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Ag traders are waiting eagerly for the outcome of talks between Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, and the UN that may allow Ukraine to restart exporting grain from its Black Sea ports. Turkey is confident<\/a> they can reach a deal, but Ukrainian officials remain cautious. They are not convinced<\/a> by the offer of safe passage and are also demanding a commitment that Russia will not attack its ports.<\/p>\n Turkey\u2019s President says he wants the deal in writing<\/a> (although the expression \u2018not worth the paper it is written on\u2019 comes to mind.)<\/p>\n Ukraine has been struggling<\/a> to export its grain, although shipborne exports via Rumania increased<\/a> after the country retook Snake Island. Germany\u2019s State-owned rail company Deutsche Bahn is planning to transport grain by freight train<\/a> from Ukraine to Germany\u2019s ports.<\/p>\n In the meantime, Ukraine\u2019s farmers try to find<\/a> storage for the new harvest. Not being able to sell or ship their grain has created a severe cash flow<\/a> problem for farmers; they are running out of money to harvest and will have difficulty financing new crop plantings.<\/p>\n Unsurprisingly, food security and rising food prices dominated<\/a> discussions at the G-20 meeting last week, although there was no clear consensus as to what, if anything, could be done. Delegates heard that food shortages and high prices could kill<\/a> more people than the estimated 15 million killed<\/a> by the Covid pandemic. *<\/p>\n Indonesia has removed<\/a> its levy on palm oil exports until end-August. High stocks have forced mills to limit purchases of palm fruits, and farmers complain their unsold fruits are rotting. Palm oil prices have fallen by about 50 per cent since late April to their lowest in over a year.<\/p>\n The CEO of Norway\u2019s Yara, one of the world\u2019s biggest fertiliser producers, warns<\/a> of continuing shortages of nitrogen-based fertilisers due to high gas prices. Better news comes from the miner BHP, accelerating<\/a> its move into fertiliser production with the start of a $5.7 billion potash project in Canada.<\/p>\n Vox has a well-balanced long-read<\/a> on Sri Lanka\u2019s move to organic farming and its role in the country\u2019s financial and political crisis. The agrochemical import ban led to a 20 per cent drop in rice production in its first six months, while tea production fell by 18 per cent. (Most Sri Lankan farmers supported<\/a> the ban but wanted more than one year to make the transition.)<\/p>\n And if you still have time to spare, the Guardian has a long read on wind-powered<\/a> cargo ships. They describe them as \u201ca little bit of utopia\u201d.<\/p>\n The Guardian writes that smallholder farmers and charcoal producers are deforesting<\/a> Congo\u2019s rainforest. Deforestation is also a problem in Colombia<\/a>, while a new report<\/a> argues that Brazilian authorities do little<\/a> to prevent illegal logging.<\/p>\n Finally, if you find the news is getting you down, try eating Marmite. Scientists have found<\/a> that Vitamin B6 \u2013 a yeast extract nutrient\u2013may help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> for Bloomberg\u2019s weekly round-up of their top food stories, including why this might (finally) be the year of the mushroom<\/a>.<\/p>\n