African Swine Fever has been detected in three areas of Asia, sparking fears it could impact the pork industry. ASF affects both domestic and feral swine and is highly contagious but does not affect humans …
Cargill announced it will eliminate trans fats in its products by the end of 2023 to help improve consumer diets, the first manufacturer to agree to new World Health Organization standards. “Cargill became the first …
Labor issues continue to fan the flames of supply chain disruption, fueling raw material shortages and poking holes in production output, while food manufacturers struggle to keep up with volatile demand. “The U.S. manufacturing sector …
U.S. farmers are pessimistic about the current agriculture economy and the future, according to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The barometer lost five points in November, falling to 116, a 30% decline …
The Global Animal Partnership plans to toughen standards, effectively lowering the number of chicken breeds that meet its animal welfare guidelines, Bloomberg recently reported. The partnership, which has a five-step process for certifying animal welfare, …
Shipt (the company that brought same-day delivery to Target) is betting that people, and not processing power, will be the biggest differentiator for delivery in the coming years.
Although plant-based and cell-cultured meat alternatives are grabbing headlines, the animal protein sector remains robust with plenty of opportunities for mergers and acquisitions, according to Mesirow Managing Director Paul Mariani.
What seemed like something straight out of science fiction just a few years ago is quickly becoming a reality for the food industry. Robots are now doing everything from picking, preparing and delivering supplies. With …
The cost of ingredients for breakfast staples continues to rise as global food production, processing and transportation challenges collide with higher demand from the pandemic rebound. According to the Financial Times breakfast indicator, futures prices …
A spike in fertilizer prices has hit European farmers, leaving some to question whether to curb planting plans. Winter wheat and barley crops are being sown as many nitrogen fertilizer plants in Europe shut as …
Armyworms are chomping their way across the country, destroying crops (and lawns, for that matter), and leaving masses of eggs behind. “This year is like a perfect storm,” Rick Brandenburg, an entomologist at North Carolina …
Despite the pandemic, 2020 was a big year for agtech M&A activity. According to AgFunder’s 2021 Farm Tech Investment Report, 37 agriculture technology M&A deals were completed in fiscal year 2020. As is often the case, …
A number of startups are ready to unleash a new crop of electric tractors designed to revolutionize field production and help with other tasks. Bloomberg reported (Aug. 18) a pair of Monarch 12-foot, self-driving tractors …
The West Coast may be receiving the bulk of U.S. media coverage on record heat and drought conditions, but it is not the only region contending with extreme weather: the Midwest is also in the …
Rural populations showed further signs of decline in the recent release of the 2020 U.S. census. The data reflects shifting demographics and signals continued labor shortages across the nation’s farming and ranching regions. A Stateline …
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will stop the use of chlorpyrifos, one of the most common pesticides, according to a news release. The move is intended to better protect human health, particularly of children …
Environmental activists point to issues like Amazon deforestation to suggest Earth is running out of agricultural real estate. Making matters worse, the United Nations predicts that, within three decades, the world’s population will reach nearly …
Most consumers have seen the Fair Trade Certified™ seal on a variety of products, but what exactly does it mean? Lauren Tolbert, Partnership Development Manager with Fair Trade USA, joins The Food Institute Podcast to …
On the heels of plant-based meat alternatives going mainstream, are you ready for the kelp burger? Join us in exploring the kelp market with Courtney Boyd Myers, founder and CEO of AKUA. While the company …
Extreme weather and supply chain issues have impacted prices for the vast majority of commodities in 2021, ranging from lumber to corn. Until recently, coffee (and avocados) seemed to be surviving in an inflationary market …
For Stephen Ritz, growing produce goes hand in hand with educating children. Ritz, a lifelong educator from the Bronx, New York, founded Green Bronx Machine with the belief that healthy foods led to better health, …
Vertical farming is growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, the evolving form of agriculture has become a multibillion-dollar industry and is expected to reach $12.77 by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate …
Here are trending economic and food industry data points, as well as major economic and company earnings releases for the coming week: an interview with Wells Fargo agricultural economist Dr. Michael J. Swanson on a …
Among the factors behind soaring agricultural commodity prices this past year has been China’s food imports and its efforts to boost food security. And while pandemic-related supply constraints among exporters grabbed headlines, China has been …
Inflation is affecting prices across the food continuum, and meat is no exception. Meat prices were up in the first two quarters of the year when compared to both 2020 and 2019, according to analysis …
The USDA’s Farm Service Agency will begin accepting applications next Tuesday from livestock producers who suffered pandemic losses as a result of their inability to gain sufficient access to processing. Relief will come from the …
To address concerns about competition in the U.S. ranching and farming system, USDA will allocate $500 million to expand meat and poultry processing capacity across the nation. The agency said the move was “one of …
Here are trending economic and food industry data points, as well as major economic and company earnings releases for the coming week: grocery inflation, menu price hikes, cost saving ideas, and more. Don’t be surprised …
What’s the current state of the U.S. farmer? With historic heat, record droughts, and unprecedented supply chain problems, The Food Institute Podcast invited Wells Fargo agricultural economist Dr. Michael J. Swanson to discuss market conditions, …
The USDA is predicting increased milk production this year and next, pushing prices lower in the near term. University of Missouri economist Scott Brown told Dairy Herd Management (June 22) producers are getting squeezed by …
While Americans are paying more for everything from lumber to computer parts, and with most of the food industry contending with price increases, one surprising exception can be found: avocados. While often considered one of …
Pork has been making headlines of late, with one of the most notable updates being that prices for U.S. hogs have slipped since the Chinese government said its supplies have nearly fully recovered from African …
You thought 2020 was bad? This year has featured extreme drought conditions. Then, cicadas and grasshoppers. Now, the Pacific Northwest is getting walloped by a nearly unprecedented heatwave. Portland, Seattle, and swaths of western Canada …
Record-breaking temperatures and water shortages continue to pummel the agricultural industry across the western U.S. California farmers are scaling back production and uprooting crops as they struggle to navigate relentless drought conditions. Meanwhile, the impending …
Strong grain prices, low interest rates and increasing exports are bringing stability to the rural economy, the June Rural Mainstreet Index from Creighton University indicates. Strong growth points to an improving farm economy featuring solid …
