September 19, 2026
Spotlight Stories
Spotlight 1 – The BBC looks into how farmers can keep soil healthy during a drought. Read the story, here.
Spotlight 2 – Civil Eats wonders if Big Food can make good on its promises of regenerative agriculture. Check it out, here.
Spotlight 3 – The New Lede offers up a story on a former USDA scientist using data to make the case for regenerative agriculture. Take a read, here.
Industry Updates
The BRICS nations announced four new agriculture initiatives at their 2026 summit in New Delhi. The initiatives include Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture for Climate Resilience and Productivity, and Digital Agriculture. [link]
USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden has been interviewing farmers from across the country about consolidation and pricing issues in the fertilizer industry. The outreach comes as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission investigates the industry for potential unfair pricing or anti-competitive practices. [link]
Consultancies ERM and Systemiq have teamed with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Fertilizer Association to deliver a new roadmap. The roadmap outlines pathways for cutting emissions across the entire agricultural value chain. [link]
Barry Callebaut has partnered with Arla Foods on a three-year initiative to cut Scope 3 dairy emissions. The program uses farm-level reporting and farmer incentives to help drive the reductions. [link]
Kellogg’s is extending financial and agronomic support to British wheat farmers through a new five-year regenerative agriculture program. The program will cover 100% of its UK wheat supply on a mass-balance basis. [link]
Defra has released a new update to its Nutrient Management Planning Tool (NMPT-GB). The update makes it easier for farmers and advisers to understand the nutrient and financial value of organic manures to support decision-making. [link]
China and Latin America are stepping up efforts to deepen cooperation on sustainable agriculture value chains. A new cooperation mechanism launched in Beijing places greater emphasis on standards, market demand, technology and green investment, aiming to turn growing exchanges into more regular and practical collaboration. [link]
The Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced an investment of up to $1,976,150 for Lucent BioSciences Inc. under its Agricultural Clean Technology Program. The investment will help the Burnaby-based company continue developing its sustainable fertilizer technology to protect soil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease microplastics in the environment. [link]
A new program from the Indiana State Department of Agriculture could help farmers improve soil health. The initiative offers soil sampling support aimed at improving nutrient management across the state. [link]
The Senate Agriculture Committee passed “Farm Bill 2.0” out of committee on Wednesday. The vote followed Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) return to Congress. [link]
Afarinick Company Limited has entered into a partnership with Japan’s Meiji Co., Ltd. The partnership aims to promote sustainable and circular practices in Ghana’s cocoa value chain. [link]
A new peer-reviewed study from Ecdysis Foundation finds that transitioning U.S. field crops to regenerative agriculture could capture enough soil carbon to offset 1.5 years of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The findings, released as world leaders prepare for Climate Week NYC 2026, surpass the projected 2050 carbon capture totals of all proposed technology-based solutions combined. [link]
The European Commission has officially adopted a comprehensive new Strategic Approach to Research and Innovation for agriculture. The strategy aims to make Europe’s agriculture, forestry, rural areas, and food systems more competitive, resilient, and sustainable. [link]
In Case You Missed It…
In late June, a new report by IUCN explored how voluntary sustainability standards can play a pivotal role in advancing biodiversity conservation while supporting a Nature Positive future. See more, here.