Rice is by far the most widely consumed staple food in Japan. Somewhere along the way, however, the country has fallen into a steep supply deficit and prices for the important staple have doubled since last summer. The government has released emergency reserves but hardly any of the supplies have actually landed on grocery store …
AgFunderNews recently ran an interesting article about plant-based meats titled “Plant-based meat by numbers: Grim reading for the US retail market, brighter spots in foodservice and globally.” Below are some highlights…US retail sales of plant-based meat fell -7.5% to $1.13 billion in the year to April 20, 2025, with unit sales down -10%. Sales of frozen …
The United States and Mexico have a complex tomato trade relationship. Supplies from our southern market are vital to meet U.S. demand. However, since the 1990s, Mexico tomato imports have climbed some +400%, an increase that U.S. growers says amounts to “dumping.” Now, the U.S. is pulling out of a decades old trade agreement and …
Long Running U.S.-Mexico Tomato Trade Dispute Erupts…Again Read More »
Avalo is a fairly new startup that is deploying interpretable artificial intelligence to develop climate-resilient crops and accelerated crop breeding. Brendan Collins, co-founder and CEO of Avalo, was recently quoted in an article for USA Today (read more here) saying, “A traditionally bred crop takes 12 years to get to market… Our process, from discovery to market, is three …
AI-Powered Plant Breeding Startup Hoping to Change the Game Read More »
Food companies are rushing to get ahead of possible stricter regulations for artificial dyes and flavors in the U.S. food supply. Ingredient suppliers like ADM have seen sales boom since Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in late April announced that the U.S. government will phase out artificial dyes from the food …
The Food Industry is Scrambling to Find “Natural” Dyes and Flavors Read More »
As we move through mid-May, the LRC recurring pattern has been tracking all season and continues to deliver right on schedule. This is a crucial time for the agricultural community, and the LRC provides growers a unique edge, not just in knowing what weather is coming, but when and where it will matter most. We …
May Rainfall Patterns, Planning For The Next Ag Impact Read More »
Generation Alpha, are those born between 2010 and 2025, and they are the first cohort to grow up entirely in the 21st century. As digital natives raised amid climate crises, social media, and evolving parenting styles, they are already exerting outsized influence on household food choices, and their preferences are redefining the future of food. …
From Tablet to Table, How “Gen Alpha” Is Transforming Food Choices Read More »
The gluten-free diet trend has lost some steam in recent years as more research shows that the supposed health benefits have been, at best, exaggerated, and at worst might actually be harmful to healthy people. However, for a small percentage of the population, gluten-free diets are more than a lifestyle choice due to a chronic …
Harry Stine started life on a small 200-acre farm in Iowa, where his father founded “Stine Seed Farm” in the 1950s. It was a small operation with equally small profit margins but it sparked a passion in Stine who, despite challenges caused by dyslexia and mild autism, went on to build his father’s modest business …
Canadian wheat farmers are feeling fairly optimistic about 2025/26 wheat crop prospects as timely rains continue to boost soil moisture in many areas. With farmers projected to increase planted acres by around +2.6%, the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is forecasting a +2% increase in production. The USDA is estimating Canada’s new-crop wheat production will …
Canada Continues to Export More Wheat Than US… Third Behind Only Russia and EU Read More »
