AGP Executive Report

Screwworm Control in Mexico–US: Mexico and the U.S. inaugurated a new sterile-fly plant in Metapa, Chiapas, to curb the New World screwworm threatening cattle. The facility (about $61M) is set to produce up to 100M sterile flies weekly, building on an existing Panama plant, as cases have been reported since Mexico’s first detection in 2024. Farm Policy Pressure: Mexico’s sterile fly push also follows broader livestock trade concerns, with the pest capable of killing animals if wounds become infested. Water and Irrigation Costs: In California, vineyard owners warn a new groundwater sustainability fee could add roughly $98.74 per irrigated acre, raising pressure on growers already hit by market and regulatory costs. Agtech and Research: A Montana State University study published in Nature Cities maps urban demographic change to help governments plan resources—useful for long-term food system planning as cities grow and age.

Cross-Border Livestock Health: The U.S. and Mexico inaugurated a sterile fly plant in Metapa, Chiapas, to ramp up production of sterile New World screwworm flies and curb a outbreak that’s already triggered cattle movement restrictions and inspections. Ranching Impact: Texas livestock markets are bracing as new infestations expand “infested” and “surveillance” zones, raising compliance costs for producers. Regional Cooperation for Agriculture: France reaffirmed support for the OECS, highlighting collaboration in climate resilience and agriculture among other priorities. Caribbean Aquaculture & Value-Added: Saint Lucia’s Savannes Bay sea moss restoration program is boosting organization and training for farmers, with a push toward higher-value products. Markets & Weather Watch: Grain traders stayed defensive as corn and soy outlooks hinged on weather and export competition, with attention on upcoming USDA reports. Ag Trade Linkages: A look at how USMCA underpins North American ag trade and jobs, with the pact now in review. Specialty Crops Funding (U.S.): Rep. Adam Gray backed a proposed $10B supplemental request for specialty crop growers amid rising costs and trade uncertainty.

Agrifood Security & Technology: China reports summer wheat harvest at 91.44% of target (310 million mu) by June 16, signaling steadier grain supplies amid global climate and supply-chain stress. Livestock Health: Texas cattlemen packed a Hallettsville meeting as confirmed screwworm cases rise to 20, with new risks for calves in multiple counties. Deforestation vs. Farming Pressure: Honduras’ “Zero Deforestation by 2029” plan leans on an 8,000-troop environmental battalion, but experts warn militarized conservation may fail without stronger policy and enforcement. Trade & Food Systems in the Caribbean: Jamaica and Guyana signed agriculture-focused MoUs to boost food security via extension, trade facilitation, and human-resource development. Sugar Markets: Weak monsoon rains in India are pushing sugar prices higher, while Brazil’s mills shift more cane to ethanol, tightening the global balance. Local Food & Farming Resilience: Venezuela earthquake relief in Maracay is progressing with medical, psychological support, and distribution for damaged neighborhoods.

Venezuela Earthquake Response: Back-to-back quakes hit Caracas, triggering panic and building damage, while families abroad struggle to make contact as the death toll rises and rescue efforts continue. Livestock Biosecurity: Texas officials urged ranchers to stay vigilant as New World screwworm spreads in an unusual pattern, pointing producers to updated USDA and state guidance. Trade & Farm Exports: U.S. farm groups are watching a proposed Iran crop-sales deal with skepticism from traders, while U.S. policy debates continue over tariffs and quotas that affect cattle and sheep supply chains. Regional Ag Policy: Mexico’s fruit fly quarantine expanded in San Diego County as pest risk grows, and Caribbean climate-smart farming training reached farmers and agricultural officers in St. Vincent. Agri-Food Systems: A new push highlights school lunch programs using local farm produce, linking fresh supply to student nutrition and local agriculture.

Glyphosate Legal Ruling: The U.S. Supreme Court backed Bayer/Monsanto, limiting state-by-state glyphosate label lawsuits and potentially reshaping how Latin American growers and buyers watch chemical risk and compliance. Farm Profit Pressure: Florida’s farm losses to development are accelerating as labor, fertilizer and fuel costs squeeze margins, pushing the debate toward higher produce prices to keep growers afloat. Climate on Crops: A Brazil-led study warns that combined heat, drought and higher CO2 could boost soybean bean counts but cut starch and protein—an issue for feed quality across the region. Soy and Milk Signals: WASDE lifted U.S. milk production estimates, while other market coverage points to weather-driven shifts in soy and corn outlooks. Venezuela Earthquake Aftermath: Search and rescue continues after deadly quakes, with reports of looting and major disruption—an immediate threat to food supply chains and rural recovery. Trade and Exports: Trump floated Iran as a new buyer of U.S. wheat, soybeans and corn, while broader trade coverage keeps attention on how tariffs and market access ripple into farm prices. Pest and Biosecurity: Reports highlight ongoing New World screwworm threats and responses, underscoring the need for fast detection and coordinated control.

Cocoa Agroforestry in Brazil: In Pará, smallholders manage native cocoa under dense floodplain forest canopy, boosting resilience to pests and extreme weather while meeting rising demand for ethical chocolate. Food Security & Climate Risk: A WMO report warns Latin America and the Caribbean are entering a more dangerous “new normal” of record heat, extreme rain, droughts, and higher food-security risks. Water Infrastructure Boost: Antigua and Barbuda secured a US$9M grant (CDB/FAO) to build dams and water catchment ponds to expand irrigation and cut reliance on costly desalination. Livestock Pest Alert: Texas confirmed a new cluster of New World screwworm cases on one property, with more detections raising pressure on quarantine and control efforts. Trade & Farm Policy: Soybeans gained support from stronger China demand, while broader market coverage flags weather pressure on corn and regional harvest progress in Argentina and Brazil.

Fruit Fly Watch: California expanded a Mexican fruit fly quarantine in San Diego County after new detections in El Cajon and Spring Valley, widening the restricted zone to about 111 square miles and mobilizing state and federal eradication efforts. Food Safety & Trust: A debate over strawberry safety is intensifying after viral claims and a consumer test alleging pesticide and PFAS findings in conventional Driscoll’s berries, with organic samples reportedly showing no detections. Aquaculture & Seafood: FAO’s SOFIA reports global fisheries and aquaculture production hit record levels in 2024, but warns sustainable stock shares continue to slip. Livestock Health: Texas confirmed additional New World screwworm cases on the same property, bringing U.S. detections to 19 since early June and keeping quarantine and sterile-fly response plans in focus. Trade & Policy: The U.S. White House requested $87.6B in emergency supplemental funding tied to the Iran conflict, including support for U.S. farmers—while Iran disputes the “farmers’ payday” framing. Regional Cooperation: Venezuela and Vietnam set a late-2026 Intergovernmental Commission meeting to deepen cooperation, including agriculture among other sectors. Postharvest Innovation: Scientists are testing an ethylene-binding clay to slow ripening and cut produce waste before it reaches markets.

Deforestation Watch (Mexico): Grocers are being urged to stop selling avocados tied to forest clearing in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, where habitat loss has helped drive a steep monarch decline; advocates want retailers to require a satellite-verified certification that has already flagged thousands of orchards. Livestock Health (Venezuela): Essequiba’s governor says Venezuela aims to vaccinate 10,000 cattle against foot-and-mouth disease under a national plan, using veterinary teams and students to expand coverage in targeted communities. Animal Health Threat (USMCA-linked cattle politics): A major U.S. cattle group backs the idea of USMCA withdrawal but says any path forward needs stronger import protections like country-of-origin labeling and tighter tariff rate quotas. Agrifood & Trade (Argentina): Argentina’s Q1 2026 GDP rose 0.7% and agriculture/livestock jumped 18.1% year-on-year, even as other sectors weighed on growth. Aquaculture Tech (Chile): AKVA is pushing deep-farming salmon systems in Chile to cut sea-lice treatments, adapting the approach to local conditions and predators. Research & Risk (Argentina): A study links glyphosate exposure to selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in agricultural settings, raising new concerns about herbicide-driven pressure outside hospitals. Weather & Logistics (Panama Canal): Forecasts warn a possible super El Niño could restrict Panama Canal shipping and slow global supply chains.

FAO Investment Focus: FAO says agrifood systems are under unprecedented strain and argues investment is the lever to “turn potential into progress,” highlighting its 2025 push that helped design $7.8B in new public projects across 44 countries and supported 254 ongoing projects worth $51B. Fertilizer Watch: A new report projects the global urea market to rise from $82.5B (2026) to $104.3B by 2033, underpinned by growing crop nutrient demand. Brazil Sugar/Ethanol Deal: IG4 says it aims to complete a potential purchase of Raizen before March 2027, pending creditor approval, as it shifts deeper into agribusiness. Livestock Biosecurity: The U.S. confirms a second New World screwworm case in Texas cattle, renewing pressure on sterile-fly response planning and cross-border coordination. Trade Certainty: U.S., Mexico and Canada face USMCA renewal decisions; nearly 160 ag and food groups urge renewal, warning farmers about uncertainty ahead. Caribbean Blue Economy: CRFM and FAO launch an open-access Caribbean blue economy knowledge hub to share fisheries, aquaculture and marine planning tools across the region. Guyana Livestock: GLDA rejects claims that the Onverwagt abattoir is inactive, citing production figures and calling allegations misinformation. Ethanol Policy: India’s government reiterates E20 is safe and says it won’t affect vehicle insurance validity, while noting ethanol demand supports agricultural feedstocks.

AgTech Pulse (Latin America): IICA’s AgTech Radar LAC 2026 maps 2,656 agri-tech startups across 23 countries, with Brazil dominating (2,075 firms) and innovation still concentrated in the Southern Cone. Trade & Market Access: The USDA launched a trade mission to Argentina and Ecuador to expand U.S. wheat market access, highlighting Ecuador’s growing imports (420,000 metric tons of soft red winter wheat in 2025-26). Pest Threat & USMCA: U.S. officials say it’s too early to judge whether New World screwworm will affect USMCA renewal, but both the U.S. and Mexico are coordinating responses. Bioenergy & Farm Residue: India’s energy panel reviewed the National Bioenergy Programme and pressed on curbing agricultural residue burning in UP, Punjab and Haryana, citing major untapped biogas potential. Regional Supply Chain: Fresh Farms says Baja tomato season is starting strong, aiming to deliver just over 1 million cases of Roma tomatoes from late June through November. Food Security Pressure: Illinois SNAP cuts are expected to reduce food assistance for about 360,000 people, hitting farmers and local grocers that rely on that spending.

El Niño Food Security Watch: The UN’s FAO warns a new El Niño could strengthen in coming weeks, raising drought risks in the Central American Dry Corridor and Caribbean, with some croplands facing a 50%+ chance of drought—on top of conflict and existing hunger pressures. Regional Climate Risk Mapping: FAO’s satellite-based global map flags other high-risk zones too, underscoring how quickly weather swings can hit crops, livestock, and prices. Brazil Coffee Outlook: Brazil is set for a record coffee harvest (75.3m bags), but growers are holding back sales, keeping nearby supplies tight and futures volatile. Ag Co-op Debt Stress (Brazil): Cotribá, Brazil’s oldest ag co-op, seeks court protection to restructure about R$1.4bn in debts after drought-linked crop failures cut revenue sharply. Pest & Disease Response (Americas): The UN is backing a US$1m project aimed at containing resurgent New World screwworm across Central America, Mexico, and the US. Policy & Trade (Caribbean): Trinidad and Tobago’s Tobago House of Assembly is requesting a record $4.12bn from central government, with food security and climate resilience among its top pillars.

New World screwworm in Texas: USDA confirmed three more cases in Texas (a lamb in Crockett County and two calves in Edwards County), bringing the U.S. total to 15 as state and federal teams expand quarantine and sterile-fly eradication efforts. Pesticide safety alarm for coffee: A Coffee Watch report warns of widespread pesticide residues in coffee and highlights worker poisoning risks, noting many chemicals used in coffee are banned in Europe. Venezuela rice showdown: Hundreds of rice producers staged a “tractorazo” in Calabozo, demanding tighter control of imports and action against alleged price fixing that they say is crushing domestic production. Cuba-Vietnam agri-food ties: Cuba and Vietnam reaffirmed solidarity, pointing to joint rice, coffee and corn initiatives, with Vietnam supplying much of Cuba’s rice. Caribbean governance push: St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ tourism authority names a results-focused CEO, while Tobago seeks a $4.12bn fiscal 2027 budget aimed at stronger public service delivery. Trade and climate pressure: El Niño-linked weather risks and biofuel demand are squeezing sugar export availability, with India expected to stay off export markets for years.

Colombia Election: US-backed Abelardo de la Espriella narrowly leads Colombia’s presidential runoff in preliminary tallies, setting up a high-stakes transition amid legal challenges and a security crisis tied to record cocaine production. Animal Health & Trade: US chicken paw exports to China are falling as HPAI restrictions and residue testing tighten access, while Brazil and other suppliers gain share. Weather & Crops: Soybeans rise on renewed China buying and soyoil strength, while wheat remains pressured by shifting moisture expectations and lingering supply risks tied to El Niño. Biosecurity Watch: Australia confirms H5N1 in migratory seabirds and expands wildlife surveillance to track spread risk. Cattle Protection: South Africa receives millions more FMD vaccine doses to accelerate herd protection. Agri-Environment: A new study highlights how Amazon deforestation can lower the heat threshold for forest instability, raising risks for South America’s farming and water. Coffee Giving: Dominican coffee brand Café el Cibaeño pledges 5% of sales to children’s disease treatment and care.

El Niño Pressure on Food Systems: U.S. forecasters say El Niño has officially begun and could be the strongest this century, raising the odds of droughts and heavy rain that can disrupt farm output and food security across the Americas. Farm Economics Under Stress: A U.S. report warns that even if Iran conflict eases and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz reopens, farmers still face lasting damage from higher fuel and fertilizer costs, with soybean growers expected to lose money again in 2026. Pesticide Health Risks in Agro Regions: In Texas’s Rio Grande Valley, researchers link pesticide exposure to Parkinson’s risk, highlighting how farm chemicals can affect farmworkers and nearby communities. Controlled Environment Agriculture Push: A new analysis says greenhouse-style farming is expanding fast for crops like tomatoes and leafy greens, but it also depends heavily on electricity—raising the sustainability debate. Livestock Traceability Upgrade: Argentina’s Mendoza is moving toward mandatory microchip registration for horses starting in 2027 to improve health tracking and reduce theft. Trade Signals for Producers: Rabobank reports global milk growth is slowing, with weather—especially El Niño—emerging as a key risk for South America’s supply.

USMCA Ag Impact: A new economic study ahead of the July 1 trilateral review says USMCA remains a “critical portion” of US corn demand, underpinning major exports tied to bulk corn, ethanol and meat. Colombia Election Mood: Analysts say Colombia’s presidential runoff is being shaped heavily by short-form social media videos, not just traditional debate messaging. Bolivia Emergency: Bolivia’s president declared a nationwide state of emergency to clear road blockades after weeks of protests, raising uncertainty for fuel and broader economic stability. Caribbean Food Finance: St. Vincent and the Grenadines pushed eight agriculture and food-system projects into a Barbados “deal room,” spanning irrigation, poultry, agro-processing and youth ag investment. El Niño Risk for Farms: Global forecasts warn a likely “Super El Niño” could disrupt rainfall and heat patterns, with knock-on risks for crop yields and food access across vulnerable regions. Brazil Lab-Grown Meat: Embrapa says it has started producing lab-grown meat prototypes, aiming to cut slaughter and reduce environmental pressure versus conventional livestock. Caribbean Economic Forum: Finance leaders at the 2026 Caribbean Economic Forum stressed the region’s bottleneck is sustainable capital moving fast enough to match opportunities. St. Vincent Coffee Push: Vietnam’s Son La highlighted Arabica expansion and specialty standards, aiming to boost brand recognition and market access.

El Niño Risk Watch: UN agencies say strong El Niño could hit Latin America and the Caribbean with droughts, floods and storms, and they’re seeking $202M to protect 8.8M people, including in Colombia, Haiti and Venezuela. Cuba Economic Shift: Cuban lawmakers adopted nearly 200 free-market reforms, including changes touching banking, tourism and agriculture, but economists warn implementation could lag and benefits may concentrate. Bolivia Roadblock Fallout: President Rodrigo Paz declared a nationwide state of emergency after weeks of protests and blockades that disrupted food, fuel and medical supplies; some unions kept pushing. Brazil Lab-Grown Meat: Embrapa began producing lab-grown meat prototypes (swine and poultry cell work), aiming to cut slaughter and reduce environmental pressure from conventional livestock. Amazon Chacras: A spotlight on Colombia’s Amazonian chacras shows how indigenous farming plots sustain communities while protecting forest ecosystems. Cattle Movement Uncertainty: New World screwworm restrictions are prompting bans on Texas-origin cattle in parts of the region, but analysts say market impacts are still unclear. Cotton Origins: Research traces modern cotton’s domestication to a diverse wild population in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Caribbean Beach Access: Caribbean communities face growing pressure as foreign developers restrict practical access to public beaches, sparking pushback.