Crops

Sustainable palm oil premiums distributed to 40 cooperatives in Jambi

Among those who were recognised were scheme smallholders who consistently adopted sustainable plantation practices in compliance with certification standards. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Asian Agri’s smallholder partners in Jambi Province received recognition, with premium payments being distributed from the sale of certified sustainable palm oil for 2023

Forty cooperatives (KUDs) comprising around 12,500 smallholder members received a total amount of more than US$147.24 on 20 December at EV Garden in Jambi, Indonesia. The aim of the programme is to reward oil palm smallholders who adhere to internationally recognised sustainability standards, such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification. Among those who were recognised were scheme smallholders who consistently adopted sustainable plantation practices in compliance with certification standards.

“With RSPO certification, we can support the sustainable palm oil industry in international markets, particularly in Europe, where only sustainably sourced palm oil is accepted,” noted Ramli Simarmata, regional head of Asian Agri for Jambi region, adding that the premium payments are expected to benefit over 12,500 smallholders, aligning with Asian Agri’s 5C philosophy. This emphasises that the company’s presence should bring value to the Community, the Country, the Climate, the Customer, and ultimately the Company.

Rudy Rismanto, head of Partnership at Asian Agri, highlighted the role of partnerships in the company’s sustainability strategy. Rahadi, chairman of KUD Sawit Mulia, also noted the many advantages of the partnership model and encouraged smallholders with unproductive plantations to proceed with replanting. Furthermore, Basuki, supervisor of KUD Makmur Rezeki, emphasised the importance of using high-quality seeds as a key factor for successful replanting.

New Sheyang rice variety wins Special Excellence Award

Under the guidance of the Sheyang County Rice Association, Nanjing 5718 has become the flagship variety for the Sheyang Rice brand. (Image source: Sheyang County Rice Association)

The new Nanjing 5718 variety of Sheyang rice was recently honored with the 'Special Excellence Award' at the 16th edition of the Japan Rice Quality and Taste Research Association Seminar and Premium Japonica Rice Tasting event in Hiroshima, Japan

Renowned for its rich aroma, sweet and tender texture and exceptional nutritional value, the Sheyang rice variety stands out for its superior taste and its adaptability to integrated farming models, such as rice-shrimp and rice-crab cultivation. These advantages align perfectly with Sheyang's strategic focus on developing green and high-quality rice production bases. Under the guidance of the Sheyang County Rice Association, Nanjing 5718 has become the flagship variety for the Sheyang Rice brand.

For 15 consecutive years, Sheyang Rice has been recognised as one of Shanghai's 'Top 10 Quality and Best-selling Brands" for edible agricultural products in th grain and oil category. The brand has also received over 50 honors, including being named one of China's 'Top 10 Regional Public Rice Brands'. Its brand value has been assessed at an impressive US$4.8bn.

Japan extends million-dollar aid to Zimbabwe's farmers

Japan has been a long-standing partner of WFP’s assistance in Zimbabwe since 2019. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The Japanese government has contributed US$5.1mn toward the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), supporting nearly 37,000 smallholder farmers across five districts in Zimbabwe

The ongoing climate challenges in Zimbabwe caused by El Niño has resulted in widespread food insecurity, making this three-year project crucial for solving food security issues and enhancing resilience for smallholder farmers. The WFP will make this possible by establishing water-based infrastructure, developing value chains and strengthening agricultural extension service capacity.

Moreover, the project aims to address sustainability issues by combining food assistance with climate-adaptive practices, thereby helping smallholder farmers to cultivate more sustainable crops, particularly sesame, which has a high market potential. Production of this crop will be one of the central value chains, enhancing export opportunities for Zimbabwean smallholder farmers.

“Under this project, small-scale farmers will be supported in growing sesame seeds to practice market-oriented agriculture and a Japanese trading company called ITOCHU Corporation is expected to play an important role in completing the value-chain of the project,” said Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Shinichi Yamanaka.

He highlighted that the Japanese government would be providing financial assistance of around US$72,000 to ‘the project for the construction of storages for sesame farmers in Mwenezi District’ implemented by Sustainable Agriculture Technology (SAT), which is expected to support sesame production and its procurement including value addition for the local and export market.

With a contribution of more than US$28mn toward food assistance and resilience-building initiatives supported by the WFP, Japan has been a long-standing partner of WFP’s assistance in Zimbabwe since 2019.

“This invaluable contribution from the Gomore than vernment of Japan allows us to make food more available, easier to access, and more reliable for Zimbabwean families,” said Barbara Clemens, country representative and director for WFP in Zimbabwe. “By supporting farmers to grow food in a sustainable way and connect them to markets, we can address immediate food needs and empower communities to build a food secure future.”

Laser etching mangoes: Westfalia Fruit's latest innovation

This initiative eliminates the need for individual plastic PLU stickers. (Image source: Westfalia Fruit)

Leading multinational avocados and fresh vegetables and fruit supplier, Westfalia Fruit has announced the launch of laser etching on mangoes

The laser project was a collaboration between Westfalia’s capabilities in The Netherlands and in Germany to ensure the fruit’s quality and shelf life were preserved. Driven by its Netherlands-based operations, this initiative eliminates the need for individual plastic PLU stickers. Customer feedback has been very positive, and the plan is to expand the range further across Europe in the near future.

“Since joining Westfalia, my focus has been on improving collaboration and efficiency," said head of operations Central Europe, Mathijs Benard. "The introduction of laser etching, which is almost like a tattoo on the mango, has been an exciting project. Not only does it make the fruit stand out in-store, but it also has the potential to save up to 10 million plastic stickers a year. What we can laser on the fruit is only limited by our imagination and customer needs. Currently, we are etching the fruit origin, customer branding, and product reference.”

Westfalia's Poeldijk production facilities showcase diverse capabilities. While the company is renowned for its expertise in avocados, these facilities also offer year-round packing solutions for sprouts, capsicum, and other vegetables.

CGIAR launches visionary 2030 GSRD

Group photo following the Launch of the GSRD on 4 December 2024. (Image source: ICRISAT)

In an attempt to transform farming in arid regions and ensure sustainable food systems for future generations, the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has recently launched its visionary 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD)

Developed collaboratively under the leadership of the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the GSRD provides a comprehensive, science-driven roadmap to improve the lives of some 2.7 billion people who call the drylands home with a particular focus on Asia and Africa.

Based on 50 years of research and innovations from CGIAR's 15 global research centres and partners, the GSRD provides solutions aimed at enhancing food security, conserve biodiversity, and build resilient livelihoods by delivering state-of-the-art agri-research solutions including solar-powered agrivoltaics, innovative agriforestry and livestock feed practices, among others.

Speaking at COP16 in Riyadh, CGIAR executive managing director, Dr Ismahane Elouafi said the new strategy builds on CGIAR's rich legacy of impact, uniting all fifteen centres in a stronger, more integrated effort to tackle the challenges of drylands.

“By combining our expertise, we will deliver more innovative, context-specific, and lasting solutions to secure the livelihoods of communities that rely on these vital but fragile ecosystems,” said Dr Elouafi.

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