October 25, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The Yale Center for Environmental Communication writes about what happens when you let nature back into the farm. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Minnesota Public Radio offers up a short podcast discussing “the land problem” associated with feeding a growing population. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – A new article in PNAS evaluates the persistence of conservation and climate-smart agricultural practices in the U.S. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

Lloyds Bank has launched its “Farming with Nature: Mapping the Growth Opportunity for UK Agriculture” report, claiming it is the most comprehensive analysis of its kind. The report maps 5.1 million hectares - almost a third of the UK’s farmed land - using geospatial data, on-farm assessments and new economic insight. It says that 1.2 million hectares of UK farmland have the highest potential for habitat creation that can act as carbon stores and boost beneficial species. In addition, a further 600,000 hectares is suitable for tree and hedge planting, to help farms reduce flood risk and soil erosion, while improving water retention and biodiversity. The bank is also introducing Lloyds’ Agricultural Transition Finance, a new product launching later this year, designed to support farmers transitioning to more sustainable and regenerative systems. [link]

Researchers from University of Gloucestershire will play a key role in a new £12.3 million project to discover how regenerative and conservation agriculture could help reverse the alarming degradation of soils. Working hand-in-hand with farmers, the EU-funded TRAILS4SOIL project will provide hard evidence from 100 sites across nine European countries on regenerative and conservation agriculture’s impacts - not only on soil health, but also on crop yield, farm income and farmer wellbeing. According to European Environment Agency figures, over 60% of soils in Europe are degraded, harming crop yields, income and biodiversity. The project comes in response to surging interest in the potential of regenerative and conservation agriculture to undo this damage. [link]

PepsiCo has partnered with agri-carbon platform Soil Capital to drive regenerative agriculture across its supply chains in the UK, France and Belgium. The partnership will ensure more than 35,000 acres of farmland, which currently supplies ingredients for brands such as Lay’s and Walkers crisps, to transition to low-carbon, soil-restoring practices. Under the partnership, farmers in PepsiCo’s European supply chain will gain access to Soil Capital’s agronomic expertise and digital tools to support the adoption of practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage and the replacement of synthetic inputs with organic fertilizers. [link]

dsm-firmenich and Bayer have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to accelerate sustainability across the animal agriculture sector through enhanced environmental footprint measurement. The agreement integrates Bayer’s expertise in primary crop life cycle assessment (LCA) data with dsm-firmenich’s Sustell platform – an ISO-assured environmental footprinting solution for animal protein. Together, the two companies aim to provide farmers and food producers with reliable, actionable insights to measure and reduce the environmental impact of animal protein production. [link]

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Green Fertilizer Grant Program. The program will support agricultural and rural electric cooperatives registered as 308A or 308B within the state of Minnesota so they can invest in green fertilizer manufacturing. Green fertilizers are nitrogen-based fertilizers produced from water, air, and renewable energy and have significant climate and sustainability benefits compared to fossil-fuel derived nitrogen-based fertilizers. The MDA expects to award up to $3.8 million for business-ready and shovel-ready projects. Applicants may request between $250,000 and $3.8 million. Applications are due by Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. [link]

Arizona State University recently hosted a “Food is Medicine and Eating for Health” event together with Food Tank, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation. Trailblazers from science, farming, health, culture and community advocacy gathered at the Walton Center for Planetary Health on ASU’s Tempe campus, sharing innovative, community-driven solutions to challenges in food production, quality, access and sustainability. Breakout groups led by ASU faculty and graduate students brainstormed new ideas to advance science, policy and local initiatives. [link]

Raising groundwater levels and adding biochar to agricultural peat soils could dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining healthy crop production, according to a new study from Bangor University. The study, published in Biochar (2025), tested how water table management and biochar, a charcoal-like soil additive made from plant biomass, affect carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions in peat-based farming systems. Researchers found that rewetting peat soils by raising the water table reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 18 percent and nitrous oxide emissions by 40 percent, though it slightly increased methane release. When biochar was added under these wetter conditions, total greenhouse gas emissions fell even further, by up to 4.64 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per hectare each year, while improving crop yields. [link]

The Trump Administration plans to release more than $3 billion in aid to U.S. farmers and partially resume U.S. Department of Agriculture operations despite the ongoing federal shutdown. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that “Thursday, USDA will resume Farm Service Agency core operations, including critical services for farm loan processing, ARC/PLC (commodity) payments, and other programs.” Reports say the funds will be drawn from the Commodity Credit Corporation, a USDA financing vehicle previously used under the Trump administration to deliver billions in trade-related farmer support. Officials have not yet detailed the breakdown, timing, or eligibility criteria for the aid. [link]

MyLand, a leading innovator in soil health, announced an expansion of its collaboration with Texas A&M AgriLife Research, designed to accelerate the adoption of sustainable soil practices across Texas and beyond. The new phase of research will evaluate the effects and benefits of microalgae in a range of agriculture and natural resources production systems specific to Texas. This milestone builds on the success of the collaboration, which began in 2023. Over the past two years, MyLand and AgriLife Research have expanded soil research and data collection across 12,000 acres in Texas, representing multiple soil types, crops, and regions. [link]

A new report from the nonprofit Coffee Watch says that modern coffee production in Brazil continues to be a significant driver of deforestation, with hundreds of thousands of hectares of native forest cleared inside coffee farm boundaries since 2001. Beyond the global implications for biodiversity and climate change, the continued loss of forest in key coffee regions presents economic threats to the Brazilian coffee sector, driving a cycle of drought and yield volatility, according to the report. The 34-page report, “Wake Up and Smell the Deforestation,” combines satellite and land-use datasets to map coffee’s direct and indirect footprint across Brazil’s major growing regions. Among its key findings are that at least 312,803 hectares of intact forest were directly converted to coffee between 2001 and 2023, while about 737,000 hectares of forest were lost inside coffee farm boundaries over the same period. [link]

Delegates are calling for stronger collaboration to accelerate the global expansion of agroforestry as Rwanda hosts the sixth World Congress on Agroforestry. The event, held this past week in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, drew more than 700 participants from across the world, including farmers, researchers, policymakers, private sector leaders, civil society groups, and youth representatives. Held under the theme “Agroforestry for People, Planet, and Profit,” the congress served as a platform for sharing knowledge and innovations that advance sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth. It aimed to strengthen partnerships among researchers, governments, the private sector, and farming communities to integrate agroforestry into local and global development agendas. [link]

The Regenerative Innovation Portfolio is launching Lower Silesia 360°, a flagship regenerative agriculture landscape in Poland. Designed as one of the largest initiatives of its kind in the country, the landscape will bring together farmers, businesses, and local institutions to accelerate the transition to regenerative farming and strengthen agricultural resilience. EIT Food is orchestrating the landscape in collaboration with Food Valley and alongside Bunge, PepsiCo, Viking Malt and Malteurop, backed as well by the Lower Silesian Agricultural Advisory Centre in Wroclaw (DODR). Encompassing more than 20,000 hectares of farmland across four major crops, including rapeseed, wheat, malting barley and sugar beet, Lower Silesia 360° will serve as a model for landscape-level transformation, with the potential to be replicated across Europe. [link]

This week, Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Eugene Vindman (VA-07) introduced the Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2025, legislation that strengthens America’s organic agriculture sector by expanding federal research, improving coordination across the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and supporting producers transitioning to organic production. The bill directs USDA to elevate organics research within its core scientific mission, ensuring the department better coordinates research across its agencies, includes organic priorities in its annual budget, and expands opportunities for universities and producers to advance innovation in the field. [link]

Major food, agricultural and consumer products trade groups and companies have given their support to Americans for Ingredient Transparency (AFIT), a new policy advocacy coalition seeking a uniform national standard for ingredient transparency. Amid heightened public scrutiny of the contents of consumer packaged goods, AFIT said it’s pursuing federal legislation that would create one US benchmark for ingredient transparency that “applies consistent, science- and risk-based principles to give Americans everywhere confidence in the safety of their foods, beverages and personal care products.” With many states now enacting or considering their own ingredient transparency laws, the goal is to avoid the emergence of “an ever-expanding patchwork of disjointed food, beverage and personal care regulations” that would sow confusion among US consumers, the coalition said. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

Earlier this month, details were released about how Japan is using new laser drone systems to scare birds from farms in order to reduce avian flu risk. See more, here.

October 18, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – IPAK-EDU writes about a recent MAHA petition asking the USDA Secretary to support small farms. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Politico carries a guest column stating that Europe urgently needs the next generation of farmers. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – Bain & Co. looks into why U.S. sustainable crops are suddenly in high demand. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

New Zealand pledged to cut biogenic methane emissions by up to 24% from 2017 levels by 2050, which its conservative government said would protect the agriculture sector and meet the country’s climate commitments. The announcement comes after the government in April ended a plan to put a price on agricultural emissions including methane produced by belching sheep and cattle, relenting to farmer pressure that the plan would make their business unprofitable. New Zealand, home to five million people, has about 10 million cattle and 26 million sheep. Nearly half its total greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, mainly methane. [link]

A British farming charity has launched its first international demonstration farm. LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) has expanded its global presence with the launch in Limpopo, South Africa, marking its first international demonstration site and a significant step in promoting sustainable agriculture beyond the UK. The farm is run by Valerie and Graeme Whyte and focuses on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), exporting avocados and macadamia nuts to the UK through Tesco. [link]

In an alarming revelation, recent studies have indicated a significant increase in global crop water consumption over the past decade. Research demonstrates that water usage for 46 key agricultural crops surged by 9% globally from 2010 to 2020. The research suggests that a reevaluation of irrigation practices and crop choices is essential for future sustainability. Innovative techniques, such as deficit irrigation and the use of drought-resistant crop varieties, may offer viable solutions for reducing overall water demand. [link]

FairFruit has launched a strategic plan to expand its position on the US market as a reliable year-round supplier of sustainable specialty vegetables from Guatemala and Peru. For the last two decades the company – a champion of regenerative agriculture – has been making inroads in the US with its stringless snow peas and sugar snap peas from Guatemala and Peru. Its portfolio has steadily expanded to include French beans, baby carrots, English peas, and butternut squash, with rainbow carrots and broccolini soon to be added. [link]

Farmland LP, the largest U.S. manager exclusively focused on organic and regenerative farmland, and Carbon Friendly, a leader in regenerative carbon project development, have submitted the first regenerative farming carbon credits produced in the United States to Verra for issuance under the VM0042 methodology. Following site visits in late 2024, a Verra-accredited third-party auditor spent nine months reviewing the project against Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard methodology. The completed review was submitted to Verra in October for final approval and issuance of carbon credits. [link]

The Penn State Extension Forestry and Wildlife Team, in collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, and Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, will host an inaugural Mid-Atlantic Agroforestry Conference focusing on Forest Farming and Multifunctional Buffers. This in-person event will give agroforesters, forest landowners, new and beginning farmers, and conservation professionals insight into the state of agroforestry, products and marketing approaches, and case studies from practitioners. The conference will be held June 4–5, 2026, at the Special Events Building, Ag Progress Days site in Pennsylvania Furnace, Huntingdon County. [link]

Nestlé said it would cut 16,000 jobs and take a fresh look at exiting some of its 2,000-plus brands, part of a sweeping restructuring under new Chief Executive Philipp Navratil aimed at reviving the consumer-products giant’s fortunes. The layoffs equate to 6% of the company’s 277,000-strong global workforce. About 12,000 of the job cuts will be white-collar roles, with 4,000 in manufacturing and supply-chain positions. Nestlé also reported a pickup in organic sales growth for the third quarter to 4.3%, accelerating from 2.9% in the first half. The company said its sales performance reflected a recovery in sales volumes and steady pricing, with volumes returning to growth in the third quarter after a decline in the second. [link]

Lidl GB (Great Britain) has outlined a groundbreaking £30 billion investment in British food and farming over the next five years. The commitment, which represents a 100% increase over their previous investment, aims to bolster the resilience and sustainability of the British supply chain while enhancing the quality and value of products offered to consumers. The initiative is designed to provide 650+ British suppliers, along with numerous farmers and growers, with the stability and confidence needed to invest in their operations and innovate for the future. [link]

The Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROC) is kickstarting a new program, Journey to ROC, to welcome and encourage more farmers and packaged food brands to implement regenerative agriculture practices. Journey to ROC is a partnership between ROC and RegenAgri, another regenerative certifier that has less rigorous standards. Farms and brands that want to achieve ROC Certification but have not yet met its high threshold will have the opportunity to become RegenAgri certified to encourage them to keep continually improving their land, eventually graduating to ROC Certification within three to five years. The two organizations will also begin a data-sharing partnership, which is one benefit of RegenAgri, given that both organizations are practice- and outcome-based, meaning that the practices being implemented on a farm are just as important as how farmers achieve positive outcomes. [link]

CMI Orchards is unveiling a bold, multi-faceted approach to advancing regenerative agriculture and transparent environmental leadership across the tree fruit industry. Anchored by its impact-driven platform CMI SOARS – Sustainable Orchards and Regenerative Solutions—and the launch of its consumer-facing brand Planet Positive, CMI is setting new standards for measurable sustainability to drive real, environmental and commercial value. Through SOARS, CMI established measurable goals to increase soil biodiversity and fruit micronutrient density, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and expand carbon sequestration through regenerative practices such as composting, biochar production, and vermicomposting (worm farming). The consumer-facing pillar of this initiative, Planet Positive, will officially debut at this year’s IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show. It is designed to bridge CMI’s regenerative achievements with a transparent, trusted way for shoppers to make environmentally responsible choices, delivered in a brand with an emotional message. [link]

Klim, the technology company behind an operating system for regenerative agriculture, has launched a new digital companion tool designed to simplify and scale regenerative practices for UK farmers and food & beverage companies. The platform offers personalized, field-level recommendations and consolidates data input into a single annual entry - removing the complexity and fragmentation that has long hindered adoption. Looking ahead, Klim plans to launch an AI-powered digital agent in Q1 2026 to provide farmers with real-time, personalized support on regenerative agriculture questions - further enhancing the platform’s usability and impact. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late September, the United Nations held its second Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation. See more, here.

October 11, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Sustainability Magazine asks if agriculture and food systems can be sustainable. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – AgFunderNews carries a guest column stating that private capital is a fundamental - and underfunded - piece of global food security. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – The University of Illinois takes a look at the relationship between average cash rents and soil productivity. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

The ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) outlined a regional plan to modernize and strengthen agricultural cooperation, with a focus on sustainable practices, resilient supply chains, and digital innovation. Two priority programs were announced, guiding ASEAN’s agricultural agenda through 2026 and beyond: the ASEAN Implementation Plan for Regenerative and Resilient Agriculture Systems, and the ASEAN One Billion Trees Growing Program Initiative. Both are seen as key steps in advancing climate-smart agriculture while positioning the region to meet growing food demand. Ministers also highlighted the importance of digital and smart agriculture solutions in improving efficiency and scaling food production, an area where private sector partnerships are expected to play a central role. [link]

In Japan, a drone-based model has been designed as a way of scaring away birds from farms using a laser light show, in order to protect against the spread of avian flu. Japanese tech giant NTT, formerly Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, designed the drones specifically as a way of protecting poultry farms. Lasers flicker on and off to prevent any animals from getting too comfortable by staying between the gaps in the drone’s rays. The red and green colors were chosen as they are proven to ward off not just birds, but also animals such as deer – and wild boar. [link]

In a groundbreaking study poised to reshape agricultural approaches to climate change mitigation, researchers from the University of Warwick and Cranfield University have demonstrated that genetic selection in crop varieties—especially rice—can significantly curb greenhouse gas emissions without compromising yields. Extensive research has long established the role of nitrogen fertilizer in driving nitrous oxide release, however the intrinsic impact of plant genetics on GHG emissions has remained largely ambiguous—until now. Analyzing an expansive dataset comprising 180 crop genotypes across diverse global trial sites, the study disentangled the intertwined influences of genotype and fertilizer application on emissions. While nitrous oxide emissions were found to closely track nitrogen fertilizer usage—with little genetic variation influence—methane emissions showed strong dependency on genotype. This dissociation suggests a critical pivot where breeding programs can prioritize methane reduction strategies, a nuance previously unaddressed in climate-smart agriculture models. [link]

The Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-food (CANZA) is looking to sow the seeds for sustainable, regenerative agricultural practices across 365,000 acres of Canadian farmland by 2030 as part of its Million Acre Challenge. CANZA will offer participating farmers cost-sharing incentives to de-risk the move toward regenerative practices. Participating farmers in Ontario’s corn belt will initiate the challenge in 2026. It was supported with $7 million from the Weston family, which owns retailer Loblaw and Choice Properties REIT. [link]

The EPA’s Mid-Atlantic office and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have signed a first-of-its-kind Memorandum of Understanding to formalize their partnership and expand collaboration on sustainable agricultural practices, regulatory programs, outreach, and education. The five-year agreement aims to support well-managed, sustainable farms while protecting Virginia’s environment. The memorandum outlines shared goals to improve communication, enhance regulatory compliance, and promote environmental stewardship. The signing was followed by a roundtable discussion hosted by the Virginia Farm Bureau in Richmond with EPA, VDACS, and leaders from the state’s agriculture and forestry sectors. [link]

Modern farming practices undermine the resilience of the world’s soils, placing the global food system at risk, new research suggests. A major review of agricultural practices has concluded that while intensive techniques such as ploughing, fertilizer use and irrigation boost crop yields in the short term, their regular longer-term use can degrade soils, leaving them less able to withstand shocks such as drought, flooding or geopolitical disruption. The study, published in NPJ Sustainable Agriculture, ranked the greatest threats to soil resilience. Top of the list is elevated erosion caused by over-ploughing, overgrazing and deforestation – a process that can permanently strip away fertile ground that takes centuries to form. Also of concern are the salinization of irrigated farmland, contamination from pesticides and plastic residues, and compaction from intensive livestock farming. [link]

Tyson Foods and Cargill have agreed to pay a combined $87.5 million to settle a federal lawsuit brought by consumers who accused the companies of conspiring to inflate U.S. beef prices by restricting supply. Tyson recently agreed to pay $85 million to settle a lawsuit by consumers who accused it of conspiring with rivals to inflate pork prices. Earlier this year, JBS USA reached a $83.5 million settlement resolving price-fixing claims from ranchers and other plaintiffs, but not consumers. All companies have denied wrongdoing in each instance. [link]

Isometric has released a draft protocol for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) via Agroforestry for public consultation. This draft protocol outlines requirements and procedures for projects that remove carbon by planting or increasing forest cover integrated within agricultural landscapes. As a carbon removal pathway, Agroforestry has the potential to remove up to 310 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year and encompasses a range of techniques that bring trees into farming systems. This protocol was developed in line with the Isometric Standard, through collaboration between Isometric’s in-house Science Team and reviewers from Isometric’s independent Science Network of more than 300 academic experts and practitioners. Comments are welcome from interested buyers, suppliers, and scientists during the 30-day public consultation period ending on October 30. [link]

Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) and Market Gardener Institute (MGI) announced a new collaboration aimed at providing proven regenerative agriculture practices to market gardeners and small-scale growers around the world. The partnership combines AEA’s industry-leading regenerative products and protocols with MGI’s trusted training programs, creating a powerful alliance to support the next generation of ecological farmers. The two organizations are running field trials focused on optimizing soil health and improving crop quality across a range of market garden systems. These trials are designed to provide real-world insights that directly benefit small-scale growers, helping them implement regenerative practices with confidence and clarity. [link]

Bayer announced that Cornfed Farms, a fourth-generation farm operated by the Mohr family, has been designated as the first Bayer ForwardFarm site in the Midwest and the only ForwardFarm in the United States. This recognition places Cornfed Farms as one of 16 farms around the globe, highlighted by Bayer as committed to advancing regenerative agriculture practices that ensure economic success while promoting environmental stewardship. The Mohr family has adopted a no-till/minimum till approach while also integrating intermediate crops such as CoverCress and camelina that will improve biodiversity, water retention, and nutrient cycling. Cornfed Farms also showcases some of agriculture’s latest corn and soybean products and technologies including the Preceon Smart Corn System, enabling farmers to benefit from shorter stature hybrids and data-driven insights that help mitigate risk and optimize performance in the field. [link]

Nestle said that it quit a major alliance between the world’s largest global food companies aimed at reducing methane emissions from dairy suppliers. A spokesperson from the company said that Nestle decided to discontinue its participation in the Dairy Methane Action Alliance, following a review of its external organization memberships. The alliance was launched by nonprofit advocacy group Environmental Defense Fund in 2023 to curb emissions in dairy supply chains, requiring companies to disclose methane emissions and form action plans. Nestle was a founding member, alongside other major food and beverage producers Kraft Heinz, Starbucks, Danone and General Mills, according to the group’s website. [link]

A new study in Scientific Reports projects that in Northern Italy, restoring silvoarable systems—a once-widespread agricultural practice in Europe that combines widely spaced trees with annual or perennial crops—could significantly enhance the region’s carbon sequestration capability. This finding suggests that the practice has the potential to likewise enhance carbon sequestration on farmland across the globe, resulting in a substantial reduction of agriculture’s carbon footprint. Using land-use records and historical sources covering the past century, the study reconstructs the historical role of agroforestry in Northern Italy, where it had declined precipitously since the 1950s due to industrialization and modernization of agricultural practices. Based on Monte Carlo simulations and modeling of multiple plausible scenarios, researchers at the MIT Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy (CS3) and the University of Milan (Italy) estimate that historic silvoarable systems stored an average of 75.4 tons of carbon per hectare (10,000 square meters, or about 2.5 acres), but were largely replaced with monocultures—fields in which one crop is cultivated at a time. As monocultures expanded by 77 percent, silvoarable systems declined by 97 percent. The study’s modeled projections suggest that restoring silvoarable systems could boost regional carbon sequestration by up to 12 percent, a gain comparable to afforestation strategies that would require converting 25 percent of existing farmland to new forest land. [link]

A federal U.S. government shutdown means that nearly all USDA-funded agricultural conservation work is now frozen, with 95 percent of NRCS staff furloughed and program payments paused. The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides the technical and financial backbone for conservation work on American farms. Without it, many projects like wetlands or prairie planting are stalled. This comes at a time when producers are already facing big challenges, and even short payment interruptions could deepen farmers’ economic turmoil. [link]

The European Parliament voted to prohibit the use of traditional meat-related terms for plant-based products. The vote, which passed with 355 in favor, 247 against, and 30 abstentions, effectively bans terms such as “burger,” “sausage,” “bacon,” and “steak” when used to label vegetarian and vegan foods. The proposal, which expands on previous legislation, was pushed forward by the Parliament’s Agriculture Committee. If adopted by the European Council and European Commission, it would mean that terms like “veggie burger” could no longer be used, even if the labeling clearly indicates the product contains no meat. [link]

Farm management and precision ag software startups led agrifoodtech funding in Q3 2025, thanks largely to a few big deals, including the $100 million raise from virtual fencing startup Halter. This was one glimmer against an otherwise-gloomy funding backdrop for agrifoodtech. Investment numbers across categories are still falling, dropping another 32% to $1.7 billion in the third quarter of 2025 compared to Q2 2025, according to preliminary data from AgFunder. The drop is almost a 50% decrease from the Q3 2024. Deal count is also down, with just 195 deals so far in 2025 across all categories—nearly flat compared to the previous quarter but substantially down when stacked against previous years. [link]

Through a new, first-of-its-kind partnership, Nestlé and the World Farmers’ Organization (WFO) will join efforts to help make food systems more resilient to climate change. Nestlé and the WFO will advocate for fair policies and practical solutions, such as regenerative agriculture, that empower farmers and help them adapt to climate change. The two organizations will collaborate to understand farmers’ challenges, to promote awareness of regenerative agriculture, to strengthen farmers’ capacities, and to co-develop viable farming models that can also inspire and attract the next generation of farmers. [link]

Regenified hosted its inaugural Regenerative Capital Market Day at the London Stock Exchange on October 8, convening senior leaders from pension funds, banks, insurers, sovereign wealth funds, and asset managers to examine the fast-growing role of regenerative agriculture and forestry in long-term investment strategy. The event brought together global experts from the investment community including Dr. Marc Palahí, Chief Nature Officer at Lombard Odier Investment Managers; Justin Adams OBE, founder of Ostara; Salar Shemirani, co-founder and CEO of Regenified; and Paul Young, co-founder and CEO of Conservation Resources. With the focus on case studies, evolving regulatory frameworks, and pipe-line ready projects across the UK and beyond, the presence of financial institutions alongside landowners and major buyers of agricultural produce reflected the growing consensus that regeneration is not only an environmental necessity, but also a driver of resilience and long-term value creation. [link]

Food dye manufacturers are suing the state of West Virginia in a bid to overturn a state law that bans artificial colors in food and beverages. The International Association of Color Manufacturers argued in a filing to the U.S. District Court for Southern West Virginia that the state “arbitrarily” bans dyes without scientific evidence, violating U.S. and state constitutions. West Virginia enacted legislation earlier this year prohibiting food and beverage companies from selling products with seven synthetic dyes, as well as the preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben, beginning in 2028. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late September, ADM announced the expansion of its regenerative agriculture program, re:generations, to Hungary. See more, here.

October 4, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – CGIAR reviews how agricultural pollution impacts biodiversity and lays out a game plan to fix the problem. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – Watch a video from the Organic Produce Network discussing the opportunities and uncertainties in the organic food space right now. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – A new paper in Elsevier says that an increase in the spice level of food appears to reduce eating rates and overall food intake. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

Taos, NM is one of two locations around the United States selected for a citizen science project focused on regenerative agriculture. The Ecdysis Foundation, an agricultural research foundation founded by U.S. Department of Agriculture alum John Lundgren, chose the town and a community in northeastern Ohio as the pilot locations for “Project Avalanche,” a citizen science project for farmers and ranchers. The program, which costs Ecdysis $7,500 per farm, is free for farmers and monitors soil health, wildlife diversity, and crop quality and yields on farms transitioning to regenerative agriculture to inform research that is shared with other farmers around the country. [link]

Swiss coffee brand Nespresso will be the first company to source coffees that have met the Rainforest Alliance’s new Regenerative Agriculture Standard, which recognizes farms that achieve a comprehensive set of sustainable requirements. The international NGO announced its new Standard earlier this month. The certification aims to help coffee farmers and companies build resilient business structures by helping to restore ecosystems in tropical environments and landscapes. The certification seal will start appearing on Nespresso coffees in 2026, with one of the first certified coffees coming from Yamileth Chacón’s farm in Costa Rica. Other farms in Costa Rica and Mexico will soon follow suit. [link]

The United Nations held its second Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation this past week. Held at FAO’s headquarters in Rome, the conference convened FAO Members, policymakers, farmers, private companies, industry associations, civil society representatives, NGOs, researchers, and development agencies to share experiences and showcase actionable solutions for the sustainable transformation of the livestock sector. Among other key initiatives, FAO will launch two new Global Hubs: the One Health Knowledge and Intelligence Hub, and the Sustainable Livestock Transformation Innovation Hub. FAO will also introduce the Global Challenge Program for Transboundary Animal Diseases – a bold new business model to protect animal health, support livestock production, and safeguard livelihoods worldwide. A network of FAO Reference Centers for Animal Feed will be established to unlock the full potential of the animal feed sector, particularly in developing countries. And in 2026, FAO will host the first-ever Global Conference on One Health in Agrifood Systems to showcase how One Health connects animal, human, plant, soil, environmental health, food safety, and nutrition. [link]

The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Provincial Administration in Indonesia is rolling out an ambitious project to plant 200,000 trees on the bare slopes of Doro O’o Hill in Langgudu Subdistrict, Bima Regency. The project is being implemented to stabilize the land and establish a long-term source of revenue for residents through valuable crop planting. West Nusa Tenggara Governor Lalu Muhammad Iqbal underscored the necessity of this dual approach, stating that simply repairing ongoing flooding damage is no longer sustainable. The chosen tree species, such as candlenut and avocado, are favored for their strong root systems, which are essential for improving soil structure and enhancing water absorption capacity. Meanwhile, the short-term planting of porang is intended to encourage active public participation and provide a quick economic return. The NTB Provincial Administration will fund and provide the seedlings and technical support, while the local communities and village administration will handle the planting and long-term maintenance. [link]

FoodChain ID and Agmatix have announced a strategic collaboration to accelerate regenerative agriculture within the private sector by offering a measurable return-on-investment. The partnership responds to the growing demand for trusted, transparent, and outcome-focused approaches to regenerative agriculture by providing companies with certification credibility and data-driven actionable insights. Through the partnership, FoodChain ID’s certification customers will have access to RegenIQ, Agmatix’s proprietary AI-powered model designed to accelerate regenerative agriculture adoption. RegenIQ enables companies to evaluate, prioritize and monitor regenerative practices across their operations, empowering companies to prioritize actions that deliver measurable environmental and economic results. [link]

A new leadership program at Cornell University aims to equip professionals with the tools to scale sustainable agriculture and strengthen food system resilience. The six-month Resilient Futures Leadership Program: Financing Sustainable Agriculture is now accepting applications through December 5, 2025. Hosted by Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture and the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, the program will commence in early 2026 and bring together up to 30 early- to mid-career professionals to gain a practical understanding of regenerative practices, the agricultural value chain, sustainability indicators, policy signals, and innovative finance mechanisms, while engaging directly with leading voices from finance, agriculture, technology, and academia. Graduates will complete a final project tied to their organization and join a cross-sector alumni network dedicated to financing resilient ecosystems and enhancing farmer livelihoods. [link]

Walmart said that it is working to remove synthetic dyes from all its store-brand foods, including Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed and Bettergoods. Walmart also plans to eliminate 30 other ingredients, ranging from certain artificial sweeteners to preservatives. Walmart’s heft makes its plans likely to trigger further changes throughout the nation’s food-supply chain, from ingredient suppliers to other food makers and retailers. [link]

Innovation in agriculture is falling behind increasing demands being placed on farmers and agri-food systems, straining future supplies of critical products such as eggs, cotton, and corn- and soy-based biofuels, according to the newly released Global Agricultural Productivity (GAP) Report from Virginia Tech. At the heart of the report is total factor productivity (TFP), an efficiency measure that tracks how effectively agricultural inputs such as land, labor, and capital are converted into outputs. Global TFP growth has dropped to just 0.76 percent annually during the past decade, barely a third of the 2 percent target needed to sustainably meet demand by mid-century. To confront these challenges, the 2025 GAP Report introduces the Total Factor Productivity Growth Frontier, a first-of-its-kind model diagnosing the pain points in agricultural productivity growth and mapping pathways to overcome them. Priorities include reigniting public R&D investment spend, closing the adoption chasm, strengthening the regulatory environment, and fostering public-private collaboration. [link]

Braga Fresh announced that a portion of its regenerative farming acreage has earned official certification for its regenerative farming program from A Greener World, a respected nonprofit certifier of sustainable agricultural practices. The certification marks a major milestone in Braga Fresh’s fifth year of Carbon Capture Farming and now up to 100 organic acres of regenerative farming on the Braga Home Ranch in the Salinas Valley. The AGW certification applies to a 60.5-acre block on the Braga home ranch, currently growing organic romaine hearts and sweet baby broccoli in the Josies Organic brand. [link]

A groundbreaking study, published in PLOS One, employs sophisticated data modeling to analyze British farmland spanning 72,000 square kilometers from 2010 to 2021, revealing promising trends in the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from agricultural activities. The research highlights an 18% median decrease in both short- and long-term global warming potential, alongside a 21% reduction in acidification potential. Moreover, eutrophication potential, referring to nutrient runoff that contaminates aquatic ecosystems, has declined by 13%, illustrating an encouraging shift towards more eco-conscious farming. The changes encapsulated by this analysis correspond to a fundamental restructuring within England’s agricultural landscape, including a shift in land use priorities and marked declines in livestock populations. Such substantial reductions in livestock have played a pivotal role in curbing embedded emissions, especially methane, which is a potent contributor to global warming. [link]

Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) and Edacious announced a strategic collaboration aimed at accelerating the adoption of regenerative agriculture through advanced data-driven insights and food quality measurement. Through this partnership, AEA growers will receive a discount on Edacious’s services, making high-level food quality analysis more accessible. This empowers farmers to directly connect their regenerative farming practices to measurable outcomes in nutrient density, traceability, and shelf stability—areas of growing importance for both consumers and supply chains. The partnership reinforces the importance of data in regenerative systems. Measurable improvements in nutrient density, environmental impact, and food shelf life are essential to advancing credibility and accountability within the regenerative agriculture movement. [link]

A new report from the EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy, Sustainable, and Just Food Systems maps the global food sector’s impact on all nine planetary boundaries and finds that it drives five of the seven already transgressed. The report also finds that just 30% of the population is responsible for more than 70% of the food sector’s environmental impact. However, the commission notes that an improved planetary health diet could halve the food industry’s greenhouse gas emissions and prevent up to 15 million deaths annually. The planetary health diet recommended by the commission means that people around the world should eat more whole grains, legumes, fruit, vegetables, and nuts, while reducing animal products, especially red meat. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-August, Oscar Mayer, a subsidiary of Kraft Heinz, launched the EveryBun Pack, combining its meat and vegan hot dogs in the same packaging without cross-contamination. See more, here.

September 27, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The Wall Street Journal details how farmers and industry groups slowed MAHA’s roll. Ready the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – The Royal Bank of Canada publishes a new report, “Unearthing Value: How nature can play a critical role in pro-growth agendas.” Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – ABC News tells the story of an Australian scientist that just won a peace prize for farmer-managed natural regeneration work in Niger. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

Future leaders of Britain’s food and farming sector are being sought by McDonald’s, with applications now open for its 2026/27 Progressive Young Farmers scheme. The initiative offers a year-long industry placement to full-time undergraduates in the UK and Ireland who are keen to pursue careers in agriculture, food production, or the supply chain. Successful candidates will gain hands-on experience across the entire McDonald’s supply network, from the farm gate to the restaurant counter, while also learning how the wider business operates. [link]

A new Ceres report reveals four important takeaways for companies and financial institutions on the current opportunities and barriers to scaling sustainable and resilient agricultural practices in corporate supply chains. The new report, Cultivating Resilience: A Primer on Corporate Investment in Agricultural Supply Chains, shows many of the largest companies are already acting – working with farmers and ranchers to adopt more resilient practices. However, Ceres finds that more participation at greater scale is needed to transition the sector and reap the most benefits from action. Specifically, the analysis found that collaborative action is essential; lower barriers to entry would increase participation; streamlined accounting could help enable co-investment; and innovation can bring financial institutions to the table. [link]

The team of federal economists and researchers responsible for producing the U.S. government survey that measures hunger in America were put on indefinite paid leave Monday, according to the union that represents the workers. The move comes two days after The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration abruptly canceled the report, which has been produced by the Agriculture Department every year since the mid-1990s. The food insecurity survey is used by policymakers to make funding decisions for food-assistance programs and to evaluate how well those programs work. [link]

A long-term field study conducted in Northeast China’s fertile black soil region has demonstrated that biochar can significantly improve soil health, stabilize microbial communities, and increase crop yields—but only when applied at the right rate. The research, published in Biochar, reveals that a one-time application of biochar at 31.5 metric tons per hectare led to higher soil organic matter stability, enhanced bacterial diversity, and a 7.11% increase in crop yield. In contrast, higher doses reduced microbial stability and negatively affected soil health. Black soils are among the world’s most productive agricultural lands, but decades of intensive farming have led to severe degradation, including organic matter loss and soil acidification. [link]

A research team led by Kansas State University recently examined soil from a Kansas cornfield that has not been tilled for 22 years, hoping to gain insight on soil carbon storage from certain land management practices. The team used synchrotron X-ray imaging at the Canadian Light Source in Saskatchewan and the Advanced Light Source in Berkeley, California. These instruments reveal the chemistry and structure of undisturbed soil grains. In soil plots that received manure or compost, total carbon levels were higher than in plots receiving synthetic fertilizer or no fertilizer. The team also observed higher “microbial carbon” in the compost and manure treatments (this term covers carbon in living microbes and in their remains, often called microbial necromass). The findings support a practical path: organic amendments can increase soil carbon and place carbon in harder-to-reach spots. [link]

Chinese buyers booked at least 10 cargoes of Argentine soybeans after Buenos Aires scrapped grain export taxes, dealing another setback to U.S. farmers already shut out of their top market and hit by low prices. Argentina’s temporary tax move boosts the competitiveness of its soybeans, prompting traders to secure cargoes for fourth-quarter inventories in China, a period usually dominated by U.S. shipments but now clouded by Washington’s trade war with Beijing. The shipments are quoted at a premium of $2.15-$2.30 per bushel to the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) November soybean contract, two traders with direct knowledge of the matter said. The deals are a fresh blow for U.S. farmers, who are missing out on billions of dollars of soybean sales to China halfway through their prime marketing season as unresolved trade talks freeze exports and rival South American suppliers led by Brazil step in to fill the gap. [link]

Tunisia’s Ministry of Agriculture has launched the Inclusive Smallholder Agriculture Development initiative in the North-West mountains of the country, a vital wheat belt in the area. The program, with a total cost of 120 million dinars ($41.45 million), is co-financed by the Tunisian government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). According to local media reports, the project will be implemented over eight years across the governorates of Béja, Jendouba, Siliana, Kef, and Bizerte. Interventions will focus on extending five drinking water supply systems, building 250 rainwater cisterns of 50 cubic meters equipped with solar pumps, and promoting agroforestry systems. [link]

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has officially designated the STAR Tool as the required soil health assessment for all state-funded conservation practices. The Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources tool is a free program built by producers. It helps farmers evaluate their in-field management practices with a scientific assessment and returns a certain star rating to the producer. The IDOA designation stems from the recently updated Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts Act and will entail such initiatives as the Partners-for-Conservation Cost-Share Program and the Illinois Healthy Soils Initiative. [link]

ADM has announced the expansion of its regenerative agriculture program, re:generations, to Hungary. In collaboration with Bayer, the program in Hungary aims to enroll 30,000 acres (approximately 12,000 hectares) of predominately sunflower seeds but also soybeans, for the 2025 harvest and to scale in subsequent years. Through the program, sunflower seed farmers will be provided with financial and technical support to implement qualifying regenerative agriculture practices, including: minimum tillage, cover crops, companion crops, 4R nutrient management, use of organic matter/manure, and crop rotation. [link]

HowGood and Kiss the Ground have announced the release of the Regenerative Agriculture Industry Map. Originally launched in 2019 by HowGood Chief Innovation Officer and regenerative farmer Ethan Soloviev, the mapping project has grown into one of the most comprehensive tools for tracking adoption of regenerative agriculture across industries and geographies. Updated research reveals unprecedented global adoption of regenerative agriculture, with 1,192 organizations across 49 countries now publicly aligning with the term—marking a more than fivefold increase since 2019. [link]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released a new report assessing progress on 22 indicators under the Organization’s custodianship spanning six Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 5 (Gender Equality), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 14 (Life Below Water), and 15 (life on Land). According to the report, the world is close to achieving one-quarter of the relevant targets, while another quarter remains far or very far from completion. For the remaining half, countries in general are moderately positioned to meet them. Of note, global food insecurity remains far above 2015 levels: about 28 percent of the global population – nearly 2.3 billion people – were moderately or severely food insecure in 2024 compared to 21.4 percent (1.6 billion) in 2015. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

Earlier this month, scientists at the University of California, Davis announced the development of wheat plants that stimulate production of their own fertilizer. See more, here.

September 20, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Kellanova and ADM give an update on their regenerative agriculture partnership. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 2 – The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition does a deep dive on the USDA staffing crisis and its impacts on data and research. Read the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – The World Business Council for Sustainable Development publishes a new report on how companies can credibly assess and scale solutions that reduce emissions across the agriculture and food value chain. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

Corteva Inc. may be looking to split its chemical and seed businesses into separate companies, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Indianapolis-based company, which has a market value of about $50 billion, could be considering a split to help protect the seeds business from any future liabilities related to their production and sale of crop protection products, according to the report. Corteva reported $16.9 billion in sales in 2024, of which $9.5 billion was from its seed sales unit and nearly $7.4 billion was from its crop protection division. [link]

Tyson Foods said it would stop using high-fructose corn syrup in branded products by the end of the year, the latest company to change recipes as the Trump administration takes aim at ingredients used in processed foods. The Arkansas-based meatpacking giant that owns brands such as Jimmy Dean, Ball Park and Hillshire said it would also stop using the artificial sweetener sucralose, the preservative BHA/BHT and titanium dioxide, a food coloring. Tyson, which processes one-fifth of all chicken, beef and pork sold in the U.S., said its goal was to stop using high-fructose corn syrup and the other ingredients in its U.S. branded products by the end of the year. [link]

McDonalds USA unveiled its largest investment in regenerative agriculture to date with the launch of the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative, along with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as well as key McDonald's U.S. suppliers. The initiative will invest more than $200 million over the next seven years to help promote and accelerate regenerative grazing practices, habitat restoration, water and wildlife conservation on cattle ranches spanning 4 million acres across up to 38 states. Participating ranchers will have the opportunity to leverage tools and resources to help them improve wildlife habitats, conserve water, and enhance soil health. McDonald's USA also believes that this initiative will help boost its U.S. supply chain resilience, including by providing participating ranchers economic returns such as incentive payments. Certain McDonald's USA suppliers, including Cargill, Golden State Foods, Lopez Foods, OSI and The Coca-Cola Company have elected to provide funds to NFWF alongside McDonald's USA. [link]

A newly funded project, “Replenishing the Beings, the Soil Beneath our Feet,” is working through a partnership with Michigan State University Extension and Michigan Inter-Tribal Land Grant Extension System (MILES) educators, community partners, technical assistance networks, U.S. Department of Agriculture staff, and Natural Resources Conservation Service tribal liaisons to assist Indigenous farmers with soil health sampling. The project seeks to understand how soil health and Indigenous farming practices interact and influence soils’ capacity to grow food, enhance fertility and withstand weather extremes. This work is supported by the American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Initiative program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. [link]

A new study led by the University of Surrey in the UK has found that while vertical farms dramatically increase lettuce yields and use far less water, the carbon footprint still exceeds traditional lettuce farming. The study, published in Food and Energy Security, is believed to be the first to fully account for soil emissions from field farming while comparing them to crops grown in a commercial vertical farm in the UK. Results showed that vertical farms can deliver more than 20 times the yield of field farms, however vertically farmed lettuce produced about 0.93 kilograms of greenhouse gases for every kilogram grown compared with 0.57 kilograms for UK field farms. [link]

The Savanna Institute and the University of Illinois Extension will host a workshop and field tour on Tuesday, September 30th from 8am – 4pm at 4-H Memorial Camp near Allerton Park in Monticello, IL. The tour and workshop will focus on how agroforestry practices can be used to provide wildlife habitat for pollinators, birds, and game species including whitetail deer. Interest is growing in agroforestry, or the use of trees and woody plants in cropping or livestock management. In the 2022 Census of Agriculture, over 30,000 US farms reported using agroforestry practices such as alley cropping, silvopasture, forest farming, riparian forest buffers or windbreaks, a 6% increase from the previous census. This event is intended for Illinois farmers, landowners, conservationists, hunters, birders, and natural resource professionals. [link]

North Dakota State University Extension and the University of Minnesota Extension are partnering to present a collaborative 2026 Soil Management Summit (SMS) and Dakota Innovation and Research Technology (DIRT) Conference. The conference will take place Jan. 14-15, 2026, at the Delta Marriott Hotel in Fargo, North Dakota and will also offer a virtual option. Attendees of the SMS and DIRT Conference will have the opportunity to learn about many aspects of soil health from 18 concurrent sessions on cover crop management, reduced and alternative tillage practices, understanding and harnessing soil biology, economics of soil management practices, integrating crop and livestock systems and more. [link]

Kenya has rolled-out two landmark initiatives aimed at accelerating ecosystem restoration and promoting agroforestry as part of its climate resilience and sustainable land management agenda. The Agroforestry Strategy sets out a 10-year plan to mainstream agroforestry in farms and rangelands. It seeks to establish five million acres of woodlots in drylands, modernize the charcoal value chain, promote youth-led briquette enterprises, strengthen value chains and markets, and contribute to Kenya’s goal of 30% tree cover by 2032 under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The Strategy was developed in partnership with the Council of Governors and supported by international and local partners including FAO, JICA, CIFOR-ICRAF, Vi Agroforestry, and PELUM Kenya. [link]

Producers in the Southern Great Plains looking to boost soil health on their lands while earning added income from livestock grazing can now access new guidance from Texas A&M AgriLife experts. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialists and Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists developed four new fact sheets that walk farmers through the basics of growing cover crops for grazing, from selecting species and assessing biomass to evaluating grazing economics and animal safety risks. Grazing cover crops can boost soil health and provide a valuable forage source, but only if there is enough biomass to support livestock production and still protect the soil. [link]

Impact credit firm Mad Capital has closed its Perennial Fund II (PFII) at $78.4 million, which the firm says is more than 7x its $10 million Fund I, which closed in 2021, bringing its total assets under management (AUM) to $100 million. The fund provides US farmers with loans to help them transition to regenerative-organic farming practices and simultaneously boost farms’ long-term profitability. Early commitments came from The Rockefeller Foundation, impact investment platform Builders Vision, and the Schmidt Family Foundation. These helped attract additional investment from Social Finance, Innovaciones Alumbra, the New Mexico Finance Authority, Bedari Collective, the McConnell Foundation, and others, totaling 111 investors. [link]

PepsiCo, Unilever and other major retail and food and beverage companies have launched STEP up for Ag (Supporting Trusted Engagement and Partnership (STEP) up for Agriculture), a pre-competitive initiative designed to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of farmer-facing support organizations across North America. The new organization also is launching its first European pilot with the farmer-led cooperative Garlan that will design its own regenerative agriculture program to offer to farmers in Spain, building on earlier engagements in Türkiye. Through STEP up for Ag, a range of corporate and philanthropic partners will provide funding and strategic support to help farm support organizations: Develop robust business and strategic plans to boost profitability and local economies; Expand staffing and training to better equip farmers with the tools of the future; Establish measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems to track sustainable progress against goals; Enhance implementation capabilities to support scalability; and Access new revenue streams and partnerships to grow support for farmers over time. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late March this year, McCain Foods, McDonald’s, and Waitrose & Partners announced that they would participate in a new regenerative farming pilot launched by King Charles III’s Sustainable Markets Initiative nonprofit. See more, here.

September 13, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Cosmos Magazine details the climate change challenge facing food production. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 2 – The New Hampshire Bulletin says that as state summers grow drier, farmers are evolving to cope with the situation. Read the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – Farm Progress writes about the cost pressures starting to pile up on U.S. producers. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

The Mexican government has banned the use, production, commercialization, and importation of 35 pesticides as part of an effort to ensure safer and more sustainable agricultural practices for both farmworkers and consumers. Among the prohibited pesticides are substances such as Aldicarb, Carbofuran, Endosulfan, and DDT - prohibited in most of the world since the 1970s but still produced and used in Mexico until now. A second list of prohibited pesticides will be published in 2026, followed by a third in 2027. [link]

A new Rabobank report says that the 2026 profitability prospects for farmers look similar to 2025, with farmers likely continuing to face a twin squeeze of historically low crop prices and elevated costs for fertilizers and other key inputs. Agriculture’s difficult economics also pose challenges and risks for farmers trying to adopt more sustainable practices, according to the bank. These practices are aimed at generating long-term productivity and value but can reduce short-term performance, which highlights the need for adaptive, transition-focused federal programs. [link]

A new study led by North Carolina State University has aggregated data from two long-term ecological research sites in Michigan and Texas, analyzing performance within future climate models to provide a comprehensive outlook on how agricultural management influences soil health. Notably, the findings underscore that no-till farming combined with residue retention substantially enhances soil organic carbon (SOC) storage at both locations under a baseline emission scenario. However, the effectiveness of climate-smart agricultural strategies diminishes under a high-emissions scenario in the future. The intensified climatic stressors modeled in this scenario diminished the gains observed in soil carbon sequestration and in greenhouse gas mitigation. [link]

The Rainforest Alliance has announced the introduction of the Regenerative Agriculture Standard, a new certification aimed at supporting coffee farmers while restoring ecosystems in tropical regions. Under the new Regenerative Agriculture Standard, starting early next year, products that meet the requirements will carry a unique seal, signaling to shoppers that they come from farms and companies dedicated to improving soil health and rural livelihoods. The Rainforest Alliance’s new framework gives producers a clear, science-based way to measure progress in five areas, including soil fertility, climate resilience, biodiversity, water management, and livelihoods. Although coffee is the first crop covered, the nonprofit plans to extend the certification to cocoa, citrus, and tea by 2026. [link]

The Make America Healthy Again Commission released the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, a sweeping plan with more than 120 initiatives to reverse existing policies that have fueled America’s childhood chronic disease epidemic. Key focus areas of the strategy include: expanding NIH and agency research into chronic disease, nutrition, food quality, environmental exposures, autism, gut microbiome, precision agriculture, rural and tribal health, vaccine injury, and mental health; reforming dietary guidelines; defining ultra-processed foods; improving food labeling; closing the GRAS loophole; raising infant formula standards; removing harmful chemicals from the food supply; increasing oversight and enforcement of direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising laws; improving food served in schools, hospitals, and to veterans; reforming Medicaid quality metrics to measure health outcomes; streamlining organic certification; easing barriers to farm-to-school programs and direct-to-consumer sales; restoring whole milk in schools; supporting mobile grocery and processing units; modernizing FDA drug and device approval; accelerating EPA approvals for innovative agricultural products; Surgeon General initiatives on screen time; prioritizing pediatric mental health; expanding access to reliable nutrition and health information for parents; promoting awareness of healthier meals at restaurants; soil health and land stewardship, and community-led initiatives. [link]

A farm belonging to the University of Leeds is taking part in a project to research and test ways of reducing agricultural emissions. The site, which is between Leeds and York, is one of 10 across Europe taking part in the Climate Smart Research project. The university hopes it can find ways to reduce the farm's carbon footprint by 55% over the course of the five-year project. The university said it would test methods such as managing emissions from manure and slurry, and monitoring the ways in which features such as hedgerows can prevent greenhouse gasses from entering the atmosphere. [link]

PepsiCo, Mars and ADM are collaborating in a new regenerative agriculture initiative working with Polish farmers to boost sustainable practices like rotational agriculture for improved wheat crops and rapeseed cultivation. The partnership — hailed as having a “holistic, landscape-level approach” — will see 24 farmers using sustainable practices across crop rotations, covering land where crops are grown for big players’ F&B brands like Lay’s and Doritos, as well as pet food lines such as Whiskas and Pedigree. The land being cultivated in this project totals 5,454 hectares, 3,359 of which are for Mars’ pet care brands, while 2,160 hectares are designated for PepsiCo’s rapeseed cultivation. The partners say the regenerative practices include strengthening soil health and water management and enhancing long-term agricultural resilience. [link]

Foodtech company Edacious and the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) have launched a four-year-long partnership to test the nutritional makeup of “regenerative organic certified” (ROC) foods and highlight the value of regenerative organic practices in agriculture. The ROC certification uses the USDA’s Certified Organic as a baseline, then adds additional criteria based on three regenerative-organic pillars: soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. Products that meet this criteria can bear the ROC certification on packaging labels. ROA and Edacious will use the latter’s rapid testing and data insights platform to analyze more than 200 food products bearing the ROC designation. [link]

The US Food and Drug Administration has added a proposed rule to its spring 2026 agenda that would eliminate the current provision of companies self-affirming their ingredients as safe. The regulatory body has suggested an amendment to the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) rule in its Unified Agenda for spring 2026. The proposal would force companies to submit GRAS notices for food ingredients for FDA review, eliminating the self-affirmation process that many companies currently use to enter the market. The latter pathway allows manufacturers to independently determine their ingredients as safe for use, which RFK Jr has called the provision a “loophole”. [link]

Marks & Spencer (M&S), which sources from more than 10,000 British farms, announced new commitments to British producers, including a £7 million investment in sustainability and innovation over the next five years. The company also called on the government to set legally binding targets to increase the proportion of British food eaten in Britain. The £7 million investment includes £2.5 million available in grants over five years through the Plan A Accelerator Fund to support innovation projects tackling agricultural emissions. [link]

The Trump administration is exploring whether food packaging should disclose whether products contain gluten, one of a litany of policy ideas in a long-awaited “Make America Healthy Again” strategy report released on Tuesday. The FDA will make recommendations about requiring food packaging to state when products contain ingredients “that impact certain health conditions, such as gluten for those with Celiac disease, and other established food allergens.” The proposal was one of the few potential regulations outlined in a White House report to improve children’s health. The 20-page report largely stressed voluntary action and expanded consumer education on issues including ultra-processed foods and artificial dyes. [link]

UC Merced and the Almond Board of California signed a five-year memorandum of understanding this week, launching a partnership focusing on agriculture sustainability, innovation, and workforce development in the Central Valley. The partnership will provide hands-on opportunities for students, new research for faculty, and forward-looking solutions for almond growers facing climate and resource challenges. The MOU also includes the creation of new almond-focused demonstration plots at UC Merced’s 40-acre Experimental Smart Farm. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-August, Mars announced that it was partnering with the gene editing firm, Pairwise, to rapidly develop cocoa varieties with improved resilience to disease, climate stress, and supply chain volatility. See more, here.

September 6, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The Houston Chronicle looks into regenerative farming and why it might be able to solve Houston’s flooding problems. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 2 – The Conversation analyzes how Europe’s deforestation law could change the global coffee trade. Read the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – AgFunderNews says that stacking incomes is about to get really, really important for the regenerative agriculture transition. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

A three-year research project into regenerative agriculture has delivered promising early results for New Zealand's vegetable growers, demonstrating how compost application and cover cropping can improve soil health, increase crop resilience and boost yields when tailored to the right conditions. Led by Woolworths New Zealand in partnership with Gisborne-based grower LeaderBrand and scientists from the Bioeconomy Science Institute, Plant & Food Research group, two field trials were established to evaluate how regenerative practices could be adapted to intensive commercial vegetable production. Cover crops and compost both had a positive impact on soil health, but they need to be managed carefully and integrated into our wider crop rotation systems, according to the research. [link]

Agreena has announced the launch of AgreenaGro – a new digital platform designed to help farmers build resilience, unlock new income streams, and make data-driven decisions in the transition to regenerative agriculture. Open to farms of all sizes, AgreenaGro helps future-proof farms by enabling farmers to unlock the full financial and ecological value of their land. It guides farmers on the most impactful regenerative practices and rewards them for the tangible environmental benefits they create, including carbon emission reductions and carbon removal. Beyond financial incentives, AgreenaGro equips farmers with essential knowledge and connects them to a supportive community, making the regenerative shift more achievable. [link]

The West Des Moines-based Wright Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation has announced $227,000 in grants to seven organizations, supporting three tree canopy enhancement and four regenerative agriculture projects. Recipients include Arboretum Detroit ($47,000) for the East Warren Filter Forest tree planting, Imagine Grinnell ($15,000) for tree restoration in Iowa, and the Student Conservation Association ($50,000) for urban forestry in Northwest Indiana. Additional grants were awarded to Benton County Soil and Water Conservation District ($30,000), Land Stewardship Project ($25,000), Nebraska Soil Health Coalition ($30,000) and Practical Farmers of Iowa ($30,000) to advance soil health, grazing management, and local grain production through educational and community initiatives. The Wright Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation is a nonprofit organization focused on supporting sustainability projects that reduce carbon footprints and promote carbon positive practices. [link]

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and partners throughout the state have worked with the Gulf Hypoxia Program (GHP) to develop a no-cost program with a focus on increasing the knowledge and use of soil sampling as a nutrient management practice to benefit farm operations. This program includes row crop fields, pastures, hay and specialty crops located within Indiana’s portion of the Mississippi River Basin. Eligible landowners will be prioritized by acreage enrolled (i.e., 100 acres or less), fields that have never been soil sampled and fields that haven’t been sampled regularly (i.e., within the last four years). Sign-ups begin Tuesday, September 2, 2025, and ISDA is accepting registrations until Friday, October 17, 2025, or until funds are exhausted. [link]

The Kraft Heinz Co. is planning to break up the company into two independent, publicly-traded companies. The split is intended to maximize Kraft Heinz’s capabilities and brands while reducing complexity, according to the company. One of the businesses, which will be renamed later and is now being called the Global Taste Elevation Co. will include brands like Heinz, Philadelphia and Kraft Mac & Cheese and generated approximately $15.4 billion in sales in 2024. The second business is being called the North American Grocery Co. and will include brands like Kraft Singles, Lunchables and Oscar Mayer that had approximately $10.4 billion in sales in 2024. The split is expected to be completed during the second half of 2026, according to the company. [link]

The National Geographic Society and PepsiCo announced a collaboration to harness the power of science, storytelling, and education to inspire positive change throughout the global food system, with a focus on regenerative agriculture. The Food for Tomorrow program will support National Geographic Explorer-driven stories and scientists diving into the future of food through breathtaking imagery, moving narratives, applied science-based projects and data visualization maps. The program will initially support five National Geographic Explorers, who will feature stories about real people, real farmers and real communities to spotlight sustainable and regenerative practices in food production. It will also fund “Building Resilience in Agriculture”, where up to five scientific grants will be awarded that seek innovative, nature-positive proposals that apply science in real-world contexts and aims to find solutions that scale regenerative agricultural practices around the world. [link]

Orchard Robotics, an agtech startup using artificial intelligence to deliver precise data on farm operations, has raised $22 million from investors. The startup has developed a system with cameras that are mounted on tractors and other equipment to gather images as they traverse a farm. The collected images are then analyzed by Orchard Robotics’ AI to generate data on vines, trees and crops, which is then processed to track the growth, yield and health of crops. The technology was initially deployed on apple and grape farms, and has expanded into operations growing blueberries, cherries, almonds, pistachios, citrus and strawberries. [link]

In a cross-border agreement poised to elevate sustainable forestry, Silvania, a Geneva-based natural capital investment platform backed by commodity trader Mercuria, is partnering with Alder Point Capital Management, a real assets investment firm specializing in U.S. farmland, to accelerate nature-based solutions across America’s vast timberlands. Through the collaboration, the firms will back real asset investments to create revenues from forestry, carbon sequestration, land and habitat conservation and the restoration of the ecosystem. According to the announcement, Silvania has made a “significant financial commitment” to Alder Point with a view to scale sustainable investment strategies in U.S. timberland and farmland. This partnership builds on Silvania’s strategy of aligning with regional experts to foster regenerative land management. [link]

Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have developed wheat plants that stimulate production of its own fertilizer, which could bring environmental and cost-reduction benefits. The scientists used the gene-editing tool CRISPR to get wheat plants to produce more of one of their naturally occurring chemicals. When the plant releases the excess chemical into the soil, the chemical helps certain bacteria in the soil convert nitrogen from the air into a form the nearby plants use to grow, which is a process called nitrogen fixation. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In early August, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators reintroduced the Dairy Pride Act, asking the FDA to crack down on “misleading” plant-based labels. See more, here.

August 30, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Offrange highlights the state of American tree nurseries as the “problem with growing a forest” in the U.S. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 2 – An article in npj sustainable agriculture discusses the effects of human diets on farming systems and land use optimization. Read the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – Sentient Media says that the U.S. could switch to a regenerative chicken production model…if Americans eat a lot less chicken. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

Noble Foods has become the first egg producer in the United Kingdom to implement TerraMap, a soil mapping technology, at one of its organic egg farms. Developed by Hutchinsons, TerraMap uses passive gamma-ray detection to scan fields and generate high-resolution maps of up to 48 soil properties at 800 sample points per hectare. The data offers Noble Foods a detailed look at soil health to support targeted land management and carbon reduction efforts. [link]

Researchers in the UK say that regenerative agriculture is increasingly important in tackling global issues like soil degradation, climate change, and ecological decline. In a critical review, they offer a definition focused on ecological cycles and farm system outcomes, and describe regenerative agriculture as a “new paradigm” grounded in systems thinking and ecological reciprocity. The review, published in CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, examines the rise of regenerative agriculture and its potential to transform farming systems from extractive to restorative. It provides a comprehensive assessment of regenerative agriculture practices, definitions, and scientific foundations. [link]

To advance conservation, teaching, and research, UC Santa Cruz and The Conservation Fund announced a collaboration that will conserve more than 200 acres of currently privately held land adjacent to the residential campus. In addition, the campus is pursuing a transformative plan to expand UC Santa Cruz’s research and education in sustainable organic agriculture through the acquisition of another 200-plus acres of private farmland that borders its coastal campus. UC Santa Cruz Campus Natural Reserves (CNR) currently encompasses 789 acres of protected lands dedicated to teaching, research, and interpretation. [link]

Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (KDP) is acquiring JDE Peet’s, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for approximately $18.4 billion. Once the acquisition is complete, KDP plans to combine Keurig with JDE Peet’s and spin it off into one of the world’s largest coffee companies, with sales of approximately $16 billion. The spun-off coffee company will include brands like Keurig, Jacobs, L’OR and Peet’s Global Coffee Co. The remaining beverage company will include brands such as Dr Pepper, 7UP, Canada Dry, A&W and many others. [link]

Boulder, CO-based startup, Perennial, has secured approval to use its VT0014 digital soil mapping tool in Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) program. The company uses satellite and other environmental data, machine learning, and historical on-the-ground data to build statistical models that digitally map soils to quantify their carbon content. Right now, there are two established approaches to quantify soil carbon: sampling (testing soil samples) and process-based modeling (which simulates carbon dynamics over time under different farm management or climate scenarios). However, digital soil mapping has the potential to offer a more cost-effective, streamlined, and scalable approach. [link]

Heifer International has successfully completed its multi-year impact investment program with Grass Roots Farmers' Cooperative (GRFC) and Cypress Valley Meat Company (CVMC), two regenerative meat supply chain entities that empower small-scale livestock farmers. These impact investments enabled CVMC to grow from three to six processing facilities, now serving nearly 3,000 farmers across 12 states. GRFC successfully transitioned to a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model, connecting farmers with customers nationwide. The completion of these targeted investments comes as Heifer International is also shifting its focus toward a facilitation and training model. Rather than directly funding enterprises, Heifer will focus on empowering farmers and regenerative organizations through hands-on training, digital resources, peer learning, and market connection tools. [link]

Klim, a regenerative agriculture project developer and technology platform, has launched in the UK to support food and beverage companies facing climate-related risks. The move builds on the company’s established presence in Germany and Poland, where it works with more than 4,000 farmers across two million acres. Klim’s model incentivizes and rewards farmers who adopt regenerative practices such as reduced tillage, year-round soil cover, and lower chemical inputs. The platform provides agronomic guidance, documentation tools, and financial support to offset upfront costs. [link]

A University of Nevada research team recently published an article in the journal, Heliyon, discussing their testing of cover crops in Nevada's dry desert climate. Conducted at the University’s Experiment Station, the researchers tested cool-season crops grown both as single species and in mixed plantings. They measured above- and below-ground biomass, feed quality and how much carbon and nitrogen accumulated in plant tissue. They also evaluated impacts on soil fertility, including changes in organic carbon, nitrogen levels and soil biology indicators such as microbial activity, respiration and earthworm presence. [link]

Exomad Green's latest biochar field study reveals the transformative impact of biochar on soil health and agricultural sustainability. Conducted at the AGROVIDAS agricultural fair field in Bolivia, the comprehensive study demonstrates how biochar serves as a powerful regenerative agriculture solution, dramatically improving soil structure, enhancing nutrient retention, and optimizing growing conditions. Based on tests dating back to 2023, soil pH improved from highly alkaline 7.48 to near-optimal neutral levels of 6.4, creating better growing conditions for most crops. There was a considerable increase in the soil's cation exchange capacity (CEC), a key indicator of soil fertility that allows better retention of potassium, calcium and magnesium. There was also a significant improvement in organic matter content in the soil, indicating enhanced soil biological activity. [link]

The Wisconsin Cover Crop Citizen Science Project is inviting farmers of all experience levels to participate in its program. By joining, farmers share details about their cover crop practices and submit fall and spring samples for analysis. In return, participants receive an honorarium along with free laboratory testing on cover crop biomass, forage quality, and nutrient content. This farmer-driven data helps researchers better understand how cover crops are used across Wisconsin and what benefits or challenges farmers encounter. [link]

Cornell Cooperative Extension will offer a workshop, “Silvopasture on a Shoestring,” on Oct. 7 at Wild Geese Farm in Franklinville, New York. The event will include a full day training program, with classroom presentations and hands-on sessions. The focus will be on do-it-yourself silvopasture projects on small grazing farms. Presenters will address the practical considerations of tree establishment, protection and maintenance while learning how silvopasture can help address your farm’s resource concerns and enhance livestock grazing. [link]

Farmers and food producers are invited to participate in the inaugural California Earthworkers Summit on Sept. 11–12 at UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology Farm. Held at the UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology, the vision for the summit is to bring together people from different backgrounds, sectors and generations to share knowledge and to connect small and independent farmers and ranchers with resources and support to strengthen the food system. Billed as a space for “Earthworkers” – those working in service of the planet and its communities – the summit offers training, matchmaking among food producers and food buyers (including UC Procurement) and a farmers market. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late-July, Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) announced the launch of FieldLark AI, the world’s first AI chatbot for regenerative agronomy. See more, here.

August 23, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – AInvest details how Dole plc is implementing strategic resilience and sustainability within a shifting agricultural landscape. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 2 – Civil Eats asks if regenerative farmers should pin their hopes on RFK Jr.’s MAHA. Read the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – Yale Climate Connections offers up 12 books to read on how to grow food in a changing climate. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

The city of Detroit is launching its first food composting pilot program, with officials hopeful it will lay the groundwork for a citywide system. The initiative is funded by a one-year, $100,000 grant from Carhartt. Residents can sign up online to participate. The first 200 Detroiters to enroll will receive a free five-gallon composting bucket in which they can deposit approved compostable materials, including fruit and vegetable scraps, small bones, eggshells, coffee grounds and paper products including used napkins and paper towels. Participants will take their filled buckets to the Detroit People's Food Co-op on Woodward Avenue. There, the material will be processed in a composter, then transported to various local farms, where it will be used to enrich soil and support sustainable agriculture in Detroit. [link]

Backed by the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, a new pilot facility from Warwick Agri-Tech will accelerate sustainable farming innovation, using advanced robotics to boost productivity, cut emissions, and strengthen the UK’s food resilience. The facility will host collaborations between researchers, industry partners and government to de-risk innovation, reduce barriers to adoption, and accelerate the rollout of new technologies for farmers and growers. Among the technologies already being deployed are Crombot, a crop-monitoring robot for detecting pests and diseases; AATOM, an autonomous towing platform for streamlining horticultural logistics; the Smart Tree Production System, which sorts and grades saplings to support the UK’s tree-planting goals; and ASPA, a spot-precision system capable of cutting herbicide use by over 90%. [link]

Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), one of the world’s largest agricultural processors, is purchasing five years’ worth of carbon removal credits from a regenerative agriculture project in Uttar Pradesh, India. In addition to boosting the region’s soil health, the project will draw down some 6,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year and result in regeneratively grown wheat that the company can sell to customers looking to reduce their Scope 3 emissions. This is among the first major agricultural projects of its kind announced in the Global South. Varaha, a company working with smallholder farmers in Asia, is managing project implementation, soil sampling and ongoing monitoring as well as tracing the lower-carbon wheat from farm to warehouse. Louis Dreyfus’s upfront payment covers the transition costs of the regenerative practices, including machine rentals. [link]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will no longer support solar and wind projects on productive farmland, said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The move is the latest in a series of actions by the administration of President Donald Trump to stall development of wind and solar energy, which Trump says are unreliable, expensive, and dependent on Chinese supply chains. About 424,000 acres (1,715 square kilometers) of rural land were affected by wind turbines and solar farms in 2020, less than 0.05% of the nearly 900 million acres used for farmland, according to a 2024 USDA study. [link]

Minnesota schools, early childhood education (ECE) centers, and licensed in-home family childcare providers looking to serve locally sourced meals can apply for funding now through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Farm to School and Early Care Grant and Local Tots Cost-Share programs. The grant and cost-share program both offer reimbursement for local food purchases of Minnesota grown and raised foods. The MDA will prioritize projects that increase purchases of a wide range of agricultural products, including culturally relevant foods and specialty crops (e.g., fruits, vegetables, culinary herbs, and horticulture products like maple syrup and honey) and applicants that provide a clear plan to source a variety of agricultural products. [link]

Montana Farmers Union is pleased to announce five recipients of its new Regenerative Farming Implementation Grants. The grants are each for $1,000 and are offered with the support of General Mills as part of Montana Farmers Union’s first ever Regenerative Farming Cohort. The cohort, in its first year, includes roughly 40 individuals and farms who learn about regenerative farming practices and how to implement them through farm tours, interactive webinars, and access to professionals and resources. The new grants will be used to help recipients implement one of the six regenerative principles on which MFU’s Regenerative Farming Cohort program focuses: cover the ground, limit the disruption of the soil, increase biodiversity, keep the living roots in the ground as much as possible, incorporate animals into the rotation, and know your context to adapt. [link]

A groundbreaking global analysis spearheaded by researchers from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) reveals a critical blind spot in current sustainable coffee and carbon-capture initiatives. These programs have largely prioritized incentivizing the planting of new shade trees on coffee farms as a climate mitigation strategy, yet fail to reward the protection and preservation of mature shade trees already flourishing in existing agroforestry systems. This oversight has profound implications for both carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation in coffee-growing landscapes worldwide. [link]

In a move set to deepen and broaden the scope and impact of global research on forests and sustainability, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) has entered a new strategic partnership with Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia. Flinders University is internationally recognized for its work and research excellence in climate adaptation, biodiversity, marine and freshwater systems and ecological restoration. Given CIFOR-ICRAF’s global leadership in forestry and agroforestry science and Flinders’ transdisciplinary research strengths in climate resilience, environmental sustainability and social inclusion, the new partnership holds huge potential to advance these causes in the Global South. [link]

Chicago-based meat giant Oscar Mayer, a subsidiary of Kraft Heinz, has launched the EveryBun Pack, combining its meat and vegan hot dogs in the same packaging without cross-contamination. While many companies are leaning into the demand for flexitarian options by blending meat with plants in the same product, Oscar Mayer is taking a novel packaging approach. The Kraft Heinz-owned legacy meat producer is rolling out the dual EveryBun Pack on a limited trial basis, combining its signature wieners with the plant-based Not Hot Dogs it released last year. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In December last year, the USDA released a report that said some 68% of large crop farms in the U.S. use precision agriculture technology to generate information aiding decision making, such as yield monitors, yield maps, and soil maps. See more, here.

August 16, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Successful Farming details an Indiana farmer’s soil transformation journey from poor fields to top yields. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 2 – AgTechNavigator asks, “why are U.S. farmers struggling to adopt sustainable ag?” Read the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – El Paso Matters writes about how pecan farmers in El Paso are innovating as drought and climate change pressure local water supplies. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

Scientists from the University of Arizona have found that agrivoltaics, the practice of combining agricultural production with solar energy generation on the same land, can help improve crop yields and food security in dry regions. According to their research published in npj Sustainable Agriculture, agrivoltaics help reduce the effects of the midday depression in photosynthesis — a daytime drop in photosynthetic activity caused by extreme solar radiation, heat stress, and low moisture. Solar arrays placed strategically over crops produce a beneficial microclimate that lowers air temperatures, increases humidity levels, and shields crops from excessive sunlight, all of which can increase crop yields. The authors note that water-stressed regions such as "North, Central, and South America, the Middle East, and North Africa" could especially benefit from agrivoltaics to secure food supplies, reduce water scarcity, and put less strain on water supplies used for irrigation. [link]

President Donald Trump has called on China to significantly increase its soybean orders from the United States, a move that could potentially address the trade imbalance between the two nations. The President took to Truth Social to express his hope that China would quadruple its soybean orders from the U.S. to address its soybean shortage. Analysts say that this is unlikely to happen anytime soon. [link]

A new Anglo-French study suggests that spreading crushed volcanic rock on farmland could help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere — and potentially boost crop yields. However, its effectiveness depends heavily on local soil conditions. Researchers from Rothamsted Research (UK), INRAE (France), and the UK’s National Oceanography Centre tested basalt rock dust — a quarrying by-product — on two soil types: sandy and silty clay. In pot trials, they applied the dust at two rates (equivalent to 80 and 160 tonnes per hectare) and monitored changes in soil chemistry and ryegrass growth. The study found that basalt raised soil pH by about 0.8 units, improving fertility. It also released key nutrients like potassium, which significantly boosted plant growth in sandy soils. However, uptake of others — including phosphorus and trace metals — decreased in some cases, especially in nutrient-rich soils, due to altered soil chemistry. [link]

Americans will have to wait several weeks for the Trump administration’s next steps in its agenda to “Make America Healthy Again,” according to three people familiar with the matter. While President Donald Trump’s MAHA Commission will submit its strategy to the White House on Tuesday, August 12 — sticking to an executive-ordered deadline — scheduling issues stand in the way of its public release. Officials are aiming to launch their strategy by the end of this month, according to the three people familiar. The commission’s first MAHA report, issued in May, laid out the case that ultra-processed foods, pharmaceutical prescriptions and environmental toxins are driving a crisis of childhood chronic disease in America. [link]

Researchers at the University of Sharjah (UoS), in collaboration with global tech leader IBM, have unveiled My FarmWell, a pioneering mobile application designed to address water scarcity and promote sustainable agriculture across the UAE and the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Powered by IBM’s cutting-edge Environmental Intelligence Suite, the app marks a significant step forward in climate-smart farming. Hosted on IBM Cloud, the app offers localized, practical guidance to help farmers optimize irrigation, choose suitable crops, and manage water resources more efficiently. [link]

Danone is launching an Oikos yogurt drink aimed at users of Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs as the dairy giant seeks to cement the popular brand as a tool for consumers to support their nutritional needs while taking the medications. The product, called Oikos Fusion, helps consumers build and retain muscle mass, targeting the roughly 10% of the U.S. population that has tried or is using GLP-1 drugs. Danone, citing data from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, said a fifth of the weight consumers lose is muscle while taking GLP-1 medications. [link]

Proterra Investment Partners announced that it is acquiring AcreTrader, a leading farmland investment platform operating at the intersection of agriculture, finance, and technology. AcreTrader, under Proterra's ownership, is positioned to scale farmland offerings while maintaining its mission to increase access and transparency within the asset class. The transaction also further expands the growth of Acres.com as an independent platform, delivering complete land intelligence to meet its rapidly growing market demand. AcreTrader has enabled investment in over 140 farmland properties spanning 44,000 acres across 20 states, with its investment management arm, Acretrader Management, LLC, delivering net IRR ranging from 9.4% to 30.3% on realized deals. [link]

The USDA says that U.S. corn and cotton farmers who use cover crops are more likely to implement other conservation practices with soil health and environmental benefits, compared to farmers not adopting cover crops. Researchers with USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS) used producer survey responses from the Agricultural Resource Management Survey to find that 8.2 percent of corn (2016 and 2021) and cotton (2015 and 2019) acres had a cover crop. Of the acreage with cover crops on cotton and corn fields, 41.4 percent also adopted no-till (growing crops without tilling or plowing the soil), and 33.0 percent adopted reduced till (growing crops with less soil disturbance than conventional tillage systems). This is compared to 28.2 percent and 31.7 percent, respectively, for fields without cover crops. [link]

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is advising rural residents to expect an increase in low-flying airplanes, helicopters, and drones until October 10, 2025. Farmers participating in Maryland’s Cover Crop Program will be using aerial seeding to plant cereal grains and other types of cover crops in their fields to protect local waterways from nutrient runoff, reduce erosion, and enhance their soil’s health for spring cash crops. Farmers enrolled in the department’s Cover Crop Program receive grants to plant cereal grains and a variety of cover crop mixes in the fall. Once established, cover crops provide a protective cover throughout the winter, helping to reduce erosion and nutrient runoff, while enhancing the soil’s organic matter for spring planting. [link]

Mars is partnering with US gene editing firm Pairwise to rapidly develop cocoa varieties with improved resilience to disease, climate stress, and supply chain volatility. The companies will use CRISPR-based methods to breed traits far faster than traditional breeding allows. Global climate change has led to weather events that have disrupted cocoa production in concentrated parts of the world, sending raw material costs soaring for Mars' chocolate products. [link]

A new study by researchers at the University of Oxford, working alongside Duurzame Zuivelketen (DZK), has outlined how the agriculture sector can ‘better contribute to global biodiversity targets without causing unintended harms’. The study, Towards positive net outcomes for biodiversity, and developing safeguards to accompany headline biodiversity indicators, which was published in npj Biodiversity, utilized data from the Dutch dairy industry – including close to 8,950 farms and approximately 1.6 million cows – to develop a scoring system to measure biodiversity impacts in relation to possible sector-wide targets. It found that while a single score can be useful when tracking overall progress, this approach can mask environmental impacts such as nutrient pollution and habitat loss. The researchers proposed a series of safeguards, or ‘clear, quantitative thresholds for major environmental pressures’ to ensure that progress made in one environmental area does not come at the expense of another. [link]

Amazon is now letting shoppers in 1,000 cities across the U.S. order perishable food items through its Same-Day Delivery service, as the e-commerce giant seeks to compete more directly with Instacart and Walmart+ in the growing quick-commerce space. Users can now order fresh grocery items, including produce, dairy, meat, seafood, baked goods, and more, alongside everyday household products, electronics, and other items available for Same-Day Delivery. Amazon says its “specialized temperature-controlled fulfillment network” will ensure that shoppers receive perishable groceries intact, and that orders undergo a six-point quality check upon arrival and before leaving for delivery. Additionally, temperature-sensitive products are delivered in insulated bags. [link]

A new report from environmental think tank The Breakthrough Institute says that the US is falling behind in the race to become the global leader in agricultural biotechnology. It notes that US farm productivity is stagnating, the agricultural trade deficit is set to reach a record high, and geopolitical competitors such as China are outspending the US 2-to-1 on agricultural R&D. Notably, the US is being outpaced by China on patents, academic papers, and regulatory approvals of gene edited crops, and urgently needs “updated and streamlined biotechnology regulations,” says the report. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late June, Texas Governor Greg Abbott made the state the seventh in the U.S. to ban the sale of cultivated meat, while also ordering an investigation into ultra-processed foods. See more, here.

August 9, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Agropages puts a spotlight on microencapsulation, noting that it could drive the future of responsible agriculture. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 2 – The World Economic Forum writes that food finance must be on the table in the face of rising climate risks. Read the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – Offrange says that the theft of American farm machinery is increasingly big business. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

Backed by the milk industry, a bipartisan group of US senators has reintroduced the Dairy Pride Act, asking the FDA to crack down on “misleading” plant-based labels. Four senators have revived the Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, milk, and cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday (Dairy Pride) Act. They’re asking the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban the use of ‘milk’, ‘cheese’, ‘yoghurt’ and other such terms on non-dairy alternatives. Currently, the FDA’s guidance allows plant-based milk brands to use ‘milk’ on their product labels. As for vegan dairy products, it recommends placing an emphasis on the plant-based sources that form their base. [link]

Kenya has been hailed as a continental leader in climate-smart agriculture by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), spotlighting the country’s regenerative farming efforts in its 2024 Annual Report. The report attributes Kenya’s success to a strong multi-stakeholder approach that is transforming dryland agriculture and strengthening food security for smallholder farmers. Through the Sustainable Transitioning of Agriculture for Resilient and Adaptable Kenya (STRAK) project, Kenya has made significant strides in climate-smart agriculture. Kenya’s progress is also attributed to enabling policies at both national and county levels. In 2024, the government integrated regenerative agriculture into broader climate action and development strategies and took steps to address double taxation and trade barriers, boosting market efficiency. [link]

In a step toward advancing sustainable agriculture, Clemson University is launching a pioneering research initiative to enhance water use efficiency and crop productivity across the southeastern U.S. Backed by the USDA’s Research Capacity Fund (Hatch), this 5-year initiative addresses challenges farmers face in the region, including water scarcity, extreme weather events and saltwater intrusion. The project will deliver science-based, regionally tailored tools to support irrigation scheduling, crop planning and long-term field management. At the core of the project is a multiscale modeling framework (MMF), pulling together many types of information like current and predicted weather, satellite and drone images, soil details, crop performance and results from both greenhouse experiments and field tests. The MMF uses artificial intelligence and process-based models, such as crop and hydrologic models, to help make sense of all this data. [link]

FarmTogether and MyLand have integrated MyLand’s Soil as a Service technology into four high-value apple orchards in Washington state, supporting efforts to enhance efficiency, reduce input costs and advance regenerative agriculture practices. FarmTogether is a part of MyLand’s Washington State Program — a $4.8-million initiative supported by Washington State’s Climate Commitment Act. The program is designed to accelerate the adoption of regenerative soil health practices across 9,000 acres of farmland, promoting carbon sequestration, improving water efficiency and supporting climate resilience throughout the region. MyLand extracts live, native microalgae from soil directly from the field, cultivates optimal microalgae in a closed-loop environment and reintroduces the living biomass back into the soil. This process is designed to enhance biological activity, support nutrient cycling, and promote more resilient soils over time. [link]

The first attempt to use AI to validate the effect of regenerative farming in potato production will take place in the UK. The project, led by agricultural AI pioneer Cropin and funded by a €700,000 (£605,000) grant from the EU’s EIT Food innovation agency, is thought to be the first to apply ‘big data’ to regenerative practices. It will look at whether practices such as reducing fertilizer and cover crops could increase yield and dry matter content, and reduce water use, using real-time field data, computer models and predictive analytics, as well as satellite imagery and sensors. [link]

The Ohio State University at Lima will host its 2025 Soil Health and Water Management Field Day event on August 28 at its campus in Lima, OH. Regenerative agriculture with the help of no-till, cover crops and water management technology and conservation practices will be the focus of a field day at the school’s Regenerative Agriculture Farm. Ohio State Lima's regenerative farming initiative started in 2020 and aims to provide research and educational opportunities focused on regenerative farming practices. The field day will feature talks by leading experts, industry representatives and testimonials from practicing farmers. [link]

Scientists from the University of California, Santa Cruz, partnered with Pie Ranch, an educational farm in Pescadero, to study the sustainability payoffs of fertilizing plants with water removed from aquaculture, an age-old practice. Since October, UC Santa Cruz researchers have filtered water, or “backwash,” out of aerated, recirculating tanks filled with 200 swimming rainbow trout—and then used that water to irrigate native plants at the farm. The team is investigating why the backwash might especially help the plants to grow, building on limited scientific literature on the topic. They plan to share findings next spring. [link]

A local farmer-led learning center is set to host a soil health conference next month in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. Fields of Sinsinawa will hold its second annual Soul of the Soil Conference Sept. 5 and 6 at Sinsinawa Mound, 585 Grant County Z in Sinsinawa. The conference will include outdoor field demonstrations, keynote speeches and workshops. Speakers will include Anne Biklé, author of “What Your Food Ate;” Kelly and Deanna Lozensky, diversified crop farmers from North Dakota; and Inga Witscher, host of “Around the Farm Table.” [link]

The SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) has called for a united regional push to advance regenerative agriculture practices across South Asia. The call came during a three-day Regional Consultation Meeting titled “Promotion of Regenerative Agriculture in SAARC Member States” held virtually from August 4 to 6, 2025. The event brought together distinguished delegates from six SAARC countries, agricultural research institutions, universities and international agencies to foster cooperation and formulate strategies for sustainable agricultural development. [link]

A new report from the U.S. federal government says that ultra-processed foods make up the majority of calories that Americans are eating, but that there are signs this consumption might be declining. Sandwiches, baked goods, salty snacks and other ultra-processed foods accounted for 55% of the calories Americans age 1 and older consumed from August 2021 to August 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics study. That proportion is getting smaller. For adults, the mean percentage of calories consumed from ultra-processed foods fell 3 percentage points to 53% since 2018 and for children and teens, it fell nearly 4 percentage points to 61.9%, the report found. [link]

A group of Nebraska farmers is digging into the future of soil management with the launch of the new Nebraska Soil Health Coalition — a grassroots effort focused on improving farm resilience from the ground up. Founded in 2023 as a nonprofit affiliated with the Nebraska Community Foundation, the coalition is farmer-led and aimed at helping producers improve soil function while managing risk and cost. The group’s first big event will be held on August 13th in Bladen, NE and will be a hands-on soil health field day that aims to show producers how building organic matter and improving infiltration can pay off in real-world economics. [link]

To better understand the planet’s topsoil, an international team of scientists, including University of Florida researchers, created the first high-resolution global maps of key soil properties. Their assessment, published in the journal The Innovation, could influence everything from agricultural management and sustainable use of resources to water and food security. The study integrates more than 150,000 soil observations — including private research data — to reveal soil health properties like organic carbon stock, clay content, pH and bulk density. It uses advanced Earth observation technologies and machine-learning models to generate maps with a 90-meter resolution. That level of detail is finer than any previous global soil dataset. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-July, Chinese researchers announced the development of a groundbreaking method to convert methanol into sucrose, bypassing traditional agriculture. See more, here.

August 2, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – An article in Nature discusses renewable energy sources that can enable arctic food sufficiency and sustainability. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 2 – Mongabay highlights a regenerative agroforestry project that aims to expand into the Sahel region of Africa. Read the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – The World Bank looks into the potential to boost global food security by fixing border bottlenecks. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

China has released a set of guidelines to boost consumption of agricultural products, with efforts to optimize supply and stimulate demand. The guidelines specifically outline measures to elevate standards for green, organic, geographically indicated and certified products, promote quality evaluation and grading, develop new-type processed goods and innovate local specialty foods. The guidelines also focus on better aligning production, supply and marketing -- while broadening offline sales channels, with detailed arrangements for creating festival and exhibition platforms, enriching consumption scenarios, leveraging e-commerce advantages and promoting inter-regional cooperation. [link]

Michigan State University is seeking 20 Michigan farmers to participate in a new research initiative aimed at quantifying and predicting the potential for regenerative agriculture practices to enhance soil water-holding capacity, improve soil nutrient cycling and recharge aquifers. The Soil Health Advancement for Agriculture Resilience Enhancement — funded by the Agricultural Resiliency Program — brings together researchers from the Institute of Water Research and the Center for Regenerative Agriculture. Participating row crop and commercial vegetable producers will engage in a three-year, on-farm study that includes installation of a weather station and soil moisture monitors. Beginning in fall 2025, the equipment will collect continuous data on precipitation and soil moisture, which will be accessible to participating farms. Michigan Farm Bureau supported the project during the proposal and funding stages. [link]

Whole Foods Market and Mad Agriculture have announced a transformative collaboration to launch a national biodiversity highway initiative aimed at reconstructing native ecosystems across American farmland. The program will begin in and around the Lowery Creek Watershed in Wisconsin, seeking to create a connected highway of climate-resilient habitats restoring biodiversity, improving soil and water health, and strengthening the long-term resilience of the food system. As part of the initiative, Whole Foods Market has pledged up to $500,000 in matching funds to catalyze $1 million in collective investment from food system stakeholders in 2025. The program aims to cultivate a 1,000 acre biodiversity highway across American farmland and includes companies like Applegate, Bob’s Red Mill, The Campbell’s Company, New Belgium Brewing, OLIPOP, UNFI, UNFI Foundation, west~bourne, and Yogi Tea. [link]

Regenerative agriculture pioneer Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) has launched FieldLark AI, the world’s first AI chatbot for regenerative agronomy. FieldLark is conversationally intelligent and grounded in the scientific principles that make regenerative systems work. Free to anyone interested in regenerative growing, FieldLark delivers AEA's decades of in-field experience and biological insights to growers via a browser on mobile devices or computers — anytime, anywhere. [link]

Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA) has announced a strategic investment in Grupo Papalotla, focusing on its Brazilian operations under Tropical Seeds do Brasil. The partnership aims to scale the use of hybrid pasture seeds for climate-smart livestock farming, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Grupo Papalotla’s seeds, developed through a license with CIAT, offer traits like drought and flood tolerance. [link]

A new study by the UK Center for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) has suggested that while nature-friendly farming methods improve both biodiversity and crop yields, government subsidies may be required to make it as profitable as conventional farming. The four-year study, which was carried out alongside Rothamsted Research, was undertaken across 17 farms in southern England, and explored various agroecological methods as well as the financial viability of said methods. Researchers noted that without the introduction of new financial incentives, many farmers will be deterred from adopting agroecological farming practices and systems, which could leave them locked into high input, intensive farming systems, and more exposed to the impacts of pesticide resistance, declining soil health and climate change. [link]

Two transformative UN initiatives have been officially launched in Zimbabwe, aimed at empowering the country to sustainably manage its soil and water resources. The two projects are entitled: “Capacity Development on Sustainable Soil Management in the Global South” and “National Water Roadmap towards 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.” The sustainable soil management project aims to build national capacities in developing countries for soil mapping and laboratory analysis, while promoting international technical collaboration through South-South Cooperation. The National Water Roadmaps project will support Zimbabwe in strengthening water governance through raising awareness of water’s value across social, economic, and environmental dimensions. [link]

Bayer has submitted registration applications for its novel herbicide, icafolin-methyl, in four major markets: Brazil, the U.S., Canada, and the EU. Icafolin-methyl is expected to hit the market from 2028, with Brazil earmarked for the initial launch. The product stands out as agriculture's first novel mode of action for controlling emerged weeds in over three decades. Unlike existing solutions, icafolin-methyl belongs to an entirely new chemical class, offering unique properties that facilitate lower dose rates and more targeted applications. This innovation not only complements current herbicides like glyphosate but also provides a vital new tool in the ongoing battle against increasingly resilient weeds. [link]

The environmental impact of some of the main pesticides used in viticulture and on other crops may have been ‘significantly underestimated’, a new study has found. Researchers led by Aix-Marseille University and CNRS examined nine common pesticides and found that they all exceeded the Stockholm Convention's two day half-life limit in the atmosphere, with some persisting for several weeks. The global use of pesticides has doubled since 1990, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, with this study raising concerns about the potential impact on health and the environment, according to the researchers. [link]

The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) has published a new report urging the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission to support policies that reward stewardship and invest in innovation as part of a national strategy to create lasting, healthy outcomes for all communities, rural and urban alike. The report, entitled "Nurturing Healthy Soils for Healthy Communities," focuses on three key pillars to help agricultural producers and forest owners keep our soils healthy and our air and water clean: advancing voluntary conservation, supporting sustainable forest management and restoration, and driving agricultural innovation. FACA represents farmers, ranchers, forest owners, agribusinesses, manufacturers, the food and innovation sector, state governments, higher education associations, sportsmen and sportswomen, and environmental advocates. [link]

The Maryland Department of Agriculture has announced that 14 projects will receive grant funding totaling $590,000 through its Healthy Soils Competitive Fund. This pioneering grant program provides financial assistance to qualifying farms and organizations—both large and small—to adopt innovative conservation practices that benefit climate, soil, and water. Established in 2023, the Healthy Soils Competitive Fund provides winning applicants with up to $50,000 to support three years of enhanced soil health and agroforestry practices. Since its inception, the grant program has supported 53 projects across the state. [link]

U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Todd Young (R-IN) reintroduced bipartisan legislation that will help bolster soil research and improve agricultural resilience and productivity in the Midwest and across the country. The Advancing Research on Agricultural Soil Health Act will allow strategic investment in technologies to measure and monitor soil carbon. This information can improve our understanding of agriculture’s potential to store emitted carbon and empower farmers and ranchers to choose the best practices available to them. Experts estimate that American farmers could store up to 220 billion pounds of carbon annually across all US croplands. However, current technology cannot accurately measure soil carbon levels, impacting our ability to track soil health improvements, correlate those improvements with on-farm benefits, and reward farmers for their contributions to environmental health and resilience. [link]

A team of researchers led by the University of Missouri is giving new purpose to an established material, biochar, a charcoal-like substance made from leftover plant waste and showing how it can address challenges facing today’s cotton growers. The Mizzou researchers turned to bagasse, a fibrous organic material left over after sugarcane is pressed for its juice. When converted into biochar and added to the soil, the product improved the soil’s ability to hold onto nutrients and moisture, giving cotton plants a better chance to grow strong and healthy. The team noted that biochar offers a solution to how cotton is typically grown in sandy soils that struggle with low organic matter, less water-holding capacity, and weaker aggregate stability, leading to a reduced ability to hold water and nutrients. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In early July, U.S. House representatives introduced the Conservation and Regenerative Optimization Practices for Farming Act, or the CROP for Farming Act, a bipartisan proposal to strengthen conservation efforts and equip farmers with new tools to improve soil health, enhance productivity, and reduce harmful emissions through voluntary practices. See more, here.

July 26, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Vogue writes about why regenerative farming is the latest wellness travel trend. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 2 – UC Santa Barbara says that protecting nature may depend on where - not just how - we farm. Read the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – AgWeb details how MAHA is digging into soil health. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

The UK Government has released a significant update to its national food strategy for England, framing it as a necessary response to the growing threats posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental decline. This latest plan replaces the previous strategy introduced under a Conservative-led administration, which faced heavy criticism after key proposals were omitted, including recommendations to expand access to free school meals, require supermarkets to report their food waste, and assist farms in preparing for climate change. The new food strategy aims to bring greater cohesion across sectors, outlining ten overarching goals that aim to link agriculture, health, trade, and the environment under a single strategic umbrella. [link]

Butterflies in decline inside the UK could get a boost from more trees and hedgerows on farmland, new research suggests. A study led by the University of Oxford and Butterfly Conservation has found that trees, hedgerows, and small woodlands significantly increase butterfly numbers in agricultural landscapes. The research, funded by The Woodland Trust and published in Ecological Solutions and Evidence, comes amid troubling news for UK butterflies, with more than half of species now in long-term decline. [link]

A Wisconsin nonprofit is working with farmers in Southeast Wisconsin to educate communities about the importance of agroforestry, with plans to establish its first urban site in Milwaukee. The Michael Fields Agricultural Institute has planted more than 400 trees across three sites this year, in partnership with the Savanna Institute. The sites include a community garden and two farms. One of the project's goals is to raise awareness of the practices and their larger connection to food systems, climate change and communities. The sites will also be used for educational demonstrations. [link]

PepsiCo is introducing Pepsi Prebiotic Cola, the evolution of cola created to reflect the tastes and values of today's cola lovers. This innovation includes 5 grams of cane sugar, has 30 calories, and contains no artificial sweeteners. It delivers the classic crisp, refreshing taste of Pepsi—with the added functional ingredient of 3 grams of prebiotic fiber. Available in 12 oz. single cans for trial and 8-packs of 12 oz. cans, the new offering will be available online this fall and at retail in early 2026, located in the traditional carbonated soft drink aisle alongside the full Pepsi portfolio. [link]

Coca-Cola plans to add a line of cane sugar-sweetened Coke after U.S. President Trump last week said the company had agreed to use “REAL Cane Sugar” in the soda. Coca-Cola said that it has been adding cane sugar to a number of its products in recent years, including lemonades and teas. That said, the company will continue to use a lot of corn syrup as a sweetener in its products, according to its CEO. [link]

Sustainability-focused European asset manager Ambienta announced the acquisition of Agronova Biotech, marking its first investment in the sustainable agriculture sector. Agronova provides solutions that help address some of the sectors sustainability issues, offering microbial alternatives to replace synthetic chemicals, enabling improved nutrient uptake to maximize crop yields with organic fertilization sources. The company has more than 800 products, including biostimulants and biocontrol products helping farmers to deal with biotic stress such as insects and fungi, and abiotic issues such as droughts and flooding. [link]

Farmers from across the world have come together through the Global Farmer Network (GFN) to launch a new initiative for regenerative agriculture. Over 1,000 farmers in 60 countries have signed a farmer-written declaration that outlines shared values for a more sustainable farming future. The “Regenerative Agriculture: A Farmers’ Declaration” supports practices that restore soil health, protect water and biodiversity, and ensure that rural communities remain strong and respected. The declaration also values scientific knowledge, modern tools, and traditional methods working together. [link]

A recent study by the University of Cordoba's Department of Agricultural Economics, Finance, and Accounting has identified stability and flexibility as the two main components of farm resilience. Researchers analyzed Spanish arable crops across 947 farms, examining how factors such as farm size, workforce, and farming methods (organic vs. conventional) affected stability and flexibility. The study revealed that Spanish farms showed high stability but low flexibility, influenced by factors such as land ownership and reliance on subsidies. This research highlights the need for more nuanced policy instruments that consider both static and dynamic resilience. [link]

Indiana farmers planted an estimated 1.6 million acres of overwinter living covers, according to a recent conservation survey from Indiana Conservation Partnership. As a result, it is estimated that 1.8 million tons of sediment were prevented from entering Indiana’s waterways, which would fill about 18,000 train freight cars. The survey also showed that about 70% of row crop acres were not tilled and about 18% had employed reduced tillage over winter, after the 2024 harvest. [link]

A new approach to farming is taking root at Clemson University, whereby researchers are implementing regenerative agriculture techniques to analyze soil restoration, biodiversity enhancement, and climate change adaptation. At the Clemson Restoration Agriculture Farm in the Upstate, everything from the insects to the plants to the soil is designed to work together in harmony. Thus far, researchers have focused on forest farming techniques, cover crops, no-till practices, and agroforestry. [link]

Innocent Drinks has announced that it will be funding nine organizations working across its global fruit and vegetable supply chains. The goal is to help these entities adopt regenerative agriculture practices that are better for the planet and more resilient in the face of growing environmental challenges. The initiative is part of its Farmer Innovation Fund, which will distribute £1 million in grants for the 2025 cycle. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In April, North Carolina State said it was working to examine basalt as a soil amendment and lime replacement within the state. See more, here.

July 19, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – An article in Nature discusses the future of “future foods.”. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 2 – Forbes writes about how leaders can support agroforestry…along with why it matters. Read the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – The Wall Street Journal invites everyone to meet the fully autonomous farm of the future including drones, AI, and robot pickers. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

The Indonesian government plans to expand the use of forest land in 2026 to support food, energy, and water security, as well as to enhance downstream processing of forest products to boost regional development. The initiatives aim to contribute to macro-level development goals, including a 15 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the forestry sector and an improvement in the Village Development Index through forestry-related programs in 600 villages. The forestry ministry's overarching policy goals include protecting forests as global carbon sinks and water regulators, ensuring equitable forest management, using forests to support food and energy security, implementing the one-map policy, and modernizing forest governance through digital services. [link]

A sweeping new study, led by Hilary Brumberg of the University of Colorado Boulder, reveals why progress on natural climate solutions is stalling. Natural climate solutions, or NCS, range from reforestation and agroforestry to wetland restoration, and have long been championed as low-cost, high-benefit pathways for reducing greenhouse gases. However, new research drawing on 352 peer-reviewed papers from across 135 countries shows that slowing growth isn't related to ecological obstacles. Rather, the obstacles are human: insufficient funding, patchy information, ineffective policies, and public skepticism. [link]

PepsiCo and Cargill announced a strategic collaboration to advance regenerative agriculture practices across 240,000 acres from 2025 through 2030. The collaboration will focus on the companies' shared corn supply chain in Iowa, where Cargill sources from local farmers to produce ingredients used in some of PepsiCo's most iconic products. Through trusted local organizations – led by Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), a nonprofit organization with deep roots in the Midwest farming community – this collaboration aims to provide farmers with the knowledge they need to implement regenerative techniques and help them produce crops more sustainably. [link]

Chinese researchers have developed a groundbreaking method to convert methanol into sucrose, bypassing traditional agriculture. The innovative in-vitro biotransformation (ivBT) system uses enzymes to transform methanol derived from industrial waste into complex sugars. This method contributes to sustainability by utilizing carbon dioxide as a raw material, supporting carbon neutrality efforts. The research opens possibilities for producing a wide range of sugars for industries beyond food, including pharmaceuticals and industrial products. [link]

The Animal Legal Defense Fund has sued the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to force it to release records concerning its oversight of the Beef Checkoff program, which the ALDF claims is producing “false and misleading” ads that present beef as environmentally friendly. The Beef Checkoff program, which is funded through a mandatory $1 fee per head of cattle sold, has produced ads that the ALDF alleges “make claims that are misleading to reasonable consumers." The ALDF says that USDA guidelines note that environmental marketing claims funded by checkoff dollars “should not overstate, directly or by implication, an environmental attribute or benefit” of a product and further explain that it is “deceptive” for a checkoff-funded ad “to misrepresent, directly or by implication that a product…offers a general environmental benefit.” [link]

A new report from the United Nations says that global demand for meat, dairy, and fish is projected to climb steadily over the next decade, however persistent nutritional gaps and mounting environmental pressures reveal a complex path ahead. The Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034 report projects a six per cent increase in global per capita consumption of animal-source foods by 2034. The trend is most pronounced in lower middle-income countries, where intake is expected to rise by 24 per cent, far outpacing the global average. Output of meat, dairy and eggs is expected to grow by 17 per cent, while total livestock inventories are projected to expand by seven per cent. These gains will come at an environmental cost, as direct greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture are expected to rise by six per cent by 2034. [link]

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dubbed modern soil health practices “unsustainable” during a Make America Healthy Again roundtable on Capitol Hill, where speakers called for increasing use of precision agriculture technology and expanding public-private partnerships to boost usage of conservation practices. During the event, Kennedy focused his comments on the loss of topsoil, noting that it is currently being depleted quicker than it can replace itself. He said topsoil could be eliminated entirely within 50 years. MAHA advocate and roundtable host Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., confirmed the second Make America Healthy Again report will be released Aug. 12. [link]

President Trump said Coca-Cola agreed to use cane sugar in its namesake soda, following criticism of sweeteners such as high-fructose corn syrup by Trump’s health secretary. A Coca-Cola spokeswoman said the company appreciated Trump’s enthusiasm for its brand. “More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon,” she said. U.S. Coke bottlers switched to high-fructose corn syrup in the 1980s in a cost-cutting effort. But sugar has held cachet for many as better-tasting. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has vowed to “Make America Healthy Again,” has criticized the food industry’s influence on Washington and what he said is its heavy reliance on processing and artificial ingredients. [link]

Nestlé and Barry Callebaut have teamed up on a groundbreaking partnership aimed at accelerating progress to net zero cocoa production in Brazil. The two companies will undertake a five-year planting initiative, generating 6.2 hectares of agroforestry and 7.7 million trees, as they aim to foster the sustainable growth of Brazil’s cocoa sector by empowering entrepreneurial farmers to enter cocoa production and support existing cocoa farmers to expand their areas in a climate friendly way. Utilizing advanced technology, financial support, and land development, the initiative will incorporate three main projects to address different farmer segments and their challenges, and will also leverage Barry Callebaut’s expertise in seedlings production. [link]

Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) recently hosted the CANR–Europe Partnership Forum, welcoming academic leaders, researchers and institutional partners from across Europe for a multi-day event focused on advancing collaboration in agriculture, food systems and natural resource sustainability. Key sessions featured presentations by European institutions on their existing partnerships with MSU and opportunities for future collaboration, emphasizing shared goals in research, innovation and joint funding proposals. The forum also brought participants beyond the conference room for immersive, hands-on experiences. Visits to MSU’s Kellogg Biological Station, the Lake Michigan shoreline and the historic Kellogg Manor House offered cultural and environmental context for international collaboration. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late May, Google and Arable announced a water replenishment-focused collaboration, with Google agreeing to fund projects to bring Arable’s efficient irrigation technology to farmers in North and South Carolina. See more, here.

July 12, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – An article in Art discusses the future of food…and how technology and sustainability are changing what we eat. Read the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – The WBCSD reflects on London Climate Action Week and looks at how to finance the future of sustainable agriculture in Brazil’s Cerrado. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – Forbes connects the dots and says that farming is America’s first line of defense for creating healthier people. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

A $723,839 USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure grant will connect Pennsylvania farmers with 15 community partner locations — including shelters for individuals experiencing homelessness, domestic violence support centers and substance use recovery programs. The NEPA Food Dignity Movement has been awarded a United States Department of Agriculture Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure grant to tackle systemic challenges in farm sustainability and revolutionize the regional food supply chain in Northeast Pennsylvania. [link]

In Hawaii, the Kaua‘i County Office of Economic Development has awarded 12 Agriculture Farm Expansion Grants for fiscal year 2024-25. This is the second year the office offered funding through the grant program aimed at advancing Kaua‘i’s agricultural industry through targeted investments in the expansion of farming and/or production around the island. A selection committee carefully reviewed and scored each of the eligible 18 proposals submitted, with the 12 selected projects partially or fully funded with a total of $637,429. [link]

Snacking, food, and pet care products provider Mars announced the launch of the Mars Sustainability Investment Fund (MSIF), a new $250 million fund aimed at providing capital to companies developing solutions to address key industry sustainability challenges. The new fund will deploy capital across investment funds as well as through direct investments, targeting solutions to sustainability challenges across the company’s value chain in areas including the sourcing of its ingredients, the health aspects of its products, and circular packaging. [link]

New University of Minnesota research, recently published in the Soil Science Society of America Journal, significantly improves a tool that farmers can use to guide nitrogen application decisions on their fields. A well-known tool, called the Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Test (PSNT), uses soil nitrate status to help farmers determine whether their corn crop may need more nitrogen. By analyzing data from 34 field trials across Minnesota, the researchers updated the PSNT threshold, finding that 20 parts per million of nitrate in the top 12 inches of soil reliably delivers 97% of maximum yield, and that if PSNT is below such levels, roughly 12.3 lbs of nitrogen per acre is needed for every one part per million shortfall. [link]

U.S. House representatives have introduced the Conservation and Regenerative Optimization Practices for Farming Act, or the CROP for Farming Act, a bipartisan proposal to strengthen conservation efforts and equip farmers with new tools to improve soil health, enhance productivity, and reduce harmful emissions through voluntary practices. The bill updates the Food Security Act of 1985 to recognize and support farming efforts to reduce nitrous oxide and methane emissions, while promoting carbon storage in soil and vegetation, all through existing conservation incentive contracts under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Through updates to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the bill encourages practices such as no-till farming, cover cropping, and improved grazing management —strategies that enhance soil fertility, improve water retention, and support long-term farm resilience. [link]

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers and its member company leaders released a comprehensive whitepaper detailing how advancements in technology have revolutionized the cultivation of specialty crops and enhanced efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. Today’s ag equipment plays a pivotal role in shaping these transformations, with innovations spanning autonomy and automation, precision spray application and weed management techniques, irrigation systems, as well as harvesting technologies. [link]

A global research study published in The Innovation found that certain farming practices can simultaneously boost food production, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve soil health. Drawing on more than 39,000 field comparisons across 104 meta-analyses, the study found practices such as legume and cereal intercropping, organic amendments and precision nutrient management can increase yields while reducing environmental footprint. A key finding was that legume-cereal intercropping can significantly enhance system productivity while also lowering fertilizer use and greenhouse gas emissions. [link]

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson wants to move legislation this fall to address farm and nutrition programs left out of the budget reconciliation bill. Thompson, R-Pa., told reporters that the bill would need about $8 billion in additional funding over 10 years, far less than the $66 billion spending increase included in the reconciliation bill dubbed the One Big Beautiful Act and paid for out of cuts to funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Issues that would be addressed in what Thompson calls farm bill 2.0 include controversial provisions to address concerns around industrial hemp, lawsuits against pesticide manufacturers, and California’s Proposition 12 regulations on sow housing. Other issues that need to be addressed include reauthorization of the Conservation Reserve Program; limits for USDA direct and guaranteed loans; rural broadband assistance; and a provision to trigger permanent price-support laws if existing commodity programs are allowed to lapse after 2031. Thompson also said there are several nutrition assistance issues he wants to address, including expanding SNAP eligibility for ex-convicts and families of young adults who are still in school, along with modifying SNAP eligibility requirements to eliminate a "poverty cliff." [link]

A new free modeling tool is enabling researchers, farmers and food processors to assess how changes in the ways a dairy farm is managed would influence its environmental impact, energy use and economics. The Ruminant Farm Systems (RuFaS) modeling tool, developed by Cornell researchers and collaborators across academia, industry, government and nonprofits, is available at no cost for open-source collaboration. Cornell researchers created the scaffolding for the model and worked with collaborators to integrate Cornell and other dairy farm research on factors like animal feed, crop growth and milk production. The model predicts outcomes such as production costs, resource use and greenhouse gas emissions. [link]

The holding company Allterra, owner of the Microgeo and TMF brands, has announced the launch of three new biological inputs to ensure the improvement of soil: a bionematicide, a biofungicide, and a bioactivator. Allterra is one of five companies in Brazil with the newly launched QIMA certification, bearing the Regenera seal, which guarantees alignment with Regenerative Agriculture practices. The new biological product launches are part of Allterra’s strategy to consolidate its role in offering solutions and services that combine technological innovation, increased profitability for the producer, and reduced environmental impact. [link]

The Italian candy maker behind Ferrero Rocher and Nutella announced a roughly $3 billion deal to buy the breakfast-cereal conglomerate WK Kellogg. WK Kellogg is the company behind Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies and a variety of other cereal monikers. It has a market value today of some $1.5 billion, and more than $500 million in debt. Ferrero has been targeting the U.S. for acquisitions to grow geographically and expand by category. It bought Wells Enterprises, the maker of Blue Bunny and other ice-cream brands, and before that struck a $2.8 billion deal to acquire Nestlé’s U.S. chocolate business. [link]

The European Commission announced the launch of its “Roadmap towards Nature Credits,” aimed at helping to develop a new market for nature credits. Similar in concept to carbon credits, nature credits would represent activities that protect and restore biodiversity and ecosystems targeting nature-focused outcomes based on specific metrics and indicators. Under the new roadmap, the Commission said that it will establish a dedicated expert group including member states, stakeholder and technical experts to co-develop certification methodologies and governance principles for nature credits, with first results expected in 2026. From 2025 – 2027, the Commission will launch a pilot project on nature credits, and it will subsequently consider next steps for the development and scaling up of nature credit markets. [link]

Major food corporations are failing to effectively support farming practices that protect human and environmental health, according to an assessment of 20 companies released by the corporate watchdog group, As You Sow. The report scored corporate programs and policies related to regenerative agriculture – a type of farming that prioritizes healthy soil – determining that, on average, the companies deserved a near-failing grade of “D”. The nonprofit group assigned the lowest grades to W.K. Kellogg Co., known for popular cereals including Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies, and B&G Foods, Inc., whose brands include Crisco and Cream of Wheat. Companies earning the highest scores included PepsiCo, the global snack and beverage giant, as well as McCain Foods and Lamb Weston, both known for their French fries and other potato products. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In mid-June, Impossible Foods CEO Peter McGuinness said that the plant-based giant could enter the blended meat space to try and spur more sales growth with flexitarians. See more, here.

July 3, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – Beyond Pesticides writes that as temperatures continue to rise, organic agriculture eliminates chemicals that contribute to the climate crisis. Read the story, here.

Spotlight 2 – The European Commission provides its in-depth analysis on how to future-proof the food and agriculture segment. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 3 – Boston Consulting Group presents a viable path to regenerative landscapes in the Amazon. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

The Central Government in India has issued model rules for the felling of trees on agricultural land in a bid to promote agroforestry with the aim of doubling farmers' incomes, increasing tree cover outside forests and mitigating climate change. In a letter sent to all state governments, the environment ministry said the objective of 'Model Rules for Felling of Trees in Agricultural Lands' is to enhance the ease of doing business in agroforestry and incentivize farmers to integrate trees into their farming systems without facing undue procedural hurdles. The government has been promoting agroforestry as a necessary means for supporting India's climate goals under the Paris Agreement. [link]

Eni has inaugurated its first agri-hub in the Republic of the Congo, launching the very first vegetable oil extraction plant in the country. The production will be destined for Eni's biorefineries that sit within its Enilive segment, where it will be transformed into biofuel to help decarbonize transport sectors, as part of Eni’s sustainable mobility strategy. The agri-hub in Loudima will have a capacity of 30,000 tons per year of vegetable oil and will be supplied by oil crops grown on degraded and underutilized land or through intercropping systems, as part of an innovative regenerative agriculture project developed in collaboration with local stakeholders. [link]

Syngenta is accelerating the rollout of its nature-inspired, science-based biological solutions, responding to rising demand for sustainable, high-performance tools that help farmers boost productivity efficiently and responsibly. In December 2024, the company acquired Intrinsyx Bio, a California-based start-up specializing in the development of nutrient-use efficiency products. Most recently, in early 2025, Syngenta concluded the integration of Novartis’ Strains and Natural Products Collection, the repository of natural compounds and genetic strains for agricultural use. Also in 2025, Syngenta opened a 22,000 m² biologicals facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina, in the United States, which is purpose-built to produce 16,000 tons of biostimulants annually. This new manufacturing facility complements Syngenta’s existing global network of biologicals’ manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Italy, India and Norway. [link]

The Bennington County Agroforestry and Flood Resilience local fund pool has $250,000 available for Bennington County land stewards in the state of Vermont. The local fund pool for the county has been allocated $250,000 to spend on federal EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) contracts that support one of six primary practices: alley cropping, silvopasture, forest farming, hedgerow planting, windbreak/shelterbelt establishment, and riparian forest buffer. Last year, some $750,000 in total were available for applicants in Bennington and Rutland Counties through the Bennington, Rutland, and Poultney-Mettowee Conservation Districts. This year, $250,000 is meant for just Bennington County. [link]

Morocco is accelerating its agricultural transformation through a new partnership with Hong Kong-based Jungnong Group, a subsidiary of China’s Agricultural Development Group. With an initial investment of $22 million, the joint venture represents a strategic pivot toward high-tech, water-efficient farming systems in a country grappling with water scarcity and climate volatility. The project, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, will serve as a blueprint for sustainable agriculture in North Africa. It promises to create more than 300 direct jobs, train local workers in precision agriculture, and boost export-oriented crop production in semi-arid regions. [link]

Hershey is the latest company to commit to dropping synthetic dyes from its products by the end of 2027. The move comes as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., health and human services secretary, has prioritized removing synthetic dyes from food and beverages sold in the U.S. At the state-level, West Virginia will ban certain food dyes and preservatives from 2028. Starting in 2027, Texas will require warning labels on products containing artificial food dyes and additives. [link]

Nearly a dozen agriculture commissioners from red states wrote to top Trump administration officials and Republican lawmakers calling for the elimination of federal funding to organizations that promote “net-zero” climate policies. The letter argues that net-zero policies adopted by certain organizations “will have devastating effects on American consumers, farmers, and ranchers, and further endanger food security for the poor in America.” The agriculture commissioners singled out the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the United Nations Environment Program as organizations that promote those policies. [link]

Consumer goods companies are enlarging their range of products—by making them smaller. Diminutive snack and drink sizes are hitting store shelves as brands try to keep stretched consumers buying with lower-price options. PepsiCo now sells Lay’s potato chips in half a dozen different-sized bags, costing from around 50 cents to roughly $5. Campbell’s now markets teensy packages of Pepperidge Farm cookies and Goldfish crackers. And Mondelez International has six different Milka chocolate bar sizes with prices from under $1 to $6. Food, beverage and consumer-product companies are hoping that a wider range of shrunken size options can boost overall sales volumes, which have been pressured in recent quarters. Smaller-size offerings also tend to have higher profit margins. [link]

New research shows that UK farmer confidence has been battered by climate change in recent years. The market research of 300 farmers across the UK was commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) from Grounded Research, specialists in gathering insights into questions about food and farming. When asked what impact recent extreme weather has had on their farms, 87% cited reduced productivity, 84% have witnessed a reduction in crop yields or livestock output, whilst three quarters have seen their incomes reduced. In the past five years, 86% of farmers have been hit by extreme rainfall, 78% by drought, and over a half by the impacts of heatwaves. Only 2% have not experienced extreme weather in some form. [link]

The U.S. government is preparing to breed billions of flies and dump them out of airplanes over Mexico and southern Texas to fight a flesh-eating maggot threatening the American beef industry. The targeted pest is the flesh-eating larva of the New World Screwworm fly. The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to ramp up the breeding and distribution of adult male flies — sterilizing them with radiation before releasing them. They mate with females in the wild, and the eggs laid by the female aren’t fertilized and don’t hatch. There are fewer larvae, and over time, the fly population dies out. The USDA expects a new screwworm fly factory to be up and running in southern Mexico by July 2026. It plans to open a fly distribution center in southern Texas by the end of the year so that it can import and distribute flies from Panama if necessary. [link]

Despite funding cuts across the board for programs and agencies on the federal level, Virginia farmers are seeing a win for conservation projects. The state is showing a dedication to sustainable farming measures by allocating $223 million for agricultural practices that stop pollutants and sediment disturbances that lead to runoff into the Chesapeake Bay. It is a $16 million increase over the last fiscal year, leading to the fourth year of increasing funding from the state. The program helps farmers in the commonwealth to implement projects that conserve water, help soil health through cover crops, and other sustainability goals. Farmers can apply for up to $300,000 in fiscal year 2026 to cost-share one of over 60 projects, including stream cattle exclusion zones, cover crops, and animal waste control facilities. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late 2024, UW-Madison Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of Agricultural & Applied Economics, Jeff Hadachek, developed a tool to aid farmers on understanding the financial impact of conservation decisions. See more, here.

June 28, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – NPR dives into the experimental practice of relay intercropping and how some farmers are using this approach to prevent flooding. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 2 – Civil Eats says that American conservation work on farms and ranches could take a hit as the USDA cuts staff. Read the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – Fast Company offers a vision for America’s agricultural future, based on the healing powers of food. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

Equitable Food Initiative celebrated Pollinator Week by launching a free toolkit with educational resources, downloadable graphics and actionable tips to raise awareness and assist with supporting pollinator populations. A toolkit focused specifically on pollinators is a first for EFI, adding to its robust library of materials designed to support safer, healthier and more sustainable food systems. The toolkit, which highlights not only honeybees and butterflies but also lesser-known pollinators like bats, beetles, birds, moths and flies, is available at equitablefood.org/pollinator-week. [link]

Potato Processor Cavendish Farms is digging into a major sustainability project at its Discovery Farm in New London, P.E.I., aiming to help Island potato growers go greener. The food giant recently unveiled the initiative, designed to make the potato industry more environmentally friendly. The research will focus on key areas like water consumption, pest and disease control, and soil management. A Farm advisory group has been established to ensure collaboration between Cavendish Farms and local growers. The goal is to share research results that will improve potato crops and protect farmland for future generations. [link]

A new study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production presents a novel approach to sustainable agricultural intensification, with promising implications for food security and land conservation in Senegal. Conducted by researchers at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the study explores how farmers’ land-use decisions can be guided by the relative risks and returns of different crops—similar to how financial investments are managed. Using Senegal as a case study, the authors show that shifting cropland expansion toward high-value crops like fruits and vegetables could reduce the need for new land conversion by up to 68% by 2030. [link]

A new European project - SOILRES - aims to regenerate soil health and strengthen the resilience of agricultural systems in Europe. The project is funded by the Horizon Europe program and is being coordinated by the University of Aarhus in Denmark among 19 international partners. SOILRES aims to develop and test innovative agricultural strategies based on the principles of regenerative agriculture—such as cover crops, strip tillage, microbial biostimulants, compost, biochar, and digital tools—to improve soil fertility, limit nutrient losses, and increase crop resilience in both organic and conventional systems. The project will be carried out at six main experimental sites in Italy, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, and Portugal, selected to represent different climatic and soil conditions across the continent. [link]

Farmers in Madagascar are installing agroforestry systems as a sustainable alternative to previous “slash-and-burn” farming and in response to more frequent droughts. Producer organizations FITAFA and FEKRITAMA are playing a key role in supporting their members to make this switch and to overcome the challenges involved. FITAFA – with support from national farmers’ organization FEKRITAMA – has been encouraging members to adopt agroforestry systems, incorporating cash crops like cinnamon, cloves, coffee and lychees, grown in the shade of the trees. Agroforestry now accounts for two-thirds of most farmers’ plots, with the rest left for rice cultivation, other crops or left fallow. [link]

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has made the state the seventh in the U.S. to ban the sale of cultivated meat. He has also ordered an investigation into ultra-processed foods. Texas has become the latest state to prohibit the sale of cultivated meat, the result of an effort that began in November. SB 261 was one of the 300-plus bills signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott, imposing a two-year ban that starts on September 1 this year. [link]

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has highlighted the success of its LandFlex Pilot Program, which has significantly protected groundwater and supported farmers. The program saved more than 100,000 acre-feet of water and protected over 16,500 drinking water wells in vulnerable communities. Launched in 2022 during extreme drought conditions, LandFlex helped six groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) distribute $23.3 million in funding to support small and mid-sized farms in California’s Central Valley. The goal was to stop over-pumping of groundwater while ensuring farms stayed in production. [link]

Almost half of Arizona’s cotton acreage last year was never sprayed with an insecticide, a testament to changes in pest management technologies and a message that university scientists and cotton industry representatives believe could bolster efforts to increase demand for U.S. Upland cotton. The U.S. Cotton Board, which oversees programs run by Cotton Incorporated to promote the use of American Upland cotton, is embarked on a change in strategies to bolster U.S. cotton sales by partnering with the various brands that use cotton in their products. Arizona’s cotton crop may be the cleanest in the United States when it comes to pesticide use. Last year Arizona cotton farmers averaged 1.5 pesticide applications on their crop for the entire season. [link]

In a pivotal move to enhance the sustainability and resilience of India’s rainfed landscapes, a one-day national workshop on “Agroforestry for Resilient Rainfed Landscapes” was held at the National Agricultural Science Centre (NASC) Complex in New Delhi. The workshop was jointly organized by the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Division of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), and the Revitalizing Rainfed Agriculture (RRA) Network. The event brought together key policymakers, domain experts, researchers, and practitioners to deliberate on strategic frameworks, field innovations, and policy alignment to mainstream agroforestry in India's rainfed agriculture. [link]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced four Michigan and Ohio grant recipients will receive $3,712,124 to engage farmers and provide nutrient management technical assistance in the Western Lake Erie Basin. Nutrient runoff from agricultural land is the leading cause of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie. Selected organizations include the Ohio Department of Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy, the Lenawee County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Regents of the University of Michigan. Funding is provided by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Under the GLRI, federal agencies work with nonfederal partners to strategically target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem and to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world. [link]

The University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture has opened a third round of funding for fall cover crop planting in Missouri. About $3 million is available for Missouri producers interested in using cover crops on their cropland through the Missouri Conservation Crop and Livestock Project (CRCL). Payments are also available for planting trees under the silvopasture option. The application period for cover crop and silvopasture payments is through July 31 or whenever funding runs out. [link]

Egg company Kipster has announced that it has successfully implemented in-ovo sexing in its forthcoming flock of laying hens at their facility in Nebraska. The technology enables producers to select and remove male embryos before developing, eliminating the need for post-hatch culling, where living chicks are commonly ground up en masse. If in-ovo sexing were adopted across the egg industry in the United States, the switch would spare at least 300 million male chicks each year from culling. [link]

Jif peanut butter maker J.M. Smucker said that it would remove synthetic food colors from all consumer food products by the end of 2027. The company said this move would impact its sugar-free fruit spreads, ice cream toppings, and some sweet baked goods from its Hostess brand portfolio. J.M. Smucker said the majority of its products currently available to K-12 schools do not contain any artificial colors, and it is working with distribution partners to stop selling products with synthetic dyes to K-12 schools by the 2026-2027 school year. [link]

International non-governmental organization Rainforest Alliance has published its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting the progress its certification program has made in regenerative agriculture. The report reveals Rainforest Alliance supports 1.8 million coffee farmers and workers across 1.9 million hectares in 29 countries, and outlines how regenerative agriculture has helped to restore nature in critical areas and strengthen rural communities. The organization is one of the world’s largest farm-to-consumer certification programs. Products with the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal are available in 155 countries. According to the report, that equates to 333 million cups of coffee and 96 million bars of chocolate every day. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In early May, Mondelez International’s impact investing arm, Sustainable Futures, made a strategic investment in eAgronom, an Estonia-based agritech startup focused on scaling regenerative agriculture across Europe. See more, here.

June 21, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – UNSTUCK reviews the rise of alcohol-free beer and asks what lessons the sustainable food industry can learn. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 2 – Policy Circle writes about how satellite data is reshaping agriculture. Read the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – The Wall Street Journal holds its Global Food Forum, whereby Chobani’s CEO says that the food system needs immigration to function. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

Some farmers in Saskatchewan are using drones to manage their crops more efficiently, mainly by identifying crop plant health. Flying 10 to 12 feet above the crop canopy, farmers in the province see the DJI AGRAS model as a game changer. Covering about 40 acres an hour, the AGRAS model weighs 80 pounds while holding up to 70 pounds of water or granular fertilizer. The spray can help prevent more soil compaction, creating better access for crops to grow. The DJI AGRAS T50 model can also be paired as a secondary “mapping” drone, along with the Mavic. The Agras can identify crops through thermal vision, where the model will inform the Mavic on which area of crops may need certain levels of spray. [link]

Waitrose has announced the recipients of a new £500k fund aimed at helping British farmers transition to low carbon farming methods, as part of its commitment to reach net zero across its UK farms by 2035 and the entire supply chain by 2050. The net zero farm fund will support nine innovative farmers within the Waitrose supply chain, implementing projects that reduce agricultural emissions and build resilience in farming. The new projects span a range of low carbon innovations, including water and fertilizer recycling, establishing wild habitats alongside traditional farming, testing cover cropping in orchards, and converting waste materials like poultry litter into fertilizer. Additionally, some farms plan to introduce agroforestry and wildflower planting for better water management, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration, while others are exploring renewable energy and emissions tracking systems. [link]

Kiss the Ground, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting regeneration and healthy soil, announced the release of its Regenerative Purchasing Guides, a suite of free, easy-to-use tools designed to help consumers shop with purpose and confidence. As wellness and sustainability rise in consumer priority, most shoppers remain unsure how to align their values with their purchasing habits. The new Regenerative Purchasing Guides aim to bridge this gap, empowering consumers with transparent and trustworthy information about how their everyday choices impact both personal and planetary health. [link]

Senator Rob Black of Ontario has introduced the Second Reading of Bill S-230, a National Strategy for Soil Health Act, which aims to develop a national strategy for soil health protection, conservation, and enhancement in Canada. Inspired by the 2024 Senate soil health report, the bill reflects urgent concerns about degraded soil. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, 30% of global soil is already degraded, and 90% could be degraded by 2050. The bill underlines soil’s role in food security, calling it a strategic national asset. It also warns against urban development on productive farmland, especially in places like Ontario, where 319 acres of farmland are lost daily. The proposed strategy will bring together provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments with various federal departments. The plan will include education programs, data collection, policy updates, and appointing a national soil advocate to raise awareness. [link]

Kraft Heinz said it plans to remove artificial food dyes from its U.S. products before the end of 2027. Kraft Heinz also said it would no longer use artificial colors in new products in the U.S. The move comes as the Trump administration is pushing to strip artificial dyes from the U.S. food supply. The Health and Human Services Department and Food and Drug Administration said in April that it aimed to work with the food industry to remove six synthetic dyes by the end of next year. Kraft Heinz said that nearly 90% of its U.S. products, in terms of sales, don’t use artificial dyes. For those that do, including many Crystal Light, Heinz relish, Kool-Aid, Jell-O and Jet-Puffed products, the company said that it would remove, replace or reinvent colors. [link]

The ASPCA moderated a briefing featuring farmers and ranchers from across the country who shared their experiences both raising animals in the industrial agriculture system and operating in a healthier, more humane and sustainable manner. Congressional staff in attendance heard directly from farmers who advocated for policy solutions, highlighting the need for greater investment in America’s independent farms, and encouraged Congress to prioritize support for higher-welfare, more resilient, pasture-based farming systems as discussions continue around federal funding and the next Farm Bill. The briefing directly follows a June 16th tour of two higher-welfare farms in Virginia – Whiffletree Tree Farm and Kinloch Farm – where congressional staff joined the ASPCA, farmers, and other food system experts to visit these operations in-person and hear directly from the farmers making them successful. [link]

The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program, a joint effort of Farm Credit East and CoBank, recently provided $115,000 in grant funding to 27 organizations to assist their efforts to encourage youth leadership development, support young and beginning farmer initiatives, promote diversity, equity and inclusion, and advance northeast agriculture, forestry and commercial fishing. The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program was created in 1996 to support projects that promote and enhance the region’s agricultural community. Since inception, the program has provided more than $3.6 million in grant funding to 1,196 projects. Submissions for the next round of grant funding are due by August 1, 2025. [link]

Bayer and Kimitec have announced the launch of two next-generation biological products—Ambition Complete Gen2 and Ambition Secure Gen2. Both formulations, now in regulatory review, are set to join Bayer’s Crop Performance Enhancer portfolio. The move underscores Bayer’s continued push toward nature-based, regenerative agricultural solutions. Developed at Kimitec’s MAAVi Innovation Center, these innovations aim to boost plant performance using nature-derived science and AI-powered discovery. [link]

The global food system faces growing risks from climate change, even as farmers seek to adapt, according to a June 18 study in Nature. In contrast to previous studies suggesting that warming could increase global food production, the researchers estimate that every additional degree Celsius of global warming on average will drag down the world’s ability to produce food by 120 calories per person per day, or 4.4% of current daily consumption. The study draws on observations from more than 12,000 regions across 55 countries. The team analyzed adaptation costs and yields for crops that provide two-thirds of humanity’s calories: wheat, corn, rice, soybeans, barley, and cassava. [link]

The USDA has announced a sweeping readiness and response plan in light of increasing threats of New World screwworm (NWS). The plan aims to enhance USDA’s ability to detect, control, and eliminate the pest in the U.S. cattle herd. The plan uses a five-pronged strategy aimed at controlling animal movement, creating strong surveillance systems, and utilizing proven sterilization techniques. Broadly, the U.S. government wants to stop the NWS spread in Mexico, protect the U.S. border, maximize American industry's readiness, and force eradication through innovation and offensive measures. [link]

General Mills said it will work to remove artificial colors from its U.S. retail portfolio by the end of 2027. It also committed to removing synthetic dyes from its U.S. cereals and foods served in K-12 schools by the summer of 2026. The Trix and Lucky Charms maker said the change will impact “only a small portion” of its school portfolio and 15% of its U.S. retail portfolio. General Mills’ announcement marks the second food company this week to commit to removing the controversial ingredients from its portfolio, following an earlier Kraft Heinz announcement. [link]

A new joint report by Bain & Company and the World Economic Forum (WEF) says that an estimated $1.1 trillion in annual investment is required over the next five years to shift global food production toward sustainable, resilient models that create jobs and align with the Paris Agreement targets. Today, however, annual investments stand at just 5 percent of that need, leaving a staggering financing gap. Unlocking the necessary capital to close it, the report argues, will depend on adopting innovative financing models that can attract a broader, more diverse set of financial actors. [link]

Bregal Sphere announced an investment in Jubilación Segura, an agroforestry and reforestation initiative focused on coffee and cocoa landscapes in the Peruvian Amazon. Bregal Sphere's investment aims to double the project’s size, enabling the distribution of 4.4 million trees over the next five years and the restoration of more than 5,000 hectares of degraded land. The project will seek to engage over 4,000 additional smallholder farmers and is forecast to remove approximately 1.3 million tons of CO2 equivalent by 2039. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

Early this month, Farm Credit Canada (FCC) announced a $2 billion commitment to domestic agriculture and food innovation by 2030, funneling investment into the space through its newly launched capital arm, FCC Capital. See more, here.

June 14, 2025

Spotlight Stories

Spotlight 1 – The Globe and Mail looks at nitrogen’s role across food systems. Check it out, here.

Spotlight 2 – Investigate Midwest provides some great detail on how the May Illinois dust storm is representative of how climate shifts are spreading. Read the story, here.

Spotlight 3 – AgWeb says that a quiet crisis is unfolding rapidly in American agriculture as the average age of farmers continues to move higher. Take a read, here.

Industry Updates

Pro Farm Group has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) coveted Green Chemistry Challenge Award for Design of Safer and Degradable Chemicals. The award follows the development of RinoTec technology, a biocontrol agent produced from a novel bacterial organism found in nature and enhanced through proprietary, patented fermentation and processing methods. The resulting insecticidal and nematicidal property offers a new and unique mode of action with the potential to replace or reduce the use of standard synthetic pesticides used to control soil-dwelling and foliar crop pests on millions of acres around the globe. [link]

Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs) has released its first Impact Report, highlighting significant progress in landscape resilience and climate outcomes from regenerative agriculture across Europe. LENs brings together businesses, NGOs, public bodies, and land managers to co-fund environmental improvements at scale. Since 2021, the platform has channeled more than €24 million (~$27.4 million) directly to farmers and land managers. Backers include Diageo, Nestlé, and PepsiCo, supporting initiatives in the UK, Hungary, Italy, and Poland. LENs practices — like soil cover, crop diversity, habitat restoration, and livestock integration — boost resilience while improving carbon storage, biodiversity, and water quality. The entity now has 47,705 hectares under regenerative practices and anticipates continued growth in the years ahead. [link]

A microscopic enzyme could be the key to helping nitrogen fertilizers stick better to the soil and prevent runoff that causes harmful algal blooms, according to a new review article published by a Michigan State University research team. Led by College of Natural Science Dean Eric Hegg, the paper compiles years of research on an enzyme known as NrfA that plays a key role in keeping nitrogen in soil. Krystina Hird, an MSU Ph.D. candidate and first author on the paper, said studying NrfA could help farmers not only avoid polluting nearby waterways but also save money by reducing their need for fertilizer. The findings are published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. [link]

A group of investors, funders, and farming organizations are partnering with nonprofit the TransCap Initiative (TCI) to design a new finance infrastructure for regenerative agriculture in the Midwestern US. Both the Walton Family Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation are supporting the initiative, the second phase of which will last six months. Phase two of the “systemic investing prototype” will see participants designing a financial platform that can deploy multiple types of capital across the regenerative agriculture space. Critically, the initiative seeks to match the right capital with the right practices or interventions at the right time in order to finance the transition to regenerative agriculture at scale. [link]

Key Carbon, a Vancouver-based private equity firm specializing in climate and biodiversity action, will partner with Lithuania’s InSoil to support regenerative agriculture across Europe. Under the agreement, Key Carbon will invest over $114 million (€100 million) into InSoil’s zero-interest Green Loans, providing vital financing to small and medium-sized farms transitioning to sustainable practices. InSoil (formerly HeavyFinance) offers zero-interest loans to farmers in exchange for a share of carbon credits. [link]

Funding for food tech startups “slowed significantly” in the first quarter of the year as investors shift their focus toward artificial intelligence, according to a Pitchbook report. The food tech sector captured $1.4 billion in investments across 202 deals in the first quarter, Pitchbook said. That’s close to a 50% drop in capital and a 15% decline in deal count year over year. Some investors are pulling back from the food tech sector all together. The number of unique investors with deals in the space declined 54% from its 2021 peak through the first quarter of 2024. [link]

Israeli foodtech startup Lembas has emerged from stealth with “GLP-1 Edge,” a bioactive peptide that triggers the production of GLP-1 and other gut hormones that regulate appetite and metabolism. Founded in 2024, Lembas has raised a $3.6 million pre-seed round led by FLORA Ventures, with participation from Bluestein Ventures, Fresh Fund, Longevity Venture Partners, Maia Ventures, Siddhi Capital, Mandi Ventures and SDH. Lembas’ patent-pending technology, utilizing AI to discover, design, and screen bioactive peptides, is licensed from Tel Aviv University, and has attracted interest from global food and supplement companies keen to address a “massive unmet need,” claims the firm. [link]

A project designed to help Brazilian farmers transition from livestock farming to plant-based food production is getting off the ground. ProVeg zeros in on boosting profitable, sustainable, and fair agriculture by producing vegetables instead of animals. The Cultiva Project offers full technical support to producers who currently work with livestock to migrate to the production of plant-based foods using an agroforestry model. This includes agronomic, legal, marketing, and credit access support. Agroforestry models combine trees with crops and promote an economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and socially fair alternative for family farmers, according to ProVeg Brazil. [link]

Global food and beverage company Nestlé revealed that its largest coffee brand, Nescafé, sourced nearly a third of its coffee from farmers implementing regenerative agriculture practices in 2024, significantly beating the company’s goal to reach 20% by 2025. The company’s achievement was announced with the release of its Nescafé Plan 2030 Progress Report, detailing the brand’s progress on its strategy to improve the sustainability of coffee farming. Nescafé launched the strategy in 2022, with a commitment to invest over $1 billion in the plan by 2030. [link]

In a landmark move, four UK water companies (Affinity Water, South Staffs & Cambridge Water, Wessex Water and Southern Water) have partnered with Wildfarmed’s regenerative wheat farmers, offering financial incentives of up to £200 per hectare of retained nutrients. The group aims to reduce agricultural run-off, limit pesticide pollution and improve the health of freshwater ecosystems, particularly by tackling eutrophication at the source. This initiative represents a strategic shift in the sense that UK water utilities are now investing directly in land management to reduce their downstream treatment costs. [link]

The conversation surrounding ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in the US is about to be taken up a notch, with the country’s food regulator reportedly looking to create a definition for such products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is hoping that its description would encourage companies to label their offerings as ‘non-ultra-processed’ the same way products are marketed as sugar- or fat-free. While the effort is being led by the FDA, it includes other agencies too, such as the Department of Agriculture. Once a definition has been drafted, the government will open it up to public comments before finalizing it in the months ahead. [link]

Impossible Foods CEO Peter McGuinness suggested that the plant-based giant could enter the blended meat space to entice more flexitarians. In 2024, nearly every American household that bought a vegan burger also purchased conventional meat, highlighting how exclusively plant-based eating is still niche. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr. McGuinness made the case for why flexitarians are the brand’s biggest growth opportunity, noting that a sizable portion of flexitarians could quadruple Impossible Foods’ revenue in a short period. [link]

In Case You Missed It…

In late April, the Good Food Institute released its State of the Plant-Based Meat & Dairy Industry report for 2024. See more, here.