Agririgo is an AI-powered farm management platform that creates digital twins of African farms, tracking assets and field conditions to provide ranked actions for optimization. It also offers RigoTrace, a traceability system designed to help farms comply with EU and US regulations for agricultural exports.
Vertical farming—growing plants in stacked layers using hydroponics, aeroponics, or other soil-less methods—is reshaping food production in response to climate change, water scarcity, and urbanization. These systems can reduce water use by 70–95%, shorten supply chains, and allow food production in cities using repurposed buildings, while raising questions about the sensory and cultural dimensions of agriculture.
In 2013, Mark Post unveiled the first lab-grown beef burger at a London event funded by Google co-founder Sergey Brin, costing $330,000 to produce. The burger received mixed reviews for texture but bland taste, yet sparked a global rush of 140 companies and $3 billion in investment into cultivated meat as a potential solution to climate change and food sustainability.
New Mexico has become the nation's leading pecan producer since 2018, with vast groves along the Rio Grande sustained by irrigation from the Elephant Butte Dam completed in 1916. However, pecan farming—the state's largest agricultural water user—consumes an estimated 93 billion gallons annually, straining water resources amid a 25-year drought affecting the region.
X posts discuss emerging real-world asset (RWA) infrastructure developments, including futures and options launches, tokenization initiatives on Sidra Chain with logistics and mobility partners, agricultural blockchain applications through Dimitra, and private credit infrastructure via SAFIX.
John Boyd Jr., a fourth-generation farmer in southwest Virginia and founder of the National Black Farmers Association, faces record diesel prices now exceeding $7 per gallon, nearly double year-ago levels, forcing him to reallocate farm finances during corn harvest. The national diesel average has climbed above $6.51 per gallon following U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran on February 28, disrupting Middle East oil shipments and tightening global fuel supplies. Boyd warns of a national farm crisis, noting over 400 Black farmers risk losing their operations without financial assistance.
A website tracks daily US food prices from farm gate to supermarket, sourcing data from the USDA. The latest report shows significant price movements in onions and other commodities, with detailed wholesale and retail pricing data updated every business day.
A newsletter article explores salt's overlooked historical importance in the 17th-18th centuries, when it was considered as essential as grain and fuel, shaped military campaigns, and significantly improved food quality and living standards, yet remains largely absent from economic histories of growth.
US President Trump's 50% tariff on Canadian dairy products, effective August 22, has halted cross-border sales and created uncertainty for Canadian dairy farmers who depend on processors to distribute their milk. Farmers like Casey Pruim warn that if processors lose US market access, they may reduce milk purchases, forcing farms to dump milk or reduce herd sizes, since milk production cannot be quickly adjusted.
Diesel fuel in the U.S. has reached a record high of $6.45 per gallon, a 74% increase year-over-year, driven by supply disruptions from the Russia-Ukraine war, Iran conflict, and closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Higher diesel costs are expected to ripple through trucking, agriculture, and other industries, ultimately raising prices for consumers on food and everyday goods since diesel powers much of the nation's freight network.
Warren Buffett's 71-year-old son Howard became Berkshire Hathaway's chairman after his father stepped down, transitioning from a career as a farmer, sheriff, war photographer, and foundation leader. Howard will serve as a guardian of Berkshire's culture and values rather than manage day-to-day operations, which remain under CEO Greg Abel. He also helps distribute his father's $145 billion fortune through family foundations.
North Carolina farmer Matt Bell, who voted for Trump, describes severe financial hardship from doubled diesel costs tied to Iran conflict and supply chain disruptions, plus tariff-driven increases in fertilizer and equipment expenses. Despite cutting operational costs significantly, Bell says farmers are in survival mode with no further cuts possible, while China's soybean tariffs complicate market recovery despite Trump's deal announcement.