Weekly Insights: Tackling Hunger, Climate Change, Trade Issues, and More!

This week, we’re reflecting on the first 100 days of the Trump-Vance Administration and its impact on the food system. There’s been a wave of policy changes—over 70 in total—that are shaping agriculture, health, and climate outcomes.

World Food Programme Faces Workforce Cuts

The World Food Programme (WFP) plans to reduce its staff by 30% by 2026 due to a budget shortfall, largely from cuts in U.S. aid. In a recent internal memo shared with Devex, the WFP outlined that funding for 2025 is expected to be only $6.4 billion, which is a fraction of what they need. This comes at a time when humanitarian needs are increasing in regions like Ethiopia, Sudan, and Yemen. The pressure is mounting as the organization is forced to prioritize its most urgent operations.

Trade Concerns for U.S. Farmers

As trade uncertainty escalates, the Trump-Vance Administration is looking at potential bailout options for American farmers affected by falling commodity exports, particularly to China. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed on CNN that they are working on plans for financial aid. However, many farmers are skeptical. Some have already faced canceled export orders and layoffs due to tariffs. Experts like Jacquie Holland from the American Soybean Association emphasize that farmers prefer long-term market stability over short-term relief.

Brazil’s Climate Push Ahead of COP30

With COP30 approaching, Brazil is urging nations to update their climate action plans. Only 13 out of 195 signatories to the Paris Agreement met the recent deadline for updates, according to Carbon Brief. At a pre-summit meeting, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stressed the need for ambitious climate pledges, saying, “The planet is tired of unfulfilled promises.” This highlights the urgency for nations to take concrete action against climate change.

New Law on Pesticide Liability in North Dakota

In a significant move, North Dakota has passed a law that shields pesticide manufacturers like Bayer from certain lawsuits related to health risks. The law states that federally approved pesticide labels are adequate to satisfy state requirements. This change could impact ongoing lawsuits alleging that glyphosate in Roundup causes cancer. Critics, such as Sam Wagner from the Dakota Resource Council, argue this makes it much harder for individuals to win cases against these companies. The law may set a precedent for similar measures in other states like Georgia, which has a similar bill pending.

These developments reflect the ongoing struggles and shifts in our food systems and agricultural policies. Keeping an eye on these changes is crucial as they will impact not just farmers, but consumers and the environment as well.

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