AGP Executive Report

Food Security & Nutrition Policy: Philippines lawmakers advanced HB 9466, expanding the national feeding program into a broader nutrition push aimed at hunger, malnutrition, and learning poverty. Pest & Biosecurity Threats: Iran faces Moroccan locust swarms in the east, threatening crops and livelihoods; in the US, New World screwworm has been detected just 25 miles from the Texas border, prompting an intensified response. Climate Pressure on Crops: Brazil’s strong corn outlook could raise global competition, while El Niño warnings point to extreme weather risk for food systems. Agrifood Investment & Trade: Ecobank launched a $450m Nature Bond to channel global capital into sustainable agriculture and ecosystem protection in Africa; Ghana unveiled a roadmap to end its rice deficit within 10 years, including a quota tied to verified local producer partnerships. Regional Plant Health Capacity: West African experts met in Accra to strengthen pest risk analysis, with invasive pests estimated to cost Africa $7bn annually. Agritech & Research: Wageningen launched an international network for controlled environment agriculture, and FAO is pushing rural agrifood digitalisation. Labor & Safety: Italy arrested suspects after four migrant farm workers were burned to death in a van arson case.

SSSI Enforcement: A UK court fined Jenkins Ty Hen Limited and issued a 10-year restoration order after damaging a Site of Special Scientific Interest near Mwnt, Ceredigion, with Natural Resources Wales citing harm to rare plants. Budget & Delivery Risk: Nepal’s finance minister tabled the 2083/84 budget, arguing reforms are a structural shift, while stakeholders worry about inflation and implementation capacity. Organic Horticulture Strategy: A new national organic research and innovation plan targets supply shortages (berries, avocados, fresh veg), boosts exports to Asia and the Middle East, and pushes biological inputs plus digital traceability. Rural Livelihoods & Policy Pressure: Sri Lanka’s farmers’ union warns agriculture could collapse under IMF- and World Bank-influenced policies that increase imports and squeeze local producers. Food Markets: Chicago corn and wheat slid on favourable US weather and ample global supplies, while wheat faces pressure from upcoming harvests. Aquaculture Breakthrough: Japan began trial sales of fully farmed eels, aiming to cut reliance on wild juvenile eel stocks. Co-op Support: The Philippines launched an inter-agency plan to streamline support for farm cooperatives and strengthen food security. Bio-economy Push (India): India says policy support and bio-based input innovation could make it a global bio-economy leader. Trade & Tariffs (US): The US cut tariffs on farm and industrial equipment to 15% to ease costs for farmers and manufacturers. Biosecurity at the Border: US CBP seized 337 hatching eggs in Cincinnati due to missing paperwork and avian influenza import restrictions. Climate Stress: Research highlights drought’s hidden impact on nutrition, including reduced iron in crops.

Climate Risk & Food Security: The UN weather agency warned El Niño could be moderate to strong, raising global heat and extreme weather risks, with drought and heavy rainfall expected to hit multiple regions. Animal Health & Dairy Resilience: India’s dairy sector—supporting 80m+ farmers—faces mounting heat stress as extreme summers trigger lower milk output and even premature births. Policy & Farm Operations (U.S.): USDA’s Farm Service Agency is modernizing crop acreage reporting in Maryland and North Dakota, moving from manual entry toward scanned maps and eventually more real-time data. Trade & Input Costs: U.S. farm groups urged Commerce to end countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate fertilizer, saying tariffs are driving up costs as farm bankruptcies rise. Agrifood Infrastructure & Investment: AD Ports agreed to buy Brazil’s CLI for $835m to expand agrifood logistics into Latin America. Global Dairy & Livestock: South Africa overtook the U.S. to become the world’s second most competitive poultry producer, improving feed efficiency and production cycles. Regional Development: The Philippines is set for a $1.02b World Bank energy loan plus a $20m grant, tied to climate resilience and policy reforms.

Climate & Crops: Rain in eastern and southern Australia has helped wheat sowing after dry conditions, but farmers are bracing for an El Niño-style dry pattern that could still cut yields. Fertilizer Trade: India issued a second global tender for 17 lakh tonnes of urea for the kharif season as West Asia-linked prices stay high, while the agriculture ministry trimmed fertilizer demand forecasts. Water Governance: South Africa’s proposed National Water Amendment Bill would reshape water rights and includes a ban on private water trading—raising stakes for agriculture and industry. Pollinators & Chemicals: A Virginia Tech study reports glyphosate exposure can disrupt honeybee foraging and alter brain chemistry, with potential long-term colony risks. Farm Labor: U.S. advocates warn heat stress is a growing threat to H-2A migrant workers as the summer season approaches, citing past deaths and injuries. Ag Innovation & Policy: India’s AI-in-agriculture push faces a “crisis of intelligence,” with a new policy report calling for trusted, inclusive systems for farm-level advisories. Dairy Spotlight: World Milk Day highlights milk’s nutrition role and spotlights women farmers.

Dairy Exports & Prices: U.S. dairy production rose 2.8% in April, but strong export demand—especially a 30% jump in March cheese exports—kept inventories from piling up, supporting market balance. Food Costs & Trade Policy: Tomato prices jumped about 40% year-on-year as fuel/shipping costs and a 17% U.S. tariff on Mexican imports pushed costs through the food chain. Tobacco Farmer Relief: Japan Tobacco International will buy an extra 3.32 million kg of Philippine tobacco leaf to absorb a supply glut that threatened growers with steep losses. Farm Safety & Jobs: Corn refiners Primient and Cargill won national safety awards for low incident rates and zero lost workdays, underscoring how industrial safety is becoming a sector standard. Climate Stress on Wheat: A study warns rising night temperatures and shorter winters are threatening wheat yields in India’s key producing states, just as monsoon forecasts soften. Global Food Security Leadership: The UN chief thanked outgoing WFP head Cindy McCain, as Carl Skau takes over acting leadership amid acute food insecurity for hundreds of millions. Energy Meets Agriculture: Punjab is backing HPCL biogas plants to turn crop residue into power, jobs, and better waste management. Water Crisis for Farmers: After a May earthquake damaged Kona water tanks, coffee and macadamia growers face disrupted irrigation and household water access. Trade & Regional Ties: Egypt urged deeper South Korea–Africa cooperation on infrastructure, industry, tech transfer, and food/water/energy security. Dairy Policy Push (Nigeria): Nigeria unveiled a National Dairy Policy Implementation Framework to expand local milk production, processing, cold chains, and pasture development.

Global Macroeconomy & Trade: A Reuters poll says India’s GDP growth likely eased to 7.2% in Jan–Mar 2026 as weaker external demand and softer industry offset resilient government spending and agriculture. US Farm Output Data: USDA/NASS released 2025 county yield estimates for Indiana soybeans and corn, with Benton and Warren leading key categories, while Illinois data highlighted top corn and soybean performers such as Stark and Tazewell. Budget & Food Costs: A budget critique flags rising burdens on lower-income groups, including impacts like electricity surcharges that could hit farmers. Agribusiness Leadership: Olam Agri’s Baibhav Biswas was named Ghana CEO of the Year for expanding local processing, including a pasta plant and skills programs. Conflict & Pastoral Livelihoods: A Kenya forum in Mwingi urged arrests over deadly clashes between Kitui farmers and camel herders. Transparency & Infrastructure in West Africa: Liberia renewed extractive transparency efforts (LEITI/EITI) and pressed the AfDB for faster support for the Buchanan–Cestos road and links to SAPZ agriculture zones. Poverty Strategy: Liberia’s agriculture minister called for a shift from short-term aid to long-term, measurable poverty-reduction investments. EU Farm Funding Fight: Greece moves to defend CAP funding for 2028–2034 amid pressure for redistribution. Climate & Water: Tajikistan hosted a “Women and Water 2026” forum focused on gender-sensitive water management and financing. Biosecurity & Inputs: Australia detected pyrethroid-resistant Varroa mites in Victoria, urging beekeepers to monitor and rotate treatments. Food Prices & Energy Link: Soybeans and corn futures rose with higher oil prices as markets expect more grains diverted to biofuels amid energy tightness after the Iran war. Regional Export Stories: Vietnam’s lychee exports to China begin amid yield losses but stronger prices, while Kazakhstan reported a 97% jump in agricultural exports to Iran.

Biosecurity Threat: A new world screwworm outbreak is spreading from Mexico and Central America toward the U.S. border, prompting import bans on live cattle and a costly push to sterilize flies as beef prices stay near record highs. Farm Policy Clash: Oregon’s proposed ballot measure would effectively ban hunting, fishing, and livestock slaughter, raising alarms for ranchers, meat producers, and rural jobs. Fertilizer Shock From War: In Senegal, farmers are cutting chemical fertilizer use and switching to compost and manure as Iran-war-linked supply and shipping disruptions push prices up. Natural Farming Push: India’s “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” kicks off June 1 to protect farmland and soil health, while Northeast states run training to scale natural farming. Water & Climate Resilience: The UAE highlights global water security efforts, and the Philippines warns El Niño could worsen food and power strain. Agri Support Payments: The Philippines’ DA-Davao released cash aid to rice and corn farmers in Marilog to cushion market and cost pressures. Regional Trade & Tech: The Philippines and Japan expand ag cooperation, and Laos launches an Agro-Link system to track agricultural imports and exports. Pest & Weather Stress: Australia faces a mouse plague that’s forcing replanting and heavy baiting, while Europe’s heat waves are degrading egg quality and shrinking fruit sizes. Food Security Trials: Trinidad’s CARDI reports strong black-eyed peas pilot results for local production and school feeding.

Natural Farming Push: India’s Agriculture Ministry says 22 states backed natural farming and even tested it on their own farms, while a National Kharif Conference in New Delhi urged simpler procedures and balanced fertilizer use. Water Security: Anand Mahindra warned India may be outside its “zone of tolerance” for water as heat and weak monsoon signals rise, pointing to bottom-up rainwater conservation. Regenerative Scale-Up: Oleifera International launched a regenerative agriculture and restoration program across 10 African countries targeting nearly 100 million hectares of degraded land. Farm Tech & Training: Andhra Pradesh’s RySS will run a Regenerate Earth Master Class to measure natural farming impacts with scientific metrics. Food Supply Shock: Belgium’s potato glut is hitting frozen fries exporters as weather, tariffs, and energy/fertilizer costs squeeze farmers and profits. Rural Crime: Northern Ireland’s rural crime report flags organized theft and damage to farm vehicles, livestock, and equipment. Credit Access: Kenya’s smallholders face structural barriers to bank lending despite low default rates, keeping finance out of agriculture. Animal Health Threat: Mexico’s New World screwworm fly is spreading toward Texas, raising fears for cattle herds and beef prices. Coffee Value Chains: Bukidnon (Philippines) launched its first coffee festival and hosted a SEA competition round, spotlighting growers and farm best practices.

Rising Input Costs & Enforcement: Malaysia’s Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will run “Ops Kesan 6.0” from June 1 to Aug 31 to curb profiteering as crude oil prices and the West Asia supply shock feed through to agricultural supply chains. Rural Roads for Market Access: The World Bank approved a $500m package for Ghana to upgrade and maintain at least 1,000 km of rural feeder roads, aiming to cut transport costs and post-harvest losses while boosting value-chain access for 550,000+ people. Energy Shock Hits Farmers: Global bodies warn Middle East conflict is draining oil inventories via the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up fuel and fertilizer costs and raising risks for food security and livelihoods. Hurricane Season Preparedness: Jamaica is rolling out $50m in parametric insurance support for 5,000 farmers ahead of the June 1 Atlantic hurricane season. Farm Resilience Planning: Oklahoma cattle producers are urged to complete succession plans now, warning that inaction often leads to auctions and family breakups. Offshore Wind, Jobs & Supply Chains: TotalEnergies filed to build a 1.5 GW offshore wind farm off Normandy, targeting €4.5bn investment and local manufacturing jobs. Policy Support for Edible Oils: India’s NMEO-OS shows uneven fund releases in Jammu and Kashmir, even as the mission targets higher domestic oilseed output. Global Trade Diplomacy: Canada and China are restarting higher-level engagement, with agriculture flagged as a cooperation priority.

Rural Roads Boost: The World Bank approved $500m for Ghana to upgrade and maintain at least 1,000 km of feeder roads, aiming to cut transport costs, reduce post-harvest losses, and support rural jobs. Fertilizer Pressure: In the US, farmers and the FTC are clashing over fertilizer pricing, with an FTC probe launched after farmers allege anticompetitive behavior; meanwhile, analysts warn global fertilizer supply and prices could stay tight into fall. Beef Price Gap: Ireland’s beef sector faces political heat as a senator alleges “huge price-gouging” between farmgate and retail, while processors warn demand weakness is squeezing producers. Climate Risk Reality Check: A new climate-focused piece highlights record heat across Europe and beyond, underscoring mounting risks for farms and food systems. Greenhouse Support: Armenia’s economy ministry met greenhouse operators and discussed ways to improve state support and export diversification as greenhouse area expands. Food Security Partnerships: Russia promoted farm and food-security cooperation with Cebu, pitching trade and investment links. Worker Inclusion: Canada’s migrant farm workers are urged to get a formal seat in Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program talks, pushing for stronger social dialogue. Agri Preparedness: India’s Kharif 2026 roadmap emphasizes seed buffers, credit, crop insurance reforms, and state-specific plans. Animal Health & Safety: A major chicken farm fire in Cheshire left large sheds destroyed, while separate reports flag ongoing security and health concerns around livestock.

Foot-and-mouth fight: South Africa’s livestock sector is in open protest as a court ruling limits but supports private FMD vaccination, setting up a fast-moving legal showdown over who controls vaccine management. Fertiliser squeeze: Myanmar farmers say Iran-linked fuel and fertiliser shocks are hitting planting just as costs spike, while South Africa’s input dependence (fertiliser imports) leaves producers exposed to global price swings. Nitrogen rethink: Australian growers are scrambling for alternatives as fertiliser disruption bites, with new nitrogen-efficiency products and biofertiliser trials (including mycorrhizal fungi in rice) pointing to lower-input pathways. Climate and planting contingency: India’s Kharif planning leans on El Niño preparation, with districts and crop changes being lined up and seed availability prioritized. Trade and value chains: Russia’s ag exports to China jumped sharply, and South Africa’s zero-tariff access to China is pushing apples and pears toward premium, quality-focused positioning. Global poverty know-how: China launched a new partnership for poverty reduction, aiming to share policy and capacity-building lessons with dozens of countries. Agri-tech and resilience: The Philippines and Japan doubled down on the Luzon Economic Corridor, explicitly including agribusiness and supply-chain upgrades.

Agricultural Marketing & Value-Added Sales: The University of Guam’s Land Grant Extension is running a 5P Agricultural Marketing workshop series (June 9-15) for farmers and food entrepreneurs, focusing on product, price, place, promotion and people, with local business case studies. Cocoa Sustainability Push: Ghana was selected to host the 2027 World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting in Accra, spotlighting reforms needed to protect farmer livelihoods amid climate, disease and price volatility. Climate Risk for Food Systems: New UN projections warn global temperatures are likely to repeatedly exceed the Paris “safe” threshold in 2026-2030, raising the odds of harsher extremes that hit farms and insurance markets. Hail and Storm Damage: A study in Nature links warming to bigger, more damaging hail by late century, adding fresh pressure for farm and rural resilience planning. Farm Safety Net Debate (US): The National Farmers Union says reliance on ad-hoc aid shows the farm safety net isn’t working and urges stronger farm bill tools. Trade, Inputs and Food Security: The WEF flags Hormuz disruption as a driver of fertilizer shortages and higher food prices, with global growth risks rising. Youth & Aquaculture Finance (East Africa): Tanzania-backed Lake Victoria cage fish farming support is expanding, with soft loans aimed at youth jobs and faster fish output. Tech for Crop Management: Global Aerospace highlights drones as a growing alternative to piloted aircraft for targeted crop spraying, aiming to cut waste and overspray.

Regenerative push in supply chains: A coalition of 40 global food and agriculture firms backed a new declaration to scale regenerative farming across ingredient networks, aiming to standardize soil, biodiversity, water and climate outcomes (Carlsberg, Nestlé, FrieslandCampina, ADM, Mondelēz among signatories). Water risk planning: A new corporate playbook urges companies to map and manage water scarcity risks across agricultural supply chains, aligning with major sustainability reporting expectations. Trade and diplomacy for ag: Nigeria and the Czech Republic moved to deepen cooperation in trade, technology and agriculture, while Sri Lanka signaled closer ag links with Pakistan ahead of a late-June visit. Farm economics under pressure: UK farmers at the Suffolk Show warned they’re squeezed by fuel costs, volatile weather and inflation, even as duty freezes continue. Beef price squeeze: Ireland’s regulator data shows farmer beef prices down sharply while factory sale prices moved less, raising the risk of further cuts. Kenya flowers under strain: Kenya’s flower exporters warned freight costs and geopolitical shocks could trigger job losses and farm closures. Climate impacts on farming: A study projects hail will become more frequent and more damaging as the world warms. Local ag infrastructure: Nepal has started a suspension bridge project to end dangerous river crossings for communities in Banke.

Trade & Prices: The North American Olive Oil Association urged the U.S. trade office to exempt olive oil from any new tariff duties tied to Section 301, arguing costs are already falling globally but not reaching consumers. Policy & Data: Barbados launched a Barbados Agricultural Statistics Platform to curb over-importation by forcing clearer tracking of what’s planted, where, and when. Weather & Crops: A Corn Belt study found irrigation and shallow groundwater moisture can boost large thunderstorm systems, raising storm frequency and persistence—key for corn and soybean risk planning. Farmgate Relief Talks: Maharashtra officials said India’s central government is likely to make a positive decision within 10 days on sugarcane and onion issues after high-level meetings. Renewables for Food Systems: Zambia commissioned a 22MW solar plant at the Natural Resources Development College, aiming to stabilize power for irrigation, labs, and agro-processing. Dairy Policy Fight: Organic dairy brands and farmers sued over U.S. Federal Milk Marketing Orders, saying the system favors conventional producers. Input Costs & Energy: India’s oil ministry said public sector firms are absorbing daily losses to cushion retail fuel prices amid global shocks. EU–U.S. Trade: EU governments advanced legislation to implement a U.S. trade deal that includes easier access for agri and marine products.

Off-grid solar boost in Peru: A Canadian charity, Light Up The World, expanded solar power for a remote Amazon community’s plantain flour operation, using donated mounting hardware and modules to raise production capacity. Fuel and fertilizer squeeze: In one more sign of cost pressure, a cabinet submission seeks a fuel subsidy for sugarcane harvesting and transport in Fiji, while farmers elsewhere are weighing skipping fertilizer to protect yields. Disease watch for cassava: Nigeria’s cassava virus alert is moving into action in Kebbi State, with sensitisation and demonstration plots aimed at stopping a new deadly mosaic threat. Climate-smart protection for crops: Save the Elephants says beehive fences have spread to 24 countries, offering a lower-conflict way to deter elephant raids while protecting pollinators. Policy and trade ripple effects: Pakistan’s PM is pushing China-backed agri research upgrades, while water-sharing tensions flare as a Pakistani minister warns against “water aggression” undermining the Indus Waters Treaty. Food systems finance: Zimbabwe is highlighting circular food systems and regional policy dialogue as it targets growth from US$10.3bn to US$15.8bn by 2030.

Philippines–Japan Ag/energy push: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. heads to Tokyo for a four-day state visit, pitching deeper cooperation with Japan on agriculture, energy and decarbonization, maritime trade, infrastructure, defense and Mindanao development. Gaza Eid livestock crunch: With crossings closed, Gaza’s livestock sector is “devastated” by war; officials say live animal, feed and veterinary medicine imports have fallen to zero, slashing supplies ahead of Eid Al-Adha and driving prices up. U.S. farm data + food access: USDA’s June agricultural survey is underway, polling 90,000+ producers for acreage and stock levels, while Texas is rolling out summer no-cost meal sites as school cafeterias close. Kenya sugar-to-ethanol pivot: Kenya’s sugar industry is being urged to expand into sugarcane ethanol, with regulatory reviews and blending rules aimed at easing fuel costs and creating jobs. Local market pressure: Maharashtra onion growers get assurances of relief as procurement starts around ₹15.80/kg, while veterinary services in Pachna deny planned culling amid a dispute over an infected farm.