Global Scans · Food & Agriculture · Weekly Summary

• [New] A prolonged blockage affecting shipments through the Strait of Hormuz could escalate into a global agri-food catastrophe, highlighting the scale of risk to global food production systems. CNS Media
• [New] Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have started rippling through global food systems, with fertilizer supply emerging as a critical vulnerability. CNS Media
• [New] The scarcity of fertiliser will lead to lower crop yields and put a squeeze on food supplies towards the back half of 2026 and into 2027. Just Food
• [New] Fertiliser shortages arising from the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor will result in lower harvests and food supply over the next two years. Just Food
• [New] Governments are rushing to secure supplies of critical crop nutrients ahead of spring planting as the Middle East war chokes off the flow of commodities and amplifies fears of a global food crisis. Insurance Journal
• [New] Last July, Kellanova announced plans to phase out synthetic FD & C color additives across its US food portfolio, committing to remove them from all school foods by the 2026-2027 academic year and from retail products by the end of 2027. CNS Media
• [New] PepsiCo has made public commitments to implementing regenerative, restorative, or protective practices across 10 million acres globally by 2030 and has a goal to reduce Scope 3 forest, land, and agriculture GHG emissions by 30% by 2030 (from a 2022 baseline). CNS Media
• [New] Fertiberia has agreed to progressively supply PepsiCo with up to 150,000 metric tons of its Impact Zero crop nutrition solutions annually by 2030. / Spain CNS Media
• [New] Farmers will be better equipped to earn more, withstand climate shocks, and bring safer, more affordable food to Filipino households. Mirage News
• [New] Severe declines in pollinator populations are predicted for many smallholder farming regions across the world. Nature
• [New] Japan's strengths in digital agriculture, automation, and precision farming are expected to play a central role in upgrading the Philippines' largely traditional farming systems. Daily Tribune
• [New] Fermentation will continue to play a central role in delivering reliable nutrition for a growing global population. CNS Media
• [New] As the planet warms due to climate change, extreme heat is threatening global food security by harming crops and livestock and reducing the number of hours farmers can work. Live Science
• Urban agriculture could produce up to 28% (20 million metric tons) of vegetables annually, potentially fulfilling nearly one-third of Europe's current vegetable production, scientists in the Netherlands and Germany estimate. CNS Media
• Urban agriculture could contribute 5-10% of global vegetable production. CNS Media
• With thoughtful planning and policy support, rooftops, green spaces, and unused urban land could become vital components of Europe's future food infrastructure. CNS Media
• The global population could be facing a protein shortage so severe that meat production would need to grow by 50% or more over the next 25 years. FoodNavigator-USA.com
• Geopolitical tensions, including Middle East shipping routes, and energy volatility could prolong supply disruptions and trigger wider food system impacts. CNS Media
• The war in Iran is driving up fertilizer, fuel, and shipping costs, raising fears of food shortages and higher prices across Africa, where many countries already depend on imports and farmers often use too little fertilizer to begin with. OkayAfrica
• The Iran war could have dramatic consequences, causing food shortages and price rises in some of Africa's poorest and most vulnerable communities, the head of the world's largest fertiliser company has said. The Guardian

Last updated: 12 May 2026