Global Scans · Food & Agriculture · Weekly Summary

• [New] Intelligent digital farming is projected to increase global crop yields by up to 25% by 2026. Farmonaut
• [New] By 2026, over 60% of farms worldwide are expected to adopt intelligent agriculture data management systems. Farmonaut
• [New] By 2026, over 60% of agritech apps will integrate AI-driven analytics for real-time farm management decisions. Farmonaut
• [New] The shortage of fertilizer supply at the start of the Northern Hemisphere spring planting season is expected to send world food prices meaningfully higher later in 2026. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Food inflation could soar higher than 9% by the end of 2026 as war in the Middle East risks pushing up the cost of living for British households. Perspective Media
• [New] In light of escalating conflict in Iran, the FDF expects food inflation to be much higher - reaching between 9-10% by the end of the year. FoodManufacture.co.uk
• [New] Similar concerns are voiced in neighbouring Latvia, where a sharp rise in fertiliser prices has not only put the sowing season in peril, threatening serious consequences for feed and food production, but has also raised the risk of a migration wave in Europe. All About Feed
• [New] The closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered a supply chain crisis that extends beyond crude oil, threatening food ingredient markets through a cascade of fertilizer shortages, vegetable oil price spikes, and sugar refinery disruption. CNS Media
• [New] Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting global fertilizer flows, raising fears of food shortages and surging agricultural input costs. CNS Media
• [New] The US agriculture and biobased fuel industries are welcoming two recent actions by the US Environmental Protection Agency: a waiver allowing summer sales of gasoline blended with up to 15% ethanol and a final rule that raises the required level of biofuel blending in 2026 and 2027. American Chemical Society
• [New] Food exports are projected to decline by 7.3% year-on-year to 1.4 trillion baht in 2026, possibly hitting their lowest level in five years due to Middle East conflicts. Bernama
• [New] The ongoing disruption of the Strait of Hormuz trade corridor is triggering one of the most severe shocks to global commodity flows in recent years, with major implications for food security, agricultural production, and international markets. fundsforNGOs News - Grants and Resources for Sustainabi
• [New] The macro-economic impact is straightforward: higher energy, freight and farm inputs will re-accelerate inflation and raise the odds the Fed stays higher for longer - or even hikes interest rates later in 2026. Lockton
• [New] South Africa's consumer food price inflation could moderate in 2026 due to ample supplies of grains, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables. IOL
• [New] The Italian CAP Strategic Plan makes access to subsidies conditional on participation in systems such as ClassyFarm, which monitors risk levels and antibiotic consumption on farms. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Key Insight: The most effective natural intelligence farming strategies in 2026 will use AI to interpret a matrix of live environmental signals, enabling targeted intervention rather than blanket chemical approaches. Farmonaut
• [New] Emerging economies in Asia Pacific, Latin America, and parts of the Middle East are experiencing strong growth in packaged food consumption, creating substantial opportunities for MAP adoption. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Food halls have become incubators for new businesses and have given opportunities to operators who can not even entertain the costs of bricks and mortar sites. The Guardian
• [New] Fairtrade International has updated its strategy for 2026-2028, which aims to build farmer resilience and advance fair and sustainable trade for key commodities like coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas, and spices. CNS Media
• [New] While some countries that are net exporters of oil and gas, such as the US, will gain from higher fossil fuel prices, the rise in bills for petrol, diesel and food will harm living standards. The Guardian
• [New] By 2026, the vertical farming model is positioned as a core strategy for increasing food production in cities, reducing environmental risk in forestry and mine rehabilitation projects, and expanding scalable agriculture where arable land is limited. Farmonaut
• [New] Urban vertical farms are expected to increase global food production capacity by 30% by 2026. Farmonaut

Last updated: 07 April 2026