Welcome to this latest edition of Farming First eNews!
Farming First
Helping identify and promote the ideas, projects and innovations making agriculture more sustainable around the world.
In this edition, we highlight insights on...
🌱 Emerging innovations for food systems transformation
🌱 Rethinking food systems investments
🌱 Unlocking youth potential in agriculture
Plus, we feature recent news and upcoming events in food systems.
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Expert Insights
How Innovative Policies Can Drive a Sea of Change in Africa’s Food Security
By Ousmane Badiane
Africa’s fisheries and aquaculture sector is a vital but often overlooked contributor to economic growth and food security. Over six million people rely on fisheries for their livelihoods, with fish accounting for almost 20 per cent of Africa’s animal protein.Yet, the sector faces significant challenges. Up to 35 per cent of fish production is lost post-harvest while illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing continues to deplete stocks and damage marine ecosystems. If unaddressed, Africa could experience an annual fish supply deficit of 11 million metric tons (MT) within five years. A new report by the Malabo Montpellier Panel sets out a four-point roadmap for how Africa can future-proof this critical sector. Read more
Can A Pro-Innovation Agrifood Vision Meet Climate Challenges?
CropLife International’s President and CEO, Emily Rees answers the question of whether innovation in agriculture can meet climate goals and calls for leaders to back tech-driven solutions for real impacts as the Bonn Climate Talks unfold. Read more
From Insects to Indoor Farms: Food Innovations That Could Transform What We Eat By 2050
FAO food safety specialists, Jane Feeney, Maura Di Martino and Vittorio Fattori delve into how emerging innovations present opportunities and challenges for agrifood systems and food safety. Read more
The Hidden Histories in Every Bite
Heifer International’s Oscar Castaneda and CATIE’s Eduardo Somarriba explore the histories of common foods and how uncovering their hidden stories can support sustainable food systems. Read more
Empowering East Africa’s Future: Unlocking Youth Potential in Agriculture
FANRPAN’s Sithembile Ndema Mwamakamba, Rachel Mkandawire and AGRA’s Stella Massawe discuss how policy and investment can unlock youth potential to drive agricultural innovation in East Africa. Read more
🌱 What We Can Learn From Degrowth to Transform Global Food Systems – Matt Gibson and Daniel Mason-D'Croz, Cornell University. Read more
🌱 Why Profitable Irrigation is Key to Producing More Food – Karen Parry, Andre F van Rooyen and Henning Bjornlund, Australian National University, CGIAR and University of South Australia. Read more
“The question now is not whether we can afford to invest in food systems transformation but whether we can afford not to.”
– MAURIZIO NAVARRA, GLOBAL DONOR PLATFORM FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT, in “Rethinking Development Assistance to Finance the Future of Food and Nutrition”
Latest News
GAFSP 8th Call for Proposals Now Open to Producer Organisations
The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) Steering Committee opened applications for a $38M grant to support projects that enhance food security, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods. Read more
Food Policy Priorities for A Changing World
As climate change, inequality and malnutrition escalate, a new IFPRI report outlines six research priorities to ensure food systems nourish people and the planet by 2050. Read more
First Report on World’s Animal Health Reveals Changing Spread of Disease Impacting Food Security, Trade and Ecosystems
The first State of the World’s Animal Health report reveals that animal diseases are spreading to new areas, threatening food security and livelihoods. Read more
Dr Mariangela Hungria Named 2025 World Food Prize Laureate
Dr Mariangela Hungria, whose work helped Brazil become an agricultural powerhouse, has been named the 2025 World Food Prize Laureate for her achievements in biological nitrogen fixation. Read more
🌱 Youth-Led Collaborations Key For Transforming Global Food Systems – Read more
🌱 Farmers at the Heart of Global Nutrition: Empowering Farmers for Nutrition-Secure Future – Read more
Featured Case Study
Bridging the Divide: How AgriFoodTech Can Deliver for Smallholder Farmers in Latin America
Valentina, a smallholder farmer from Puebla, Mexico, had just two weeks to prepare her land before the rainy season began. She needed around $2,000 to get started and was struggling to come up with the funds in that short period of time. Like many farmers in her community, she had never been able to access formal credit–financial institutions see smallholders as risky investments, while the application processes often present numerous obstacles.
Her story reflects the reality for millions of smallholder farmers across Latin America who remain excluded from the tools and opportunities that could help them unlock their productivity and income potential. In Mexico, agents for fintech firm IncluirTec meet smallholders where they are. They visit farms and work directly with the smallholder to fill out the loan application without internet, thanks to the technology’s offline functionality. This allowed Valentina to apply for and receive a formal loan for the first time.Learn more about how agrifoodtech solutions can be better tailored to cater to smallholder farmers’ needs. Read more
🌱 The Microfinance Movement Fueling Somalia’s Comeback, One Farm at a Time – Read more
🌱 Revolutionising Poultry Farming With The Eco-Brooder – Read more
🌱 Strengthening the Resilience of Pastoralism for a Food-Secure Future – Read more
🌱 Innovating Potato Farming Through Apical Cuttings – Read more
🌱 Vaccinated Day-Old Chicks Bring Transformational Change for Africa’s Farmers – Read more
🌱 Codex: The Hidden Hand Facilitating Trade – Read more
🌱 Clean Energy Powers Rural Resilience in Cuba – Read more
Harvesting Impact
You are cordially invited to the fourth edition of CropLife International’s ‘Festival of Stewardship’, taking place on 15 July. The online event will feature expert speaker presentations, interactive panel discussions and live Q&As exploring how innovations in agriculture can support the world’s population in the face of multiple global challenges. This year’s theme, ‘Harvesting Impact,’ explores how stewardship programmes are driving real change in food systems around the world. Secure your spot now!
🗓️ Have an event you’d like to share with the Farming First network? Send us an email at info@farmingfirst.org with the subject line “Event submission”.
🌱 6 July: World Rural Development Day
🌱 11 July: World Population Day
🌱 15 July: Festival of Stewardship 2025
🌱 27-29 July: UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4)
🌱 9 August: International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
🌱 12 August: International Youth Day
🌱 31 August - 5 September: Africa Food Systems Forum
🌱 8-10 September: Regenerative Agriculture and Food Systems Summit
🌱 8-10 September: World Conference on Food Science and Technology
🌱 21-28 September: New York Climate Week
🌱 29 September: International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
🌱 29 - 1 October: FAO Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation
That's it for this edition of Farming First eNews!
Check out all the expert insights, news and more from the world of sustainable agricultural innovation at FarmingFirst.org.
Don't forget:
📩 Pitch your ideas for expert insights, latest news or event wrap-ups to Farming First for a chance to share your insights with our audience.
🔄 Share a link to this month's edition.