AGP Executive Report

Energy & Food Shock: A new analysis warns the US-Iran escalation could keep disrupting energy, shipping, fertilizer and food supply chains for months or even years, with global growth risks stretching into 2027. Renewables Investment: New Zealand’s infrastructure commission says it needs more long-term renewable power and storage to handle electricity price volatility as demand shifts. Climate Resilience Gaps: Farmers in Ganderbal face an irrigation crisis as canals run low and silt-choked channels threaten paddy losses. Farmland & Carbon Pressure: Scotland’s rural land market is “frozen” as investors demand clearer long-term returns, with carbon-focused forestry deals cooling sharply. Input Costs & Policy Tension: India’s health/fertilizer minister says West Asia disruptions won’t cause shortages after supply diversification, while Nepal’s tea industry faces shutdown threats after India tightened import testing rules. Farmer Support Debate: Pakistan’s PTI farmers wing calls the 2026-27 budget “anti-farmer,” arguing research and incentives lack clarity while input costs bite. BRICS Agriculture Push: BRICS ministers in Indore backed farmer-centric food security and set up a network for agroecology and regenerative agriculture. Local Farm Stories: A UK organic dairy seeks £47k to rebuild after a milk contract cut; a Cheshire strawberry farm opens long rows for pick-your-own; and a community farm in Weymouth drew scrutiny over £68k in council spending.

BRICS Agriculture Push: BRICS ministers in Indore adopted the “Indore Declaration,” backing farmer rights in seed systems, digital agriculture, and climate-resilient farming—plus new cooperation platforms aimed at food security and small-farmer livelihoods. Climate Shock for Farms: El Niño is officially underway, with warnings it could intensify into “Super El Niño,” raising flood and storm risks in some regions and threatening harvests and water supplies worldwide. Food Security vs. Imports: Indonesia’s deputy agriculture minister framed food security as the backbone of economic transformation, citing land use optimization, irrigation, and farming modernization. Input and Policy Pressure: Bangladesh faces rising import dependence and wheat production decline, while India’s Gujarat highlights MSP procurement as a way to stabilize farm incomes. Farm Health Threat: A new world screwworm case in Texas cattle is prompting rancher and federal response as the pest could drive up beef costs. Pollution and Water Risk: India’s pollution regulator alleges Tata iPhone-parts wastewater contaminated nearby farmland groundwater, warning of a shutdown unless Tata explains corrective steps. Urban Growing Trend: More people are turning balconies into mini food farms to cut grocery bills and boost fresh produce access.

Water Security Shock: India’s decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance is intensifying shortages across Pakistan’s Sindh and Balochistan, threatening farms, livelihoods and regional stability. Farm Income Support: India raised its onion procurement price under the buffer stock programme to Rs 16.50/kg to protect growers from price swings. Climate-Smart Learning: An agriculture college in India ran a hybrid awareness programme on climate change, soil health and dryland management, including tools like “Sukha Rakshak” for El Niño dry spells. Soil & Input Sustainability: Experts warned that unbalanced fertilizer use is degrading soil fertility, urging more sustainable nutrient management. Smallholder Resilience: In Kenya, farmers are using low-cost tech to keep mud crab farming going despite worsening weather. Community Market Lifelines: Casey Farm’s long-running farmers’ market in Rhode Island highlights how local sales help small farms survive the season. Food Safety & Health: A new analysis flags rodent-borne hantavirus risk in agricultural settings, calling for a One Health approach. Renewables & Energy for Farms: A concept project in Madagascar proposes ocean-powered renewable electricity to tackle energy shortages that ripple into food and livelihoods.

Farm Bill Food Security: U.S. state AGs including New York’s Letitia James and California’s Rob Bonta urged Congress to restore SNAP benefits and protect food assistance in the next Farm Bill, warning recent cuts are driving hunger and shifting costs onto states and localities. Climate Risk for Crops & Livestock: NOAA says El Niño is forming and could become one of the strongest on record, raising the odds of extreme weather that can hit planting, yields, and farm incomes. Water & Soil Protection: Ontario’s Healthy Waters Program says erosion-control work with farmers is preventing thousands of tonnes of topsoil and nutrient runoff from reaching local waterways each year. Rural Community Investment: Alberta’s UFA Foundation opened applications for its Rural Communities Grant Program, offering five $20,000 capital grants to strengthen farmer and rancher communities. Women in Agriculture: The “Year of the Woman Farmer” spotlight continues as new research highlights women’s roles across production, agribusiness, and policy. Land & Livelihood Tensions: India’s Bidadi Township plan faces renewed farmer pushback after a final land-acquisition notification, with groups alleging consent gaps. Energy Transition Meets Rural Space: Louisiana signed a law limiting climate-change-related lawsuits against energy producers, while offshore wind construction milestones continue in Europe.

Urban Climate Tech: India’s TERI students won a Rajasthan Green Innovation Challenge for a “climate tower” using azolla pools and passive solar design to tackle air pollution, carbon, wastewater and degraded land. Agri-Finance & Processing: Egypt’s planning ministry met the World Bank on financing agri-processing, cold storage and aggregation centers in Upper Egypt to cut losses tied to storage and handling gaps. School Feeding Links Farms: Ghana launched a home-grown school feeding pilot reaching 33,598 children daily across two districts, buying from local farmers via a direct procurement model. Flood Fallout: Pakistan’s Economic Survey says 2025 floods caused Rs822bn in losses, killed 1,039 and displaced 4+ million, with Punjab taking the biggest hit. Natural Farming Push: India’s Bandi Sanjay urged farmers to cut chemical dependence and expand natural farming, citing health and environmental benefits. Cotton Market Disruption: Malawi cotton farmers face delays after Admarc funding issues stalled purchases, threatening price stability and farmer cash flow. Climate Risk for Water: India’s PM Modi warned El Niño could weaken monsoons and urged stronger water conservation planning. Aquaculture Expansion: New Zealand fast-tracked six Marlborough aquaculture farms to boost mussel production and nursery capacity against warming seas. Green Lending: Kenya’s KCB reported Sh588bn in green loans reviewed in 2025, with part independently verified as climate-eligible.

Low-Emission Aquaculture: AKVA’s Chile rollout is moving solar-powered salmon cages and pontoons toward commercial scale, aiming to cut direct emissions and meet rising demand for lower-footprint seafood. Poultry Biosecurity & Public Health: Asturias authorities in the Philippines ordered a third poultry-farm pause this year, banning new chicks until sanitation upgrades fix a worsening fly infestation. Fertiliser & Farm Economics: Tesco is pushing UK retailers and innovators to scale low-carbon fertilisers, arguing supply shocks and volatile prices make a domestically produced option more resilient for growers. Input Supply & Price Protection: Nepal says it has supplied 5.58 lakh metric tons of chemical fertiliser so far and issued a Minimum Support Price directive to set prices for key crops before planting/harvest. Water & Climate Adaptation: Maryland announced $31.5m for 25 ecological restoration projects to cut nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment into the Chesapeake Bay. Agri-Trade & Partnerships: Moldova and Bulgaria plan an autumn economic forum in Chisinau focused on agri-food, IT and energy partnerships. Livestock Management Training: OSU Extension launched a beef cattle artificial insemination school to improve herd genetics and long-term management decisions. Women, Climate Risk & Food Systems: A new UN-linked focus highlights how climate shocks hit women hardest, especially in rural areas dependent on agriculture and natural resources. Water Governance: Namibia reaffirmed commitment to global water governance, stressing water security as central to food security and resilience.

Agri-Environment Funding: UK Defra says the revamped Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI26) will open for applications from 30 June with £240m for new agreements, while Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier gets £50m—though farm groups warn the cash won’t meet nature and water goals. Farm Tech & Energy for Farms: New Zealand’s Fieldays backed livestock methane-busting and safer farm tech, while a report highlights how technology can cut injuries by redesigning farm systems, not just training. Water & Crop Timing: Nepal’s Kalimati market set wholesale fruit and veg prices, and Nawalparasi farmers began paddy planting after canal water arrived—despite fertilizer shortages and limited labor. Renewables Meets Rural Reality: A new look at India’s renewable push asks whether more generation capacity actually improves energy security for rural users who rely on power for irrigation and daily life. Climate-Smart Prototypes: In Jaipur, TERI researchers won for a “climate tower” using azolla pools and passive design to tackle pollution and emissions with low active energy use. Farm Economics Pressure: Australia’s ABARES forecasts farm profits could plunge as input costs stay high and yields weaken. Livestock & Policy: India marked 12 years of Kisan Samriddhi Yojana, spotlighting PM-KISAN and crop insurance.

Agri-innovation for resilience: India’s TERI students won a Rajasthan Green Innovation Challenge for a “climate tower” using azolla pools and passive solar design to cut air pollution and tackle wastewater and degraded land. Climate-smart farming in action: Kenya’s Makueni farmers are boosting dryland yields with ripping, zai pits, mulching, crop diversification and weather advisories after past relief-food failures. Irrigation upgrades lift yields: Bangladesh’s Rangpur region is seeing higher paddy output after the EIR canal excavation programme reactivated canals, ponds and solar/electric pumps, adding irrigation for thousands of farmer families. Soil and water rules tighten: Ireland’s farm inspections flagged soiled water as a top non-compliance driver, while Teagasc urged farmers to use local soil and water knowledge to protect clean water and competitiveness. Agri waste-to-energy scales up: Rajasthan’s SAEL commissioned a 14.9 MW biomass plant using crop residues, pushing operational agri waste-to-energy capacity to 164.9 MW. Food security investment push: Qatar is exploring agrifood investment pathways with IFC to build more resilient food systems aligned to its 2030 strategy. Market and policy signals: South Africa’s agricultural trade surplus hit a record R25.5bn in Q1 2026, but AgriSA warns export growth is still constrained by issues like FMD. Farm economics on the ground: A South Dakota farmer says easing corn and soybean prices still left him wishing he’d locked in more new-crop sales earlier. Disaster support for ag-linked businesses: The US SBA reminded Arizona small businesses and small agricultural cooperatives of a July 10 deadline for low-interest disaster loans after the 2025 Gila County flooding.

Climate Risk: El Niño has formed in the Pacific and could bring months of droughts, floods, and heat stress, threatening crops and power systems worldwide. Farm Safety Tech: Kenya’s youth challenge is calling for scalable environmental solutions, while the UK’s RABI is pushing the FarmersAid app with step-by-step help for common serious farm accidents. Value-Add & Jobs: Indonesia’s Maluku province got backing for downstream coconut and cassava processing to move farmers beyond raw-material sales. Water & Irrigation: Bangladesh’s Padma Barrage revives hopes for Ganges-dependent farms, but experts warn of possible environmental side effects; in Cyprus, farmers received extra irrigation water as desalination delays loom. Input & Policy Pressure: Kenya’s agriculture chief urged a global ban on hazardous farm chemicals, and India faces a fertiliser crunch that could spike subsidy costs. Agri-innovation & Markets: Guyana and Brazil are setting up a Caribbean agri-tech STI hub to speed tropical farming solutions, while New Zealand’s LIFT programme targets smarter sheep and beef grazing using virtual fencing. On-the-ground Updates: Farmers are being urged to prepare for harvest as planting winds down, and residue burning is being fined in India.

Dairy Governance Shake-Up: Nepal’s agriculture minister Gita Chaudhary has called for restructuring the National Dairy Development Board to make it more accountable and results-driven, with a push to boost production, market management, and protect farmers’ interests. Climate-Smart Rice: Japan is rapidly expanding heat-resistant rice, with 18.2% of staple acreage now planted to cope with hotter summers and recent rice shortages linked to heat damage. Satellite Tech for Farming: The Philippines approved Earth-observation satellite plans under its MULA program, aiming to deliver agriculture and disaster monitoring data by as early as April 2027. Agri-Tech Expo Momentum: At GreenTech Amsterdam 2026, officials highlighted AI and smart farming tools for productivity and water-resource management. Water & Food Security Funding: Egypt and the World Bank discussed cooperation under AgriConnect and “Productive Village” efforts to support smallholders, irrigation, and climate-smart farming. Aquaculture Modernization: China’s recirculating aquaculture systems demand is rising in Algeria as investors seek water-saving indoor fish farming support. Women Farmers Training: Zimbabwean women smallholders received training focused on food sovereignty, gender justice, and climate resilience. Fertilizer Shock Risk: India’s economy faces mounting costs from the Iran war, with potential fertilizer supply disruptions adding pressure on farmers. Biodiversity & AI Caution: South African conservation experts warn AI can help track nature at scale, but also carries bias and reliability risks.

World Environment Day Push: Ghana’s EPA urged attitude change and practical climate action, from waste management and tree planting to school sensitisation across multiple districts. Water & Farm Rules: New Zealand’s Environment Court ordered Waikato Regional Council to make 20 changes to a water-quality plan, with new obligations for farmers and growers in the Waikato and Waipā river catchments. Input Fraud Alert: Nigeria’s Plateau farmers face fake fertiliser risks, with the Fertiliser and Agro-Allied Dealers Association warning substandard inputs are cutting yields and threatening food security. Farm Labor Policy: New Zealand’s ACT proposed a Rural Workforce Visa to ease year-round worker shortages for dairy, sheep and beef, citing limits in the current immigration system. Climate Tech for Food: Nepal’s WFP launched an innovation accelerator backing startups with tools like solar irrigation, digital farm advice, satellite-based insurance and climate data for smallholders. Ocean Pressure: A UN ocean assessment warns of a deepening crisis driven by climate change, pollution and overfishing—threatening fish stocks and food for billions. Ag Growth Signals: Morocco’s 2025 economy grew 4.9%, with agriculture rebounding 8.2%, while Indonesia plans to distribute 280 million cocoa and coconut seedlings to boost plantation output.

Fertilizer Shock From Hormuz: FAO warns the Strait of Hormuz crisis is turning into a fertilizer and production shock, urging countries to keep agricultural input trade open and use fertilizer more efficiently. Aquaculture Decarbonization: Skretting says it cut operational emissions 40% since 2018, but Scope 3 cuts need coordinated action across the whole seafood feed supply chain. Water Security Under Pressure: Quebec municipalities and environmentalists warn groundwater reserves are being depleted faster than they refill, calling for stronger regulation—farmers and rural residents would feel it first. Ghana–Belarus Ag-Tech Push: President Mahama announces new MOUs to modernize Ghana’s agriculture with Belarusian mechanization, farm tech, skills, and targeted investment. Animal Health Alert: USDA confirmed additional New World screwworm cases in Texas, urging extra vigilance during animal intakes and post-travel checks. Renewables With Local Friction: Communities in Australia raise fire-risk, contamination, and land-value concerns over a proposed 250MW solar farm. Policy Watch (US): The House approved the FY27 agriculture appropriations bill, funding research, rural development, and food safety while trimming overall discretionary spending. Climate Adaptation Innovation: Nepal is positioning itself as a “living laboratory” for climate adaptation, linking smallholder farms to modern innovation via a WFP-backed program.

Agri-Tech in Tough Terrain: Drones are taking over repetitive mountain-farm jobs in Chongqing, spreading fertilizer, spraying pesticides and sowing rice—one drone can cover about 20 hectares a day. Farmer Union Focus: Vietnam’s 9th National Congress of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union opened in Hanoi, bringing together nearly 600 delegates representing over 10 million farmers. Coastal Restoration: China reports a 44% mangrove area increase since 2000, with crab farmers in Guangdong seeing better water quality and higher prices. EU-Northeast Trade Push: An EU “Team Europe” delegation begins a June 8-9 visit to Assam to expand value-chain cooperation, including tea and agri-food processing. Energy Efficiency for Farms: Türkiye targets $20B+ in energy-efficiency investments by 2030, explicitly including agriculture among sectors. Feed Costs Bite: Thai egg prices rise as feed costs squeeze farmers, but producers say they’re still below cost-covering levels. Circular Livestock Feed: Researchers in Thailand turn low-grade cocoa and husks into livestock supplements, aiming to cut waste and lower feed costs. Weed Control Robotics: A Dorset trial robot (“Raggy”) targets ragwort mechanically to reduce chemical use and protect livestock. Ghana- Belarus Agro Links: President Mahama tours Belarus dairy/agro-processing to cut post-harvest losses and speed smallholder-to-commercial transitions. Insurance Gap Exposed: South Africa’s recent floods show many farmers are underinsured; Land Bank says insurance is essential but only about a third of commercial farmers buy it.

Farm Infrastructure Boost: Zamboanga del Sur secured P345M for farm-to-market roads via the 2026 General Appropriations Act, aiming to cut transport costs and connect growers to markets. Aquaculture Support: BFAR-1 handed Pangasinan bangus and siganid fry plus fishing gear to SAMAPA, helping farmers recover from weather-related losses. Wellness & Value-Added Ag: Thailand’s Songkhla push for a “wellness economy” includes a GMP-certified herbal extraction facility linking research, agriculture, and high-value products. Animal Welfare Policy Fight: Congress is weighing a farm bill move that would block states from regulating livestock raising, directly challenging California’s animal welfare rules. Dairy Industry Expansion: Malaysia’s Jemaluang Dairy Valley targets 4,000 cows and 10M liters of milk by year three, building a full dairy value chain and reducing import dependence. Environment & Green Jobs: Haiti marked World Environment Day with a push for green jobs, sanitation, ecosystem restoration, and youth-led action; Oman reiterated growth plus environmental stewardship. EU Trade Links: “Team Europe” plans talks in Assam (June 8-9) focused on green energy and agri-food processing partnerships. Rural Safety & Security: Police warned youths against climbing farm machinery and hay bales; meanwhile, bandit attacks in Zamfara killed farmers preparing fields, threatening planting and food supply.

Farm Infrastructure Boost: Zamboanga del Sur secured P345M for farm-to-market roads under the 2026 budget, aiming to cut transport costs and connect farms to markets. Water for Agriculture: Cebu City opened an SRP eco-station and installed a desalination unit that turns brackish water into fresh water for farm use inside the facility. Aquaculture Scaling: Pangasinan’s BFAR distributed 80,000 bangus fry and siganid fry to a growers’ group to help recover from weather losses. Marine Farming Demo: India’s ICAR-CMFRI showcased large open-sea pompano cage farming, harvesting about 4 tonnes from a 12-metre cage. Climate Pressure on Crops: Pakistan’s Sukkur Barrage canal system is running far below capacity, threatening Kharif irrigation and raising fears for rice and other crops. Farm Policy Debate (NZ): Federated Farmers is pushing to scrap resource consents and replace them with simpler farm plans to reduce bureaucracy. Tech for Farm Efficiency: Illinois researchers used satellite imagery and machine learning to map tillage trends across the Corn Belt from 2000–2022. Ag Credit Push (India): India’s Central Bank of India ran a mega agriculture credit outreach in Karnal, generating Rs 220 crore in leads and sanctioning Rs 45.46 crore in loans. Weed Control Robotics (UK): Dorset farms are set to trial an autonomous ragwort-weeding robot to cut labor and chemical use. Agri-Marketing Skills (Guam): University of Guam extension launched a 5P marketing workshop series to help producers sell more value-added, traceable foods.

Land-Use Pressure: Philippines’ Central Luzon groups launched the “Save the Rice Granary Movement,” urging a two-year moratorium on land conversion permits as farmland loss accelerates and worsens food security. Agri-Tech for Disease Control: Nagaland’s ICAR-KVK Longleng demo used eco-friendly treatments (Trichoderma and Pseudomonas) to curb ginger rhizome rot and lift productivity. Water Pollution Threat: Environmentalists in Machakos, Kenya warned river pollution is endangering agriculture and aquaculture, citing raw discharges and pushing tree-planting during World Environment Day. Agri-Finance Push: Bangladesh’s Agrobank is engaging hawkers and petty traders to expand access to capital, while the government also announced a Tk 10,000 agro loan waiver for marginal farmers. Climate-Smart Energy for Farms: Odisha is scaling AgriPV to boost farmer income and clean energy, and the Philippines’ Capiz solar project secured an environmental certificate with agrivoltaics planned. Farm Economics Under Strain: Rayalaseema mango growers face a sharp price crash, while Ghana’s agriculture and finance ministries are in a public dispute over budget releases.