Global Scans · Food & Agriculture · Weekly Summary

• [New] In the most extreme case, when the CUR diet for men was optimized for nutrition and 2030 GHGE targets, plant-based alternatives increased by approximately 10000%, i.e., from 2 to 233 g / d for men, which is equivalent to a glass of soy milk a day. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] As food cold chain infrastructure expands rapidly across Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa to reduce post-harvest losses, estimated by the FAO at 14% of food production globally, ammonia refrigeration demand is projected to grow substantially through 2033. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The global swine industry faces unprecedented challenges from emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that threaten both economic stability and food security. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The continued closure of the strait of Hormuz has interrupted global flows of fertiliser, necessary for half the world's food production, further raising fears over shortages. The Guardian
• [New] The US is already forecasting that food prices will rise in 2026 by between 2.2% and 4.7%, largely owing to the impacts of the war in Iran. The Guardian
• [New] Demand for biofuels is likely to leap by nearly a third in 2026, which could send food price inflation soaring further and push the world closer to a global food crisis. The Guardian
• [New] Asia is predicted to be one of the regions most exposed, with intensifying heat and drought predicted to put major stresses on agriculture, power grids and water supplies. The Guardian
• [New] 2026's El Nino will arrive during a period of increased global food insecurity driven by the Iran war. Live Science
• [New] Asia Pacific is expected to grow fastest during the forecast period, driven by increasing consumer preference towards organic food products and an increase in the income of people. Precedence Research
• [New] Research in Discover Artificial Intelligence points to food and beverage as one of the sectors where AI-driven innovation will deliver the most measurable gains over the next decade. Dassault Systemes blog
• [New] The shifting trend towards the consumption of cultured meat can secure 10% of natural meat by 2030 and 35% by 2040, which is quite an interesting factor to quickly transform into the new changes in producing meat using animal cells in laboratories. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The Department of Agriculture (USDA) now expects food-at-home prices - government-speak for groceries - to increase by 3.2% in 2026, almost double what it forecasted in January. PYMNTS.com
• [New] Climate change is a major threat to the small-scale fishing communities, particularly in South Asia, a region characterized by widespread coastlines, extreme population density, and high dependence on marine resources for food, income, and employment. Ocean Acidification
• [New] Agriculture experts are expecting a 32% abandonment of winter wheat in the U.S. this year. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM
• [New] Put simply, rising farm costs may mean less food: In March the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), estimated that the rising cost of energy and fertilizer as a result of the Iran war risks sending some 45 million additional people into acute food insecurity. Scientific American
• [New] The world risks facing a deeper food security crisis in 2026 and 2027 unless governments act quickly to cushion the impact of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, the head of the Food and Agriculture Organization has warned. The Daily Star
• [New] Food security is expected to worsen sharply during the June-September 2026 lean season, with 5.4 million people projected to be in Phase 3 or above, including 1.6 million people in Phase 4. Food Security Portal
• [New] The Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and whole-grain cereals, has been associated with better cognitive outcomes, increased gray matter volume, and a lower risk of developing MCI and AD, and of converting from MCI to AD (144, 145). PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Agriculture experts are expecting a 32% abandonment of winter wheat in the U.S. in 2026. ABC News
• [New] The World Bank now projects fertiliser prices to rise 31% in 2026, with the Food and Agriculture Organisation warning of reduced yields for fertiliser-intensive crops such as wheat, rice and maize if disruption persists. / Qatar Saltus
• [New] Thorpe: Over the next 5-10 years, AI will shift food R&D from a mostly manual, sequential process to a more continuous, constraint-aware, and data-connected process. CNS Media
• [New] Concerns that food inflation could rise again in 2026 continue to shape both consumer behaviour and companies' strategy. FoodNavigator-USA.com

Last updated: 09 June 2026