Global Scans · Food & Agriculture · Weekly Summary

• [New] Farm balance sheets across NSW remain in strong shape, positioning producers to confidently buffer future financial risks, including drought conditions. Mirage News
• [New] As regional governments invest in nutrition science and microbiome research, Asia Pacific is expected to become a global hub for personalized, healthy-aging innovations. Persistence Market Research
• [New] In developing countries, the expansion of global value chain participation of agriculture and food sectors could support transformation from a subsistence-oriented and farm-centered system to a commercialized, productive and off-farm centered one. MarketsAndTrade
• [New] Grocery prices will increase by 1.7% in 2026, which would be below the 20-year average of 2.6% and would mean some relief, in terms of affordability, for many food and beverage items. fmi.org
• [New] USDA forecasts point to relatively modest and more stable grocery inflation in 2026, but significant uncertainty remains due to ongoing pressures from labour, transportation, energy costs, weather risks, tariffs, and the evolving role of technology in the food supply chain. fmi.org
• [New] Incidence Across Asia, Africa, and Americas: Magnaporthe oryzae affects rice crops in over 85 countries worldwide, posing a critical threat to staple food systems. Farmonaut
• [New] Agriculture in 2026 will not only be smarter and more productive, but also accountable, secure, and globally connected. Farmonaut
• [New] Adulteration and fraud in seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides are major risks in global agriculture. Farmonaut
• [New] EU carbon levies, escalating tariffs, and new sanctions have collapsed Russian fertilizer imports by over 80%, threatening European food production and global commodity markets. CNS Media
• [New] An Australian desert plant, saltbush - containing the ideal amino acid requirements for human nutrition - could open up opportunities for high-protein functional food ingredient applications in powdered form. CNS Media
• [New] Growing awareness of ultra-processed food risks could resemble the shift in public perception around tobacco during the last century. SciTechDaily
• [New] The presence of strong relationships between research organizations and food manufacturing enterprises will lead to China's emergence as one of the principal growth engines in the area of precision fermentation. Precedence Research
• [New] The next decade will be defined by a historic shift in global food systems. EIN Presswire
• [New] With approximately one billion people employed in agriculture and 9.7 billion mouths to feed by 2050, agricultural innovations have definitively transitioned from competitive advantage to survival necessity. Precision Risk Management
• [New] Without immediate funding, the World Food Programme said that it will be forced to halt humanitarian assistance by April. / Somalia United Nations
• [New] By 2026, digital agriculture solutions are projected to increase crop yields by up to 25% globally. Farmonaut
• [New] In agriculture, drone-based analytics are rapidly becoming mainstream, with Farmonaut projecting that by the end of 2026, 70-75% of large farms will adopt drones and AI-driven data platforms to enable real-time crop monitoring, precision irrigation, and sustainable farming practices. stratviewresearch.com
• [New] By 2026, the convergence of AI, IoT, and robotics will shift the food and beverage industry from reactive manual processes to proactive, data-driven ecosystems that prioritize sustainability and precision. shvictorystar
• [New] The meat system will be established in stages until 2030, with 2026 dedicated to creating a foreign body detector which will improve the detection rate and accuracy of foreign substances such as needles, pus, bone fragments or plastic in beef and pork. FoodNavigator-Asia.com
• [New] Nutrition and food media are already calling 2026 the year of fiber, with movements like fibermaxxing going viral on TikTok and highlighted in major trend roundups. Avocado Green Magazine
• [New] Africa has strong agricultural potential, yet food shortages and climate stress remain serious issues. Businessday NG
• [New] Key Insight: With urbanization and climate volatility rising, hydroponic container farm systems are projected to supply up to 50% of fresh greens and herbs in cities by 2028, leveraging less land, less water, and greater yield predictability. Farmonaut

Last updated: 24 February 2026