Global Scans · Food & Agriculture · Weekly Summary

• [New] By 2026, over 60% of agriculture courses will include AI and data analytics modules. Farmonaut
• [New] Similarly, the European Union's Farm to Fork Strategy targets twenty-five% organic land by 2030, which will necessitate scalable biological solutions. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The crisis in Venezuela could prompt greater Chinese involvement in Latin America to protect its economic interests, historically related to the supply of raw materials, food and energy security. The Diplomat
• [New] By 2026, global agro food robot deployment is projected to increase by 48%, revolutionizing farming automation. Farmonaut
• [New] Blockchain systems fortify supply chain transparency, crucial as food fraud risks rise with global trade expansion. Farmonaut
• [New] While any predictions should be taken with a grain of salt, we are feeling confident that 2026 will be a big year for food waste reduction. ReFED
• [New] Brazil's model of bioinput agriculture could serve as a blueprint for countries transitioning toward regenerative agriculture. AgriTech Insights
• [New] Key markets including Edge AI, Generative AI, Quantum Computing, AI in Healthcare (specific to the MENA region), and AI in Food Safety and Quality Control are forecasted to experience over 30% compound annual growth rates through 2030. Yahoo Finance UK
• [New] The organic potato segment is predicted to witness the highest CAGR of 9.3% from 2025 to 2033 owing to the deepening consumer awareness about health, environmental sustainability, and food transparency. Market Data Forecast
• [New] At Suntory Beverage & Food Europe we are working toward 100% sustainable plastic packaging by 2030. WhatTheyThink
• [New] By 2026, eco-friendly farming innovations could reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 18%. Farmonaut
• [New] By 2026, the adoption of sustainable agriculture will continue to reduce hunger and further improve global nutrition especially in developing countries. Farmonaut
• [New] The IPCC's most optimistic mitigation pathways for 2050 rely on climate-smart agriculture, a framework that continues to incorporate synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and genetically modified seeds. KevinMD.com
• [New] The World Food Programme warned it must cut food rations by 70% starting in January, affecting communities already facing famine. Martin Plaut
• [New] Food costs are expected to increase in 2026, especially for beef, and managing supply chains will be particularly challenging as tariffs hit various imports. Restaurant Dive
• [New] Gut health has become a superstar in the food and beverage world, and it's showing no signs of stepping out of the spotlight, boasting a global value of $71.2bn (€60.9bn), and a projected $105.7bn value by 2029 (industry analysts Markets and Markets). FoodNavigator.com
• [New] By 2026, over 70% of precision agriculture platforms will integrate advanced AI annotation for data visualization. Farmonaut
• [New] As global food demand rises and environmental pressures intensify, AI will play a central role in producing more food with fewer resources. The Data Community
• [New] Building on 2025's momentum, many of the diet and nutrition trends forecasted for 2026 are driven by functional foods, which are foods that contain substances or live microorganisms that may improve health by reducing chronic disease risk. A Healthier Michigan
• [New] M&S has once again identified the top health and wellbeing food trends that will be steering consumers' dinner table choices in 2026. Daily Mail
• [New] Protein might not be centre stage anymore, but it certainly has not been forgotten, with over a quarter of M&S customers actively seeking out high-protein choices in their food shop. Daily Mail
• [New] 2026 will be the year when deep-tech farming evolves from pilot projects into full commercial ecosystems. Intelligent Living

Last updated: 13 January 2026