Global Climate News

The Government of Canada is investing an additional **$75 million** in the **AgriMarketing Program** over **5 years**, starting in **2026-27**, announced by the Honourable Heath MacDonald in Charlottetown. - **Program expansion and eligibility:** The additional **$75 million (over 5 years starting 2026-27)** will enhance the AgriMarketing Program to support **national industry associations** in agriculture, fish and seafood sectors to diversify markets; the Government is **exploring inclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises** as eligible recipients and will hold **targeted discussions with stakeholders in the coming weeks** on implementation. - **Background and export context:** The program funds activities such as **trade missions, international exhibitions, market research, branding campaigns, exporter training and advocacy** to reduce trade barriers; Canada’s agri-food export figures cited include **$92.2 billion** in agriculture and agri-food exports in 2024 (vs. $91.6 billion in 2023) and **nearly $100.3 billion** globally for agri-food, fish and seafood combined in 2024 (vs. $99.2 billion in 2023).

The Nature Returns programme, led by Natural England in partnership with the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, has published results demonstrating nature-based solutions' carbon and flood benefits. - **Programme achievements and interventions:** Over four years the six Local Partnership Projects across England delivered **800 hectares of habitat created**, **95,000 trees and shrubs planted**, **16 km of hedgerow restored**, **2.5 km of watercourses improved**, and engaged **over 7,000 people** with **400 volunteer days**. Projects trialled **3D laser scanning** to measure hedgerow carbon (finding hedgerows can rival woodlands) and identified **soil fungi** as an indicator for soil carbon; practical interventions included **leaky dams** that reduced peak flows by **12%** in Plymouth’s Seaton Valley. - **Funding, partnerships and monitoring:** The programme was funded by **HM Treasury’s Shared Outcomes Fund** and **Defra’s Net Zero R&D budget**, and worked with partners to develop **blended public-private finance models**. Sites will be monitored for **10 years** to track long-term carbon storage and biodiversity, with lessons feeding into England’s forthcoming **Land Use Framework**.

The Forestry Commission, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Animal and Plant Health Agency provide guidance on preventing and managing tree pests and diseases in the UK (page updated 26 September 2025). - **Main action:** The guidance explains prevention, reporting and management routes including **TreeAlert** for reporting suspected pests/diseases, and references key strategy documents: **England tree health management plan**, **England tree health resilience strategy**, and the **plant biosecurity strategy for Great Britain**. It lists transmission pathways (movements of plants/wood, wind/water, contaminated vehicles/equipment) and links to UK plant health resources and registers. - **Funding and targeted measures:** The page details funding schemes and pilots: the **tree health pilot** (grants for larch with Phytophthora ramorum; spruce with or at risk of Ips typographus; sweet chestnut with Phytophthora ramorum or sweet chestnut blight; oak with oak processionary moth; ash with ash dieback) and the **Woodland tree health grant** (part of the Countryside Stewardship scheme) with **restoration** and **improvement** grant types; updates to the page and scheme links were made on **26 September 2025**.

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) published Working Paper No.1292 on 26 September 2025 analysing the macroeconomic effects of weather disasters across up to 151 countries for 2000–24. - **Main analysis and findings:** The paper uses **panel local projections** to estimate cumulative effects on GDP over **16 quarters** and on prices over **12 months**, studying seven disaster types (cold waves, droughts, floods, heat waves, landslides, storms, wildfires). It reports **average-sized droughts, landslides and wildfires** reduce GDP by **−2%**, **−1%** and **−0.4%** respectively over four years; and finds **larger, more persistent increases in food prices** versus other CPI components. - **Scope, data and policy-relevant details:** Sample sizes vary by analysis: **89 countries** for quarterly real GDP growth (2000–24), **54–131 countries** for sectoral annual output, and **151 countries** for monthly inflation components. The paper highlights affected sectors (agriculture-forestry-fishing; mining-construction-water-energy) and notes that **fiscal space and insurance** can mitigate disaster impacts.

The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture jointly signed an MOU with National Pingtung University of Science and Technology to establish a campus-based demonstration center for sustainable energy and climate change. - **Main announcement/action:** On 114-09-26 (Minguo calendar), the **Ministry of Environment**, **Ministry of Agriculture**, and **National Pingtung University of Science and Technology** signed an **MOU** (witnessed by Legislators 鍾佳濱 and 蘇清泉 and the **Pingtung County Government**) to build the "Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Demonstration Center" on **about 300 hectares** of campus land; agreed activities include **waste collection**, **energy conversion (biomass-to-energy)**, and **resource reuse** to create a circular economy pilot on-site. - **Background and implementation details:** The project will leverage Pingtung’s agricultural scale to pilot a **Taiwan biomass energy model**, develop **natural carbon sink and carbon capture technologies**, and offer professional training courses to cultivate **green-collar talent**; the MOU sets collaboration scope (research, demonstration, replication) but **no specific multi-year implementation timeline** is specified in the announcement.

Minister John Steenhuisen announced South Africa is hosting the International Berry Organisation conference in Cape Town and outlined departmental commitments to support the berry sector. - **Main announcement & concrete details:** Minister Steenhuisen highlighted market access and production figures: **production grew from < 3 000 tons in 2018 to > 21 000 tons in 2022**, **severe frost in Groblersdal wiped out 60–70% of early cultivars causing estimated losses of 2 000–3 000 tons**, **exports rose 7% to surpass 22 500 tons**, and volumes are **projected to exceed 46 000 tons by 2033**. He confirmed **market access protocols finalised or near completion for India, Israel and Vietnam**, negotiations advancing with **Thailand and South Korea**, and that **GACC (China) is conducting a risk assessment for cherries and blueberries** (feedback expected in due course). - **Background, challenges and departmental priorities:** The Minister noted challenges including **rising costs, currency volatility and logistics disruptions**, cited BFAP data that **blueberries absorb >4 jobs per hectare**, and set out departmental Strategic Plan priorities: **expand research & innovation**, **reform logistics**, **invest in water-efficient production systems**, and **strengthen labour-intensive horticulture** to leverage intra-African demand under the African Continental Free Trade Area; the speech also referenced that Africa accounts for **about USD12 billion in fresh produce exports globally**.

Revyve has announced a Series B financing round of nearly €24 million to accelerate commercial rollout and scale production of functional yeast proteins that replace eggs and additives. - **Main announcement:** Revyve raised **nearly €24 million** in a Series B co-led by **ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund** and **Invest-NL**, with support from **Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM)**, **Danstar Ferment (Lallemand Bio-Ingredients)**, **Grey Silo Ventures**, and follow-on participation from **Oost NL** and **Royal Cosun**; the funding will be used to **modularly scale production** and expand commercial rollout to additional food categories and larger global customers, increasing output to **over 1,600 tons per year** at its Dinteloord facility. - **Background & details:** Revyve commissioned a FOAK production site in **Dinteloord, Netherlands** in 2024 (currently running at capacity for several customers); the company serves customers across **Europe, UK, USA, Canada, Mexico and Australia**; planned industry appearances this autumn include: - Anuga — **4-8 October**, Cologne, **Hall 01.2 | Stand D028g-E029g** (showcase latest applications) - Food ingredients Europe — **2-4 December**, Paris, **Stand #73J23** (showcase latest applications and partnerships)

The UK government has appointed Alan Laidlaw as England’s first Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector. - **Appointment details:** Alan Laidlaw, an experienced CEO with **over 25 years’ experience** in agriculture and land management, will act as an **impartial point of contact** for tenants, landlords and advisors; his responsibilities include **investigating complaints, tracking trends, offering guidance, and reporting regularly**. He will promote the **Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice** and work closely with **Defra** and the **Farm Tenancy Forum** to support the sector that manages **around one-third of England’s farmland**. - **Background and context:** Alan previously served on the senior management team at **The Crown Estate**, where he managed a **250,000-acre UK-wide rural portfolio** and introduced **innovative tenancy agreements and co-investment models** to deliver sustainable revenue growth for tenants and landowners; the appointment is stated to deliver on government commitments under the **Plan for Change**, and has been welcomed by the **Tenant Farmers Association**.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change in federal policy-making. - **Main announcement/action:** EESI convened a briefing that provided a **foundational understanding of AI’s role in the climate and energy arena**, highlighting trade-offs where **AI can boost climate resilience and economic competitiveness** while also increasing **energy demand, greenhouse gas emissions, and water usage**; speakers included **Ahmed Aziz Ezzat** and **Fatima Ahmad**, and speaker slides are available for download. - **Background and details:** Panelists discussed the **massive energy and water needs of data centers** running AI algorithms and concrete AI applications such as **precision agriculture**, **resilient grid infrastructure**, and **improved weather forecasting**; the briefing noted the federal role in R&D at the **Department of Energy’s National Laboratories** and examined **Congress’s role** in aligning AI development and use with global emissions reduction and adaptation goals.

The Honourable Heath MacDonald will host a roundtable with Prince Edward Island agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture stakeholders to discuss recently announced investments to reduce trade barriers and expand domestic and international market opportunities. - **Event purpose and main action:** The roundtable will focus on **recently announced investments** that will fund activities to **reduce trade barriers** and **seize new opportunities domestically and abroad**; media will be invited to a **scrum after the roundtable**. - **Event logistics and contact details:** - **Date & time:** September 26, 2025 at 2 pm (ADT). - **Location:** Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. - **Registration deadline:** 1 pm ADT on Friday, September 26, 2025; media should register by emailing **aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca** with name and media outlet. - **Contacts:** Axandre Lemours, Special Assistant – Communications Advisor, Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (axandre.lemours@agr.gc.ca; 613-773-7972). General Media Relations: aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca; 613-773-7972 / 1-866-345-7972.

National Taiwan University Department of Agricultural Chemistry invites applications for one faculty position in "Soil Science and Soil Carbon Sink" starting 1 August 2026. - **Main announcement/action:** The Department is recruiting **one** faculty member (rank: Assistant/Associate/Professor) in **Soil Science and Soil Carbon Sink**, **start date 2026-08-01**, requiring teaching of undergraduate courses **"Soil Science"** and **"Soil Science Lab"** and graduate electives related to **soil science and net zero**; candidates must hold a **Ph.D.** in a related field and research experience in **climate change and carbon credit** is preferred. Application materials (items 1–8) must be combined into a **single PDF** and submitted by **2025-12-12** via **htchen@ntu.edu.tw**, with two recommendation letters sent directly by referees to the same email. - **Background and application details:** Required materials include a cover letter (indicating desired rank), CV with photo, Ph.D. diploma copy and transcripts (or institution/advisor statement if no coursework), publication list, one representative SCI(S) research paper published after **2021-08-01** (first or corresponding author) or Ph.D. thesis for recent graduates, reprints/acceptances since **2019-08-01**, research/teaching plan, and other supporting documents; inquiries may be directed to **Prof. Chwan-Yang Hong** (Tel: **+886-2-33663839**, Fax: **(02)23633123**, E-mail: **cyhong@ntu.edu.tw**).