The head of leading Ukrainian food producer MHP has said that the failure of its operations would have a “catastrophic” impact on the country’s population, BBC News reported on 14 March.

Uncertainty over Black Sea exports due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to a 47% rise in prices for Argentine sunflower oil in less than two weeks following the start of the conflict, The Hindu Business Line quoted from a report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

European fertiliser producers are cutting output due to the surging cost of natural gas – the feedstock of nitrogen fertilisers – following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, adding to the risk of global food inflation, Luxembourg Times quoted from a Bloomberg report.

Japanese chemical company Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) and its subsidiary Mitsubishi Chemical Methacrylates (MCM) have announced they are designing a pilot plant to produce methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomers from plant-derived materials.

US president Joe Biden’s administration is looking into how a waiver on biofuel blending mandates could help counter surging prices for key food ingredients such as corn and soyabean oils following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported two sources as saying.

Global vegetable oil prices reached a new record high last month, according to the benchmark United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Price Index released on 4 March.

A new study by economists from the University of Georgia and North Dakota State University (UGA-NDSU) has found that a recent increase in shipping costs could boost US exports, World Grain reported.

Brazilian biodiesel producer BSBIOS, part of the ECB Group, has announced the acquisition of the MP Biodiesel plant in the Fribourg region of Switzerland.

The full effect of sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine may not yet be factored into global prices leading to potential further rises, according to analysis by international financial services provider Rabobank reported by AgriCensus on 4 March.

Thousands of olive trees have been grown in Pakistan’s northwestern region – an area once known for terrorism activity following the 9/11 attacks in the USA, Olive Oil Times wrote.

Italian oil and gas company Eni has announced it has signed an agreement with the government of Mozambique for the production of agro-feedstocks for biofuels from oilseeds and vegetable oils.

The Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) is urging India to build a buffer stock of edible oils equal to 10% of the country’s demand, according to a Krishi Jagran report on 6 March.

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has introduced a new set of canal tolls on all vessels travelling both north and south, American Shipper wrote.