the majority of the world's extra-virgin olive oil production has been hit by a severe drought, resulting in significant reductions in output from countries like Spain, Tunisia, Greece and Italy. This scenario has led to a dramatic surge in prices, in turn attracting counterfeiters who are exploiting the situation by introducing fake products into the market. With more than 260,000 litres of fake olive oil seized in Italy and Spain, Europol's recent investigations have shed light on the alarming prevalence of counterfeit olive oil within the market. 

Fraudulant schemes like these involve the substitution of high-quality olive oil with cheaper, inferior seed oils that are manipulated with additives like chlorophyll and carotenoids to mimic the appearance of authentic olive oil, thus deceiving the unsuspecting consumer. Mixing olive oil with lower-quality lampante oil is another method used to dilute the purity of olive oil while reducing costs. This not only compromises the quality but also misleads consumers about the product they are purchasing. Extra-virgin olive oil, a popular staple in culinary traditions has therefore, come under scrutiny wordwide, urging consumers and restauranteurs alike to exercise caution and vigilance.  

The presence of polyphenols are responsible for olive oil's unique flavour profiles, ranging from sweet to bitter or zesty. These compounds not only contribute to the oil's taste but also offer numerous health benefits. Characteristics like taste and aroma that are distinctive to authentic olive oil cannot be replicated by seed oils. However, distinguishing genuine olive oil from fraudulent mixtures can be challenging. Examination of fatty acid and sterol compositions are the most common analytical methods used to identify adulterated products. 

Moreover, since certain countries do allow the sale of blended oils, it is extremely important for consumers to carefully examine product labels for harvest dates, locations and certification seals from reputable third-party organisations, prior to selecting extra-virgin olive oil. Advances in technology, such as blockchain systems for traceability, offer promising solutions for enhancing transparency in the olive oil supply chain. However, the effectiveness of these tools is contingent upon consumer awareness and engagement.