Reduced Irrigation Strategy Increases Peanut Yields in Drought-Prone Soils
New research carried out in the Philippines has found that strategically timed irrigation combined with a super water absorbent can improve peanut productivity while substantially reducing water use in highly permeable, drought-prone soils. The study, published in Plant Growth Regulation, assessed peanut production in lahar-derived sandy loam soils and compared conventional irrigation with reduced-irrigation strategies designed to […]
Indian Project Turns Cashew Residues Into Marine Fuel
An Indian climate-tech project is turning cashew waste into renewable products, including marine biofuel. As reported by the Economic Times, Indo-Danish startup MASH Makes uses pyrolysis to convert cashew press cakes into bio-oil, biochar and syngas. The raw bio-oil is subsequently processed to produce a more stable, non-corrosive fuel that can be blended with conventional marine fuels, […]
New Financing for Drought Resilience and Land Restoration Announced at COP17
The Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), held in August in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, highlighted new efforts to mobilize financing for drought resilience and land restoration. The UNCCD and Luxembourg launched the Drought Resilience Investment Facility (DRIF), which aims to mobilize up to US$400 million in public and […]
EY Report Sheds Light on Revised European Sustainability Reporting Standards
On July 3, 2026, the European Commission adopted the Delegated Act on the revised European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The revised ESRS preserve the key pillars of sustainability reporting—including reporting on material impacts, risks and opportunities, and related actions, policies, metrics and targets across environmental, social and governance topics. At the same time, they introduce […]
EU Public Consultations on Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
The European Commission has launched calls for evidence related to various aspects of the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. Specifically, the Commission is seeking comments from stakeholders on three matters: The rules for calculating and verifying recycled content in plastic packaging (see consultation) The sustainability criteria for plastic recycling technologies (see consultation) The […]
China International Tree Nuts Conference Brings Together Industry Leaders
The nut industry gathered once again in China for the 2026 China International Tree Nuts Conference, one of the leading events in the international nut calendar. Organized by the China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-products (CFNA), the conference took place in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, from 5–8 […]
Replacing Temporary Measures, US Implements Tariffs on 60 Countries; Various Nuts Exempted
On July 24, 2026, the US imposed new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, replacing a temporary 10% global tariff that expired at the same time. Imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, the new tariffs cover 99.4% of US imports, according to Reuters, but include various […]
IMF: Global Economy Remains Resilient, But Inflation Remains a Concern
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the global economy remains resilient despite the shock from the recent war, but warns that inflation remains a concern. In its July update to the World Economic Outlook, the IMF kept its medium-term growth projections broadly unchanged while noting that progress in bringing down inflation has stalled. The IMF […]
Seed Coating Technology Developed by Indian Researchers Could Boost Crop Yields by up to 37%
Researchers at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), through its Hyderabad-based Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR), have developed an innovative seed coating technology designed to improve crop productivity and resilience, as reported by The Hindu BusinessLine. The patented solution uses a biodegradable biopolymer-based coating that delivers nutrients, beneficial microorganisms and crop protection agents directly at […]
Peanut Promoted as Water Efficient Alternative to Maize in India
Scientists from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) are promoting spring peanut as a more sustainable and water efficient alternative to maize. Recent outreach initiatives, including field demonstrations and farmer engagement programs, highlight the environmental and economic advantages of peanut cultivation. Compared with spring maize, peanut requires significantly less water and fewer inputs, resulting in reduced production […]