Global Scans · Food & Agriculture · Weekly Summary

• [New] The few existing studies on the association of fast food and metabolic risk have looked almost exclusively at Western-Caucasian populations from the United States. ScienceDaily
• [New] Other sectors that may provide employment opportunities for expats following Saudi's increasing investment in urban planning include food processing, transport infrastructure, and water resource management. edarabia.com
• [New] Diversifying food sources and developing underused, nutrient-rich crops could help combat malnutrition and enhance food security in Africa. European Research Executive Agency
• [New] By increasing the production and export of wheat, Kazakhstan and Russia could contribute to meeting the growing global demand for food and play a prominent role in future global food security. Cambridge Core
• [New] More efficient food production could support feeding the growing global population while saving valuable agricultural land and preserving limited natural resources and biodiversity. Swiss Biotech
• [New] The application of AI in agriculture has evolved, moving into 2025 we expect AI to play an increasingly important role in agricultural data analysis and decision-making. Agmatix
• [New] In summary, obesity will remain the greatest global public health challenge in nutrition and lifestyle in the coming years. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The global demand for protein is expected to rise by around 60% by 2050, which fuels the demand for insect farming. Claight Corporation (Expert Market Research)
• [New] The demand for satellite-based earth observation systems in the agricultural sector is expected to witness a CAGR of 7.8% between 2025 and 2034. Claight Corporation (Expert Market Research)
• [New] Financial confidence is down sharply, with only 23% expecting to be better off in 2026, the lowest since November 2023.Over eight in ten consumers expect rising prices for food, grocery, and dining out. Retail Times
• [New] Lab-grown meat will be much more prevalent by 2025, reducing the environmental footprint of livestock farming and providing a more sustainable source of protein for the world's growing population. Science News Today
• [New] Offshore wind farms will play a critical role in providing clean energy to coastal cities, while onshore wind farms will become more efficient, contributing to the global energy mix. Science News Today
• [New] Other states are seeing moves against renewables projects: Arizona's House in February approved HB 2223, which would forbid wind farm projects within 12 miles of any property zoned for residential use. DLA Piper
• [New] The import volume of prebiotic yogurt in Spain is expected to continue growing in 2025, supported by a trend towards healthy and natural foods. EssFeed
• [New] The import volume of prebiotic yogurt in the UK is expected to increase in 2025, fueled by a trend towards gut-friendly foods and beverages. EssFeed
• [New] The import volume of prebiotic yogurt in Germany is expected to continue growing in 2025, driven by an increasing demand for probiotic and gut-friendly foods. EssFeed
• [New] Finally Israeli cultivated meat startup Aleph Farms has secured regulatory approvals in Israel and unveiled modifications to its core technology that it claims will enable it to make whole cuts with fewer steps at lower cost. AgFunderNews
• [New] The UK will experience warmer and wetter winters - raising flood risk for properties, agriculture, and infrastructure. Climate Change Committee
• US - We expect core CPI in March to pick up again at 0.3% m/m, while headline, including food and energy, comes in at a weaker 0.1% m/m. ABN AMRO Bank
• Soil salinity is a critical global challenge that severely impairs crop productivity and soil health by disrupting water uptake, nutrient acquisition, and ionic balance in plants, thereby posing a significant threat to food security. SpringerLink
• Economic Challenges: Afghanistan continues to face an economic crisis, with high unemployment and food insecurity, while projects like CASA-1000 offer potential economic opportunities. Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies |
• Farmers in Ireland could diversify their crop rotations and make their businesses more resilient. Horizon Magazine

Last updated: 06 May 2025