Rice Pest Watch (Western Visayas): The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture says brown spot is the top rice disease in May (6.28% incidence), with stem borer damage and rising weeds also emerging as key threats. Market Intervention (Durian, Malaysia): FAMA launched its 2026 seasonal fruit plan in Kedah to prevent price drops during the June–August durian peak, expanding sales sites and temporary purchasing centres. Farm Bill Politics (US): The Senate Agriculture Committee released its farm bill draft, with debate focused on whether to add Iowa’s “Save Our Bacon” provisions back in. AI for Agritech (India): IIT Ropar’s Annam.AI, with Syngenta and Google, kicked off Hackcore 2026 for AI tools in crop health, pest control, soil intelligence and climate-resilient farming. Food Safety (Australia): Victoria named Safe Food Victoria’s inaugural CEO, Mike Gooey, as the new consolidated food regulator begins July 1. Climate & Water Risk (Bangladesh): PM Tarique Rahman pledged to implement the Teesta Barrage Master Plan “at any cost,” linking it to water security for agriculture. Food & Weather (Nepal): Nepal’s National Paddy Day is underway as El Niño raises fears of a drier monsoon. Agribusiness Results (Zambia): Zambeef reported a 108% jump in first-half profit, citing improved margins and steadier conditions. Regenerative Push (Global): Nestlé backed the Regenerating Together Programme to scale regenerative agriculture using shared metrics across supply chains. Pesticide & Pollinators: Researchers are drawing attention to sulfoxaflor’s role in controlling sap-feeding pests while raising concerns for pollinators.