McCain to World Food Program: Cindy McCain has been named the next executive director of the UN World Food Program, the world’s largest humanitarian organization, as millions of people are pushed into hunger from climate-related disasters and the ongoing war in Ukraine. (Agri-Pulse)
North Korean ag woes: As the country’s food shortage worsens, Kim Jong Un vowed to strengthen state control over agriculture and take a series of other steps to increase grain production. (AP)
Boost for Ukraine grain: USAID said it will partner with the Grain Alliance, Kernel, and Nibulon to invest $44 million in storage and infrastructure for Ukraine’s agriculture sector, increasing its grain shipping capacity by more than 3 million tons annually. (CNN)
Seaweed study: A bill introduced in Congress this week calls for a federal study on the possibilities of coastal seaweed farming and of creating a seaweed farming fund to “reduce cost barriers for Indigenous communities.” (National Fisherman)
Global obesity: The World Obesity Federation’s 2023 atlas predicts that 51 percent of the world, or more than 4 billion people, will be obese or overweight by 2035. (Reuters)
Less drug residue in EU food: Residue levels of veterinary drugs and other substances — including hormones and antibacterials — found in animals and animal products have fallen in the European Union. (Food Safety News)