South African News
Young Farmers Thrive Through DaVinci Agricultural Skills Programme
A partnership between the DaVinci Institute and the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is empowering young farmers with vital skills through the Structured Incubated Entrepreneurial Development Programme. Now in its second phase at Glen College of Agriculture, the initiative provides practical training in livestock management, market access and entrepreneurial decision-making, while also exposing participants to global agricultural trends. With its expansion to 23 farmers, the programme combines education, coaching, masterclasses and innovation workshops, equipping youth to tackle unemployment, drive agricultural innovation and boost food security across South Africa.
Read full story: African Farming
Date Published: August 21, 2025
Neglected Conservation Law Puts South Africa’s Farmland at Risk
Experts warn that South Africa’s Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (Cara), in place since 1983, is failing to safeguard farmland due to poor enforcement and limited awareness among producers, especially small-scale and new-era farmers. The law aims to protect soil, water and vegetation, yet many land users remain unaware of their legal obligations, such as preventing erosion and avoiding cultivation on steep slopes without permission. Farmers and scientists are calling for simplified language, translations, better extension services and widespread education campaigns to make Cara more accessible, urging government to adopt modern communication tools and stricter implementation.
Read full story: Food For Mzansi https://www.foodformzansi.co.za/neglected-conservation-law-threatens-sas-farmland/
Date Published: August 21, 2025
African News
Boomitra Secures Verra Registration for Kenya Grassland Restoration Project
Boomitra’s East Africa Grassland Restoration Project has officially been registered under the Verra Verified Carbon Standard, making it the first Kenya-based initiative recognised under the VM0042 methodology. Covering 22,311 acres of semi-arid rangelands, the project supports pastoralists in adopting regenerative grazing to combat overgrazing, invasive species and shifting rainfall patterns. Using satellite and AI-powered monitoring, Boomitra can track soil carbon stocks cost-effectively without extensive sampling. Over a 20-year period, the project is expected to remove 93,371 tonnes of CO2e, while boosting biodiversity, resilience, and livelihoods. With five registered projects worldwide, Boomitra has already helped remove 10 million tonnes of CO2.
Read full story: Carbon Herald https://carbonherald.com/boomitras-east-africa-grassland-restoration-project-gets-official-verra-registration/
Date Published: August 20, 2025
Global News
FAO Launches Farmer Field Schools to Strengthen Greenhouse Farming in Albania
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a series of Farmer Field Schools in Albania to boost sustainable greenhouse production and empower smallholder farmers. Backed by the Government of Sweden through the B4SDG II project, the ten-day training sessions focus on practical skills such as irrigation management, seedling quality, grafting, crop optimisation and microclimate control. Held on demonstration farms in the Lushnja region, the initiative promotes resilience to climate challenges, productivity gains and cost reduction. By the end of 2025, it aims to reach many greenhouse growers, with plans to expand to olive production in 2026.
Read full story: FAO
Date Published: August 20, 2025
Favourable Rains Set Argentina’s Grain Crops on Track for Record Harvest
Recent heavy rains across Argentina’s Pampas farm belt have created near-ideal conditions for the country’s 2025/26 grain season, according to the Rosario Grains Exchange. With soil moisture boosted by sustained rainfall in July and August, wheat, corn and soybean crops are expected to deliver some of the highest yields in history. Wheat planting has already finished, with projections of at least 20 million metric tons for the harvest, while corn and soybean sowing begins in September and October. As one of the world’s leading exporters of soymeal, corn and wheat, Argentina’s strong outlook could significantly impact global grain markets.
Read full story: Successful Farming
Date Published: August 20, 2025
US Soybean Farmers Press Trump to Resolve Trade War as China Turns to Brazil
The American Soybean Association (ASA) has urged President Trump to strike a trade deal with China, warning that retaliatory tariffs have left US soybeans priced out of the market. Facing a 34% duty compared with South American crops, US exports to China—their largest buyer—have collapsed, with no new orders for the 2025/26 season. Futures prices have fallen below production costs, deepening financial strain on farmers. Industry experts warn the broader tariff strategy is chaotic and undermining trust in the US as a trading partner, with food companies forced to diversify suppliers and navigate uncertainty in global supply chains.
Read full story: AgFunderNews
Date Published: August 20, 2025
From Gold Mines to Fields: Indonesian Villagers Turn to Farming for Safer Livelihoods
In Citorek Kidul, Indonesia, illegal gold mining has left forests scarred, rivers polluted and miners facing severe health and safety risks. Once spurred by abandoned state-run mining sites and economic hardship, artisanal operations have relied on toxic chemicals and dangerous tunnels, leading to deforestation, landslides and respiratory illnesses. Increasing crackdowns and community initiatives are now encouraging a return to traditional farming, rooted in the Kasepuhan Banten Kidul Indigenous culture. Former miners are transitioning to vegetable cultivation and small-scale agriculture, offering safer, more sustainable incomes. Experts stress that long-term success will require market access and economic diversification beyond mining.
Read full story: Eco Business
Date Published: August 21, 2025
