The U.S. Department of Agriculture will make $8 billion available for one-time payments to American farmers through its new Harvest Fuel Relief program, announced by President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on October 19. The program is intended to help producers manage temporary market disruptions and higher input costs during the 2026 harvest season.

The payments will use a uniform formula to cover a portion of modeled losses for the 2026 crop year. The USDA said the calculation will draw on planted-acreage reports from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Economic Research Service cost-of-production estimates, and yield and price forecasts from the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.

Harvest Fuel Relief program rates due in November

The USDA said commodity-specific payment rates for crops covered under Title I of the farm bill will be released in November. The agency has not yet announced the payment methodology for other eligible commodities, including specialty crops. It also has not provided an application opening date in the announcement.

The $8 billion allocation is authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and will be administered by the FSA. Participation will not require a link to crop insurance, according to the USDA.

Producers of non-Title I commodities, including specialty-crop growers and fishermen, are encouraged to send information about increased fuel costs to HarvestFuel@usda.gov. The USDA said it will consider the data when determining payment rates for those producers.

Farmers urged to prepare for applications

Eligible producers are encouraged to create a Login.gov account before the application period is announced. The USDA said online applications will be pre-filled for producers who have linked their Login.gov accounts to the department.

Rollins described the program as targeted assistance intended to provide greater certainty during harvest. The announcement did not specify individual payment caps, per-acre rates, or the expected date of the first disbursements. Those details will determine how the funding is distributed across commodities and farm operations.

Relief builds on earlier federal farm payments

The Harvest Fuel Relief program follows two other federal payment initiatives cited by the administration. Earlier in 2026, the Farmer Bridge Assistance program delivered $12 billion in one-time payments to more than 560,000 farmers, according to the USDA announcement.

The administration also said that nearly $14 billion in gross payments had been provided through the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs about two weeks before the new announcement. Those payments were made through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, and the USDA estimated they were about $8 billion higher than payments would have been without the legislation.

The new relief comes as farm economics remain under pressure from input expenses. Fertilizer Daily previously reported that the USDA’s 2026 farm income forecast showed fertilizer expenses rising 15.3% in real terms. The amount individual producers receive under Harvest Fuel Relief will depend on the payment rates and eligibility rules still to be published.

The USDA also urged farmers to consider the enhanced risk-management tools included in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act to help manage future price risk and volatility. The next key milestone is the release of commodity-specific rates in November, followed by details on applications and payments.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Vietnamese and Laotian officials relaunched a $492M Laos potash project in Khammouane province on October 12, nearly a decade after construction stalled, Archyde reported, citing Thai and Vietnamese media. The Viet-Laos Chemical and Salt venture of Vietnam National Chemical Group (Vinachem) targets commercial production of 500,000 tonnes of potassium chloride a year from 2028.

The project in Nongbok district covers 1,000 hectares and holds estimated reserves of 32 million tonnes of potassium. Work stopped in 2017 after a payment dispute with contractors, when construction was 57% complete. Authorities have required strict tailings management and monitoring of groundwater contamination and soil subsidence, after past sinkhole incidents in the area.

Lao Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Phouthavanh Outhavong said local processing of mineral resources creates higher value and secure jobs.

Southeast Asia imports nearly all of its potash, so new regional MOP would compete with Canadian, Russian and Belarusian supply. Thailand’s own projects are lagging. Dan Khun Thod in Nakhon Ratchasima, backed by Bangchak through a 65% stake, targets 100,000 t/yr from late 2026 or early 2027 but faces lawsuits, while Udon Thani and Chaiyaphum projects are stalled.

At 500,000 tonnes, Khammouane would be a modest addition to a market where new supply from Belarus and BHP’s Jansen is already weighing on price outlooks. Its first test is whether Vinachem can finish the remaining construction on schedule.

Source: Archyde

The Asian Development Bank and the Government of Japan signed financing agreements on October 15 with AM Green Ammonia (India) for its green ammonia Kakinada plant in Andhra Pradesh, including a $100M loan from the Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund 2. The fund is financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and administered by ADB.

The project converts a former natural gas-based ammonia and urea plant to renewable-powered production with capacity of about 1.1 million tonnes a year, according to ADB. It is the first investment under ACCEL, an energy security initiative ADB and Japan launched in May 2026 to help Asia-Pacific economies cope with high energy prices.

“Ammonia is used every day to produce the fertilizer that helps feed the world,” ADB President Masato Kanda said, adding that renewable power lets India produce it with far lower emissions.

The Kakinada site already has a long-term offtake with Uniper for up to 500,000 tonnes a year of green ammonia from 2028, signed in January 2026. AM Green also won a 10-year H2Global contract to supply Germany earlier this month. Multilateral debt adds a credibility signal as several Indian green ammonia projects struggle to close offtake economics, with INOX dropping a $3B Maharashtra plan.

Brazil Potash subsidiary Potássio do Brasil reported positive early results on October 13 from AI-driven X-ray transmission (XRT) ore sorting at its Autazes project in Amazonas. In tests with engineering firm ERCOSPLAN, the system raised potassium chloride (KCl) content in an ore sample from about 13% to about 27%, while the rejected fraction held only 1% to 2% KCl, Minera Brasil reported.

Roughly one-fifth of the lower-grade material could be removed before reaching the processing plant. That would free plant capacity for higher-grade ore, which could lift fertilizer output or extend mine life.

“This gives us an interesting opportunity to potentially unlock production flexibility in the future, whether through a higher production rate and/or a longer mine life, subject to further testing and studies,” said Matt Simpson, CEO of Brazil Potash.

The company stressed that the sample was small and the results are preliminary. Industrial-scale performance remains unproven, and adoption depends on further technical and economic studies.

Brazil imports almost all of its potash, which is why BHP is already targeting Brazil with Jansen potash. Any lift in domestic output from Autazes would trim that import bill.

Source: Minera Brasil

Brazil Potash AI ore sorting: five things to know

Cutting tillage intensity lowered nitrous oxide emissions by 37% to 48% in grain farms transitioning to organic production, according to a three-year field study published in the October 15, 2026 issue of Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. The paper compared organic soybean-wheat-corn rotations that differed in tillage, cover crops and poultry litter use, and found that the corn phase drove most of the climate burden.

The finding matters because nitrous oxide (N₂O), a greenhouse gas roughly 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a century, is the main climate liability of nitrogen fertilization, whether the nitrogen comes from urea or from manure and legumes. Organic systems avoid synthetic fertilizer but can emit heavily when large organic nitrogen inputs are buried by plowing.

How the organic grain systems were compared

The researchers tracked N₂O over a full soybean-wheat-corn rotation in organic transition systems that used diverse combinations of tillage, cover crops and poultry litter. Their hypothesis was that reducing tillage intensity would cut emissions, since tillage is the main tool organic growers use to terminate cover crops, incorporate residues and manure, and control weeds.

Two of the systems, labeled SYS and ECS in the paper, emitted 37% and 48% less N₂O respectively than the more tillage-intensive MYS system. The authors attributed the gap primarily to lower tillage intensity.

Corn phase drives nitrous oxide emissions

Emissions varied sharply by crop. Corn produced the highest annual flux at 11.2 kg N₂O-N per hectare, followed by full-season soybean at 4.8 kg, wheat at 1.3 kg and double-crop soybean at 0.9 kg. Across crop phases and management systems, mean annual emissions ran at about 5 kg N₂O-N per hectare, a level the authors describe as signaling elevated risk during the transition period.

The pattern matches earlier Penn State research on organic corn-soybean-winter grain rotations, which found the corn phase averaged 9.8 kg N₂O-N per hectare and accounted for 80% of total rotation emissions. That work linked emission spikes to fast oxygen depletion in soil after cover crop residues and manure were buried together, and showed emissions rose sharply once legume cover crop and manure inputs exceeded 1.8 and 4 tonnes of dry matter per hectare.

Why it matters for nitrogen management

Organic and regenerative programs increasingly sell on climate credentials, and buyers of low-carbon grain are beginning to ask for field-level emissions data. A rotation that emits around 5 kg N₂O-N per hectare per year can erase much of the soil carbon gain these systems are credited with, so tillage choices in the corn year carry real financial weight.

The practical message is timing and placement. Separating manure from freshly incorporated legume residue, reducing tillage passes and matching organic nitrogen to corn uptake are the levers most likely to cut losses. The same principle applies to conventional growers using urea or UAN: nitrogen that is not taken up by the crop is exposed to denitrification, and N₂O is the costliest form of that loss in climate terms. Fertilizer Daily has reported similar findings on how manure substitution changes nitrification in wheat and on nitrogen losses from saline soils.

Limits and next steps

The study covers a single three-year rotation during the transition to organic certification, when soil nitrogen dynamics are still shifting. Its published highlights do not report yield trade-offs from lower tillage, which organic growers rely on for weed control. Longer trials will be needed to show whether reduced-tillage organic corn can hold yields while keeping nitrous oxide emissions down.

Source: Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

Brazil fertilizer prices are heading into Q4 2026 on split paths, with nitrogen likely to stay firm, potash stable and phosphates open to some correction, according to StoneX’s quarterly commodities outlook released on October 8. Soybean planting, which drives more than 40% of Brazil’s phosphate and potash use, is closing the main import window for both nutrients.

StoneX analyst Tomás Pernías said the usual post-planting price relief may be muted this year because supply, not demand, is the constraint. Reduced Middle East product, Chinese curbs on MAP and DAP exports and high sulfur costs are capping global phosphate output, despite early signs of better sulfur supply from Russia and Kazakhstan. Any drop in MAP or TSP prices would mostly help growers still buying for the second crop or 2027.

Nitrogen is the most exposed. Urea, ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate face support from Brazil’s seasonal imports for safrinha corn, Strait of Hormuz risk and possible Indian urea buying in December. “The nitrogen market remains very sensitive to the evolution of the Middle East conflict,” Pernías said.

Potash is the steadiest, with comfortable global stocks and no major supply risk flagged by StoneX. Pernías called it the nutrient with the best risk-return ratio for buyers right now.

The outlook follows a weak import year, with Brazil’s September fertilizer imports down 30% and a phosphate shortage idling local plants.

Source: Agrolink

OlsAro has raised €5 million (about $5.8 million) in seed funding to develop climate-resilient cereal genetics and prepare its first salinity-resilient wheat product for market. The Gothenburg-based company announced the round on October 14, saying the proceeds will support international field trials, research and development, and commercial work with seed-company partners.

Industrifonden led the financing, with Nordic Foodtech VC as co-lead. Existing investors Future Food Fund, PINC, AgFunder and GU Ventures also participated. The round follows a €2.5 million pre-seed investment in April 2024, bringing OlsAro’s total funding to approximately €7.5 million.

The investment comes as salinity, heat and drought place growing pressure on cereal production. OlsAro says soil salinity already affects about 10% of the world’s cropland, creating demand for varieties that can maintain yields under stressful growing conditions.

OlsAro seed funding targets commercialization

The immediate priority is to move OlsAro’s salinity-resilient wheat from field testing toward commercial availability. The company said the funding will support trials in international markets and cooperation with seed-company partners as it prepares its first product launch. The capital will also finance further research, AI-driven trait discovery and expansion of the company’s intellectual property portfolio.

OlsAro reports that its wheat has delivered up to 41% higher yields than a moderately salt-tolerant variety under saline conditions in Bangladesh. The company is now conducting field trials in several global markets. The reported result is specific to the conditions and comparison described by OlsAro; broader performance will depend on trial results across environments and growing systems.

For seed companies, traits that help crops withstand salinity and other environmental stresses could provide a way to develop varieties for fields where conventional genetics may struggle to maintain productivity. Commercial adoption will depend on repeatable field performance, seed-company partnerships and the ability to integrate the traits into varieties suited to local markets.

SeedAX combines genetics, data and AI

OlsAro’s SeedAX platform combines proprietary genetics and data with AI-driven trait discovery and genetic technologies. The system is designed to identify and validate traits linked to climate resilience, then integrate them into elite germplasm for commercial seed programs.

The platform approach is intended to extend beyond a single wheat product. OlsAro plans to develop new programs targeting drought tolerance and nitrogen-use efficiency, adding to its work on salinity and heat tolerance. It also plans to expand into other cereal crops, including rice.

Nitrogen-use efficiency is relevant to crop production because it concerns how effectively plants use available nitrogen to support growth and yield. The release does not provide performance data or a commercialization timetable for OlsAro’s planned nitrogen-efficiency program, so its potential agronomic and fertilizer-use effects remain to be established.

Investors point to field results and seed partnerships

Elén Faxö, OlsAro’s chief executive, said the financing would help the company turn its research into a platform that seed companies can use across traits and markets.

“We have spent years proving that we can identify and develop genetics that perform under some of the conditions putting the greatest pressure on agriculture. This round is about turning that capability into a platform seed companies can use repeatedly. By expanding SeedAX across more traits and markets, we can help our partners bring climate-resilient cereals to farmers faster and at much greater scale.”

Elén Faxö, CEO of OlsAro

Sara Frykstrand Ångström, investment manager and head of intelligence at Industrifonden, said the investor was persuaded by OlsAro’s scientific work, field-trial results and existing partnerships with seed companies. She said SeedAX could become a platform for developing climate-resilient varieties across multiple traits and markets.

OlsAro’s next milestones will be the results of its international wheat trials, progress with seed-company partners and the timing of its first commercial product. The new drought-tolerance and nitrogen-use-efficiency programs will also show whether the company can extend its approach to additional traits and crops.

Haryana’s Agriculture Department has suspended Indian Potash Limited’s (IPL) authorization to sell non-subsidized fertilizers in the state, as the India DAP shortage disrupts rabi sowing in Sirsa district, The Tribune reported on October 14. The suspension, issued under Clause 31 of the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985, remains in force until further orders.

According to the order from Agriculture Director Amit Khatri, suppliers must get prior approval before placing fertilizer rakes anywhere in Haryana. IPL had been told to prioritize DAP rakes for Sirsa and Satroad in Hisar district, but allegedly sent rakes to Jhajjar and Jind instead, despite repeated warnings in the first week of October.

Farmers in Sirsa and Fatehabad have queued outside distribution centers from early morning for DAP, which is applied at sowing for wheat and mustard. The department said it is monitoring supply from rake points to retail outlets.

The episode shows how national stock data can mask local gaps. India’s overall fertilizer stocks rose 38% to 17 million tonnes ahead of rabi, yet DAP remains tight as sulfur costs and Chinese export curbs restrict imports. The next pressure point is wheat sowing, which in Punjab and Haryana runs from late October to mid-November.

Source: The Tribune

India DAP shortage: what to know

Buffalo Potash has received Saskatchewan regulatory approval to complete construction and operate the initial production module at its Disley project, about 50 kilometers northwest of Regina, keeping first output on track for early 2027, MINING.COM reported on October 16. The module is designed to produce 125,000 metric tons of potash annually, with capital costs estimated at C$41.5 million ($29.2 million) in an April preliminary economic assessment.

The project will test Buffalo’s patented horizontal line-drive method, which circulates sodium chloride-saturated brine through parallel horizontal wells to dissolve potassium chloride underground. Drilling and well completions are finished, and the company is preparing to begin brine circulation while installing surface equipment.

Buffalo plans to sell soluble-grade potash from the first module to local agricultural customers and for use as a drilling-fluid additive. The initial operation is intended to demonstrate whether the technology can support commercial potash production from deposits that may be less suitable for conventional mining.

The longer-term development plan includes two additional facilities at Disley East and Disley West, each designed for 500,000 metric tons per year. Together with the initial module, the three plants would have planned capacity of approximately 1.13 million metric tons annually, with combined capital expenditure estimated at $639 million.

Granular potash production is not expected before 2029. Buffalo reported C$15.1 million in cash as of June 30 and has said it needs additional financing to advance its plans.

The Disley project is considerably smaller than BHP’s Jansen potash mine, which is designed for substantially greater production capacity. Unlike a large conventional mining development, Buffalo’s project is proceeding without a feasibility study, leaving questions about commercial economics and the financing required for expansion.

The immediate milestone is whether Buffalo can bring the first module into production on schedule. Successful operation could help establish the viability of its solution-mining approach and open a potential development route for smaller Saskatchewan potash deposits.

Source: Mining.com

China Energy Engineering Group (Energy China) completed what it describes as the world’s first commercial ship-to-ship green ammonia bunkering operation on October 13, transferring 1,000 tonnes of fuel to CMB.TECH’s Mineral Europa at an anchorage in Zhoushan Port, Zhejiang Province, Marine Log reported. The dedicated bunker vessel Shenghang Yongle carried out the transfer, marking a step toward the commercial use of renewable ammonia as a marine fuel.

The ammonia was produced at Energy China’s integrated green hydrogen, ammonia and methanol project in Songyuan, Jilin Province. The facility uses wind and solar power to produce hydrogen via electrolysis, then converts it into ammonia. The project holds ISCC EU RFNBO certification and has a sales contract for green ammonia supplied to the shipping industry. A further 7,000 tonnes of ammonia have already reached a tank farm at Nanjing Port for subsequent bunkering operations. Energy China said the operation demonstrated an integrated supply chain spanning production, storage, transportation, bunkering and onboard use. The project was carried out in cooperation with CMB.TECH and Jiangsu Andefu Energy Technology, in which CMB.TECH holds a minority stake.

For fertilizer producers, the development points to an emerging source of demand for renewable ammonia beyond traditional fertilizer and power applications. Marine fuel consumption could help green ammonia projects secure long-term offtake agreements and improve their commercial viability, although competition among end-use markets will depend on fuel costs, infrastructure and regulatory incentives. A similar diversification of demand is emerging in the power sector, including a green ammonia supply agreement involving South Korea’s LOTTE Fine Chemical.

Source: Marine Log

Green ammonia bunkering: five things to know

Nevada Organic Phosphate has extended the confirmed phosphate strike at its Murdock Mountain project in northeastern Nevada to more than 3.3 km, the company said, as reported by Mining.com.au on October 19. Hole MM26-11 intersected 28.7 meters of the Meade Peak Member, with oolitic zones typical of the Upper Phosphate Zone. Assays are pending.

The hole was drilled about 315 meters southwest of MM26-10, which cut 27 meters of the Meade Peak Member, including 3.60 meters grading 10.89% P₂O₅. CEO Robin Dow called the latest result “continued and meaningful progress de-risking our geological model.”

Drilling has been slow because holes pass through thick, silica-cemented dolomitic mudstone with chert horizons, causing blocked core barrels and lower recovery, according to director Garry Smith. The company has identified three more drill pads.

Murdock Mountain hosts a 6.6 km sedimentary phosphate bed that the company describes as organic-certifiable, with claim applications covering potential extensions of more than 30 km. The Canada-based junior is still at exploration stage, with no resource estimate or production timeline announced.

Interest in new U.S. phosphate rock is rising as sulfur costs squeeze domestic processing, with Mosaic idling its South Fort Meade operations. Direct-application organic rock could also serve organic growers who cannot use processed phosphates.

Source: Mining.com.au

The European Union’s rolling review of pesticide active ingredients and maximum residue levels (MRLs) could affect the availability of crop-protection products and market access for U.S. agricultural exports, according to a September 2026 update from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) office in Brussels.

The report provides advance notice of substances undergoing renewal reviews that could face new restrictions or non-renewal. It outlines the status of EU review processes as of August 31, 2026, under the regulatory frameworks governing plant protection products and pesticide residues. FAS says early awareness can help U.S. farmers and other stakeholders assess potential risks and mitigate trade disruption.

The agency cautions that the list may not include every upcoming or completed review. It is seeking stakeholder feedback on the report and whether the quarterly update should continue to be distributed.

Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)

BloomX, an Israeli agricultural technology company developing robotic systems to manage crop pollination, has raised $13 million in a Series A round as it seeks to expand in existing markets and prepare for entry into the United States.

The round was led by Elah Fund, with participation from Rothschild Fund, Sadot Innovation, Tene Fund, OurCrowd, BioBee, Gidulei Sade Dagan, the Mishkey Hevel Aza Group, several kibbutzim, private investors and the Israel Innovation Authority. BloomX said the investment brings its total funding since its 2019 founding to $20 million. The company did not disclose a valuation.

The new capital will support expansion in Peru, Mexico, South Africa and Israel, while preparing the company to enter the U.S. and additional Latin American markets. BloomX also plans to adapt its technology for more crops. Its stated U.S. targets include almond and blueberry growers.

Robotics aims to make pollination a managed input

Pollination is essential to the production of many fruit and specialty crops, but growers have limited control over the availability and effectiveness of natural pollinators. BloomX points to climate-related changes in flowering and pollinator behavior, declining wild pollinator populations and the expansion of farmland as factors increasing pressure on pollination services. Honeybees, meanwhile, are generalist pollinators and may not be the most effective option for every crop.

BloomX develops biomimetic systems that combine robotics with artificial-intelligence-based algorithms. The company says its equipment is designed to work alongside bees rather than replace them, giving growers a more measurable way to support pollination. Its systems are offered through a Pollination-as-a-Service model, allowing growers to use the technology without a large upfront equipment investment.

The company has two commercial systems. Robee is designed for blueberries and uses controlled vibration to mimic the buzz pollination performed by bumblebees. The vibration stimulates the plant’s anthers to release pollen, helping transfer it to the stigma.

Its Yahav 2400 system, which entered commercial use in 2026, is designed for avocado orchards. It uses high-voltage electrodes to create a controlled electric field that helps detach pollen from male flowers. The system collects pollen on a technical textile intended to mimic a bee’s body and then transfers it to receptive female flowers.

Company reports yield gains of about 20%

BloomX says growers using its systems, including ACP and Fruitlist (Agrovision) in Peru, Allesbeste in South Africa and Granot Group in Israel, have recorded an average yield increase of about 20%, alongside improvements in fruit size and quality. The company also reports returns on investment of up to 10.5 times, although it did not provide details on the calculations or the range of results across farms.

According to BloomX, a single operator can treat up to 3.5 hectares (about 9 acres) per day. The company says its equipment can also continue operating in extreme weather conditions when bees may be unable to pollinate effectively. Actual performance is likely to depend on crop, orchard conditions, labor, timing and local pollination requirements.

“Over the years, modern agriculture has learned to manage irrigation, fertilization and crop protection with remarkable precision. Pollination, a critical link in fruit production, has remained entirely at the mercy of nature,” said Thai Sade, co-founder and chief executive of BloomX.

Sade said the technology is intended to give growers greater operational and economic certainty while working alongside bees. The company plans to strengthen its presence in current markets and prepare for expansion into more countries and crops.

Investors see a field-tested agricultural technology

Calanit Valfer, managing partner at Elah Fund, said the investment decision was driven by BloomX’s work with agricultural customers and its focus on an existing commercial problem. She described the business as a combination of robotics, AI and agronomic expertise, with potential effects on crop yields, farm economics and food security.

Mark DeSantis, a technology entrepreneur and BloomX strategic adviser who has led companies including Bloomfield Robotics, RoadBotics and kWantera, said pollination supports a substantial share of global specialty-crop production and that the company’s approach could make automated pollination available across more crops and locations.

Aliko Dangote plans to list at least 10% of his Ethiopian fertilizer business on the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) after production stabilizes at the Gode urea complex, according to Ecofin Agency. Dangote outlined the proposal to investors in Addis Ababa on October 15 and said he intends to discuss it with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The listing date, share price and eligibility requirements for investors have not been determined.

Dangote Group holds a 60% stake in the project, while Ethiopian Investment Holdings, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, owns the remaining 40%. The complex in southeastern Ethiopia is designed to produce 3 million tonnes of urea annually, with operations targeted for 2029. Its projected investment has increased from an initial $2.5 billion to more than $4 billion as the project expanded to include a natural gas pipeline, a power plant, a packaging unit, and a blending facility. Construction began in October 2025, with the start-up target set at about 40 months after work commenced, as Fertilizer Daily reported in May.

Ethiopia imported approximately 366,500 tonnes of urea worth $151 million in 2025, according to World Bank trade data. The Gode complex’s planned capacity would substantially exceed current import volumes, potentially positioning Ethiopia as a regional fertilizer supplier. Dangote also said Ethiopia would host some of the largest projects under his planned $40 billion to $50 billion African investment program. He invited Ethiopian investors to participate in the initial public offering of his Nigerian refinery, which is open until October 27.

Source: Ecofin Agency

Combining a Bacillus microbial agent, cow-manure organic fertilizer and silica powder raised available phosphorus in saline soil by 137.65% to 158.28% and lifted oat hay yield by about 25% in a two-year field trial in northwestern China. The study, led by researchers at Ningxia University, was published in Frontiers in Microbiology.

The result matters for fertilizer efficiency on degraded land. All plots received the same base rates of 90 kg/ha nitrogen, 177 kg/ha P₂O₅ and 60 kg/ha K₂O, so the gains came from making existing nutrients available rather than adding more fertilizer.

A tough saline soil test site

The trial ran at Qianjin Farm in Shizuishan City, Ningxia, where annual rainfall averages 188.8 mm against evaporation of 2,512.6 mm. The moderately saline plow layer held just 8.08 g/kg of organic matter, 0.47 g/kg total nitrogen and 5.47 mg/kg available phosphorus, with groundwater 1.5 meters below the surface pushing salt upward.

Researchers compared five treatments on two oat varieties: salt-tolerant Musite 2 and salt-sensitive Tianyan 60. The microbial agent, containing at least 200 million Bacillus cells per milliliter, was applied at 30 kg/ha. Organic fertilizer was applied at 12 tonnes per hectare and silica powder, at least 90% silicon dioxide, at 105 kg/ha.

Saline soil chemistry shifts in the root zone

Against the untreated control, the combined treatment raised available potassium by 10.71% to 23.78%, soil water content by 16.27% to 50.58% and soil organic matter by 11.05% to 251.3%. Soil pH fell by 4.13% to 10.11%, and nitrate nitrogen dropped by 53.10% to 66.22%, which the authors read as lower salt stress and less leaching.

Available phosphorus under the combination averaged 70.17% higher than with the microbial agent alone, 44.91% higher than organic fertilizer alone and 66.93% higher than silica alone. Alkaline phosphatase and urease activity rose 26.05% to 44.70% and 23.46% to 25.87% respectively.

The authors describe a cascade. Bacillus speeds manure decomposition, while silica slowly forms silicic acid that lowers pH. Lower pH reduces phosphorus and potassium fixation and helps soil hold ammonium. Humic acid from the manure and silicic acid bind into porous colloids that improve soil structure and water retention.

Yield and forage quality gains

Musite 2 hay yield under the combination was 25.23% above the control on a two-year average, against 21.51% for organic fertilizer alone. Crude protein peaked at 9.42% in Musite 2 and 9.28% in Tianyan 60. Random forest analysis ranked soil organic matter as the strongest predictor of yield, ahead of key microbial groups and available phosphorus.

Metagenomic sequencing showed Bacteroidota up 111.92% in the combined plots, with fungal richness indices also rising. Soil properties explained 84.04% of the variation in bacterial communities.

Caveats before scaling up

The trial covered one site over two years with three replicates, and it did not test pairwise combinations, so the contribution of each component is unclear. The authors also flag possible long-term risks from silica, including silicon build-up and antagonism with iron and molybdenum, though none appeared during the study.

Salinity already raises nitrogen losses from saline soils by 61%, according to earlier research. Biological and mineral amendments that free locked-up phosphorus could stretch fertilizer budgets on those soils as phosphate prices stay high.

Source: Frontiers in Microbiology

Fertiglobe is in preliminary discussions with the Egyptian government over a phosphate fertilizer complex worth more than $1.5 billion, with planned production capacity of 1.3 million tonnes of diammonium phosphate (DAP) annually. According to Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources on October 18, the project would be located at Ain Sokhna, with commercial operations targeted for 2031. Egypt’s Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Karim Badawi discussed the preliminary plans with Fertiglobe CEO Ahmed El Hoshy.

The minister called on Fertiglobe to complete technical and economic feasibility studies and coordinate with the Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority to identify phosphate rock sources and assess long-term supply. The project remains at an early stage, with no final investment decision, financing arrangements or project partners announced. If developed, it would mark Fertiglobe’s entry into phosphate fertilizers, complementing its existing urea and ammonia operations at Ain Sokhna through the EFC and EBIC plants.

The proposed complex would add to Egypt’s plans to expand domestic phosphate processing and strengthen its position in international fertilizer markets. Misr Phosphate and Indorama are separately developing a 600,000-tonne-a-year DAP and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) project at Ain Sokhna. Market conditions could support additional capacity, as sulfur costs and Chinese export restrictions have contributed to elevated DAP prices. Morocco’s OCP recently sold DAP to Bangladesh at $866 per tonne. If completed, Fertiglobe’s proposed plant could make Egypt a significant additional DAP supplier early next decade, although its prospects will depend on securing reliable phosphate rock and sulfur supplies.

Source: Egypt State Information Service

MIAX fertilizer futures for urea, MAP, DAP and potassium chloride were scheduled to become active on the exchange’s Onyx platform for the October 19 trade date, according to MIAX Futures exchange notices, giving the U.S. market its first physically settled contracts tied to New Orleans (NOLA) delivery. The exchange had not published first-day volume or open interest at the time of writing.

The four contracts, certified with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on October 1, trade in 25-short-ton lots and clear through the MIAX Futures Clearing House. The urea contract calls for free-flowing granular urea with at least 46% nitrogen. Physical delivery is designed to pull futures prices toward NOLA barge values as each contract nears expiry.

To seed liquidity, MIAX filed a fertilizer futures volume incentive program for proprietary trading groups and individual traders, plus a dedicated market maker program for the urea contract, both effective from the October 19 trade date. Cross-product spreads are available across all four contracts.

The launch follows a year in which U.S. retail prices for all eight major fertilizers moved above year-ago levels, according to DTN data, and as MIAX certified the NOLA contracts earlier this month. CME Group already lists cash-settled fertilizer swaps, so the key test for MIAX fertilizer futures is whether dealers and cooperatives use physical delivery to hedge.

Watch for early volume reports and the first delivery cycles, which will show whether futures converge with physical NOLA prices.

Uralchem Group is expanding sales of its own-brand fertilizers in Thailand, with distribution expected to reach 18 provinces in the near future. The company announced the plan at a dealer conference held Oct. 17–18 in Nonthaburi Province, which brought together representatives of 25 major local dealerships.

The product range available in Thailand includes premium granular complex fertilizers, water-soluble fertilizers and basic products such as urea, monoammonium phosphate and granular muriate of potash. Uralchem said its branded products are already sold in several parts of the country.

Konstantin Sharipov, the group’s international distribution development director, said the company had increased shipments to Thailand in recent years and planned to deepen engagement with farmers by offering products and services directly. The company cited demand for modern agricultural technologies as Thailand reforms its agricultural sector.

Brazil fertilizer imports scheduled at the country’s ports totaled 6.199 million metric tons in a line-up compiled from October 1 to 9, 2026, according to maritime agency Williams Brasil, as reported by Safras & Mercado on October 14.

The port of Santos in São Paulo state accounts for the largest share, at 2.211 million metric tons, or about 36% of the total. Paranaguá in Paraná follows with 972,820 metric tons, about 16%. The remaining roughly 3 million metric tons are spread across other Brazilian ports. The survey counts vessels already berthed, ships anchored offshore waiting to dock, and arrivals expected through December 24, 2026.

The October figure is about 10% above the 5.617 million metric tons in Williams Brasil’s September line-up. The rise follows a weak September, when Brazil fertilizer imports slumped 30% as buyers faced the highest prices since 2022. The line-up shows scheduled cargoes, not completed discharges, and Williams Brasil did not break the total down by product.

Brazil imports most of the fertilizer it uses, so line-up data is an early signal of how much product will reach farms for the 2026/27 soybean season. Watch whether the scheduled volume converts into discharges as freight and phosphate costs stay high.

Source: Safras & Mercado

The UN-backed Hormuz fertilizer plan remains unused, and its overseer warned on October 14, 2026, that parts of Asia and Africa could face a food security crisis unless the United States and Iran agree to activate it within weeks. Jorge Moreira da Silva, the UN under-secretary-general running the scheme, said in Bangkok that a deal is needed soon, adding: “Otherwise, we will miss the planting season.”

Under the proposal, a coordination center in Oman would register vessels and arrange safe passage, while UN monitors at Gulf ports would verify cargo loading. Ships would be tracked in transit, with extra inspections available if countries raise concerns. Moreira da Silva said the mechanism could start within 7 to 10 days of a U.S.-Iran agreement and that five vessels a day would keep supplies flowing to countries in critical need, toward the low end of the 3 to 7 ships a day the UN first outlined.

Before the war, the strait carried about a third of the world’s urea trade and nearly half of seaborne sulfur. The International Food Policy Research Institute said in September that Gulf fertilizer shipments remained largely halted, and that fertilizer was a negligible share of traffic during the mid-June to mid-July ceasefire. An August International Chamber of Commerce report estimated that continued disruption could lift cereal prices by up to 81%, oil crops by 66% and animal products by 30%.

Talks between Washington and Tehran have stalled since the June interim ceasefire collapsed. Attacks on cargo ships in the Black Sea and a Houthi offensive along the Red Sea route are adding to pressure on Hormuz fertilizer supply chains.

Source: Reuters via Arab News

At first glance, Coastal Roots Farm in Encinitas, California, looks like a relatively small organic farm. Its 17 acres include vegetable production fields, an education farm and gardens, a “food forest”, chickens and a composting operation. But agriculture is only one part of the organization’s operating model. Coastal Roots Farm describes itself as a community farm and education center guided by Jewish values and open to people of all backgrounds, with its work spanning regenerative agriculture, food access, environmental education and Jewish life.

That combination makes the farm less a conventional production operation than a community-focused agricultural platform. The organization grows more than 80,000 pounds of organic produce annually and donates more than 70% of its harvest to San Diego communities facing food insecurity, while also operating a pay-what-you-can farm stand, educational programs, camps, tours, volunteer activities and community events.

The model is now entering a new phase under CEO Kesha Dorsey, who was appointed to lead the organization in July 2026 after previously serving as its chief strategy officer and interim CEO.

Soil comes first

For Coastal Roots Farm, regenerative agriculture starts below the surface. The farm’s approach is built around soil fertility and nutrition, which its agricultural team describes as the foundation for crop health and the wider ecosystem. Crop rotation, cover crops, diverse planting, low- to no-tillage practices and compost application all support that objective. But among those practices, the farm identifies rotating chickens through production areas as one of the most significant sources of additional nutrition.

The chickens are brought onto areas where production pauses. Their manure adds nutrients, including nitrogen, while the temporary break from crop production gives the soil an opportunity to recover. Cover crops are then used to continue building fertility before the area returns to production.

Other practices maintain soil health during the growing cycle. Crop rotation reduces the likelihood that the same plant families will repeatedly encounter diseases that remain in the soil, while limited tillage helps minimize soil disturbance. Compost is added when beds are prepared and can also be applied as a top dressing.

The farm does not view these techniques as interchangeable parts of a formula. Instead, they form an interconnected system in which soil health is intended to make crops more resilient and reduce the need for interventions later in the production cycle.

That approach is also reflected in the farm’s pest-management strategy. Coastal Roots relies first on healthy plants, crop rotation and physical barriers such as floating row covers and bird netting. Farm workers may manually remove pests when necessary.

The farm also releases beneficial insects, including lacewings and parasitic wasps, and maintains herbs, flowers and other habitat intended to keep those organisms on the property. The approach is particularly well-suited to the farm’s educational mission: students visiting the site can see ecological relationships in practice rather than only learning about them in a classroom.

Parasitoid wasps

These wasps lay their eggs inside other insects, and the larvae eventually kill the host. They are generally harmless to people and can help control pest insects naturally.

When pest pressure becomes severe, Coastal Roots can use certified organic products such as BT. But the agricultural team describes such treatments as a last resort because even organically approved sprays can affect organisms beyond their intended targets.

A compost pile becomes part of the farm’s nutrient cycle

The farm’s compost operation illustrates the same philosophy in a more concentrated form. Coastal Roots sources materials from its surrounding community rather than purchasing conventional fertilizer inputs. Wood chips and manure come from a local horse stable, while local arborists provide wood chips from tree-trimming operations. Plant material from the farm and food scraps brought to the farm also become part of the nutrient stream. According to the farm, these materials are generally obtained at no cost, creating a reciprocal arrangement in which local businesses can avoid disposal costs while the farm gains raw material for compost.

The compost pile is constructed using roughly three parts carbon-rich material to one part nitrogen-rich material. The ingredients are layered, watered and placed over perforated PVC pipes that periodically introduce oxygen.

The objective is to maintain an aerobic decomposition process. Microorganisms consume the organic material, releasing heat as they metabolize it. The farm says the pile must reach more than 131 °F for at least three days, a temperature that helps to kill pathogens.

The active phase lasts about six weeks. The material is then moved off the aeration pipes and left to cure for another six weeks. During this period, the pile cools and continues decomposing, while beneficial microorganisms can repopulate the finished material.

After curing, the compost is sifted. Larger pieces that have not fully decomposed are returned to the compost operation, while the finer material is applied to production fields. The farm generally top-dresses beds with finished compost and may lightly rake it into the soil.

Another use for compost is compost tea. Finished compost is mixed with water to create a biologically active liquid that can be applied to plant leaves and soil.

The result is a nutrient cycle that connects the farm with its surrounding community: tree trimmings, manure, crop residues and food scraps become inputs for producing food, while the farm’s own organic residues return to the same cycle.

The farm also diverts significant quantities of material from disposal. Its 2025 third-quarter impact report, for example, recorded 21,980 pounds of waste diverted from landfills during the quarter and 76% of 22,291 pounds of organic food grown during that period donated through its food-access programs.

Regenerative agriculture meets the limits of Southern California

The model also reflects the realities of farming in Southern California. Coastal Roots Farm relies on city water, which the team describes as expensive, making conservation an operational necessity. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to crops, while mulch helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. In the “food forest”, berms and swales are designed to capture water and allow it to infiltrate rather than run off immediately.

Weather variability creates a separate challenge. The farm’s agricultural team said that a warm, dry winter can stress cool-season crops such as brassicas and lettuce. When plants are growing outside the conditions they are adapted to, they can become more vulnerable to pests and disease, increasing the need for organic pest-control products.

Heavy rain creates another problem. When precipitation does arrive, it can come in intense events, requiring the farm to prepare for flooding as well as drought and heat.

The experience illustrates one of the practical arguments behind the farm’s emphasis on soil: the goal is not simply to eliminate purchased inputs, but to build a production system capable of handling changing environmental conditions.

The scale question

Whether Coastal Roots Farm’s practices can be transferred directly to large-scale agriculture is less straightforward.

The farm describes itself as a small-scale production operation, and its team sees clear opportunities for practices such as crop rotation and cover cropping to be used on much larger farms. But diversification becomes more difficult as farms scale because it can reduce operational efficiency.

Integrating animals into crop production introduces another layer of complexity. Mobile chicken systems could theoretically be used on larger farms, but the Coastal Roots team said it was not familiar with examples demonstrating how such a system could work across hundreds of acres.

That qualification is important. Coastal Roots does not present itself as a blueprint that can simply be copied by large commodity farms. Instead, its team sees the operation as a collection of practices that other farms can adapt individually.

Some of that knowledge is already spreading through people. Former Coastal Roots farm employees have moved into other agricultural operations, while some have gone on to establish their own farms. The organization also works with academic institutions, including UC San Diego, where soil-related research is being conducted at the farm.

The current farm therefore functions partly as a demonstration site: a place where agricultural practices can be implemented, observed and tested in a real production environment.

Food access is part of the production model

The farm’s output is also deliberately disconnected from a conventional commercial model. More than 70% of the harvest is donated through partnerships with organizations involved in food relief. Produce is packed and delivered to partner organizations serving communities experiencing food insecurity.

The on-site farm stand operates differently. It functions like a farmers market but allows customers to receive up to a $30 discount when they need it. Coastal Roots says the pay-what-you-can model allows customers who can afford to pay the suggested price to help support access for others. Its website says about one-third of Farm Stand customers use the pay-what-you-can system.

The result is a production model in which the value of the harvest is measured not only by the amount of produce sold, but also by how much food reaches people who might otherwise have limited access to fresh organic produce.

The farm’s current website says it prioritizes low-income seniors and families, Holocaust survivors, active-duty military and veteran families, Latinx families, Indigenous and Native families and other community members experiencing barriers to fresh food.

A farm that is also a classroom

Education is another major component of the operation. Coastal Roots Farm works with school districts and other educational organizations to bring students onto the farm. Its current programs cover subjects ranging from soil health, compost and pollination to food systems, climate resilience, regenerative agriculture and food justice. Since 2014, the organization says it has reached more than 60,000 young people through education programs.

The farm runs a partnership with the Escondido Union School District, through which fourth-grade students learn about plant, animal and insect adaptations and the relationships between pests and their predators.

That can make an otherwise abstract agricultural concept tangible. A lesson about biological pest control can take place next to the crops where lacewings and parasitic wasps are actually being used. Compost can be examined next to the beds where it will eventually be applied.

The farm also runs camps, Nature Play, internships, volunteer programs and public tours. Its current public Farm Tours explicitly combine regenerative agriculture, food distribution, environmental education and Jewish values, turning the physical farm into a venue for explaining the organization’s broader operating model.

Building a nonprofit around multiple revenue streams

Running all of these activities requires an operating model that goes well beyond crop sales. Around 21% of Coastal Roots Farm’s annual budget comes from earned revenue, including the farm stand and programs such as summer camps and Nature Play. The remaining 79% is contributed capital raised through individual donations, grants and corporate funding. The organization maintains a development operation to support that fundraising.

That model has also forced the organization to confront the economics of growth. The farm’s FY26 budget had reached $4.4 million, but management concluded that level was not sustainable. The organization subsequently reduced its annual budget for FY27 to $4 million (7.4% or $325k reduction), with the stated objective of preserving its core activities while becoming more disciplined in allocating resources.

That financial adjustment comes as Coastal Roots enters a leadership transition. Dorsey was named CEO in July after serving as interim CEO during the departure of Javier Guerrero, who led the organization from 2018 until April 2026. According to the farm’s board, during Guerrero’s tenure, the farm expanded annual food production from about 40,000 pounds to 80,000 pounds and education programs to more than 12,000 young people annually.

Dorsey’s appointment therefore comes at a point when Coastal Roots is balancing two objectives: maintaining the breadth of a community institution while making the organization financially sustainable.

More than a farm

The defining feature of Coastal Roots Farm may ultimately be that farming is not treated as a standalone activity. The crops provide food. The chickens contribute to soil fertility. Compost converts local waste streams into a farm input. The fields become classrooms. The harvest becomes a food-access program. The farm stand becomes both a source of earned revenue and a mechanism for subsidizing access. Events and camps provide additional revenue while bringing people onto the property.

The organization itself describes its mission as cultivating healthy, connected communities through sustainable agriculture, food justice, and ancient Jewish wisdom.

For large-scale agriculture, not every element of the model is immediately transferable. A 17-acre community farm with a diversified mission operates under different conditions from a several-hundred-acre commodity operation. Coastal Roots’ own team acknowledges that diversification can reduce efficiency and that more large-scale examples are needed to demonstrate how regenerative practices can work at a commercial scale.

But the farm offers a different proposition: rather than attempting to prove that one complete system can replace another, it demonstrates how individual agricultural practices can be combined with education, community engagement, food access and diversified revenue.

That makes Coastal Roots Farm more than an agricultural operation. It is also a gathering place, a source of inspiration, and a living example of how farming can strengthen communities by fostering a sense of belonging and reducing social isolation.

A global food crisis is “no longer a distant risk,” according to a new S&P Global Institute report that links the Strait of Hormuz disruption, a diesel squeeze and a strong El Niño into one compounding shock for farmers. The October 19 paper, written by Daniel Yergin, Shankari Srinivasan, Allan Pickett and Simon Blakey, is the institute’s first major report.

Roughly 29% of global urea trade normally passes through Hormuz, alongside nearly half of seaborne sulfur and about 21% of merchant ammonia, the authors said. South Asia is doubly exposed: Gulf producers supply much of India’s imported urea, while LNG underpins about 85% of India’s domestic urea output. In Bangladesh, four of five urea plants have stopped since March 2026 for lack of LNG.

Diesel adds a second squeeze. The crude-to-diesel spread, historically $12 to $20 per barrel, topped $100 in early September, the report said. Faced with both costs, farmers in exposed regions will either cut fertilizer application rates or plant less.

S&P Global has already trimmed its Brazil corn forecast by 6 million tonnes to 137 million tonnes and soybeans by 6 million tonnes to 177 million tonnes, with a probability-weighted soybean estimate of 168 million tonnes once El Niño and reduced phosphate use are factored in. The effect on food prices may lag until 2027, because farmers buy inputs months before selling a crop.

The report lands as a UN mechanism to move fertilizer ships through Hormuz still awaits U.S. and Iranian approval.

Global food crisis risk: key questions answered

Fertilizer producers can use continuous inline concentration measurements to monitor process conditions and identify deviations before they affect product quality, assures German measurement technology supplier SensoTech. Its LiquiSonic system measures sonic velocity and temperature directly in process liquids to calculate concentration using product-specific calibration data.

The technology is intended for several stages of nitrogen fertilizer production, including ammonium nitrate neutralization and evaporation, urea concentration and the blending of urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) solutions. In urea production, continuous readings can help operators maintain target concentrations during evaporation while avoiding unnecessary energy use. In ammonium nitrate production, measurements can support control of the solution before downstream processes such as prilling or granulation.

For UAN solutions, which combine urea, ammonium nitrate, and water, SensoTech says it uses ultrasonic measurements alongside conductivity readings to monitor the mixture’s composition. The company says this can make changes visible during blending rather than after laboratory sample results become available.

The system can also be applied in ammonia and nitric acid synthesis and in phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizer production, including superphosphate, monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP). Sensors can be installed in pipelines, vessels or reactors, or in a bypass, and readings can be sent to plant control systems through analog outputs or fieldbus interfaces.

Continuous measurement may help plants reduce off-spec batches, rework and manual sampling, while improving process control. SensoTech notes that laboratory analyses remain part of quality assurance and that economic benefits depend on the plant configuration and existing operating practices.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $86.6 million in 609 projects aimed at improving the competitiveness of specialty crops, the agency announced Oct. 13. Funding will be distributed through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program across 56 states and territories, with state agencies issuing subawards for initiatives serving producers of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticultural products and nursery crops.

The grants can support food-safety improvements, research, development of crop and seed varieties, pest and disease management, consumer education and efforts to reduce the cost of bringing specialty crops to market. The Agricultural Marketing Service administers the program.

Among the allocations highlighted by USDA, Florida will direct more than $4.3 million to research, education, outreach and marketing involving mangoes, blueberries, sweet corn and muscadine grapes. Michigan will receive more than $2.64 million for projects involving crops including apples, asparagus, beans, blueberries, herbs, mushrooms and grapes. Texas plans to use more than $2 million for projects involving grapes, watermelons, pecans, onions and spinach, while Georgia will support research, education and marketing for crops including pecans, blueberries, peppers, strawberries, peaches, apples, Vidalia onions and citrus.

USDA said the full list of funded projects is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program webpage.

SaskWorks Venture Fund is leading a Series A investment in ClearCost, a Saskatchewan-based agricultural technology company developing a digital marketplace for bulk fertilizer transactions. Motiv Ventures also participated in the round. The companies did not disclose the size of the investment.

Founded in 2024, ClearCost says its platform is designed to bring price discovery, logistics, payments and settlement into one fertilizer-specific commodity trading and risk-management system. The company plans to launch a redeveloped version across North America in the first quarter of 2027. Chief Executive Keith Busch said the platform is intended to help agricultural businesses manage transaction risks and gain greater control over input costs. ClearCost has also appointed Ricky Lai as chief technology officer and David Pupo as chief commercial officer.

“The leadership team has demonstrated a clear vision and roadmap to disrupt the way bulk fertilizer is purchased,” said Jeff Linner, chief investment officer at PFM Capital, which manages SaskWorks. Motiv Ventures Chief Executive Clark Lai said the fertilizer market presents an opportunity to improve transparency, efficiency and trust.