South African News
Turning winery waste into livestock feed
South Africa’s wine industry produces around 300,000 tonnes of grape pomace each year, mainly in the Western Cape. Comprising grape skins, seeds, pulp and stems, this by-product can account for up to a quarter of the grape crush weight. Researchers highlight its potential as a sustainable ingredient in poultry and pig feed, offering dietary fibre, antioxidants and bioactive compounds that support gut health, improve animal performance and enhance product quality. Using dried grape pomace can also reduce feed costs and agricultural waste. However, careful management is required, as high inclusion levels may impair growth due to anti-nutritional factors. Recommended inclusion rates typically range from 3% to 8% of animal diets.
Read full story: African Farming
Date Published: March 13, 2026
Steenhuisen urges stable policies to support grain farmers
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has called for predictable policies, stronger infrastructure and fewer regulatory barriers to help sustain South Africa’s grain sector. Speaking at the Grain SA Congress in Bothaville, he emphasised that grain farmers underpin national food security and the wider agricultural economy. Producers, however, face rising input costs, climate variability and infrastructure failures. Fertiliser can account for up to half of production costs, while diesel price increases and heavy reliance on imported fertiliser add further pressure. Steenhuisen also highlighted declining rail capacity and poor rural roads as major constraints. He said government is exploring automated wheat tariff adjustments and investing in infrastructure and agricultural innovation to improve long-term sector stability.
Read full story: SAnews
Date Published: March 12, 2026
African News
Egypt plans Africa investment platform to strengthen food supply chains
Egypt is exploring the creation of a specialised investment entity aimed at expanding agricultural trade and strengthening food supply chains across Africa. The proposal was discussed during a high-level meeting involving Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Mohamed Farid Saleh and Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk. The platform would support Egyptian investors seeking opportunities in African markets while promoting partnerships that enhance agricultural production and distribution networks. By encouraging collaboration between government institutions, investment funds and the private sector, the initiative aims to develop large-scale agricultural projects, improve regional production capacity and reduce reliance on imports, helping to build more resilient food systems across the continent.
Read full story: LogUpdate Africa
Date Published: March 12, 2026
Global News
Japan introduces national standards for expanding agrivoltaic sector
Japan is introducing national benchmarks for agrivoltaic projects as the number of solar installations on farmland continues to grow. By the end of the 2023 fiscal year, more than 6,100 sites had been approved, covering over 1,360 hectares. Authorities tightened oversight after about 24% of projects reported reduced crop yields or inadequate farming practices beneath solar panels. New regulations require developers to submit cultivation plans, financial projections and proof that crops can grow under the panels, alongside annual production reports. Projects may be rejected if crop yields fall significantly or farming is neglected. Proposed technical guidelines include limits on shading and minimum panel height to allow farm machinery, supporting both energy generation and agricultural productivity.
Read full story: Pv Magazine
Date Published: March 12, 2026
Uzbekistan and Malaysia explore joint agricultural research and crop development
Uzbekistan and Malaysia are preparing a series of joint agricultural projects aimed at strengthening research collaboration and improving crop production. Discussions between Uzbekistan’s ambassador to Malaysia, Karomiddin Gadoev, and Mohamad Zabawi bin Abdul Ghani of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) focused on cooperation in vegetable and melon research, as well as the exchange of high-quality seeds and seedlings. Uzbek researchers are particularly interested in Malaysia’s high-yield and climate-resilient rice varieties. Planned collaboration includes laboratory and field trials, technology sharing, and specialist exchanges, with a visit by MARDI officials to Uzbekistan scheduled for August to advance project agreements.
Read full story: Dunyo
Date Published: March 12, 2026
Indonesia to distribute 5.9 billion sugarcane buds to boost domestic production
Indonesia plans to distribute 5.9 billion sugarcane buds in 2026 as part of efforts to expand cultivation and move closer to sugar self-sufficiency. Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said the planting material will cover nearly 100,000 hectares across 10 provinces and 74 districts, mainly supporting smallholder farmers. The initiative forms part of a broader programme to increase productivity, expand plantations and reduce reliance on imported sugar. Authorities aim to raise national sugar production to about three million tonnes by 2026. Officials say improved planting materials and better farming practices will help strengthen the domestic sugar industry while improving farmers’ incomes.
Read full story: Chini Mandi
Date Published: March 13, 2026
Middle East tensions drive surge in fertiliser prices for Australian farmers
Rising tensions in the Middle East are pushing up global urea prices and raising supply concerns for Australian farmers ahead of the winter cropping season. Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have slowed fertiliser shipments from the region, which supplies a large share of the world’s urea. According to National Farmers' Federation president Hamish McIntyre, prices have climbed to about US$584 per tonne, nearly 30% higher in the past month. Farmers warn that higher input costs could reduce planting and increase food prices, while analysts say prolonged supply disruptions may affect agricultural production and margins across the sector.
Read full story: Fresh Plaza
Date Published: March 12, 2026
