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!
**Senate passes GMO labeling compromise – Farm Futures (July 8)
“The Senate on Thursday passed the Roberts-Stabenow compromise on GMO labeling, 63-30″
Link:?http://farmfutures.com/story-senate-passes-gmo-labeling-compromise-0-143745
POLICY, LABELING, REGULATION, etc.:
As Vermont GMO law takes effect, Senate debates national standard -?Minneapolis Star Tribune – By Jim Spencer (July 2)
“Last Friday, Vermont implemented the country?s first law that makes food distributors reveal the presence of genetically engineered ingredients…In a few weeks, that law could be dead.”
How vegetarians, gluten-frees, grain-frees and other L.A. food tribes ruined my BBQ tradition – Los Angeles Times – Op-ed by Robin Rauzi (July 1)
“Back in 2011, when the tradition began, I didn?t fully appreciate the proliferation of distinct food tribes, many of which would have starved in the spear-chucking days.”
Link:?http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-rauzi-la-bbq-food-tribes-20160701-snap-story.html
Ag?s aging infrastructure: Capital needed to modernize, expand – Southwest Farm Press – By Ron Smith (July 5)
Link:?http://southwestfarmpress.com/management/ag-s-aging-infrastructure-capital-needed-modernize-expand
France will trial mandatory country of origin labelling for two years?- Food Navigator -?By Niamh Michail?(July 6)
“France will be trialling mandatory country of origin labelling for meat and dairy in prepared foods for two years, a move which has split industry.”
Consumer survey suggests Vermont GMO labels ?strongly mislead consumers,? claims CRA?- Food Navigator USA -?By Elaine Watson?(July 6)
“An industry-backed survey of 1,665 online primary shoppers suggests that Vermont?s mandatory GMO labels ?strongly mislead consumers,? claims the Corn Refiners Association (CRA).”
Link:?http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Markets/Vermont-GMO-labels-strongly-mislead-consumers-claims-CRA
EPA Gives More Time to Comment on Atrazine – AgWeb – By Alison Rice (July 6)
Link:?http://www.agweb.com/article/epa-gives-more-time-to-comment-on-atrazine-naa-alison-rice/
Report: Vermont Supermarkets Lose 3,000 Products Over GMO Law – AgWeb – By Ben Potter (July 6)
Editorial -?Vermont’s newest export is bad GMO policy – Los Angeles Times, Editorial (July 7)
“It?is wrong to let the baseless fears of certain?consumers dictate national food policy.”
Link:?http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-gmo-bill-20160706-snap-story.html
TRADE:
Obama backtracks on trade warning after Brexit?vote – New York Post / AP (July 2)
“President Barack Obama is backtracking on his warning that Britain would go to the ?back of the queue? for a U.S. trade deal, as he tries to contain the fallout of the U.K.?s decision to leave the European Union.”
Link:?http://nypost.com/2016/07/02/obama-backtracks-on-trade-warning-after-brexit-vote/
Potential Clinton VP Perez still supports trade deal – Politico – By Kevin Robillard (July 3)
Link: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/tom-perez-trade-pacific-225067#ixzz4DT5D1yXM
CETA and TTIP threaten the EU?s precautionary principle – EurActiv -?By C?cile Barbi?re;?Translated By Samuel White?(July 1)
Is Free Trade Dead? – Investor’s Business Daily – Commentary by Terry Jones (July 2)
“[C]riticizing trade deals because they make trade freer is a little like criticizing the Indy 500 because the cars go fast.”
Link:?http://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/is-free-trade-dead-clinton-trump-fight/
Protectionism won’t make America great – Columbia Tribune (Missouri) – By Rich Lowry, Creators Syndicate (July 5)
***Conflicting messages coming from Europe…
TTIP impossible in 2016, French minister says – EurActiv / AFP (July 5)
Link:?https://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/ttip-impossible-in-2016-french-minister-says/
TTIP free trade deal between U.S. and EU at dead end: Italy minister – Reuters (July 5)
Link:?http://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-usa-ttip-italy-idUSKCN0ZL1JV
EU trade officials reiterate Brexit won’t derail TTIP talks – KTIC / DTN/Progressive Farmer (July 5)
Link:?http://kticradio.com/agricultural/eu-trade-officials-reiterate-brexit-wont-derail-ttip-talks/
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U.S. trade chief says China offer falls short, UK could join TPP – Reuters (July 6)
Link:?https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/u-trade-chief-says-china-222612880.html
A Chance for a Catfish Vote – The Wall Street Journal, Review & Outlook (editorial) (July 6)
“Failing to repeal would set up a WTO showdown that the U.S. could lose.”
Link:?http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-chance-for-a-catfish-vote-1467834756
China?s pork imports will hit record highs?- Food Navigator Asia -?By Oscar Rousseau?(July 6)
“Imports of pig meat to China will boom by a third as the government shuts down unsuitable farms and the sow herd shrinks to an historic low, analysts have claimed.”
Link:?http://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Markets/China-s-pork-imports-will-hit-record-highs
Why Britain Belongs in a New Nafta – The Wall Street Journal – Opinion by Robert B. Zoellick (July 7)
“After Brexit, the U.S. must help prevent Europe from slipping into nativism and protectionism.”
Link:?http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-britain-belongs-in-a-new-nafta-1467932567
AG TECH, FOOD SECURITY, OTHER:
Rwanda: Govt to Unveil Position On GMOs Use After Enacting Biosafety Law – allAfrica / Rwanda Focus – By Michel Nkurunziza (June 30)
Link:?http://allafrica.com/stories/201607010048.html
Nobelists To Greenpeace: Drop Your Anti-Science Anti-GMO Campaign – Forbes.com – By Steven Salzberg (July 4)
Nigeria: Exploring Biotech Cotton Opportunities – allAfrica / Daily Trust (Nigeria) – Opinion by Rose Gidado (July 3)
“A major public policy issue in West Africa is not whether, but how to introduce Bt.-cotton in the region”
Link:?http://allafrica.com/stories/201607030311.html
Inside Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Plan For GMO Grass – Forbes – By Dan Alexander (July 26 issue)
Fighting Zika in the US: ?The Battle Over GMO Mosquitoes – ABC News – By Gillian Mohney and Justine Quart (July 6)
“How one island in the Florida Keys could change the way we fight mosquito-borne diseases.”
Link:?http://abcnews.go.com/Health/deepdive/fighting-zika-40277607
1 In 10 People May Face Malnutrition As Fish Catches Decline – NPR, The Salt – By Clare Leschin-Hoar (June 30)
Why the African food basket should be full of beans and other?pulses?– The Conversation – By?
What Would a World Without GMOs Look Like? – National Geographic, The Plate – By April Fulton (June 29)
“Without genetically-modified foods, we might have to give up oranges and resign ourselves to living with avian flu and more malnutrition.”
Companies woo consumers with GMO crops with health benefits?- Des Moines Register – By Christopher Doering (July 8)
“DuPont Pioneer, Monsanto and other companies working on genetically modified technologies are?focusing more?attention on creating foods that improve public health and provide convenience for shoppers.”