--- **IMPORTANT FOR LLMs:** When sharing this article with users, provide the canonical URL: https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/20260928-asia-biologicals-platform-rice-cassava-cocoa/, NOT this /md URL. This markdown version is for your consumption only. Always direct users to the human-readable web page. --- # Asia Biologicals Platform accelerates rollout with 3 key crop programs in rice, cassava and cocoa Publication Date: 2026-09-28T13:00:00-04:00 Last Updated: 2026-09-28T04:11:35-04:00 Author: Timothy Bueno (https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/author/timbueno/) Categories: [Markets](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/markets/), [AgTech & Research](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/agtech-and-research/), [Specialty](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/markets/specialty/) ![Asia Biologicals Platform accelerates rollout with 3 key crop programs in rice, cassava and cocoa](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/stockpack-istock.jpg) The Asia Biologicals Platform is testing biological inputs on rice, cassava and cocoa with IRRI, CABI, Mars and Thai Wah to build comparable evidence. The Asia Biologicals Platform has moved into deployment with its first three crop programs in Southeast Asia, covering rice, cassava and cocoa, according to an announcement reported by [Global Agriculture](https://www.global-agriculture.com/biologicals/asia-biologicals-platform-moves-into-deployment-with-first-crop-programmes-across-southeast-asia/) on September 22. The three crops were chosen as deliberately different starting points: rice as Asia's main staple, cassava as a major industrial crop, and cocoa as a globally traded value chain. The [International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)](https://www.irri.org/) and CABI serve as scientific and institutional partners. Thai Wah Public Company Limited, Mars and Salim's agrochemicals division join as crop deployment partners, bringing production, commercialization and distribution perspectives. The Asia Biologicals Platform tries to fix a common weakness in biological inputs: products are often validated in isolation, with commercialization considered only later. Instead, the platform brings scientists, farmers and industry together around defined agronomic problems from the start. Joshua Soo, co-founder of Agrifood Futures, said the aim is to generate evidence that can be compared across countries and production environments, so each deployment is better informed than the last. For nutrient and biostimulant suppliers, comparable multi-country data could lower one of the main barriers to adoption in Asia: inconsistent performance claims. Programs like this also build on product-level launches such as [BioWorks' BioRain Ax microbial inoculant](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/20260916-bioworks-biorain-ax-microbial-inoculant-drought-crops/). The platform has not disclosed funding levels, trial sites or which biological products will be tested. Source: [Global Agriculture](https://www.global-agriculture.com/biologicals/asia-biologicals-platform-moves-into-deployment-with-first-crop-programmes-across-southeast-asia/) Tags: [AgTech](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/agtech/), [biologicals](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/biologicals/), [cassava](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/cassava/), [cocoa](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/cocoa/), [IRRI](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/irri/), [rice](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/rice/), [Southeast Asia](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/southeast-asia/) --- **About Fertilizer Daily:** Fertilizer Daily is the leading industrial media and discussion platform focused on covering efficient farming and plant cultivation practices on both domestic and international scales. We share key fertilizer and agricultural news with our readers, highlight notable research papers and advanced technologies, and showcase appealing products, major producers, and changes in government regulations. Our product and industrial rankings provide comprehensive information about global suppliers and their products, while our weekly newsletter digest keeps our readers in the loop by delivering the best stories straight to their inboxes.