Our Scans · Food · Weekly Summary

• Soil biodiversity is declining around the world, threatening agriculture, food security and the ability of ecosystems to function properly. ScienceDaily
• Russia had hoped to create food shortages, but the European Union intervened and allowed Ukraine to use its overland shipping infrastructure. EBSCO
• Trade disruptions have elevated prices for the key crop nutrients and stoked concerns in the US about food security. Insurance Journal
• During 2025-2026, the U.S. Soybean Export Council's Soy Connext program increased industry collaboration around soy-based nutrition and functional ingredients, strengthening commercial opportunities for soy isoflavones. Persistence Market Research
• Food and beverage manufacturers are moving beyond sugar reduction toward a more multifaceted reformulation brief, creating opportunities for ingredients that can simultaneously address sugar and carbohydrate content, fiber enrichment, calories, and product functionality. CNS Media
• With President John Dramani Mahama prioritizing food security and higher yields under the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda, deeper cooperation in fertilizers could support Ghana's drive to restore output and stabilize global cocoa markets. RUSSIA'S PIVOT TO ASIA
• As consumer and retailer attention to food security sharpens, British grown provenance could shift from a marketing nicety to a genuine differentiator - particularly for private label ranges and premium tiers. Food and Drink Technology
• There are renewed warnings that threats to food and water security in the Pacific arising from a stronger than usual El Nino climate pattern will compound the shocks emanating from the ongoing Middle East conflict. Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre
• In Sudan, the UN Security Council's August monthly forecast and the World Food Programme's country brief highlighted persistent famine risk across 14 areas, with conflict-driven displacement and blocked humanitarian access continuing to drive one of the world's largest hunger crises. Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre
• A strong El Nino could raise global food commodity prices by as much as 9% within 16 months of onset and last for years longer. Time
• The rise of GLP-1 medications has created an opportunity for Nestle to serve consumers in new and different ways by offering convenient, nutritious food, beverage, and supplement options that can support their weight management goals. CNS Media
• Earlier in 2026, an ING analysis estimated that GLP-1 use would reduce European food demand by only 0.25% in 2026, although snacks, confectionery, and alcohol could face greater exposure. CNS Media
• The existential story: 9.7 billion people by 2050, constrained arable land, accelerating climate variability, and 820 million people currently food insecure. AI Business Weekly
• The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization project that international trade will become increasingly important to global food systems, with around 22% of calories consumed worldwide expected to cross international borders by 2034. The Astana Times

Last updated: 01 November 2026