South African News
South Africa’s Foot-and-Mouth Crisis Deepens Amid Leadership Deadlock
South Africa’s foot-and-mouth disease crisis has escalated into a governance standoff threatening national food security, exports, and the viability of the livestock and dairy sectors. Industry leaders accuse two senior state veterinarians of blocking urgent disease-control measures, including vaccine approvals and national protocols. Despite government announcing mass vaccination of the national herd, farmers and experts argue that administrative paralysis is crippling the response, leaving millions of vaccine doses unused and outbreaks spreading rapidly, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. Veterinary experts warn of systemic failure in disease-control structures, urging decisive leadership as the country faces at least two more years of ongoing FMD battles.
Read full story: Farmer’s Weekly
Date Published: December 9, 2025
Eldorado Fresh: Perseverance, Innovation and Partnership Power a Lettuce Leader
After repeated hailstorms devastated its open-land lettuce fields, Eldorado Fresh reinvented itself through hydroponics, transforming a crisis into a platform for growth. Under founder Ivo Rugani’s leadership, the farm shifted to controlled, water-efficient production and expanded from four to 50 hectares, becoming South Africa’s largest hydroponic iceberg and specialty lettuce producer. Its long-standing partnership with the Shoprite Group enabled rapid scaling and secured the retailer’s 2025 Fresh Produce Supplier of the Year award. Today the operation supports up to 500 employees, invests in sustainable energy, and strengthens local food security, demonstrating the power of resilience and adaptive farming.
Read full story: FreshPlaza
Date Published: December 9, 2025
African News
Cairo’s Food Africa Expo Attracts 1,200 Firms as Egypt Pushes Export Expansion
Egypt has identified the food industry as one of 28 priority sectors for boosting local manufacturing and high-value exports, Deputy Prime Minister Kamel Al-Wazir announced at the opening of the 10th Food Africa exhibition in Cairo. The government views the sector as a major driver of added value, sustainable growth, and job creation across the supply chain. Showcasing over 1,200 companies from 45 countries, the expo strengthens links between Egyptian exporters and international buyers, particularly in African, Middle Eastern, and European markets. Officials emphasised its strategic role in enhancing Egypt’s regional influence and promoting export-oriented production.
Read full story: Daily News Egypt
Date Published: December 9, 2025
Global News
Oman Launches Smart Farming Initiative to Boost Food Security and Year-Round Production
Oman has unveiled a Smart Vegetable Farms project, supported by the Oman India Fertiliser Company, to accelerate the country’s shift towards high-tech agriculture. Using advanced plant-factory systems, the initiative enables fully controlled indoor crop production by regulating climate, CO₂, humidity and lighting, ensuring pesticide-free, uniform harvests throughout the year. An accompanying Indoor Vertical Farming Project further enhances output through high-density cultivation and sharply reduced water consumption. Aimed at farmers, entrepreneurs and young innovators, the programme forms part of Oman’s long-term strategy to modernise agriculture, strengthen food security and promote nationwide adoption of sustainable, tech-driven farming models.
Read full story: Muslim Network TV
Date Published: December 9, 2025
Iran’s First Autumn Rain Offers Brief Relief as Capital Faces Deepening Water Crisis
Tehran has seen its first rainfall in months, offering only temporary relief amid Iran’s worst autumn drought in more than 50 years. The country’s water shortages have escalated into a national political and security concern, with President Masoud Pezeshkian warning that the government may need to relocate from the capital if dams are not replenished soon. Reservoirs around Tehran have dropped to dangerously low levels, some below 10 percent capacity, while water cuts affect neighbourhoods across the city. Experts describe Iran as facing “water bankruptcy,” driven by decades of over-irrigation, inefficient agricultural policies and climate-change-intensified heat and evaporation.
Read full story: Arab News
Date Published: December 10, 2025
Calls for Transparency Grow as Scotland’s Future Farming Scheme Faces Rural Backlash
The Scottish government is facing mounting pressure to disclose how grants were allocated under its Future Farming Investment Scheme, following accusations from the Scottish Conservatives that farmers have been left “in the dark.” The £21 million fund drew 7,584 applications, more than 3,500 of which were deemed ineligible, prompting widespread frustration despite a later £7 million budget increase. Critics say tenant farmers, new entrants and island communities were disproportionately rejected without clear justification. Conservative MSPs Jamie Halcro Johnston and Douglas Ross have submitted amendments demanding full publication of scoring criteria, decision-making processes and annual reporting to ensure fairness in future rounds.
Read full story: FarmingUK
Date Published: December 9, 2025
Indonesia Sets 2026 Goal for Sugar, Egg and Chicken Meat Self-Sufficiency
Indonesia plans to achieve self-sufficiency in sugar, eggs and chicken meat by 2026, following the expected attainment of rice and corn self-sufficiency at the end of 2025. Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono said President Prabowo has prioritised sugar due to its importance for households and strategic industries. The government will boost egg and poultry production, especially outside Java, to ensure each province can support the Free Nutritious Meals programme and avoid shortages. Thirteen provinces will receive support through SOEs, cooperatives and local farmers. Alongside these efforts, Indonesia is promoting downstream processing for 11 horticultural and plantation commodities to increase export value.
Read full story: ANTARA News
Date Published: December 10, 2025
