Food Safety, Rising Costs, Innovation Drive Sector Trends

Agricultural leaders urge the federal government to increase funding for food safety and sanitary programs. Meanwhile, Kimberly-Clark and Nutec launched a new pet food line aligned with the growing trend of personalized pet nutrition.

This is the week in Agribusiness and Food!

Agricultural Sector Urges to Boost Funding for Food Safety

Mexico’s agricultural sector is urging the federal government to increase funding for SENASICA, warning that budget cuts undermine food safety at a time of growing climate, population, and trade pressures. At the Global Agri-Food Forum 2025, Jorge Esteve, President, CNA, pointed to delayed responses to sanitary risks like the screwworm outbreak, while Julio Berdagué, Minister of Agriculture, highlighted recent progress in containing the pest. Esteve also stressed the need for innovation, irrigation modernization, credit access, and stronger collaboration across sectors to ensure food security, competitiveness, and rural development.

Kimberly-Clark, Nutec Launch New Pet Food Proposals

Kimberly-Clark Mexico has entered the pet care market through a strategic alliance with Nutec, launching two dog food lines, Apawpacho and Prime Care, designed to address both basic and premium nutrition needs. The products debuted in more than 3,000 Walmart stores and have since expanded into other major retailers and e-commerce platforms, capitalizing on omnichannel consumer trends. The company projects 7% annual growth in its new division, reflecting demographic shifts and rising demand for premium pet foods in Mexico’s MX$3.6 billion pet food market.

Mexico’s Food Basket Costs Rise Faster in Urban Areas

Mexico’s basic food basket rose 4.1% in urban areas and 2.8% in rural areas in August, with beef, milk, and dining out driving higher costs, according to INEGI. Covering the basket required MX$2,452.05 (US$132.7) per person in cities and MX$1,850.73 in rural zones, underscoring the strain on household income. Economists warn that rising production and logistics costs demand stronger agricultural support policies, local production, and social aid to ease pressure on low-income families.

Mexico Trains Shrimp Sector on Turtle, Fish Exclusion Devices

CONAPESCA trained 1,227 crew members from Mexico’s offshore shrimp sector in the use of turtle excluder devices (TEDs) and fish excluder devices (FEDs) to reduce bycatch and protect marine life. Authorities said the training reinforces sustainable shrimp fishing practices and aids Mexico’s efforts to regain US export certification, with the country producing 258,577t of shrimp in 2024 and exporting 13,882t to the United States.

The Food Front: Securing Our Future

World Food Day 2025 highlights Mexico’s vulnerability to global food shocks and domestic structural challenges, including dependence on grain imports and rising food inflation, which affect millions of low-income households. According to Patricia Toledo, Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, CNA, modern technologies like precision agriculture, smart irrigation, biofertilizers, and digital management are essential to boost production, resilience, and sustainability, yet adoption remains low. In this regard, she proposes the creation of a coordinated National Food Security and Sustainability Plan, integrating government, private sector, academia, and civil society, to strengthen domestic production, promote agtech, improve food diplomacy, and foster education and innovation.