Cuba Mobilizes Agriculture Sector as Hurricane Melissa Hits

Cuba’s Ministry of Agriculture ordered emergency measures on Tuesday for farms in the Guantánamo to Camagüey regions to protect food supplies, livestock and infrastructure as Hurricane Melissa makes landfall today (October 29).

The ministry said emergency measures include moving animals from low-lying areas, safeguarding feed, fertilizers and pesticides, harvesting at-risk crops, and protecting tobacco production, and beehives. Authorities will prioritize water, food, and primary health care access, and maintain milk collection and distribution. Drones will be used for reconnaissance in low-visibility or hard-to-reach areas.

Four September Storms Batter Farms, Fields Across Philippines, Vietnam, and South China

Four storms — Typhoons Ragasa (Nando) and Bualoi (Opong) and Tropical Storm Mitag (Mirasol) in the Philippine Sea, and Typhoon Tapah (Lannie) in the South China Sea — swept through the region in September, damaging rice, corn, coconut, and strawberry crops, as well as fish and livestock farms, while disrupting supply chains and transport routes, said Demelza Knight, Weather and Crop Researcher at Expana.   

Knight highlighted that Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest of the storms, formed in the Philippine Sea on September 18

US Commodity Markets Brace for More Extreme Weather and Hurricane Activity – Agri-Food Americas 2025

Presenting at Agri‑Food Americas 2025 in Chicago, James Tyler, Weather and Crop Researcher at Expana, and Francina Dominguez, assistant professor at the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, said extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe across the US.   

Dominguez showed that global surface temperatures in the last 10 years were the warmest on record since the dawn of agriculture. Dry areas are projected to become drier, places that are wet are projected to be...

Volatility Defines 2025 in Food and Agriculture Markets – How do You Navigate It?

2025 has been a year marked by uncertainty in the food and agriculture sector. Volatility is the defining characteristic, with a cascade of global events disrupting pricing, availability and trade dynamics. From geopolitical tensions and severe weather events to animal epidemics and macroeconomic shifts, commodity markets have become increasingly difficult to navigate for buyers and sellers alike.

“The key challenge for businesses at the moment is having to navigate different markets going in different directions,” said Tom Bundgaard, VP of Price Forecasting...

PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep. 21 - Early 2025 Helicopter View of Main Topics in Agri-Food Space

Expana presents Agri-Food for Thought, the podcast series for agriculture and food professionals.

Jamie and Simon host the first episode of Agri-Food for Thought of the year. In this episode we look at geopolitics, tariffs, and regulations; supply chain issues and logistics; tackling extreme weather and the environmental impact of production; as well as demand from health-conscious consumers. 2025 promises to be another year of challenges. 

Ag markets are keeping an eye on the ongoing...