AGP Executive Report

Market Access & Inclusion: Philippines Senator Loren Legarda filed a bill to institutionalize the Department of Agriculture’s 4K program, using a market-first farm-to-buyer model for Indigenous communities, with support like machinery, credit, crop insurance, and skills for crops from coffee to rice. Ag Finance & Rural Credit: Ghana’s Bank of Ghana is reshaping rural banking into community banks to close the credit gap for traders and small businesses, arguing “access” isn’t the same as getting loans. Trade & Supply Chain: AfCFTA urged South Sudan to speed up ratification to unlock a 50+ country market. Input Costs & Weather Risk: France’s wheat output is forecast to fall to 32m tonnes as heatwaves cut yields, adding pressure after months of farm protests. Food & Livestock: Cebu’s pork supply stays steady despite ASF fears, but buyer hesitation is hitting vendors. Fertilizer & Energy Link: A U.S. report warns Iran-linked Strait of Hormuz disruptions are tightening global fertilizer flows and lifting prices, with knock-on effects for planting and yields. Industry Partnerships: DPA Auctions and National LICA launched a contractor equipment-auction benefit program. Training & Regenerative Skills: SEARCA and SEAMEO partners will pilot a regional micro-credential on regenerative and resilient agriculture.

Robotics Meets Ag Tech: China’s robotics push is moving from labs to real-world use, with investors and firms pointing to agricultural tech as a growth lane. Trade Policy With Farm Impact: Moldova’s PM-designate met agriculture leaders, flagging drought, energy costs, and the need for less bureaucracy, better financing, and export market access. Energy Costs Hit Farmers: Maharashtra will waive about Rs 48,000 crore in pending farm electricity dues to unlock new connections. Biofuels & Palm Oil Demand: Indonesia says its B50 biodiesel rollout is cutting diesel imports and aims to stabilize fresh fruit bunch prices for farmers. Disease Control for Exports: India targets FMD-free status in nine states within two years to open Europe’s dairy market. Local Market & Supply Chain Moves: Canada and Saskatchewan are exploring ways to keep Indian Head and Scott Research Farms running during disposal plans. Poultry Expansion: Guyana commissioned a climate-smart poultry project to boost output and biosecurity. Wheat Market Pressure: Pakistan wheat growers and millers warn supply disruptions and hoarding could lift bread prices again. Rural Skills & Jobs: A climate-smart poultry project in Guyana and hands-on farm programs in the U.S. highlight training pathways for the next ag workforce.

Agri-Trade & Market Access: Malaysia is pushing to resolve Thailand shrimp export restrictions dating to 2017 and is also seeking pending access for livestock products, with the issue raised at the National Food Security Council meeting. Climate & Food Security: The same Malaysian meeting flagged El Nino and climate-change drought risks and discussed prevention and adaptation steps for agri-food entrepreneurs. Agri-Finance & Tech: Singapore’s Rize raised $31m Series B to scale its AI-supported, low-emission rice supply-chain work across Indonesia and Vietnam, aiming to expand exports and carbon certification. Livestock & Risk Management: USDA is expanding crop insurance via a new Turfgrass Value Select pilot for turfgrass producers in select states/counties. Research & Biosecurity: US researchers are testing a new approach to suppress New World screwworm using sterile, reproductively vigorous male flies. Policy & Institutions: Ukraine restored its separate Ministry of Agrarian Policy and appointed Taras Vysotsky as minister. Trade Policy Shock: The US announced 25% tariffs on most imports from Brazil, a move that could ripple into broader global trade. Value Chains & Exports: Namibia signed a phytosanitary agreement with China for fresh table grape exports, but growers warn strict rules could delay shipments. Rural Livelihoods: A UniSZA community kitchen initiative in Malaysia tackles agricultural oversupply by turning produce into longer-shelf-life value-added foods.

Climate Risk & Food Security: Philippines Sen. Kiko Pangilinan filed a probe into government readiness for El Niño, focusing on water management, seed distribution, credit support and fisheries contingency plans. Policy & Land Use: Ireland’s Just Transition Commission calls for an urgent national land-use dialogue to fund climate and nature restoration, support diverse farming systems, and improve access to land for new farmers. Agri-Food Jobs: A Malabo Montpellier Panel report says Africa’s agri-food systems could help tackle a youth employment crisis, arguing the sector must drive millions of jobs monthly by 2040. Trade & Market Access: India–UK CETA is now in force, with leather and other sectors (including agriculture) getting broad duty-free access to the UK. Supply Chain & Logistics: Canada’s Port of Churchill is set to ship Prairie grain north again for the first time in six years as expansion plans move forward. Farm Economy Under Pressure: Pakistan’s trade deficit hit a decade high as exports lag and imports surge; flour millers also urge faster wheat procurement and action on hoarding to stabilize prices. Drought & Production Outlook: Colorado producers are cutting cattle and corn acreage to cope with extreme drought and irrigation limits. Digital Agriculture: China is pushing Pinggu District as a smart agriculture and logistics hub, using sensors, remote sensing and integrated farm data to reduce costs and improve yields.

Animal Health & Biosecurity: Wisconsin tightens animal import rules starting July 21 to curb New World Screwworm risk, adding extra documentation and permits for animals from Texas and New Mexico. Climate & Farm Policy: Ireland’s biomethane push shows a funding gap: only seven AD plants won nearly €19m while about €21m in the €40m scheme remains unspent. Agri Research & Training: Nigeria’s UNN will build a ₦2.5bn research lab and demonstration farm funded by TETFund, aiming to boost practical agribusiness research. Inputs & Costs: Kenya unveils a Ksh 465bn National Feed Strategy to cut high animal-feed costs, tackle a 60% raw-material deficit, and expand local feed ingredient production. Markets & Trade: India-UK CETA takes effect, with West Bengal’s first UK shipments including Darjeeling tea, mangoes, betel leaves and jewellery, as tariffs fall for key labour-intensive sectors. Technology in Food: Cropin and Google Cloud launch OrbitAI, an agentic AI platform for food and agriculture decision support. EU Competition: EU authorities closed about 110 agri-sector investigations (2017-2025), often involving price/quantity coordination. Sustainability & Energy: Volkswagen tests agrivoltaics in Poland by grazing 100 sheep under solar panels to manage grass and study ecosystem impacts.

Workforce & Training: Hawaii launched state-funded paid high school internships in agriculture and aviation, pairing students with employers like Aloun Farms and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum to build local pipelines. Farm Safety: A New Zealand arable farmer’s tractor fall highlights how quickly injuries can sideline operators and strain small farms’ ability to find skilled help. Water & Drought: Alberta’s drought is easing in parts of central and northern regions, offering relief heading into the growing season. Ag Tech & Research: Next-gen animal and range science researchers wrapped internships at Fort Keogh, while Anthropic pledged $10M CAD in Claude credits to Canadian universities, hospitals, and federal AI institutes. Trade & Logistics: Namibia and South Africa discussed removing cross-border barriers to boost agro-processing and regional value chains. Biofuels & Exports: Vietnam is pushing to raise domestic ethanol output for E10 blending and is simplifying farm code procedures to unblock durian and other agricultural exports. Policy & Compliance: The FTC settlement forces Deere to open repair tools and software to farmers and independent shops, a major right-to-repair win for agricultural equipment owners. Markets Watch: USDA reported lower corn and soybean export inspections week-over-week, while wheat improved.

Agri-Inputs & Policy: India issued a draft order to ban Paraquat Dichloride nationwide, citing severe human and animal toxicity, with 30 days for feedback before a final gazette. Food Security & Storage: Malaysia’s Selangor Fruit Valley says it has produced 1,000+ tonnes of fruits and crops this year and is building a “three-month” food warehouse to buffer disasters and supply shocks. Co-ops & Competitiveness: Spain’s Basque Government approved “Kooperatu 2026,” a €1m grant call to help agri-food cooperatives merge and integrate to boost efficiency and market power. Dairy & Livestock Ops: Australia’s Trans Ova added a client services hire focused on cattle IVF outcomes, while NSW’s Wumbulgal Agriculture was fined $550k after a quad-bike worker died without required safety gear. Trade & Logistics: Russia says it may reroute grain shipments after Sea of Azov attacks, while Malaysia–Thailand’s border economic zone aims to ease transit rules for fisheries and agricultural goods. Agri-Tech & Skills: Cypriot student agritech LIVIA won a European innovation award for AI drone and satellite crop monitoring; Kansas co-op Midway Co-op is running agronomy internships to grow local talent.

Farm Resilience & Rural Economy: The NFU says Yorkshire farmers need long-term investment and a planning system that backs farm infrastructure, from poultry sheds to reservoirs, while AI and tech can help productivity and sustainability. Climate & Courtroom Fight: New Zealand’s climate tort case could cost billions if defendants are forced to cut emissions, as Parliament/Government moves to intervene retrospectively—sparking backlash over accountability. Land, Housing & Food Security: Fiji’s Sanjay Kirpal pushes land and economic reforms, arguing better land use and support for farmers (including cold chain, solar hubs, roads, and digital market links) can ease housing and food pressures. Water for Crops: India’s Godavari water has been released into Nunna irrigation tanks to secure Kharif paddy supply. Trade for Ag Exports: Lula urges Mercosur to pursue a China free trade framework, with experts pointing to expanded access for agricultural products. On-the-ground Ag Tech: Kashmir’s Agriculture Deptt urges farmers to adopt modern techniques and fully use MIDH horticulture support schemes. Drought & Farm Water Rules: North Okanagan (Canada) seeks emergency support as some farms hit seasonal water allocations and orderly shut-offs/transfer options are discussed. Market & Policy Watch: California agriculture groups warn proposed packaging rules (SB 54) could raise costs across the food chain. Agribusiness Financing: A NZ farm lender Oxbury Agricultural Finance sourced $200m in private credit funding to expand agricultural lending. Agriculture Workforce: North Carolina highlights generational farm strain, while more young people are entering farming—still blocked by land access and business planning.

Right-to-Repair for Farmers: The American Dairy Coalition backed a proposed FTC settlement with Deere that would force access to repair software, diagnostics and tools for farmers and independent repair providers, aiming to cut costly downtime during planting and forage seasons. Rice Enforcement Upgrade: Malaysia’s Dewan Rakyat passed the Control of Padi and Rice (Amendment) Bill 2026, raising penalties for rice smuggling and misappropriation to better protect farmers and curb market manipulation. Grain Trade Disruption: Ukraine’s Kernel Holding suspended operations at the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk after Russian strikes damaged grain and sunflower storage and transshipment infrastructure, with no clear restart date. Farm Policy Oversight: India’s agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan heads to West Bengal to review PM-KISAN, PMFBY, MSP operations and rural programs, plus direct talks with jute farmers and women SHGs. Market Access Push: India’s Piyush Goyal said the India-UK FTA will make all Indian goods duty-free from July 15, with benefits expected for agriculture and fisheries exporters. Drought Watch: Kansas reported improving drought conditions but still uneven dryness, with forecasts pointing to warmer-than-normal temperatures and mixed rain chances. Agri Workforce & Training: Midway Co-op launched a summer internship for Kansas State agronomy students to build rural talent pipelines.

El Niño Response: Zimbabwe’s agriculture ministry says El Niño odds are high and has activated 22 production enablers to protect crops and livestock for the 2026/27 season. Agri-Processing Push: Nigeria’s Plateau State commissioned a potato tissue-culture centre plus value-chain equipment, aiming to expand processing (chips/flakes) and cut reliance on imported potatoes. Rural Livelihoods & Tourism: Zimbabwe’s First Lady backed Agrotourism4She, training women to commercialize farms through value addition, gastronomy and farm-based tourism. Market Access Wins: Zimbabwe shipped its first blueberry consignment to China after a phytosanitary protocol, with growers urged to scale up for demand under China’s zero-tariff policy. Trade & Standards: India-UK CETA takes effect July 15, but exporters are warned tariff cuts won’t be enough without quality, certification and logistics upgrades. Dairy Outlook: Fonterra lowered its 2026/27 milk price forecast on softer demand, while watching El Niño-linked supply risks. Labour Crunch: Fiji’s sugar industry faces a worsening cane harvest labour shortage, pushing up costs and increasing pressure on recovery. Food Manufacturing Capacity: Australia opened a $17M Food Manufacturing Innovation Hub to help small producers scale into commercial food and beverage manufacturing. Cotton Pressure: Pakistan’s cotton market held steady, but ginning crises and water stress in Sindh are threatening yields and quality. Skills Pipeline: Kansas’ Midway Co-op is running agronomy internships for university students to build the next generation of rural ag professionals.

El Niño Irrigation Push: Zimbabwe is already expanding irrigation by 20,000 hectares ahead of the 2026/27 El Niño season, with early warnings and faster input delivery aimed at protecting yields. Water Stress in Agriculture: Canada’s North Okanagan activated an emergency operations centre as Stage 3 water restrictions bite, adding ag-focused staff and an irrigation specialist to protect crop output. Grain Trade Disrupted by War: Russia suspended shipping through the Kerch Strait and the Don–Azov canal after Ukrainian drone attacks, threatening a key grain route and adding uncertainty for global supplies. Fuel Shock Hits Farms: Diesel export bans and Middle East conflict are pushing diesel and related costs higher, squeezing farmers and agribusiness margins from the U.S. to global logistics. Trade Deals for Agri-Industry: Canada’s CEPA talks with India aim to cut barriers and expand preferential market access; Fiji–Australia business leaders are also flagging agriculture as the next major bilateral push. Tech for Livestock: CSIRO is trialling live-weight monitoring for sheep using AI and 3D imaging to improve flock tracking without constant handling. Market Volatility in Dairy: A farm survey highlights extreme swings in dairy and tillage incomes, driven by input/output price swings and weather. Agri-SME Support: Ghana’s KIC and Rabo Foundation launched a Business Booster Programme to scale 100 agri-SMEs across value chains like cocoa processing, horticulture, and oil palm.

India–New Zealand Strategic Partnership: PM Narendra Modi and NZ PM Christopher Luxon elevated ties to a Strategic Partnership, with a Roadmap to 2030 and a goal to double bilateral trade to about ₹35,000 crore by 2030, plus new pacts on maritime cooperation, logistics support, and agriculture/agrotech. Agrotech for dairy: India’s MEA says dairy is sensitive in India, but both countries signed an Agricultural Productivity Arrangement to share agrotech and support cooperative-based dairy and farm incomes. Grain shipping shock: Russia halted civilian shipping through the Don–Azov Channel and stopped new Kerch Strait passage requests after Ukrainian drone attacks, raising fresh risks for global grain flows. Regional ag cooperation: Malaysia and Thailand signed an MoU to deepen agriculture and food-security collaboration, including research, innovation, and border cooperation. Local farm support: Uganda’s Bukalasa Agricultural College faced an Auditor General probe over idle equipment, weak planning, and rising receivables. Beekeeping funding: California Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom secured $2.5M for a Managed Honeybee Health Program to protect pollinators and crop yields. Value addition push: Malawi broke ground on modern market facilities to help farmers sell value-added goods. Trade friction watch: India urged the US to reconsider a proposed 12.5% tariff tied to forced-labour findings, arguing the process is legally flawed.

Fertilizer Shock: The WTO says Iran’s war has “severely disrupted” fertilizer trade, hitting urea and phosphate flows and raising food-yield and price risks. Disaster Support: USDA is expanding disaster assistance and commodity loan coverage for livestock, orchardists, and nursery growers, including updates to ELAP and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program. Farm Weather Stress: Drought is delaying paddy planting in Nepal’s Soru area as finger millet, wheat, and barley wither; Georgia’s drought is easing after recent rain, but impacts won’t be clear until harvest. Trade Uncertainty for Ag: Oklahoma farmers face added uncertainty after the USMCA renewal deadline was missed, while EU anti-dumping scrutiny into Chinese Peking duck adds another ag-trade flashpoint. Policy & Compliance: Indiana’s new laws take effect July 1, including streamlined permitting for some farms and stronger foreign-adversary transparency. Tech for Productivity: South Dakota Mines students are building drone-based tools to help replace synthetic fertilizers with microbe-based nutrient solutions. Food Safety: Wisconsin issued a public health alert for undeclared soy and egg allergens in a bratwurst product. Research Investment: Tasmania has started a $20.2M Grow Facility to boost agricultural R&D and training.

Agroforestry Funding: The Nature Conservancy and partners launched a 3-year, $39M USDA-backed program offering incentive payments and technical help for farmers to add trees and shrubs to crops and livestock; applications are open until Aug. 11. Tomato Supply Push: Ghana’s agriculture minister says tomato shortages should ease in 3–4 months via solar-powered boreholes, irrigation infrastructure, and fencing to protect fields—aimed at cutting imports. EU Soy Policy: European Parliament rejected a move to label soybean oil as high ILUC-risk under the Renewable Energy Directive, a win for the EU soy value chain and domestic protein goals. FMD Vaccine Access (South Africa): A settlement ends the state’s vaccine import monopoly, allowing voluntary vaccination by livestock owners under biosecurity and reporting rules, speeding access during outbreaks. Wisconsin Grower Votes: DATCP opened ballots for Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board elections (District 1 and 7); growers vote by Aug. 15. Commodity Markets: USDA reported modest recovery in U.S. cotton export sales for the week ended July 2, though demand stayed below the recent trend. Input Cost Pressure (Europe): Estonia says EU crisis-reserve fertilizer support may leave local farmers disadvantaged as nitrogen and phosphorus prices remain elevated.

Food Safety & Processing: Synexis and IXOM are teaming up after New Zealand MPI approval for continuous indoor pathogen control tech in dairy and non-dairy plants, aiming to reduce between-cleaning microbial risk. Fertilizer & Farm Inputs: Pakistan’s ECC cleared a revised plan for two SNGPL gas-linked urea plants (Fatima Fertilizer and Agritech), with the case resubmitted after data gaps—urea is key to keeping fertilizer supply steady. Agri Governance & Accountability: Punjab’s PAC-I ordered inquiries into alleged financial and administrative irregularities in the provincial agriculture department, including subsidy fund lapses, procurement issues, and seed performance concerns. Trade & Market Access: China has opened its maize market to Pakistan under new quarantine rules, allowing imports for processing (not planting) once farms and facilities are registered. Right-to-Repair: Deere reached a right-to-repair settlement with the FTC and multiple state AGs, requiring access to repair diagnostics for farmers and independent shops. Supply Chain & Risk: Willis’ 2026 risk report says food, beverage and agriculture firms face rising food-safety and supply-chain worries, with confidence in risk control down sharply. Specialty Crops Support: U.S. Rep. Adam Gray backed a proposed $10B supplemental package for specialty crop growers amid cost pressure and trade instability. Ag Tech & Innovation: Tokyo’s Plantx launched a fully sealed vertical farming pilot with independently controlled modules, positioning it as a future-ready cultivation platform. Wool & Livestock Culture: Australia’s Sheep and Wool Show returns with major sheep and wool competitions plus a careers hub linking youth to the sector. Local Value-Add: Michigan’s Great Lakes Malting is expanding farmer contracts for smaller grain lots to feed craft beverage makers and shorten the supply chain. Beef Promotion: Canada Beef and the Canadian Cattle Association received $4M through AAFC’s Agri-Marketing program to keep building demand and trade diversification.

Food Security & Policy: Malaysia’s MPs backed a push to strengthen the national padi industry via more cultivation land, faster tech adoption (AI, drones, mechanisation, smart irrigation) and a better padi floor price mechanism, warning rice import dependence can backfire during global disruptions. Bilateral Trade: Malaysia and Thailand resolved fisheries market-access issues and agreed to bring their agricultural cooperation MoU into force within a week, aiming to boost food security and trade. Agri-Investment: Oman’s Buraimi governorate launched its first integrated fruit project (figs, lemons, mangoes) on 30 acres, reaching commercial production and inviting private investors. Livestock & Meat Exports: Brazil rolled out tighter EU-bound meat inspection procedures ahead of September antimicrobial restrictions, increasing traceability and residue monitoring pressure on exporters. Regulatory & Markets: Singapore’s regulator pressed Del Monte Pacific over going-concern concerns tied to capital deficits, while traders in Nigeria linked steadier rice prices to an import waiver. Industry Moves: Aviagen bought a 66% stake in Japan’s Nippon Chunky to secure long-term broiler breeding stock supply. Supply Chain & Risk: Willis reported food safety and health fears rising sharply as a top risk for food, beverage and agriculture firms.