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 check in regularly.
TRADE, TRADE RELATED, INFRASTRUCTURE:
China offers concessions to avert trade war with US – Financial Times (UK) – By Tom Mitchell and Shawn Donnan (Apr 10)
India is losing faith in free-trade agreements – Bloomberg View – By Mihir Sharma (Apr 9)
“China-backed trade pact Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, has discovered a familiar hurdle in the path?India” – Link
Trump tweets: ‘Time will tell’ on trade with China – Politico – By Rebecca Morin (Apr 8)
“It was a great honor to have President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan of China as our guests in the United States. Tremendous…” the president wrote. “…goodwill and friendship was formed, but only time will tell on trade.” – Link
Trump considers investigation of international trade partners – Washington Post, Wonkblog – By Damian Paletta (Apr 9)
“… considering?an executive action that would launch?a formal investigation into the way U.S. trading partners?use subsidies and a tactic known as ?dumping? to skew imports and exports…” – Link
Labor warns of Trump-style anti-trade backlash building in Australia – Sydney Morning Herald – By Adam Gartrell (Apr 10)
“If you look closely enough you can see the seeds of the same problem taking root here too…” – Link
As CETA looms, Canada braces for the European cheese invasion – The Globe and Mail – By Sylvain Charlebois (Apr 9)
“Subsidies aside, many European dairy farms are more competitive than our farms in Canada. Beyond the meagre financial-support programs, a clear road map to make our dairy sector more competitive is urgently needed.’ – Link
New trade deal with India could be years away, Malcolm Turnbull says – ABC News (Australia) – By Stephen Dziedzic (Apr 10)
“But negotiations became bogged down last year after that deadline sailed by. Talks have now come to a virtual standstill with Australia turning its attention to a trade deal with Indonesia instead.” – Link
Chile, China start talks to expand trade deal – YahooNews (Australia) / AFP (Apr 11)
“Latin American countries are concerned about the impact Trump’s trade policies will have…” – Link
Trump administration moving ahead with ending Jones Act exemptions – Platts (Apr 11)
“The 100-year-old Jones Act requires vessels transporting goods between US ports to be US-flagged, US-built and majority US-owned.” – Link
Trade recovery expected in 2017 and 2018, amid policy uncertainty – WTO (Apr 12)
“Growth in the volume of world merchandise trade is expected to rebound this year from its tepid performance in 2016, but only if the global economy recovers as expected and governments pursue the right policy mix, WTO economists reported.” – Link
AG, AG TECH, PRODUCTION, PROTECTION, RELATED ISSUES:
PPPs: Planting the seeds of prosperity for Bangladeshi farmers – Devex – By Deb Carstoiu (Mar 30)
“… the Bt eggplant has shown?close to 100 percent effectiveness?in controlling pests. Not only have farmers? incomes risen through increased yields, but the crop requires?far fewer insecticide applications?to reduce pests that threaten it.” – Link
Food tech: the future is now, say investors?- Food Navigator – By David Burrows (Apr 7)
“Food prices are rising, corporates are failing to innovate and diets are shifting ? it?s the perfect recipe for a food tech start-up.” – Link
California citrus growers face headwinds in ACP battle – Western Farm Press – By Todd Fitchette (Apr 4)
Armyworm wrecks havoc with Kenya?s grain basket – Daily Nation (Apr 9) – Link
Inside the little-known Monsanto campus where scientists are changing the way you eat – Business Insider – By Melia Robinson (Apr 10)
“On a sprawling campus in Woodland, California, Monsanto chips away at making a juicier melon, a more shelf-stable onion, a tomato that doesn’t go limp in shipment, and other foods made using?traditional breeding techniques augmented by high-tech tools.” – Link
Gene editing opens doors to seedless fruit with no need for bees – New Scientist – By Alice Klein (Apr 11)
“The technique will make it possible to make?a much wider range of seedless fruits than is currently available…” – Link
POLICY, REGULATORY, ACTIVISM, OTHER:
California?s Wasted Winter Rains – Wall Street Journal – Review & Outlook (Apr 5)
“The drought is over but the greens keep sending the water out to sea.” – Link
*For background?- see op-ed by GFN board member Ted Sheely, California Farmers Invest Water to Feed People
*Note – see Apr 11 News Release: ?Reclamation Releases 100 Percent Water Supply Allocation for Central Valley Project Contractors South-of-Delta?
Glyphosate to join Proposition 65 list?- Food Navigator USA – By Elaine Watson?(Apr 10)
“The herbicide glyphosate is to be added to the list of chemicals known to cause cancer under California’s Proposition 65 legislation, which means companies producing products containing residues of the popular herbicide may in future have to feature warning labels.” – Link
*Note – see Well-Intentioned CA Prop 65 is Getting Out-Of-Hand
GMOs: Senegal supports adoption of agric biotech – EnviroNews Nigeria (30 Mar)
“President Macky Sall of Senegal has thrown his weight behind the adoption of agricultural biotechnology in the country.” – Link
Give GMOs a break, alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen – The Star (Kenya) – By David Makumi (Apr 7)
“Every time the Health ministry weighs in on the debate on genetically modified organisms, it is almost always to effect a ban. From the recent move to stop field trials, to maintaining the earlier ban that was informed by a now discredited French study, the ministry is overly sensitive to all matters GMOs.” – Link
Health risk from pesticide residues is low, says EFSA?- Food Navigator -By Niamh Michail?(Apr 12)
“The health risk from pesticide residues in food is low, according to a report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)…” – Link