AGP Executive Report

Coconut Value-Add Push (Indonesia): Indonesia’s agriculture ministry targets 151,554 hectares for coconut downstream production in 2026, backed by about 427 billion rupiah, with seed, organic fertilizer, and land-prep support—aiming to lift added value from its ~2.1 million tons annual output. Livestock Price Support (Namibia): Namibia and the farmers’ union are finalizing a US$5.5 million livestock price equalisation fund to narrow the north–south price gap, with fodder projects and feedlots on the agenda. Animal Health Alert (Croatia): Croatia confirmed two fresh African swine fever outbreaks, bringing 101 pig-farm outbreaks and 187 wild-boar cases this year; authorities plan to step up wild boar culling. Water Governance (Saskatchewan): A Saskatchewan auditor says water licensees are exceeding allocations more than before, urging stronger monitoring and enforcement by the Water Security Agency. Policy Pressure (U.S. Midwest): Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson pushes the Senate to act on E15 and the “Save Our Bacon Act,” tying progress to the farm bill timeline. Food Systems Research (Global): A Nature study says healthier diets plus less food waste could cut farmland use by ~6% by 2050, but reduce livestock output value sharply—reshaping what gets grown and where. Farm Tech for Decisions (Satellites): EarthDaily highlights how satellite monitoring of crop health and soil moisture helps spot emerging issues beyond local scouting. Manure & Soil Health (U.S.): UW–Madison Extension plans a free manure composting field day Aug. 5 in Lancaster, Wisconsin, focused on practical composting and regulations. Input Rules Under Review (Minnesota): Minnesota is seeking public comments by July 31 on whether its neonicotinoid-treated seed rules adequately protect natural resources. Cold Chain & Sorghum (Ethiopia): Ethiopia’s Agricultural Transformation Institute is expanding refrigerated transport/storage and hybrid sorghum to cut post-harvest losses and raise incomes. Rural Infrastructure Funding (Nigeria): Nigeria’s House begins debate on a bill to create a national rural infrastructure commission and fund, targeting gaps that affect most agricultural communities. Agriculture Under Climate Stress (Canada): Northern Alberta’s Thorhild County declares an agricultural disaster after extreme rainfall floods fields and disrupts planting and hay drying. Market & Prices Watch (U.S.): USDA’s latest milk outlook lowers Class III and IV price forecasts for 2026–2027 while adjusting corn supply and use assumptions.

Fertiliser & hunger risk: IFAD warns that conflicts and energy-market shocks could push millions more into hunger by raising fuel, fertiliser and food costs, even as global hunger has eased modestly. Food safety & corporate response: Taylor Farms faced scrutiny after an FDA-linked cyclosporiasis lab result was described as a false positive, with the company’s public messaging challenged as misleading. Nigeria farm-to-planning push: VP Kashim Shettima says the $500m World Bank-backed AGROW programme will connect farmers to national value-chain planning and move agriculture from subsistence to scale. Food manufacturing investment: Australia’s FaBA plans to link farmers with universities and scale onshore food manufacturing with $180m aimed at reducing risk and boosting exports. Trade & standards: GTRI urges India to strengthen science-based food safety ahead of the India-EU pact to avoid trade barriers and protect farm exports. Climate & drought adaptation: Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South steps up traditional grains and climate-smart practices ahead of possible El Niño, including boreholes and water security measures. Farm safety spotlight: UK NFU backs Farm Safety Week after HSE data shows a rise in agricultural deaths. Water infrastructure for fisheries: Philippines’ agriculture chief inspected a new ice plant at Bulan Fish Port and outlined plans to expand it into a larger agro-marine port by 2028. Agtech & biotech: UC San Diego and IGI announce a new partnership to develop next-gen genome-editing tools for health and environmental challenges.

Global Hunger Watch: FAO’s SOFI 2026 says the daily cost of a healthy diet rose sharply since 2021, but the number of people unable to afford it fell to 2.69 billion; still, the Middle East conflict and energy/fertilizer shocks could push hunger higher by 2030. Food Safety: Quebec recalled lean ground beef sold at Marché Atlas in Saint-Léonard due to possible E. coli traces. Livestock Health: South Africa’s North West province reported 1,032,615 cattle vaccinated against Foot-and-Mouth Disease, aiming for 80% coverage by August. Farm Policy & Finance: India’s Kharif sowing reached 658.19 lakh hectares by July 17, with declines in pulses, coarse cereals, oilseeds and cotton; SBI plans to expand MSME, agriculture and digital banking in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Land & Water: A Texas–New Mexico water settlement reached in May 2026 sets new delivery rules and groundwater buyouts, with expected impacts on agriculture. Rural Disputes & Crime: A beekeeping fight heads to West Virginia’s Supreme Court; Wales police and show organizers report quad bike thefts at the Royal Welsh Show. Ag Tech & Automation: A UK startup’s AI robot is designed to pick raspberries to ease labor shortages.

Water-Smart Farming Tech: Suntory is testing a fruit-waste-derived soil additive in Japan to improve soil water retention and protect crop yields as drought and declining moisture threaten supply chains. Rice Market Support: The Philippines’ NFA will raise the wet palay minimum buying price to PHP21/kg from September and pause Iloilo rice imports during peak harvest to shield farmers from rising input costs. Global Policy Push: FAO’s COAG 30 opened in Rome with a strong call for science and innovation, focusing on One Health, soil health, pesticide use, water scarcity, and climate resilience. Pest Alert for Ranchers: Texas agriculture officials say pasture mealybug is now confirmed in 70 counties, urging early detection to slow spread. Rural Infrastructure: USDA is funding nearly $9m in Wisconsin to upgrade wastewater and water mains, including replacing lead service lines. Agrifood Trade & Growth: Ghana’s Volta Economic Corridor is set to link agriculture, aquaculture, logistics, and exports into a 24-hour economy hub. Fertilizer Pressure: Alabama farmers report fertilizer price spikes tied to overseas conflict, squeezing margins and delaying equipment upgrades. Seeds for Smallholders: Benue State in Nigeria distributed improved vegetable seeds to 300 smallholder farmers to boost year-round production and incomes.

Food Safety & Regulation: Sri Lanka is moving to curb alleged toxic chemical use in fruit ripening after complaints about bananas, mangoes and guavas, with agencies reviewing enforcement and legal gaps. Farm Economics & Inputs: Nigeria’s Enugu State will distribute fertilisers and seeds to 63,000 smallholder farmers, while also expanding Smart Green Schools staffing. Water Quality Policy: Ireland’s farm group says the EU nitrates review supports a “balanced and practical” approach, stressing smarter on-the-ground delivery. Regenerative Farming Partnerships: ADM has named Jeff Rowe to lead operations, and ADM with General Mills and Walmart is pushing regenerative wheat across hundreds of thousands of acres. Climate & Soil Innovation: Rodale Institute broke ground on a new Center for Regenerative Organic Innovation, aiming to scale practical soil-health solutions. Livestock Health Cooperation: SADC countries are coordinating a unified foot-and-mouth disease plan with cross-border vaccination and diagnostics. Market & Trade Signals: Kazakhstan’s milling sector is expanding as grain-processing investments grow, even as 2026 wheat output is forecast to fall. Farm Safety: Ireland’s Farm Safety Week urges risk planning as fatalities remain a concern. Agritech & Data: UK plans for an AI data centre in Shilton drew local objections, including concerns over wildlife and habitats. Agriculture & Nutrition: Cebu is grappling with the “triple burden of malnutrition,” with stunting, wasting and micronutrient gaps reported. Animal Welfare & Tech: Ireland is pushing to include virtual fencing in TAMS support for upland sheep and goats. Poultry & Pollution: Malaysia’s Linggi fly nuisance is being tackled via a shift toward modern closed-house poultry systems.

Water Stress & El Niño Impacts: In the Philippines, the National Irrigation Administration ordered strict water rationing under the Hapid Irrigation System in Ifugao as dry-spell conditions persist, while in BARMM agriculture damage from Typhoon Inday and habagat neared P885 million, with floods submerging crops. Right to Repair for Farm Machinery: Australia’s independent agricultural machinery repairers are pushing for expansion of Right to Repair rules, with a national roundtable set to hear directly from repair businesses as officials consider extending protections beyond passenger vehicles. Climate-Smart Farming in Practice: Zimbabwe’s climate-smart conservation agriculture programme is credited with turning drought-hit maize and small-grain plots into model farms, using minimum soil disturbance, water harvesting and mulching. Sustainable Farming Debate: A Singapore panel argues sustainable agriculture must combine biologicals and synthetics into scalable, grower-focused solutions that actually work on-farm. Livestock Biosecurity Tools: A new mapping app, SAFE MApp, helps livestock and poultry producers visualize disease entry points and plan prevention and outbreak response. Food Policy & Definitions: The US FDA says defining ultra-processed foods is “challenging” and won’t ban them while it works with USDA and others on a workable definition. Ag Trade & Market Access: Pakistan’s food exporters are sending a delegation to Dubai to boost Gulf sales, while wheat policy reform demands focus on transparency, storage and tracking to protect farmers and consumers.

Climate & Water Risk: Malaysia is urged to start early preparations for an expected Super El Niño, warning of hotter, drier conditions that could hit water, health, and farm output. Public Administration & Food Systems: Bangladesh’s home minister called for a politically neutral civil service, while a separate fertilizer update said stocks are adequate and fertilizer “syndicates” won’t be tolerated. Climate-Resilient Farming: Bangladesh’s Khulna University launched an international project on adaptive delta management for climate-resilient agriculture and food security. Meat & Prices: Jordan’s agriculture minister says meat and poultry prices fell in Q1 2026 after supply-chain steps and diversified import sources. Livestock Trade: Pakistan and China agreed to expand cooperation to boost halal meat exports, including slaughterhouse upgrades and cold-chain improvements. Fisheries Innovation: The Philippines’ BFAR and the British Embassy will co-host SAFET 2026 in Cebu to speed up fisheries tech and traceability. Horticulture Exports: APEDA facilitated the first export of premium Kashmir cherries and plums to Singapore. El Niño Planning (India): Telangana formed an expert committee to assess El Niño impacts and draft crop and water contingency plans. Farm Safety: Australia’s Safer Farms Report says 53 people died and 182 were seriously injured on farms in 2025, pushing renewed safety culture efforts. Agriculture & Politics (Local): A Malaysia election candidate pledged infrastructure, customary land support, and fertigation-based farming upgrades for an Orang Asli community. Food Demand Pressure: A global protein crunch is driving whey prices higher as consumers seek more high-protein foods. Water Reuse (Canada): Vernon in British Columbia got approval to expand reclaimed-water uses, including dust control and municipal tree watering. Regional Agriculture Infrastructure (India): Bihar’s Khagaria–Purnea highway approval aims to cut spoilage and improve flood-resilient transport for high-value crops.

Drought & climate risk: India’s Telangana set up a 27-member expert panel to study El Niño impacts and draft farm contingency plans, as officials warn of deficient monsoon and lower reservoir levels. Wildlife & farm chemicals: Western Australia research tagged endangered Carnaby’s black cockatoos and found “chemical cocktail” pesticide exposure from seed spills near grain silos, with some residues far above regulatory limits. Irrigation & production: Zimbabwe is restarting the Kanyemba Irrigation Scheme by fixing power and technical gaps, aiming to boost food security and livelihoods for hundreds of households. Market access: Fiji opened a new Wainunu Farmers Market to cut transport costs and help growers sell closer to home. Ag policy & tech: Nigeria signed a Morocco-backed satellite and AI agricultural monitoring deal to improve real-time data on land, crops and food-security risks. Food safety: Walmart removed four Taylor Farms Marketside iceberg lettuce salads as recalls expand in a cyclosporiasis probe. Livestock education: Mississippi held its first Southeast Livestock Ag Career Day for students, including heifer “guess the weight” contests and vet science demos. Cotton outlook: Zimbabwe’s 2026 seed cotton intake is down sharply versus last year, with payment timing concerns raised by farmers.

Dry Spell Watch: A prolonged dry spell is threatening the farming season in Ghana’s Upper East Region, with millet struggling after weeks of little or no rain. Export Boost: India’s APEDA helped ship Jammu & Kashmir’s Areko cherries and Scentrose plums to Singapore, aiming for higher returns and better post-harvest handling. Green Farming Metrics: China reported continued gains in agricultural green development in 2025, including improved water-saving and higher fertilizer/pesticide efficiency. Livestock Disease Control: Croatia is tightening African swine fever containment after dozens of outbreaks, with more measures planned to protect pig production. Organic Support: USDA is offering help to organic producers to cover certification costs for 2025–2026. Policy Shift on Inputs: Ladakh has banned chemical and synthetic fertilisers to protect soil and water and accelerate organic farming. Food Security Push: Bahrain is moving ahead with plans to strengthen food security, including allocating agricultural plots to farmers. Aquaculture Fraud Probe: Malaysia’s MACC opened an investigation into KWAP’s RM200m loss tied to Indonesian eFishery. Weather Disruption: Floods and landslides hit Arunachal Pradesh districts, with heavy rain forecast and thousands affected. Market/Quality Rules: Malaysia urged durian exporters to stick to China phytosanitary protocol for fresh durians, warning against unapproved methods.

Animal Ag Education: Ohio State Fair livestock barn tours led by CFAES animal science students aim to explain animal care, welfare, and careers. Legal Fight in Fruit Supply Chains: California grower Cesar Mora is giving away nectarines while a lawsuit over exclusive rights to a white nectarine variety heads to trial. Farmer Voice in Policy: USDA’s Farm Service Agency is accepting nominations for county committee seats, with elections tied to local administrative areas. Drought & Feed Logistics: South Dakota expands hay-hauling and oversized transport hours via an executive order as most of the state remains dry. Soil Contamination Research: Studies on biochar plus organic-fertilizer-derived dissolved organic matter show improved cadmium immobilization, but results vary by molecular makeup. Farm Economy Pressure: Iowa agriculture experts warn of a multi-year downturn as costs outpace revenues and net farm income drops sharply. Food Safety Alerts: Wisconsin issues a public warning after raw beef patties were found with undeclared milk allergen. Citrus Rule Change: FDA lowers the orange-juice Brix standard, which Florida officials say will reduce reliance on imported juice. Flood Impacts on Rice: Ghana’s Weta rice farming community reports major losses after severe flooding submerged fields and damaged infrastructure. Climate Risk Watch: Experts urge early action as El Niño strengthens, raising risks of heat, floods, and drought across multiple regions.

Food Safety & Trade Tensions: Armenia says it found no violations in Jermuk mineral water testing after Russia raised regulatory concerns, while also noting thrips detection on some farms and antibody results for tomatoes. Phytosanitary Dispute: Rosselkhoznadzor asked Iran to temporarily suspend certification for flowers exported to Russia, alleging packaging and external characteristics match previously restricted Armenian products. Cabinet Shake-up: Cyprus Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou is set to leave her post as part of a government reshuffle, with a replacement expected. Climate & Water Stress: Latin American governments are ramping up El Niño preparations for drought, heat, flooding and wildfire risk. Coastal & Marine Resilience: Wales will fund seven coastal projects (including oyster restoration and marine monitoring) with over £500,000. Agri-Workforce: Lithuania reports rising foreign hiring in agriculture, with 5,400 foreign workers in the sector as of July 1, 2026. Aquaculture & Flood Damage: Bangladesh’s Chattogram floods caused major losses to fisheries, livestock and cropland, with smallholders hit hardest. Policy & Infrastructure: The Philippines opened a P347M modern rice processing center in Iloilo to cut post-harvest losses and strengthen buffer stocks. Pest Threat: The emerald ash borer has been detected in the EU for the first time in Hungary and Slovakia, triggering new monitoring. Input Costs & Markets: Oil-market volatility tied to Mideast escalation is pushing up fertilizer-related concerns, while France forecasts a wheat output drop after heatwaves. Sustainable Land Use: Minnesota solar farms seeded with native grasses and wildflowers show how retired cropland can be rehabilitated under panels.

Land Rights & Maize Plan (Venezuela): Venezuela’s agriculture minister delivered 279 agrarian instruments in Guárico, regularizing 14,956 hectares and issuing farm certifications, while also advancing the winter communal maize plan for 17,000 hectares with 70 communes and 1,600 producers. Fish Trade Restart (Iraq): Iraq approved lifting Kirkuk’s nearly five-month fish transport ban, allowing Kirkuk-produced fish to be sold in Baghdad and other provinces after producers faced rising feed and maintenance costs. Farm Research Continuity (Canada): Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Saskatchewan are exploring options to keep activities running at Indian Head and Scott Research Farms during planned disposal. Weather & Food Prices (India): A JM Financial study links El Niño years to weaker monsoons, lower crop output, and higher food inflation, with agriculture’s contribution to GVA staying flat. Power Cost Relief (India): Maharashtra will waive about Rs 48,000 crore in pending farm electricity dues to enable new agricultural power connections. Animal Health Push (India): India targets foot-and-mouth disease-free status in at least nine states within two years to unlock Europe’s dairy market. Invasive Species Watch (Botswana): Researchers warn Australia’s redclaw crayfish could reach the Okavango Delta within about 10 years, threatening fisheries and ecosystems. EU Fertiliser Aid (Greece): The European Commission approved a €41m Greek grant scheme to offset higher fertiliser costs for eligible agricultural companies. Food Safety Alert (US): Cyclospora cases keep rising; investigators are reviewing whether shredded lettuce from Taco Bell supplier Taylor Farms could be involved, as consumers seek safe salad greens. Ag Subsidy Fraud (Greece/EU): EU prosecutors indicted four Greek MPs over alleged farm subsidy fraud involving OPEKEPE, with claims of forged documents and unlawful EU fund disbursement. Rural Energy for Enterprise (Nigeria): Nigeria’s rural electrification strategy is shifting toward enabling productive activities for agriculture and rural businesses, not just adding connections. Climate-Smart Poultry (Guyana): Guyana commissioned a $1bn tunnel-ventilated poultry project to boost productivity, biosecurity, and resilience, aiming to push poultry output past 99,000 tons in 2026.

Sugarcane Politics in Kenya: Sugarcane farmers threaten nationwide protests over delayed Kenya Sugar Board director elections, alleging a coordinated scheme involving government, sugar cartels and millers; they’re demanding court stalemate resolution and warn they could withdraw political support in 2027. Carbon Capture Debate: Louisiana Farm Bureau leaders discussed carbon capture projects and eminent domain concerns, stressing private property rights and asking local groups for policy ideas. Cocoa Value Shift: Nigeria’s president laid out a cocoa “value addition” push at a summit, arguing farmers capture only a small share of the $150B global chocolate market and calling for stronger regional coordination. Rural Women’s Ag Boost (Oman): North Al Batinah launched projects to empower 1,500 rural women via livestock pens, lab testing, marketing support and training. Livestock & Water Quality (Iowa): A new report says Iowa has about 15,300 CAFOs and produced 107.6M tons of manure in 2025, adding pressure on nitrate levels in waterways. EU Farm Fraud (Greece): EPPO charged 22 suspects, including four sitting MPs, over alleged organized fraud in EU agricultural assistance payments. Regenerative Wheat (US): General Mills, ADM and Walmart partner to scale regenerative wheat on 40,000 Midwest acres with farm-level no-till and cover-crop support. Food Security Cash (Gaza): FAO scaled conditional cash to 1,500 small farmers in Gaza to grow vegetables on each dunum, targeting food for about 100,000 people.

El Niño Preparedness (Philippines): Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan filed a Senate inquiry into whether the Department of Agriculture, irrigation, crop insurance, and fisheries agencies are ready with budgets and contingency plans to protect food supply as El Niño worsens into early next year. Farm Relief & Power Costs (India): Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis announced a ₹48,000-crore waiver of pending electricity arrears for farmers with up to 7.5 HP pump connections, aiming to clear barriers to new power connections. Trade Pressure on Farmers (India): Farmers in Kurukshetra and Amritsar staged coordinated motorcycle protests demanding rollback of a proposed India–US trade deal, warning it could hit livelihoods and agriculture. Drought & Crop Risk (US): Kansas drought monitoring shows improvement but continued moderate drought in parts of the state, with forecasts pointing to warmer conditions and mixed precipitation—raising stakes for summer crops. Aquaponics Expansion (Canada): Curve Lake First Nation opened a new aquaponics facility producing tilapia and leafy greens, backed by federal and local funding to boost local food supply. Agronomy Workforce (US): Midway Co-op launched a summer internship for Kansas State agronomy students, focusing on hands-on training to build rural talent pipelines. Salmon Prices (Alaska): Early Bristol Bay sockeye signals point to higher Alaska salmon base prices this season, with supply expectations driving the uptick. Ag Labor Reform Push (US): Dairy advocates met lawmakers to advance agricultural workforce changes, including expanding H-2A access for year-round industries. Education Outreach (US): Missouri’s Ag Moves brought STEM-based farm lessons to students in Milan and Adair County, using hands-on activities to build agricultural literacy. Aquaculture & Food Security (Zambia): President Hichilema’s Muchinga visits highlighted agriculture-linked commitments like feeder road upgrades and expanded FISP support tied to maize harvests.

Drought & water stress: Italy’s Po River basin is seeing flows drop by as much as 80% as a heat wave deepens drought, with rainfall far below average and emergency irrigation measures being introduced. Food security planning: The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture is working with the Philippine Space Agency to use satellite data to map floodwater and improve irrigation and disaster response. Pest control update: Alberta and Saskatchewan have opened the strychnine use window for gopher control after delays, with strict seasonal limits and supply complications. Producer-led conservation: Wisconsin is accepting applications for 2027 producer-led watershed protection grants (up to $40,000) and soybean growers can vote in marketing board elections for two open seats. Cocoa disease training: Jamaica graduated 73 farmers from RADA’s cocoa frosty pod rot management field school, combining classroom and hands-on grafting, nutrition, and pesticide training. Regenerative sourcing: Puratos says it’s moving toward regenerative wheat sourcing, targeting 50% by 2030 and linking the plan to soil practices and emissions cuts. Climate-smart skills: FAO marked Youth Skills Day with practical climate-smart farming training in Georgia, including irrigation systems and drought-resistant seed work. Rural infrastructure: Ireland begins payments of nearly €19m under its Biomethane Capital Grant Scheme to support new plants and biogas upgrades. Agriculture & conflict impacts: Russian drones struck an agricultural enterprise in Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region, killing one and injuring another.

Export & trade signals: USDA data show corn and soybean export inspections dipped last week while wheat improved, with corn still ahead of last year—an early read on demand as conflicts keep grain markets jittery. Geopolitics & inputs: Analysts warn Middle East and Russia-Ukraine tensions can lift energy costs that flow into fertilizer and diesel, even when crop fundamentals don’t change. Invasive pest alert: Costco warned customers about desert willow plants potentially infested with the glassy-winged sharpshooter, which can spread Pierce’s disease; officials urge isolation and inspection. Farm admin reform: Vietnam’s agriculture ministry plans to simplify “farm code” procedures for planting areas and packing facilities to unblock durian and other export shipments. Rural resilience & training: Iowa opened cover-crop cost-share signups, while Midway Co-op ran agronomy internships to build the next generation of rural ag talent. Local farm economy: A Massachusetts town created a $25,000 farmland preservation fund to help keep first-time and legacy farmers in production. Food safety watch: A Cyclospora outbreak is spreading faster than usual this summer, prompting public health guidance for households. Cocoa policy shift: Nigeria says it will stop exporting raw cocoa beans and push local processing to capture more value.