Agriculture in Action: Pest-Savvy Farms, Regenerative Momentum, and Stronger Regional Governance (Feb 2–8, 2026)

A week where practice met policy

From field clinics to boardrooms, SAN members kept agriculture practical, regenerative, and accountable. Pest and disease alerts stayed front and center; regenerative agriculture gained policy and market traction; and regional platforms strengthened the rules of the game.

Crop health, livelihoods, and nature—tied together

CABI unpacked hard-hitting pest and soil topics all week: papaya mealybug identification; strawberry pest risks in the US/UK; cassava brown streak disease symptoms; root-knot nematodes; and myth-busting content on soil health, alongside a refresher on biological control. They also spotlighted India’s tomato sector (₹235B / ~$2.7B in 2021) and the threat from thrips, mites, and aphids—showing how crop protection links directly to national economies. CABI will also keynote at Treescape 2026 on scaling agroforestry with inclusive, GESI-responsive approaches.

RAAA Perú reinforced the basics with practical organic-system compliance: how to handle manure inputs and standardize raw materials for Bokashi—small, tangible steps that keep organic farming credible and productive.

Regenerative agriculture moves from buzzword to blueprint

Rainforest Alliance pushed regenerative agriculture from certification into financing and partnerships, teaming up with CAF to scale sustainable agriculture across LAC and engaging coffee stakeholders at World of Coffee Dubai.

CottonConnect brought brands and mills into the room, hosting a regenerative roundtable with APTMA in Islamabad. They also briefed the sector on the EU Digital Product Passport—registry expected July 2026, mandatory rollout in 2027—signaling a near-term step change for textile traceability.

Preferred by Nature advanced sustainable rice capacity in Latin America with the first in-person SRP training in Uruguay and facilitated LENs knowledge exchange in Italy—keeping soil health, biodiversity, and resilience outcomes in focus.

Governance and coordination rise in West & Central Africa

CORAF convened the 4th Forum of Agricultural Research Leaders (FLR-WCA) in Abidjan and held its 38th Board of Directors session—visible steps to align regional research, governance, and delivery under ECOWAS patronage. Nature Kenya complemented this by strengthening restoration monitoring and data sharing—critical plumbing for credible ecosystem recovery.

Inclusion, skills, and smallholder performance

PELUM Uganda lined up Biofach 2026, co-designed a Knowledge Management Strategy under Power for Food, and trained women leaders in agroecology—powering mentorship and resilience at the community level.

From reflection to action: AWOLA, YALTA & WE4R women leaders sharpening mentoring and coaching skills at Hope Permaculture Center, Wakiso. When women walk together, movements strengthen. Photo: PELUM Uganda

Wild Asia reported progress across its Wild Asia Group Scheme (WAGS), with performance metrics that show smallholders moving toward stronger, certifiable palm oil production across ASEAN.

A cultural lens on forests and the bioeconomy

Circular Bioeconomy Alliance highlighted a new global documentary on King Charles III’s lifelong environmental leadership, featuring CEO Marc Palahí’s visit to Guyana and the central role of forests and forest products in climate-resilient, nature-positive economies.

Why this matters for SAN’s Global Impact Network

Across these updates runs one throughline: verified practice that serves people and planet. Members are protecting yields and incomes through IPM, translating “regen” into standards, training, and finance, and building the governance and data systems that make outcomes trustworthy. That’s radical collaboration in motion—turning diverse strengths into shared accountability and investor-grade results. It’s exactly how our Global Impact Network turns commitments into credible outcomes across climate, nature, and people.