The European Commission published a rescript related to the Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing start-up, which offers opportunities for the EU to lead in scaling innovative new industries. This rescript summarizes the current challenges and obstacles in biotechnology and biomanufacturing and also proposes actions, such as international dialogue and cooperation, to handle these challenges in a timely manner, in accordance with the rescript on the Long-Term Competitiveness of the EU.

A set of restrictions on the promotion of foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) came into partial effect in the UK in October 2022. More restrictions are expected to be implemented in the coming years, and other devolved UK countries plan to implement similar precautions. In Scotland, a new consultation was launched in February 2024 to seek further views on the proposed HFSS restrictions. This consultation process aims to create a more comprehensive strategy on how restrictions will be implemented by gathering the views of the public and relevant stakeholders.

FAO has developed a publicly available, near real-time database using satellite data that allows monitoring of agricultural water productivity at different scales (WaPOR). These data provide benefits to countries such as monitoring water efficiency, identifying water efficiency gaps, proposing solutions to reduce these gaps, and contributing to a sustainable increase in agricultural production.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) of the United Kingdom has released household recycling figures for the 2022/23 period. According to the data, the official recycling rate for ‘household waste’ has decreased by 0.7 percentage points from 44.1% in 2021 to 43.4% in 2022/23. During the same period, the total amount of ‘municipal waste’ decreased from 23.1 million tons to 21.5 million tons. With this decline, the per capita municipal waste decreased by 7.9% from 409 kg in 2021 to 377 kg.

Amidst increasing disruptions in the supply chain, shifting competitive landscapes, and the looming threat of climate change, producers across every sector, including agriculture, food, and beverage industries, are turning to partnerships to maintain stability. At the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), experts discussed the importance of strengthening agricultural cooperation among BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) countries to address global food security concerns.

Ensuring food security in Europe is becoming increasingly important, and finding sustainable food sources that benefit farmers is crucial. To address this issue, the VALPRO PATH project, funded by Horizon Europe and UKRI, has been initiated. This project will conduct pilot programs in Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Denmark to research which protein crops offer the most value. In Italy, a farm-based production facility is already being developed to produce plant-based burgers using local crops.

Scientists are investigating the reasons behind the increase in E. coli infections. A study has shown that there is an increase in E. coli infections detected in Australia, and laboratory testing procedures have been revised, which could lead to changes in public health responses.