Category Archives: Others

  Senior Staff Writer, Masaru Yamada Biotechnology companies worldwide have begun stepping up technological assistance to farms in developing nations in addition to supplying agricultural chemicals. The firms set up ambitious goals such as setting a target year to improve productivity of the farms while saving energy. As the agricultural biotechnology market in industrialized countries has become increasingly saturated, firms are looking to emerging markets with the aim of gaining market share by appealing their marketing skills and production technology of agricultural products to farmers and retaining customers. In a major rice-growing region in Indonesia, three-hour drive away from Jakarta, local farmers gathered at a training center to listen to … Continue reading →

Since the middle of this month, AEON Co., Ltd. began selling cut flowers with five-day quality assurance in 270 stores nationwide. It is attracting attention of flower growers and other retailers as the first such attempt by a major nationwide supermarket chain. When selling cut flowers, the stores will offer customers a small bag of quality preserver and explain appropriate ways to take care of them, including keeping water and vases clean. If the flowers wither within five days from purchase, the stores will either pay back the money or replace the flowers. Masahiko Kakitsubata, director of gardening greenery products department at AEON, says they hope to seek new customers … Continue reading →