February 21, 2026

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Owatonna People’s Press reports on the five federal policy focus areas for 2026 from the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Civil Eats hosts a Q&A with agroecologist and professor, Liz Carlisle, on the power of perennial agriculture. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – Mongabay discusses how agriculture is on the cusp of a new revolution based on biology rather than chemistry. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

The global regenerative meat market is set for strong growth over the next decade, driven by rising consumer demand for sustainable and ethically produced protein. According to a new report by Polaris Market Research, the market is projected to expand from $1,431 million in 2025 to $5,207 million by 2034, registering a robust CAGR of 15.7% during the forecast period. Regenerative meat is produced through regenerative agriculture practices that prioritize soil health, biodiversity, ecological balance and animal welfare. Techniques such as rotational grazing, pasture-based rearing and cover cropping aim to restore ecosystems while producing nutrient-dense meat. [link]

A recent report from Health, Environment, Agriculture, and Labor (HEAL) Food Alliance argues that precision agriculture is “a costly distraction” from real climate solutions, and cautions policymakers against overreliance on it to solve agricultural challenges. Precision agriculture (PA) refers to technologies including GPS, drones, robotics, and AI, used to efficiently apply chemical inputs on specific areas of a field. Public sector investments in PA technologies have been increasing–amounting to about $11.1 billion in 2021, according to the HEAL Alliance–as corporations and lawmakers suggest that technologies can boost agricultural automation and productivity. But HEAL’s report calls PA a “false solution that diverts attention and resources away from proven solutions.” They believe that regenerative farming methods such as intercropping, agroforestry, and silvopastoralism are more climate-resilient, and more accessible to small and mid-sized farms. [link]

McDonald’s Corporation has joined the Responsible Commodities Facility (RCF) to support deforestation- and conversion-free soy production in Brazil’s Cerrado, targeting soy embedded in chicken feed sourced outside the United States and Canada. The investment strengthens the company’s sustainable sourcing strategy while helping protect forests and native ecosystems in one of the world’s most critical agricultural regions. The RCF, created by BVRio and managed by Sustainable Investment Management (SIM), provides low-interest credit lines to soy farmers who commit contractually to deforestation- and conversion-free production. [link]

Smithfield Foods plans to build a large hog slaughterhouse in South Dakota, marking the first new facility built by America’s top pork producer in decades. Virginia-based Smithfield said it will spend about $1.3 billion over three years on a new facility in Sioux Falls, S.D. When in operation, the plant is expected to employ about 3,000 workers and be able to slaughter about 20,000 hogs a day. The new project replaces Smithfield’s existing, more than 100-year-old facility in the city. [link]

The European Commission has approved a package of just over €1bn for the Danish government, to be used to pay farmers for using their land for nature restoration projects. Denmark first announced plans to launch the subsidy scheme in 2024, as part of its ambition to convert 15% of farmland into forests and other natural habitats. Farmers will be able to claim up to 100% of the costs of investing in non-producing land, as well as compensation for the loss of income. They will also be able to apply for costs relating to administrative and legal processes, as well as technical consultancy assistance. The scheme will run until the end of 2030. [link]

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) has reopened its no-cost soil sampling initiative as part of Indiana’s Mississippi River Basin Soil Sampling Program. This program, in collaboration with the Gulf Hypoxia Program, aims to promote better nutrient management practices. The program targets row crop fields, pastures, hay, and specialty crops within Indiana’s Mississippi River Basin, excluding hobby gardens and private lawns. Interested landowners can sign up online starting Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, until Wednesday, April 8, 2026, or until funds run out. [link]

Michigan State University AgBioResearch leaders have announced the launch of the Growing Healthy Together Initiative, a new grants program designed to bring together MSU scientists from across campus and partners to solve complex health challenges through transdisciplinary research. A request for proposals has been released to MSU researchers. A maximum of three projects, which are funded for two years, will be granted $100,000 each. Awards will be announced in early June. The Growing Healthy Together Initiative targets a variety of health challenges across the human, animal, plant and environmental spectrum, from soil health and water quality to nutrition, chronic disease and food access. [link]

Bayer is making a new multibillion-dollar push to resolve a yearslong legal nightmare over Roundup weedkiller. The German pharmaceutical and agriculture conglomerate said it proposed to settle a nationwide class-action lawsuit to resolve claims that its flagship herbicide causes cancer. The settlement plan includes setting aside more than $7 billion to fund payments over 21 years. Law firms representing tens of thousands of plaintiffs filed a motion seeking approval of the settlement. The proposal requires court approval in Missouri, where the bulk of Roundup cases are outstanding. [link]

U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to promote the domestic production of phosphorus and the weedkiller glyphosate, which he said is critical to both defense and food security. Glyphosate is often targeted by supporters of the Make America Healthy Again movement as a harmful chemical. Trump aligned with the MAHA movement after Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropped out of the 2024 election. [link]

In a legal case pitting an individual consumer against the restaurant chain, Buffalo Wild Wings, a judge in Illinois ruled that a boneless chicken wing doesn’t need to come from a wing. Judge John Tharp Jr. in Illinois’s northern district denied the customer a victory in his quest to hold the chain accountable for describing chicken-breast pieces as wings. Aimen Halim had sued Buffalo Wild Wings in 2023 for misleading him about its boneless wings and demanded about $10 million in damages. The judge said Halim’s claim had “no meat on its bones.” [link]

The global agroforestry market size is anticipated to reach $115.6 billion by 2033 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2026 to 2033, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expanding as farms treat tree integration as a profit and risk-management tool, not a conservation add-on. Combining trees with crops or livestock improves land productivity, stabilizes yields, and diversifies revenue across seasons. Asia Pacific holds the largest revenue share because agroforestry is deeply embedded in commercial farming and tree-crop value chains that serve large domestic markets and exports. The region has strong throughput in fruits, nuts, bamboo, timber, and botanicals, supported by processing ecosystems that improve price realization. [link]

Food industry giant Cargill has teamed up with Kokomodo to advance cell-based chocolate solutions, with financial support from the EU. The collaboration is partly funded by the Proof-of-Concept Co-Financing Instrument of EIT Food, the EU’s food innovation organization. This initiative enables startups and corporations to jointly validate and scale transformative agrifood innovations. The two companies will evaluate how cell-based cocoa ingredients perform in real-world applications, with a focus on elevated functionality, sensory experience and scalability. The goal is to accelerate research to fast-track these products’ market entry. [link]

The investment downturn in alternative proteins continued in 2025, falling by 20% and totaling under $1B for the first time since 2018. The alternative protein category only attracted $881M last year, falling below the $1B mark for the first time in seven years, according to the Good Food Institute’s (GFI) analysis of data from Net Zero Insights. Overall, this industry has raised $19.4B over the previous decade. [link]

Sugar prices have tumbled to their lowest level in more than five years as weight-loss drugs accelerate a drop in demand by pushing consumers to ditch sweet treats in favor of protein. Traders say the move reflects a sharper than forecast slowdown in consumption in the US and other wealthy economies, while demand in developing countries is growing at a slower pace than expected. So-called GLP-1 weight-loss injections have been a crucial driver of reducing cravings for sweet flavors. GLP-1s are the basis of medications including Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound. The top-20 per cent of consumers account for around 65 per cent of sales of products like cookies and ice cream, according to Stephen Geldart of the sugar merchant, Czarnikow. If those ‘super users’ end up on GLP-1 drugs, you get a non-linear reduction in sales, he says. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

Earlier this month, a new study out of the University of Connecticut found that local schools in the state are overwhelmingly dedicated to food sustainability. See more, here.

February 14, 2026

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – AgFunder News hosts a guest article on why food production is the foundation of healthy diets. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – The Clean Air Task Force says we must put farmers at the center of methane action if we wish to accelerate emissions reductions in the agriculture sector. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – Offrange looks into a new machine that can evaluate the nutrient density of foods. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

The Trump administration re-approved the use of pesticide dicamba for spraying on top of genetically modified cotton and soybean crops, drawing swift backlash from environmental groups and the Make America Healthy Again movement. The move comes despite federal courts in 2020 and 2024 striking down the Environmental Protection Agency’s previous approvals of the contentious weedkiller. Agricultural industry giant Bayer, which acquired dicamba when it bought Monsanto, welcomed the news and said the chemical would be marketed under the name ‘Stryax.’ [link]

A new €1.45 million project on soil health and regenerative agriculture has been launched by Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Project Baseline is a European Innovation Partnership (EIP) that will run over the next four years with the aim to “increase our collective understanding of regenerative agriculture in the Irish context”. The project received funding from Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under a recent call for EIP project proposals in the area of environmental sustainability. Funds will be delivered through BASE (biodiversity, agriculture, soil and environment) Ireland, a network of farmers, agriculture professionals and agronomists who promote conservation in agriculture. [link]

The university of Hawaii has received a new $2 million funding grant for wildfire and land-use research, including approaches built around agroforestry. Researchers say the new funding will help address one of the underlying drivers of wildfire risk across the islands: large areas of former plantation land now overrun with unmanaged, fire-prone invasive grasses. Multiple UH units are collaborating with watershed partnerships, ranchers and community-based organizations to analyze the costs and benefits of different landscape-scale fire mitigation strategies. The project will examine approaches such as reforestation, agroforestry, green firebreaks, managed grazing and agricultural conversion, and compare them with current stopgap measures such as repeated mowing. [link]

The nonprofit Trees Forever has been selected for a federal grant to accelerate tree conservation work across Iowa, including the implementation of agroforestry. The company has received one of six Land Scale Restoration grants — which fund projects tackling large-scale forest threats like wildfires and invasive species — from the U.S. Forest Service. The grant will fund outreach to landowners, local governments, and land management agencies to help strengthen agroforestry practices statewide. In total, the national Forest Service is supporting the nonprofit’s agroforestry work by funding $367,788 over the course of three years, ending in the first half 2028. [link]

A research team at the University of Georgia, Iowa State University, and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, is working to build a farming tool that combines tiny sensors, simple hardware, software and machine learning that listens to plants and soil in real time and gives farmers clear guidance on when and where to irrigate or fertilize. The research effort is funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and has developed a family of miniature sensors that attach to leaves or insert into plant stalks or the soil. Each device costs only a few dollars to make and is backed by a small solar panel that recharges the battery together with a low-power radio that sends data to a nearby internet-connected gateway. Sensor readings are combined with drone images, satellite data and a proven crop-growth model. Machine-learning software merges these signals into a digital twin. This digital twin mirrors the real field and updates throughout the day. [link]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture faces mounting doubts about the reliability of its data from farmers, grain traders and economists following deep staff losses and a sharp upward revision in how many acres of corn were harvested for 2025. Thousands of employees left USDA last year as part of President Donald Trump’s drive to shrink the federal government, and experts worry the shrinking staff hobbled the agency’s ability to produce accurate and timely data. USDA’s final estimates in January for how many corn acres farmers planted and harvested in 2025 represented unprecedented increases from initial estimates in June. The revisions prompted USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, which releases acreage estimates, to launch an internal review, said Lance Honig, a top NASS official. [link]

Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) are leading the reintroduction of the Soil Conservation And Regeneration Education (Soil CARE) Act. The bicameral bill would create a training program and curriculum to ensure that farmers and ranchers have access to information and tools to improve long-term soil health management, navigate degraded lands, promote profitability, and increase resilience to climate chaos-fueled extreme weather events like floods and droughts. [link]

Two University of Nebraska–Lincoln scientists, partnering with American Farmland Trust and four Nebraska farmers, have established a biochar on-farm research network - among the first and largest in the United States. According to ongoing research at Nebraska, applying biochar to agricultural soil is a promising approach to building healthy soils and promoting long-term, input-efficient agroecosystems. Biochar is produced by pyrolyzing or combusting organic waste biomass at high temperatures under low-oxygen conditions. [link]

Kraft Heinz is pumping the brakes on its breakup plan. The company announced that it is pausing work on a planned split between its condiment and grocery staples businesses. New CEO, Steve Cahillane, remarked “since joining the company, I have seen that the opportunity is larger than I expected and that many of our challenges are fixable.” Cahillane said that his top priority is returning the business to profitable growth and that the company would no longer pursue a split this year. The food giant had previously announced in September that it planned to split its business into two companies, unwinding an industry megamerger that married two packaged-food behemoths. [link]

The Swedish-based drinks manufacturer Oatly has been banned from using the word “milk” to market its plant-based products, after a ruling by the UK supreme court. The alt-milk manufacturer has been in a long-running legal battle with the trade association Dairy UK after Oatly trademarked phrases associated with the dairy sector. On Wednesday the supreme court unanimously ruled that Oatly can no longer trademark, or use, the slogan “Post Milk Generation”. [link]

Farmers now have more reasons to consider rotating their crops, according to new research from the University of Alberta. Widely used to restore soil health, crop rotation boosts the diversity of bacterial and fungal microbes that benefit soil function, according to the study published in Nature Communications. Researchers analyzed the results of 148 published studies worldwide that used modern DNA sequencing to provide more accurate data on soil microbial diversity. They found that crop rotation raises both the number and overall diversity of bacterial species in soil. [link]

A new study explores how farming practices and farmer beliefs shape soil microbiome functions and crop health. The research analyzed survey responses and soil samples from organic farmers across New York. Scientists examined how management decisions affect microbial diversity and how these microbes support plant defenses. Laboratory tests showed that soils with healthier microbiomes helped pea plants better withstand aphid attacks. Three management practices were strongly connected to positive microbiome outcomes. These included limiting soil disturbance through no-till systems or raised beds, planting cover crops such as rye and warm-season grasses, and using precise watering methods instead of broadcast irrigation. The study also found that recent use of pesticides and insecticides harmed beneficial microbes and reduced plant defense abilities. Compost use showed variable effects, depending on soil conditions. [link]

The Board of Trustees of the Norwegian EAT Foundation has decided to begin an orderly wind down of the Foundation’s operations in Oslo during 2026. Initiated in 2013 and formally established in 2016 as a non-profit foundation, EAT has played a global convening and agenda-setting role in advancing evidence-based approaches to food-system transformation. This decision is taken against a backdrop of profound change in the international donor landscape, where funding priorities and conditions have shifted significantly. The Board concluded that EAT’s current organizational and funding model is not sufficiently resilient for sustainable and ambitious operations in the years ahead. In parallel, the Board and management are actively exploring new pathways and models with aligned actors and donors to enable selected flagship initiatives to continue and, where possible, scale beyond the current setup. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late January, Whole Foods Market approved the Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) as a regenerative agriculture certification program, unlocking market opportunities for farmers and suppliers dedicated to soil health and climate resilience. See more, here.

February 7, 2026

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Trellis writes about three agricultural initiatives that can help shore up food supply chains. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – UN News welcomes you to the “agrihood,” wondering is this could be the neighborhood of the future. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – Farm Progress looks into how MAHA’s 120 initiatives might affect farming practices. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

Kansas State University and several state partners will host a series of three free workshops to support farm families, from managing their soil and grazing land, and establishing regenerative cropping systems. The workshops — Whole Farm Health — will be held on successive Tuesdays in February at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Lawrence. The list of events is as follows: Feb 10 - All About Soil tests; Feb 17 - Optimizing Grass Productivity Through managed Grazing; Feb 24 - Regenerative Cropping Systems. [link]

Research underway at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is providing new insights into how dairy farming practices designed to improve soil health can also benefit water quality and environmental outcomes. The work is being conducted at UW-Platteville’s Pioneer Farm, where a research team recently completed the third year of a long-term study. The project examines how soil health strategies and manure management influence greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, and crop yield and quality for dairy feed production. UW-Platteville is one of eight institutions nationwide participating in the six-year Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration project. The initiative, launched by Dairy Management Inc. in partnership with the Soil Health Institute, supports the dairy industry’s broader goal of achieving significant environmental stewardship milestones by 2050. [link]

Solidaridad, the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation, Kvuno and Hiveonline have launched the Promoting Regenerative Agriculture for Sustainable Livelihoods (PRASL) project in Mozambique. The project is aimed at strengthening smallholder farmers’ adoption of regenerative agricultural practices that restore ecosystems, improve soil health and build resilient rural communities. The three-year program targets 4,000 smallholder farmers, with a strong focus on empowering women (at least 60%) and young adults (30%). Central to the initiative is a farmer-centered approach designed to promote local ownership and ensure long-term sustainability beyond the project’s lifespan. [link]

University of Illinois Extension is offering farmers, producers, landowners, and industry professionals a chance to log on for a free virtual panel on Feb. 24 and learn about cover crops in today’s agricultural landscape. Cover Crop Conversations: Farmer-to-Farmer Insights Across Illinois is an exclusive session with questions and conversation from and for farmers. The panel discussion includes three farmers from northwest, west central, and southern Illinois who utilize cover crops in their operations. The discussion and experiences shared from fellow farmers and producers help inform growers on the importance of sustainability and the how-tos of integrating cover crops and other agricultural conservation practices into their farming operations. [link]

Penn State researchers are inviting farmers to participate in a study on decision-making for Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) and Soil Steaming Disinfection (SSD), particularly in high-tunnel systems. The goal is to better understand how farmers evaluate and decide whether to adopt soil health and disease management practices, so that future Extension programs can better support farmers’ needs. Mid-Atlantic farmers who grow crops in high tunnels and are 18 or older can participate, whether they have adopted, considered, or decided not to use ASD or SSD. No prior experience is required. The survey can be accessed here: https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d9VOt6oOzUTp2xo. [link]

UBEES, a French startup focusing on applying beekeeping to regenerative agriculture, has raised €8 million in a Series A round to scale up, accelerate international expansion, and structure its teams. The round was co-led by European funds Starquest and Capagro, with participation from Newtree Impact. Founded in 2017, UBEES combines technology, agronomy, and professional beekeeping to improve agricultural yields while protecting biodiversity and empowering rural communities. [link]

Ducks Unlimited (DU) and Syngenta are excited to announce the expansion of their collaboration, enabling seed production growers to adopt regenerative agriculture practices across key Midwest states. Starting in early 2026, the collaboration will bring DU’s expertise in conservation and soil health practices to Syngenta’s extensive network of seed growers in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Participating growers can expect on-farm technical support and targeted financial assistance to implement regenerative practices, including the use of cover crops, reduced tillage, and habitat restoration. [link]

PepsiCo is lowering prices for brands including Doritos and Cheetos by up to 15% in a bid to reignite growth and win back inflation-wary consumers who have cut back on spending. Executives at the beverage and snacking giant said the company tested out deeper price reductions during the second half of 2025 and found these initiatives improved purchase frequency with shoppers. Food companies have been increasing prices for several years in a bid to offset rising costs, optimistic that loyal consumers would follow. However, shoppers have instead become more discerning with their purchasing behavior. [link]

McCain Foods plans to launch its third Farm of the Future globally in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom, in 2026. The 202-hectare site will operate as a commercial-scale research farm focused on regenerative agriculture and will join existing McCain Farms of the Future in Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada, and Lichtenburg, South Africa. The UK site will be developed in partnership with the University of Leeds and is located in the region where McCain GB has operated its headquarters for more than 50 years. Insights generated at the site will be shared with McCain’s global network of 4,400 farmers. [link]

Foxhead Regenerative Agriculture Project (FoxRAP) is working with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, Renewing the Countryside, and Southwest Counseling to launch a no-cost pilot program that helps aging farmers navigate the technical and emotional complexities of a farm transition. The project, titled “Holding Ground, Letting Go: A guided approach to farm transition and legacy” supports farmers aged 58+ in east central Wisconsin. Wisconsin faces a significant challenge as agricultural producers age. Many farm owners are approaching retirement age without concrete succession plans. This pilot program aims to create a replicable model that can be implemented across Wisconsin and potentially nationwide. [link]

A new study out of the University of Connecticut finds that local schools in the state are overwhelmingly dedicated to food sustainability. The study, which surveyed 55 public school food service directors, found that 98% of schools reported sometimes or always purchasing local produce. In addition, 91% purchase local dairy. Sourcing food locally is a key sustainability issue as these foods do not need to be transported long distances, reducing carbon emissions. It also supports local producers. Some of these local purchasing initiatives are supported by the Farm to School Program. The study found that 60% of surveyed schools participate in farm-to-school activities. [link]

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are facing mounting calls for tighter regulation akin to tobacco, as new academic research and consumer data point to growing concern over their health impacts. A paper released by researchers from Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and Duke University argues that UPFs share key characteristics with cigarettes, including being engineered to maximize consumption and stimulate reward pathways linked to addiction. While the comparison with tobacco remains contested within the scientific community, the report signals a shift in the regulatory debate away from individual responsibility towards industry accountability, including potential marketing restrictions, warning labels and structural interventions. [link]

A new Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) investment is developing a framework for defining, measuring and supporting soil health. The project ‘Development of a Soil Health Framework for Australian agricultural production systems’ (CSP2504-015RTX) will define soil health and function, its measurement and benchmarks. From a grower’s perspective, the potential benefit to measure and benchmark soil health on-farm will not only impact productivity, but also the long-term sustainability of the soil for growers’ farming systems. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-December, Sucden and Mars, Incorporated announced the launch of a five-year collaboration (2025-2029) aimed at advancing low-carbon, climate-resilient cocoa production in participating farms in the Dominican Republic and Ecuador. See more, here.

January 31, 2026

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The Conversation reviews how too much phosphorus in America’s farmland is polluting the country’s water. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – An article in Nature Communications shows that long-term agricultural diversification increases financial profitability, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – The Packer interviews a soil scientist and finds that soil health is the secret ingredient for sustainable food. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

A new “Trees on Farm” guide has been launched with the support of The Royal Countryside Fund’s patron, King Charles III. The guide shares stories from farmers across the UK who are proving how trees can boost farm profitability while improving resilience against the climate crisis. The author says that trees provide vital shelter for livestock from harsh winds and shade during increasingly hot summers, reducing stress and improving animal welfare. Trees enhance biodiversity, support natural pest control and improve soil health through deeper roots that help with drainage and reaching nutrients. They also offer new income streams through timber, fruit and nuts, while helping farms access environmental funding schemes. [link]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) have signed an agreement under the project “Conservation and Genetic Enhancement of Local Almond Varieties in Jordan for Sustainable Agricultural Development.” The agreement marks an important step toward protecting and promoting Jordan’s local almond varieties, which hold significant agricultural and cultural value. NARC will now begin implementing a set of specialized technical activities, including field surveys, sample collection, and conducting morphological analyses of local almond varieties across various regions of the Kingdom. [link]

The Center for International Forestry Research–International Center for Research in Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), will host TREESCAPES 2026, the first South Asian Agroforestry & Trees Outside Forests (TOF) Congress, from February 5 to 7, 2026, in New Delhi. Billed as a landmark regional platform, the three-day congress aims to position agroforestry and Trees Outside Forests as scalable, mainstream solutions for climate-resilient landscapes, sustainable livelihoods and economic growth across South Asia. Policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, civil society organizations, farmers and youth from across the region are expected to participate. [link]

Senate Ag Committee leaders led the signing of a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins insisting that the USDA restore a type of prevented planting coverage removed by a recent federal rule. The Expanding Access to Risk Protection (EARP) rule from USDA’s Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) was published near the end of last year, removing the ability of farmers to buy up coverage on prevented planting acres. The senators said the change impacts more than 67 million acres across all 50 states and all covered commodities in 2025 alone, and argued that ad hoc assistance is not something farmers can rely on. They asked that the department reverse the decision and “allow producers access to the additional prevented plant coverage … to help provide a layer of certainty when disasters beyond their control render them unable to plant a crop.” [link]

Olive growers in Albania are strengthening their skills and practices through the expansion of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation’s (FAO) Farmer Field School approach, supporting a more sustainable and competitive olive oil value chain. At the heart of the initiative is the Farmer Field School model, a practical, farmer-led learning approach in which producers learn side by side in their own fields. By observing, experimenting and sharing their experiences, farmers develop solutions grounded in local realities, turning sustainability into a practical tool for better yields, quality and market access. By aligning local production practices with European Union standards, FAO aims to strengthen the environmental resilience and market readiness of Albania’s olive oil production. [link]

Children’s food manufacturer Once Upon a Farm has filed a registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering (IPO). The offering is expected to be priced between $17 and $19 per share, and the company has applied to be listed on The New York Stock Exchange (SEC) under the symbol “OFRM.” The money raised through the IPO will be used to pay down debt, purchase equipment and make certain payments conditioned on the offering and for general corporate purposes, according to the company. [link]

Sparkling water brand Spindrift and frozen food maker Amy’s Kitchen are among the first food and beverage brands to receive certification that their products are not ultra-processed under the Non-GMO Project’s new verification program. The Non-UPF Verified Standard is designed to help consumers easily identify products that avoid the core characteristics of ultra-processing, according to a program description. Instead of focusing on certain ingredients, the standard looks at how foods are processed. The certification, which is now open for enrollment following a six-month pilot, comes as consumers grow increasingly skeptical of ingredient lists and highly processed foods. [link]

Amazon.com is closing all of its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh physical stores in a shift to focus on its online same-day delivery service and expand its Whole Foods Market business. The e-commerce giant said that its branded stores failed to deliver a distinctive customer experience with an economic model that could be scaled up successfully. The closures will include 57 Fresh stores and 15 Amazon Go locations. The company said some of its shuttered Amazon-branded bricks-and-mortar stores would be converted into Whole Foods stores. [link]

Nestlé has announced two new global collaborations to help scale regenerative agriculture and support the next generation of farmers. The company is working with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Goodwall to make progress on these goals. Nestlé and TNC seek to build on the existing impactful work of the two organizations in co-developing the industry-leading Nestlé Agriculture Framework, which is Nestlé’s plan to help farmers grow better crops, earn more, and care for nature at the same time. Its work with Goodwall - a global youth learning platform - will enable Nestlé to tap into the Goodwall app and help build its agriculture curriculum, using gamification to raise young people’s awareness and understanding of regenerative agriculture, equip them with practical skills, and empower them as agripreneurs. [link]

A new study by Wesley Zebrowski, PhD, at Loyola University Chicago’s School of Environmental Sustainability, found cautious signs of progress toward greater equity in federal farm payments. In a recent paper published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Zebrowski examined whether racial and ethnic disparities persist in the distribution of U.S. government farm payments, more than two decades after the landmark Pigford v. Glickman (1999) lawsuit exposed widespread discrimination against Black farmers by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Across matched farmers, Zebrowski found no consistent evidence of broad, ongoing racial disparities in total federal farm payments. Zebrowski is careful to emphasize that the research does not capture every farmer or every mechanism through which bias may operate, and the results do not mean discrimination has disappeared. [link]

Non-profit Coffee Watch has teamed up with the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza , or CATIE) to create the Coffee Agroforestry E-Library. Completely free to access, the Coffee Agroforestry E-Library is “the world’s first comprehensive online database dedicated to scientific literature on shade-grown coffee.” Hosted on Zotero, the Agroforestry E-Library contains nearly 1,300 articles providing science-backed evidence and best practices for the implementation of shade-grown coffee at the farm level. Topics include: climate change adaptation and carbon sequestration in coffee systems, biodiversity benefits of shade-grown coffee, farmer income diversification and food security through agroforestry, soil health, water conservation, and soil moisture, and policy frameworks and certification approaches supporting agroforestry. [link]

Farmers interested in strengthening soil health, improving long-term productivity, and exploring new approaches to crop and livestock integration will have an opportunity to learn from University of Minnesota Extension educators later this winter. A “Making the Most of Each Acre” workshop is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at the Dassel History Center and Ergot Museum, hosted by University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association. The workshop will cover the benefits of incorporating livestock into crop systems, with an emphasis on soil health, economics, and cover crop use. [link]

Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is leading a $102.5 million initiative to protect forests, promote sustainable agriculture, and enhance rural livelihoods inside the country. The initiative, titled “Achieving Emission Reduction in the Central Highlands and South-Central Coast of Viet Nam to Support National REDD+ Action Program Goals” (RECAF), is being funded with help from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). RECAF will address forest loss and ongoing environmental pressures by supporting farmers to adopt climate-smart agroforestry practices, strengthening natural forest protection, and promoting deforestation-free value chains that contribute to sustainable economic growth. [link]

North Dakota is creating a pilot program to encourage landowners to convert less productive agricultural land into grass habitat for wildlife. The program aims to improve soil health, reduce erosion, and enhance water quality. The initiative will involve five-year agreements between landowners and the state. The base annual payments to landowners will be determined by the average rental rate in the county. Additional payments could include a flat $100 per acre payment to help cover seeding costs, a $10 per acre reduction for crop insurance premiums, and $15 per acre incentive if the landowner chooses to allow public hunting access to the property. The initial funding is sufficient for up to 10,000 acres to be replaced with grass habitats. [link]

Whole Foods Market has approved the Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) as a regenerative agriculture certification program, unlocking market opportunities for farmers and suppliers dedicated to soil health and climate resilience. The natural and organic food retailer has added SCI, a nonprofit regenerative agriculture program, to its slate of approved certifications, welcoming more growers and brands into the regenerative marketplace while striving to bolster accountability and transparency. SCI joins Regenerative Organic Certified, Regenified, Ecological Outcome Verification and Certified Regenerative by AGW in Whole Foods’ roster of certifications. [link]

General Mills and French agricultural cooperative Euralis have joined forces to accelerate regenerative agriculture across Green Giant sweetcorn crops. The move will see 250 Euralis producers in southwest France adopt agroecological practices designed to improve soil health, protect water resources and strengthen farm resilience. General Mills is backing the shift with financial support, including co-funding cover crops between corn rotations to boost soil protection and biodiversity. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

Earlier this month, private equity firm, L Catterton, announced that it was taking a majority stake in cottage cheese brand, Good Culture, as more Americans load up on the protein-rich food. See more, here.

January 24, 2026

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Business Alabama discusses how a Robertsdale company is putting flies to work for a regenerative farming application. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – UNEP says that we are actively funding nature’s decline. Here’s how the world can turn things around. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – The Sierra Club writes that mulch is dirtier than you think. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is now accepting applications for its new Regenerative Farmer Network Grant, which will support farmers in implementing practices that improve soil health, protect water quality and promote the long-term sustainability and profitability of Michigan agriculture. MDARD’s Regenerative Agriculture Program is one of the first in the nation to be embedded within a state agriculture agency. The department’s Regenerative Farmer Network Grants offer awards of up to $50,000 for the creation of farmer-led networks committed to: promoting the core principles of regenerative agriculture, testing new ideas and innovations, and sharing the results of their practices. Prospective applicants must complete the grant application available on MDARD’s website and email it to MDARD-RFNG@michigan.gov by 5 p.m. ET on Friday, February 27, 2026. [link]

Mirova, a global asset manager based in France, has invested in Big Tree Farms to support the expansion of its vertically integrated, smallholder-focused supply chain in Indonesia. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Burlington, Vermont, Big Tree Farms operates a vertically integrated value chain sourcing from approximately 17,000 smallholder farmers in Java, Indonesia. The investment aims to increase Big Tree Farms’ farmer network from 17,000 to 25,000 and significantly expand production capacity. Planned initiatives include improved farmer payments, logistics optimization, technical training, and facility upgrades starting in 2028. [link]

Young people without a farming background are being offered a fully funded route into agriculture, as Nuffield Farming opens applications for its 2026 Next-Gen Scholarships. The scheme is aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds and is designed to help address some of the barriers facing those trying to establish themselves in the industry, including access to experience, networks and opportunity. The Next-Gen Scholarship uses Nuffield’s existing scholar network to link successful applicants in the UK directly with farmers, giving participants practical exposure alongside professional development. [link]

A district judge has denied Texas’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit by two food tech startups over its ban on cultivated meat, allowing the case to move forward. Four months after Upside Foods and Wildtype sued Texas for its ban on cultivated meat, a judge has rejected the state’s attempt to dismiss the complaint. At the hearing, the judge also denied the companies’ request for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed them to sell their products in Texas during the case, meaning the ban remains in effect for now. [link]

Lucerne Capital Management is targeting up to $500 million for an investment platform devoted to U.S. farmland. The firm’s debut farmland strategy will look to acquire and operate high-quality permanent and specialty crop properties in the U.S. The platform will also pursue regenerative organic certification as a strategic value lever designed to enhance cash yields, resilience, and long-term asset value, according to a company statement. [link]

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) awarded nearly $500,000 in grants to eight projects under the Developing Markets for Continuous Living Cover Grant program. The funding will help build early-stage enterprises and value chains needed to bring continuous living cover (CLC) crops and cropping systems to commercial scale. Funding was provided to the MDA by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency under its Minnesota Climate-Smart Food Systems initiative, supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. [link]

2nd Nature—a startup using AI to identify high-value ingredients from abundant ag side streams—will launch its first products for commercial sampling this quarter: non-caloric natural sweeteners and umami flavor enhancers that help firms reduce sodium. The tech creates a path to more rapid commercialization of natural ingredients by using AI to search for small molecules, fibers, peptides, enzymes, and proteins based on functional property prediction. The company’s AgWaste Portal identifies these compounds in the byproducts of crops like wheat, soy, rice, peanut, and corn that food manufacturers already process in massive quantities and currently pay to dispose of their side streams. [link]

Papa Johns is tapping into the protein trend with a one-day test release of protein crust pizza this past week. On Wednesday, the new menu item featured protein-infused dough that contains 23 grams of protein. Papa Johns offered the pizza in a meat pizza variety, with sausage, pepperoni and a six-cheese blend totaling 55 grams of protein, and a vegetable pizza variety, with mushrooms, onions, green peppers and the same cheese blend delivering 49 total grams of protein. The one-day test occurred at a select Atlanta Papa Johns location. [link]

The slumping ag economy has many farmers closely examining their soil fertility plans. Josh Stoller, southern Illinois region manager with Precision Planting, says adjusting soil fertility plans in tough economic conditions can bring savings. He says a quality soil test is key before making fertility decisions, noting that as far as NPK application goes, a band is hands down more efficient and a field-by-field analysis of how much you can cut back and move to banding is key for saving money and overall profitability. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-November last year, the Inter-American Development Bank produced a new report saying that countries in Latin America and the Caribbean face a unique opportunity to boost agricultural productivity to safeguard food security, improve rural livelihoods, and protect the environment. See more, here.

January 17, 2026

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Mongabay writes that silvopasture is gaining momentum in the Amazon, but will it shrink beef’s footprint? Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – J.P. Morgan looks at the fates of farming and food in a warming world. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – The Observer Research Foundation looks into the limits and opportunities of sustainable food systems. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

The president of the American Farm Bureau Federation told members that the Trump administration’s $12 billion in ad-hoc aid is not enough, warning policymakers that more relief, expanded trade and labor reform are urgently needed to keep farm families afloat. Zippy Duvall, head of the organization, spoke at AFBF’s annual meeting in Anaheim, California and said that USDA’s $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program announced in December does not come close to offsetting the full extent of losses farmers have faced during the past two years. Duvall said agriculture faces a “critical stage” because of a combination of financial pressures. Ideally, increases in both trade and domestic demand will help curb the loss of farms. [link]

The UK Government has set out plans to raise animal welfare standards by phasing out all caged egg production in Britain by 2032 and tightening rules around painful sheep mutilation practices. Under the proposals, enriched ‘colony’ cage systems used across the laying hen sector would be gradually phased out, including for smaller producers, as part of two new consultations aimed at improving farm animal welfare while supporting sustainable and profitable food production. Alongside reforms to the egg sector, ministers are also consulting on proposals to improve welfare for lambs by reducing pain caused by castration and tail docking. These practices are often carried out without anesthetic or pain relief. [link]

The nonprofit collaboration, OpenET, is expanding its satellite-based platform that estimates how much water crops are using in a bid to better protect scarce water supplies in the U.S. Across the Mountain West, where drought and shrinking reservoirs are putting pressure on already limited water supplies, decisions about who uses how much water often hinge on imperfect data. OpenET’s technology relies on satellite imagery and climate data to calculate evapotranspiration, or ET — essentially how much water evaporates from soil and transpires through plants. That information can help farmers fine-tune irrigation and give water managers a more consistent way to track agricultural water use at a regional scale. Supporters say that kind of detail could help reduce wasted water while maintaining crop yields, a growing concern as hotter temperatures increase demand throughout the West. [link]

A multi-country initiative supporting smallholder farmers in adopting sustainable, productive and climate resilient practices has successfully concluded. Implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, the project harnessed the power of education and innovation to address interconnected challenges in agricultural production, food and nutrition security, and environmental sustainability. Funded through FAO’s Flexible Voluntary Contribution (FVC) mechanism, the two-year project has significantly strengthened the capacity of smallholder farmers to adopt sustainable, productive and climate-resilient agricultural practices. [link]

Impossible Foods has entered a partnership with EQUII to introduce higher-protein grain-based products, including select breads and pastas. The collaboration comes amid sustained consumer interest in protein-forward foods across categories. No product names, launch timelines, or distribution details have been disclosed. Impossible Foods and EQUII have not provided further information on formulation, nutritional specifications, or markets at this time. [link]

A coalition of 34 organizations filed a rulemaking petition urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) to deem anaerobic digesters that are located at industrial livestock operations or use livestock manure ineligible for grants and loans under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Earthjustice has also filed a lawsuit on behalf of petitioner Friends of the Earth, challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s violation of the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for illegally withholding public records that detail the agency’s decisions to fund manure digesters using REAP dollars. The petition urges RBCS to disqualify manure digesters from REAP funding because these projects undermine the very goals the program was created to advance. [link]

Regenerative agriculture is witnessing rapid global adoption, with certified farmland expanding dramatically over the past four years. According to Ecovia Intelligence, land certified under third-party regenerative agriculture standards has surged from less than one million acres in 2021 to around 25 million acres by 2025. While adoption is expected to accelerate further in 2026, concerns persist around fragmented standards and consumer communication. [link]

Microsoft has agreed with Indigo Carbon to buy a record 2.85 million soil carbon credits linked to regenerative agriculture in the United States, as the tech giant aims to become “carbon negative” by 2030 despite surging emissions linked to AI. Microsoft did not disclose the cost of the 12-year tie-up but a person with knowledge of the deal said it falls within the historic range of $60 to $80 a ton for Indigo Carbon’s credits, which would value the deal at between $171 million and $228 million. Regenerative farming covers a range of actions such as reducing tilling, using cover crops and letting livestock graze to improve the ability of the soil to capture climate-damaging carbon emissions and retain water. [link]

Mission Produce announced it has agreed to acquire Calavo Growers for $430 million. Mission explained that its acquisition of Calavo’s vertically integrated platform enhances its position in the North America avocado category, expands its supply chain across Mexico and California, and represents its entry into the high-growth, high-reward prepared food segment. Mission is a fully integrated global supplier of avocados and provider of value-added services such as ripening, packaging, distribution, and logistics services supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure for customers in over 25 countries. [link]

Plant-based giant Beyond Meat has diversified past food for the first time, launching a line of clear protein drinks called Beyond Immerse to support gut and muscle health. Beyond Immerse is available in peach-mango, lemon-lime and orange-tangerine flavors, with two levels of plant protein content: either 10g or 20g per can, ranging from 60 to 100 calories, respectively. The drinks are made from a base of hydrolyzed pea protein and tapioca fiber, with a small amount of tartaric, ascorbic and citric acids, stevia leaf and monkfruit extracts, and natural flavors. They boast 7g of fiber, alongside vitamin C for immune support, antioxidants, and electrolytes. They contain no genetically modified organisms or sugar alcohols. [link]

The Rockefeller Foundation and Builders Vision launched the Food is Medicine Impact Fund — hosted by RF Catalytic Capital, Inc., the charitable off-shoot of The Rockefeller Foundation — to improve health outcomes for millions of Americans living with chronic, diet-related conditions. The new fund will promote the adoption of effective, high-quality Food is Medicine (FIM) programs nationwide, with initial investments focused on building state-level leadership and programming. Food is Medicine (FIM) programs, including produce prescriptions, medically tailored groceries and meals, are increasingly demonstrating their ability to improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs for people living with diet-related chronic conditions. Yet many promising programs struggle to move beyond pilots due to limited capacity, fragmented implementation, and low public and provider awareness. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late November, Bunge and ForFarmers announced a strategic agreement aimed at improving sustainability within the soybean meal supply chain in Europe. See more, here.

January 10, 2026

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Just Food says that U.S. corporate enthusiasm for regenerative agriculture will matter more than the new federal pilot program. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Agri Investor hosts an article explaining that the regeneration of nature may be the most efficient public health investment we can make. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – The Invading Sea writes that 2026 could mark the end of the Farm Bill era of American agriculture policy. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

North Dakota State University researchers are quantifying the economic cost of topsoil loss, estimating that erosion and tillage can cost farmers more than $6,600 if six inches of soil are removed. The analysis shows that more than $1,100 in value is lost for every inch of topsoil due to nutrient depletion and the loss of soil organic matter. While fertilizers can replace some nutrients, rebuilding organic matter could take over 150 years even under ideal management practices. Researchers emphasize that preventing erosion through reduced tillage and cover crops is far more cost-effective than attempting to replace lost topsoil. [link]

UK-based Soil Acoustics has unveiled a handheld tool that uses sound to assess soil biodiversity - offering farmers a faster, more scientific alternative to traditional tests. Soil Acoustics’ Soil Acoustic Meter (SAM) is a handheld probe that records sounds generated by soil organisms. Inserted into the ground, the device captures vibrations from earthworms, beetle larvae, ants, and other invertebrates while then uploading the data to a cloud platform for analysis. The result is a rapid soil analysis sample, or Soil Acoustics Quality Index (SAQI) - a sharp contrast to traditional worm pits, which take up to 20 minutes to dig and assess. [link]

ADM and Bayer announced a three-year extension of their partnership in India to strengthen sustainable soybean farming practices. The program, which was launched in 2022, will expand from 25,000 to 100,000 farmers and scale soybean cultivation from 35,000 to 200,000 hectares. The partnership draws from a credible sustainability framework, the ProTerra Foundation, with a focus on five critical areas of supply chain sustainability: customized production management (production); tailored spray programs that emphasize pre-harvest intervals and biodiversity protection (protection); professional implementation guidance (program monitoring); detailed crop-management documentation (passport); and collaborative post-harvest pest management expertise (post-harvest management). [link]

Rural Action is providing free site visits and technical assistance to landowners in 44 Ohio counties for advice on agroforestry and wildlife habitat practices such as reforestation, forest farming, silvopasture, wildlife habitat and water quality protection through Rural Action’s Sustainable Forestry and Watersheds programs. During an initial site visit, landowners will have the opportunity to show their property to Rural Action staff, discuss goals and challenges, and identify opportunities for sustainable forest management, wildlife habitat and invasive species removal. In addition to the site visit, landowners will receive literature outlining details from the visit and next steps that include planning assistance to help landowners better understand their existing forest and water assets, identify new management opportunities or expand an existing enterprise. [link]

Trump administration officials made sweeping changes to U.S. federal dietary guidelines, recommending that people avoid highly processed foods, dramatically increase protein intake and skip added sugar. The new guidelines issued Wednesday urge people to cook more meals at home, avoid packaged food like chips, cookies and candy—and eat protein at every meal. They echo the government’s previous advice that fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, seafood and nuts form the basis of a healthy diet. The recommendations, issued by the U.S. Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments, represent one of the biggest remakes of federal dietary advice since the guidelines were first issued in 1980. They mark a major challenge by the Trump administration to food makers that supply swaths of the grocery store—and most of what Americans eat every day. The U.S. dietary guidelines are updated every five years and serve as the basis for federal nutrition and food-assistance programs, including school lunches. They also shape public-health efforts and influence what food companies make. [link]

Private-equity firm L Catterton is taking a majority stake in cottage cheese brand Good Culture as more Americans load up on the protein-rich food. The deal values Good Culture at more than $500 million, according to people familiar with the matter. Good Culture’s sales jumped by almost 300% over the past three years, while sales in the cottage cheese industry rose by roughly 60% over the same period. The company plans to use the investment from L Catterton to increase its production capacity to meet growing demand from retailers and consumers. [link]

White Tiger Group (WTG), led by CEO and founder Greg O’Neill, is advancing a regenerative agriculture initiative centered on converting ranchland in southern Oregon into highly biodiverse food forest systems. The project integrates permaculture, greenhouse-based controlled-environment agriculture, renewable energy, and water generation to demonstrate closed-loop agricultural production at landscape scale. WTG is working alongside the Earth Stewards Trust to acquire multi-thousand-acre ranch properties while then transitioning them into perennial, polyculture farming systems designed for long-term ecological stability and commercial viability. [link]

Food science and horticulture experts within the University of Arkansas have been assessing how food waste in the U.S. might be used to grow crops. The study, “Assessing Food Waste Compost as a Substrate Amendment for Tomato and Watermelon Seedlings,” was recently published in HortTechnology. Researchers grew tomato and watermelon seedlings in pure food waste substrate, pure commercial peat moss-based potting mix, and blends of the two with varying ratios to compare seedling germination, growth and nutrient uptake. The study found that while food waste compost might not be viable as a standalone alternative to commercial potting mix, it could be suitable as part of a substrate mix. Results showed that mixtures with less than 50 percent food waste compost produced better seedling emergence and growth and had better biomass accumulation than pure food waste, a key indicator of a plant’s health and potential yield. An estimated 30 to 40 percent of the United States’ food supply ending up as waste, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In early December, the Trump administration announced $12 billion in aid to struggling U.S. farmers as the agriculture sector grapples with the fallout from the president’s far-reaching tariffs. See more, here.

December 20, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Farm Progress details how West Texas farmers are fighting for survival as their groundwater runs low. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – The Cool Down flashes a warning signal on one crop that may become impossible to grow in the next five years. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – Reuters offers an exposé on the Canadian farmers producing record crops despite varying drought and flood conditions. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in the UK announced the launch of the Farming for Sustainability - Innovation Scheme. The scheme, which is part of the Sustainable Agriculture Program, is designed to support farmers in identifying and implementing innovative solutions that enhance environmental performance, boost productivity and help to future-proof the agriculture industry against emerging challenges. It aims to expand access to innovation support through three elements – Innovation Visits, Innovation Farms and Innovation Partnerships, providing an important support mechanism to address barriers to the implementation of new innovations. [link]

Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) have introduced the Enabling Farmer, Food worker, Environmental, and Climate Targets through Innovative, Values-aligned, and Equitable (EFFECTIVE) Food Procurement Act, aimed at leveraging the USDA’s purchasing power to build equity and sustainability in the Department’s food purchases. The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act updates USDA food purchasing processes to: Increase support and market opportunities for small-scale and socially disadvantaged farmers; Expand healthy food choices; Address climate change and agriculture sustainability; and Set targets for the USDA to purchase sustainable, equitably procured products. The bill also establishes a $25 million pilot program to create a values-aligned USDA purchasing process and support market access for small-scale and underserved producers. [link]

Sucden and Mars, Inc. have announced the launch of a five-year collaboration (2025-2029) aimed at advancing low-carbon, climate-resilient cocoa production in participating farms in the Dominican Republic and Ecuador. The project aims to bring together innovation, science-based reductions and farmer-centered approaches to drive meaningful greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions across participating farms in the cocoa supply chain. The program activities will encourage farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices such as use of improved planting materials, low carbon fertilizers, aerobic composting, and agroforestry practices that are aimed at helping enhance productivity and soil health, reduce GHG emissions, and increase yields for cocoa farmers. [link]

Giorgi Mushroom Company, a leader in fresh produce innovation since 1928, announced a landmark investment in Modern Soils, previously a wholly owned subsidiary of Modern Mushroom Farms. Modern Soils is a regenerative agriculture company pioneering sustainable soil solutions, transforming mushroom compost, an abundant byproduct of mushroom cultivation, into high-performance, eco-friendly products, including premium potting soils, land remediation blends, sustainable crop substrates, and peat-free casing for mushroom farms. By replacing traditional peat, Modern Soils is reshaping the soil industry and setting a new benchmark for low-impact growth. [link]

Lineage Provisions, Foria Wellness, and Terrain are teaming up with Kiss the Ground, a leading voice in the Regenerative Movement, to help their customers support farmers and healthy soil through round-ups—a simple way to turn everyday purchases into powerful action. Through a new “Round Up for Regeneration” promotion, customers are invited to round up their totals at checkout, with 100% of donations directly supporting Kiss the Ground’s work—including farmer grants, education programs, and award-winning storytelling. In 2025, Kiss the Ground awarded 215 grants totaling $500K to support farmers and ranchers with equipment, supplies, and regenerative agriculture training—impacting 73,000 acres across the U.S. Kiss the Ground is now amplifying their stories through daily content that reaches 2M people every month. [link]

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved eight projects led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) worth nearly $60 million designed to help seven countries improve their management of agricultural landscapes, promote climate-friendly and biodiversity-positive livestock production, and restore forest, coastal, and marine ecosystems. The projects will leverage approximately $429 million in co-financing and will improve the management of 305,000 hectares of protected areas on land and sea. They will also restore 314,000 hectares of landscapes, improve the management of 1.2 million hectares of productive land, and mitigate 84.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, benefitting over 1 million people across four continents. [link]

U.S. Senator Adam Schiff has introduced a new bill to allocate over $500M in federal R&D funding and create a national strategy for alternative proteins. The bill calls on the U.S. government to develop a national protein diversification strategy and deploy more than $500M in R&D funding for plant-based, fermentation-derived and cell-cultivated foods. The Producing Real Opportunities for Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition (PROTEIN) Act will seek federal support for alternative proteins over the next five years to “strengthen national security, improve supply chain resilience, and lower the risk of bioterrorism”. [link]

In an effort to improve the state’s soil health, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission is paying up to $40,000 to farmers and ranchers to employ regenerative agriculture techniques. The Soil Health Implementation Program (SHIP) uses state funds to reimburse rural and urban producers, guiding them through a three-year conservation plan. The program is intended to enhance agricultural land and increase water and nutrient holding capacity. The commission plans to use data collected from the program in a statewide soil health database for other conservation efforts. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

At the beginning of this year, a new study published in Nature showed that the presence of trees encourages the proliferation of beneficial soil microorganisms, helping to counter the detrimental effects commonly associated with conventional farming practices. See more, here.

December 13, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Think Global Health discusses how an investment into animal health in the EU can benefit farmers and consumers. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Iowa State University reports on prairie strips and their ability to rapidly improve soil health. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – The Guardian takes a look inside the perennial grain revolution. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

Danone has achieved B Corp certification across its entire global operations, a milestone for the French food group that has been a decade in the making. The certification makes Danone one of the largest multinational companies to meet the standard, placing a new focus on the function of third-party validation in corporate sustainability and governance. B Corp certification is an accreditation for businesses that meet specific standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. The certification is overseen by the non-profit organization B Lab. [link]

The County of Santa Clara, CA has awarded $196,707 to 17 family farms and ranches through its innovative Agricultural Resilience Incentive (ARI) Grant Program for the 2025 cycle, helping local farmers adopt climate-smart practices across more than 117 acres of farmland. Now in its fifth year, the ARI Grant Program recognizes and rewards farmers and ranchers working to make Santa Clara County’s agricultural lands more resilient to drought, heat, and changing climate conditions. Launched by the County Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Agriculture, the program provides up to $30,000 per recipient for practices such as compost and mulch application, managed grazing, and other climate-friendly practices. [link]

The Trump administration announced $12 billion in aid to struggling U.S. farmers as the agriculture sector grapples with the fallout from the president’s far-reaching tariffs. Much of the aid—$11 billion—will be in the form of one-time payments through the Farmer Bridge Assistance program, which helps U.S. crop farmers. The remaining $1 billion will go toward commodities not covered under the bridge assistance program. The aid will be a shot in the arm to soybean farmers, who have faced devastating financial losses this year. Farmers have said the extra money would help them pay down their debts this year and finance the cost of planting next year’s crop. [link]

Suntory Holdings and Conservation International, a global nonprofit environmental organization, announced the launch of a regenerative agriculture pilot program in Huila, Colombia – one of the major coffee producing regions in the world. The pilot program aims to support the sustainable procurement of coffee beans while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the production process by improving how coffee residues and fertilizers are managed. Starting in 2026, the two-year program will engage a total of 180 coffee farmers in the region. [link]

Tesco is launching two new projects to protect nature in its supply chains. It will work with respected non-profit organization, Earthworm Foundation, to put in place regenerative agriculture practices in Cote d’Ivoire, a country known for its cocoa production, and where the retailer sources much of the cocoa used in its Finest chocolate range. The retailer’s block chocolate supplier, Baronie-Cemoi, is also partnering on the project. Tesco has also launched a new partnership with the social enterprise Sea Ranger Service to restore seagrass in the Northeast Atlantic, off the coast of the Netherlands – an area used to source several species of wild caught fish, including plaice, cod and haddock. [link]

A new report from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the NYU Center for Environmental and Animal Protection (CEAP) warns that the current UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) systematically neglect animal welfare and health — a gap undermining progress on human health, environmental protection and social equity. Despite growing international support for a One Health approach, which recognizes the interlinkages between human, animal, and environmental health, the current SDGs remain incomplete without the systematic inclusion of animal health and animal welfare. This omission matters because the SDG framework is the main international framework for achieving sustainable development in the 2015–2030 period. [link]

The Beginning Farmer Resource and Decision-Making Guide is now available from Michigan State University Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Starting with production in mind, the guide gives farmers an introduction to important farming topics and directs them to education and decision-making tools and how to connect with agricultural partners. Content areas include: bees and livestock, equipment, organic practices, plants, soil health, water management, and more. The resource guide is a living document that will be routinely reviewed. [link]

California farmers seeking guidance on starting or advancing their transition to organic crop production are invited to attend free webinars led by a wide range of experts, including University of California scientists and fellow growers. Held at noon every Wednesday from January 14 to March 18, 2026, the “Transition to Organic Webinar Series” covers the certification process, market dynamics, soil health and soil amendments, pest and weed management, and other key topics of organic production. The 10 online sessions – each comprising a 75-minute presentation and discussion, followed by optional office hours – are organized and sponsored by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, UC Cooperative Extension, and the UC Organic Agriculture Institute (an institute of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources). [link]

Boulder County, Colorado is launching three grant programs in December to support nature-based climate solutions: the Soil Health Initiative, Grey to Green Fund, and Sustainable Food and Agriculture Fund. These programs will help local organizations and food producers implement projects that improve soil health, enhance urban green spaces, and strengthen the local food system. Applications can be accessed alongside additional information on the Boulder County grants website. [link]

Muju Earth is looking to tackle one of agriculture’s toughest challenges by taking on soil degradation with an innovative new product: the Aeropod. The product is a biodegradable capsule planted alongside seeds. It activates under natural stressors like rainfall and soil pressure, triggering a gentle mechanical response that breaks soil compaction and creates microchannels for oxygen and water flow. As the Aeropods decompose, they release beneficial microbes and materials that support soil biology, reduce fertilizer dependence, and improve long-term soil health. [link]

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced a $1.616M grant from the Lockheed Martin Corporation to fund climate adaptation projects in Maryland and Colorado. The funds will accelerate the deployment of nature-based solutions that strengthen community resiliency near military installations in response to climate change. Part of the funding will also be used to increase the use of regenerative agriculture practices that help improve water quality while supporting a farmer’s bottom line, as well as the restoration and protection of key wetland habitats. [link]

The Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Murray State College, Chickasaw Nation, the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts and the Arbuckle Conservation District are teaming up to open the Southern Oklahoma Urban and Small Farm Hub in Ardmore. It will be on Murray State College’s Ardmore campus, serving as a resource site offering technical assistance, farm planning and education training. A main focus for the hub will be promoting natural resource conservation and regenerative agriculture. Producers will also have access to mini-grants to support the work. [link]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is launching a $700 million pilot program to support regenerative farming — a type of agriculture that focuses on soil health to produce more nutritious food. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins made the announcement on Wednesday alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, and regenerative farmers from California, Missouri and Indiana. Rollins said the new pilot will allow farmers to pursue “whole-farm planning” instead of a piecemeal approach through the USDA’s existing Natural Resources Conservation Service by enabling them to apply for the pilot with a single application. [link]

Cultivated meat startup Believer Meats has ceased operations. The company, which is in the unique position of having both a large-scale production facility and regulatory approval to sell its wares in the U.S., is being sued by a vendor for more than $34 million in unpaid bills. One of the top-funded players in the industry after raising a $347 million Series B round in 2021, Believer Meats’ backers include ADM Ventures, the Menora Mivtachim pension and insurance fund, S2G Investments, Tyson Ventures, Rich Products Ventures, Manta Ray Ventures, Emerald Technology Ventures, Cibus Capital, and Bits x Bites. [link]

Experts across the University of California San Diego have come together to launch a new center for soil health research, education and outreach in Southern California, creating a powerful opportunity to advance climate solutions. The center taps the expertise of microbiologists, plant and soil biologists, ecologists, biochemists, growers and community historians to collaboratively shape the future of soil health and drive innovations in sustainable technology. Led by microbial ecologist Jack Gilbert, the Healthy Soils Project is pioneering a new era of sustainable agriculture by developing safe, natural fertilizers derived from fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late November, Bunge and ForFarmers announced a strategic agreement aimed at improving sustainability within the soybean meal supply chain in Europe. See more, here.

December 6, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Forbes wonders if higher food prices are the best way to promote regenerative farming. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – An article in Scientific Data reviews a decade of on-farm data related to improved cereal and legume cropping in Mexico. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – AgTechNavigator says that an investment in technology is crucial when trying to build sustainability on the farm. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

African governments are moving faster than most of the world to put soil health at the center of climate action, according to a new analysis that highlights a major blind spot in global climate planning. A review of Nationally Determined Contributions by the Save Soil campaign shows that 70% of countries still do not treat soil or agriculture as meaningful mitigation tools — even though soils are the planet’s largest terrestrial carbon sink. The report came on the back of COP30 in Belém, Brazil where campaigners hoped soil-carbon targets will finally be recognized. [link]

Feeding a projected 10 billion people by 2050 will require bold and smarter choices in how the world manages its land, soil and water, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warns in a new flagship report. The latest edition of The State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture (SOLAW 2025) report underscores that these essential resources are finite. Safeguarding them is critical to securing global food security now and in the decades to come. Under the theme “The potential to produce more and better,” the report highlights the significant, often overlooked potential of land and water resources to support sustainable increases in food production. It presents strategies for producing more – and better – food for a growing population while ensuring the responsible and resilient management of land, soil, and water. [link]

Nestlé Vietnam and the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support Vietnam in transitioning to a circular and low-emission economic model. The cooperation focuses on promoting sustainable agriculture, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to accelerating the realization of the country’s Net Zero emissions target. Vietnam is a large supplier of coffee to Nestlé, with the company purchasing nearly USD $700 million worth of product each year. [link]

Shares of Bayer spiked after the U.S. Solicitor General supported the company’s push for the Supreme Court to take up its Roundup weedkiller case. Over the past decade, the German agriculture and pharmaceuticals conglomerate has paid out about $10 billion to plaintiffs who have claimed that Roundup’s main ingredient, glyphosate, caused their cancer. Bayer has maintained that Roundup is safe to use, and earlier this year petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to limit legal claims against the weedkiller. The Supreme Court in June asked the Trump administration to weigh in, and Solicitor General John Sauer on Monday appeared to side with the company. [link]

Food-company stocks sagged Tuesday as the San Francisco city attorney filed a lawsuit against some of the nation’s biggest food manufacturers, accusing them of knowingly making and marketing harmful foods. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, alleges that 11 leading food makers, from Kraft Heinz to General Mills, violated California’s unfair competition law and public nuisance statute by engaging in “unfair and deceptive acts.” San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu blamed the suppliers for American diets high in ultra-processed foods, and soaring healthcare costs. The lawsuit seeks an order prohibiting deceptive marketing by the food companies and requiring that they take steps to mitigate the health effects of their products. It seeks civil penalties and other awards, in part to help local governments offset high healthcare costs. [link]

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is partnering with the Ghana Cocoa Board, Forestry Commission of Ghana, and local Farmer Unions to implement the Environmentally Sustainable Production Practices in Cocoa Landscapes Phase IV (ESP Phase IV) inside Ghana. The latest phase builds on the successes of previous ones, transforming how communities manage land integration, forest restoration, and conservation in cocoa farming landscapes while fostering sustainable livelihoods that protect Ghana’s forests. The project has established two Community Resource Management Areas (CREMA) involving about 65 communities in the Asunafo North Municipal Assembly (Ahafo Region) and Wassa East District (Western Region). By promoting community rights to manage and benefit from natural resources, the initiative fosters collaboration and ownership. [link]

In an effort to protect healthy soils and boost vitality, the American Farmland Trust has opened up applications for farmers and ranchers in Virginia and across the nation to apply for grants that encourage regenerative agriculture practices. The healthy soils grant offers up to $30,000 to help farmers partake in four key soil health measures: planting cover crops to reduce soil erosion; minimizing the use of harmful chemicals or over working the soil; maximizing living roots; and diversifying crop species while integrating livestock to naturally fertilize the soil. The main goal of the American Farmland Trust, which is managing the grants, is to protect farmland from erosion through climate change and farming methods that deplete the land. [link]

The Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Starbucks Coffee Company as a strategic step to strengthen Indonesia’s national coffee ecosystem and improve farmer welfare. The signing ceremony in Jakarta marks a shared commitment to enhance the productivity, sustainability, and global competitiveness of Indonesian coffee. Starbucks plans to support four key areas of collaboration: seed and seedling donations, agronomy training, the donation of coffee milling equipment, and biological pest control. [link]

More than 520 chemicals have been found in English soils, including pharmaceutical products and toxins that were banned decades ago, because of the practice of spreading human waste to fertilize arable land. Research by scientists at the University of Leeds, published as a preprint in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, found a worrying array of chemicals in English soils. Close to half (46.4%) of the pharmaceutical substances detected had not been reported in previous global monitoring campaigns. Water companies treat human feces and remove some of the contaminants from wastewater at their treatment centers. The resulting product is treated biosolids, the organic matter from the human waste, and this is often disposed of by being spread on fields as fertilizer. However, it appears that despite decontamination, hundreds of chemicals are leaching into the soil and in some cases staying there for many years. [link]

Multinational food company Kellanova announced a regenerative agriculture deal with Varaha, Asia’s largest carbon project developer, aimed at reducing the food manufacturer’s supply chain emissions. The deal between Kellanova and Varaha will help 12,500 acres of corn farms in India adopt sustainable practices and “sequester and reduce nearly 100,000 tons” of carbon dioxide emission from its supply chain. The companies branded the deal as unique, as it will focus on transitioning smallholder corn farms within the food brand’s supply chain, rather than using the project as an offsetting mechanism, a practice called “insetting.” [link]

The University of Hawaii is leading global scholarship on food system transformation with the completion of a major open access e-book, Food System Transformation and the Realization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Social Movements, Institutions & Governance. The research topic brings together 29 peer-reviewed articles from more than 150 scholars across the globe, exploring how food systems influence at least 16 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The research findings are particularly relevant in Hawaii, where chronic household food insecurity, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander health inequities, and climate change vulnerabilities highlight the urgent need for integrated agri-food system research, education, planning and policy strategies. [link]

On World Soil Day (Dec 4) this year, Mars is joining with partners and farmers in Europe, calling on policymakers and scientists across Europe to enable scalable solutions that aid farmers in adopting climate-smart agriculture practices. The collaborations could help Europe to strengthen its role in global agrifood policy, building momentum in regenerative farming and agriculture. Across Mars Petcare’s European supply chain, more than 300 farmers have thus far implemented climate-smart practices across more than 60,900 hectares, from using cover crops in Buckinghamshire, UK, to implementing no-till cultivation in Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-September, a new study led by the University of Surrey in the UK found that while vertical farms dramatically increase lettuce yields and use far less water, the carbon footprint of these operations still exceeds traditional lettuce farming. See more, here.

November 29, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The International Chamber of Commerce says that agricultural transformation starts from the soil up. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – AgFunder News details why the regenerative organic certification exists…and why the food system needs it. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – The International Earth Day Network discusses the hidden dangers of monoculture farming. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

African Golden Food has secured a $1 million equity investment to accelerate the development of its flagship Smart Circular Agro-Food & Carbon Innovation Vehicle in Ghana’s Kwahu Afram Plains. Investors include FrugalFP B.V. of the Netherlands and an Aberdeen-based group led by John Lind. Advisory support was provided by Mubanga Kasonde of MK Consult in the UK. The project integrates cassava and sweet potato processing, large-scale agroforestry, and renewable energy, forming a climate-smart model designed to boost food security, community prosperity, and long-term environmental resilience. The initiative aims to restore 10,000 hectares of degraded land and generate 2,500 rural jobs over the next decade. [link]

The European Union and its French development partners are pressing Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire to accelerate reforms in the cocoa sector, saying new research shows the industry must adopt tougher sustainability standards to remain competitive and protect farmer livelihoods. At a two day feedback workshop in Accra this week, researchers presented findings from the EU and AFD-funded Cocoa4Future project, which ran in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire and examined agroforestry models, disease control, and the socioeconomic dynamics of cocoa farming. Organizers said the work offers practical pathways for scaling sustainable practices that could help producers meet tightening European market requirements on deforestation, traceability, and labor standards. [link]

Kellanova, Walmart and Indigo Ag have announced a new partnership designed to strengthen farmer prosperity through regenerative agriculture across Arkansas. Through the Source by Indigo program, the collaboration provides farmers with resources, data, and technical support to build more resilient and profitable rice farming operations across the state. The co-investment builds on four years of partnership between Walmart and Indigo Ag, which has already helped rice farmers supplying Walmart’s Great Value brand reduce emissions by over 37,000 metric tons of CO2e, conserve over 11 billion gallons of water, and put more than $900,000 into farmers’ pockets. Kellanova’s participation expands this effort, creating new opportunities for farmers while supporting the company’s commitment to sustainable sourcing and community well-being. [link]

Climate scientists identify reducing meat consumption as a critical climate strategy, but it appears in just 1.2% of climate journalism, according to new research released by the Center for Biological Diversity and Brighter Green. The report, “Missing Ingredients: How Agriculture and Diet Get Overlooked in Media Coverage of Climate Change” assessed more than 10,000 articles from U.S. media outlets about climate change over the past three years and found terms related to dietary shifts appeared in only 1.2%, or 115 articles, of the coverage. The broader themes of animal agriculture or meat appeared in only 3.2%, or 343 of the articles, despite the sector being responsible for 19% of global greenhouse gas emissions. [link]

Bunge and ForFarmers announced a strategic agreement aimed at improving sustainability within the soybean meal supply chain in Europe. The companies signed an agreement to establish a low-carbon soybean meal flow starting with the Netherlands. The supply agreement requires Bunge to supply close to 100,000 metric tons soybean meal to ForFarmers from various origins. ForFarmers will receive supply chain traceability and verified carbon footprint calculations through blockchain technology, providing transparency on the flow from its origin to its destination. [link]

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for two Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) grants that help Minnesota farmers strengthen their operations in the face of biosecurity threats and extreme weather. The AGRI Protecting Livestock from Avian Influenza (Protect) Grant and the AGRI Preparing for Extreme Weather (Prepare) Grant are now open for applications. Together, these programs help Minnesota livestock and specialty crop producers invest in equipment and improvements that reduce disease risk, enhance biosecurity, and build long-term resilience. [link]

New research has found cover crops that are viable in Washington’s normal “off season” don’t hurt the soil and can be sold as a biofuel source. In a paper recently published in the journal Biomass and Bioenergy, a team led by Washington State University scientists looked at four cover crops grown for multiple years in western and central Washington fields. Two showed promising results. Triticale, a hybrid of wheat and rye, produced the highest yields, and hairy vetch, a vine-like legume with hairy leaves, provided stable yields at low costs while adding nitrogen to the soil. The study showed that each crop included in the field trials can also be processed into biofuels through a liquefaction process. [link]

The Regreening Africa Phase II (RA II) Project was officially launched on Tuesday in Kukpalgu, Mion District, Northern Region inside Ghana. The project is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by a consortium led by World Agroforestry (ICRAF), in collaboration with World Vision Ghana (WVG), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), CARE, Sahel Eco, and Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (AVSF). The second phase of the initiative aims to restore degraded landscapes, strengthen climate resilience, and improve livelihoods for smallholder farmers in the Bawku West, Garu, Tempane, and Binduri districts in the Upper East Region, as well as Yendi and Mion districts in the Northern Region of Ghana. [link]

New research from Lincoln University’s Center of Excellence Designing Future Productive Landscapes has found that healthier farm systems encompassing soil, plant and animal health can provide measurable benefits to people. Together, the researchers compared regenerative and conventional farming systems to assess how these practices influence the nutritional quality of milk and yogurt. Milk and yogurt from the regenerative system showed a lower omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, which supports cardiovascular health (reducing blood clots), improves mental health, and has properties that can aid in delaying Alzheimer’s disease and reduce the risk of certain cancers. They also contained higher levels of Streptococcus thermophilus, aiding digestion for lactose-intolerant individuals, improving gut motility and reducing inflammatory bowel symptoms. The regenerative farm showed a greater abundance of some soil organisms than the conventional farm, improving soil microbiome diversity. This is striking, given that only five units of nitrogen (N) were applied per hectare annually, compared to the average of 190 units of N per hectare on conventional farms. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late September, HowGood and Kiss the Ground announced the release of the Regenerative Agriculture Industry Map. See more, here.

November 22, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – SeedWorld showcases the power of seeds as agriculture’s best kept climate secret. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – The Washington Post says that better bread and booze start with healthier soil. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – An article in Reasons to be Cheerful describes how Midwest farms are going nuts. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

The COP Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes (AARL) announced a surge in investments to advance production, conservation, and restoration, advancing integrated solutions to deliver resilient agrifood systems. More than 40 organizations reported $9B+ in committed investment, covering more than 210 million hectares of land, reaching 12 million farmers across 90+ commodities and 110+ countries by 2030, highlighting significant progress since the initiative was launched at COP28. AARL – launched by the COP28 Presidency, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), with support from the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions – brings together farmers, agribusinesses, financiers, and leading non-state actors to aggregate, accelerate, and amplify collective action and investments to overcome barriers to scaling regenerative landscape approaches. [link]

Replenish Nutrients has entered a three-year licensing agreement with Farmers Union Enterprises to expand the production of its patented SuperKS fertilizer in the U.S. This partnership allows Replenish to access nearly 70 million acres of cropland across five states without additional capital expenditure, enhancing its market reach and credibility in the regenerative-farming sector. The agreement is expected to generate licensing revenues and offers a scalable model for future regional expansions, marking a significant step in positioning Replenish as a leading provider of regenerative-fertilizer technologies in North America. [link]

In Ontario, Canada, the 2026 intake for Wellington County’s Experimental Acres program is now open. Launched in 2022, Experimental Acres provides farmers with support as they test regenerative agriculture practices on their operations. The program offers a range of resources, including micro-grants of up to $3,000, soil analysis, staff guidance, peer networking and community events to help reduce the financial and technical risks associated with trying something new. [link]

A new study presented at the COP30 summit in Belém has found that shifting from livestock farming to plant-based agroforestry can significantly increase the income of rural producers in Brazil. The research, coordinated by ProVeg Brazil, shows that such a transition could boost net income by up to 110% per hectare. In certain cases, especially where low-productivity cattle farming is replaced, the increase could reach up to 1,525%. Unlike livestock farming, which contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, plant-based agroforestry systems absorb more carbon than they release. [link]

Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean face a unique opportunity to boost agricultural productivity to safeguard food security, improve rural livelihoods, and protect the environment, according to a new flagship report from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The study, titled “Agricultural Productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean: What We Know and Where We Are Heading,“ reveals that although total output has increased nearly sixfold since 1960, recent growth has relied more on the increased use of inputs – such as land, labor, fertilizers, machinery, and water – than on productivity gains. Between 2010 and 2020, total factor productivity (TFP) – a key measure of efficiency – grew by just 0.9% per year, compared with an annual average of 1.7% over the previous 60 years. This deceleration threatens the ability to meet rising food demand in a region where 28% of the population faces food insecurity and nearly four in ten rural residents live in poverty. [link]

Ultra-processed food (UPF) is linked to harm in every major organ system of the human body and poses a seismic threat to global health, according to the world’s largest review. The findings, from a series of three papers published in the Lancet, come as millions of people increasingly consume UPF such as ready meals, cereals, protein bars, fizzy drinks and fast food. A systematic review of 104 long-term studies conducted for the series found 92 reported greater associated risks of one or more chronic diseases, and early death from all causes. [link]

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and CIFOR-ICRAF have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking a major step forward in scaling collaboration to advance sustainable landscapes, forest restoration, and climate resilience. Building on the foundations of the 2021 MOU—which delivered impactful agroforestry initiatives in Peru—the renewed agreement elevates cooperation to a strategic global level. Both organizations share a strong track record in delivering science-based policy guidance and transforming it into large-scale investment outcomes for member countries. [link]

Honda announced that it has joined Carbon by Indigo, a leading program to help farmers across the U.S. adopt regenerative agriculture practices to improve soil health, capture carbon and increase their profitability. As part of its broader commitment to decarbonization, Honda is purchasing soil carbon removal credits through Carbon by Indigo, resulting in the removal of 1,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon by Indigo produces high-quality agricultural soil carbon credits in the U.S., providing farmers with opportunities to increase profitability while building soil health and long-term resilience. [link]

New research led by Stanford University was presented at COP30 in Brazil, showing that school meal programs could reach 8 million more children for the same cost with regeneratively grown staple foods (like rice, wheat, maize, and soy). The analysis draws on data from the Global Survey of School Meal Programs, country food basket data from the FAO, and regional weather and agricultural production data. In addition to demonstrating how regeneratively grown staples farmed in ways that restore soil health also improve lives and livelihoods, the report provides recommendations for countries to build greater resilience into food systems through school meal programs, while identifying the “hidden costs” of failing to act. [link]

The University of Hawaii is a key partner in the new Central Oahu Agriculture and Food Hub that recently broke ground in Wahiawa. Led by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) and the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC), the project brings together the UH Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) and the UH Community College System with other state agencies. A complex in Whitmore Village will serve as an innovation base to provide manufacturing and industry services at a commercial scale, boost local food sustainability, and enable local entrepreneurs to export globally. [link]

New analysis by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reveals that agrifood systems, critical to addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and global hunger, are receiving a fraction of international climate-related development finance, with much of the funding failing to reach the countries and communities that need it most. The data shows that while overall climate-related development finance grew by 12 percent between 2022 and 2023 across sectors, finance for agrifood systems stagnated with a mere one percent increase. Their share of the total climate-related development finance almost halved between 2009–2023. This stands in stark contrast to the estimated USD 1.3 trillion investment gap, roughly twelve times current funding, needed to transform agrifood systems toward sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity, and to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. [link]

Friends of the Earth has released a new report, Feeding Concentration: How USDA’s Commodity Food Purchasing Favors Industrial Agriculture, which analyzes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) $4.8 billion in food procurement for Fiscal Year 2024. The report finds that nearly half of all USDA food spending went to just 25 companies, with poultry giant Tyson Foods receiving the largest share despite a history of workplace safety, labor, environmental, and food safety concerns. The findings emphasize that USDA’s purchasing practices continue to concentrate power among a small number of multinational corporations, limiting opportunities for independent producers and undermining goals of fair competition, sustainability, and public health. [link]

Ten countries have announced their support for an innovative new Brazil-led accelerator that will unite governments and investors behind a shared goal: restoring the world’s farmland to strengthen food security, tackle climate breakdown, and protect biodiversity. The Resilient Agriculture Investment for net-Zero land degradation (RAIZ) accelerator will assist participating governments to unlock and strategically allocate public and private investment for the restoration of degraded agricultural land at scale. Led by Brazil and supported by the governments of Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Uruguay and the United Kingdom, the accelerator was officially launched at a Ministerial Event at UNFCCC COP30 in Belém on Wednesday. [link]

The American Egg Board (AEB) introduced its new Incredibly Sustainable reporting tool during this week’s Sustainable Ag Summit in Anaheim, Calif., marking a breakthrough in how egg farmers capture and communicate the outcomes of their sustainability efforts. By combining a streamlined survey, a greenhouse gas calculator and visual impact reports, the tool enables farmers to clearly and efficiently share the results of their sustainability practices with customers and stakeholders, strengthening transparency and demonstrating their ongoing commitment to sustainable agriculture. The Incredibly Sustainable tool took more than a year to develop through extensive collaboration with egg producers and leading retail, restaurant and CPG buyers, incorporating their feedback through multiple rounds of pilots, testing and refinement to ensure accuracy and usability. [link]

Tate & Lyle has announced a new regenerative agriculture program aimed at helping corn growers in France farm more sustainably. Developed in partnership with local cooperatives and Regrow Ag, the initiative will allow farmers to adopt practices that improve soil health and resilience to climate change while enabling the company to track environmental improvements across thousands of acres. Participating farmers will be encouraged to adopt methods such as low- and no-till farming to reduce soil disturbance, cover cropping to enhance soil quality and nitrogen management to cut reliance on synthetic fertilizers. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

Earlier this month, British retailer Waitrose announced a commitment to nature-friendly farming via a £1 million investment alongside project partnerships with Soil Association Exchange and Regenified. See more, here.

November 15, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The Guardian asks if urban farming could feed the world. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Fast Company hosts a missive from the CEO of the Rodale Institute on how it’s time to reimagine farming as an innovative career path. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – Howden and BCG lead a report on the role of insurance in scaling regenerative agriculture and re/afforestation. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

Acres U.S.A. will host its 50th annual Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show on Dec. 1–4, 2025, in Madison, Wisconsin. As the premier gathering for soil health champions, ecological innovators and profitable farmers, Eco-Ag 2025 marks five decades of driving agricultural change from the ground up. With more than 30 speakers, 100+ exhibitors and 30 breakout sessions, Eco-Ag 2025 will serve as a trusted platform for farmers, ranchers, consultants and food system professionals seeking practical, proven tools for building resilient operations. Keynote and featured speakers include Gabe Brown, Joel Salatin, Dr. Don Huber, Neal Kinsey, Rick Clark, Dr. Nasha Winters, Dr. Erin Silva, and John Kempf. [link]

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is helping producers to minimize impacts on natural resources and the overall environment through its Arkansas Discovery Farms Program. The Discovery Farms team documents water quality, soil health, climate effects and resource use in research at 18 private farms across the state’s diverse agricultural sectors. The team also provides demonstrations and educational outreach to promote sustainable farming. [link]

The Gates Foundation has announced a four-year, $1.4 billion investment to support smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia adapt to extreme weather. The announcement, at COP30 in Belém, will help farmers ‘build resilience to a warming world and protect hard-won gains against poverty’, the Foundation said in a statement. Farmers in low-income countries produce around one third of the world’s food but face mounting climate threats – as recent World Bank research found, targeted adaptation investments in these regions could boost GDP by up to 15 percentage points by 2050. [link]

Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has initiated a climate mitigation project combining cocoa farming with forest restoration across the Amazon and Atlantic Forest biomes, targeting emissions reductions of 5.18 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent through sustainable agroforestry systems. The project, approved by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in late October 2025, will mobilize $30.9 million in total investment over four years, with $23.1 million from GCF and $7.8 million co-financed by Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock through the Executive Commission of the Cocoa Farming Plan (CEPLAC) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). The initiative will directly benefit more than 69,000 family farmers and indirectly impact nearly 400,000 people across 26 municipalities in the states of Bahia and Pará. [link]

After weeks of uncertainty, Congress has unveiled a one-year extension of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 as well as the fiscal year (FY) 2026 agriculture appropriations bill. In lieu of a much-needed five-year farm bill, this one-year extension would continue most farm bill programs unimpeded through at least September 30, 2026. It also suspends permanent price support authority for the 2026 crop and calendar year, ensuring that commodity programs do not revert to outdated 20th century law in the new year. [link]

The One Acre Fund is working to support and empower four million smallholder farmers in Nigeria by 2030 through integrated credit and agroforestry initiatives. Most recently, the organization has distributed 250,000 tree seedlings to farmers in Kwara State, contributing to the 13 million free tree seedlings distributed nationwide in 2025 under its tree planting and agroforestry initiative. The One Acre Fund currently operates in Niger, Kwara, and Nasarawa States, with plans underway to expand into Plateau and Bauchi States in 2026 as part of its long-term growth strategy. [link]

EU member states and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on an overhaul of the EU’s huge farming subsidies, weakening environmental standards as part of plans to cut back regulations and paperwork for farmers. The plans exempt smaller farmers from baseline requirements tying their subsidies to efforts to protect the environment, while the EU would increase the payments they can receive. The EU Commission launched proposals for the overhaul in May, following months of protests by farmers over issues including strict EU regulations and cheap imports. The new plans are part of a series of EU “simplification omnibus” proposals, designed to slim down policies and paperwork for businesses struggling to compete with China and the U.S. [link]

Nestlé Brazil has signed a general cooperation agreement with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) to accelerate research aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chains of key ingredients used by the company. The first two projects under the partnership will focus on the milk and cocoa chains, which, along with coffee, are Nestlé’s most important raw materials. The first initiative will measure emissions from dairy cows fed with different diets, while the second will focus on developing more efficient agroforestry systems for cocoa production. The partnership with Embrapa includes investments in genetic research, agroforestry systems, and other regenerative practices. [link]

A new survey from Environmental Defense Fund gathered insights from 156 agricultural finance institutions across 17 countries and found that the majority are stepping up to manage climate risks. The survey found that 94% of respondents see climate risk as a critical risk that they need to manage, and the vast majority currently offer sustainability-related products and services to farmers. While the survey results point to strong global momentum, they also reveal regional variations in how institutions are managing climate risks and opportunities, including that every institution based outside of the U.S. offers sustainability-related financial products and services, versus 48% in the U.S. [link]

Mirova, the French climate-focused investment firm backed by Kering and other corporate heavyweights, has invested $30.5 million (€26.4 million) in Indian climate tech startup Varaha. This investment will help to expand the startup’s regenerative farming program, supporting hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers in northern India. The deal marks Mirova’s first carbon investment in India, but its structure is unusual. Rather than taking equity, the Paris-based firm is investing cash and will get a share of the carbon credits generated in return over time. [link]

The U.S. plans to eliminate tariffs on bananas, coffee, beef and certain apparel and textile products under framework agreements with four Latin American nations. The expected move—which would apply to some goods from Ecuador, Argentina, El Salvador and Guatemala—is part of a shift from the Trump administration to water down some of its so-called reciprocal tariffs in the midst of rising prices for consumers, as well as legal uncertainty after a Supreme Court hearing this month. The administration in September foreshadowed the move by issuing an executive order saying it would consider a reduction in tariffs on some items not produced in the U.S. when foreign nations agree to trade deals with Washington. [link]

Sustainea Bioglycols has announced the launch of a new regenerative agriculture project in collaboration with Primient, a U.S. producer of plant-based ingredients. The project will support around 1,000 acres of farmland near Lafayette, Indiana, with a focus is on implementing regenerative agricultural techniques that aim to improve soil health, increase carbon sequestration, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lessen environmental impact. This initiative builds on Sustainea’s ongoing partnership with Primient, which includes collaboration on the development of the first U.S. Bio-MEG facility. The project aims to promote large-scale adoption of regenerative practices in the Lafayette area and ensure responsible sourcing of corn—the raw material used in Sustainea’s Bio-MEG production. [link]

PepsiCo expects to expand its regenerative agriculture program in Canada by 240,000 acres. According to a company statement, “Cool temperatures, an abundance of rich, fertile soil and long summer days that provide extended stretches of sunlight make Canada’s farms ideal for growing high-quality oats and potatoes that are used to make PepsiCo products like Quaker Oats and Lay’s potato chips.” Now, PepsiCo is working with farmers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba to nearly double its regenerative agriculture footprint to more than 500,000 acres of farmland by year end. It partners with farmers, nonprofits, retailers, and policymakers in its efforts to spread regenerative agriculture. [link]

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) will award more than $3.1 million in grants to 34 state organizations as part of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program. The RFSI program builds on MDARD’s success at the state level by making further targeted investments in local food processing, aggregation and distribution, meaning more avenues for farmers to sell in their communities and more opportunities for Michigan families to purchase nutritious, locally grown foods. MDARD says that these grants further investments into the state’s food hubs, farm stops, fruit and vegetable farmers, regenerative agriculture practitioners, fish hatcheries, and food processors. [link]

More than 100,000 smallholder farmers in Tanzania are set to benefit from a pioneering agroforestry program aimed at improving agricultural practices and boosting household, community, and national incomes. The initiative, scheduled to run from 2026 to 2028, will be implemented by the non-governmental organization Vi Agroforestry in collaboration with multiple development partners. Part of the overarching goal of the program is to shift farmers away from routine subsistence cultivation towards treating agriculture as an economic opportunity. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

Earlier this month, Israel’s Believer Meats has received official clearance from the USDA to produce and sell its cultivated chicken in the United States, becoming the first non-U.S. startup to reach the milestone. See more, here.

November 8, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – AgFunderNews explains why smallholder farmers must be the epicenter of a global supply chain transformation. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – The International Institute for Sustainable Development declares that the redirection of agricultural subsidies is crucial for promoting healthy soils. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – JustFood writes about how regenerative agriculture - and funding - is slowly taking root. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) inaugurated its new specialty feed protein production line in Tianjin, China as part of the Group’s strategic plans to expand its activities further downstream and diversify its offering with value-added products. The new specialty feed protein production line will initially focus on producing fermented soybean meal, with an annual production capacity of 60,000 metric tons. The facility employs synergistic fermentation technology developed by LDC’s R&D Center in Shanghai, that utilizes multiple probiotic strains to break down anti-nutritional factors in soybean meal, enhancing its feed protein content, palatability and digestibility. Rich in small-molecule organic acids, LDC’s fermented soybean meal supports animal gut health and helps strengthen immunity during stress or illness. [link]

PepsiCo, in collaboration with Griffith Foods and Milhão, announced the launch of a pioneering direct farmer incentive pilot program to advance regenerative agriculture in Brazil’s Cerrado region. The new pilot program introduces a hybrid Payment for Practice and Payment for Outcomes model, directly compensating farmers for adopting regenerative agriculture practices such as composting, biological inputs, and reducing chemical fertilizer use. Farmers receive upfront payments to offset the cost of sustainable inputs, and then also receive performance-based bonuses for reducing agrochemical applications throughout the season. The pilot will cover 7,000 acres, with plans to scale to 30,000 acres, PepsiCo’s full corn sourcing volume in the region, by year three. The initiative is co-funded by PepsiCo and Griffith Foods, with additional contributions from Milhão. Total investment is expected to reach $1 million by year three. [link]

British retailer Waitrose is committing to nature-friendly farming by investing £1 million (€1.17 million) alongside the Soil Association Exchange and Regenified. The new initiative accelerates the company’s Farming for Nature program, aiming to support 2,000 British farmers in adopting regenerative practices to enhance business resilience, secure food supplies, and combat climate change. The partnership with Soil Association Exchange, a farm measurement tool, involves a four-year program to support early-adopting farms in key Waitrose supply chains. Waitrose will also offer 100 farms free access to the Regenified certification framework for three years. [link]

Green Carbon Inc. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Living Roots Pte. Ltd. to jointly develop and commercialize biochar-derived organic fertilizers for rubber plantations in Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia. The partnership aims to establish a new model that integrates regenerative agriculture with carbon credit generation through the effective use of agricultural residues. Together, the two companies will build a supply system capable of providing more than 3,000 tons of biochar annually, implementing a circular solution that simultaneously enhances farmers’ incomes, regenerates soil, and creates CDR (Carbon Dioxide Removal) credits. [link]

Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17), Don Beyer (VA-08), and Chellie Pingree (ME-01) introduced the Innovative Practices for Soil Health Act, bipartisan legislation to improve soil health on farms and support sustainable alternatives to annual agriculture. The legislation would ensure United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) conservation programs are better able to support farmers who incorporate perennial systems and agroforestry into their operations. [link]

JBS USA will invest $1.1 million in climate-smart agriculture for New York farmers to end an investigation and settle a lawsuit alleging the company’s net-zero claims were misleading, according to the New York Attorney General Leticia James. Under the settlement, JBS has agreed to frame its 2040 net-zero target as a “goal” rather than a “commitment” or “pledge;” the company’s site now calls the target an “ambition.” Additionally, the firm will define any steps it’s taking when issuing consumer-facing statements that say the company is “taking real acting” or similar language, according to the agreement. James filed a lawsuit against JBS in February 2024, alleging that the company was misleading consumers about its greenhouse gas reduction efforts. The New York AG alleged in the suit that the meatpacker had “no viable plan” to reach its 2040 net-zero goal. [link]

McDonald’s said its big push into value meals is paying off at a time when more consumers are feeling economic pressure. The Chicago-based burger giant said sales for its most recent quarter climbed after it boosted spending on value meals, new products and marketing, part of the Golden Arches’ broader effort to win back cost-conscious eaters. McDonald’s has been working to restore its reputation for value after raising menu prices in the post-pandemic period. McDonald’s in September resumed advertising Extra Value Meals, and the company is spending tens of millions of dollars behind marketing and discounting the deals. [link]

Chocolate giant Barry Callebaut announced a long-term partnership with Planet A Foods, a start-up innovating in sustainable cocoa-free chocolate alternatives. The partnership aims to meet the growing consumer demand for sustainable chocolate solutions without cocoa – though Barry Callebaut has affirmed that cocoa remains at the core of its business and will continue to play a central role in its future. Planet A’s ChoViva brand offers a cocoa-free chocolate alternative solution made from locally available crops, such as sunflower seeds, designed to offer a chocolate-like experience without compromising on quality or taste. Barry Callebaut’s goal is to shorten supply chains and reduce its environmental footprint, complementing the group’s broader sustainability ambitions. [link]

A new project has been launched in Scotland to evaluate ten key soil health indicators and develop a practical framework that helps farmers better manage and improve the health of their soil. The project is led by researchers from the Organic Research Centre (ORC), an RSK ADAS company, which manages the knowledge exchange and delivers the shortlist of early indicators of soil health. Colleagues from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) will lead on the interpretation framework. The project will create a ranked list of early indicators of soil health coupled with a practical interpretation framework to tackle that need head-on. It will cover biological metrics like the soil food web, phospholipid fatty acids and CO2 burst, all of which are key areas of interest for farmers exploring the impact of their management on soil biology. The findings will be shared through workshops, freely available news items published online and through the channels of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and SRUC, ensuring accessibility to farmers across the UK. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-October, dsm-firmenich and Bayer signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to accelerate sustainability across the animal agriculture sector through enhanced environmental footprint measurement. See more, here.

November 1, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The Yale Center for Environmental Communication writes about an ecologist serving up climate science on a plate. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Devdiscourse covers the radical shift taking place across the global farming landscape as AI and regenerative practices converge. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – UNSW Sydney reviews the hidden cost of food production in Australia. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said that food benefits under one of the country’s biggest social assistance programs will not be issued next month amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. More than 41 million depend on the monthly payments, according to the USDA. In some states, like New Mexico, dependence on the program is as high as 21% of residents, it said. The agency’s announcement came after more than 200 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives called on USDA to draw on its emergency reserves to fund November food benefits. [link]

The European Union-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) said they have identified animal health, dairy development, agricultural mechanization, organic and regenerative agriculture, and climate-resilient farming practices as possible areas of collaboration. In a statement, EU-ABC Executive Director Chris Humphrey also highlighted his organization’s ongoing engagement in ASEAN through the Health Summit in Kuala Lumpur and the annual Sustainability Summit hosted by its Philippine Chapter. He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to forging partnerships with rural communities, promoting inclusive and sustainable agriculture, and supporting the conclusion of the EU–Philippines Free Trade Agreement. The Philippines is set to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026. [link]

The European Parliament has approved the EU Soil Monitoring Law, which aims to restore European soils by 2050. Member states will now be required to monitor and assess soil health across their territories. The law introduces no new legal obligations for landowners or land managers; however, it requires EU Member States to support farmers in improving soil health and resilience. The law will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the EU Official Journal (likely late November 2025), with transposition into national law within 24–36 months. [link]

The European Union (EU) has launched a three-year program in Ghana aimed at making cocoa production more sustainable, traceable, and compliant with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). In a statement posted on its website, the EU mission in Ghana indicated the new partnership is being implemented by a consortium of four civil society organizations focused on forest governance: Solidaridad West Africa, Tropenbos Ghana, Taylor Crabbe Initiative, and Rights & Advocacy Initiatives Network (RAIN). The program, named the “Deforestation-Free Cocoa Project,” is funded by a 2 million euro ($2.3 million) budget, 99% of which is contributed by the EU. It aims to directly support approximately 5,000 cocoa farmers and involves rehabilitating over 1,000 hectares of old plantations by integrating agroforestry systems between 2025 and 2028. [link]

PepsiCo has significantly expanded its Climate Resilience Platform (CRP), an open-access, open-source tool helping farmers to plan for the impacts of climate change. CRP, which originally launched in 2023, translates climate research into actionable insights for those in the agricultural space, enabling them to anticipate yield risks and implement targeted interventions. PepsiCo has worked with partners including the Alliance of Biodiversity International and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research to expand the tool to additional geographies and crops – namely cotton and rice. Efforts have also been made to enhance the platform’s accessibility and improve data accuracy and relevance. [link]

Americans will now be able to walk into a grocery store and buy cultivated meat off the shelf for the first time. Californian startup Mission Barns will hold the US’s first retail sale of cultivated meat on November 1, selling pork meatballs at Berkeley Bowl West. The retail debut comes nearly two months after Mission Barns introduced its cultivated meatballs and bacon to diners at Fiorella restaurant in San Francisco’s Sunset District. [link]

France’s Parima, formed this month after Gourmey’s acquisition of Vital Meat, has received regulatory approval to sell cultivated chicken in Singapore. Parima has become the first European startup to be cleared to sell cultivated meat for human food anywhere in the world, following approval from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). The approval marks Singapore’s second authorization for cultivated meat this year, with Friends & Family Pet Food Co getting the nod for its Kampung bird products, and the first for human applications since Vow‘s cultured quail in 2024. [link]

Kraft Heinz reported lower third-quarter sales and trimmed its full-year outlook amid industry concerns about higher inflation and a pullback in consumer spending. The company now expects organic net sales for the year to be down 3% to 3.5%. It had previously expected organic net sales to be down 1.5% to 3.5%. Earlier this year, Kraft Heinz said it would split into two companies, one with brands including Heinz, Philadelphia and Kraft Mac & Cheese and the other company’s portfolio featuring Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. [link]

As consumers prepare to enjoy Thanksgiving meals, a new study reveals that regeneratively farmed turkeys are significantly more nutrient-dense than conventional birds. Research on US-based Diestel Family Ranch found that its turkeys contain up to 79% more omega-3s and three times more antioxidants — underscoring regenerative agriculture’s benefits for food nutrition and environmental health. The nutrient boost is linked to regenerative farming methods that improve soil health, feed quality, and fatty acid ratios. Maintaining a healthy omega-6:3 ratio is essential for health, with a recent study finding that an elevated omega-6:3 ratio in consumer diets can lead to various autoimmune, inflammatory, and allergic diseases. [link]

McDonald’s has expanded its partnership with Arla Foods to launch a new nature-led sustainability drive across British dairy farms. The fast-food chain has joined Arla’s FarmAhead Customer Partnership program, expanding a relationship that began in 1987. The latest phase focuses on ReNature, a biodiversity project designed to assess and improve soil health, wildlife habitats and overall biodiversity on around 60 organic dairy farms supplying Arla. The cooperative will share the findings across its milk pool to create measurable benchmarks for sustainable farming. [link]

After more than 15 years of research and development, Dole has successfully introduced a new, non-GMO pineapple variety that embodies the taste and aroma of a pina colada. The new variety contains all the tanginess and sweetness you’d typically find in a common pineapple, except it’s juicier, lighter in color, and slightly more delicate, with subtle notes of creamy coconut and vanilla. It also has a smaller core, which means more of the fruit is edible, thereby minimizing food waste. [link]

A new law has taken effect in Norway that aims to ban advertising of unhealthy products directed at children. The new law is meant to protect minors from, for example, promotion of sugary soft drinks or energy drinks. It doesn’t regulate sales of unhealthy food or drink, however, and it will still allow producers like beverage giant Coca-Cola to sponsor such events as the youth football tournament Norway Cup. [link]

Verra’s methodology for improved agricultural land management has been approved by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) as meeting the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs). This will enable the generation of tens of millions of high-integrity carbon credits from farming projects worldwide. The methodology, VM0042 Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.2, quantifies greenhouse gas emission reductions and soil organic carbon-based removals resulting from regenerative agriculture, including activities such as reduced tillage, improved fertilizer use, residue and water management, diversified cropping, and effective grazing systems. [link]

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is excited to announce that the 2025-2026 enrollment period for its popular Conservation Buffer Initiative will run from November 1st, 2025 through April 30, 2026. To help Maryland meet its ambitious tree planting goals, qualifying farmers who plant forest buffers through this program will receive a one-time $1,000/acre signing bonus for trees along with the program’s standard incentive payment. Payment rates range from $500 per acre for existing grass buffers to a maximum of $4,500 per acre to install a riparian forest buffer with pasture fencing. Mowing and hay harvesting are allowed for on-farm use; nutrient applications are not. Farmers receive 75% of the project cost upfront and the remaining 25% after verification of planting for new or improved buffers and 100% of the eligible payment for existing buffers that have been field-verified. [link]

Danone has launched a program that enhances the skills of dairy farmers worldwide and strengthens the resilience of the dairy farming industry. The program, dubbed the Milk Academy, targets training in farm management, sustainability, and regenerative agriculture, teaching farmers techniques to improve herd productivity and soil health, and investigating ways to reduce methane emissions. According to the French multinational food products corporation, the Milk Academy is the first of its kind within the dairy industry, geared toward developing the supply chain and enhancing the skills of its network of farmers. [link]

Israel’s Believer Meats has received official clearance from the USDA to produce and sell its cultivated chicken in the country, becoming the first non-US startup to reach the milestone. The firm has received the USDA’s green light for its product label and factory in North Carolina, which was completed earlier this year and is the world’s largest cultivated meat facility. In a post on LinkedIn, CEO Gustavo Burger called it “a major milestone that authorizes us to begin commercial production and sales of our cultivated chicken products in the US and export to international markets”. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late August, Exomad Green announced that its latest biochar field study revealed the transformative impact of biochar on soil health and agricultural sustainability. See more, here.