South African News
South African corn plantings set to fall to lowest level since 2019
South African commercial farmers plan to reduce corn plantings by 12.4% to 2.4 million hectares in the 2027 season, the smallest area since 2019 and around 10% below the five-year average. Rising fertiliser and fuel costs, partly driven by conflict in the Middle East, and concerns about a potential El Niño-induced drought are contributing to the decline. White corn plantings, important for human consumption across the region, are expected to fall by 18.2%, while yellow corn, primarily used for animal feed, is forecast to decrease by 3.1%. South Africa’s central bank has warned it will act to contain inflationary pressures from higher fuel and food prices.
Read full story: Investing.com
Date published: October 27, 2026
Shoprite launches second food garden competition with R1m in support
Shoprite has launched its second Act For Change Food Garden Competition, offering R1 million in tailored support to five winning community gardens. Entries close on 15 November 2026, with winners to be announced before April 2027. Gardens will be judged on food production, food security, social impact, skills development and community involvement. The inaugural competition attracted nearly 600 entries, with winners using their support to improve irrigation, infrastructure, soil health and growing capacity. Shoprite’s wider programme supported 300 community gardens by July 2026, helping communities access fresh food, develop agricultural skills and create employment opportunities.
Read full story: Bizcommunity
Date published: October 21, 2026
African News
Morocco plans six regional companies to curb fresh produce price mark-ups
Morocco plans to establish six regional companies to improve agricultural distribution and reduce excessive mark-ups on fresh produce. Prices in some regional markets can be two to three times higher than at wholesale markets in Inezgane, near Agadir, with producers blaming multiple intermediaries for inflating costs. Tomatoes, for example, have reportedly been sold by farmers for 4 dirhams before being resold for 12 dirhams. Announced as part of the government’s 2027 budget proposals, the initiative aims to streamline distribution, regulate margins and improve price transparency. Producers want farmers involved in developing the new system.
Read full story: Bladi.net
Date published: October 27, 2026
Global News
Canadian farm groups divided over proposed pesticide review changes and export risks
Canadian agricultural groups are divided over proposed changes to pesticide regulations under Bill C-31, which would remove mandatory 15-year reviews of registered products unless associated risks increase significantly. The National Farmers Union warns the changes could undermine confidence in Canadian agricultural exports, particularly to the European Union, where pesticide standards are often stricter. Campaigners also raise concerns about human health and the lack of a clear definition of significant risk increases. However, CropLife Canada argues the reforms would reduce administrative burdens, speed up access to new crop protection products and improve farmers’ competitiveness, while retaining safety oversight.
Read full story: Canadian Cattlemen
Date published: October 27, 2026
Community partnerships tackle food insecurity through farming and food distribution
The PepsiCo Foundation is supporting initiatives to improve food security through agricultural training, farm infrastructure and food distribution partnerships. In rural Guatemala, its Echar Raíces programme helps families diversify crops, raise poultry and preserve harvests, reaching more than 200 households in its first year. In Iowa, funding has helped urban farm We Arose expand production and improve its commercial operations. Meanwhile, the Future Harvest programme in the Netherlands provides aspiring farmers with training and mentoring. In the US, Food for Good has delivered more than 90 million meals to over two million children, while school-based hubs provide food and essential household items.
Read full story: Newsweek
Date published: October 28, 2026
DairyNZ urges next New Zealand government to support sector growth
New Zealand’s dairy sector generated a record NZ$28.8 billion in export earnings in the year to June, contributing to NZ$65.2 billion from the wider food and fibre industry. In an opinion article, DairyNZ’s Tracy Brown highlights the sector’s contribution to more than 51,000 jobs and calls on the next government to provide greater regulatory certainty to encourage long-term investment. DairyNZ’s six priorities include practical freshwater and resource management rules, stronger biosecurity, workforce development, agricultural research, resilient infrastructure, lower-emissions pathways and evidence-based animal welfare standards to support productivity and sustainability.
Read full story: Rural News Group
Date published: October 28, 2026
Thailand backs satellite and AI technology for disaster response and agriculture
Thailand’s Cabinet has approved a draft Bangkok ministerial declaration promoting the use of satellite data, geospatial technology, artificial intelligence and big data to improve disaster response, agricultural planning and climate resilience across the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative aims to strengthen cooperation between member states of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, including through knowledge sharing, technology transfer and workforce development. Applications include monitoring floods and droughts, managing natural resources and improving crop planning. The declaration is non-binding and will guide regional cooperation towards the completion of the Asia-Pacific sustainable development action plan in 2030.
Read full story: The Nation Thailand
Date published: October 27, 2026
