Global Scans · Food & Agriculture · Weekly Summary

• [New] As global food demand rises and environmental pressures intensify, AI will play a central role in producing more food with fewer resources. The Data Community
• [New] Building on 2025's momentum, many of the diet and nutrition trends forecasted for 2026 are driven by functional foods, which are foods that contain substances or live microorganisms that may improve health by reducing chronic disease risk. A Healthier Michigan
• [New] M&S has once again identified the top health and wellbeing food trends that will be steering consumers' dinner table choices in 2026. Daily Mail
• [New] Protein might not be centre stage anymore, but it certainly has not been forgotten, with over a quarter of M&S customers actively seeking out high-protein choices in their food shop. Daily Mail
• [New] 2026 will be the year when deep-tech farming evolves from pilot projects into full commercial ecosystems. Intelligent Living
• [New] Lower energy and food prices, alongside resilient global supply chains, could further support growth, provided no major disruptions emerge. The Daily Star
• [New] Indonesia stands out, along with several regions in Africa and Southeast Asia, where better fish numbers could improve diets and food access. earth.com
• [New] As climate risks intensify, the future of Indian agriculture may depend less on growing more, and more on losing less. realtyplusmag
• [New] Farm income could fall by $30 billion dollars in 2026 due to lower crop prices and a decline in government payments. WPR
• [New] Retail food inflation is expected to decline gradually (4.3% in 2025, 3.8% in 2026 and 3.3% by 2027), but geopolitical shocks could trigger fresh price spikes. Better Retailing
• [New] While the rate of increase in food prices has slowed somewhat, the USDA predicts food costs to rise another 2.7% in 2026. The Food Bank of Central Louisiana
• [New] Adding more than a one-half serving of red meat daily for 4 years can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus over the subsequent 4-year period. Managed Healthcare Executive
• [New] Food delivery services such as Uber Eats, Doordash, and GrubHub, will be subject to several new laws in the new year. FOX 11 Los Angeles
• [New] Food and beverage companies head into 2026 under unusual pressure, squeezed by policymakers, consumers, supply challenges, and fast-changing cultural expectations about what Americans should eat and drink. SeafoodNews
• Australia's combined agriculture, fisheries and forestry production is on track to reach a record-breaking $106.4 billion in 2025-26. Mirage News
• Innovation in feed alternatives, disease prevention, and low-impact farming methods is accelerating as companies seek to align with Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategy 2030 targets. Market Data Forecast
• In 2026, lithium will stand at the heart of the global energy transformation, driving modern infrastructure, electrified transportation, and sustainable agriculture. Farmonaut
• By sector, the nutrition & weight loss segment is anticipated to grow at a remarkable CAGR between 2025 and 2034. Precedence Research
• Getting the green light will allow Aleph Farms to be the first producer and marketer of cultivated-meat in Israel and the Middle East. Just Food

Last updated: 06 January 2026