A game changer for phosphate production.

Singapore-based Indorama Group, through its Senegalese subsidiary Industries Chimiques du Sénégal (ICS), has announced a significant US$210mn investment aimed at expanding and modernising its fertilizer production facilities in Senegal

This investment, outlined in a memorandum of understanding with Senegal’s Investment and Major Projects Promotion Agency (APIX), was unveiled at the Senegal Investment Forum and will be executed between 2025 and 2028.

The main focus of the programme is to strengthen Senegal’s role in the agricultural input sector by enhancing its phosphate and fertilizer production capabilities. Senegal has a growing agricultural market, and this investment aims to address key gaps in fertilizer supply, benefiting local farmers and boosting agricultural output across the region.

ICS plans to upgrade its facilities, particularly at the Mbao fertilizer plant, where it will increase production of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) and DAP (diammonium phosphate) fertilizers from 250,000 to 400,000 tons annually. The company will also build a new Single Super Phosphate (SSP) unit, which will have an annual capacity of 350,000 tons. Additionally, ICS is set to ramp up phosphoric acid production at its Darou plant to 660,000 tons per year, supported by a new sulfuric acid plant capable of producing 700 tons per day. These improvements are expected to significantly boost ICS’s presence in Senegal’s fertilizer market.

Currently, Senegal relies heavily on imported fertilizers, bringing in an average of 126,484 tons annually, valued at $97.4 million between 2020 and 2024. Fertilizer use in the country is still limited, with application rates standing at just 8.5 kg per hectare in 2022. This is far below the sub-Saharan African average of 18.5 kg and the African Union’s target of 50 kg per hectare set at the 2006 Abuja Fertilizer Summit. NPK fertilizers dominate the local market, comprising 50% of usage, followed by urea (30%), DAP (7%), and potassium muriate (3%).

This investment in local fertilizer production aligns with the 2024 Nairobi Declaration, which urges African nations to triple their fertilizer production by 2034. By boosting domestic manufacturing, the initiative aims to reduce Senegal’s dependency on imports, make fertilizers more accessible to smallholder farmers, and enhance agricultural productivity.

Nestlé continues to play a pivotal role in advancing Thailand’s coffee sector.(Image credit: Nestlé)

Nestlé (Thai) Ltd. has renewed its long-standing partnership with Thai coffee farmers by signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Thai Coffee Growers Association

The agreement, covering the 2025/2026 harvest season, affirms Nestlé’s commitment to purchasing Robusta coffee beans directly from local farmers while continuing to promote sustainable farming practices and improve livelihoods within the coffee-growing communities.

The signing ceremony was held in Chumphon Province, a key region for coffee production in Thailand, and was honoured by the presence of the provincial governor, reflecting the significance of the initiative to the local economy.

As part of the agreement, Nestlé will support farmers not only through bean purchases but also by sharing practical knowledge on Regenerative Agriculture. This approach focuses on improving soil health, conserving water, and promoting biodiversity, ultimately helping farmers build climate resilience and boost both yield and quality.

“For several decades, Nestlé has continuously supported our local coffee farmers. Additionally, Nestlé has consistently been the largest purchaser of local Robusta beans in Thailand. The signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) each year reaffirms that Nestlé will purchase Robusta coffee beans directly from Thai farmers. Moreover, we support farmers in adopting Regenerative Agriculture practices in their coffee plantations through knowledge-sharing programs and various training sessions. This not only helps improve coffee production in terms of both quantity and quality but also aids in restoring ecosystems and protecting soil and water resources, enabling farmers to cope with climate change,” said Salinla Seehaphan, Corporate Affairs Director at Nestlé (Thai) Ltd.

Thianchai Chookittiwiboon, Governor of Chumphon Province, praised the initiative, emphasising coffee’s economic importance to the region. He noted that direct support from companies like Nestlé aligns with the province’s goal to establish itself as a globally recognised “Robusta Metropolis.”

Echoing this, Prayoon Songprasert, Chairman of the Thai Coffee Growers Association, acknowledged Nestlé’s ongoing contributions. He highlighted the positive impact of high-yield plantlets developed by Nestlé and the company’s training initiatives, which have led to consistent quality and income growth for farmers.

With this renewed partnership, Nestlé continues to play a pivotal role in advancing Thailand’s coffee sector promoting sustainability, boosting farmer incomes, and securing the future of Robusta cultivation in the country.

Nutrient levels of essential elements enhancing the nutritional quality of the crops.

UbiQD has revealed promising results from a USDA-funded greenhouse study conducted at the University of California, Davis, demonstrating that their luminescent quantum dot (QD) laminated glass can significantly boost crop growth, nutrient uptake, and energy efficiency in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA)

Published in Materials Today Sustainability, the study marks a pioneering use of quantum dot-integrated structural glass in agriculture.

The research compared two greenhouses during a winter lettuce growing cycle—one fitted with UbiQD’s spectrum-optimised QD-glass and the other using standard glass. The results showed a remarkable 37.8% increase in fresh biomass, with plants almost 40% heavier, suggesting a substantial rise in edible yield. Leaf area and root length also grew by 38%, enhancing photosynthesis, water, and nutrient absorption, which in turn improved plant resilience and shelf life.

One of the study’s key outcomes was a 41% rise in light-use efficiency, indicating plants converted sunlight into biomass more effectively under the QD-glass. Nutrient levels of essential elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were also higher, enhancing the nutritional quality of the crops. Furthermore, the glass improved the red-to-blue light ratio by 61%, without sacrificing the total amount of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), optimising light quality for growth.

“For glass greenhouse farmers looking to boost output while reducing energy inputs, this is a breakthrough,” said Hunter McDaniel, CEO of UbiQD. “These results prove that the sun can be engineered passively through QD-infused glass to deliver more productive, resilient, and sustainable food systems.”

As the global food system faces challenges including climate change, resource scarcity, and growing demand, this spectral engineering technology offers a timely solution. The study concludes that UbiGro glass could be a key step towards climate-smart greenhouses that marry photonics and sustainable agriculture, enabling year-round production especially in colder or energy-limited regions.

Nemora does not harm beneficial soil nematodes or interfere with nodulation, making it a sustainable option. (Image credit: Indigo)

Indigo Ag has introduced Biotrinsic Nemora FP, a new biological bionematicide seed treatment designed to protect soybean crops against the damaging soybean cyst nematode (SCN).

Registered with the EPA and available for spring planting, Nemora FP uses an innovative anti-hatch technology that prevents nematode eggs from hatching, helping farmers manage SCN pressure while maintaining strong yields—without the harmful effects sometimes associated with chemical treatments.

“Nemora is designed to colonise soybean roots and shoots early and persist through the season,” said Jon Giebel, Vice President of North America Commercial Biologicals at Indigo Ag. “In trials, it delivered improved plant health metrics and compelling yield potential while offering growers a biological option that can benefit soil health in the process.”

Nemora FP contains a naturally occurring Pseudomonas oryzihabitans bacterium that colonises roots and shoots, multiplying rapidly around the roots. This microbial action disrupts the conditions necessary for SCN eggs to hatch, reducing the number of juveniles and slowing the nematode lifecycle. Unlike chemicals, Nemora does not harm beneficial soil nematodes or interfere with nodulation, making it a sustainable option.

“SCN is the nation’s most damaging soybean pathogen,” said Greg Tylka, Morrill Professor at Iowa State University. He emphasised that managing SCN requires an integrated approach including crop rotation, resistant varieties, and seed treatments like Nemora.

Growers using Nemora can expect healthier plants with longer taproots, increased root biomass, and thicker shoots. Trials showed a 68% average reduction in SCN egg hatch, alongside yield benefits comparable to conventional chemical treatments.

“Nemora is another important tool against the SCN threat and growing resistance to SCN traits like PI 88788,” added Giebel. “As a biological seed treatment, it helps manage nematode pressure by stopping egg hatch and can deliver season-long benefits.”