Global Scans · Responsible Consumption and Production · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

• [New] Key Insight: In the coming years, the greatest leaps in sustainable nut production will be achieved through the synergistic deployment of AI, aeroponics, and satellite technology across all farming scales. Farmonaut
• [New] Tree Nut Viability: Full lifecycle commercial nut production (like almonds and walnuts) in aeroponics remains experimental for 2026, but is rapidly advancing. Farmonaut
• [New] Improved health in livestock will result in increased and more efficient production of livestock-derived foods, benefiting global efforts to enhance food and nutrition security and eradicate poverty. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Consumption of animal products will increase globally, mostly as a result of the growing world population. The Food Futurist - Anticipate, Adapt, Succeed
• [New] With a recent infusion of $300 million, Radiant is poised to accelerate its commercialization efforts, aiming to commence mass production by 2026. Energy Reporters
• [New] Most VBC platforms in 2026 will include at least one production AI feature directly tied to financial uplift or patient-quality metrics. Signify Research
• [New] While electrical consumption for heating is forecast to be about 1% lower in 2025 due to a milder expected winter, the price increase more than offsets the drop in demand. Total Home Supply
• [New] Manufacturing leaders expect AI agents to handle a meaningful share of routine production decisions (for example, rescheduling, routing, inventory checks) by the end of the decade. Plataine
• [New] The coming year will be a tipping point: autonomous agents will move from small pilots to scaled production across enterprises. Plataine
• [New] Perfect Day - a pioneer in the animal-free dairy space making whey proteins via precision fermentation - says it expects initial operations to begin at its new production facility in Gujarat, India, in the second half of 2026. AgFunderNews
• [New] Building back soil health takes years, and in the US, land must be free of any chemical residues for at least three years before the USDA will even consider certifying it for organic production. AgFunderNews
• [New] Data centers are becoming a major driver of global electricity demand, with their consumption set to reach 945 terawatt-hours by 2030 - roughly 3% of global consumption. Power Technology
• [New] US Chip Revolution - NVIDIA and TSMC introduce the first U.S.-made Blackwell chip wafer at TSMC's Arizona facility, marking a pivotal step in boosting domestic semiconductor production and reducing geopolitical risks. The Tech Buzz
• [New] AI5, built on TSMC's 3 nm process, is expected to enter volume production in 2026 with relatively high yields in the 90-92% range and monthly wafer capacity scaling from approximately 15,000 to 18,000 wafers, making it well suited for cost-sensitive, high-volume vehicle deployments. Dr. Robert Castellano's Semiconductor Deep Dive Newslet
• [New] The growth of regional manufacturing and the adoption of carbon pricing policies by the European Union and several Asian countries will encourage companies to invest in low-emission technologies and more efficient production processes. Fulgar S.p.A.
• [New] The United States and its allies will need to establish new processing and refining capabilities to shift production away from China. Rand Corporation
• [New] Combined with a ban on new steel capacity backed up by production reduction policies, signals from China could start to accelerate momentum and competitive pressure for decarbonization. SteelWatch
• [New] The unpredictable nature of AI consumption and pricing, along with massive investments from vendors, will lead to an 'infrastructure reckoning' in the coming years. CIO
• [New] With continued research and improved extraction methods, natural hydrogen could transform energy production, reduce emissions, and support global energy needs for generations to come. Chemical Industry Digest
• [New] Approaches that enhance TMA production, whether through diet or medication, could help reduce insulin resistance and improve long-term health outcomes. ScienceDaily

Last updated: 22 December 2025