South African News
Saffron Offers High-Value Opportunity for South African Farmers
Saffron, the world's most expensive spice, could provide a profitable alternative crop for South African farmers, according to Saffricon, the country's first large-scale producer. After more than a decade of research and development, the company has established production in the Western Cape, where growing conditions have proven favourable. Although saffron is highly labour-intensive, requiring flowers to be hand-picked and processed within 24 hours, it offers high returns while using relatively little water. Saffricon is also testing wearable exoskeletons to reduce the physical strain of harvesting and believes large parts of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape are well suited to production.
Read full story: Engineering News
Date Published: August 5, 2026
South African Farmers Receive First Carbon Payments from Grassland Restoration
Communal livestock farmers in South Africa have received their first carbon revenue payments through TASC's Grassland Restoration and Stewardship in South Africa (GRASS) project, with R2.7 million distributed to 15 communities after the sale of verified carbon credits. The initiative restores degraded rangelands using regenerative grazing, improved livestock management and community-led stewardship across the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Covering more than 95,000 hectares, the project aims to provide long-term income for farming communities while improving biodiversity, carbon storage and agricultural productivity. It has also generated additional farm income through better market access and plans to expand to two million hectares by 2030.
Read full story: Farming Online
Date Published: August 5, 2026
African News
Ghana Moves to Protect Cocoa Farms from Land Conversion
Ghana's parliament has approved legislation to give cocoa farms protected status, preventing their conversion to other uses without government approval. The proposed law, which still requires presidential approval, includes severe penalties for land converted to illegal gold mining in an effort to safeguard cocoa production. While protecting farmland could help preserve future cocoa supplies, industry experts warn that enforcement alone will not solve challenges such as low farmer incomes, ageing trees and poor access to farm inputs. The legislation is also expected to increase the importance of traceability, with buyers needing stronger evidence that cocoa has been sourced from legally protected farms.
Read full story: Procurement Resource
Date Published: August 5, 2026
Global News
Cattle Ranching Threatens Jaguar Corridors in South America's Gran Chaco
An international study has found that cattle ranching is increasingly threatening vital jaguar corridors across South America's Gran Chaco, with impacts differing between large commercial operations and small-scale farmers. Researchers say large agribusinesses are responsible for extensive deforestation that fragments wildlife habitats, while smaller farms face frequent livestock losses from jaguar attacks, leading to retaliatory killings. The study recommends zero-deforestation policies, expanded protected areas and better land-use planning to preserve ecological corridors. It also calls for practical support for small farmers, including livestock fencing, guard dogs and community-based conservation measures to reduce conflict between people and wildlife.
Read full story: Noticias Ambientales
Date Published: August 5, 2026
Rural Canadians Seek Greater Recognition in Federal Development Plan
Consultations for Canada's upcoming Rural Development Action Plan have highlighted calls for greater recognition of rural communities' economic contribution and the unique challenges they face. Stakeholders urged the federal government to design programmes better suited to rural realities, retain investment within local communities, simplify access to support schemes and focus on long-term community development. Agricultural issues raised during the consultations included farmland protection, support for small-scale farming, attracting and retaining workers, helping new entrants into agriculture and improving market access. The Rural Development Action Plan is expected to be released later this year.
Read full story: Canadian Cattlemen
Date Published: August 5, 2026
Mitti Labs Secures $9.5 Million To Improve Water-Efficient Rice Farming
Climate technology start-up Mitti Labs has raised $9.5 million in funding, led by Saudi Aramco's venture capital arm, to expand its AI-powered rice farming platform across Asia. The company combines satellite imagery, artificial intelligence and field data to help smallholder farmers reduce water use by around 40% and methane emissions by more than 50% without affecting yields. Operating across several Indian states, Mitti Labs now works with more than 100,000 farmers and plans to expand into the Philippines later this year before entering other Southeast Asian markets. The company also generates carbon credits, providing farmers with an additional income stream.
Read full story: TechCrunch
Date Published: August 5, 2026
El Niño Drought Boosts Indonesia's Salt Harvests
Indonesia's prolonged El Niño-driven drought has created ideal conditions for salt production, delivering bumper harvests for coastal producers despite threatening food crops. In Cirebon, one of the country's main salt-producing regions, output reached nearly 600 tonnes in July compared with just 25–30 tonnes a year earlier. While the dry weather benefits the salt industry, it has intensified concerns over global food inflation as climate extremes, rising production costs and geopolitical conflicts continue to disrupt agriculture. Indonesia's weather agency expects dry conditions to persist into early 2027, while farmers growing food crops have been advised to adjust planting schedules to reduce drought impacts.
Read full story: Firstpost
Date Published: August 6, 2026
