Global Scans · Food & Agriculture · Weekly Summary

• [New] Throughout the world, farmers add nitrogen fertilisers to their crops to improve yields; plants need nitrogen, and they will grow better if they have the right amount of it. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Farm Credit Canada should continue to pursue opportunities to support agri-food and agribusiness, including through venture capital investment, and further deployment of technologies to mitigate climate change. Canada Coop
• [New] Nearly 80% of consumers in the U.S. agree that nutritious foods are good for health and can reduce the risk of illness and disease. Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.
• [New] New environmentally-friendly growing media made from waste materials will be developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield's Institute for Sustainable Food, for use when growing crops in controlled environments. The University of Sheffield
• [New] FEWS NET expects the number of people in need of food assistance to be lower in Somalia, Kenya, and Niger. ReliefWeb
• [New] Food prices are seen rising by an estimated $33,000 over the lifetime of a 2024 baby, due to disruptions to agriculture and supply chains. CNN
• [New] Wind farms generated a record level of power in Ireland last month and activity is expected to rise further as long-awaited planning legislation is set to be introduced in 2024. Irishexaminer.com
• [New] The presence of chemicals in food is not what determines whether food is safe to eat, and that FDA evaluates and monitors chemicals in regulated food to ensure they do not pose a health risk. National Law Review
• [New] There is a clear indication that over consumption of antimicrobial in humans has led to resistant pathogens that adversely affects the human health, perhaps, among the top ten list, AMR is considered as the potential global threats to human health, food security, and development,,. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Agriculture is expected to slow to 0.5% in 2024, before picking up again to 1.1% next year with higher government support for agricultural credit and insurance and expanded investment in new technologies. Asian Development Bank
• [New] Analysis from the Future Fit Food and Agriculture reports series estimates that to mitigate up to 90% of their annual agricultural and land-use change emissions by 2030, food and agriculture companies should expect sector-wide costs of approximately USD $205 billion per year (2025-2030). Farming First
• [New] Clean Food Group secures £2.5M in funding led by Clean Growth Fund for its sustainable oil and fat substitutes, aiming for a 2025 commercial launch. Nutrition Capital Network
• [New] The US Department of Agriculture in its World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report said world consumption in 2023-24 is forecast at a record 521.3 mt, though it has been cut by 1.5 mt from the earlier estimate. BusinessLine
• [New] Households will continue to rely on Emergency (IPC Phase 4) coping strategies such as begging, wild food foraging, and distress migration out of inaccessible areas to garrison towns to access basic food needs. Fews Net
• [New] After exploring new use cases for the BSG proteins, the researchers from NTU's Food Science and Technology program say their protein extraction method could help reduce waste. phys.org
• [New] Low refugee household incomes are expected to sustain low purchasing power and constrain financial access to food, especially among the most vulnerable refugee households, despite the 60% ration from WFP and relatively stable staple food prices. Fews Net
• Going FOGO is an exciting opportunity for more households in NSW to get on board with organics recycling and help us divert half a million tonnes of food waste from landfill by 2027. NSW Environment Protection Authority
• Replacing 16% of red meat with forage fish in 2050 may reduce deaths from coronary artery disease by about 15%, and deaths from stroke, diabetes, and colorectal cancer by 2 to 3%. EverydayHealth.com
• As prices increase and own-produced food availability decreases, an increasing number of displaced households will face Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes through September. Fews Net
• An increasing number of households will face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes and moderate food consumption gaps through the lean season. Fews Net
• As GLP-1 drugs continue to gain traction, with roughly 9% of US adults currently using them, CPG leaders expect a corresponding shift in the food and beverages sector. AlphaSense
• For the decade ahead, half of the top 10 risks is concerned with effects stemming from climate - and nature-related challenges such as extreme weather events, climate tipping points, biodiversity loss, water and food shortages, and pollution. Roland Berger

Last updated: 21 April 2024