
Brazil's JBS, one of the world's largest protein processors with interests in three continents is moving into the fish industry following a deal for the purchase of Australia's salmon farming company Huon Aquaculture for the equivalent of US$ 315 million.

Global food commodity prices fell in July for the second consecutive month, according to the benchmark United Nations FAO report. The FAO food price averaged 123.0 points in July 2021, 1.2% lower than the previous month although still 31.0% higher than its level in the same period of 2020.

Brazilian farmers are planning to expand their soy area for the 15th consecutive year, according to a survey by consulting firm Datagro. The world’s largest soybean producer and exporter will increase the area sown by 4%, to 40.57 million hectares in the 2021/2022 season.

Brazil said that it is closely monitoring the outbreak of African Swine Fever, ASF, in the Dominican Republic and is taking the necessary measures, including an alert on the control of imports, international agriculture surveillance, and animal health services.

With most Argentine ports along the Paraná river unoperational due to the historic downspout, Quequén, Necochea, and Bahía Blanca on the Atlantic coast would have become an alternative way out for agri-food exports had it not been for union strikes.

Chile's National Agriculture Society, SNA, has warned that up to 30% of crops could remain without harvesting because of a lack of manpower. SNA head Cristian Allendes participated in a conference on the labor problem and incentives to attract people to work in the fields, which was presented under the title of How is the 2020/21 season coming along?.

Chaotic climate conditions are having an impact on agriculture worldwide and in Chile the most recent victim of instability are raisins. Last January when grapes are expected to mature and develop a high content of sugar, torrential rains hit Chile's wines, and the excess of water harmed a high percentage of the harvest.

Brazil should collect more than 300 million tons of grain by the 2024/25 harvest, three seasons earlier than initially planned, according to new projections by the Ministry of Agriculture. The previous forecast was to reach the target in the 2027/28 cycle.

Argentina Sunday declared a water emergency due to the historic downspout in the Paraná river.

Several Mercosur top officials will be attending the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Pre Summit that takes off this Monday in Rome until 28 July. The UN and Italy are hosting the Pre-Summit gathering under the leadership of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi.