AGP Executive Report

Smart Farming Push: Malaysia’s Perak is seeking 2027 budget support to expand its Smart Agriculture Development Programme, backing tech like IoT, smart irrigation, robotics and controlled-environment farming to lift productivity and food security. Climate-Resilient Livestock: Malaysia and Hungary plan a five-year study of indigenous livestock breeds to find traits that help animals handle hot, humid conditions and feed stress. Water & Post-Harvest Fixes: In Benguet, Philippines lawmakers credit Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel for defending farm-to-market roads and cold storage to cut post-harvest losses. Digital Ag for Risk Prep: Chad is adopting Togo’s digital agriculture tools (weather/climate bulletins and advisory platforms) to improve planning and resilience. Food Systems Under Strain: Bhutan hosts a Global Food Summit amid its own farming crisis, highlighting workforce and funding gaps. EU Animal Welfare: The European Commission moves toward cage-free rules for hens and pigs, following strong public pressure. Trade Pressure on Farmers: US tariff-free foreign beef plans spark backlash from rural lawmakers and cattle producers worried about domestic market disruption. Water Security Shock: Israel faces desalination shutdowns after seawater turbidity spikes, raising concerns for agriculture and food supply.

Bioethanol Push in the Philippines: The agriculture and energy departments are looking for cheaper local feedstocks to raise the bioethanol blend from 10% to 15%, aiming to cut gasoline prices and import dependence, but officials say the key hurdle is getting corn and other inputs at a price that makes ethanol viable. Farm Roads Funding Gap: In the Philippines’ 2027 budget talks, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. warned the proposed P16B for farm-to-market roads won’t cover the 55,000 km needed, after a much larger 2026 allocation. Food Safety Shock in the US: The FDA has upgraded the Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce cyclospora recall to a Class I event, with case counts now reported at 11,500 across 20 states. Trade Pressure on Farmers (Canada-US): Southwestern Ontario farm equipment sellers warn counter-tariffs and US tariffs could raise costs and weaken sales as the agricultural trade war intensifies. Risk Management for Dairy in New Zealand: StoneX won FMA approval to offer milk price risk management tools, targeting better hedging access for sharemilkers. Natural Farming Scale-Up in India: Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviewed progress toward expanding natural farming to 8.5M farmers by 2030, up from 2.4M currently. Global Halal Growth in Uganda: Uganda is moving to expand exports into the halal economy by tightening certification, skills, testing, and processing standards. Beef Import Debate in the US: Florida ranchers and farm groups criticize Trump’s expanded tariff relief for foreign beef trimmings, warning it could undercut domestic producers. Soil Science in Mozambique: FAO-backed SoilFER work is boosting Mozambican women scientists’ lab capacity to analyze soils and support higher productivity.

Fertilizer Security Push: Major development banks and IFIs backed a coordinated roadmap to expand fertilizer production, storage and transport after shocks exposed weak global supply chains, with smallholders hit hardest. Water Governance Reality Check: World Water Week highlighted a mismatch between water “systems” and the real problem: who gets scarce water is a political choice, often decided far from the river basin. Input Supply Deals in Malaysia: At MAHA Trade Days, Malaysia signed MoUs totaling RM1.49bn to boost agri-food investment and trade, while NAFAS secured RM355m partnerships to strengthen fertilizer input supply chains. Seed Self-Reliance in Tanzania: Tanzania reported record domestic seed production (about 79–81% of seeds), reducing reliance on imports and supporting more resilient smallholder seed systems. Onion Value Chain in Mongolia: JICA’s survey aims to localize onion seed production from seed to sets, cutting near-total import dependence and improving climate-fit varieties. AI in Farm Management: John Deere unveiled an AI chatbot (“JD”) that answers questions using farmers’ own operation data via its existing platform. Food Chain Costs Under Fire (UK/Scotland): Scottish food groups urged ministers to drop a statutory grocery price cap, arguing shelf limits won’t stop costs accumulating upstream. Water Disruption in Israel: Desalination outages led to reduced public landscaping and agriculture water use while home supplies were maintained. Agri-Trade and Market Access: MAHA also showcased international food sourcing, including halal-certified Russian turkey aimed at expanding supermarket and restaurant availability.

USDA & livestock health: USDA lifted New Mexico’s restricted New World screwworm “infested zone” after no new cases since a dog detection, easing animal movement rules for ranchers. Beef policy & ranch impacts: USDA launched “Ranchers First” initiatives to rebuild the U.S. beef herd, including new risk-management tools and moves to prioritize local processing—while lawmakers and ranchers warn foreign beef imports could undermine recovery. Biofuels regulation: The White House/EPA pledged to reallocate 2025 small refinery exemption volumes into 2026–27 RVOs after biodiesel and farm groups warned market disruption. Farm labor & fraud: A Santa Maria man was sentenced for visa-fraud scheme exploiting H-2A farmworkers; DOJ also launched a National Fraud Detection Center to target multi-agency federal program fraud. Climate shocks & food security: A Nepal glacier collapse killed hundreds and left thousands missing, underscoring how faster Himalayan warming is destabilizing glaciers and mountain slopes. Agri investment & infrastructure: Sri Lanka’s Deep Tec and China’s CCECC teamed up on solar-powered water, sanitation and purification systems; Ghana signed a $270m poultry transformation deal to cut chicken imports and create jobs. Women in agrifood: UN says women drive most Nigeria’s food crop work but face barriers to land, finance, tech and markets.

El Niño Response: The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture is updating plans as El Niño threatens crops and could lift food prices, with moves like shifting production to less-affected areas, expanding cloud seeding, boosting solar-powered irrigation, and tightening water-use efficiency. Ukraine Grain Disruption: Ukraine’s grain exports are taking a hit as port blockades and Black Sea shipping disruptions raise fears of a wider food-market crisis. China Food Security Law: China has passed its first farmland protection and improvement law, tightening controls on arable land use and pushing reclamation and upgrades to safeguard grain output. EU Fuel Aid for Ag: The European Commission approved EUR 285 million for Italy to offset higher fuel costs hurting commercial fishing, aquaculture, and agriculture. Seafood Sustainability Check: The World Benchmarking Alliance says some seafood firms improved, but overall shortfalls remain, with big gaps by region. AI for Farming & Governance: China is expanding a pest-radar network to track migratory insects, while Namibia secured a seat on the Global AI for Good Commission, highlighting AI’s potential for farming and public services. Smallholder Palm Oil Push: Indonesia took the helm of the World Coalition of Oil Palm Smallholders to strengthen smallholder bargaining on sustainability, traceability, and fair pricing. EU Beef Ban: An EU health office confirmed a full Brazil beef ban starting Sept. 3, with limited exceptions. Caribbean Food Import Drive: CARICOM aims to cut the region’s food import bill by 25%, opening a potential $1.5bn market for local agribusinesses.

Fertilizer Transparency Push (India): India is expanding its Integrated Fertilizer Management System to track fertilizer from production to retail, link purchases to farmers’ land records, and tighten subsidy monitoring—covering Aadhaar-linked buyers, retailers, and millions of tonnes of sales. Agri Trade Boost (Pakistan–Saudi Arabia): Pakistan and Saudi Arabia set a two-year target to lift Pakistani agricultural and food exports to $3 billion, prioritizing rice, red meat, fruits, concentrates and fodder, with talks also focused on modern water-efficient farming. Climate Stress on Food Systems (Europe): A severe summer drought is battering river, lake and fish-farm ecosystems across parts of Europe, with fish industry losses mounting as heat and low water threaten juvenile stocks. Soil Pressure Warning (Morocco): A new FAO report says Morocco’s farmland and irrigation gains are coming with rising soil erosion, salinity and biodiversity risks, including major crop-loss concerns in salt-affected irrigated areas. Aquaculture Water Risk (Egypt): Research warns that using fish-farm water in Egypt’s Nile Delta could gradually contaminate groundwater and irrigation canals over decades, even if current samples show no heavy metals. Food Safety Alert (US rice): The FDA expanded a recall of 27,000+ packages of white rice due to possible foreign material contamination, urging consumers to check lot codes and UPCs. Global Demand Shift (Vietnam coffee): Vietnam’s coffee farmers are diversifying into durian as Chinese demand surges, with durian acreage soaring and exports increasingly routed to China. Digital Ag for Farmers (Ghana): Ghana plans a 150-acre air cargo hub at Tamale Airport to speed exports of high-value produce from northern farms to international markets. Women in Agriculture (India award): India’s Mahila Krishi Shakti Puraskar 2026 will recognize women and women-led institutions across seeds, biodiversity, climate resilience, nutrition and rural livelihoods.

Coffee-to-durian shift in Vietnam: Vietnam’s Central Highlands—about a sixth of the world’s coffee output—is seeing farmers switch to durian as Chinese demand surges, with durian acreage up more than fivefold to 200,000 hectares and exports increasingly shipped frozen to China. Food security pressure in the Philippines: A USDA assessment estimates 15.4 million Filipinos (12.6%) are food-insecure this year, highlighting a widening gap between local food availability and demand. Drought-ready tobacco in Zimbabwe: Kutsaga is pushing drought-tolerant, fast-maturing tobacco varieties as El Niño-linked below-normal rains loom across Southern Africa. Climate-smart farming experiment in China: A tea trial under tracking solar panels reported 15.3% higher fresh-leaf yield, pointing to reduced midday stress as a key benefit. Trade rules and farm risk in South Korea: Internal feasibility work warns CPTPP entry could cut South Korea’s farm output by 700+ billion won annually, with talks planned after September consultations. Bees under threat in Hungary: Drought has starved colonies of nectar and pollen, risking major losses by spring 2027. Farmers protest in Greece: Greek producers plan a tractor rally in Thessaloniki on Sept 5, demanding income support, lower costs, import protection, and insurance changes. U.S. beef import backlash: Farm leaders warn a plan to add 300,000 tons of imported ground beef could destabilize cattle markets and harm domestic supply.

Food Security Outlook: The Philippines is projected to hit the highest food insecurity rate in Southeast Asia this year, with 15.4 million people facing hunger (12.6% of its population), while Indonesia tops the regional list by count (32.1 million). Biosecurity for Livestock Shows: Michigan State University Extension warns that animals returning from county fairs need strict separation and hygiene for at least 14 days to cut disease spread. Trade & Farm Inputs: Canada’s planned tariff jump on U.S. steel and aluminum could raise costs for farm equipment makers and, ultimately, farmers and ranchers. Fertilizer Stability Claims: Bangladesh’s agriculture minister says there’s no fertilizer crisis and extra stock covers the next four months, blaming “artificial” market panic. Regional Cooperation: SAARC Agriculture Centre held a coordination meeting to map joint programs for 2027, focusing on resilience, tech scaling, and inclusive food systems. Agriculture Tech & AI: Pakistan’s Punjab floated a Punjab–Guizhou joint working group on digital cooperation, AI, and smart agriculture. Value Chains & Processing: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan reaffirmed plans to strengthen agriculture and food-security cooperation, including irrigation efficiency and investment. Beekeeping Exports: Mexico remains a top honey exporter, ranking ninth globally, with Yucatán leading production. Drought Policy Push: Egypt called for a legally binding international drought protocol with early-warning and better water-land management. Farm Payments: Zambia’s Food Reserve Agency says it has paid over K6 billion kwacha to maize suppliers and is expanding storage. Climate Extremes: A report highlights record heat across multiple countries, with several nearing or surpassing 50°C.

Climate & Disaster Risk: Nepal floods left bridges, farmland and roads wrecked after a glacial collapse, underscoring how extreme weather is now a direct threat to food and livelihoods. Water Security: New research warns drylands are expanding fast and freshwater stress could reshape U.S. agriculture and communities, as aquifers are overpumped and reservoirs shrink. Drought Impacts on Farms: North Dakota’s heat and low rainfall are pushing crops below average, forcing tough harvest-versus-silage decisions. Plant Health Watch: Angola reported a newly identified plant virus (“Seles Weed Carlavirus”), with scientists saying there’s no proof yet it’s hitting commercial crops but it could if unchecked. Food System Policy: U.S. President Trump says he’s preparing a legal order to let farmers and ranchers process their own food, aiming to challenge big meat processors. Trade & Market Access: India and Argentina agreed to improve access for Indian pharma and farm products, with technical talks on sanitary and phytosanitary rules. Agri-Industry & Inputs: Zimbabwe’s Vice President praised efforts to expand local fertiliser production to secure inputs and strengthen the value chain. Agri Innovation & Skills: Malaysia’s MAHA 2026 opens with a sustainability push, while an AI in Agriculture Symposium (Sept 21) spotlights tech from forecasting to robotics. Co-ops & Exports: India’s NCEL says 16,408 cooperatives have joined its export drive, shipping 15.40 lakh tonnes of farm goods to 38 countries.

Farm Finance Under Trade Pressure (Canada): Manitoba announced $100M+ in tariff-related supports, expanding MASC loan guarantees and diversification coverage as producers face cash-flow stress. On-Farm Survival After Floods (Philippines): In Pangasinan, monsoon flooding has drowned seedlings and delayed replanting for tobacco and vegetable growers, with farmers still waiting on dry windows. Market Matching for Farmers (Malaysia): FAMA’s AgriMatch program is pushing growers to align production with consumer demand, including smaller, convenience-focused produce to cut waste. Beef Processing Shake-Up (U.S.): Trump says farmers and ranchers will be authorized to process their own food, aiming to break “big processor” power and lower beef prices—sparking mixed reactions from ranchers and shoppers. Poultry Flood Warning Turns Tragedy (Nepal): A river surge swept away families after a poultry farmer’s urgent call, with thousands dead or missing reported. Animal Health Move (U.S.): FDA issued an emergency generic ivermectin injection authorization to prevent New World screwworm in cattle. Drought and Food Risks (Nigeria): Benue’s “food basket” reputation is strained as insecurity blocks farmers from reaching fields, leaving land uncultivated. Infrastructure for Exports (Canada): CANXPORT opened at Prince Rupert to boost container transloading capacity, targeting better access for grains and pulses to Asia. Home-Grown Resilience (Malaysia): KENDIRI campaign encourages households to grow food at home as a supplementary buffer against crises and climate shocks. Diesel Shock for Harvest (U.S.): Diesel prices surged toward record highs as inventories tightened, hitting farmers right before fall work. Wildfire Aftermath (Algeria): Algeria is assessing wildfire damage after deaths, injuries, and major harm to homes and farmland.

Storm Damage Update (Philippines): The Department of Agriculture says monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng have pushed farm and fishery losses to P2.32bn, up from P1.91bn earlier, affecting 69,615 farmers and fishers across eight regions; rice accounts for most damage. Conditional Land Use Appeal (Solar): In Pennsylvania, oral arguments were heard over whether conditional-use requirements were met for two Buffalo Township solar farms, with residents citing alleged noncompliance with zoning performance standards. Food Security & Rural Focus (UN): A new UN-linked report highlights that hunger is easing overall, but rural food insecurity remains stubborn, especially for women, calling for soil health, tech access, land rights and better infrastructure. Global Food Systems Pace (Research): A Nature Food study warns the world is not moving fast enough on sustainable, resilient food-system goals toward 2030. Farm Labor Rights (US): A federal judge struck down Trump-era farmworker wage cuts tied to the H-2A program, ordering recalculation and possible backpay. Agriculture Growth Target (Botswana): Botswana aims to lift agriculture’s GDP share from 2% to 6%, with horticulture projects surging and import restrictions helping boost domestic output. Regional Seed Trade (West Africa): West Africa is pushing to speed cross-border movement of crop varieties, arguing rules exist but are applied unevenly, slowing regional seed markets. Halal Economy Push (Nigeria): Nigeria targets $12bn investment to capture more of the $7tn global halal economy, emphasizing local processing, certification and exports. Agri Tech for Quality (New Zealand): New Zealand backs an apple-industry project using hyperspectral imaging to detect internal defects faster and cut waste. Trade Tensions (US-Canada): Businesses on both sides of the border report tariff fatigue as new US levies raise uncertainty for agriculture-linked supply chains. BRICS Grain Scrutiny: BRICS competition authorities launched a joint inquiry into potential monopolies in global grain trade involving major firms.

Storm damage in the Philippines: The Department of Agriculture says monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng have pushed farm and fishery losses to P2.32B, up from P1.91B earlier, affecting 69,615 farmers and fishers across eight regions, with rice the biggest share. Farm labor rights in the spotlight (US): A California federal judge struck down new H-2A farmworker wage rules as unlawful, raising the prospect of back pay and adding pressure for a more stable ag workforce plan. Beef trade tensions (US): Lawmakers and cattle producers are reacting to Trump’s plan to pause/waive tariffs and import cheaper foreign beef, warning it could squeeze cattle values through the supply chain. Soil health alarm (global): A UN/FAO report warns over half of the world’s soils are in poor condition and that proven soil-improvement measures are not being adopted fast enough. Pesticide transparency (California): A new law requires tracking pesticides containing PFAS, shifting from a proposed ban to public labeling in regulators’ databases. Trade war ripple (US-Canada): Industry groups warn the collapsed talks could raise costs and disrupt sourcing for agriculture and food supply chains. Sugar worker pressure (Philippines): Sugarcane workers protest DOLE over Social Amelioration Program reforms and the “pakyaw” piece-rate system amid industry hardship.

Soil Health Alarm: A new UN/FAO report warns more than half of the world’s soils are in poor condition, threatening food supplies and biodiversity, while proven soil-restoration steps still aren’t being adopted. Climate Adaptation Funding: Várri Consultancy says the global climate adaptation finance gap has hit a $3 trillion threshold, urging faster action as warming intensifies crop and supply risks. Water Stress in Farming Regions: El Niño-linked drought is pushing agriculture into crisis in places like Sudan’s Nile basin and Papua New Guinea’s vegetable-growing areas, where farmers report dried water sources, rising prices, and looming hunger. Energy for Agriculture: Iran connected a 72MW solar farm to the grid to ease power cuts, while the Philippines is weighing a three-pump solar irrigation project for water-scarce Davao farms. Trade and Logistics: DP World launched a new weekly Asia shipping service from Ecuador’s Port of Posorja to speed exports of temperature-sensitive foods. Farm Economics Under Pressure: Irish cattle farmers say beef prices have fallen sharply versus last year, squeezing margins as feed and drought costs rise. Innovation for Productivity: Tanzania showcased a SmartShamba multi-crop planter aimed at faster, more precise sowing for smallholders.

Drought Strikes Dairy Feed: A Teagasc report says 42% of Irish dairy farms now face serious fodder shortages, with pasture growth in the southeast far below the northwest. Deforestation Case in Argentina: Salta courts ordered a precautionary seizure of 21.805 billion pesos tied to illegal logging of about 11,000 hectares, aiming to fund restoration. Nigeria Research Push: Nigeria launched a ₦365m Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Prize, including an agriculture theme and a Stella Adadevoh medicine prize. EU Trade and Farm Rules: Commentary highlights EU moves on plant variety approvals and beef import standards, with knock-on effects for global grain and meat flows. Fodder and Cash Support in Northern Ireland: NI farmers are reminded that direct payments still matter for cashflow as markets turn down. Border Tensions in India: Assam-Nagaland clashes around the Negheribil belt escalated after reported assaults on village council members. U.S. Beef Import Backlash: Cattle groups and ranchers warn Trump’s plan to import tariff-free foreign beef could undercut domestic producers and destabilize the herd. Global Food Risk Signals: Wheat jumped on Black Sea export problems and broader supply-chain stress, feeding fears of another food-inflation cycle.

Beef Trade Shock (US): Trump’s plan to allow up to 300,000 tons of discounted ground beef imports has pushed cattle futures to eight-month lows and sparked backlash from ranchers and farm groups, who warn it could slow herd rebuilding and tilt gains toward meatpackers. Meat Import Pressure (Philippines): Meat imports rose 11% to 1.02 million MT in Jan–July, with pork up 10% and now 53% of shipments, deepening pressure on domestic hog producers still recovering from African swine fever. Tariff Fallout (Canada–US): Canada will hit US goods with 15–50% counter-tariffs on CAN$27.6bn starting Sept 8, including agricultural equipment and food items, after talks collapsed and US tariffs were imposed. Food Security Risk (Middle East): The UN warns a “triple chokepoint” crisis around Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Black Sea is driving up oil and fertilizer costs, threatening millions with acute hunger. Climate & Land Damage (Lebanon): Lebanon accuses Israel of burning and bulldozing forest and farmland in the south, with agricultural losses reported since hostilities began. Water Stress (Bulgaria): Critically low Danube levels are disrupting shipping and raising risks for grain and fertilizer transport plus regional power supplies. Livestock Tech (Northern Ireland): DAERA opens a £16.6m bovine genotyping scheme Sept 1, paying £13 per eligible genotype to improve breeding decisions. Export Push (Ethiopia): Ethiopia targets global banana exports via a quality and finance-focused national conference, aiming to move beyond high-volume but low-quality production. Field Support (Liberia): Liberia’s agriculture ministry distributed 20 Hilux pickups and 36 motorbikes to extend extension services and improve disease monitoring across 15 counties. AI for Agriculture (Africa): Cassava Technologies’ AI Factory ranks 36th on TOP500, signaling growing industrial-scale computing capacity on the continent.

Tech for yields and income: Malaysia’s APEC Food Security meeting in Hangzhou put the spotlight on using AI and farm tech only when it boosts crop output and farmers’ earnings, citing its SMART padi programme. Youth skills via school farms: Malaysia’s ADI model is expanding hands-on agriculture training through school-based farms, linking students to industry needs. Animal health at the border: Texas tightened rules for Mexican-origin cattle as New World screwworm spreads, requiring extra ID and veterinary paperwork. Market rules in India: Maharashtra’s marketing minister said APMC and trader issues will be tackled through consensus talks, including charges, taxation differences, and law changes. Food processing push in India: Maharashtra won a national PMFME award, with nearly 32,000 approved micro food processing projects and thousands of trained beneficiaries. School meals funding (US): USDA launched “Harvest to Hallways” to expand local procurement and add school kitchen equipment grants. Beef import backlash (US): Farmers and Black farmers groups warned Trump’s tariff-free beef plan could squeeze ranchers and raise costs for those already vulnerable. Land protection fight (US): The US Forest Service proposed rescinding the Roadless Rule, a move critics say could open millions of acres to roads and logging. Desertification at UN talks: Pastoralists at UNCCD COP17 urged stronger recognition of Indigenous knowledge and better funding as land degradation accelerates. Circular farming in Vietnam: IRRI’s RiceEco project is helping farmers cut rice straw burning by turning residues into compost and other uses.