News items related to ag tech, biotech, trade ? and perhaps some other interesting topics 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). ?Check the page during the week for updates.
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It goes without saying that the thoughts and support of everyone at GFN are with all those affected by Hurricane Harvey in the US, and of course from natural disasters wherever they may happen around the world. ?The impact on agriculture and food security brought by natural disasters are profound. ?Reliable trade and infrastructure routes are key components to not only daily life, but working through and past catastrophes.
Significant ag losses left in Harvey?s aftermath – Feedstuffs – By Krissa Welshans (Aug 30)
A Flying Cowboy Rides to Rescue Cattle Stranded in Harvey?s Floods – The New York Times – ?(Sept 3)
“The devastating rain put thousands of animals at risk of drowning, but a cowpoke in a helicopter is helping drive them to higher ground.” – Link
And, Florida too…
Florida Farmers Brace as Irma Threatens $1.2 Billion of Crops – AgWeb/Bloomberg (Sept 7) – Link
Agriculture could be key to easing U.S.-North Korea tensions – The Des Moines Register – By Kenneth M. Quinn (Sept 1)
“With so few good options to defuse the current situation over North Korea’s enhanced strategic capabilities, including possible nuclear-weaponized long-range missiles, using agriculture as a vehicle to reduce tensions would seem worth a try.” – Link
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Again this week, GFN would also like to highlight the?Golden Rice Project?and its efforts to address severe vitamin A deficiency, which can lead to blindness and other health issues, primarily in children.
The Philippine?Rice?Research Institute (PhilRice) and the International?Rice?Research Institute (IRRI) have submitted an application for a biosafety permit to allow Vitamin A-biofortified (GR2E)?rice?to be used for food, feed, and processing in the Philippines. In addition, IRRI has also applied to include the?rice?in the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Code (FSANZ) to prevent any trade issues if small amounts of the?rice?inadvertently end up in shipments of other milled?rice?imported into Australia/New Zealand.
The governments are both accepting public comments until?14 September?and we urge you to all provide comments of support for the applications prior to that deadline. Your comments in support can be directed to the Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry (Philippines) through e-mail at?[email protected], and online at?http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/code/changes/submission/Pages/SubmissionForm.aspx?for FSANZ (Application Number A1138; Proposal for Food derived from Provitamin A Rice Line GR2E).
More information about the?Golden?Rice?Project that you may find of use in supportive comments can be found online at?http://irri.org/golden-rice???http://irri.org/golden?rice/
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TRADE, TRADE RELATED, INFRASTRUCTURE:
Trump’s mutiny against trade has some countries worried about their national security – CNBC.com – By Leslie Shaffer (Sept 1)
“When President?Donald Trump?walked away from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, he set off a series of geopolitical recalculations across Asia.” – Link
Trump hints at pulling out of free trade deal with South Korea – The Straits Times (Singapore) (Sept 4) – Link
Trump: US considering ‘stopping all trade’ with countries doing business with N. Korea – The Hill – By Rebecca Savransky (Sept 3) – Link
Trump?s tough trade tactics have negotiators looking at options – The Washington Times – By S.A. Miller (Aug 31)
“President?Trump?has rattled?Mexico?and Canada with his bare-knuckle negotiating style and threats to tear up the North American Free Trade Agreement as they enter the second round of talks Friday to redo the three-way trade deal.” – Link
NAFTA envoys lay out proposals, try to block Trump noise – Reuters – By Dave Graham, Anthony Esposito (Sept 1)
“Teams from the three countries kicked off a second round of talks in Mexico…” – Link?
Russia to cancel lower duties on beef from Brazil and Paraguay – GlobalMeatNews.com -?By Vladislav Vorotnikov (Sept 1)
Russia?s committee on customs and tariff regulation, headed by the Minister for Economic Development Maxim Oreshkin, has decided to start applying full customs duties on beef imported from Brazil and Paraguay??to get the price of importers in line with the price of domestic producers?. – Link
Liam Fox: Britain does not have capacity to strike trade deals now – Politico EU – By Tom McTague (Sept 5)
“…Britain wants to adopt terms of existing EU trade agreements on temporary basis.” – Link
Japan, U.S. to set up working-level talks on trade, infrastructure – Japan Today (Sept 4)
“… will set up at least eight working-level groups this month in such areas as trade and infrastructure under the bilateral dialogue launched in response to President Donald Trump’s campaign vow to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with Japan…” – Link
Canada emerges as a tough negotiator in Nafta talks – Fox Business / Dow Jones Newswires -?By?
“…Ottawa has introduced new provisions on labor and the environment that may struggle to gain traction in Washington, and the Canadian negotiators have balked at supporting some less-controversial language that they agreed to in Trans-Pacific Partnership…” – Link
AG, AG TECH, RESEARCH, PRODUCTION, PROTECTION, RELATED ISSUES:
Allow farmers to grow GM maize, scientists plead – Daily Nation (Kenya) – By Julius Sigei (Sept 1)
“…Why are we suffocating our economy by refusing to embrace technology?? – Link
Rajya Sabha panel on GM crops: Why there is more fault-finding than fact-finding despite ICAR?evidence – Financial Express (India) – By Vivian Fernandes (Sept 2)
“It is said that for those who believe, no proof is needed, and for those who do not, no proof is possible. Into which category should one slot a parliamentary committee, chaired by Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury, on ?genetically modified crops and their impact on environment??” – Link
How big? A look at the size of beef operations – High Plains Journal – By David A. Widmar (Sept 4)
A historical overview of where beef operations have come from and are heading – Link
Hi-tech agriculture has to match specific needs – Viet Nam News (Sept 6)
Hi-tech agriculture has been riding a new wave of investment in recent years, with the Government viewing technology as key to restructuring the sector, achieving food security and improving produce quality.” – Link
POLICY, REGULATORY, ACTIVISM, OTHER:
NMPF spars with Dannon, Dean Foods, over ?rampant fear-based marketing? on GMOs – Food Navigator USA -?By?Elaine Watson (Sept 1)
“”Rampant fear-based food marketing” ? most notably from brands touting their non-GMO credentials – is damaging consumer trust and??jeopardizing the safe, sustainable farming practices that have enhanced farm productivity over the last 20 years? says the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) in a new marketing campaign that?s been sharply criticized by leading dairy brands.” – Link
HSUS Seeks Calif. Cage-Free Status for Pork, Veal and Eggs – AgWeb.com – By Greg Henderson (Sept 2) – Link
GMA: GMO labeling should apply to highly refined oils, sweeteners – Food Navigator USA -?By?Elaine Watson (Sept 1)
“If consumers are to believe that the food industry is serious about transparency, highly refined oils and sweeteners derived from GM crops must be included in the new bioengineered food standard (the federal GMO labeling law), even if they are indistinguishable from their non-engineered counterparts, says the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA).” – Link