South African News
Court Upholds Market Value as Starting Point for Expropriation Compensation
The Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled that market value must remain the primary starting point when determining compensation for expropriated land, reinforcing the legal framework set out in earlier constitutional case law. The judgment arose from a dispute between NAD Property Income Fund and Sanral over land expropriated in Hoedspruit for road construction. While the High Court previously awarded compensation of about R933 500, the SCA found that the wrong legal test had been applied. It emphasised that compensation must first be based on market value before being assessed for what is just and equitable under the Constitution and ordered the matter to be reheard with further evidence.
Read full story: Farmer’s Weekly
Date published: April 22, 2026
Wheat Sector Faces Mounting Pressure as Costs and Delays Threaten Sustainability
South Africa’s wheat industry is under severe strain, with domestic production falling well short of annual demand and forcing the country to rely heavily on imports. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen warned that wheat farming is becoming economically unsustainable due to rising fertiliser and diesel costs, weaker grain prices, and delays in implementing import tariff adjustments. These administrative hold-ups have created costly uncertainty across the supply chain, particularly for winter grain farmers. While government is considering an automated tariff system to improve predictability, the sector’s immediate viability remains under pressure. Encouragingly, growing export interest, particularly from Japan, highlights the strong quality and competitiveness of South African grain.
Read full story: CBN
Date published: April 22, 2026
African News
Nigeria Unveils $74bn Livestock Growth Plan to Ease Food Crisis
Nigeria’s federal government has announced plans to expand the livestock sector from $32bn to $74bn by 2035 as part of efforts to tackle food insecurity, reduce inflation and strengthen economic resilience. The strategy includes improved feed systems, expanded veterinary services, better infrastructure, and more affordable financing, with officials calling for single-digit lending rates to support investment. The move comes as more than 25 million Nigerians face acute hunger and food inflation remains above 30%. Authorities also aim to address insecurity in farming regions and significant post-harvest losses, positioning food security as a key pillar of national and economic stability.
Read full story: Business Insider Africa
Date published: April 23, 2026
Global News
EU Backs €615.7m Dutch Scheme to Reduce Dairy Farm Emissions
The European Commission has approved a €615.7 million Dutch state aid scheme aimed at cutting emissions from the dairy sector over the next three years. The plan encourages farmers to voluntarily reduce herd sizes as part of efforts to lower greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions and support biodiversity goals. Assessed under EU state aid rules and the 2023 agricultural and rural guidelines, the Commission found the measure necessary and aligned with environmental and climate objectives. The approval follows a separate €700 million Dutch programme supporting the voluntary closure of livestock farms in environmentally sensitive areas, marking a broader push towards more sustainable and less intensive farming practices.
Read full story: Safe Food Advocacy Europe
Date published: April 22, 2026
Asia’s Food Output Leads Globally, but Food Insecurity Remains Deeply Entrenched
Asia and the Pacific now produce 54% of global agricultural and fish output, yet the region still accounts for 44% of the world’s moderately or severely food insecure population. While hunger has eased, with 25 million fewer undernourished people in 2024, major challenges remain, including rising food costs, land degradation, malnutrition and climate-related risks. Smallholder farmers remain central to future growth and resilience, while production is projected to rise strongly through 2034. However, conflict, inflation, extreme weather and fragile supply chains continue to threaten progress, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable farming systems, stronger value chains and improved access to affordable, nutritious diets.
Read full story: Global Agriculture
Date published: April 22, 2026
Latin American Agriculture Enters Transformative Phase Driven by Innovation and Biologicals
Latin America’s agricultural sector is undergoing a major structural shift, with innovation, regulation and biological inputs becoming central to future competitiveness and sustainability. Advances in biotechnology, gene editing, precision farming and artificial intelligence are improving yields, traceability and input efficiency, while supporting lower-impact production systems. The rapid growth of biologicals, particularly in Brazil and Argentina, is a defining trend, though adoption remains uneven across the region. Industry leaders stress that clear, science-based regulation is essential to scale these technologies. Despite strong progress, challenges such as illegal trade, limited financing, uneven technology uptake and regulatory gaps continue to threaten long-term resilience.
Read full story: Agrolatam
Date published: April 23, 2026
Mouse Plague Reaches Crisis Levels for WA and SA Grain Farmers
Grain farmers in Western Australia and South Australia are facing a severe mouse plague, with CSIRO reporting up to 4,000 burrows per hectare in parts of WA, far above the 800-per-hectare threshold considered plague conditions. The worst-hit areas include regions around Geraldton and the southern wheatbelt, while numbers are also rising sharply on the Adelaide plains. Experts warn the situation could escalate quickly due to rapid breeding cycles. Beyond crop damage, the infestation is creating significant psychological strain for farmers and raising concerns over feed contamination, livestock health and the urgent need for more effective baiting measures during the seeding period.
Read full story: The Guardian
Date published: April 22, 2026
