AGP Executive Report

Sustainable Farming: 4-H leaders are urging young people to embrace sustainable agriculture, with school gardens teaching food production, nutrition and waste reduction. Crop Research: Texas A&M researchers developed an infectious clone of tomato spotted wilt virus, a tool that could help scientists study resistance in tomatoes, peppers and other crops. Conservation Funding: USDA is investing $65 million in 34 projects to help farmers and ranchers improve operations and conserve natural resources. Alberta has also set aside $60 million for projects focused on restoring land, saving water and increasing production. Climate Resilience: A $44 million Green Climate Fund project will support community-led adaptation in five Caribbean countries, including climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries.

Climate Risks: Cambodian farmers are facing El Niño’s aftershocks: drought cut early-season rainfall nearly in half, then floods hit rice-growing areas. Farmers estimate losses of about 10% of expected crops, while livestock producers face weak prices. Water Efficiency: USDA has opened a new Southwest research center to develop practical ways to manage water, soil and erosion in a region where every drop matters. Circular Farming: Research highlights how manure, mushroom waste and other organic leftovers can return nutrients to soils or be converted into biogas, with results depending on treatment and local conditions. Groundwater Pressure: In Afghanistan’s Maidan Wardak province, experts warn that solar-powered pumping and unregulated wells are draining groundwater and threatening springs and traditional irrigation channels; they urge monitoring, efficient irrigation and water storage. Sustainable Markets: Uganda’s upcoming agroecology and organic farming events will focus on whether farmers can secure the financing, advice and buyers needed to make climate-friendly practices pay.

Harvest-Season Imports: A Philippine senator says imported rice arriving during the local harvest could push farm-gate prices down, and is questioning whether safeguards were enforced. Aquaculture Markets: South Cotabato’s first Tilapia Festival aims to connect fish farmers with buyers and provide training; 4,000 farmers rely on the sector, which faces high costs and unstable prices. El Niño Resilience: Studies of Southern Africa’s 2023–24 drought find crop diversity, improved varieties and sound farm practices can reduce losses, though none removes the risk. Maize Outlook: South African growers plan to cut maize plantings by 12.4% this season, with white maize area set to fall by more than 18%, amid drought concerns, high input costs and weak prices. Climate-Tough Crops: Researchers in Ivory Coast have developed 11 promising cocoa varieties better able to withstand water stress as rainfall becomes less reliable. Farm Stewardship: Kaikōura dairy farmers are trialling downward-directed, warm lighting to reduce light pollution and protect endangered shearwaters while keeping sheds safe for workers.

Climate Warning: Greenhouse gas concentrations hit record highs in 2025, the World Meteorological Organization said, locking in climate impacts for decades and centuries. Water-Smart Farming: Chinese researchers say better-targeted irrigation could conserve water while protecting food production and investment returns. Resilient Smallholders: A $112.3 million Asian Development Bank project aims to help 200,000 Cambodian farmers in seven provinces withstand heatwaves, droughts and floods, with women’s participation a priority. Rising Costs: Spain’s ASAJA farm group is urging regional aid to offset soaring fertilizer prices, saying existing support falls short. On the Ground: In Sri Lanka’s Mannar district, rising heat and shrinking harvests are already straining farmers and other outdoor workers.

Regenerative Farming: Eight major wine buyers have pledged to grow demand for wine from regenerative vineyards, supporting a goal of farming 10% of the world’s vineyards regeneratively by 2035. Rural Investment: IFAD and Benin signed a $37.1 million deal to train young people and build climate-resilient farm, aquaculture and poultry businesses, reaching about 50,000 rural households. Climate Readiness: Malaysia is stepping up preparations for a potentially severe El Niño, including smart irrigation and water-management measures to protect rice production. Farm Risk: Namibia’s agricultural union warns foot-and-mouth disruptions could cost the livestock sector N$2.4 billion over six months. Green Growth: Vietnam plans to use APEC 2027 to advance green agriculture and food security, including a target of one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta by 2030. Sustainable Finance: Guyana’s GBTI sees scope to expand lending for agriculture and other businesses that depend on healthy natural resources.

Climate-Resilient Farming: The Asian Development Bank approved a $72 million package, with partner funding bringing the total to $112.3 million, to help about 200,000 smallholder farmers in Cambodia withstand extreme weather and economic shocks. The project will improve irrigation, market access and farm training across seven provinces. Local Food Markets: Ras Al Khaimah’s Farmers’ Council discussed better extension services, modern technology and stronger links between growers, markets and food processors to boost local production. Export Opportunity: Arunachal Pradesh sent a trial shipment of 1.5 tonnes of kiwi to Dubai for display at LuLu Hypermarket, testing demand and potential overseas buyer links. Soil-Smart Practices: A Georgian farmer is turning crop waste into compost after training through an FAO field school, while Minnesota Extension has revised manure nitrogen recommendations for corn based on more than 230 field trials. Climate Adaptation: Taiwanese tea growers are adopting nature-based methods as soil degradation and climate pressures challenge production.

Biosecurity: Fire ants found at Sydney’s freight centre have prompted movement controls on soil, mulch and plants, as officials try to stop a pest that threatens farms and wildlife. Aquaculture Supply: El Niño disruption has halted Peru’s anchovy season, putting global fish-oil supplies under pressure; production could hit a decade low, affecting fish farmers who use most of the oil. Soil Health: The Gambia has validated draft standards for organic fertilizers made from waste, aiming to improve product quality and give smallholders safer, reliable inputs. Water Resilience: Tasmania’s new Northern Midlands irrigation scheme is delivering water to farms during an exceptionally dry spring, opening the way for more potatoes, vegetables and livestock feed. Farm Recovery: A Bank of Agriculture program is helping 3,400 Nigerian ginger farmers recover from blight with planting materials and extension support. Fertilizer Investment: The USDA selected eight proposed manufacturing projects worth $1.34 billion in total, including a multi-state ammonia project, to expand domestic supply.

Farm Value-Added: Pakistan’s farmers’ association is urging an agricultural emergency, transparent wheat procurement and small processing plants to cut post-harvest losses and improve grower returns. Wheat Markets: Futures are nearing an eighth straight weekly decline as global production forecasts ease supply concerns, though Black Sea export disruptions remain a longer-term risk. Climate Resilience: Nepal won approval for three Adaptation Fund projects aimed at strengthening climate and disaster preparedness. Agri-Food Processing: Cambodia is pushing to move beyond raw commodity exports toward higher-value, technology-driven food processing amid rising costs and climate pressures. Organic Farming: Ladakh has been declared India’s first fully certified organic Union Territory, after phasing out synthetic farm chemicals. Farm Data: USDA and NASA have launched a partnership to use satellite observations and geospatial analysis to improve agricultural statistics and help farmers access better data.

Circular Farming: A young entrepreneur in the Philippines is developing ways to turn mountains of discarded coffee pulp into useful products, tackling waste from Higaonon coffee farms. Climate Hit: El Niño’s dry spell has caused an estimated ₱300 million in crop losses in Eastern Visayas, affecting more than 6,400 farmers and nearly 8,000 hectares; rice output may fall short of forecasts. Olive Livelihoods: Palestinian farmers face attacks, stolen crops and restricted access during harvest, while returning farmers in Syria’s Afrin region struggle to restore neglected groves amid high costs for fuel and supplies. Land and Energy: India is exploring agrivoltaics, placing solar panels above or between crops to generate power while keeping farmland productive. Seed Heritage: Odisha farmer Manas Ranjan Sahu has preserved more than 1,700 traditional crop varieties in a seed bank, helping protect agricultural biodiversity and farming knowledge.

Sabah Food Security: Sabah is targeting a rise in rice self-sufficiency from 22% to 40% by 2030, alongside better farm support, infrastructure, market links, technology and climate resilience. Climate Adaptation: A $241 million World Bank-backed program in Jordan has strengthened 111,508 people’s ability to cope with climate risks and expanded rainwater storage capacity by more than 2.24 million cubic metres. On-Farm Action: Ontario’s soil and crop association will deliver funding for improved nitrogen management, cover crops and rotational grazing to cut farm emissions and store carbon. Drought Pressure: Around 7,000 farmers and workers rallied in Maharashtra for drought relief, crop insurance payments and loan waivers as losses mount. Safer Rice Exports: Industry leaders say pesticide residues caused 69% of Indian rice shipment rejections in European markets, urging stronger farm-level controls and traceability. Fertilizer Alternatives: A Scottish barley trial found microalgae fertilizer produced yields comparable to conventional mineral fertilizer, pointing to a potential lower-impact option.

Climate-Ready Farming: Hawaiʻi is launching 10–12 hands-on workshops on soil health, water retention and climate-smart land management across six islands through June 2027. Policy Shift: Azerbaijan’s draft farm-sector law, adopted in first reading, would for the first time set out agricultural climate measures, including protective tree belts and resource-saving technologies. Investment: Moldova will receive €150 million from the European Investment Bank to modernize farms, processing and storage, helping producers reach EU markets. Farm Costs: Record diesel prices are squeezing margins; a Farm Credit Canada estimate puts the added 2026 fuel bill for a 5,000-acre farm at $68,000–$106,000 under an 80% price increase. Climate-Smart Feed: Researchers say sorghum could replace about 90% of the maize used in European livestock feed if grown in rotation, as warming is projected to improve yields across much of the continent.

El Niño losses: Drought damage to Philippine agriculture rose to ₱8.57 billion, affecting 288,058 farmers and wiping out 220,307 tonnes of produce across 291,154 hectares. Rice and corn accounted for more than 90% of losses. Sustainable beef: Aldi and processor ABP will offer premiums and technical support to about 1,000 British farmers adopting soil, biodiversity and animal-welfare measures. Climate and crops: A 70-year study finds parts of Maharashtra have shifted to a hotter, drier climate, raising the stakes for water and farm planning. Amazon at a crossroads: Brazil’s presidential election could shape rainforest protections and the forest’s risk of shifting to a drier ecosystem, with major consequences for biodiversity and climate. Farm income: Kenyan poultry farmers are being urged to process and package chicken for different buyers, adding value and reducing waste.

Climate Stress: El Niño damage to Philippine farms has climbed to ₱8.57 billion, affecting 288,058 farmers and destroying 220,307 tonnes of crops, mostly rice and corn. Farm Innovation: A new Nagaland rice variety yielded 5.4 tonnes per hectare under natural farming, while Ghana’s Dabokpa Technical Institute has built a low-cost mini tractor for smallholders. Getting Research to Farmers: African agricultural researchers say fragmented links among research, seed suppliers, extension services, finance and markets are holding back proven innovations. Market Access: South Africa’s North West province has opened its third produce packhouse to help smallholders store, process and sell crops. Cleaner Farming: Environmental groups are suing the U.S. EPA over atrazine contamination in waterways; a new report estimates the weedkiller affects a quarter of U.S. river miles at levels harmful to aquatic life. Farm and Energy: A Canterbury farmer is backing a 42-megawatt solar project designed to allow grazing beneath the panels, combining farm income with renewable power.

Sustainable Beef: Aldi has launched a scheme with ABP for around 1,000 British beef farmers, offering premium payments, advice and peer support for steps to improve soil health, biodiversity and animal welfare. Gene Editing: A Defra-funded survey found 82% of farmers view gene-edited crops positively, rising to 90% after an explanation of the technology; 78% would consider growing them within five years, with pest and disease resistance the top priority. Climate Science: Scientists warn that delaying the IPCC’s next major assessment could leave farmers and governments without timely guidance as extreme weather threatens crops and livelihoods. Farm Resilience: India is weighing a major agrivoltaics push to combine solar generation with farming, while its agricultural sector faces rising input costs and growing exposure to erratic weather.

Farm Relief: USDA announced $8 billion in one-time payments to help farmers manage soaring diesel and input costs. Farm groups welcomed the aid but called for longer-term solutions; payment details remain unclear. Solar on Farms: India is planning a major agrivoltaics program, pairing solar generation with agriculture to diversify farm income. Climate Readiness: Quezon province in the Philippines activated its El Niño task force, mapping vulnerable farming communities and preparing drought and heat support. Livestock: A new ILRI initiative will coordinate research and solutions to strengthen sustainable livestock systems and food security in lower-income countries. Regenerative Farming: A UK farm’s shift to mixed livestock, cover crops and direct drilling improved soil structure and resilience while reducing reliance on purchased fertilizer. Efficient Water Use: FAO training in Antigua and Barbuda helped farmers improve nutrient, irrigation and fertigation management to use inputs more precisely.

Farm Costs: Russia says it could supply U.S. farmers with fertiliser as well as diesel, though no details were provided. In Kenya’s Teso region, farmers are pressing for lower subsidised fertiliser and maize-seed prices to ease production costs. Climate-Ready Crops: A study found 78% of surveyed UK farmers would consider growing gene-edited crops, especially varieties resistant to pests, disease and drought. A banana researcher also urged investment in drought- and heat-tolerant varieties to protect smallholders’ harvests. Farming and Nature: New research argues that nature-inclusive land-use planning is key to meeting global biodiversity goals by 2030, including on working farmland. Cambodia and the EU are expanding cooperation on low-carbon, climate-smart agriculture and forest protection.