AGP Executive Report

Global Food & Fertilizer Shock: An analysis warns that the Iran conflict’s spillover is now hitting energy, shipping, fertilizer and food systems, with global growth risks extending into 2027. Fertilizer Self-Reliance: India says it has kept fertilizer supply steady for Kharif 2026 by expanding domestic output and rerouting imports amid West Asia disruptions. Biofungicide Deal: Syngenta and Ascribe Bioscience signed a development and supply agreement for PHYTALIX, aiming to bring a next-gen biofungicide to Southeast Asia’s rice farmers. Farmer-Centric Policy in BRICS: Nigeria pushed BRICS support for agricultural modernization and agro-processing zones, stressing “farmer at the centre” priorities. Farm Tech on the Ground: California growers are using AI laser robots to cut pesticide use and target weeds and pests more precisely. Data Rights for Farmers: Scotland’s ag groups are moving toward a farmer-governed agri data partnership to reduce burdens and protect producer control. Agricultural Lab Upgrade: Fiji reopened its upgraded agricultural chemistry lab and crop research information centre after a $1.3m upgrade to improve testing and disease response. Land, Aviation, and Rural Impact (India): Noida International Airport began commercial flights to Lucknow, with Jewar farmers who contributed land among the inaugural passengers. Subsidy Equity (Bangladesh): A World Bank report says the richest farmers capture about half of fertilizer subsidy benefits, while the bottom 40% get only a small share.

Energy & Food Shock: A new analysis warns the US-Iran escalation could keep disrupting energy, shipping, fertilizer and food systems through 2027, even if fighting eases, with global growth projected near 2.8–3.1%. Dairy Outlook: Rabobank expects global milk supply growth to stall in 2026 as energy, fertilizer and financing costs squeeze margins. Electrifying Farms: China’s agriculture ministry tested 20+ pure-electric vegetable machines in field trials, signaling faster mechanization upgrades. Logistics for Trade: China’s cross-border freight rail hit 15,506 trips in Jan–May (+12.6%), boosting routes to Europe and Central Asia. Protein Pressure: Whey protein demand is outpacing supply, pushing prices higher and threatening food makers’ margins. Farmer-Centric Policy: BRICS agriculture ministers adopted the Indore Declaration, prioritizing farmers, food security, climate resilience and digital agriculture. Animal Health Alert: Colorado moved to tighten rules against New World screwworm after detections in nearby states. Water Risk: India faces “water bankruptcy” risk under Super El Niño, with rainwater harvesting urged as a climate lifeline. Agri-innovation & Markets: A drone-based poultry disease scanner is gaining traction, while India’s Nabkisan mango mela helped farmers find new buyers.

Biosecurity & Livestock Trade: The U.S. is ramping up its response to the New World screwworm, with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visiting Texas and USDA preparing a “billion-dollar” containment effort; Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also launched a free online course to certify more screwworm inspectors. Animal Health & Farmer Safety: Australia will review drone curbs after a shark attack near Coogee Beach, aiming to let rescuers use drones for shark monitoring while balancing aviation rules. Food Security & Climate Risk: Zimbabwe reports wheat planting progress toward a 125,000-hectare target, projecting a potential bumper harvest to buffer El Niño drought risk. Trade & Farm Incomes: India’s tighter tea-import rules from Nepal are pushing some Nepali tea factories toward closure as testing delays leave large stocks unsellable. Regional Cooperation: Iran and Russia discussed boosting agricultural cooperation at BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ talks in Indore, focusing on trade, food security, investment, and technology exchange. Global Growth Watch: The World Bank expects South Asia’s growth to soften to 6.3% in 2026 amid Middle East conflict spillovers, including higher energy costs and supply disruptions.

BRICS Agriculture Push: BRICS ministers in Indore unanimously adopted the “Indore Declaration,” putting farmers at the center with new work on food security, climate-resilient farming, trade cooperation, and platforms for seed rights, digital agriculture, and agroecology/regenerative practices. Fertiliser Shock & Food Security: Nigeria says it secured 2026 wet-season fertiliser supply early, locking in vessels and raw materials to blunt global shipping and price volatility that threatens planting. Livestock Biosecurity: Texas launched a free online course to expand certified New World screwworm inspectors, aiming to keep cattle movement and commerce running while stopping the pest’s spread. Kenya Cotton Revival: Busia farmers received 24 tonnes of cotton seed via an e-voucher system as the government scales a 100-tonne county rollout to restart the cotton value chain. Cambodia Care Economy: A World Bank study flags affordable childcare as a high-return investment, citing low formal care use and how it limits women’s job options. Climate Stress on Farms: Research warns El Niño-linked extremes are worsening drought and rainfall deficits for Telangana farmers, raising pressure on irrigation and planning.

Food Security Under Fire: Gunmen killed 17 farmers in Nigeria’s Zamfara state during the planting season, deepening fears that insecurity is pushing families off their land and worsening hunger risks. Policy & Compliance: Wales is launching a review to cut red tape for family farms, while UK tax rules are tightening digital record-keeping requirements for farmers. Input Support: India raised onion procurement under its buffer stock programme to ₹16.50/kg, and Nigeria’s federal programme is distributing free fertiliser to thousands of smallholders. Trade Rules: The EU is rejecting Brazil’s bid to delay new antibiotic restrictions for beef imports, raising concerns about traceability readiness. Animal Health Emergency: The U.S. continues its response to the New World screwworm outbreak, with officials warning it could become a major cattle threat. Climate & Weather Risk: The UN and WMO warn El Niño could bring extreme heat, drought and flooding—pressuring agriculture, water and energy systems worldwide. Research & Collaboration: BRICS launched a global research call under its STI framework, targeting joint work in water, AI, energy, health and food.

New World screwworm emergency: U.S. officials confirmed the pest in Texas and activated CDC response, with cases now spreading across Texas and New Mexico; states are tightening animal movement rules and urging wound checks and rapid treatment to protect cattle, goats, wildlife, and pets. Animal health policy & transparency: A court ruling in Ontario makes it harder for undercover investigators to expose factory farms, raising pressure on regulators and public oversight. Fertilizer pressure in Africa: Nagaland stakeholders met on cutting fertilizer use via balanced, judicious application and integrated nutrient management. EU farm cost relief: The European Commission proposed €540m in aid plus CAP tweaks to help farmers absorb higher fertilizer prices. Food security politics: U.S. attorneys general urged Congress to restore SNAP in the Farm Bill, warning cuts will worsen hunger and shift costs to states. Rural livelihoods & women: Nagaland’s KVK launched Kadaknath poultry support for rural women, while Tanzania rolled out a financial literacy program for young farmers and women. Trade and markets: Assam flagged off GI-tagged Tezpur litchis to Singapore, signaling growing export momentum. Weather risk: Heavy Missouri rains flooded fields and delayed replant decisions as farmers wait for drainage and damage assessments.

Animal Health Emergency: The U.S. FDA authorized the first generic drug (nitenpyram) to treat New World screwworm in dogs and cats, as the pest spreads in the Southwest and states tighten movement rules. Biosecurity & Response: New Mexico confirmed its first case in Lea County and set an infested zone with surveillance and treatment requirements, while USDA ramps up a broader response. Food Security Diplomacy: BRICS agriculture ministers met in Indore to focus on food security and smallholder welfare, with emphasis on women and youth in farming. Rural Livelihoods: China’s 15th Five-Year Plan puts rural modernization and farmer livelihoods at the center, targeting higher grain production capacity by 2030. Market Signals: Soybeans dipped on favorable U.S. crop weather and ample global supplies, with Argentina and Brazil crop estimates adjusted upward. School Feeding with Local Sourcing: Ghana launched a home-grown school feeding pilot linking local farms to classrooms, aiming to steady farmer incomes while improving child nutrition. Climate-Ready Aquaculture: New Zealand fast-tracked six Marlborough aquaculture proposals to expand nursery capacity and protect mussel production from warming oceans.

World Economy Shock: The World Bank says Middle East conflict is dragging global growth to the weakest since COVID, cutting 2026 growth to 2.5% and warning food and inflation pressures will hit poorer countries hardest; it’s readying up to $100B over 15 months to support safety nets and working capital for businesses and farms. Fertiliser & Input Strain: S&P Global flags food-price risk as fertiliser and transport costs rise after energy and shipping disruptions, while Malaysia’s NAFAS says it has enough fertiliser stock to cover supply needs through August 2026. Farm Tech for Productivity: India’s ICAR launches “Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra,” a 24/7 WhatsApp AI advisory for oilseed farmers in multiple languages, aiming to boost domestic output and cut import dependence. Animal Health & Biosecurity: Idaho tightens animal entry rules after New World screwworm detections in Texas, and the U.S. continues coordinated response as the pest spreads north. Climate & Water Resilience: Namibia reiterates commitment to global water governance as it pushes innovation and long-term planning for water security. Trade & Agriculture Diplomacy: Thailand and China expand cooperation talks covering trade, investment, agriculture and security, including urea supply support. Food System Stress at Home: Michigan’s farm stress program warns funding gaps can interrupt mental health services for farmers, as demand rises.

Biosecurity Alert (U.S. livestock): Federal officials confirmed five New World screwworm cases in Texas (plus one earlier in New Mexico), prompting tighter animal movement rules and expanded sterile-fly releases to protect cattle and ranching. Farmgate Prices (Philippines): The Philippines set pre-harvest benchmark rice buying prices to shield farmer earnings as El Niño risk and higher input costs loom. Agri-Environment Funding (UK): Defra unveiled new Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 funding (£240m) and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (£50m), but the NFU warned it’s not enough to meet biodiversity and soil-health ambitions. Input Costs & Risk (UK): Farmers are being urged to manage disease and nitrogen spending carefully as fertiliser costs rise and weather variability bites. Farmer Protests (India): Odisha farmers blocked NH-59 in Kalahandi over delays in paddy procurement, citing rain damage and deteriorating stocks. Climate-smart Tech (U.S./Canada/Global): Agrivoltaics and mushroom-powered sanitation drew attention as practical ways to cut water and improve resilience, from heat-shaded crops to waterless composting toilets. Trade & Food Security (Global): UN-linked reporting highlighted rising meat production and ongoing food-loss pressures, while WFP warned conflict-driven hunger risks. Labor & Farm Operations (UK): A North Yorkshire potato farm won approval to keep seasonal European worker caravans, citing staffing needs for planting and processing.

New World Screwworm Watch: The USDA confirmed new cases of the flesh-eating New World screwworm in Texas and New Mexico, triggering animal movement rules and new entry requirements in Idaho, while Louisiana and other states step up surveillance and sterile-fly releases; Mexico also blocked most live-animal imports from the U.S., raising stakes for ranchers and breeding markets. Weather Shock to Farms: Shenandoah County (Virginia) moved to seek an agricultural disaster declaration after a late freeze and dry spring damaged hay, pasture, orchards, vineyards and barley. Fertiliser Crunch: The EU warned that without long-term fertiliser supply fixes, high prices could translate into EU food shortages, even as it pushes a Fertiliser Action Plan. Trade and Input Pressure: South Africa logged a record agricultural trade surplus in Q1, but the gain was driven more by lower import costs than export growth; meanwhile, Indiana farmers estimated $607m losses from China’s retaliatory tariffs. Food Security Investment: US-Qatar Business Council and IFC launched a roadmap to attract agrifood investment aligned with Qatar’s National Food Security Strategy 2030. Climate-Smart Farming in Practice: Kenya’s dryland farmers in Makueni are boosting yields with zai pits, mulching, diversification and weather advisories. Rural Development and Jobs: Papua New Guinea’s National Volunteer Service expanded outreach to East New Britain to support health, education, agriculture and community development. Agritech and Markets: An AI-driven “world’s supermarket” story from Yiwu highlights faster cross-border trade workflows as agents coordinate specs and supply chains. Agriculture Policy Funding: Pakistan’s NEC approved a Rs 3.669tn national development budget for FY27 with a 4% growth target.

Animal Health & Trade Controls: The U.S. confirmed New World screwworm in a calf in Texas, reviving a decades-old threat and triggering tighter animal movement rules across states and toward Canada/Mexico, with Kansas urging vigilance for wounds and pets. Fertiliser & Food Security: With the Strait of Hormuz under pressure, global fertiliser flows face fresh strain, pushing up costs and raising fears of higher subsidy burdens and tighter affordability for farmers. Sustainability Scrutiny: A study says 98% of major meat and dairy companies’ environmental claims lack meaningful support, fueling greenwashing concerns. Agri-Industry Investment: China National Tire & Rubber plans a $550m Alexandria expansion, adding capacity for heavy-duty truck and agricultural tires. Co-ops & Policy Implementation: India’s National Cooperation Policy-2025 monitoring committee met to push digital transformation and stronger cooperative institutions. Local Productivity Boost: Northern Samar (Philippines) launched a tissue culture lab to produce disease-free planting materials for crops like abaca and banana. Market & Genetics: Jamaica’s dairy sector urges faster import of better cattle genetics to cut reliance on milk powder. Global Climate Risk: A review highlights how climate shocks and conflict can destabilize staple crops like maize, rice, and wheat.

New World Screwworm Alert (U.S.): Texas and New Mexico have confirmed new cases of the flesh-eating pest, prompting Iowa and Kansas to urge livestock owners and pet caretakers to check for open wounds and report suspected maggots fast, while USDA ramps up containment and Texas officials push for adult suppression tools. Animal Health & Biosecurity: Romania’s ANSA is tightening pig-farm oversight with inspections focused on animal ID, registration, and minimum biosecurity rules. Farm Policy & Drought Risk: Kansas wheat producers get a clearer view of Farm Service Agency programs, including drought-triggered livestock forage support tied to drought monitor levels. Food Security & Development (Egypt): Egypt and the World Bank discuss AgriConnect-style support for smallholders, irrigation upgrades, and climate-smart farming. Climate-Smart Crops (Japan): Japan is rapidly expanding heat-resistant rice varieties to protect yields as hotter summers drive quality problems. Women & Land Rights (Zimbabwe/India): Zimbabwe trains women smallholders on food sovereignty and climate resilience; in Telangana, tenant farmers press for promised legal and support measures. Ocean Stewardship: A UN assessment warns oceans face “severe and intensifying” stress, with sea-level rise accelerating—raising stakes for coastal food systems.

Animal Health Emergency: The New World screwworm is back in the U.S., with USDA confirming multiple new cases across Texas and New Mexico, triggering quarantines, movement controls, sterile-fly releases, and heightened vigilance for open wounds in livestock and pets. Regional Policy & Trade: South Africa logged a record $1.55bn agricultural trade surplus in Q1, driven mainly by lower import costs and strong horticulture exports, while livestock exports remain constrained by foot-and-mouth disease. Fertiliser Access & Integrity: Telangana’s fertiliser app is being touted as a national model after improvements to transparency and dealer stock visibility, while in Nigeria’s Plateau State farmers are warned about fake and adulterated fertilisers. Labour & Farm Operations: New Zealand’s ACT proposes a Rural Workforce Visa to create a year-round worker pipeline for dairy, sheep and beef as shortages bite. Soil & Climate Smart Farming: India launched “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” to push field-level soil health and balanced input use, and FAO praised China’s black-soil protection efforts. Global Coordination: BRICS agriculture ministers are meeting in Indore to align on food security, climate-smart farming, trade, and farmer welfare. Tech for Agriculture: The Philippines approved development of its MULA Earth-observation satellite for agriculture and disaster monitoring, and China’s wind-powered underwater datacentre highlights the growing push for resource-efficient infrastructure that can support ag data systems.

New World screwworm alert: The USDA confirmed new New World screwworm cases in Texas, including a calf and a dog, with officials urging ranchers and pet owners to closely inspect wounds and report suspicious symptoms as the pest spreads beyond the initial border detections. Fertilizer shock and trade risk: FAO warned that the Strait of Hormuz crisis is a global food security threat, especially because it disrupts fertilizer exports, pushing farmers toward difficult fertilizer-use decisions; FAO also urged keeping trade open and avoiding export restrictions on agricultural inputs. Food safety push in Europe: The EU, Germany and Albania launched the EU4Food Safety project (EUR 13.5m) to strengthen Albania’s food safety systems and align with EU standards ahead of World Food Safety Day. Ghana–Belarus ag ties: Ghana’s President Mahama announced deeper agricultural cooperation with Belarus via technology transfer, skills development and investment, backed by new MOUs. Climate signal for farmers: El Niño forecasts strengthened, raising concern for record heat and major weather impacts that could ripple into global food production. Rural support in India: India’s AgriStack Farmer ID rollout in Maharashtra expands access for forest-rights holders to scheme benefits, aiming to digitize and widen support. Renewables and land-use debate: A solar farm proposal in Glenrowan West faced community objections over fire risk, environmental concerns and local social impacts.

Earthquake Response: A 7.8 offshore quake hit southern Philippines near Maasim (Sarangani), killing at least five as buildings collapsed and power outages spread; President Marcos ordered evacuations to higher ground. Water & Farm Policy: Australia’s Defence Minister faced questions linking water security to national resilience, while Victoria’s Campaspe Shire demanded stability in Murray-Darling Basin water recovery rules after dairy closures and local economic damage. Global Food Security: A UN WFP analysis says Middle East conflict fallout is already pushing millions more into hunger, with fertilizer shortages and high fuel costs set to worsen crop outcomes. Livestock & Trade Growth: FAO reports global animal food supply has surged since 1961, with poultry and eggs driving most of the rise, while losses and cold-chain gaps deepen regional inequality. Agritech & Water Monitoring: India’s Haryana showcased satellite-based farm monitoring that helps detect water stress early and supports officials across millions of fields. Rural Conservation Funding: New Zealand’s QEII National Trust funding is set to double under National’s pledge, backing landowner-led habitat protection. Irrigation Crisis: Pakistan’s Sindh faces severe canal shortages during Kharif, with major canals drawing far below targets. Export & Value-Added Foods: APEDA enabled Karnataka millet functional foods to reach New Zealand by sea, signaling growth in India’s processed agri exports. Agriculture & Politics: Nepal’s yak herding story spotlights women taking on traditional roles, while Somalia’s women-led peace push calls for inclusive national dialogue to stabilize elections and security.

Trade & Market Access: Thailand says it’s ready to escalate Malaysia’s June 1 suspension of imports of five Thai shrimp species to WTO and ASEAN talks if bilateral negotiations stall, while rolling out 13 measures to absorb about 400 tonnes a month and protect farm-gate prices. Animal Welfare Policy: U.S. Congress is considering rolling back state animal welfare rules via a farm bill push that would block states from regulating livestock raising, targeting California’s Proposition 12-style standards. Water-Smart Farming: Abra lawmakers are urging faster farmland leveling and water-saving practices as El Niño-linked drought fears rise, alongside irrigation rehab and rainwater harvesting plans. Biosecurity Threat: New World screwworm has been detected again in Texas, prompting expanded emergency response and new animal import and surveillance steps. Rural Infrastructure: Zamboanga del Sur secured P345 million for farm-to-market roads funded through the 2026 national budget to cut transport costs and boost rural incomes. Agri-Exports & Partnerships: Team Europe is set to visit Assam (June 8-9) to unlock agri-food processing and value-chain collaboration, while EU access talks and export facilitation efforts continue across regions. Food Safety Push: World Food Safety Day spotlights unsafe food’s huge health toll and calls for safer supply chains and stronger standards. Environment & Coasts: Experts warn monsoon rains wash land-based waste into seas, urging a catchment-to-coast marine litter policy rather than only beach cleanups. Conservation Win: Mangrove forests are showing a global comeback since 2010, driven by legal protections and natural regeneration.