South African News
South Africa and Italy Strengthen Agricultural Cooperation Through Trade, Innovation and Investment
South Africa and Italy are seeking to expand their agricultural relationship beyond traditional trade by increasing collaboration in investment, innovation, agro-processing and job creation. Speaking at the inaugural South Africa–Italy Agribusiness Forum in Cape Town, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen highlighted opportunities to develop integrated value chains, drawing on Italy’s expertise in food processing, packaging and agricultural technology alongside South Africa’s production strengths. The partnership is expected to boost research cooperation, technology transfer and climate resilience initiatives. A new Memorandum of Understanding will establish a framework for long-term collaboration and create a Joint Working Group to oversee practical projects and measurable outcomes.
Read full story: Devdiscourse
Date Published: June 9, 2026
Communal Wool Farmers Call for Greater Investment and Infrastructure Support
Communal wool producers in South Africa are urging government and industry stakeholders to provide greater support to help unlock the sector’s full potential. Discussions at the National Wool Growers’ Association Congress highlighted key challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, limited market access, weak biosecurity measures and the need for improved breeding programmes. Producers stressed that better genetics, fencing, shearing facilities and transport networks are essential for increasing productivity and wool quality. Industry representatives also called for an end to negative perceptions surrounding communal wool, noting that many communal farmers consistently produce high-quality wool with minimal contamination despite operating under difficult conditions.
Read full story: Farmer's Weekly
Date Published: June 9, 2026
African News
Rural Women’s Assembly Champions Land Rights and Agroecology for African Women Farmers
The Rural Women’s Assembly (RWA), representing around 170,000 women across Southern Africa, is helping women farmers strengthen their voices on land rights, food security and sustainable agriculture. The movement promotes agroecology as a way to improve resilience, reduce reliance on costly farm inputs and increase incomes through organic production. However, many women continue to face barriers to land ownership due to cultural and inheritance practices, limiting their control over farming decisions and investment opportunities. Experts argue that improving women’s access to land is essential for boosting agricultural productivity and food security, while collective organisations such as the RWA provide an important platform for advocacy and knowledge-sharing.
Read full story: Mongabay
Date Published: June 9, 2026
Global News
Dutch Pilot Explores Cultivated Meat Production as a New Revenue Stream for Farmers
Dutch start-up RespectFarms has launched what it describes as the world’s first cultivated meat farm, integrating a small-scale cell cultivation laboratory into an existing dairy farm in South Holland. The initiative aims to explore whether cultivated meat production can provide farmers with an additional source of income rather than competing with traditional agriculture. Supported by regional government funding, the project focuses on decentralised production models that allow farmers to participate directly in the emerging cellular agriculture sector. While cultivated meat continues to face regulatory, financial and scaling challenges, supporters believe the approach could contribute to more sustainable food production and strengthen the long-term resilience of farming businesses.
Read full story: Food Ingredients First
Date Published: June 9, 2026
China’s Influence on U.S. Agriculture Declines as Export Markets Diversify
China’s role in U.S. agriculture is becoming less dominant as trade tensions, rising South American production and changing global demand patterns reshape export markets. While China remains a crucial buyer of agricultural commodities, its influence now varies across sectors. Soybean exports to China have fallen sharply as Brazil strengthens its position as the country’s preferred supplier, increasing pressure on U.S. growers to diversify markets. In contrast, U.S. corn exports have reached record levels without significant Chinese demand, supported by a broader customer base. The beef sector faces supply constraints that limit export growth, highlighting a more complex and less China-dependent future for American agriculture.
Read full story: Agrolatam
Date Published: June 9, 2026
‘Super’ El Niño Could Intensify Farming Challenges and Global Food Insecurity
A highly probable “super” El Niño is expected to place significant pressure on global agriculture through drought, flooding, heat stress and supply chain disruptions. Rain-fed farming regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, could experience reduced grain yields, increasing food prices and dependence on imports. Major crops including maize, rice, wheat and soybeans may suffer production losses in key exporting countries due to drought, heatwaves and disrupted rainfall patterns. Farmers may also face rising fertiliser costs amid ongoing global supply constraints, while livestock, fisheries and agricultural workers could be affected by heat stress and declining productivity. The article argues that poorer farmers are likely to bear the greatest burden of these impacts.
Read full story: The Guardian
Date Published: June 9, 2026
India Seeks Larger Fertiliser Subsidies as Rising Costs Threaten Farming Sector
India’s fertiliser ministry has requested a doubling of its subsidy budget for the current financial year as global fertiliser and energy prices continue to rise amid the ongoing Iran conflict. The move reflects growing concern over the impact on the country’s farming sector, which relies heavily on imported fertilisers such as urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP), as well as imported natural gas used in domestic fertiliser production. Higher input costs could increase pressure on farmers already facing the risk of drought linked to a developing El Niño event. The government is also expanding domestic production capacity to reduce import dependence and protect agricultural productivity.
Read full story: Reuters
Date Published: June 9, 2026
