AGP Executive Report

World Environment Day & Climate Action: Global leaders marked June 5 with warnings that extreme heat and climate impacts are accelerating, urging faster emissions cuts and adaptation as El Niño returns. Nature-Based Restoration: Nigeria’s Gombe State says it has restored 1,000+ hectares of degraded land and brought major erosion sites under control through the ACReSAL project, protecting farms, roads and schools. Soil & Farming Resilience: Nagaland schools and a veterinary college used World Environment Day to push tree planting and Khet Bachao Abhiyan soil-health messaging, linking campus action to village awareness. Food & Farm Policy: Florida moves to stop spreading sewage sludge on North Florida pastures by 2028, tightening rules to protect waterways and reduce “forever chemicals” risks. Carbon Data for Food: HowGood and Sweep plan to merge product-level carbon footprint data with reporting tools, aiming to make Scope 3 tracking easier for food and agriculture firms. Local Harvest Watch: Rangpur farmers are preparing to harvest Haribhanga mangoes from June 15, targeting a bumper crop despite earlier hail and heavy rain.

Indigenous Forest Protection: IUCN and partners launched an Indigenous Peoples Ambassador Programme at the GEF Assembly to back Indigenous leadership in conserving primary forests. Sustainable Livestock Transition: IUCN urged Europe to tailor livestock sustainability using locally adapted systems like mixed farming, pasture-based models, and agroecology as the EU drafts its livestock strategy. Farm Planning Tools: UK consultancy ADAS rolled out a crop rotation planning tool to help growers weigh pulses’ trade-offs, including farm greenhouse gases and nitrogen balance. Ag Data Investment: URUS’ planned acquisition of AgriWebb signals growing investor focus on agricultural data infrastructure for connected protein supply chains. Ag Processing for Women: India’s finance minister inaugurated a women-run agro-processing and training centre in Yadgir, aiming to cut post-harvest losses and raise incomes. Livestock Demand Pressure: FAO analysis says global meat supply has surged over six decades, with poultry and eggs driving growth and uneven access to animal foods. Heat Risk for Vulnerable Communities: A new study warns over 2 billion people face “cooling poverty,” highlighting urgent climate adaptation needs that also affect rural livelihoods.

Agri-food Trade & Innovation: FAO’s Russia office says BRICS cooperation will shape the future of global agri-food trade, stressing sustainable agri-food systems, fair market access, and AI-linked innovation for breeding. Land Use for Climate and Nature: A University of Minnesota-led study in Science finds big potential gains for biodiversity, climate mitigation, and farm/forestry value when countries improve land use and management. Cocoa Alternatives Push: Barry Callebaut signals possible U.S. scaling of cocoa-free chocolate made from sunflower seed byproducts, aiming to cut exposure to volatile cocoa costs. Food Waste Relief: Whole Foods expands “surprise bags” via Too Good To Go, offering discounted surplus/near-date groceries while reducing waste. Agri-Resilience Funding: Selangor (Malaysia) launches RM25m support for padi, fisheries, livestock, and aquaculture to offset rising operating costs. Soil Health Learning: Hawaiʻi’s HIP Agriculture kicks off a “Growing Resilience” series focused on composting, biochar, and cover cropping for small farms. Water Security in Africa: EU/Germany launch Lake Chad Water Management (LACHAWAMA) to strengthen shared water governance and climate resilience for agriculture and fishing. Livestock Stewardship: Iowa’s Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award goes to a crop-and-livestock family recognized for caring for animals, land, and community.

Biochar at scale in India: Jain Irrigation commissioned a ~20,000-tonne/year industrial biochar plant in Jalgaon, turning crop and fruit residues into durable carbon removal while boosting soil health. Pulse breeding push: Australia launched a 2.5-year, $9.5m faba bean breeding program to speed up higher yields, disease resistance, and quality traits for expanding growers. Ghana palm oil investment: China-linked private capital is moving into Ghana’s palm oil belt via lease, contract farming, and outgrower models that supply mills and exports. Climate-smart training in Moldova: FAO-backed “field schools” are being set up for small vegetable farmers, with a focus on sustainable practices, marketing, and fair sales. Pests and food security: CABI warned invasive pests cost Africa about $7b annually, urging stronger regional plant health risk analysis and prevention. Water and tech pressure: A UN report says AI could consume far more electricity and water than expected, raising concerns for sustainable resource use. Livestock pest lab: USDA opened a new livestock insects research facility in Texas to tackle invasive fly and tick threats. Policy accountability: Malaysia’s rural development minister urged a shift from process to impact and accountability in rural programs.

Water Stewardship Funding: Google will add $17M to water stewardship projects across seven states, including a $10M Texas Water Impact Fund aimed at protecting community water sources and reducing data-center impacts. Irrigation Modernization: Georgia’s Kakheti region will rehabilitate the Lower Samgori canal and on-farm networks, boosting reliable irrigation from 4,430 to 7,320 hectares and enabling metering and volumetric tariffs. Water Rules at Home: Columbia, Missouri is seeking public input on an irrigation ordinance that would limit sprinkler days and hours to cut peak demand, with exceptions for commercial agriculture. Ag Tech + Training for Water Efficiency: The Dominican Republic’s National Irrigation Technification and Confenagro signed an agreement to train producers and roll out technical irrigation systems. Climate-Smart Farming Recognition: Andhra Pradesh’s community managed natural farming program won the 2026 Food Planet Prize, scaling natural farming to 1.8M farmers. Deforestation-Free Beef: China’s importers begin buying Brazil’s Beef on Track certified deforestation-free beef, with audits tied to land, labor, and protected-area rules. Carbon Credits for Crops: A NSW broadacre operation issued Australian Carbon Credit Units using a fungal seed treatment to boost soil carbon and productivity.

Policy & Subsidies: Moldova’s agriculture ministry approved a 2026–2030 strategic subsidy program, moving from year-to-year support to a clearer multi-year plan with funding rising from 2.3B lei (2026) to 5.3B lei (2030) to back modern farms, irrigation, processing, and rural businesses. Animal Health: South Africa is amending its avian influenza rules to allow HPAI vaccinations, shifting away from mass “stamping out” culling toward a more producer-friendly, science-based approach. Water & Farm Resilience: Uisce Éireann lifted overnight water restrictions in Laois after reservoir levels stabilized, while still urging conservation during dry spells. Aquaculture Feed Security: FAO warns antimicrobial resistance could cut livestock output and productivity costs could reach hundreds of billions by 2040, pushing incentives to change now. Blue Economy: Zanzibar is pitching large-scale seaweed, fisheries, aquaculture, and export value chains to attract private investment, targeting a $11.8B seaweed market by 2030. Soil & Natural Farming: Andhra Pradesh’s community managed natural farming won Sweden’s Food Planet Prize, highlighting women-led scaling across 18 lakh farming families.

Community Forest Conservation: In eastern DRC, a local Indigenous leader is running forest patrols in the Bamasobha community forest concession, with satellite data showing forest loss cut from 940 hectares (2024) to 120 hectares (2025), highlighting how conservation works best when livelihoods improve alongside biodiversity protection. Youth & Knowledge Access: Cameroon launched a digital library platform to expand reading and training access for youth, including agriculture-linked income skills like aquaculture, apiculture, mushroom and snail farming. Farm Chemical Safety: New research links glyphosate exposure in agricultural workers in El Salvador and Nicaragua to kidney health problems, renewing pressure on farm chemical safety and worker protections. Livestock Health Policy: New Zealand approved a plan to eliminate bovine TB by clearing infected possums and livestock, with funding set to continue at $60m a year for five years. Food System Advocacy: Slow Food marked Carlo Petrini’s legacy and is pushing forward its “good, clean and fair” food system mission, setting priorities for Terra Madre 2026. Agri-Trade & Logistics: A Seattle-based firm bought port operations on the Arkansas River system, aiming to expand barge-rail-truck links for agricultural commodities.

Fisheries Management: The Philippines’ BFAR-11 has started the 2026 Davao Gulf closed season, banning specific commercial gear (including bagnets and ringnets) from Cape San Agustin to Talagotong Point until Aug. 31 to protect small pelagic fish during spawning. Climate-Resilient Farming: Liberia launched a US$103.9M, five-year climate resilience agriculture push (SARTLA) to restore ecosystems, boost food security, and strengthen sustainable fisheries across seven counties. Soil & Carbon Finance: Taiwan’s Satoyama Mace Initiative released a biochar methodology to help farmers turn agricultural residues into carbon assets while supporting soil health and biodiversity. Dryland Research: ICRISAT and ICAR announced Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi (Sept. 10–12) to advance resilient, sustainable dryland agri-food systems. Farm Budget Pressure: Namibia’s Sikondo Green Scheme manager warned that major irrigation and tractor budget cuts are threatening full production across 512 hectares. Livestock Cooperation: India urged BRICS knowledge-sharing on livestock feed, disease control, and climate-smart solutions. Agri-Policy & Skills: UK land-based sector skills shortages are being flagged as a food security and net-zero risk, with Lantra calling for urgent government action.

Nature-first development: A new Tanzania-focused piece argues “development-first is nature-first,” tying soil, water and ecosystems directly to farm output, exports and rural jobs. Sustainable energy + agriculture jobs: California’s Sugar Valley Energy project is moving from pre-development to construction with a $400,000 Jobs First Catalyst grant, aiming to turn locally grown sugarcane into low-carbon ethanol and renewable power while creating thousands of jobs in Imperial Valley. Climate planning with farmers in the loop: Bonaire’s community-led Climate Plan was formally presented to the Executive Council, built from workshops and input from residents, businesses, and farmers and fishermen. Water and food security partnerships: Uzbekistan’s Ferghana region secured agreements with Malaysia, including first shipments of apricots and peaches to Malaysia’s market. Regenerative pest control: British Columbia’s Okanagan orchards are using sterile insect technology to cut codling moth pesticide use dramatically while protecting apple and pear crops. Women in agriculture leadership: A U.S. study from the Farm Bureau highlights women’s roles in farming and calls for more support and leadership pathways. Dairy community events: Wisconsin’s June Dairy Month returns with nearly 80 farm tours and dairy breakfasts statewide.

Farm Wages & Food Security: Eastern Visayas, Philippines, completed its June 1 minimum wage hike—P470/day for non-agri workers and P440/day for agriculture and smaller establishments—aimed at easing cost pressure while keeping businesses viable. Bilateral Ag & Food Systems: The Philippines and Vietnam elevated ties to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership and signed new pacts covering defense, digital transformation, tourism, education, and food security cooperation. Climate-Smart Dairy: World Milk Day (June 1) spotlighted dairy’s role in sustainable agriculture and nutrition, with Nestlé Nespray highlighting locally sourced milk and responsible farming in South Africa. Regenerative Soil Momentum: Scotland’s organic expansion is gaining traction as advocates argue organic’s “soil-first” approach can improve biodiversity and soil health, even when farms can’t fully transform. Sustainable Livestock Scrutiny: A new report says most major meat and dairy companies’ environmental claims amount to greenwashing, raising pressure for measurable farm-to-planet progress. Agri-Community Learning: A Texas school partnership is teaching students Cherokee farming traditions through Native crops, connecting culture, outdoor learning, and harvests. Regional Ag Cooperation: Dutch Caribbean islands signed an MoU to strengthen agriculture, livestock, and fisheries cooperation through 2035, including food security and climate resilience.

Water & Soil Protection: Croatia has started the second phase of an €85.5m project in the Lower Neretva Valley to stop seawater intrusion and salinisation, adding a pumping station, freshwater distribution pipelines and irrigation for about 2,000 hectares. Rural Market Access: The World Bank approved US$500m for Ghana’s GMACP to rehabilitate and maintain over 1,000 km of feeder roads, cutting transport costs and post-harvest losses while strengthening farm value chains. Ag Tech for Pest Control: CSIRO and Hort Frontiers unveiled the Pest READI digital toolkit to help Australian growers manage pests and diseases with less chemical reliance and stronger beneficial insect support. Sustainable Finance for Green Projects: Kuwait Finance House reported lower 2025 emissions and expanded green sukuk investment, alongside more LEED Gold-certified branches. Food Systems & Livelihoods: South Africa’s table grape sector is seeking disaster relief after floods damaged vineyards, netting, trellising and irrigation, with losses reaching up to R1.2m/ha. Nature’s Signals: In the Philippines’ Mt. Magdiwata reserve, synchronized “masting” mass flowering is being hailed as a rare sign of ecological recovery.

Solar Irrigation Push: Northern Samar (Philippines) is validating sites for 19 solar-powered irrigation systems to cut fuel costs and stabilize rain-fed rice production. Seed Sovereignty: Arunachal Pradesh’s Bee/Seed Utsav ended with calls to protect indigenous seed lineages, blend science with local knowledge, and strengthen community seed banks. Credit for Farmers: Arunachal’s governor urged NABARD to keep timely, uninterrupted credit flowing to small farmers, SHGs, and rural entrepreneurs to support sustainable rural development. Market Access for Displaced Farmers: In Iraq’s Kurdistan, a UN-backed aggregation hub helped refugee and host-community farmers sell potatoes through Carrefour, boosting earnings by up to 48% via direct supermarket links. Climate Claim Rules: Switzerland tightened standards for climate-related corporate claims, raising the risk of greenwashing and pushing firms toward more verifiable messaging. Potato Livelihoods: International Potato Day highlights sustainable, inclusive value chains and the crop’s role in food security and jobs worldwide. Natural Farming Measured: Andhra Pradesh’s RySS and Regenerate Earth plan a June master class focused on scientific metrics to verify natural farming outcomes. Dairy Value Chain Jobs: Nigeria’s livestock ministry says it’s working to create opportunities for 37,000 women and youths across dairy production, processing, and marketing.

Solar Irrigation Push: Northern Samar (Philippines) is validating sites for 19 solar-powered irrigation systems to cut farmers’ dependence on fuel-powered pumps and stabilize rice output amid dry spells and El Niño-linked uncertainty. Climate Risk Watch: India’s RBI flags that the 2026-27 farm outlook hinges on monsoon performance, with El Niño a downside risk even as irrigation and tech improvements may cushion impacts. Tree-Cutting Backlash: A Philippine opinion piece condemns DENR-permitted tree removals for a major expressway, arguing seedlings can’t replace long-term shade, cooling, and livelihoods. Agri-Value & Market Access: India’s North East Food Manufacturing Summit in Guwahati focused on processing and packaging upgrades, plus links to global buyers via upcoming Indusfood events. Water Security Partnership: Kenya and Portugal discussed cooperation to expand irrigation, including dams, canal lining, and water conveyance upgrades to bring more land under reliable irrigation. Agri Innovation Spotlight: Israeli researchers report a fungal extract that can boost tomato yields and improve taste while reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers. Hydroponics Grows: Egypt’s Miyāh Farm is supplying matcha producers using hydroponics, aiming for higher yields with controlled growing conditions.

Fertilizer squeeze: Farmers in eastern Iowa told the U.S. FTC they’re “basically going broke” as fertilizer prices stay out of reach, prompting the FTC to launch a formal investigation into possible anti-competitive behavior in the fertilizer industry. Cocoa financing: Ghana’s central bank plans to raise $1 billion via domestic bonds to fund the 2026/27 cocoa crop, aiming to cut reliance on foreign borrowing and stabilize farmer incomes after farmgate price cuts. Climate risk for crops: India’s monsoon outlook has been downgraded to below-normal rainfall, with El Niño conditions raising drought odds—bad news for rain-fed agriculture. Soil & input efficiency: A Penn State study finds fungicide seed treatments in soybeans often don’t pay off unless costs are low and prices are high, urging targeted use. Land restoration & livelihoods: TreeAid Ghana and Nviron Hive launched a northern Ghana project to restore degraded land and plant trees while supporting rural jobs. Water & harbor health: Port of Tauranga opened a new stormwater treatment system to reduce contaminants flowing into Te Awanui Tauranga Harbour.

Community Energy vs LNG: New Plymouth residents rallied against a proposed LNG import facility, urging the government to withdraw the plan and instead back renewables, efficiency, and storage. Agroecology Legacy: Pesticide Action Network marked 44 years since 1982, highlighting pesticide harms, corporate/regulatory failures, and momentum toward agroecological alternatives. Soil, Water, and Risk: Zimbabwe announced emergency rehabilitation for rivers damaged by alluvial mining, citing threats to irrigation, agriculture, and water supplies. Local Agro Policy: Kenya’s Trans Nzoia county drafted an Agroecology Policy to boost sustainable, inclusive, and viable farming while protecting the environment. Export Readiness: India’s APEDA ran capacity training for Kashmir fruit growers, focusing on export standards, sustainable cultivation, and market access. Climate Finance in Practice: Papua New Guinea shifted from green finance policy talks to implementation, pointing to its Green Finance Centre and Bank of Papua New Guinea progress. Floating Wind Biofouling: Alfa Laval joined a European project to tackle biofouling on floating offshore wind moorings, supporting cleaner marine infrastructure. Food Waste Circularity: Ireland launched National Food Waste Recycling Week, reporting a surge in brown-bin uptake to 70% presentation rates.

Farm Policy & Land Access: Milwaukee County approved a five-year long-term lease for historic Trimborn Farm, with the tenant covering capital improvements and operations while preserving public access and sharing 15% of net revenue with the county. Input Costs & Competition: The U.S. FTC launched a major investigation into fertilizer pricing and market concentration after farmers and farm groups pushed for scrutiny of rising costs and limited competition. Bioenergy & Farm Waste: Vanguard Renewables commissioned a new facility at Oakmulgee Dairy Farm, turning food waste into biogas for the grid while supporting more sustainable manure management. Low-Carbon Fuel Rules: U.S. biofuel groups and farm organizations urged Treasury to quickly finalize Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit rules so farmers can benefit from conservation-linked carbon reductions. EU Farm Compliance: The EU moved forward on Omnibus X changes that cut duplicate livestock record-keeping paperwork while keeping food and feed safety standards in place. Sustainable Cocoa: Ghana was selected to host the 2027 World Cocoa Foundation partnership meeting in Accra, spotlighting cocoa sustainability and farmer livelihoods. Water & Climate Resilience: Togo’s FAO office opened a call for forest restoration and agroforestry grants under AFR100, targeting degraded landscapes and sustainable income for local groups. Solar Grid Equity: NB Power proposed changes to solar net metering that would reduce the retail value paid for power sent back to the grid, sparking concerns from solar installers that it could stall adoption.