Global Scans · Food & Agriculture · Weekly Summary

• [New] By the end of 2026, all nine petroleum-based synthetic food dyes will be gone. FoodNavigator-USA.com
• [New] Rather than debating whether AI will replace jobs, a smarter strategy is to back specialised robots for tasks where Australia has an edge and clear application scenarios: mining, agriculture, aged care and remote operations. Mirage News
• [New] The US recently released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030, marking the most significant reform of nutrition policy in decades. CNS Media
• [New] GHG emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide, significantly threaten global food security by altering climate conditions essential for crop productivity. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Asia's food industry is battling various hurdles threatening the rapid progress of sustainability agendas, with protein diversification and food safety emerging as major issues. FoodNavigator-Asia.com
• [New] Carbon sequestration presents an opportunity for farmers to earn billions in revenue, provide on-farm diversification, and create a lower-cost transition pathway for the Australian economy. Mirage News
• [New] US food price inflation is expected to return to a more typical pace in 2026 after several years of disruption. Supermarket Perimeter
• [New] Syngenta has scanned its Australian and global R&D, digital and commercial pipeline to identify three mega-trends which will shape Australian agriculture in 2026 and beyond. Country News
• [New] While the high ending stocks provide a floor for global food security, the fragile availability of current trade flows ensures that wheat will remain one of the most volatile and closely watched commodities of the year. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] Food prices are forecast to increase about 3% in 2026, in line with the long-term average. Supermarket Perimeter
• [New] Cultured meat represents a transformative innovation with the potential to reshape global protein production, but its success depends on interdisciplinary strategies that balance sustainability, safety, ethics, and public trust. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] In 2026, Australia's agriculture will be shaped by how quickly biologicals, AI-supported agronomy and advanced breeding can be deployed where they matter most: in the paddock, supporting growers to grow more with less. Rural Business
• [New] Looking to 2035, key indicators will be production volumes of premium products (plant-based proteins, functional beverages), stringent food safety standards, and sustainability targets for water and waste. IndexBox Inc.
• [New] Plant-based meat has a compound annual growth rate of 15.56% between 2025 and 2035. FoodNavigator.com
• [New] The outlook for irrigation system technologies through 2026 is clear: innovations in overhead and Netafim drip, smart temporary setups, precise pressure tanks, and scalable 405 irrigation models will define the next era of modern agriculture. Farmonaut
• [New] By 2026, adoption of modern irrigation technology could reduce water usage in agriculture by up to 40%. Farmonaut
• [New] 2025 cash receipts for all commodities on U.S. farms is now estimated at $529 billion, which is expected to decline slightly to $514.7 billion in 2026. Agweek
• [New] Lenders expect farm incomes to weaken further in early 2026. RFD-TV
• [New] USDA Farmer Bridge Assistance payments could begin this weekend as producers face tight margins, shifting acreage expectations, cattle herd contraction, and growing pressure for a stronger farm safety net. RFD-TV
• [New] Agricultural lenders surveyed in summer 2025 expected only 52% of U.S. farm borrowers to be profitable in 2024, with profitability projected to fall below 50% in 2026. National Corn Growers Association
• [New] Agriculture accounts for roughly 70% of global freshwater use, making it the largest opportunity for conservation. Waterless Co. Inc.

Last updated: 10 March 2026