News items related to ag tech, 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 newest items will be in?green?at bottom of sections). ?Be sure to come back and check the page during the week.
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Interesting tidbit immediately below… so, the discovery – somewhat jokingly – begs the question of whether or not the creators of the paleo diet fad may now have to rethink things…
Prehistoric grains identified in Swiss Alps lunch box – Food Navigator -?By?Gill Hyslop (July?28)
“Scientists have discovered a 4,000-year-old ?lunch box? ? obviously lost by a plucky primitive traveler crossing the Swiss mountains ? contains microscopic traces of ancient wheat and rye.” – Link
TRADE, TRADE RELATED, INFRASTRUCTURE:
U.S. Trade Leadership Has Been Absent Over a Decade – RealClearMarkets – By Ray Keating (July 31) – Link
Japanese frozen beef tariff rise causes US rift – GlobalMeatNews.com -?By?Oscar Rousseau (July 31)
“Japan?s decision to increase its tariffs on imported frozen beef imports has caused anger in the US.” – Link
South Korea names new trade minister amid U.S. push to amend FTA – Reuters (July 30) – Link
Trade Spats and Border Tensions Cloud BRICS Meeting – Bloomberg (July 27)
“The BRICS have found little common ground in recent years as their growth trajectories diverged and geopolitical ambitions spurred tensions.” – Link
US defends chlorine-washed chicken amid backlash – GlobalMeatNews.com -?By Aaron McDonald (July 26)
“Trade negotiations between the US and UK regarding poultry imports should be based on ?sound science?, as opposed to politics and fearmongering.” – Link
Britain and America suffer from similar delusions on trade – The Economist (July 27 edition)
“A special relationship with reality” – Link
Nafta Battle Will Test Strength of Renewed Canada-Mexico Ties – Bloomberg – By Eric Martin and Josh Wingrove (Aug 1) – Link
Senate Democrats Seek to Outdo Trump on Trade – New York Times – By Binyamin Appelbaum (Aug 2)
“…are seeking to recapture the loyalty of voters convinced that globalization is eroding their fortunes and prospects.” – Link
AG, AG TECH, RESEARCH, PRODUCTION, PROTECTION, RELATED ISSUES:
GM plant-derived omega-3 successfully cultivated on commercial scale – NutraIngredients.com -?By Will Chu (July 28)
“Commercial production of omega-3 supplements sourced from genetically modified plants is the subject of research that could ease the pressure on traditional marine-derived supplies of fish oils.” – Link
Could AgTech Solve Water Scarcity Issues? – Farm Journal Ag Tech – By Ben Potter (July 20)
?We?re trying to help growers get usable information to improve their practices for both economic and ecological sustainability” – Link
Ag scientists call for new global crop alliance – Feedstuffs (July 31)
Loss of Fertile Land Fuels ‘Looming Crisis’ Across Africa – New York Times – By Jeffrey Gettleman (July 29)
“Climate change, soil degradation and rising wealth are shrinking the amount of usable land in Africa. But the number of people who need it is rising fast.” – Link
Hi-tech agriculture: a solution and a challenge – Viet Nam News – By Vo Tri Thanh (Aug 1) – Link
Bees Are Bouncing Back From Colony Collapse Disorder – Bloomberg – By Alan Bjerga (Aug 2) – Link
POLICY, REGULATORY, ACTIVISM, OTHER:
Costs mounting for delayed approval of GE crops in Africa – Feedstuffs (July 31)
Behind the NY Times glyphosate fiasco: Why anti-GMO activists turned on Ben & Jerry?s – Genetic Literacy Project – By Kevin Folta (July 28)
“OCA [Organic Consumers Association] has been trying to get their followers to petition Ben and Jerry?s go ?Go Organic!? for a long time. When the company failed to take action, OCA and others orchestrated a media-enabled smear campaign.” – Link
Ben & Jerry?s says product is safe after traces of glyphosate found in ice cream – Dairy Reporter – By?Mary Ellen Shoup (July 27)
“Unilever-owned Ben & Jerry?s has said that its ice cream products are safe to consume after independent lab testing by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) found that certain ice cream samples tested positive for glyphosate.” – Link
3 Ways Activists Gamed California’s Prop 65 List To Get Glyphosate On It – Science 2.0 – By Hank Campbell (July 18)
“Environmentalists have gamed the system, and they did it by creating?a community where no one will debunk the claims made by other activists.” – Link
Op-Ed: GMOs could be the solution to Africa?s food shortages – CNBCAfrica – By David S. Levin (July 26)
“[I]rrespective of which side of the argument you fall, part of the problem is that many consumers are poorly educated with respect to GMOs, and simply allow social media and negative media buzz to shape their thinking…” – Link
Call junk science by its rightful name: Fake news – USA Today – By Alex Berezow (July 21)
“[W]e should extend the war on fake news to banish unscientific buzzwords and health fads…” – Link
Chipotle’s problems are bigger than its messaging – The Hill – Opinion by Joseph Perrone (July 25)
“Overcoming public health threats and instituting real food safety programs require more than just a millennial-friendly marketing campaign.” – Link