May 30, 2026
Spotlight Stories
Spotlight 1 – Food Tank writes about the 10 crops that can turn arid lands into biodiversity and food security hotspots. Ready the story, here.
Spotlight 2 – Atmos says that for more successful farming, we should follow the forest. Check it out, here.
Spotlight 3 – NPR reports on a grassroots program that is helping farmers teach each other regenerative ag practices. Take a read, here.
Industry Updates
Malaysian authorities are directing farmers and greenhouse operators in the Cameron Highlands to adopt agricultural practices that minimize pesticide and chemical use. The directive applies across the district as part of broader efforts to reduce chemical inputs in Malaysia’s highland agricultural zone. [link]
Conservation Resources has made the first investment of its new Farmland II fund, acquiring a 155-acre kiwi and citrus property in California. The transaction positions Conservation Resources among the largest institutional owners of bearing kiwi acreage in the United States. [link]
A non-chemical systemic approach to weed control is now commercially available to UK farmers following the launch of Garford’s electric weeder. The device kills weeds without chemicals or mechanical soil disturbance, offering a new alternative to herbicide-based weed management. [link]
A new initiative to test regenerative farming practices is now underway across 20 farms in Ireland. The program will assess how regenerative approaches perform in Irish conditions, providing data to guide broader adoption across the country. [link]
Brazil has asked the World Health Organization to develop regulations requiring countries to restrict the sale of ultra-processed foods, especially to children. The Brazilian push comes amid growing global concern over ultra-processed food consumption and its links to diet-related disease. [link]
New research shows that planting trees within cattle pastures can nearly double biodiversity levels relative to conventional systems. The findings, drawn from analysis across multiple countries, point to silvopastoral systems as a practical tool for improving ecological outcomes in livestock production. [link]
The University of Vermont will host a conference entitled “Just Transformations: Reimagining Sustainable Food Systems and Cultures,” beginning June 7. The event, organized by UVM’s Institute for Agroecology, will convene researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working to advance equitable food systems. [link]
The National Farmers Union is calling on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee to enact urgent and comprehensive reforms to the farm safety net as senators begin work on the farm bill. NFU said the current safety net is inadequate and called for changes that reflect the economic realities facing American farmers today. [link]
A Greenpeace International report alleges that baby food in plastic pouches sold by Nestle and Danone contains microplastics, raising safety concerns about plastic packaging in infant nutrition. The findings have renewed calls for stricter regulations on single-use plastic in baby food products. [link]
Penn State and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay have received a $250,000 grant to study how conservation agriculture practices affect the well-being of dairy farm workers and families. The Northeast SARE-funded project will examine physical, mental, and economic impacts of conservation practices on farm laborers across the region. [link]
New York State has awarded more than $1.34 million in grants to support farmers in Delaware and Sullivan Counties. The funds, delivered jointly by the DEC Commissioner and Attorney General, aim to help farmers implement environmentally sound practices in these rural communities. [link]
The European Union has suspended customs tariffs for one year on key nitrogen-based fertilizers, including urea and ammonia, used in European agriculture. The temporary suspension is intended to ease cost pressures on farmers facing elevated input prices across EU member states. [link]
North Dakota’s new soil health and wildlife habitat program was oversubscribed in its first year, with demand far outpacing available funding. The governor and partner agencies are exploring how to expand the initiative in year two given the strong interest from farmers and landowners. [link]
NC State University researchers are developing a tool to connect livestock and poultry producers with farmers who can use manure as a source of organic fertilizer. The platform, built using feedback from farmers statewide, aims to increase nutrient cycling across farm types and reduce reliance on synthetic inputs. [link]
Indonesian agribusiness PT Mekar Asta Nusantara has partnered with the Yogyakarta Social Forestry Center and the Ministry of Forestry to advance food agroforestry development in Indonesia. The collaboration will support integration of food crops into social forestry areas as part of Indonesia’s broader agroforestry expansion strategy. [link]
Scientists at Agriculture Victoria will lead two research projects using RNA innovation to improve pest control and animal health in Australia’s agriculture sector. The projects aim to reduce reliance on conventional pesticides while improving livestock health outcomes for Victoria’s agricultural industries. [link]
ADM has partnered with nonprofit TechnoServe to advance regenerative agriculture practices among 15,000 soybean farmers in Maharashtra, India. The initiative will provide farmers with training and technical assistance to implement sustainable practices within ADM’s soy supply chain. [link]
International Flavors & Fragrances has agreed to sell its food-ingredients business to buyout firm CVC Capital Partners in a $4.3 billion deal. IFF’s food-ingredients business produces emulsifiers, sweeteners and other products. The division generated sales of almost $3.28 billion last year, however, sales fell in 2025 and the company recently wrote down the value of the unit. [link]
In Case You Missed It…
In late April, a study published in PLOS One showed that English farmers shrank their environmental footprint between 2010 and 2021, with decreases in several key areas, including greenhouse gas emissions, fertilizer overuse and cattle populations. See more, here.