Meat, Coffee, Corn, AI Tools and Pesticide Reforms

President Claudia Sheinbaum unveils initiative to boost Mexico’s meat production and resume cattle exports to the United States. Meanwhile, Source.ag launched an AI-powered tool to provide greenhouse producers with key metrics on the physiological state of their crops.

This is the week in Agribusiness and Food!

Sheinbaum Unveils Initiative to Boost Meat Production

President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the US border could soon reopen for Mexican cattle exports and unveiled proposals to strengthen domestic meat production, including the launch of a High-Quality Integrated Meat Production Center in Coahuila with MX$650 million allocated. The reopening will depend on USDA inspections to verify control of the New World screwworm, with favorable evaluations potentially allowing trade to resume within weeks. Since November 2024, Mexico has released over 885 million sterile flies and implemented inspection points in southern states to contain the outbreak, which currently affects seven states.

Source.ag Launches AI Tool for Crop Health, Energy Insights

Netherlands-based agritech company Source.ag launched Plant Balance Metrics, a new AI-powered feature within its Source Workspace platform that provides growers with insights into the physiological state of their crops. The feature introduces two metrics: the Plant Balance Factor (PBF), which measures the equilibrium between a plant’s energy production and growth demands, and the Generative Trend Indicator (GTI), which shows whether the plant prioritizes generative or vegetative growth. Initially available for tomato producers, the tool also includes simulations to help growers anticipate issues, with plans to expand to pepper and cucumber cultivation.

Mexico Launches Coffee for Well-Being

The Mexican government launched Cafe Bienestar (Coffee for Well-Being) to support 6,646 small coffee producers, primarily from indigenous and marginalized communities in Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz, and Guerrero, with MX$59.4 million (US$3.1 million) invested in the program. The initiative promotes fair-trade, agroecological practices, and direct purchases from producers, integrating with the broader Sewing Life program to provide stable incomes and nationwide distribution through Well-Being Stores. Women play a central role, accounting for 44% of participants, while sustainable shade-grown coffee practices contribute to biodiversity, food security, and rural economic development.

Mexico Bans 35 Pesticides to Boost Sustainable Agriculture

The Mexican government banned 35 pesticides to promote safer and more sustainable agriculture, targeting substances already prohibited in other countries due to their risks to human health and the environment. The measure, coordinated by SADER, SEMARNAT, SE, and COFEPRIS, includes chemicals like Aldicarb, Carbofuran, Endosulfan, and DDT, with a second and third list of banned substances planned for 2026 and 2027. While FAO praised the decree as a historic step, advocacy groups like RAPAM criticized it as limited, noting that over 200 hazardous pesticides remain in use and calling for broader stakeholder involvement in future regulations.

Mexico's Corn Dilemma: Climate, Culture, and GMOs

Mexico primarily uses white corn for dough production, while most yellow corn, much of it GMO, is imported for animal feed and industrial uses. Recent droughts and irregular rainfall have reduced domestic white corn yields, especially in irrigated regions like Sinaloa, forcing increased imports to meet human consumption needs. Francisco Miguel Salas, COO, Grupo Harinas, highlights the urgency of improving irrigation, adopting regenerative agriculture, and managing water resources to ensure the sustainability of Mexico’s white corn supply and its cultural food chain.