May 16, 2026
Spotlight Stories
Spotlight 1 – FoodNavigator says that consumers don’t yet care about regenerative agriculture, while offering solutions to change this dynamic. Ready the story, here.
Spotlight 2 – The University of Michigan looks into a cover crop project that is bridging farming and research to bolster soil health and protect water supplies. Check it out, here.
Spotlight 3 – NPR details the ways that farmers are cutting costs as turning a profit becomes harder. Take a read, here.
Industry Updates
Archer Daniels Midland shareholders rejected a proposal at the company’s annual meeting to disclose pesticide use data tied to its regenerative agriculture program, while electing all 13 director nominees and approving other management-backed proposals. As You Sow had argued ADM already collects the data through its Gradable platform on a significant portion of enrolled farms; ADM’s board stated the proposal was not in shareholders’ best interests. [link]
An international survey open through September 2026 aims to build the first map of agroecological agroforestry in the Mediterranean, calling on farmers, technicians, and institutions in Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Portugal, and Turkey. The EU Erasmus+-funded MAPPING project, coordinated by Italian non-profit Deafal ETS, will develop a free, open platform for gathering and comparing agroforestry data and best practices across regions. [link]
The Indian Biogas Association is calling for a mandatory 10% blending of fermented organic manure with chemical fertilizers by 2030, estimating it can save $2 billion in annual import costs while restoring India’s declining soil health. A new IBA white paper proposes a phased mandate as a critical intervention to accelerate the country’s transition to sustainable agriculture. [link]
The World Bank will support a $19.9 million project in Vietnam’s Nghe An province to upgrade fishing ports, anchorages, and storm shelters, aiming to increase offshore fishing capacity and reduce post-harvest losses. Upgraded facilities are expected to serve about 2,000 fishing vessels and handle an average annual seafood catch of 70,000 tons. [link]
Louis Dreyfus Company and PepsiCo have launched a regenerative agriculture program in Saskatchewan, Canada, targeting 45,000 acres in 2026 to support farmers adopting practices that improve soil health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Program results will be measured using the Cool Farm Tool for standardized emissions and biodiversity metrics, with guidance delivered through the Canadian Prairies Trusted Advisor Partnership. [link]
A water-based nanotechnology formulation developed at the University of Waterloo improves pesticide adhesion to plant leaves in wind and rain, reducing waste and runoff while outperforming conventional delivery systems in early Singapore field trials. The greener formulation achieves better pest control with less pesticide; researchers are now seeking industrial partners to scale and commercialize the innovation. [link]
Ingredion is considering a £2.7 billion ($3.7 billion) takeover of ingredients supplier Tate & Lyle at 615 pence per share, a 64% premium to its current price; the offer follows earlier approaches and Ingredion has until June 11 to formalize or walk away. A deal would expand Ingredion’s presence in sweeteners including stevia, for which Tate & Lyle claims the first all-American supply chain, and sucralose. [link]
In Case You Missed It…
In late April, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of a five-year farm bill after stripping a provision opposed by the “Make America Healthy Again” movement that would have blocked some lawsuits against pesticide makers. See more, here.