News items related to ag biotech, trade ? and perhaps some other interesting items out there related to agriculture ? will be posted on this page throughout the week (as the week progresses newly added items will be in?green at bottom of sections). ?Be sure to check in regularly!
This Thursday, November 24 is Thanksgiving in the United States and we wish everyone celebrating here, and also our viewers around the rest of the world, a great week.
TRADE, TRADE ISSUES:
Pacific Rim Nations Push Back on Free-Trade Skepticism – Wall Street Journal – By Ryan Dube and Carol E. Lee (Nov 20)
“APEC leaders in Peru said they hoped to persuade the next U.S. president of trade?s benefits, while China indicated at the summit it was ready to take the lead in promoting trade”
Link:?http://www.wsj.com/articles/apec-delegates-push-back-against-protectionism-1479656260
Window on Washington: The Future of Trade – Council on Foreign Relations, CFR Events (Nov 18)
“Experts discuss the future of U.S. trade policy in light of the recent election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency.”
Link:?http://www.cfr.org/trade/window-washington-future-trade/p38514
Mexico Seeks Trump Talks to Modernize Nafta, Pena Nieto Says – Bloomberg – By John Quigley (Nov 19)
Latin American economies look to China for free trade options – South China Morning Post – By Laura Zhou (Nov 20)
“As US backing of the TPP looks shaky under Trump, Chile and Peru consider Beijing-backed alternative”
Two items via USA Today:
‘Don’t assume the worst’ of Trump on trade, Obama says in Peru (Nov 19), And?Trans-Pacific Partnership may not be dead yet (Nov 21)
Donald Trump: US to quit TPP on first day in office – BBC News (Nov 22)
“He made the announcement in a video messageboutlining what he intends to do first when he takes office in January.”
Link:?http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38059623
China Has Warned of Retaliation if U.S. Levies Tariffs, Commerce Secretary Saysj – Wall Street Journal – By Ian Talley (Nov 22)
“Beijing?s response if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on pledge could harm economy, Penny Pritzker warns”
No chance for food embargo to be lifted soon, says Putin?- GlobalMeatNews – By Vladislav Vorotnikov (Nov 23)
“Russia aims to maintain its food embargo for as long as possible to protect investment in the country?s meat industry, Russian president Vladimir Putin has claimed.”
AG, AG TECH, PRODUCTION, RELATED ISSUES:
With an Eye on Hunger, Scientists See Promise in Genetic Tinkering of Plants – New York Times – By Justin Gillis (Nov 17)
“…increased the productivity of a test plant ? tobacco ? by as much as 20 percent…That is a huge number, given that plant breeders struggle to eke out gains of 1 or 2 percent with more conventional approaches.”
Link:?http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/18/science/gmo-foods-photosynthesis.html?_r=0
China is on a mission to modernize African farming?and find new markets for its own companies – Quartz – Lily Kuo (Nov 16)
How GMOs Help Us Reduce Food Waste & Its Environmental Impact – Forbes.com – By Kate Hall (Nov 18)
Link:?http://www.forbes.com/sites/gmoanswers/2016/11/18/gmos-help-reduce-food-waste/#59e7f86c6546
Co-existence possible between genetically modified and conventional crops – New Zealand Farmer – By Pat Deavoll (Nov 18)
Researchers track climate change risk to feed crops, animal production in US?- Feed Navigator – By Aerin Einstein-Curtis (Nov 18)
“Soil and water management top mitigation plans for US farmers to address climate change risk, says?expert.”
POLICY, REGULATORY, ACTIVISM, RELATED ISSUES:
Iowa farmer challenges activist Vandana Shiva after ?myth-filled? anti-GMO lecture – Genetic Literacy Project – By?
“While I appreciate Vandana Shiva?s?passion for the environment and crop diversity, most of her claims have been readily debunked. Her campaigns are subsidized by?millions of dollars of contributions by organic food companies to spread lies about conventional agriculture to push an agenda.”
Here’s a ‘long’ letter to the editor about Shiva’s visit to Drake Univ. in the Nov 14 Des Moines Register by Aman Mann, the daughter of GFN member Gurjeet Singh Mann (India): ?Genetically modified crops benefit farmers
ConfoundUp – Snopes.com – By Alex Kasprak (Nov 16)
“A laboratory test performed by food activists is going viral, but its results and the allegations drawn from them are not reliable.”
Link:?http://www.snopes.com/monsanto-suppressing-evidence-of-cancerous-herbicide-in-food/
EPA schedules new SAP for glyphosate review for Dec. 13-16 – Delta Farm Press – By Forrest Laws (Nov 17)
“In documents released earlier this fall, EPA said it has determined glyphosate is probably not carcinogenic in humans, a finding shared by such organizations as the European Food Safety Agency and the New Zealand equivalent of EPA.”
Link:?http://deltafarmpress.com/regulatory/epa-schedules-new-sap-glyphosate-review-dec-13-16
Hawaii GMO Seed Companies Win Big In Appeals Court Rulings – Honolulu Civil Beat – By Anita Hofschneider (Nov 18)
“The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals concludes that Hawaii counties don?t have the right to regulate agriculture.”
Link:?http://www.civilbeat.org/2016/11/hawaii-gmo-seed-companies-win-big-in-appeals-court-ruling/
Court ruled correctly on anti-GMO laws – The Garden Island (Kaua’i, Hawaii) – By?Allan Parachini (Nov 20)
US Senators: We need faster GM approval process by China?- Food Navigator Asia By Aerin Einstein-Curtis (Nov 18)
“Several US Senators have called on the Obama administration to make the approval process for GM products a focus in upcoming trade talks with China.”
Link:?http://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Policy/US-Senators-We-need-faster-GM-approval-process-by-China
‘Fundamental to future food production’: Brexit may allow farmers to grow GM crops – Farming UK (Nov 19)
NOSB votes to keep ?GMO 2.0? techniques out of organic?- Food Navigator USA – By Elizabeth Crawford (Nov 22)
“To protect organic crops and products form the ?incursion? of rapidly developing genetic engineering, the National Organic Standards Board voted last week to recommend USDA expand and strengthen the definitions of excluded methods under organic regulations.”
Link:?http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Suppliers2/NOSB-votes-to-keep-GMO-2.0-techniques-out-of-organic
Neonic-coated seeds get boost from court ruling – Agri-Pulse – By Stephen Davies (Nov 22)
Link:?http://www.agri-pulse.com/Neonic-coated-seeds-get-boost-from-court-ruling-11222016.asp