SHANGHAI, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HOTELEX Shanghai 2026 will take place from 30^th March to 2^nd April 2026, offering global hospitality and foodservice suppliers a direct gateway to China and the wider Asian market. Building on the record-breaking success of the 2025 edition, the exhibition will return with expanded scale, stronger international buyer engagement, and enhanced commercial value. With over 3,500 exhibitors, 12,000 overseas buyers, and a fully integrated industry ecosystem, HOTELEX Shanghai 2026 provides a high-impact platform for sourcing, partnerships, and long-term market expansion.

HOTELEX Shanghai 2025 welcomed a record 284,581 professional visitors, including a 34.2% increase in international buyers. Exhibitors reported a 37% rise in qualified leads and a 23% increase in on-site transactions, demonstrating the exhibition’s effectiveness as a high-performance sourcing and business platform. Building on this success, the 34ᵗʰ edition in 2026 will offer expanded exhibition space, deeper international participation, and increased opportunities for global decision-makers, distributors, and strategic partners.

Covering 400,000 square meters, the exhibition will host more than 3,500 leading domestic and international suppliers across key sectors including Kitchen Equipment, Coffee & Tea, Catering Ingredients, Beverages, and Baking Supplies. This fully integrated ecosystem supports end-to-end sourcing, innovation, and cross-border collaboration.

HOTELEX’s competitive advantage lies in its comprehensive industry coverage. By integrating resources across hospitality, catering, cultural tourism, retail, logistics, and health sectors, the exhibition drives value-chain synergies and reflects the evolving structure of the modern hospitality economy. Its distinctive “tourism–catering–hotel joint exhibition” model offers a holistic showcase spanning food, accommodation, travel, shopping, and leisure.

Leveraging a shared pool of over 100,000 professional buyers from HOTELEX and FHC, exhibitors gain extended brand exposure through official digital platforms and global social media channels including LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, as well as partnerships with authoritative industry media. Booths are limited – reserve yours early to secure prime exhibition space and maximize business opportunities. Positioned as a strategic gateway, HOTELEX Shanghai 2026 empowers global companies to grow their presence in China and accelerate expansion across Asia’s hospitality and foodservice markets.

Pre-registration: https://www.hotelex.cn/en/shanghai

Contact Us：
Booth Inquiry:
Jason Jin
Tel: +86 21 3339 2197
Junyan.Jin@imsinoexpo.com

Media & Visitor Consulting:
Lizzy Chen
Tel: +86 21 3339 2566
Lizzy.chen@imsinoexpo.com

Agreement Calls for Over 100,000 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) across 3 Years

GURUGRAM, India, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Varaha, a leading developer of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects with smallholder farmers across Asia, today announced a major offtake agreement with Microsoft for biochar carbon removal in India.

Farmers spreading biochar in their farms, to enhance soil quality

Varaha will develop 18 industrial gasification reactors that will operate for 15 years, with a total projected removal volume exceeding 2 million tonnes of CO₂ over the project’s lifetime.

The project sources cotton stalks from smallholder farms in Maharashtra, India for use as the feedstock for biochar production. After harvest, these stalks are treated as waste biomass, and open-field burning is a common practice across the region’s cotton belt. This project provides an alternative use for the stalks, converting them into biochar through Varaha’s biomass gasification facilities and sequestering biogenic carbon for centuries.

Delivering Local Impact

Varaha’s biochar project also delivers measurable benefits for farmers and communities:

• Improvement in Air Quality: The project mitigates the widespread burning of cotton crop residue, significantly reducing PM 2.5 pollutants that contribute to poor air quality. By providing an economically viable alternative to field burning, the initiative tackles a major source of seasonal air pollution.
• Promotion of Regenerative Agriculture: Farmers participating in the program adopt regenerative practices like crop residue mulching and biochar application to soils, improving soil health, water retention, and long-term agricultural productivity.
• Lifting Farmer Livelihoods: The program directly enhances the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers, who receive payment both for contributing agricultural biomass and for implementing crop residue incorporation practices.

“This agreement demonstrates that high-integrity carbon removal can drive transformative co-benefits for communities and ecosystems,” said Madhur Jain, Varaha CEO. “We’re not just removing carbon—we’re creating economic incentives for farmers to mitigate open burning of crop residues.”

The project’s first reactor will operate alongside Varaha’s 52-acre cotton research farm in Maharashtra, where Varaha works directly with farmers to test sustainable practices, including soil application of biochar, under real-world conditions. With up to 18 total reactors funded across India’s cotton belt through Microsoft’s commitment, the focus remains clear: scaling quickly while putting farmers first.

Setting New Standards for Asian Carbon Markets

The agreement signals growing recognition of the region’s potential for high-quality carbon removal projects. Biochar offers permanent carbon storage on geological timescales while supporting agricultural systems, making it one of the most promising pathways for durable carbon dioxide removal.

“This offtake agreement broadens the diversity of Microsoft’s carbon removal portfolio with Varaha’s biochar project design that is both scalable and durable. It represents a step forward in scaling biochar CDR growth in Asia and advancing co-benefits for farmers—improved soils, cleaner air, and shared economic opportunity,” said Phil Goodman, program director, CDR at Microsoft.

The credits generated through the Varaha program meet rigorous standards for measurement, reporting, and verification, ensuring that each tonne represents genuine, permanent carbon removal.

About Varaha

Varaha is a leading developer of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects in Asia, with a mission of scaling smallholder farmer-led climate solutions to remove carbon from the atmosphere and strengthen rural livelihoods. Specializing in regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, biochar, and enhanced rock weathering projects across South Asia, Varaha has pioneered a technology- and science-driven approach to carbon project development since its founding in 2022. Varaha is headquartered in Gurugram, India, and operates 20 carbon projects across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MEXC, the fastest-growing global cryptocurrency exchange, redefining a user-first approach to digital assets through true, zero-fee trading today released its 2025 Annual Report. The document outlines a year of intentional transformation, where MEXC evolved from a high-volume platform into a guardian of market integrity, anchored by its foundational commitment to zero-fee trading.

Against a backdrop of industry volatility and heightened security threats, MEXC delivered robust growth in 2025, with futures and spot trading volumes each surging over 130% year-over-year. The exchange served 40 million users and listed 2,287 high-potential projects through its disciplined, list-first approach, distributing over $42.6 million in user rewards.

This performance was powered by MEXC’s foundational zero-fee trading strategy, which enabled users to save 1.1 billion USDT in trading fees — an average saving of 320 USDT per user across more than 3,000 spot and futures trading pairs.

In parallel, MEXC engineered a new standard of verifiable trust, introducing monthly Proof of Reserves audits by Hacken, a $100 million Guardian Fund for user protection, and independent third-party oversight of risk controls.

“MEXC has lowered trading barriers through its 0 fee strategy, delivering a measurable impact of more than one billion dollars in improved capital efficiency for our users,” said Vugar Usi, Chief Operating Officer of MEXC. “This is not a promotion. It is the foundation of how we operate. In 2026, we will extend this approach beyond crypto as we move into tokenized equities, commodities, and real-world assets.”

This strategic expansion is supported by the launch of the MEXC Fund, a $30 million ecosystem investment initiative, and the reinforcement of zero-fee trading as a permanent structural commitment across an expanding multi-asset platform.

MEXC is moving beyond the traditional exchange model to become a seamless gateway to the tokenized future — where markets are accessed with transparency, efficiency, and unwavering trust.

The full 2025 Annual Report is available here.
To see the key moments that defined this record year in action, watch the MEXC 2025 Recap Video here.

About MEXC

Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries and regions, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.

MEXC Official Website | X | Telegram | How to Sign Up on MEXC

BANGKOK, Jan. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The inaugural “Moyom Biotech • Aphranel Global Expert Advisory Panel • Thailand Anatomy Exchange Conference” was successfully convened in Thailand. This high-level forum gathered leading experts from multiple Asia-Pacific countries.

Through this concentrated academic dialogue, Aphranel reaffirmed to the industry a clear guiding principle: to return aesthetic medicine to its medical foundation and to safeguard the safe application of regenerative materials through meticulous anatomical science.

Dialogue Between Chinese and International Experts Explores “Regeneration”

The significance of regenerative materials extends beyond composition—it reflects a deep understanding of human anatomy. Using detailed specimens and high-definition imaging, a Chinese–Thai expert team led by Professor Luo Shengkang from Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital conducted a layer-by-layer study of facial anatomy.

Their analysis of tissue planes, ligaments, and vasculature revealed how Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA) functions as a “collagen-initiating scaffold” within specific anatomical layers.

Dr. Benrita from Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand, provided an international perspective, revealing the application logic and evolving trends of regenerative materials across different ethnicities and aesthetic systems. The convergence of Eastern and Western viewpoints elevated the concept of “regeneration” beyond mere technique, advancing it to the construction of holistic medical aesthetics.

Pooling Global Expertise, the MagiC Concept Sets Sail

A major highlight of the conference was the launch of the MagiC Concept Global Expert Advisory Panel, an academic community in regenerative medicine founded by Aphranel and leading global scholars. Dedicated to advancing anatomy-based injection protocols, clinical solutions, and efficacy evaluation systems, the panel aims to enhance the safety, precision, and predictability of regenerative medical practice.

True regeneration is far more than simply stimulating collagen production. It is about reactivating the skin’s inherent repair mechanisms through the synergy of material science and clinical technique, achieving a renewal of both tissue function and aesthetic form. As a domestically originated and researched regenerative product, Aphranel has consistently championed this philosophy.

From laboratory research to clinical validation, and from physician education to patient communication, Aphranel has remained steadfast in its original commitment of “Research for Medicine, Medicine for Aesthetics.” The company is dedicated to long-term academic development and ecosystem cultivation.

The launch of the MagiC Concept Global Expert Advisory Panel marks a new phase of global collaboration for Aphranel, driving deeper research in regenerative material science, professional development, and the advancement of regenerative aesthetic medicine in China.

• Global agri-food innovation competition names four winning startups during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
• HyveGeo, Permia Sensing, Flybox, and Akorn Technology to share USD 2 million to pilot and scale solutions in the UAE and the Global South.

ABU DHABI, UAE, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The third edition of the UAE FoodTech Challenge, a global competition that identifies and scales the world’s most promising agri-tech innovations, concluded at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week with the announcement of four winning startups:

The UAE FoodTech Challenge 2026 Winners to Join National Agri-Tech Ecosystem and Support Global Food Security

Category: Climate-Smart Food Production

• Permia Sensing uses AI, bioacoustic sensors and drone imaging to monitor tree health. Already covering over 15,000 hectares of palm plantations in Sri Lanka, the technology offers early detection of stress factors, such as dehydration and pest infestations, enabling farmers to boost yields and reduce waste. They now plan to work with local partners to finesse and localize their solution for the UAE and scale its application across the Middle East.
• HyveGeo turns agricultural waste into a carbon-rich biochar, then enriches it with microbes to create a high-performance soil enhancer. This circular, nature-based approach is already being used by farmers and landscape managers across the UAE, transforming arid, desert soil into fertile, arable land. As winners, they plan to expand their research and launch pilots in markets across the Global South.

Category: Food Loss & Waste Reduction

• Akorn Technology produces a natural, edible coating for fruit and vegetables, including a vegetable protein to slow ripening, a wax to reduce moisture loss, and a vegetable oil to maintain color. Their solution is already being used in Egypt and Ghana to extend the shelf life of produce and cut post-harvest losses, and will now be optimized for use in the UAE and arid environments across the region.
• Flybox uses black soldier fly larvae to convert agricultural byproducts into high-quality protein and fertilizer, while reducing waste sent to landfill. Housed in shipping containers, their off-grid, low-cost solution is currently being used in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria, and will now launch in the UAE, with plans for working with local waste management partners to deploy at scale.

From an initial pool of 1,215 submissions from 113 countries, ten finalists advanced to the final stage of the competition, presenting their solutions in live pitches to an international judging panel comprising senior leaders and experts in food systems, sustainability, investment, and international development. Following evaluation, the four winning startups were announced during an awards ceremony on the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week main stage.

Rima Al Mokarrab, Chair of Tamkeen and Co-Chair of the FoodTech Challenge, remarked:

“Building resilient and secure food systems is central to the UAE’s long-term vision for a prosperous future. The latest winners of the UAE FoodTech Challenge now join a growing community of past awardees, who have since raised over USD 48 million in follow-on funding and launched more than 50 pilot projects across the UAE and other markets. As they begin this next phase of their journey, support from our network of partners and UAE’s world-class innovation ecosystem will serve as a launchpad for their solutions, enabling them to contribute to more resilient and sustainable food systems in the UAE, the global south, and worldwide.”

The four teams will share a USD 2 million prize and will be invited to scale their solutions in the UAE, where they will receive tailored in-kind support, including pilot opportunities, access to research facilities, market-entry guidance, mentorship, and investor introductions through an extensive network of local and international partners. From this base, the winners will work to deploy and scale their solutions across key markets in the Global South, supporting more resilient and sustainable food systems.

Fatema Almulla, Senior Specialist Development, International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court, said:

“The UAE plays a leading role in international development, with agricultural innovation central to its global engagement. Through the UAE FoodTech Challenge, winning startups are embedded within a proven development ecosystem; where advanced technologies, policy leadership, and global expertise come together to accelerate solutions from pilot to scale. This is how innovation is translated into measurable impact, from the UAE to climate-vulnerable regions worldwide.”

This year’s FoodTech Challenge is organized by the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court and Tamkeen, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, ne’ma (The National Food Loss and Waste Initiative), and Silal. The finalist cohort represents a diverse range of approaches to food system innovation, including advanced technologies for post-harvest preservation, waste-to-value conversion, precision agriculture, and resource-efficient food production.

Shelly Sundberg, Deputy Director of Adaptive and Equitable Food Systems at the Gates Foundation, said:

“The UAE FoodTech Challenge plays an important role in advancing practical, scalable, and accessible solutions that can strengthen food security across underserved and climate-vulnerable populations. At the Gates Foundation, we are proud to support initiatives that translate innovation into real-world impact, helping food systems reduce loss, improve sustainability, and expand access to safe, affordable and nutritious food. These are essential to building more resilient food systems in the face of climate and economic pressures.” 

Khuloud Nowais, Chief Sustainability Officer at Emirates Foundation and Secretary General of the ne’ma Steering Committee, said: 

“Seeing the caliber of this year’s winners and the diversity of their solutions has been truly inspiring. As a judge, it has been encouraging to witness the growing sophistication of solutions that address food loss and waste challenges. At ne’ma, we are proud to support initiatives that turn ideas into actionable, lasting impact for food systems.” 

The UAE FoodTech Challenge identifies and accelerates agri-food technology solutions that boost food production and reduce food loss and waste in arid and increasingly climate-stressed environments. Attracting technology-driven innovations that can be refined in the UAE and scaled internationally, the competition directly supports the UAE’s long-term food security ambitions and contributes to global food system resilience.

To learn more about the FoodTech Challenge, visit: www.foodtechchallenge.com

See YouTube videos of the winners here:

• Akorn Technology
• Permia Sensing 
• Flybox 
• HyveGeo