Katherine Albertson
@platingprogress.bsky.social
Covering the policies, funding, and innovations that shape our food systems
I write a newsletter: https://platingprogress.substack.com/
I write a newsletter: https://platingprogress.substack.com/
Pinned
Finance Institutions Consider Farming in a Changing Climate
Plus, an update on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement
platingprogress.substack.com
A new global survey of 156 agricultural finance institutions finds 94% now see changing weather as a financial risk to farming — up from 87% in 2022.
platingprogress.substack.com/p/finance-in...
platingprogress.substack.com/p/finance-in...
In Canada, five store chains control 80 percent of the grocery retail market. A new study explores reducing this monopolization and lowering prices through public-owned grocers instead.
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
Canadians Could Save Money with Public Grocery
Plus, agricultural reckonings in EU and Uganda, and soybean trade resumes
open.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:07 PM
In Canada, five store chains control 80 percent of the grocery retail market. A new study explores reducing this monopolization and lowering prices through public-owned grocers instead.
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
Reposted by Katherine Albertson
Trump made deals with 16 major drug companies to lower prices in 2025.
But drug companies, including the 16 that made the deals, raised the prices of 872 brand-name drugs at the beginning of this year.
www.npr.org/2026/01/16/n...
But drug companies, including the 16 that made the deals, raised the prices of 872 brand-name drugs at the beginning of this year.
www.npr.org/2026/01/16/n...
Trump struck deals with 16 drug companies. But they're still raising prices this year
All 16 drug companies that inked deals with the Trump administration over the past few months still raised some of their prices for 2026.
www.npr.org
January 20, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Trump made deals with 16 major drug companies to lower prices in 2025.
But drug companies, including the 16 that made the deals, raised the prices of 872 brand-name drugs at the beginning of this year.
www.npr.org/2026/01/16/n...
But drug companies, including the 16 that made the deals, raised the prices of 872 brand-name drugs at the beginning of this year.
www.npr.org/2026/01/16/n...
A study by Nature Foods reveals that a diet consisting of the most affordable foods would also be a diet best for the planet
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
Planet-First Food Also Cheaper
Debunking a myth that sustainable food is expensive
open.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:19 PM
A study by Nature Foods reveals that a diet consisting of the most affordable foods would also be a diet best for the planet
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
Reposted by Katherine Albertson
A key finding: "price movements during the tariff period seemed to exceed the direct cost of the tariff itself.”
Meaning that some input companies saw an opportunity to increase prices paid by farmers beyond the tariff cost.
Meaning that some input companies saw an opportunity to increase prices paid by farmers beyond the tariff cost.
1/ Today's Farm Policy News Summary covers how "#tariffs imposed by the Trump administration collected an estimated $958 million in #revenue from selected #agricultural #inputs from February to October of 2025."
farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2026/01/tari...
farmpolicynews.illinois.edu/2026/01/tari...
January 21, 2026 at 3:58 PM
A key finding: "price movements during the tariff period seemed to exceed the direct cost of the tariff itself.”
Meaning that some input companies saw an opportunity to increase prices paid by farmers beyond the tariff cost.
Meaning that some input companies saw an opportunity to increase prices paid by farmers beyond the tariff cost.
Reposted by Katherine Albertson
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life fighting for equity and justice. He taught us that even in the face of intimidation and discrimination, we must never stop working towards a better future – a lesson that feels especially relevant today.
January 19, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life fighting for equity and justice. He taught us that even in the face of intimidation and discrimination, we must never stop working towards a better future – a lesson that feels especially relevant today.
A great read on population divide even in a rural town
Kate Meadows grew up in a tiny ranching town in Wyoming, our least populated state. As a "townie," she was always jealous of the kids who grew up on ranches.
Turns out — all the ranch kids were jealous of the townies. Read Kate's sharp, thoughtful essay: ambrook.com/offrange/per...
Turns out — all the ranch kids were jealous of the townies. Read Kate's sharp, thoughtful essay: ambrook.com/offrange/per...
Non-Rancher in a Ranching Town
After feeling like an outcast among cowboys, a Wyoming writer considers who the outsiders really were.
ambrook.com
January 16, 2026 at 5:17 PM
A great read on population divide even in a rural town
Reposted by Katherine Albertson
Silence from MN based companies so far, as ICE attacks their workers, customers, community. General Mills, 3M, Best Buy, Cargill, Target - staying silent. www.startribune.com/minnesotas-b...
Minnesota’s biggest companies starting to feel heat from ICE surge
From Target to General Mills and Caribou Coffee, Minnesota’s largest employers are feeling pressure amid a surge of immigration officers in the state following the killing of Renee Good.
www.startribune.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Silence from MN based companies so far, as ICE attacks their workers, customers, community. General Mills, 3M, Best Buy, Cargill, Target - staying silent. www.startribune.com/minnesotas-b...
Reposted by Katherine Albertson
2025 was an exceptional year for the Earth's climate
⬆️ Warmest ocean heat content
⬆️ Tied as second warmest surface temps
⬆️ Second warmest troposphere
⬆️ Record high sea level and GHGs
⬇️ Record low winter Arctic ice
New State of the Climate over at Carbon Brief: www.carbonbrief.org/...
⬆️ Warmest ocean heat content
⬆️ Tied as second warmest surface temps
⬆️ Second warmest troposphere
⬆️ Record high sea level and GHGs
⬇️ Record low winter Arctic ice
New State of the Climate over at Carbon Brief: www.carbonbrief.org/...
January 14, 2026 at 2:53 PM
2025 was an exceptional year for the Earth's climate
⬆️ Warmest ocean heat content
⬆️ Tied as second warmest surface temps
⬆️ Second warmest troposphere
⬆️ Record high sea level and GHGs
⬇️ Record low winter Arctic ice
New State of the Climate over at Carbon Brief: www.carbonbrief.org/...
⬆️ Warmest ocean heat content
⬆️ Tied as second warmest surface temps
⬆️ Second warmest troposphere
⬆️ Record high sea level and GHGs
⬇️ Record low winter Arctic ice
New State of the Climate over at Carbon Brief: www.carbonbrief.org/...
Ultra-processed foods have been a point of concern for nutrition experts for years, but now a study links processed foods to environmental damage as well.
platingprogress.substack.com/p/upfs-are-n...
platingprogress.substack.com/p/upfs-are-n...
UPFs Are Not Just an American Issue
Plus, other interesting food & ag news
platingprogress.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Ultra-processed foods have been a point of concern for nutrition experts for years, but now a study links processed foods to environmental damage as well.
platingprogress.substack.com/p/upfs-are-n...
platingprogress.substack.com/p/upfs-are-n...
Reposted by Katherine Albertson
Grocery inflation just won't go away. That hits the lowest income households the hardest
Grocery Inflation Is Still a Thorn in America’s Side
The US got some relatively positive inflation news on Tuesday. The consumer price index rose a modest 0.3% in December from a month earlier, and the “core” prices that economists prioritize were up just 0.2%, less than the median forecast in a Bloomberg survey. There was one big blemish: “Food at home,” perhaps the most psychologically and politically salient category, saw its biggest increase since July 2022. That will hit especially hard for the lowest income Americans, who typically spend abo
bloom.bg
January 13, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Grocery inflation just won't go away. That hits the lowest income households the hardest
A new global survey of 156 agricultural finance institutions finds 94% now see changing weather as a financial risk to farming — up from 87% in 2022.
platingprogress.substack.com/p/finance-in...
platingprogress.substack.com/p/finance-in...
Finance Institutions Consider Farming in a Changing Climate
Plus, an update on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement
platingprogress.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:31 PM
A new global survey of 156 agricultural finance institutions finds 94% now see changing weather as a financial risk to farming — up from 87% in 2022.
platingprogress.substack.com/p/finance-in...
platingprogress.substack.com/p/finance-in...
I've also noticed a few people point out that for all promotion of regenerative agriculture; this new set of guidelines does not mention anything about choosing regeneratively grown foods or the impact of organic meats, dairy, and produce on our health.
The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans shape what is in school lunches, military meals, and federal food assistance programs, determining what large swaths of the U.S. population have access to.
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
New Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Oh boy...
open.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:01 PM
I've also noticed a few people point out that for all promotion of regenerative agriculture; this new set of guidelines does not mention anything about choosing regeneratively grown foods or the impact of organic meats, dairy, and produce on our health.
The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans shape what is in school lunches, military meals, and federal food assistance programs, determining what large swaths of the U.S. population have access to.
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
New Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Oh boy...
open.substack.com
January 8, 2026 at 4:23 PM
The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans shape what is in school lunches, military meals, and federal food assistance programs, determining what large swaths of the U.S. population have access to.
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
UPDATE: Italy seems to be on board with another vote expected this Friday
www.politico.eu/article/ital...
www.politico.eu/article/ital...
January 8, 2026 at 2:59 PM
UPDATE: Italy seems to be on board with another vote expected this Friday
www.politico.eu/article/ital...
www.politico.eu/article/ital...
A trade deal between Mercosur (South American trade bloc) and the European Union (EU) was supposed to be finalized at the end of 2025, but objections from European farmers held up negotiations.
platingprogress.substack.com/p/the-eu-mer...
platingprogress.substack.com/p/the-eu-mer...
The EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Saga Continues
and more global food system news
platingprogress.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 9:16 PM
A trade deal between Mercosur (South American trade bloc) and the European Union (EU) was supposed to be finalized at the end of 2025, but objections from European farmers held up negotiations.
platingprogress.substack.com/p/the-eu-mer...
platingprogress.substack.com/p/the-eu-mer...
Reposted by Katherine Albertson
Hey friends, did you know there's a $365 billion gap in climate adaptation funding for Africa's smallholder farmers? Time to step up and support sustainable agriculture! Check it out: https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/africa-mulls-gap-in-climate-adaptation-finance-for-agriculture/
December 27, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Hey friends, did you know there's a $365 billion gap in climate adaptation funding for Africa's smallholder farmers? Time to step up and support sustainable agriculture! Check it out: https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/africa-mulls-gap-in-climate-adaptation-finance-for-agriculture/
I took a closer look at vertical farming: what it actually does well, where it struggles, and why the hype doesn’t always match reality.
Read it here 👉 substack.com/home/post/p-...
If you’re into sustainable food systems, you might like the newsletter — feel free to subscribe!
Read it here 👉 substack.com/home/post/p-...
If you’re into sustainable food systems, you might like the newsletter — feel free to subscribe!
Beyond the Hype: The Real Limitations of Vertical Farming
A study on the future of growing food
substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I took a closer look at vertical farming: what it actually does well, where it struggles, and why the hype doesn’t always match reality.
Read it here 👉 substack.com/home/post/p-...
If you’re into sustainable food systems, you might like the newsletter — feel free to subscribe!
Read it here 👉 substack.com/home/post/p-...
If you’re into sustainable food systems, you might like the newsletter — feel free to subscribe!
A promising update: www.cnbc.com/2025/12/22/i...
December 23, 2025 at 3:06 PM
A promising update: www.cnbc.com/2025/12/22/i...
Reposted by Katherine Albertson
Op-ed: What Affordability Really Means for Families and Farmers This Holiday Season
Op-ed: What Affordability Really Means for Families and Farmers This Holiday Season
Tariffs, immigration policies, SNAP cuts, and more are raising food prices and grocery bills. Americans deserve better.
civileats.com
December 22, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Op-ed: What Affordability Really Means for Families and Farmers This Holiday Season
Got to say this self-congratulating piece from an Instacart executive feels a bit tone-deaf considering the recent investigations into platform’s pricing.
foodtank.com/news/2025/12...
foodtank.com/news/2025/12...
December 20, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Got to say this self-congratulating piece from an Instacart executive feels a bit tone-deaf considering the recent investigations into platform’s pricing.
foodtank.com/news/2025/12...
foodtank.com/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Katherine Albertson
“Climate change isn’t a faraway problem,” said Ter Haar. “The effects are already on our dinner plate.” Climate change affects our food, which ultimately affects our health and wellbeing #climate #food #nutrition www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Food becoming more calorific but less nutritious due to rising carbon dioxide
Researchers noticed ‘dramatic’ changes in nutrients in crops, including drop in zinc and rise in lead
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:59 PM
“Climate change isn’t a faraway problem,” said Ter Haar. “The effects are already on our dinner plate.” Climate change affects our food, which ultimately affects our health and wellbeing #climate #food #nutrition www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Katherine Albertson
How has salmon farming reshaped our food system, the tradeoffs that came with it, and what a better salmon future could look like.
Plus, other headlines about farmer protests in the E.U. and California’s plans for alternative proteins.
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
Plus, other headlines about farmer protests in the E.U. and California’s plans for alternative proteins.
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
The Past and Complicated Future of Salmon
Plus, European farmers are mad, and California is supporting diverse protein sources
open.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:44 PM
How has salmon farming reshaped our food system, the tradeoffs that came with it, and what a better salmon future could look like.
Plus, other headlines about farmer protests in the E.U. and California’s plans for alternative proteins.
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
Plus, other headlines about farmer protests in the E.U. and California’s plans for alternative proteins.
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
How has salmon farming reshaped our food system, the tradeoffs that came with it, and what a better salmon future could look like.
Plus, other headlines about farmer protests in the E.U. and California’s plans for alternative proteins.
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
Plus, other headlines about farmer protests in the E.U. and California’s plans for alternative proteins.
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
The Past and Complicated Future of Salmon
Plus, European farmers are mad, and California is supporting diverse protein sources
open.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:44 PM
How has salmon farming reshaped our food system, the tradeoffs that came with it, and what a better salmon future could look like.
Plus, other headlines about farmer protests in the E.U. and California’s plans for alternative proteins.
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
Plus, other headlines about farmer protests in the E.U. and California’s plans for alternative proteins.
open.substack.com/pub/platingp...
This is heartbreaking news. NCAR has been a vital source of research for over 85 years!
This is not an exaggeration:
There is not a single weather forecaster, TV meteorologist, airline pilot, computer scientist, or climate scientist in the WORLD whose work or life wasn't directly or indirectly improved or influenced by the science done at NCAR.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
There is not a single weather forecaster, TV meteorologist, airline pilot, computer scientist, or climate scientist in the WORLD whose work or life wasn't directly or indirectly improved or influenced by the science done at NCAR.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
www.usatoday.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:16 PM
This is heartbreaking news. NCAR has been a vital source of research for over 85 years!
Reposted by Katherine Albertson
BREAKING: Four Republicans defy Speaker Johnson and sign Democratic petition that will force House vote on extending ACA subsidies.
Republicans defy Speaker Johnson to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies
Four centrist Republicans have broken with their party's leadership over health care. They signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vole on extending for three years an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowers health insurance costs for millions of Americans.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 3:45 PM
BREAKING: Four Republicans defy Speaker Johnson and sign Democratic petition that will force House vote on extending ACA subsidies.