January 10, 2026

Spotlight Stories

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

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

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

Industry Updates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Case You Missed It…

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