The Japanese government made a decision on April 14 to repeal the Main Crop Seeds Act, which mandates that each prefecture in Japan produces and distributes its own rice, wheat and soybeans. The repeal will go into effect on April 1 2018 and is expected to lead to an increased popularity of products from the...
agriculture
BASF Aims to Launch Digital Farming in Southeast Asia
BASF SE is setting out to improve the efficiency of its crop protection business in the Asia-Pacific region using digital technology. Based on the state of the soil, BASF will recommend to farmers the optimum timing for spraying agrochemicals and encourage productivity improvement, and use real-time grasping of the distribution and inventory status of products...
Joint University Research Team Identifies Molecule With Potential to Strengthen Crops
A joint research group with members from Nagoya University’s Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules and Ryukoku University’s Faculty of Agriculture has identified the protein BHP as the key molecule required for a plant’s stoma to open. The discovery opens the way to developing plants that allow geneticists to program how their stoma open. Potential future applications...
US and EU Authorities Approve ChemChina Acquisition of Syngenta
China National Chemical Corp., commonly known as ChemChina, has recently received approval from European and U.S. authorities for the acquisition of Swiss pesticide manufacturer Syngenta AG. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and EU’s European Commission approved the acquisition on condition that ChemChina releases some of its pesticide businesses and related assets. The acquisition is...
UN Urges the Use of Wastewater in Agriculture
The U.N. is calling for wastewater to be used in agriculture. Publishing its World Water Development Report 2017 on March 22 to coincide with World Water Day, the U.N. has advocated a paradigm shift to see wastewater as a resource rather than a problem. Around 4 trillion kiloliters of water are used worldwide each year....
Tokyo University: GM Crop Imports Bring 1.8 Trillion Yen in Economic Benefit to Japanese Market
A research team led by Professor Masayoshi Honma and Associate Professor Katsuhiro Saito of the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Agricultural & Life Sciences has compiled the results of a study on the economic impact of genetically modified (GM) crop imports in Japan. According to the study, even the most conservative estimates put the...
Sumitomo Chemical Collaborates With Purdue University on Advanced-Agriculture Project
Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. (TYO:4005) announced on Nov. 28 that it is expanding its joint research with Purdue University, U.S., beginning a new project relating to advanced agriculture. Working together with Dr. Jian Jin, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, Sumitomo Chemical will take diagnostic images of the roots and leaves of vegetation. With...
ITE Invents Electricity-free Refrigerated Transport System
Non-electric refrigerated transport systems are beginning to find footing in the marketplace. Innovation Thru Energy Co. Ltd. (ITE), Tokyo, has developed a refrigerant plate system that can maintain a set temperature range that spans below zero for more than 100 hours. Led by CEO Pankaj Garg, the Chiyoda-ku Ward-based company has partnered with major transportation...
Zen-Noh to Import Korean Fertilizer, Substantially Reducing Farmers’ Costs
Japan’s National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, also known as Zen-Noh, announced on Aug. 15 that it will secure imports of cheap fertilizer from Korea. The initiative is part of Zen-Noh’s efforts to raise farmers’ income. The Korean fertilizer will cost buyers between 30 to 40 percent less than domestic products. The Korean imports contain...
LDP’s Director of Agriculture and Forestry Division Shinjiro Koizumi Gives Opinion on Agricultural Reforms
Japanese House of Representatives member Shinjiro Koizumi participated in a panel discussion on July 28, held at the 60th anniversary celebrations of the National Federation of Fertilizer Sellers at the Keidanren Kaikan in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. The topic of the panel discussion was “Let’s Work! That is where the future lies.” Koizumi changed the topic from...
