Our Scans · (LF.12) Responsible Consumption and Production · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

• [New] A belief that open markets can always compensate for disruption flies in the face of the growing dependency of the whole system on a few breadbasket locations, with 60% of global food production occurring in just five countries. The Guardian
• [New] Across the European Union alone, extreme weather events now account for an average of €28 billion in agricultural losses each year - roughly 6% of annual crop and livestock production - with further increases expected under continued warming. The AI Journal
• [New] By combining clear criteria with the potential for targeted financial incentives, IFC can catalyze systemic change across agribusiness value chains and contribute to a more resilient food and fiber production system. IFC
• [New] The utilization of agricultural residues for energy production is expected to expand rapidly across rural America. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Alternative proteins (AP), including any protein-rich ingredients sourced from plants, insects, fungi, algae, or animal cells, present an opportunity for the consumption of protein-dense foods with a lower environmental impact than conventional livestock products. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Alternative proteins (AP) have the potential to diversify the protein sources available for consumption while aligning with nutritional, environmental, and cultural needs and preferences. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The consumption of unprocessed red meat probably increases the risk for colorectal cancer and that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] When the hydrogel lifetime increases from a day to over a month, water production costs could drop by an order of magnitude, reaching levels approaching competitive with conventional municipal tap water pricing in some U.S. cities. AZOM
• [New] The International Food Policy Research Institute backs up what the FAO says about fertilizer markets entering a phase of heightened uncertainty, where geopolitical risks intersect with highly concentrated production, energy dependence, and fragile logistics. CNS Media
• [New] Fertiliser components like urea and ammonia are blocked, posing a severe risk to global food production, with wealthy nations facing higher prices and developing countries facing famine. Addleshaw Goddard
• [New] In many countries, AI adoption will drive most of the growth in electricity consumption between now and 2030. JD Supra
• [New] The motorcycle business will expand production capacity in India ... and aim for record-high sales of 22.8 million units. New Atlas
• [New] As for the cut trees, they are used for heating, furniture production and Japanese white charcoal, a smoke-free barbeque fuel which could also be used in industrial processes. BBC
• [New] The Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas Standards will require 25% of new vocational vehicles, including buses, to be zero emission by model year 2032, requiring continuous adaptation of vehicle designs and production processes. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Sweden should prepare a time-limited national risk-sharing mechanism to support bio-SAF and bio-SMF production from solid biomass. JD Supra
• [New] Existing EU production capacity is insufficient to meet the mandated blending targets from the 2030s onwards, creating a dependency on significant imports under current policy settings. JD Supra
• [New] USDA expects ending stocks to decline as consumption exceeds production. Economy Insights
• [New] Global production is forecast to fall 5% to 116.0 million bales after reaching the highest level in more than a decade in 2025/26. Economy Insights
• Fujian province - CATL's headquarters city - the expansion project will add 40 GWh of annual production capacity for sodium-ion power batteries. NextBigFuture.com
• A European sales launch is targeted for H2 2027; EU tariffs on Chinese-made battery-electric vehicles of up to 45% make some form of local production a near-prerequisite for competitive pricing. Automotive World
• The United States needs to prepare the industrial base to surge production, which will require sufficient industrial infrastructure (e.g., capital expenditures) and components (e.g., supply chains) for unmanned production. Center for Strategic and International Studies
• Supply-chain leaders and program managers who have not locked in multi-year solar panel allocations are already competing for capacity they cannot fully see - and the window to secure 2027 and 2028 production slots is closing faster than most forward procurement schedules assume. The Journal of Space Commerce

Last updated: 25 May 2026