AGP Executive Report

Livestock Feed Resilience: Zimbabwe’s drought-hit livestock sector is looking to non-timber forest feed resources as a climate-smart way to stretch diets when grazing and crop residues fail. Conservation Agriculture: Zimbabwe’s Pfumvudza/Intwasa push highlights permanent planting plots as the key to higher yields, better moisture retention, and steadier production under worsening weather. Food Waste to Value: A new review argues fruit waste and processing residues can be fermented into safe, stable, functional foods—turning landfill-linked emissions into nutrition. Fisheries Reform Pressure: Namibia’s fisheries stakeholders face a “no more talk” mandate at a National Fisheries Indaba, with demands for a reform roadmap and accountability. Agri-Community Fallout: Trinidad and Tobago’s Plum Mitan residents say the closure of a farm program triggered job losses and wider community strain. Solar for Recovery: A U.S. training campus in California replaces fire-destroyed hydro power with a new solar field to cut costs and boost sustainable operations. Water & Land Stress: Bengaluru’s expansion is eroding farmland and open spaces, raising alarms about enforcing coexistence with sustainable agriculture. Farm Finance & Policy: Nigeria’s “From Palliatives to Pathways” social protection plan reframes support toward skills and opportunity—aimed at durable exits from poverty. Local Planning Friction: North Yorkshire delays new homes as officials reassess impacts under updated planning rules.

Irrigation & Water Infrastructure: Ladakh plans 36 check dams (over Rs 56 crore) to raise stream levels and divert water into canals for farmers, with one already completed near Upshi. Renewables for Farm Power: Ireland’s dairy sector is turning to solar to cut soaring electricity bills; a 160-cow Cork farm says its PV system could pay back in about 2.4 years. Climate Adaptation Finance: IFAD and Equity Group launched a $200m East Africa mechanism to get climate adaptation money to smallholders faster, targeting 260,000 farmers across Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Women in Sustainable Farming: Soroptimist International Madurai honored an organic farmer, spotlighting women-led, chemical-free methods that also train other farmers. Rural Energy Access: Ghana is electrifying 206 communities in Volta via a GH₵598m turnkey project, aiming to cut poverty and create jobs through better power access. Farm Land Use Rights: A Welsh family running an agricultural venture in a caravan won a 12-month extension after being told they couldn’t live on their farm. Nature-Based Solutions: Hong Kong’s landscape architects and The Nature Conservancy signed an MoU to scale nature-based solutions for restoration and climate resilience. Solar Grid Milestone: The Philippines’ MTerra Solar Phase 1 (600 MWac) has started commercial operations, feeding power into the national grid with large-scale battery storage. Agri-Industry Sustainability: Tanzania’s Serengeti Breweries won a “Green Elegance” manufacturing award, citing local sourcing and efficiency gains in water, energy and waste. Policy & Food Security: Kenya’s SGR western extension is finally moving from promise to construction, a potential freight boost for the wider East African food and agriculture supply chain.

Flex-Fuel Roadmap: AIDA and IIT Delhi released a white paper mapping how India can scale flex-fuel vehicles beyond E20, linking vehicle tech, ethanol feedstock, pricing, and infrastructure to energy security and lower oil dependence. Protected Cultivation in India: In Kishtwar, a hi-tech polyhouse under HADP is producing about 40–50 kg of organic tomatoes daily, showing how protected farming can lift incomes in hilly areas. Hunger Support in Nigeria: NEDC distributed maize flour to IDPs and indigents in Bauchi and supplied NPK fertilizer to farmers to boost rainy-season output. Organic Fertilizer Gets EU Boost: Mukka Proteins received an EU Inputs Attestation from ECOCERT for Eco Sphere Organic Fertilizer, strengthening its case for organic markets in the EU. Soil Health & Water Protection (US): Iowa expanded free nitrogen soil sampling to help farmers manage nitrates and protect the Cedar River, pairing testing with conservation practices like cover crops and buffers. Cebu Hog Breeding Program: Cebu’s hog growers received 400 female breeder pigs via a DA-backed genetics initiative aimed at rebuilding sustainable swine livelihoods.

Livestock Recovery & Biosecurity: Cebu’s hog sector is pushing back against low prices and African Swine Fever risks by distributing 400 premium-bred gilts to small raisers, aiming to rebuild herds and stabilize production. Animal Health Funding: Canada is backing swine health surveillance with up to $3.11M to improve multi-virus testing, lab proficiency, and a secure tracking database—targeting faster detection of key swine diseases. Climate-Smart Dairy Training: Ireland’s Kinisla and Teagasc launched a renewed three-year “Innovating for Success” dairy programme, focusing on pasture use, fertility, water quality, emissions cuts, biodiversity, and farm succession. Rangeland Stewardship: Alberta released draft management plans for heritage rangelands in the foothills, seeking feedback on conservation and grazing guidelines for large native grassland areas. Aquaculture Research: The University of Stirling developed a new way to collect and study individual salmon lice secretions, aiming to sharpen vaccine and control strategies. Food System Resilience: Spain’s fishing industry is urging “extraordinary measures” as profitability falls and diesel costs rise, warning that current support is insufficient. Ag Innovation: K-State began moving into a new agronomy research complex to expand work on breeding, soil health, water supply, and sustainability-focused technology.

Sustainable Livestock & Land Use: A Baraboo-area CSA is expanding with farm-stay experiences, a cafe, and store—plus more animals—aiming to make climate-friendly, rotational grazing and diversified produce pay. Animal Welfare Standards: New Zealand’s SPCA rolled out a voluntary “Welfare Plus+” chicken standard after RNZ raised concerns about fast-growing “frankenchickens,” pushing a transition toward slower-growing birds without forcing producers out. Agri-Tech & Circular Materials: Southern Illinois University researchers presented work turning plastic and agricultural waste into edible protein prototypes, linking waste reduction with food production. Water & Climate Stress: Panama Canal Authority will cap daily transits as El Niño-driven water shortages cut inflows, a reminder of how climate shocks ripple into food and trade logistics. Nutrition & Food Safety: Pakistan’s dairy and packaging stakeholders stressed that safe, high-quality, affordable nutrition needs reforms in food-safety laws, packaging, and distribution. Ocean Health: Ghana’s marine ecosystems face mounting pressure from pollution, declining fisheries, habitat loss, and climate change, with research finding pollutants like mercury and microplastics.

Climate & Energy Stress in the Philippines: Metro Cebu faced a nine-hour Visayas power-grid red alert alongside “acutely unhealthy” haze from Indonesia-linked forest fires, pushing many schools to shift online while officials coordinated with power stakeholders. Nuclear for Water-Smart Rice in Malaysia: Malaysia’s nuclear agency partnered with MADA to use nuclear science for hydrology, groundwater monitoring, irrigation integrity checks, and isotope-based pest and disease work to boost padi productivity. Rainfall Support for Drought in Malaysia: Cloud seeding operations targeted Perlis and Kedah dams to protect water supplies for households and agriculture during dry, hazy conditions. One Health Animal Disease Control in Malaysia: Veterinary Services and wildlife authorities signed a One Health joint statement to strengthen zoonotic disease control, including threats like HPAI and African Swine Fever. Sustainable AgTech in the Spotlight: Cornell won a major USDA grant to build orchard robots for labor-heavy tasks like pollination, thinning, harvesting, and weeding. Climate-Linked Agri-Expansion Risk: Bolivia and Brazil move ahead on a highway plan that experts warn could accelerate deforestation in the Chiquitania dry forest for soy and cattle. Farm Finance for Premium Pineapple (Malaysia): Agrobank backed Sarawak’s SG1 premium pineapple value chain with development financing aimed at higher-value, sustainable production.

Nutrient Rules for Dairy: Ireland’s Department of Agriculture says dairy farmers must declare organic nutrient movements to “outblock” farms, recording date, volume/type, and LPIS parcels via MyAgfood.ie or its organic movement app, with a 31 Dec 2026 deadline. Water Security for Farms: Odisha says irrigation now covers nearly 3.20 lakh hectares after Rs 54,000 crore in water works over two years, including check dams, in-stream storage and lift irrigation. Citrus Disease Threat: Indonesia’s smallholders face huanglongbing (HLB), with research backing early detection and better understanding of the psyllid vector. Jobs and Processing Capacity: Cranswick has filed plans for a major poultry processing factory near Grimsby that could support 1,400 jobs and process up to 1.75m chickens weekly. Climate Justice Spotlight: UNDP highlights Haiti’s climate injustice—tiny emissions, huge losses—and argues prevention can cut disaster costs. Food System Mindset: Bhutan hosts a “Global Conscious Food Systems” summit, pushing values-led, regenerative approaches beyond tech-only fixes. Cooling Demand: A new “cooling economy” is emerging as heat drives massive power needs worldwide, with implications for energy and food logistics.

Fisheries Tech Push (Philippines): The DA-BFAR will co-host the Seafood and Fisheries Emerging Technologies Conference in Cebu (Sept. 8–10), spotlighting digital tools for risk assessment, traceability, and anti–illegal fishing enforcement. Flood Risk Governance (Philippines): A new report on Central Luzon’s 2026 Habagat flooding argues fragmented responses aren’t enough and calls for basin-wide management, ecological restoration, and long-term financing for climate-adaptive agriculture. Women’s Rural Credit (India): India’s rural development ministry will review SHG-bank linkages and enterprise financing in Mumbai (Sept. 3), aiming to speed loans and expand credit for women-led rural businesses. Water Infrastructure Boost (Odisha, India): Odisha says Rs 54,000 crore in water projects were approved over two years, with irrigation expanded to about 3.2 lakh hectares and hundreds of check dams added or renovated. Pesticide Pressure (Kenya): Kenya hit record pesticide use in 2024, with heavy reliance on highly hazardous chemicals, raising health and environmental concerns. Regenerative Label Debate (US): A California report says regenerative farming certification is growing, but many farmers still see unclear market premiums and returns. Glyphosate Policy Fight (Argentina’s Misiones): Misiones is pushing to repeal its glyphosate ban to keep bioinputs on track—while critics warn it could undermine environmental safeguards. Solar for Farm Industry (India): Mahindra Susten commissioned a 42 MWp captive solar project in Punjab to supply about half of Swaraj Tractors’ electricity needs. Agri-Resilience on the Ground (Philippines): A DSWD water-and-nutrition program in Negros Occidental is helping communities build resilience through improved water access and climate-aware farming. Conservation Staffing Cuts (US): Illinois counties lost nearly half their federal conservation staff in 2025, threatening on-the-ground support for programs like EQIP and CSP. Wendell Berry (US): The writer and small-farm advocate died at 92, remembered for pushing local food systems and skepticism of chemical-heavy agriculture.

Flood Risk & Food Systems: Central Luzon’s 2026 Habagat flooding showed how river silt, land subsidence, reclamation, dam operations, and sea-level rise can overwhelm piecemeal flood control—pushing calls for basin-wide planning that also protects farmland and supports climate-adaptive agriculture. Governance & Accountability: California AG Rob Bonta moved to sue over an offshore wind lease buyout, arguing it’s unlawful and could derail clean-energy jobs and investment—another reminder that energy policy choices ripple into rural economies. Water Law: The Hague’s PCA ruling kept the Indus Waters Treaty fully in force, rejecting unilateral suspension claims—critical for downstream farming and water security. AI in Farming: India’s small farmers are increasingly using algorithmic advice, but the coverage raises tough questions about who’s responsible when predictions fail. Soil & Regeneration: Arkansas farmers are testing regenerative, rotational grazing to get more from land with fewer inputs. Shrimp & Digital Farming: Vietnam’s Ca Mau is going greener with high-tech shrimp ponds, solar-powered systems, and phone-based monitoring. Cocoa Youth Push: Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa and chocolate days spotlight youth, local processing, and tech for a more sustainable cocoa future. Community Gardens: Australia’s Community Gardens Grants will fund 13 projects, including food forests and garden reactivations.

Agribusiness Policy: Malaysia’s Plantation and Commodities Ministry says Budget 2027 should boost smallholder incomes via quality inputs, better farm practices, and replanting, while pushing mechanisation, automation, digital tools, and AI to cut labour reliance and costs across palm oil, rubber, timber, cocoa, pepper and kenaf. Livestock Breeding Tech: A Malaysia MoU worth RM4 million links the Department of Veterinary Services with Rompin Dairy Farm to expand Giromas cattle genetic improvement through frozen semen production, plus shared research and training. Market & Food Security Skills: Malaysia’s FAMA is backing I-CAM 2026 alongside MAHA, aiming to connect agribusiness marketing research and innovations to help tackle food insecurity and strengthen market access. Water-Smart Indoor Farming: Kentucky State University researchers presented sensor-led irrigation work for Dutch bucket hydroponics, targeting lower water and nutrient use while keeping tomato yields steady. Renewables for Fishponds: Sagay City in Negros Occidental plans a 101.2-MW floating solar project over fishpond areas, with construction targeted for early 2027 after permits and financing. Agroecology & Water Governance: A meeting in Kohima discussed restoring Barak River catchments across four states, with funding support from India and KfW and plans spanning forestry, horticulture, and farm value chains. Women Farmers & Food Security: Nigeria’s IFAD-VCDP highlights women’s access to land, finance, inputs, markets and decision-making as key to resilient agrifood systems. Sustainable Energy Finance: Uganda’s EU-backed green enterprise finance programme (UGEFA Phase II) will deepen bank partnerships to scale loans for renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and waste management. Research for Soil Health: India’s AM/NS India and ICAR-IARI are partnering on using iron ore tailings in agriculture to support circular economy and soil nutrition. Agri-Climate Legacy: Wendell Berry, a major voice for farm-to-table and against industrial agriculture, died at 92.

Fertilizer Security: A $260M China-led fertilizer plant in Kyrgyzstan has started operating, aiming to cut reliance on imports and protect Central Asia’s farm supply chains while creating jobs. Climate & Land-Use Risk: Indonesia is closing hiking routes in nine national parks and airport operations were disrupted by forest-fire haze in West Kalimantan, a reminder that wildfire impacts can hit both livelihoods and food systems. Farmer Income & Procurement: Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM ordered emergency action to fix delayed tobacco crop procurement in Buner, including possible quota increases to prevent grower losses. Water, Power & Agriculture: India’s agriculture leaders are pushing for farm-level outcomes—better seeds, balanced fertilizer use, soil health, and integrated farming—to raise smallholder resilience and incomes. Sustainable Food Systems: A new review in Science argues diet shifts are blocked by the structure of food environments, not just personal willpower. Rural Resilience Finance: Sri Lanka’s Seylan Bank ran an SME Scale-Up Program for farmers, focusing on managing rising production costs and using digital banking to grow ag businesses. Soil as a “Balance Sheet”: A Soil Inventory Project feature highlights how measuring soil health could unlock environmental and financial value.

Farm Policy & Food Security: Malaysia’s agriculture chief says rice self-sufficiency must rise to at least 80% to protect supply, pairing tech and supply-chain upgrades with bigger rice fields. Sustainable Land & Biodiversity: UNESCO evaluators advanced Mt. Apo’s bid to become a Global Geopark after a field mission highlighted Indigenous stewardship and community “forest guards” protecting biodiversity and cultural sites. Digital Extension for Smallholders: Uganda’s shift from public, in-person extension to private digital services is widening access to climate and market info—but reach is limited by connectivity, affordability, and low digital skills, calling for blended finance and better coordination. Agri-Industry & Skills: Malaysia–Vietnam talks aim to grow local fishing skippers and transfer tuna deep-sea skills, while also stressing resource sustainability and environmental safeguards. Climate & Water Risk: India’s September forecast points to below-normal monsoon rains in many regions, raising kharif yield and food-inflation risks. Agri Innovation & Inputs: CNH and Bourgault announced a seeding alliance to expand precision seeding and air drill systems through CNH’s dealer network. Food Safety & Systems: EU adds €15m to WFP in Afghanistan for school feeding plus climate-resilient livelihoods and agribusiness value chains.

Rice Terraces Governance: Philippines officials are pushing a new Cordillera Rice Terraces Commission to halt deterioration of World Heritage-listed terraces, after past bodies were dissolved and conservation work shifted to provinces. AgTech for Pest Control: Australia’s CSIRO and Hort Frontiers unveiled Pest READI, a region-focused digital toolkit aimed at helping growers cut chemical reliance while strengthening monitoring and beneficial insects. Organic Farming Push: Bicolano farmers marked the anniversary of uprooting GMO “golden rice” trials, arguing for biodiversity and safer, locally led organic varieties. Food Prices & Inflation: Philippines data suggests August inflation stayed above the central bank target, with monsoon crop damage lifting food costs. Just Energy Transition in Farming: South Africa’s Eskom is exploring agricultural hubs at coal plants due for retirement, seeking private partners to create jobs and reduce carbon impacts. Danish Farm Rules Fight: Denmark’s farmers are challenging rushed nitrogen and pesticide limits tied to water protection, warning of added costs. Seaweed Bioeconomy: New Zealand’s Te Whānau-ā-Apanui hosted a wānanga mapping a Māori-led bull kelp industry pipeline from small trials to commercial scale. Farmer Support Grants: Vermont is opening Sodexo’s Vermont First grant for farmers and food producers to enter institutional supply chains.

Agri-innovation from waste: Malaysia’s MAHA 2026 showcased Pinasweet (pineapple sugar) and LiqoFas (liquid organic fertiliser) made from pineapple by-products, pushing a circular-economy play for agri-food value. EU pesticide rules meet tech: The EU is moving to allow pesticide-spraying drones under Omnibus X, but experts warn precision tech doesn’t automatically cut chemical use. Water security, not just water quantity: A Bangladesh seminar stressed that transboundary water solutions are political, while Telangana’s commission calls for a Minor Irrigation Act and tank protection with clear full-tank boundaries. Farm finance that’s actually bankable: Nigeria’s SABMF urged youth financing to shift from ideas to credible, investment-ready enterprises—especially in agriculture and agribusiness. Rural livelihoods go digital: A rural Tamil Nadu report shows smartphones and messaging apps boosting learning and small business sales, while also widening who benefits. Climate-smart soil insights: A rice-field study found warming can add carbon deeper in paddies while reducing it near the surface, with straw management changing the balance. Food systems and land pressure: Kyrgyz experts say Bishkek’s expansion must not come at the expense of productive farmland and the capital’s green belt.

Land Restoration Funding: UNCCD COP17 wrapped with a $1.3bn financing portfolio to tackle drought and land degradation across 23 countries, aiming to move commitments into on-the-ground restoration. Policy & Risk for Farmers: Barclays warns a tightening commodity picture as El Niño strengthens, raising the odds of disruptions to agriculture and other markets. Water for Farming: India’s Jal Jeevan Mission push in Varanasi sets hard deadlines for drinking water schemes, with manpower increases ordered to hit September 2026–February 2027 targets. Circular Waste Solutions: Vietnam showcased 11 innovations to cut plastic waste across collection, sorting, reuse and recycling, helping prevent or treat 750+ tonnes and supporting circular jobs. Aquaculture Health Tech: Researchers are probing genetic approaches to help farmed fish and shellfish resist infectious diseases and parasites. Farm Collectives: Kashmir mobilised 200 farmers to strengthen FPOs, focusing on market access, value addition and branding. Sustainable Energy for Farms: Cornell’s small biodigester project turns food scraps and manure into energy for research, education and farmer demonstrations. Rural Roads Matter: A Ghana op-ed argues rural feeder roads need urgent political attention because bad access blocks farmers from markets, schools and health services.

Fertilizer Innovation: India’s Fertilizer Innovation Centre (FIC India) is pushing to set up a new unit in Odisha, aiming to cut chemical fertilizer reliance by improving soil health and nutrient management, with plans for a dedicated Fertilizer Academy. Sustainable Agriculture Showcase: Malaysia’s MAHA 2026 is being framed as a sustainability push, with regenerative farming, recycling, and waste reduction highlighted as key steps toward lower emissions and stronger food self-sufficiency. Forest Restoration: Cambodia’s Ou Damdek Community Protected Area in Kampong Thom restored 54 hectares after wildfires and farm encroachment, planting 40,000 seedlings under the PEARL project with FAO support. Aquaculture Breeding: New work on tilapia focuses on breeding for disease resistance as aquaculture faces emerging pathogens and limited treatments. Livestock Biosecurity: Abu Dhabi’s ADAFSA says it administers 6.6 million animal vaccine doses annually, pairing vaccination with lab testing and biosecurity to protect livestock and food security. Water-Smart Farming: AUMOVIO India is restoring Dhunturu Lake in Karnataka to boost water storage, recharge groundwater, and strengthen irrigation resilience for nearby villages. Soil & Crop Pressure: Punjab’s kharif data shows rice now covers over 92% of cultivation, squeezing out non-paddy crops and deepening dependence on water-intensive farming. Invasive Species Control: Fiji’s research team is testing insect-based options to control invasive African tulip, stressing host-specificity and safety before any field releases.