Malaysia on August 2, 2025 unveiled the electronic-Port State Measures (e-PSM) system to monitor foreign tuna fishers in its marine fisheries. This system adheres to the world’s Fisheries Act of 1985 that regulates illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) commercial fishing. The rule comes despite the fact that the Southeast Asia country has not ratified the international Port State Measures Agreement. According...
Camels milk in Somalia makes a splash in retail chains
Home processing of camels’ milk is turning a page for Somalia courtesy of pioneer yogurt plants supplying supermarkets in Mogadishu. According to the Associated Press on August 3, 2025, Beder Camel Farm has created the first niche yogurt dairy in the country. Hitherto, milk from the humped animals rarely trickled out to cold storage retailers due to a low national processing profile....
The Angola corn, soy sectors cut new swathes via foreign investment
Angola in July 2025 welcomed successive corn/maize (Zea mays) and soybean investments across 130,000 acres by two companies from China. According to Bloomberg, Citic Construction Co. will invest $250 million in cereal/oilseed cultivation on 100,000 acres of land, up to 2030. The trailblazing Sinohydro company also inked a $100-million contract to construct a large grain corridor, 60% of whose output for export...
Major wheat exporters Ukraine, Russia start season with only a handful
The summer wheat harvest is ongoing across Europe amid bleak production and price outlook for major exporters, Russia and Ukraine. In Ukraine, low export prices have exacerbated the situation and forced farmers to stockpile for a better day. Hence, shipments were just 1/3rd of their usual progress this time of the year by July 25, 2025. Weekly Black Sea’s deliveries were...
Municipal Philippines tames food prices in Iligan city
The municipal authorities of the populous city of Iligan in Northern Mindanao, south-east Philippines have reinstated normal food prices after early 2025 surges. According to the PIA News on July 31, 2025, prices of rice, fish and vegetables are undergoing suggested retail price (SRP) controls. Retail rice valuation dropped from a January-May 2025 peak of 59-60 pesos ($1.01-1.03) a kg, to 49...
The Brazil lobster industry anticipates staggering 50% tariffs
U.S.’ President Donald Trump on July 30, 2025 enforced 50% tariffs on 47.4% of imports from Brazil including lobster, effective August 6. In the executive order, some 43.4% of imports, inclusive of Embraer planes and orange juice, escaped tariffs. But it is bilateral seafood trade for key frozen commodities from sea bream to lobster that has attracted considerable interest. According to Cadu...
Coffee imports by Russia from Indonesia break records manifold
Coffee orders by Russia from Indonesia between January and May 2025 have eclipsed corresponding 2024 imports by 10 times. A July 30, 2025 report reveals that coffee shippers in Indonesia earned $33.4 million from dispatches to Russia in these five months. This is versus $3.4 million in a mirror timeline in 2024. Shipments from Russia’s third biggest traditional coffee origin occasionally break...
Heifer International links “listening to the voices of smallholder farmers” to food systems transformation
The nonprofit Heifer International on July 23, 2025 aired the voices of smallholders farmers towards a global food systems transformation. During which, farmer interviewees suggested solutions ahead of the UN Food Systems +4 Stocktaking Moment on July 27-29 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During the actual summit, the UN Deputy-Secretary General Ms Amina J. Mohammed labeled transforming food systems “one of...
Sugar millers in Brazil toy with ethanol as prices stagnate
Ethanol is regaining clout in Brazil with sugar millers favoring it to counter stagnant international sugar rates, currently at US¢16-17 a pound. Helping along is the switch by the government of Brazil to the E30 ethanol blending standard, beginning August 1, 2025. This means engine fuel makers will have to use 30% ethanol for every 70% of petrol/gasoline blending share. Since...
Blueberries harvest rocks the Northwest and Northeast U.S.
Two opposite sides of the United States are recording impressive respective 2025 harvest seasons of conventional and wild blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum). The wild blueberries crop in the Northeast is ripening while the cultivated one in the Pacific Northwest is courting early marketing stages. On the East Coast, Maine will kickstart its reaping proper with the annual Maine Wild Blueberry Weekend...