February 7, 2026
Spotlight Stories
Spotlight 1 – Trellis writes about three agricultural initiatives that can help shore up food supply chains. Ready the story, here.
Spotlight 2 – UN News welcomes you to the “agrihood,” wondering is this could be the neighborhood of the future. Check it out, here.
Spotlight 3 – Farm Progress looks into how MAHA’s 120 initiatives might affect farming practices. Take a read, here.
Industry Updates
Kansas State University and several state partners will host a series of three free workshops to support farm families, from managing their soil and grazing land, and establishing regenerative cropping systems. The workshops — Whole Farm Health — will be held on successive Tuesdays in February at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Lawrence. The list of events is as follows: Feb 10 - All About Soil tests; Feb 17 - Optimizing Grass Productivity Through managed Grazing; Feb 24 - Regenerative Cropping Systems. [link]
Research underway at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is providing new insights into how dairy farming practices designed to improve soil health can also benefit water quality and environmental outcomes. The work is being conducted at UW-Platteville’s Pioneer Farm, where a research team recently completed the third year of a long-term study. The project examines how soil health strategies and manure management influence greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, and crop yield and quality for dairy feed production. UW-Platteville is one of eight institutions nationwide participating in the six-year Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration project. The initiative, launched by Dairy Management Inc. in partnership with the Soil Health Institute, supports the dairy industry’s broader goal of achieving significant environmental stewardship milestones by 2050. [link]
Solidaridad, the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation, Kvuno and Hiveonline have launched the Promoting Regenerative Agriculture for Sustainable Livelihoods (PRASL) project in Mozambique. The project is aimed at strengthening smallholder farmers’ adoption of regenerative agricultural practices that restore ecosystems, improve soil health and build resilient rural communities. The three-year program targets 4,000 smallholder farmers, with a strong focus on empowering women (at least 60%) and young adults (30%). Central to the initiative is a farmer-centered approach designed to promote local ownership and ensure long-term sustainability beyond the project’s lifespan. [link]
University of Illinois Extension is offering farmers, producers, landowners, and industry professionals a chance to log on for a free virtual panel on Feb. 24 and learn about cover crops in today’s agricultural landscape. Cover Crop Conversations: Farmer-to-Farmer Insights Across Illinois is an exclusive session with questions and conversation from and for farmers. The panel discussion includes three farmers from northwest, west central, and southern Illinois who utilize cover crops in their operations. The discussion and experiences shared from fellow farmers and producers help inform growers on the importance of sustainability and the how-tos of integrating cover crops and other agricultural conservation practices into their farming operations. [link]
Penn State researchers are inviting farmers to participate in a study on decision-making for Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) and Soil Steaming Disinfection (SSD), particularly in high-tunnel systems. The goal is to better understand how farmers evaluate and decide whether to adopt soil health and disease management practices, so that future Extension programs can better support farmers’ needs. Mid-Atlantic farmers who grow crops in high tunnels and are 18 or older can participate, whether they have adopted, considered, or decided not to use ASD or SSD. No prior experience is required. The survey can be accessed here: https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d9VOt6oOzUTp2xo. [link]
UBEES, a French startup focusing on applying beekeeping to regenerative agriculture, has raised €8 million in a Series A round to scale up, accelerate international expansion, and structure its teams. The round was co-led by European funds Starquest and Capagro, with participation from Newtree Impact. Founded in 2017, UBEES combines technology, agronomy, and professional beekeeping to improve agricultural yields while protecting biodiversity and empowering rural communities. [link]
Ducks Unlimited (DU) and Syngenta are excited to announce the expansion of their collaboration, enabling seed production growers to adopt regenerative agriculture practices across key Midwest states. Starting in early 2026, the collaboration will bring DU’s expertise in conservation and soil health practices to Syngenta’s extensive network of seed growers in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Participating growers can expect on-farm technical support and targeted financial assistance to implement regenerative practices, including the use of cover crops, reduced tillage, and habitat restoration. [link]
PepsiCo is lowering prices for brands including Doritos and Cheetos by up to 15% in a bid to reignite growth and win back inflation-wary consumers who have cut back on spending. Executives at the beverage and snacking giant said the company tested out deeper price reductions during the second half of 2025 and found these initiatives improved purchase frequency with shoppers. Food companies have been increasing prices for several years in a bid to offset rising costs, optimistic that loyal consumers would follow. However, shoppers have instead become more discerning with their purchasing behavior. [link]
McCain Foods plans to launch its third Farm of the Future globally in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom, in 2026. The 202-hectare site will operate as a commercial-scale research farm focused on regenerative agriculture and will join existing McCain Farms of the Future in Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada, and Lichtenburg, South Africa. The UK site will be developed in partnership with the University of Leeds and is located in the region where McCain GB has operated its headquarters for more than 50 years. Insights generated at the site will be shared with McCain’s global network of 4,400 farmers. [link]
Foxhead Regenerative Agriculture Project (FoxRAP) is working with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, Renewing the Countryside, and Southwest Counseling to launch a no-cost pilot program that helps aging farmers navigate the technical and emotional complexities of a farm transition. The project, titled “Holding Ground, Letting Go: A guided approach to farm transition and legacy” supports farmers aged 58+ in east central Wisconsin. Wisconsin faces a significant challenge as agricultural producers age. Many farm owners are approaching retirement age without concrete succession plans. This pilot program aims to create a replicable model that can be implemented across Wisconsin and potentially nationwide. [link]
A new study out of the University of Connecticut finds that local schools in the state are overwhelmingly dedicated to food sustainability. The study, which surveyed 55 public school food service directors, found that 98% of schools reported sometimes or always purchasing local produce. In addition, 91% purchase local dairy. Sourcing food locally is a key sustainability issue as these foods do not need to be transported long distances, reducing carbon emissions. It also supports local producers. Some of these local purchasing initiatives are supported by the Farm to School Program. The study found that 60% of surveyed schools participate in farm-to-school activities. [link]
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are facing mounting calls for tighter regulation akin to tobacco, as new academic research and consumer data point to growing concern over their health impacts. A paper released by researchers from Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and Duke University argues that UPFs share key characteristics with cigarettes, including being engineered to maximize consumption and stimulate reward pathways linked to addiction. While the comparison with tobacco remains contested within the scientific community, the report signals a shift in the regulatory debate away from individual responsibility towards industry accountability, including potential marketing restrictions, warning labels and structural interventions. [link]
A new Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) investment is developing a framework for defining, measuring and supporting soil health. The project ‘Development of a Soil Health Framework for Australian agricultural production systems’ (CSP2504-015RTX) will define soil health and function, its measurement and benchmarks. From a grower’s perspective, the potential benefit to measure and benchmark soil health on-farm will not only impact productivity, but also the long-term sustainability of the soil for growers’ farming systems. [link]
In Case You Missed It…
In mid-December, Sucden and Mars, Incorporated announced the launch of a five-year collaboration (2025-2029) aimed at advancing low-carbon, climate-resilient cocoa production in participating farms in the Dominican Republic and Ecuador. See more, here.