German chemicals giant Bayer has reportedly reached verbal agreements to settle up to 85,000 of the 125,000 cancer lawsuits pending over the use of Monsanto Co’s Roundup weedkiller, the Independent reported sources familiar with the negotiations as saying on 26 May.

Sales of palm oil for oleochemical products in Indonesia rose by 14.5% during March, the Jakarta Globe quoted the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) as saying on 13 May.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reaffirmed that the weed killer chemical, glyphosate, is safe and not likely to be carcinogenic to humans.

Consuming coconut oil leads to higher levels of LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol compared with other vegetable oils and holds no benefits with regards to body fatness, inflammation, blood sugar, or heart health, reports the Cardivascular Research Foundation’s TCTMD website.

With COVID-19 making its impact felt across all aspects of the oils and fats supply chain, what is the outlook in major consuming countries such as China and India, what are the other factors that will influence the market, and how will the industry weather the economic challenges ahead?

Palm oil traders in Thailand are set to discuss the use of blockchain in their industry with the country’s energy business department, the Bangkok Post reported on 14 May.

US consumer goods company Procter & Gamble (P&G) and global agribusiness giant Cargill have teamed up on a project to convert lactic acid into bio-based acrylic acid, the companies announced on 13 May.

South Korean trade and logistics company Pan Ocean has bought a 36.25% stake in a US Pacific Northwest (PNW) grain export terminal, Agricensus reported local Korean media as saying on 13 May.

Global investor Blue Horizon Ventures (BHV) has joined Moira Capital Partners to help Spanish fats specialist Cubiq Foods accelerate its development of cell-based oils rich in omega 3 fatty acids, the companies announced on 15 May.

Leading Italian energy company Eni is planning to stop using palm oil and its derivative PFAD by 2023, World Markets reported on 15 May.

Indian buyers have resumed purchases of Malaysian palm oil after a four-month gap following a diplomatic row, trade sources told Reuters on 19 May.

The low water levels on the Paraná River which have hit soyabean exports look set to last the rest of the year, according to an expert from Argentina’s National Water Institute (INA) quoted by AgriCensus on 11 May.

The purchase by Chinese state-owned agribusiness COFCO and stockpiler Sinograin of hundreds and thousands of US soyabeans could indicate that the country’s trade deal with the USA is starting to struggle, AgriCensus reported on 12 May.