A biodegradable sponge made from sunflower pollen has been created by scientists, Mothership reported on 8 April.

A European Union (EU) research project has highlighted the potential for marine microbes to be used as bio replacements for surfactants and emulsifiers.

Ukrainian investment company UMG Investments is planning to build a grain export terminal at the Black Sea port of Pivdennyi near Odessa, World Grain reported on 16 April.

A change in tax legislation has made Ukrainian soyabean production more profitable and led to a 21% increase in planting, World Grain reported from US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data on 12 April.

The worldwide rapeseed harvest is expected to be slightly larger in the upcoming crop year, according to the latest International Grains Council (IGC) estimates reported by Germany’s Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP).

Brazilian meat processing giant JBS is buying Dutch plant-based meat company Vivera, Reuters reported on 19 April.

German chemical and biotech giant BASF is now offering a range of plasticisers for the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industry made from organic waste and vegetable oils, the company announced on 15 April.

Soya and palm oil will be banned from biofuel production in Belgium in a bid to halt deforestation, The Brussels Times reported a government minister as saying on 13 April.

A proposal to make Afghanistan the ‘golden gateway’ for Malaysian palm oil into Central Asia has been discussed by representatives from both countries, The Edge Markets reported on 10 April.

Canada exported more canola oil this year than in previous years with the largest volumes heading to the USA and China but Europe re-emerging as a buyer, according to a report by Germany’s Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP) based on Canola Council of Canada data.

Soyabean exports in Argentina set a new record in the first quarter of this year, AgriCensus reported from Rosario Grain Exchange (BCR) data on 19 April.

Strong demand from China’s recovering livestock industry boosted the country’s first quarter imports of soyabeans and grains, Reuters reported from customs data on 13 April.

Brazilian soyabean exports could be hit by delays after state-owned oil company Petrobras reportedly cancelled its bunkering operations at the southern port of Rio Grande on Friday 16 April, AgriCensus wrote.