Crops

NUS develops microneedle system for faster plant growth

NUS develops microneedle system for faster plant growth. (Image credit: NUS)

Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have unveiled a cutting-edge microneedle biofertiliser system that could redefine sustainable agriculture and precision farming.

The innovative technology uses dissolving microneedle patches to deliver living biofertilisers directly into plant tissue, bypassing soil-related limitations and significantly improving efficiency.

In controlled greenhouse trials, leafy vegetables such as Choy Sum and Kale showed faster and healthier growth, recording higher shoot biomass, increased leaf area and greater height all while using over 15 per cent less biofertiliser compared to conventional soil inoculation. This breakthrough highlights a promising pathway to reduce fertiliser waste and minimise environmental impact.

Traditionally, biofertilisers beneficial bacteria and fungi that enhance nutrient uptake and stress tolerance are applied to soil, where they face competition from native microbes and adverse conditions. The NUS approach sidesteps these challenges by delivering microbes straight into leaves or stems, enabling faster and more targeted results.

“Inspired by how microbes can migrate within the human body, we hypothesised that by delivering beneficial microbes directly into the plant's tissues, like a leaf or stem, they could travel to the roots and still perform their function, but much more effectively and be less vulnerable to soil conditions,” said Assistant Professor Andy Tay from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at NUS, who led the study.

The plant-friendly microneedles, made from biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), dissolve within a minute of application, releasing their microbial payload gently into the plant. Laboratory tests confirmed minimal tissue disruption, stable chlorophyll levels and a rapid return to normal stress markers, underscoring the system’s safety and viability.

The team successfully delivered a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) cocktail directly into plant tissue, outperforming soil-based treatments. Importantly, growth response correlated with microbial dosage up to an optimal threshold, allowing growers to determine the lowest effective dose and cut costs.

“Our microneedle system successfully delivered biofertiliser into Choy Sum and Kale, enhancing their growth more effectively than traditional methods while using over 15 per cent less biofertiliser,” Asst Prof Tay said. “By faster growth we refer to higher total plant weight, larger leaf area and higher plant height.”

With strong potential for urban farming, vertical farms and high-value crops, the researchers are now exploring scalability, automation and wider crop trials. This pioneering “microneedle biofertiliser” concept positions smart agri-tech at the forefront of eco-friendly, future-ready farming.

Triott Group unifies feed expertise under Ottevanger

Ottevanger Services provides comprehensive support to feed producers. (Image credit: Ottevanger)

Triott Group has announced a major strategic step by bringing all its feed-related businesses together under a single, globally recognised name: Ottevanger.

With immediate effect, Ottevanger, Almex, Inteqnion, IVS Dosing Technology and Pelleting Technology Netherlands (PTN) will operate as one unified brand, reinforcing Ottevanger’s position as a leading global partner to the feed industry.

Based in Moerkapelle, the Netherlands, this consolidation represents a new chapter in Ottevanger’s long-term vision to provide complete, future-ready solutions for feed mills worldwide. By integrating these specialist companies under one name, customers benefit from a single point of contact, enhanced transparency and a more streamlined approach to project delivery and long-term collaboration.

The move also strengthens internal cooperation across disciplines, enabling Ottevanger to design and deliver tailored solutions that respond to the rapidly evolving demands of the global feed sector, including automation, digitalisation and sustainability.

Following the consolidation, Ottevanger now operates through four fully integrated business units, each designed to address both current operational challenges and future industry needs. Ottevanger Milling Engineers focuses on the design and construction of fully automated, turnkey feed mills, including both conventional and modular concepts. Ottevanger Process Solutions delivers high-quality equipment and advanced processes, supporting data-driven, fully automated milling from raw material intake through to packaging.

Meanwhile, Ottevanger Services provides comprehensive support to feed producers, including reliable on-site and remote maintenance, troubleshooting and spare parts supply. Completing the structure, the Ottevanger Development Centre looks to the future by optimising feed mill performance through practical research and development, testing and the creation of sustainable, next-generation solutions.

Commenting on the milestone, Director Ernst Jan Ottevanger said: “For more than a century, Ottevanger has been a family business, built on the finest Dutch quality and craftsmanship. Now we are formally extending our family to welcome these four trusted partners that have already contributed so much to our collective success based on the same shared values.” He added: “This is a significant moment for our company, but more importantly, for our customers worldwide. We are now far better placed to deliver the innovation and lifetime value they need to compete more effectively.”

Ottevanger will continue its close collaboration with Top Silo Constructions (TSC) to deliver advanced feed storage solutions, while TSC remains independent due to its diverse customer portfolio.

New vegetable transplant technology launches in California

NewLeaf Symbiotics launched New vegetable transplant technology launches in California.(Image credit: NewLeaf Symbiotics)

Vegetable growers transitioning seedlings from greenhouse to field face one of the most vulnerable stages of crop production.

To help farmers better manage transplant shock and unpredictable growing conditions, NewLeaf Symbiotics has announced the launch of a new vegetable transplant (VT) biostimulant technology in California for the 2026 season.

The innovation, registered as Terrasym VT, is specifically designed to support vegetable transplants during periods of abiotic stress, such as temperature fluctuations, nutrient limitations and environmental pressure. Following regulatory approval in late November 2025, the technology is now available to growers across key agricultural regions in the United States.

Terrasym® VT has already demonstrated strong performance across a wide range of high-value specialty crops, including strawberries, tomatoes and cucurbits, delivering measurable yield improvements and stronger early plant establishment. The technology is built on NewLeaf Symbiotics’ expertise in Pink-Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFMs), a specialised class of beneficial microbes that enhance plant performance through natural biological processes.

"NewLeaf VT technology is a combination of PPFM strains that work together to improve nutrient uptake and mitigate abiotic transplant stress to enhance seedling vigor," says Aaron Kelley, Chief Commercial Officer of NewLeaf Symbiotics. "These plant benefits result in more fruit being harvested when compared with the grower standard practice as a control in trials."

Growers can apply VT technology flexibly, either as a drench prior to transplanting or through the dripline after transplant, allowing seamless integration into existing crop management systems. This adaptability makes the solution particularly attractive for modern, efficiency-driven vegetable production.

NewLeaf Symbiotics is recognised as the global leader in PPFM research and development, with a proprietary library of more than 12,000 microbial strains. Each strain is selected based on its unique genetic characteristics and its ability to work symbiotically with specific crops. The strains used in Terrasym VT were chosen for their proven compatibility with vegetable transplants and their capacity to support consistent growth under stress.

"VT technology has been tested for more than 8 years in labs, greenhouses, small-plot field trials and on-farm large-scale field trials. NewLeaf puts that time and resource investment into our technology so we can deliver consistent performance for fruit and vegetable transplant production," says Kelley. "As we awaited critical approvals, like California, we were able to document strong results, including an average yield increase of 2.3 tons/A in processing tomatoes on 20 large scale farm trials from 2022-2024 when compared to grower standard practice."

As growers seek resilient, sustainable and yield-enhancing solutions, Terrasym VT positions itself as a powerful tool in next-generation vegetable production.

Reduco transforming eggplant residuals into panels

Reduco emerged as the successor, operating as the production arm of the cooperative Beyond Wood. (Image credit: Greenport West-Holland)

Turning eggplant residuals into high-performance construction panels may sound unconventional, but Dutch innovator Reduco is proving that circular building solutions can come from the most unexpected places.

According to Greenport West-Holland, these panels are fully circular, moisture resistant and fire safe, offering a promising alternative to conventional construction materials. Founder Wilfried Martens now hopes the market will adopt the product, enabling large-scale production in the coming years.

Martens did not originally come from the construction sector. After working as a dairy farmer, he decided to leave agriculture behind and pursue a new direction. A chance encounter with eggplant nursery Greenbrothers in Zevenbergen sparked an innovative idea: could residual streams from eggplant cultivation be transformed into durable building panels? This question led to the creation of Nova Lignum thirteen years ago. Although that company eventually went bankrupt, the concept itself proved resilient.

Reduco emerged as the successor, operating as the production arm of the cooperative Beyond Wood. The cooperative’s mission is to add value to agricultural residual streams for the construction industry. Initial success came from using willow residuals, and once that process was proven, the earlier eggplant concept was revived as a next step towards fully circular construction materials.

Wilfried Martens explained the reasoning behind this structure, and said, "It is important to create a high-quality building material to compete in construction, because you are dealing with competition from current products. By working together in a chain, you can create value together and strengthen each other. That is why the entire chain is represented in the cooperative Beyond Wood. It is a way to work together towards social goals and find better solutions than each on their own."

The collaboration with Greenbrothers was built on trust and shared innovation. Processing eggplant stems presented technical challenges, particularly the need for intensive manual preparation.

For now, production is paused, but momentum is building. The eggplant initiative is also featured on the Bioboost platform, which connects and promotes biobased innovations within horticulture, reinforcing the role of plant-based residuals in the future of sustainable construction.

State-of-the-Art Greenhouse to boost Turkmenistan's agriculture

The greenhouse is equipped with cutting-edge agricultural technologies.(Image credit: Turkmen portal)

Turkmenistan has taken another significant step towards advancing high-tech agriculture with the launch of a modern greenhouse complex in the Balkan province.

The new facility has been constructed and commissioned at the Nurly meýdan farming enterprise in the Bereket district, underscoring the country’s growing focus on sustainable food production and agricultural innovation.

The opening ceremony brought together a wide range of attendees, including representatives of the Balkan province and Bereket district administrations, members of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, public organisations, deputies of the Mejlis, members of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council), respected elders, and local residents. The event reflected the importance of the project for both regional development and national food security.

During the celebrations, builders who played a key role in completing the project were honoured with valuable gifts presented on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan. The ceremony was enlivened by traditional songs and dances performed by local artists, creating a festive atmosphere that highlighted the cultural significance of the occasion.

Following the elders’ blessing, guests were invited to tour the greenhouse and explore its advanced infrastructure and production systems. Spanning an area of 10 hectares, the complex is complemented by fully landscaped surroundings and a range of technical and auxiliary facilities designed to support efficient operations.

The greenhouse is equipped with cutting-edge agricultural technologies supplied by companies from the Netherlands, Türkiye, Greece, Italy, Spain, and other countries. With an annual production capacity of up to 2,000 tonnes of tomatoes, the facility is expected to make a substantial contribution to domestic food supply.

Elite tomato seeds imported from European countries have already been planted and are beginning to produce their first harvest, highlighting the project’s strong production potential and its role in strengthening agricultural development and food security in the region.

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