Global Scans · Food & Agriculture · Weekly Summary

• [New] The meat system will be established in stages until 2030, with 2026 dedicated to creating a foreign body detector which will improve the detection rate and accuracy of foreign substances such as needles, pus, bone fragments or plastic in beef and pork. FoodNavigator-Asia.com
• [New] Nutrition and food media are already calling 2026 the year of fiber, with movements like fibermaxxing going viral on TikTok and highlighted in major trend roundups. Avocado Green Magazine
• [New] Africa has strong agricultural potential, yet food shortages and climate stress remain serious issues. Businessday NG
• [New] Key Insight: With urbanization and climate volatility rising, hydroponic container farm systems are projected to supply up to 50% of fresh greens and herbs in cities by 2028, leveraging less land, less water, and greater yield predictability. Farmonaut
• [New] The horizontal hydroponic system is a game-changer for large-scale leafy green and herb production - and projected to become a mainstream configuration by 2026 in urban farm environments. Farmonaut
• [New] As we approach 2025 and look to 2026 and beyond, the convergence of modular hydroponic container farms, smart hydroponic pipes, adaptive plant stands, and scalable horizontal hydroponic systems will shape the next era of modern agriculture. Farmonaut
• [New] FDA will focus on the Food Safety Partnership with Mexico, regulatory partnership arrangements, and Systems Recognition initiatives. www.hoganlovells.com
• [New] Food Inspection Coverage by Leveraging State Capacity: FDA will begin creating Better Regulatory Inspections for Dynamic Government Efficiency (BRIDGE), by relying on state partners to carry out more routine food safety systems inspections, while still maintaining FDA's rigorous national standards. www.hoganlovells.com
• [New] Closer to Zero: FDA will establish action levels for cadmium and inorganic arsenic in baby and toddler foods to advance the ongoing Closer to Zero goal of reducing heavy metals in the food supply. www.hoganlovells.com
• [New] FDA plans to increase its oversight of food facilities and imported foods, including seafood, and to expand communication, training, and education for regulators and covered businesses on the food recall process and food traceability requirements. National Law Review
• [New] FDA intends to evaluate the potential risks posed by microplastics when present in food and take regulatory action as warranted. National Law Review
• [New] Farm non-real estate debt is expected to reach $220.4 billion in 2026, a 6% increase in nominal terms and a 4% increase in inflation-adjusted dollars. Successful Farming
• [New] Farm real estate debt is expected to reach $404.3 billion in 2026, a 4.8% increase in nominal dollars (2.8% increase in inflation-adjusted dollars) from 2025. Successful Farming
• [New] Farm sector solvency is expected to weaken in 2026 as value of debt outpaces assets. Farm Policy News
• [New] Total farm debt will rise 5.2% to a record $624.7 billion in 2026, highlighting the financial backing farmers need under current conditions. American Farm Bureau Federation
• [New] Driving the transformation of the food system In 2026, the agri-food sector will be consolidated as a strategic pillar for sustainability and innovation. Moeve Global
• [New] By 2026, the Commission will assess whether to expand the scope of carbon farming to the reduction of livestock-related GHG emissions. Climate Action
• [New] Ample global supplies are expected to keep food and agricultural raw material prices broadly stable, while beverage prices (notably coffee and cocoa) are projected to soften. World Bank Group
• [New] As global demand for housing eclipses the supply of wood in the coming years, single-use plastics such as water bottles and food containers could get a second life as recycled framing material to alleviate both a global housing crisis and the overwhelming demand for timber. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• [New] USDA expects the farm sector's debt-to-asset ratio to increase from 13.49% in 2025 to 13.75% in 2026. American Farm Bureau Federation
• [New] USDA projects net farm income will slip lower in 2026 and remain roughly $48 billion below the record highs reached in 2022, underscoring a generational downturn in the farm economy. American Farm Bureau Federation
• [New] By 2026, over 60% of urban farms are projected to adopt aeroponic vertical tower technology. Farmonaut
• [New] Agricultural markets are entering a period of profound uncertainty as a confluence of surging input costs, volatile weather patterns, and shifting geopolitical alliances threaten to destabilize global food security. The Chronicle-Journal

Last updated: 17 February 2026