Tech for yields and income: Malaysia’s APEC Food Security meeting in Hangzhou put the spotlight on using AI and farm tech only when it boosts crop output and farmers’ earnings, citing its SMART padi programme. Youth skills via school farms: Malaysia’s ADI model is expanding hands-on agriculture training through school-based farms, linking students to industry needs. Animal health at the border: Texas tightened rules for Mexican-origin cattle as New World screwworm spreads, requiring extra ID and veterinary paperwork. Market rules in India: Maharashtra’s marketing minister said APMC and trader issues will be tackled through consensus talks, including charges, taxation differences, and law changes. Food processing push in India: Maharashtra won a national PMFME award, with nearly 32,000 approved micro food processing projects and thousands of trained beneficiaries. School meals funding (US): USDA launched “Harvest to Hallways” to expand local procurement and add school kitchen equipment grants. Beef import backlash (US): Farmers and Black farmers groups warned Trump’s tariff-free beef plan could squeeze ranchers and raise costs for those already vulnerable. Land protection fight (US): The US Forest Service proposed rescinding the Roadless Rule, a move critics say could open millions of acres to roads and logging. Desertification at UN talks: Pastoralists at UNCCD COP17 urged stronger recognition of Indigenous knowledge and better funding as land degradation accelerates. Circular farming in Vietnam: IRRI’s RiceEco project is helping farmers cut rice straw burning by turning residues into compost and other uses.