Note – news items of interest added on Apr 1 are in GREEN.
The Missing Monument on the National Mall – A Tribute to Norman Borlaug on His 102nd Birth Anniversary -?The Huffington Post – By Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn (Mar 23)
“…America, through its domestic farm efficiency and foreign assistance programs led ?the single greatest period of food production and hunger reduction in all human history.?
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kenneth-m-quinn/the-missing-monument-on-t_b_9526592.html
BIOTECH, FOOD LABELING
Sowing the Seeds of a Farm Boom in Africa – Bloomberg – By Alan Bjerga (Mar 31)
“Big Ag takes on problems like climate change and food spoilage.”
Link:?http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-31/sowing-the-seeds-of-a-farm-boom-in-africa
Reaping The Numerous Benefits Of Biotechnology In Nigeria – Daily Nigeria News – By Timothy Opaluwa (Mar 26)
“Agricultural experts have identified application of modern biotechnology as a powerful tool in boosting food production in the country.”
Experts say fighting misperceptions about GE crops begins with educating public – CropProtectionNews (Mar 28)
AU official hails Ugandan scientists on biotech – New Vision (Uganda) -?By Christopher Bendana (Mar 25)
A hungry world should look to GMOs – The Hill – By Former Rep. Charlie Stenholm (D-Texas) – Mar 29
“The hungry of the world though, have a major problem. The so-called “environmental movement” has convinced the political leaders of the world that technology is bad, but neglect to present a sustainable alternative…”
Link:?http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/energy-environment/274523-a-hungry-world-should-look-to-gmos
These vitamin-fortified bananas might get you thinking differently about GMOs – Grist – By Nathanael Johnson (Mar 25)
“Tackling this problem is important for environmental reasons as well as the obvious humanitarian ones…”
The organic industry?s GMO hoax – The Hill – By Amanda Zaluckyj (Mar 24)
“The organic industry has taken a safe, effective technology and scared people into thinking it needs to be labeled.”
Link: http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/274069-the-organic-industrys-gmo-hoax
Label Thumpers – Slate – By Daniel Engber (Mar 27)
The GMO movement is about faith, not facts
Grassley: GMO labeling deal unlikely before summer – Des Moines Register – By Christopher Doering (Mar 22)
Big Food Caves to Tiny Vermont on GMO Labels Ahead of July Law – Bloomberg – By Craig Giamonna and Alan Bjerga (Mar 23)
CITRUS GREENING:
Is HLB close to making its San Joaquin Valley debut? – Western Farm Press – By Todd Fitchette?(Mar 16)
Link: http://westernfarmpress.com/blog/hlb-close-making-its-san-joaquin-valley-debut
Citrus growers urged to make ACP ‘enemy number one’ -?Western Farm Press – By Todd Fitchette?(Mar 16)
Link: http://westernfarmpress.com/orchard-crops/citrus-growers-urged-make-acp-enemy-number-one
TRADE:
Lee Hsien Loong?s American Exceptionalism – Wall Street Journal – By William McGurn (Mar 31)
“Singapore?s prime minister says the U.S. might be roiled by politics, but its leadership on trade and security is indispensable.”
Link:?http://www.wsj.com/articles/lee-hsien-loongs-american-exceptionalism-1459464855#livefyre-comment
Trade, at what price? – The Economist (Apr 2 edition)
“America?s economy benefits hugely from trade. But its costs have been amplified by policy failures”
European Trade Head Optimistic on TTIP Progress – GlobalTrade – By Michael White (Mar 30)
“Despite the heated anti-free trade rhetoric from both Republican and Democratic presidential aspirants, negotiations to forge a sweeping U.S.-European free trade deal by the end of this year are advancing, at least from the European Union perspective.”
Campaign Trade Wars – The New Yorker – By William Finnegan (Mar 30)
“The loud, often incoherent debate about foreign trade hit a new volume level this week as the Presidential campaign arrived in Wisconsin for the April 5th primary there…”
Link:?http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/campaign-trade-wars
White House says U.S. leadership, prestige at stake in debate over Pacific Rim trade deal – Washington Post – By David Nakamura (Mar 29)
“The Obama administration is fighting back against an anti-free trade mood on the 2016 campaign trail, arguing that the United States’ credibility and prestige in Asia is at stake in the debate over a Pacific Rim trade deal that the president has made a top priority in his final year.”
Free-Trade Opposition Unites Political Parties in Bloomberg Poll – Bloomberg Politics – By John McCormick and Terrence Dopp (Mar 24)
“A stunning rejection of what was a postwar cornerstone of American economic and foreign policies reverberates again and again in the answers to the poll?s questions.”
Uruguay to promote Mercosur-China FTA: FM – Xinhua/New China (Mar 28)
“”We want to get closer to China, because it is the main business partner to all Mercosur countries,” Nin Novoa told the Senate’s International Affairs Committee, according to local newspaper El Observador.
Link:?http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-03/28/c_135227757.htm
Egypt wheat row turns toxic?– Food Navigator -?By Will Chu (22 Mar)
Egypt?s wheat import dispute continues, with mixed messages on fungal infection rates sparking panic about cancer-causing bread, as a currency devaluation puts strain on food prices.
Link:?http://www.foodnavigator.com/Regions/Middle-East/Egypt-wheat-row-turns-toxic
Obama, Argentinian President Macri consider free trade – UPI.com -?By Andrew V. Pestano?(Mar 23)
Obama declares ‘new day’ in US-Cuba ties and offers to end trade embargo – International Business Times – By?Vasudevan Sridharan (Mar 22)
Link: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/obama-declares-new-day-us-cuba-ties-offers-end-trade-embargo-1550883
REGULATORY:
US invests in nanotechnology for food safety?– GlobalMeatNews.com -?By Oscar Rousseau (1-Apr)
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to pump millions into researching ways nanotechnology can be used to improve food safety.
Link:?http://www.globalmeatnews.com/Safety-Legislation/US-invests-in-nanotechnology-for-food-safety
http://www.croplifeamerica.org/epas-violation-of-its-own-process-and-politicalization-of-decision-making-threatens-farmers-ability-to-effectively-control-pests/
http://farmfutures.com/blogs-fifra-treated-seed-exemption-challenged-court-10760
http://www.globalmeatnews.com/Safety-Legislation/US-plans-to-modernise-meat-inspection/
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-grains-regulation-idUSKCN0WQ013