AGP Executive Report

EU-Canada Trade & Energy Politics: France’s Macron backs a Canada-EU rapprochement, while Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet warns any deal must not become a “Trojan horse” for exporting gas and oil. Food Prices & Fuel Costs: Europe’s diesel crisis is worsening, with France hitting a new diesel price record and analysts warning higher imported food prices could follow. Olive Oil Market Watch: Greece’s 2026/27 olive oil season opens with lower prices, but producers are watching Spain’s harvest size closely for the next price swing. Biodiversity & Bees: IUCN has added wild EU honeybee populations to its Red List as endangered, projecting major declines if beekeeping inputs don’t increase. Food Security Under Pressure: Saint Martin’s leaders are debating how to boost local food supply amid fuel-price strain, port disruptions and invasive species threats. Ukraine & Food Security: Zelensky says he’ll meet Trump during UN week, with energy and food security among the topics as Russia steps up strikes. High-Mountain Gastronomy: Andorra Taste highlights high-altitude cuisine and international chef participation, positioning gastronomy as a tourism draw.

Heat-Resilient Farming: French cereal farmers are trialling African sorghum to cope with repeated heatwaves, with cultivation expanding as the crop thrives in hotter conditions. Animal Health Alert: Bulgaria’s Food Safety Agency confirmed sheep and goat pox in a Plovdiv-region village, triggering protection and surveillance zones plus movement restrictions. Hospital Food Push: Dutch hospitals are rolling out a fully plant-based seven-day meal blueprint, built to hit protein targets and support the country’s sustainable healthcare goals. Food Diplomacy: India’s “gastrodiplomacy” debate is back in focus after BRICS dinner menus sparked criticism over vegetarian choices, even as India has served non-veg at other state banquets. Real Ale Culture: A UK cask ale campaign urges pub-goers to support local breweries and try cask-conditioned “real ale” as Oktoberfest season kicks off. Food Industry M&A: Robam plans a USD 175m move to buy a 60% stake in iTronics to expand its overseas kitchen thermometer business across Europe and North America. Crisis on the Plate (Cuba): In Havana, the Catholic Church is stepping in as Cuba’s power and supply shortages deepen, offering a social safety net for struggling families.

Oktoberfest & Beer Culture: Lufthansa is marking Oktoberfest 2026 with new Bavarian crew uniforms, themed onboard menus and Bavarian beer in German lounges, rolling out from 19 September. Food Safety Watch: Bulgaria’s Food Safety Agency reports an avian flu (influenza A) outbreak at a mule duck facility near Plovdiv, with protection and surveillance zones and planned cleaning/disinfection. Retail & Food Demand: UK retail sales volumes rose 0.5% in August (defying forecasts), with food sales among the categories up as households keep shopping despite cost pressures. Food & Trade Risk: Great Lakes shipping is under strain as US-Canada tariffs imperil iron ore flows, a reminder of how trade frictions can ripple into food supply chains. Health & Food Security Context: Research on Australia’s pre-colonial population highlights how disease and food supply destruction drove major collapses—useful context for today’s food-system resilience debates. Energy Pressure on Food Costs: Fiji secured US$210m ADB financing to bolster fiscal resilience and disaster preparedness as higher fuel and food costs weigh on agriculture and households.

Russia-Ukraine Business Shock: Nestlé says it’s assessing options after the Kremlin placed its Russian food unit under temporary external administration, alongside Auchan assets—another sign of widening state seizures of Western-owned firms. EU Energy & Food Costs: Eurozone finance ministers in Dublin weighed an oil-and-gas windfall tax as prices stay high, warning of renewed inflation pressure on households and businesses. Spanish Cost-of-Living Crunch: Spain is negotiating how to extend support for households and the agri-food supply chain beyond 30 September as fuel and grocery prices bite. Oktoberfest Opens: Munich’s Oktoberfest kicked off with crowds racing for beer-tent spots, with the festival expected to draw 6+ million visitors over 16 days. Beer Label Reality Check (UK): A study claims 39 “foreign” beers sold in Britain are actually brewed in the UK, including Madri and Stella Artois. Food Culture Under Pressure (Spain): Spain’s midday aperitivo ritual is reportedly being squeezed by tourist habits and table-turning demands. Innovation in Ice Cream (China): China’s ice cream market keeps growing as expos showcase creative, export-ready flavours. Retail & Traceability (Aldi): Aldi faces shopper questions about salmon sourcing as it reiterates its seafood sustainability and traceability policy. Israel Wine Demand Slips: Israel’s wine industry is battling falling demand as younger drinkers cut alcohol and consumers trade down.

Russia-asset clampdown on food firms: Putin signed a decree putting temporary Russian management over European retailers, including Nestlé’s Russian entities and Auchan’s Russian unit, citing “unfriendly” ownership. EU beef health rules: The EU banned Brazilian beef and poultry from Sept 3 over antibiotic and welfare assurances, raising knock-on fears for UK beef prices if stock reroutes. Azerbaijan & FAO green farming: Azerbaijan took part in an FAO interregional dialogue on greening agrifood systems in Budapest, with a field visit to Hungary’s regenerative landscape examples. Food security finance: ADB approved $210m in Fiji loans to cushion fuel and food price shocks and strengthen disaster readiness. Agri-food investment in Canada: Farm Credit Canada launched a $1bn agri-food processing finance fund plus a $150m equity fund to close processing capacity gaps. Heat and food risk backdrop: A UN warning says current climate policies put the world on track for at least 1.8°C warming, with Europe heatwaves already hitting food systems. Italy travel food culture: A guide highlights common visitor mistakes in Italy—especially sticking to the same dishes—urging diners to try more local specialities.

Food & Health: A new study links daily sugary drinks with a higher risk of gastric cancer, adding to growing concerns about sugar-sweetened beverages. Packaging & Sustainability: ALPLA and CCL Label unveiled a stackable 0.33-litre PET beverage can designed to look like metal, run on existing PET lines, and use a detachable shrink sleeve to aid recycling. Legal & Environment: A French appeal court ordered a fresh hearing in the Nestlé Waters case over alleged illegal waste dumping near bottling sites, after earlier rulings excluded key test reports. Russia Business Shock: Russia seized residual Nestlé and other French firms’ assets, with Nestlé saying it is assessing options; separately, Putin extended Russia’s Western food import ban through 2028. EU Food Systems: A Nature Food report says the world is on track to meet just one 2030 food-systems target, with greenhouse-gas goals far off. Trade & Prices: Undercurrent proposed new Europe-bound Ecuadorian vannamei shrimp price assessments to improve export-level pricing transparency. UK Coffee Retail: Greggs overtook Costa as the UK’s biggest branded coffee operator after further expansion.

EU Aviation Fuel Push: EASA says EU sustainable aviation fuel supply hit 2.8% in 2025 (1.1m tonnes), up from 193,000 tonnes in 2024, with SAF delivered at 121 airports—on track for the 6% 2030 blending target. Health & Nutrition: A new study links daily sugary drink intake with higher gastric cancer risk, adding to concerns about sugar-sweetened beverages. Agri-Tech & Fertiliser Efficiency: A University of Minnesota dataset maps crop-specific fertiliser use from 1980-2022, highlighting where overuse persists and where better targeting could cut pollution while feeding more people. Food Industry Regulation Watch: UK regulators are scrutinising the $65bn Unilever–McCormick food merger. Wine & Culture: Spain’s “fino” sherry is getting a spotlight as a dry, tapas-friendly style that can surprise newcomers. Hospitality Openings: High Stakes by Bartolotta opens in downtown Milwaukee with an international steak and Mediterranean seafood focus.

Food Security Shock: Europe’s potato crop is reeling after a run of summer heatwaves, with an estimated 3.1m tonnes wiped out and frozen-fries exports squeezed—expect smaller, pricier fries. Public Health & Nutrition: A new study links daily sugary drinks with higher gastric cancer risk, adding to concerns over sugar-sweetened beverages. EU Food Policy: The EU is moving to expand plant-based label restrictions, weeks after record heatwaves pushed the debate back into focus. Animal Health: EFSA and the European Commission are rolling out practical #NoBirdFlu biosecurity steps to help farmers cut bird flu risk. Wine & Grapes: Spain’s APAG Extremadura ASAJA is demanding grape-price recovery as harvest volumes come in lower than expected. Retail & Hospitality Tech: European malls are accelerating food-court automation, swapping staffed counters for robot kiosks. Packaging Innovation: Tageos has launched microwave-compatible RAIN RFID inlays for packaged food, aiming to keep tags on packs through heating and traceability needs. Organic Farming Spotlight: A Cork organic farmer has reached the finals of the European Organic Awards.

Health & Nutrition: A new study links daily sugary drink intake with a higher risk of gastric cancer, with participants drinking at least one sugary beverage per day showing a 32% higher risk over 12 years. EU Policy: The European Parliament voted to drop the CBAM “emergency clause” that could temporarily suspend the carbon border tax in market shocks, amid fears it could weaken incentives to cut emissions. Food Security & Farming: UN experts warn that seed-saving and seed-sharing are being criminalised under industrial seed rules, with penalties reaching up to 15 years in some countries—hitting small farmers and women hardest. EU Politics: Ursula von der Leyen used her 2026 State of the Union to push an “Alliance for the Future” with Canada, covering tech, defence, energy, critical minerals, AI and economic security. Packaging & Materials: UPM is extending PFAS-free grease-resistant label tech for food packaging, aiming to reduce chemical exposure in everyday supply chains. Local Food Culture: New York’s Little Spain is being co-named “Little Spain–La Nacional Way,” celebrating Spanish immigrant food and community institutions.

Food inflation & cost pressure: UK food and non-alcoholic drink inflation stayed at 1.3% in August, but wider CPI jumped to 3.1% as transport—especially motor fuels—kept households under strain, with manufacturers warning energy, ingredients and logistics costs are still feeding through. EU policy & kids online: The European Commission backed a “Kids Act” approach: no social media access under 13, mini-accounts for 13–<15 supervised by parents, and “safe design” duties for platforms for 15–18. Health research: New studies link sugary drinks with higher gastric cancer risk, while another review ties muscle loss (sarcopenia) to greater dementia risk. UK–EU biotech rules: BeneMeat warns a proposed UK–EU SPS deal could limit UK autonomy on novel food approvals, slowing investment in cultivated meat. New product launches: Sunny & Luna is expanding into fresh Italian sauces in UK supermarkets, and McDonald’s UK is running “World Heist 2.0” with new breakfast items. Food safety enforcement: A Seoul court fined a two-Michelin-star restaurant for serving a dessert topped with ants, citing local food law violations.

Health & Nutrition: A new study in Cancer Epidemiology links daily sugary drinks to higher gastric cancer risk, with a 32% increase in a 78,000-person cohort and even steeper risk in U.S. data. Food Retail & Imports: Schnucks launches its Culinaria Italian Table private label (40+ Italian-made pastas, sauces, oils and vinegars) with a 25% discount through Oct. 13, aiming to undercut pricier specialty imports. Beverage Industry: Keurig Dr Pepper Canada names Iannick Melançon and Ryan Bahadur to lead its coffee and refreshment businesses as it moves toward separation into Global Coffee Co. and Beverage Co. Agri-Food Policy (Ireland): Tánaiste Simon Harris signals Budget 2027 support focused on fertiliser, fodder and fuel, while Macra urges ring-fenced CAP funding for generational renewal. Trade & Food Security (Ukraine): Zelenskyy says partners are working on a diplomatic mechanism to protect Ukraine’s food exports amid attacks and logistics strain. Sustainability & Food Supply: ESA put two satellites into orbit—FLEX to track heatwave stress on vegetation and Sentinel-3C to monitor seas and land use to help prevent food crises.

Inflation Watch (France): France’s CPI rose 2.4% year-on-year in August, up from 2.1% in July, with energy prices driving the jump and food also edging higher. Heat & Wine Regulation: Record heat in Champagne has pushed regulators to temporarily allow some bottles to reach up to 15% ABV (from the usual 13%) after grapes built unusually high sugar levels. Food Safety & Health: A new study links daily sugary drink intake with higher gastric cancer risk, adding to growing concerns over sugar-sweetened beverages. Circular Packaging (Sri Lanka): An EU-funded CIRCULAR project will fund three grants (€110,000 total) for university research on cutting single-use plastics across Colombo and Galle food value chains. Hospitality & Retail (UK): M&S is expanding “Surprise Bags” via Too Good To Go to 354 stores, selling surplus bakery items for £3.80. Brand & Product Expansion (Germany): Magnum is adding Ben & Jerry’s pint production capacity at its Heppenheim factory as part of a €30m site expansion. Food Business (Sri Lanka): Beach Wadiya, a well-known seafood shack, is fighting a demolition order tied to a coastal clean-up plan. Agrifood Supply Resilience (Poland): Grupa Azoty is reconsidering fertilizer capacity plans as supply shocks and food-security concerns shift the economics of domestic production.

Health & Nutrition: A new study links daily sugary drink intake with a higher risk of gastric cancer, reporting a 32% higher risk among people who drink at least one sugary beverage per day, adding to mounting concerns over sugar-sweetened drinks. Food Safety & Environment: Cesco says its microplastics testing lab has expanded KOLAS-accredited capability to analyse microplastics in water under ISO 16094-2, with certified reports and work tied to Horizon Europe. Supply Chains & Climate: A report flags climate bottlenecks across “farm to fork”, from heat and drought cutting yields to disrupted transport and higher spoilage costs. EU Policy & Compliance: The EU AI Act is now enforceable, with guidance on how firms should plan compliance to avoid major legal exposure. Agrifood Diplomacy: The EU warns Sudan’s war is becoming increasingly regional and calls for turning diplomacy into practical action—relevant for food security and logistics. Business (Food Retail): Cumberland Farms (ex-EG Group) reports 20% year-on-year adjusted EBITDA growth in Q2, driven by fuel margins and grocery/merchandise performance.

Health & Nutrition: A new study links daily sugary drink intake to higher gastric cancer risk, with participants drinking at least one sugary beverage per day facing a 32% higher risk (and a separate U.S. analysis suggesting more than twice the risk for frequent consumers). Climate & Food Supply: Europe’s scorching summer is shrinking crops and hitting food exports, with drought and heat damaging everything from Belgium’s fruit and processed potato supply (key for fries) to France’s corn harvest and wider farm output. Policy & Procurement: The EU’s proposed Public Procurement Act could shift public buying toward “best price quality ratio” and give schools, hospitals and canteens more room to prioritise sustainability and supply-chain resilience. UK Hospitality Pressure: More than 800 hospitality businesses back calls to cut UK hospitality VAT from 20% to 10%, arguing higher costs are forcing closures and job losses. Industry Growth: Scotland’s salmon sector says demand is strong but expansion is being constrained by regulatory barriers, calling for “better regulation” rather than less oversight. Food Culture: Paella remains the top Spanish dish in global online searches, underlining its continued international pull.

Cancer & Diet: A new study links daily sugary drink intake with higher gastric cancer risk, adding to concerns about sugar-sweetened beverages. UK Retail & Alcohol: Tesco and M&S are expanding miniature wine ranges as shoppers look for lower waste and smaller pours. Food Safety & Health: Research suggests avoiding late-night eating may help protect cognition in older adults, shifting focus from only “what” to also “when.” EU Border Tech: Several EU states reportedly delayed the entry-exit system after airport chaos and software issues, affecting non-EU travellers’ experience. Trade & Spirits: Trump says US tariffs on Irish whiskey will be removed, a potential win for the €450m export market. Agrifood Security: Ukraine warns Russia’s Black Sea attacks have halted navigation, threatening global food supplies. Online Grocery Competition (Spain): Kaufland’s marketplace launch in Spain ramps up e-commerce rivalry beyond groceries. Local Food Culture: Newent’s 800-year onion-eating contest returns, drawing crowds for the raw-onion challenge.

Public Health: A new study links daily sugary drink intake with higher gastric cancer risk, reporting a 32% increase among frequent consumers in a 78,000-person cohort, with a separate U.S. analysis suggesting more than double the risk for heavy drinkers. Food Trends (UK): Pickled onions are surging in Britain, with 8.5m households buying them over the past year and sales value up 12% year-on-year, as chefs and “gut health” chatter push pickles beyond the jar. Food Safety/Travel: A UK study claims Spain is the “food poisoning capital” for holidaymakers, with 28% of visitors reporting illness after eating out, and diarrhoea the most common symptom. Agri-Food & Climate (Europe): Hungary’s central bank warns drought and rising global food prices could reignite inflation, and says it is considering climate-risk scenarios in monetary policy. Packaging & Sustainability (France): TotalEnergies takes full control of the Grandpuits advanced plastics recycling plant, boosting France’s capacity to turn hard-to-recycle household plastics into synthetic oil for recycled materials. Logistics & Food Security (Djibouti): Djibouti assumes management of a strategic humanitarian logistics base previously run by WFP, aiming to strengthen national food security and emergency supply chains. Design & Everyday Life (Italy): A feature spotlights the monobloc plastic chair as Italy’s most divisive design object—everywhere, yet sometimes banned.