Agriculture & Food Production

Rome – September 27, 2026 -- Yili Group presented a China-based whole-value-chain dairy symbiosis model at the Food and Agriculture Organization's inaugural Global Conference for Actions on One Health in Agrifood Systems, detailing how the company restored 55,000 mu (3,667 hectares) of degraded grassland and helped 5,600,000 herders in Inner Mongolia raise incomes over more than a decade.

Yili restores 3,667 hectares of degraded grassland in Inner Mongolia

In Ar Horqin Banner, Yili Group Vice President XU Ke said the company applied a grass-livestock integration approach, planting deep-rooted alfalfa to stabilize soil and rehabilitate land that had suffered persistent degradation. The restored grassland now supplies forage while supporting broader ecosystem recovery, creating what Yili describes as a self-reinforcing cycle between land, cattle and dairy production.

Virginia Beach – – September 26, 2026 -- Farm Aid 2026 drew a national spotlight to America's family farmers on Saturday, staged at Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater as Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies rose 46% in 2025 and roughly 15,000 farms closed nationwide.

Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies climbed 46% in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of increases

The filing surge represents a sustained deterioration in farm finances rather than a single-year anomaly, with the closures translating into direct losses of local jobs, tax revenue and food-supply capacity across affected counties.

Delray Beach, Fla. – September 25, 2026 -- The global plant growth regulator market is valued at USD 3.72 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 5.33 billion by 2031, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 7.4%, according to MarketsandMarkets.

Asia Pacific outpaces global growth as regulators drive bio-based formulations

Asia Pacific is set to post the fastest regional CAGR at 8.8% between 2026 and 2031, fueled by a large agricultural base and rising use of crop-productivity inputs. Europe, led by Germany, France, Italy and Spain, holds a significant market share as regulatory pressure pushes suppliers toward bio-based and environmentally safe formulations for high-value fruit, vegetable and cereal production.

Las Vegas – September 24, 2026 -- Columbus Vegetable Oils has opened a new packing and distribution facility in North Las Vegas, Nevada, marking a expansion of its West Coast operations as the company marks 90 years in business.

New rail-served plant to ship millions of pounds of edible oils annually

The facility increases production capacity to ship millions of pounds of edible oils annually throughout the West Coast, according to the company. It is equipped with processing technology designed to serve food manufacturers, foodservice operators and retailers.

Facility offers conventional, non-GMO and organic oil lines

The plant will stock a range of conventional, non-GMO and organic oils, including soybean, canola, olive, safflower, avocado and corn. The expansion strengthens the company's ability to serve customers across the West Coast region.

Cambridge, Mass. – September 24, 2026 -- Forbes has named Farm Aid Co-Executive Director and Program Director Shorlette Ammons to its 2026 50 Over 50: Impact list, recognizing her role in strengthening family farmers and rural food systems.

Forbes list marks sixth year honoring women over 50

The list, produced in partnership with Mika Brzezinski's Know Your Value initiative, is now in its sixth edition, celebrating women driving impact at age 50 and beyond. Ammons' selection cites her work addressing barriers facing family farmers, particularly Black, Indigenous and other farmers of color, and building farmer-led power within agricultural systems.

Madrid – September 24, 2026 -- Fruit Attraction 2026 will gather more than 2,500 exhibiting companies across 162,000 square metres of exhibition space in Madrid from October 6 to 8, drawing 121,000 trade professionals from over 150 countries for its 18th edition.

Middle East buyers gain direct access to global fresh produce suppliers

The event, organized by IFEMA MADRID and FEPEX, will give importers, distributors and industry operators from the Middle East a dedicated channel to connect with producers and suppliers from Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia. The United Arab Emirates will attend as a Guest Importing Country alongside China, formalizing trade links with two markets that organizers describe as increasingly central to global fresh produce flows.

New York City – September 24, 2026 -- The Trans-Atlantic Cotton Partnership (TACP), a new trade initiative shipping traceable U.S.-grown cotton directly to African manufacturers, launched during the UN General Assembly in New York City before private sector, investor, and government representatives.

Lesotho's Prime Minister Frames TACP as Industrial Bridge Between Continents

Prime Minister Sam Matekane delivered the keynote address, describing the initiative as an opportunity to build a productive industrial relationship connecting the U.S. and Africa beyond a simple cotton trading arrangement.

United States – – September 23, 2026 -- JPMA and Umoja Health have launched a pilot program enabling WIC participants to shop online and receive home delivery through WICShopper Online, targeting families facing transportation and mobility barriers to in-person redemption.

Pilot removes in-person PIN redemption requirement for WIC benefits

Traditional WIC redemption requires participants to shop at an authorized retailer and enter a Personal Identification Number in front of a cashier, a process participants have cited as a source of embarrassment and logistical difficulty. WICShopper Online allows users to identify eligible foods, build an order, redeem benefits digitally, and schedule delivery without visiting a store.

Munich – September 23, 2026 -- Hofbräu Munich has equipped its brewery logistics operation with more than 20 noax industrial touch panel PCs, eliminating lost orders and downtime during peak demand periods such as Oktoberfest.

Rugged terminals eliminate lost orders during Oktoberfest peak

Jürgen Breitsameter, Head of Logistics and Purchasing at Hofbräu Munich, said the terminals have become the backbone of the operation, ensuring every barrel reaches its destination on schedule during the festival's high-volume service periods. Since introducing the forklift-mounted terminals, the brewery has significantly reduced downtime and improved process reliability across receiving and delivery.

Howell, Mich. – September 23, 2026 -- Ninety-one percent of U.S. wholesale Christmas tree growers plan to hold or lower prices for the 2026 season, up from 84% a year earlier, according to the Real Christmas Tree Board's fifth annual grower survey.

Growers absorb rising input costs instead of passing them to retailers

The survey of 47 wholesale growers, representing roughly half to two-thirds of the U.S. real Christmas tree market, found that despite continued year-over-year increases in input costs, most producers are choosing to absorb them rather than raise wholesale prices. Marsha Gray, executive director of the Real Christmas Tree Board, said the outlook reflects the industry's consistency for both first-time buyers and returning customers.