World Agriculture
Developments, trade, data, and topics in world agriculture
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US Farmers Warn: ADM Takeover GrainCop Could Affect Australian Agricultural CompetitionUS farmers warn ADM's GrainCorp takeover could hurt competition in Australian agriculture By North America correspondent Lisa Millar - November 19, 2013, 12:59 pm ABC The US National Farmers Union has warned the Australian Government against approving ADM's GrainCorp takeover bid. As Treasurer Joe Hockey weighs the arguments over the takeover bid of GrainCorp, one of the oldest farm organisations in the US has warned that increased concentration in the industry will be bad news for Australian farmers. The National Farmers Union says it has watched the negative impact of foreign takeovers in its own country, and says Australia should reject the deal offered by Archer Daniels Midland (ADM). But the American growers who deal daily with the company say it is the only way to make the most of a booming global demand. In Decatur, Illinois, the presence of ADM in grain-producing areas is hard to to miss. The company's name can be seen for kilometres on silos across the rural landscape. Its processing plant at its global headquarters in Decatur operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Local grower David Brown's family has been selling grain to ADM for generations. "They have grown undoubtedly in our area and we've seen them gobble up some things around here," he said. "I like our independence. I like our ability to deal with several different people, I like the competition. "But I also like the assurance that there's going to be a large player in the area that's going to be giving me a good baseline for my prices ." He believes Australian producers will be better off if the deal goes through. "Every year we produce more and more and they keep asking for more and more," he said. "And these products go worldwide. I think ADM would probably be able to get them the exposure, even further exposure to the China area or some of these other large growing areas ." Farming group warns about competition impact In this part of the US, people are well aware of ADM's bid for GrainCorp. Chandler Goule from the National Farmers Union, which includes small and medium-sized farmers among its members, thinks the Australian Government should think twice before approving the takeover bid. "Any time a group of companies, or one or two companies, corner a market and infiltrate it by 40 to 60 per cent, economists will tell you you've lost competition," he said. "And as you lose competition, then what happens to your producers is they're limited on who they can sell to, therefore they get a lower price and your end users are limited on who they can purchase from. Mr Goule predicts ADM will be the only winner out of the deal. "You don't want the increased concentration," he said. "ADM is a very legitimate, successful company. Really what we're looking at here is the economic factors that are associated with increased concentration and with increased vertical integration in your agriculture industry. "We're not focused on the company, but on the economic factors and the negative consequences associated with increased concentration ." Patrick Woodall from the Washington-based lobby group Food and Water Watch says farmers in Australia will be played off against farmers in South America, where ADM also has a presence. "The global sourcing of commodities allows them to exert downward pressure on prices worldwide because they can pit farmers against one another," he said. "They're going to buy a certain amount of wheat. Now they're in more places where wheat is grown and they can just push down on prices ."
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U.S. Department of Agriculture Released 2013 Agricultural Export DataUSDA release statement on US Agricultural Exports 2013 Process Management exports markets and trade USDA US 38 0 USDA recently released its final count for agricultural exports in Fiscal Year 2013, showing a new record of US$140.9 billion. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement on this news: "American agriculture achieved record exports once again in Fiscal Year 2013, and the period 2009-2013 stands as the strongest five-year period for agricultural exports in our nation's history. In fact, compared to the previous five-year period from 2004-2008, US agricultural exports from 2009-2013 increased by a total of more than US$230 billion - and the average volume of bulk commodities exported increased by nearly four million tons per year during that same period. We need to remain focused on keeping up the incredible momentum we've seen over the past five years. First and foremost, Congress needs to pass a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill to continue the trade promotion programs that helped American agriculture achieve these results. These trade promotion efforts return $35 in economic benefits for every dollar invested - a great value for producers who gain access to additional market opportunities abroad, as well as rural communities that depend on a solid agriculture sector to create and support jobs. A new Farm Bill would complement historic work by the Obama Administration to break down barriers to US products and achieve new agreements to expand exports - an effort that continues today as we work toward new agreements with the EU and a number of Asian nations. With record agricultural exports supporting about one million American jobs, we can't afford to lose the incredible momentum of recent years and that's why we need Congress to pass a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill as soon as possible ." USDA
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FAO predicts more balanced food markets, less price volatilityFAO expects more balanced food markets, less price volatility Food Price Index rose slightly in October, driven by higher sugar prices Loading bags of wheat for transport 7 November 2013, Rome-Food commodity markets are becoming more balanced and less price volatile than in recent years thanks to improved supplies and a recovery in global inventories of cereals, according to FAO's Food Outlook report published today. "The prices for most basic food commodities have declined over the past few months. This relates to production increases and the expectation that in the current season, we will have more abundant supplies, more export availabilities and higher stocks," said David Hallam, Director of FAO's Trade and Markets Division. The sharp increase in 2013 cereal production mostly stems from a recovery of maize crops in the United States and record wheat harvests in CIS countries. World rice production in 2013 is expected to grow only modestly. Cereal stocks Global stocks, ending in 2014, are also anticipated to increase, by 13 percent, to 564 million tonnes, with coarse grains alone up by 30 percent, mostly in the United States. Wheat and rice stocks are also projected to rise, by 7 percent and 3 percent respectively. The expansion in world cereal stocks would result in the global cereal stocks-to-use ratio reaching 23 percent, well above the historical low of 18.4 percent in 2007/08. In 2013, the world food import bill is set to decline by 3 percent to $1.15 trillion, with import costs of cereals, sugar, vegetable oils and tropical beverages falling, but dairy, meat and fish remaining firm, according to FAO's latest Food Outlook. Food prices rise slightly The FAO Food Price Index, also published in this report, rose slightly in October, averaging 205.8 points. This was 2.7 points, or 1.3 percent above September, but still 11 points, or 5.3 percent below its October 2012 value. The slight increase was largely driven by a surge in sugar prices, although prices of the other commodity groups were also up. The Index, which is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of five major food commodity groups (including 73 price quotations), has undergone some changes in the way it is calculated, although the new approach did not significantly alter the values in the series. The revised Index has also been extended back to 1961. The revisions are discussed in the Special Feature section of Food Outlook. Forecasts for other commodities include: cassava- World cassava output is expected to increase for the fifth consecutive year and to reach 256 million tonnes in 2013. The expansion is being fueled by rising demand for food in the African continent and increasing industrial applications of cassava in East and Southeast Asia, especially for ethanol and starch. Sugar-World sugar production is forecast to increase only slightly in 2013/14. The rise is likely to be limited in Brazil, the world's largest sugar producer and exporter, where unfavourable weather conditions have hampered harvesting operations. World sugar consumption is set to grow by about 2 percent in 2013/14. Oilseeds-World oilcrop production could climb to an all-time high in 2013/14, supported by record soybean crops in South America. Global output of oilseed products should match world utilization for the second consecutive year, although a sizeable surplus is possible in the case of meals/cakes. Meat-World meat production is anticipated to grow by 1.4 percent in 2013. Prices have remained at historically high levels since the beginning of 2011. There is no sign of overall price decreases, despite reduced feed costs. Dairy-World milk production in 2013 is forecast to grow by 1.9 percent. Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean are expected to account for most of the increase, with only limited growth elsewhere. International dairy products prices have declined from their April peak, but still remain at historically high levels. Fisheries-Aquaculture continues to boost overall fish supply, pushing quotations down from earlier levels. Fish consumption per capita keeps growing, with aquaculture in the process of overtaking capture fisheries as the main source of supply for direct human consumption.
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One hired worker for agricultural mechanization of 100 hectares of farmland in Norway2013/11/13 14:14:00 China Agriculture News Network content Summary: Norwegian farmer Halvard Berger, 49, graduated with a master's degree in agricultural economics. 110 hectares of land, mainly all kinds of grain, when the year is good, can harvest 400 tons to 500 tons of grain, and these 110 hectares of land are planted by mechanized operation, only one hired worker can complete all the work, the efficiency is extremely high. It takes less than 30 minutes to drive from the Norwegian capital Oslo to the Berg Farm in Skaizmo. We were accompanied by Nut Sumsett, director of the District Agricultural Office, to the Berger farm. Farmer Halwald Berger, 49, graduated with a master's degree in agricultural economics. He gave up his comfortable office job in 1997 and took over the farm from his uncle. At first, the farm area was about 60 hectares, and in recent years, Berge has leased another 50 hectares of farmland from neighbors. This 110 hectares of land is mainly planted with various kinds of grain. When the year is good, it can harvest 400 to 500 tons of grain. In addition, the farm also raises beef cattle, the current stock of more than 60. Cows are not killed. Bulls, except those selected to be breeding cattle, are sold at a certain time. One bull can sell for more than 20000 kroner (1 Norwegian kroner is about 1.04 yuan). The price of cattle is higher. Berger family of five people, the wife works in the city, the children are in school. Everything on the farm was done by him and a hired hand. This employee is a Lithuanian. He works an average of 8 hours a day. He works more when he is busy and less when he is idle. He has been working on the farm for 10 years. According to the law, employees can take five weeks of paid leave a year, and the Lithuanian can take eight weeks. As an employer, Berg also had to cover all kinds of insurance and pay a pension. It is understood that in this region, full-time farm workers earn no less than NOK 25000 per month. In recent years, more summer rain. The wheat can't be harvested and the loss is great. "I didn't make any money in 2012. If you count your own labor, you actually lose money." Berge said that no matter whether the year is good or bad, the land rent will not be reduced and will be paid in full; workers' wages, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, diesel and other money cannot be spent less, and mechanical maintenance and agricultural technical services will also cost a lot of money. The purchase price of grain is not high, only 2.7 Norwegian kroner per kilogram of wheat. Although the Norwegian government's agricultural subsidies to farmers are very high, the agricultural business situation is still not optimistic. In 2012, various government agricultural subsidies added up to NOK 450000, Berger said. All pad in, just don't lose don't earn. If you don't make money, why don't you give up? Berger said that agriculture is like this, sometimes good, sometimes bad. "I made a lot of money in the good times in the past. Things are not so good now. I hope it will get better in the future, so I can make money." Nutt Sumsett, who accompanied the interview, was very appreciative of Berger's calmness in his "long-term thinking. Norway implements private land ownership, land can be inherited, can also be rented or sold. The lease term is not less than 10 years. If it is sold, the government should intervene to control the price to prevent the price from being too high. According to Berge, 7 to 8 percent of farmers give up farm operations each year to work in the city and lease their land to others to cultivate. More than 50 per cent of Norwegian farms have been leased to others. Berger said that in Norway, farmers are very motivated to participate in cooperatives. Cooperatives adopt a democratic management model, and the members' congress is the highest authority of cooperatives. Norway's 15 major agricultural cooperatives are owned by more than 50000 family farmers with an annual output value of NOK 69 billion. He participates in a number of agricultural cooperatives, which are obliged to purchase all the agricultural products of farmers. However, farmers are free to choose whether to sell to cooperatives or other acquirers. Because the cooperative's purchase price is not low, but also can participate in the year-end settlement dividend, so Berger generally sells the product to the cooperative. Buy agricultural machinery, agricultural materials, etc., Berger is also a comparison of goods, who is cheaper to buy who. Members of cooperatives are not obliged to purchase these materials from the cooperatives of which they are members. However, usually the cooperative society gives members a variety of concessions, members buy more, the cooperative business is good, the members will receive more dividends. In addition, the cooperative also provides some free agricultural technical guidance, and provides members with preferential insurance products and telecommunications services from insurance companies and telecommunications companies. http://www.twwtn.com/Agriculture/53_209787.html man of Feeding
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China turns to Ukraine as demand for food growsNovember 5, 2013 2:08 pm China looks to Ukraine as demand for food rises By Roman Olearchyk in Kiev and Lucy Hornby in Beijing ©Bloomberg Wheat Harvest By Ukrainian Grain Exporter ZAT Nibulon Chinese and Ukrainian flags sit side-by-side on a conference room table in downtown Kiev - the sign of a flourishing new alliance between the world's most populous nation and some of the richest farmland on earth. “Everyone in China has probably heard of me by now," says Ukrainian billionaire Oleg Bakhmatyuk. Mr Bakhmatyuk, founder of UkrLandFarming, the world's eighth-largest land cultivator, and London-listed Avangardco world number two in egg production, says he has spent about half of the past 18 months travelling to Asia. He has negotiated exports and investment with agricultural giants including COFCO, the Chinese state grains trader, New Hope, the private feed and meat conglomerate, and Temasek, the Singapore government investment company. With vast tracts of rich, black earth but antiquated infrastructure, Ukraine is attracting interest from Chinese companies hoping to meet their nation's growing demand for grains and meat. Even as Kiev is engaged in a noisy geopolitical tug of war with Russia over its plans to sign a free-trade pact with the European Union in late November, its growing Asian ties show Ukraine has other strategic options. China's interest could both boost Ukraine's economy and increase its international clout. China's investments fit its strategy of encouraging investment in higher-yield farming overseas. Beijing fears relying on imports purchased through the world market could raise world food prices and create diplomatic friction, says Li Guoqiang, deputy director of the Rural Development Institute at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Increasing total global grain supply is the only way to meet China's needs, he says: “It brings food security for the world ." So far, despite overblown reports of China buying huge tracts in other countries, few plans have panned out. The stumbling block? Property rights are an alien concept in China where all land is owned by the state. “They want to come in and have us provide everything, all the land, all ready for them. They don't understand that there are private owners there," says one diplomat privy to the details of a failed state-to-state agricultural deal with China. Enter Ukraine, where private companies agglomerated enormous tracts of farmland after the Soviet collapse. UkrLandFarming cultivates about 560,000 hectares. While Ukrainian law prohibits foreign land ownership, farm corporations are often listed in London or other European stock markets, allowing investors to negotiate equity stakes. Mr Bakhmatyuk says his company is in talks with potential Chinese and Middle Eastern equity investors. He envisages signing “billion-dollar” agreements with Asian companies by the end of the year. Investors can find ways to sidestep the delicate game of land politics, from financing agricultural upgrades to building new ports or silos. The Chinese are “financing projects to secure stable supplies of crops”, said Sergiy Kasyanov, majority owner of Ukraine's KSG Agro. Emerging markets: News and comment from more than 40 emerging economies Warsaw-listed KSG in May signed a memorandum of understanding with Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a state-owned group that controls swaths of China's central Asian frontier, which Chinese media said would finance and provide irrigation infrastructure in Ukraine. Ukraine's trade with China is still relatively small compared with that of Russia and the EU. Serhiy Arbuzov, deputy prime minister, forecast annual bilateral trade would double from today's $10bn in coming years during a September visit to Beijing. But in the first eight months of this year, China became Ukraine's second largest trading partner, accounting for 8 per cent of Ukraine's total trade. Mr Bakhmatyuk says: “China will be crucial, like a locomotive driving growth ." Agriculture is key to that growth. In 2012, Ukraine's agriculture trade turnover with China stood at $270m. By the first half of 2013, exports alone jumped fourfold to $380m, not counting 2m tonnes of corn Ukraine has committed to sell, according to Mykola Prysyazhnyuk, agriculture minister. Ukraine is poised to reap a record 60m-tonne grain harvest this season. It made its first ever corn shipment to China in October, part of a $3bn loan-for-corn deal brokered by state companies in both countries last year. UkrLandFarming separately hopes to sell up to 700,000 tonnes of corn to China this season. Within five years it hopes to reach 6m tonnes of exports per year, with one-third destined for Asia. Billions of dollars in investment and modern farming techniques could double Ukraine's agriculture output, Mr Bakhmatyuk says, turning what is already one of the world's largest exporters of corn, barley, sunflower oil and wheat into one of the world's dominant agricultural suppliers. Chinese bureaucrats have seen the potential. Kiev said this month it was finalising talks with the Export-Import Bank of China on a fresh $3bn loan - half in cash, half equipment - to rebuild irrigation systems and support other farming modernisation efforts. This and other deals could be inked during a December visit to Beijing by Viktor Yanukovich, Ukraine's president. For Mr Bakhmatyuk, a top executive at Ukraine's state gas company before turning to farming, old metaphors die hard. “Instead of oil and gas, we're harvesting crops," he says. “We are now building the pipeline, a sort of Ukrainian Gazprom, to pump these commodities to China and other markets ." http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a9c0db18-4554-11e3-b98b-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2khM59Llc
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How China's Food Security Affects the World Food MarketHow China's Food Security Issues are Affecting the Global Food Market BEIJING, China - China is one of the fastest growing countries in the world. Throughout the years, the country has become one of the fastest growing economies, as well, boasting one of the highest gross national incomes of any country in the world. But despite China's success, there appears to be evidence that China is growing at a rate that is difficult to sustain. One of the greatest indicators of China's difficulty in sustaining its rapid growth is the country's growing food problem. And thus, although China is one of the most powerful countries in the world, it still faces a problem that plagues some of the world's most underdeveloped nations: how to feed its people. It is important to note that there is a distinction between the problem facing China and that facing most underdeveloped nations. Most underdeveloped nations struggle to feed their population in its current state. China's problem is not simply how to feed its population, but rather how to maintain food security with a rapidly growing population. The distinction, however, is insignificant, for the ultimate consequence of failing to address China's food problem will be millions of people going hungry. In an interview with CNN, Deere & Company CEO Sam Allen suggests that China's population is outpacing its food supply and, in order to address this problem and feed its population of 1.35 billion, the country must strategically increase both food imports and food production. One of China's major problems with food production is its lack of arable land, that is, land that is suitable for growing crops. The lack of arable land combined with decreasing availability of land, due to rapid urbanization, has resulted in lower crop yields and a dwindling food supply in China. China currently has the task of ensuring 20 percent of the world's populations is fed with only eight percent of the world's arable land and 30 percent of the world's available fresh water. At the same time, China's growing economy has resulted in rising incomes and increased demand for food, particularly grain. As a result of decreased food production and the simultaneous rise in average income, China has had to import more food than almost any other country in the world. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, China imported 22.8 million more tons of grain in 2013, double the amount of what the country imported the previous year. The frequency and magnitude with which China is importing food has resulted in higher global food prices, meaning that the rest of the world is paying more for food. This is likely unwelcome news for poorer nations already facing major problems with food security. China's food problems could have a significant impact on global food prices in the coming years. However, there are ways the problem can be addressed. China has already begun to reach agreements to develop farmland in other countries such as the Ukraine. Additionally, funds have been released to upgrade agricultural technology and improve farming productivity in China. Still, other countries are encouraged to help small-scale farmers benefit from the increase in global food prices, as well as provide increased aid for the lower-income families that will likely suffer as a result of higher food prices. In order to ensure that global food prices remain as low as possible, the ideal outcome for poorer nations, China needs to continue to invest in more innovative and efficient ways of meeting the food demands of its citizens. -Cavarrio Carter http://www.borgenmagazine.com/chinas-food-security-issues-affecting-global-food-market/ contributions by Zhang Hongzhou
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UN emissions report 2013: agriculture has great potential to reduce emissions2013/11/6 11:26:00 China Science and Technology Network as the new United Nations Climate Change Conference is about to be held, the United Nations Environment Programme released the "2013 Emission Gap Report" at the same time in Beijing and Berlin on the afternoon of November 5, 2013, Beijing time, China. The report pointed out that the current global greenhouse gas emissions have exceeded the 2020 target, and countries should take further emission reduction actions, especially the agricultural emission reduction that has not been paid enough attention to before. According to Zhang Shigang, the representative of the United Nations Environment Programme in China, the report is the fourth annual report issued by the United Nations Environment Programme since 2010. It was compiled by 70 scientists and 44 scientific organizations from 17 countries and regions. The effect of global emission reduction efforts and urge all parties to do their best to achieve emission reduction targets. According to the report, according to the emission reduction target, the world's maximum emissions should not exceed 44 billion tons by 2020. Carbon Dioxide in 2010, the figure reached 50.1 billion tons. If this situation is not controlled, emissions are expected to reach 59 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2020, and countries urgently need to take further emission reduction measures. In terms of emission reduction measures, the 2013 report emphasized the emission reduction potential of transportation, construction and agriculture, including the construction of bus rapid transit system, the establishment of building energy efficiency standards, and the improvement of farming methods. If the above measures are successfully implemented, it is expected to reduce emissions by 4.2 billion to 9.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2020. It is worth noting that the 2013 report for the first time detailed analysis of emission reduction measures in the agricultural sector. Direct emissions from agriculture currently account for 11% of global greenhouse gases, and the potential for reduction by 2020 is between 1.1 billion and 4.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. If indirect emissions are taken into account, this figure may be even greater. It is reported that the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 9th Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol will be held in Warsaw, Poland. The "2013 Emission Gap Report" will serve as an important reference for the meeting. http://www.twwtn.com/Agriculture/53_208746.html man of Feeding
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New U.S. Agricultural Law Will Affect Brazil's $4 billion Export2013-08-20 04:24 Source: Business Consulate in Brazil brazil's "Globe" reported that sensitive foreign trade projects of Brazilian private enterprises are currently being discussed by relevant US departments, which may have a full impact on Brazil's exports of food and ethanol to the United States. In 2012, exports of these products to the United States amounted to US $4 billion billion, accounting for 15% of Pakistan's total exports to the United States. The new U.S. agricultural law, introduced in July this year, has set safety standards for food imported from Brazil and has been implemented, affecting at least 80% of Brazil's food exports to the United States. Exports totaled $2.5 billion billion in 2012, including raw materials such as green coffee, raw cocoa and processed products such as fruit juice and finished meat. The new law makes importers responsible for imported food, so it is possible to conduct on-site inspections of farms, warehouses and factories outside the United States. The Brazilian industry is concerned that U.S. importers charge inspection costs to foreign producers, which will inevitably reduce exporters' profits or lead buyers to choose to buy domestic food. The US move has already alerted the Brazilian government. Officials from the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture said that vigilance must be maintained to avoid erecting a technical barrier to Brazilian exports in the rules. Pakistan-US Ethanol Trade the Brazilian ethanol industry is more worried that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA proposed a plan in June this year that requires importers to pay in advance the cost of biofuel purchased from the U.S. Customs, and vetoed the purchase of products (ethanol) that have been piped in the country of origin. This is a way for Brazilian producers to improve the competitiveness of ethanol in the next few years. In the case of Brazilian producers, the measure could also deter U.S. importers. In 2012, Brazil exported US $2.2 billion billion of ethanol, with 70% of exports to the United States. Brazilian industry insiders said that the new rules of the US Department of Agriculture will only bring excessive and unnecessary costs to importers and manufacturers. An ethanol production plant in Brazil source: Ministry of Commerce of China http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/article/ I /jyjl/l/201308/20130800255139.shtml man of Feeding
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U.S. to fund rural housing improvementsUSDA Announces Funding to Improve Rural Housing WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that recipients in 45 states, the Western Pacific and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will receive grants to make housing repairs and improve housing conditions for limited income rural residents. Acting Under Secretary for Rural Development Doug O'Brien announced the selections on Secretary Vilsack's behalf. "Providing safe, reliable housing to rural residents is key to maintaining stable communities and creating jobs," O'Brien said. "USDA has developed strategic partnerships with Tribes, community organizations and non-profit groups to improve the living conditions for thousands of rural residents ." Funding is being provided through USDA Rural Development's Housing Preservation Grant program. Funds are provided to intermediaries such as local governments, public agencies, federally-recognized Indian Tribes, and non-profit, faith-based and community organizations. These organizations then distribute the grants to homeowners and owners of multi-family rental properties or cooperative dwellings who rent to low- and very-low-income residents. Funds are not directly provided to eligible homeowners by USDA. Grants may be used to make general repairs, such as installing or improving plumbing, or providing or enhancing access to people with disabilities. Funds may also be used to make homes more energy efficient. Today's announcement includes a $38,860 grant to Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation, Inc., in Rochester, N.Y., to assist 12 very-low income households. The grant will be used to repair foundations, roofs and electrical wiring, and make energy efficiency and accessibility improvements. Coupled with funding from Rural Development, the foundation's effort will make a significant impact in rural New York. ACTION Inc. in Athens, Ga., has been selected to receive a $30,000 Housing Preservation Grant to help very-low income and low-income elderly households make repairs. In 2009, Neighborhood Housing Services of the Black Hills, Inc., in Western South Dakota, received a $50,000 Housing Preservation Grant to help 14 families with electrical repairs, roofing and plumbing. These 14 families now have safe, secure housing. O'Brien said that today's announcement is another reason why Congress must get a comprehensive Food, Farm and Jobs Bill passed as soon as possible. Farm Bill programs are important to the economic vitality of rural America, and a comprehensive new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill would further expand the rural economy, he added. View the list of recipients for Housing Preservation Grants. Each award is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant agreement. President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2013/11/0210.xml&navid=NEWS_RELEASE&navtype=RT&parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&edeployment_action=retrieveconte man of Feeding
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FAO expects food markets to be balanced and prices to stabilizeHigher sugar prices drive up slightly in October food price index staging wheat for shipment. 2013 rome, 7 November-according to a FAO report released today the Food Outlook the report said food markets were becoming more balanced and price volatility less than in recent years, thanks to improved supplies and a recovery in global cereal stocks. "The prices of most basic food commodities have declined over the past few months. More abundant supplies, more exports and higher stocks are expected due to increased production and expectations of this season's food harvest," said Haarlem, Director of FAO's Trade and Markets Division." the large increase in cereal production in 2013 was mainly due to the recovery of the corn crop in the United States and the record wheat harvest in the CIS countries. World rice production is expected to increase only slightly in 2013. grain stocks global stocks are also expected to increase by 13% to 0.564 billion tons at the end of the 2014 quarter, with a 30% increase in coarse grains alone, mainly in the United States. Wheat and rice stocks are also expected to increase by 7% and 3%, respectively. The expansion of world cereal stocks will bring the ratio of global cereal stocks to utilization to 23 per cent, well above the historical low of 18.4 per cent in 2007/2008. According to the latest issue of FAO's Food Outlook, in 2013, the world's food import bill will be reduced by 3% to US $1.15 trillion due to the decline in the cost of imports of cereals, sugar, vegetable oils and tropical beverages, but the prices of dairy products, meat and fish will remain firm. Food prices rise slightly the report also shows that FAO food price index it rose slightly in October, averaging 205.8 points. That was up 2.7 points, or 1.3 percent, from September, but still down from 11 points, or 5.3 percent, in October. Although the prices of other commodity categories also rose, the slight increase in the index was mainly due to the surge in sugar prices. The FAO Food Price Index, a measure of monthly changes in international prices for five major food commodities (including 73 quotations), has undergone some changes in the way it is calculated, but the impact of the new methodology on the series values is not significant. The revised index has also been extended back to 1961. The revision is specifically addressed in the "Special Topics" section of the Food Outlook. Forecasts for other commodities include: cassava-World cassava production is expected to increase for the fifth consecutive year and reach 0.256 billion tons in 2013. Rising food demand on the African continent and increased industrial use in East and Southeast Asia, especially ethanol and starch production, have contributed to the growth in cassava production. Sugar-World sugar production is expected to increase slightly in 2013/2014. Growth in Brazil, the world's largest producer and exporter, is likely to be limited as adverse weather conditions hamper harvesting operations. World sugar consumption will increase by about 2% in 2013-2014. Oilseeds-World oilseed crop production in 2013/2014 is likely to climb to an all-time high, supported by a record soybean crop in South America. Global oilseed production will be on a par with world utilization for the second year in a row, although there is likely to be a sizeable surplus of oil cake flour/oil cake. Meat-- World meat production is expected to grow by 1.4 percent in 2013. Meat prices have remained at historically high levels since the beginning of 2011. Despite lower feed costs, there is no sign of an overall price decline. Dairy products-- World milk production is forecast to grow by 1.9 percent in 2013. The increase is expected to come mainly from Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, with limited increases in other regions. International dairy prices have fallen from their April peak but remain at historically high levels. Fisheries-Aquaculture continues to boost the overall supply of fish, leading to a decline in quotations from earlier levels. Per capita fish consumption continues to grow, and aquaculture is overtaking capture fisheries as the main source of fish for direct human consumption. http://www.fao.org/news/story/zh/item/204270/icode/ man of Feeding
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South Korean consumption of aquatic products dropped sharply due to concerns about Fukushima nuclear radiation2013/11/11 10:17:00 World Wide Web content Summary according to a survey conducted by the Agricultural Observation Center of the South Korean Rural Economic Research Institute, the consumption of aquatic products in South Korea has dropped sharply due to concerns about Fukushima nuclear radiation. The relevant person in charge of the Rural Economic Research Institute said that this survey proves that Koreans are worried about the safety of aquatic products, and the South Korean government should re-establish consumers' trust in aquatic products. According to reports, a survey of 661 consumers conducted by the Agricultural Observation Center of the Korean Rural Economic Research Institute on October 18-20, 2013 showed that after the Japanese Fukushima nuclear accident was reported in August 2013, nearly 80% (521) consumers Reduced consumption of aquatic products. Respondents who reduced their consumption of aquatic products decreased their consumption by an average of 48.9 percent, and 40.1 percent of these people increased their meat consumption. Those who did not increase their consumption of meat but only reduced their consumption of aquatic products accounted for 53.8 per cent, while the consumption of both meat and aquatic products decreased by only 6.1 per cent. Only one respondent answered "increased consumption of aquatic products", and only 19.5 per cent answered "no change in consumption. The relevant person in charge of the Rural Economic Research Institute said that this survey proves that Koreans are worried about the safety of aquatic products, which has also led to a sharp drop in consumption. The South Korean government should re-establish consumer trust in aquatic products. The credibility of the survey is 95 per cent, with a sampling error of plus or minus 3.81 per cent. Man of Feeding
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Climate Change Impacts Vietnam's Agricultural Development2013/9/29 13:29:00 vietnamnews content Summary in response to climate change, which is one of the key factors affecting productive activities and socio-economic development in Vietnam, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam has requested several measures to ensure adequate water use for irrigation during the dry season, prevent wetland erosion and introduce better crop systems to address climate change. Climate change it is one of the key factors affecting production activities and socio-economic development in Vietnam. Pham Dong Quang, deputy director of crop production at Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), said agricultural production was the most severely affected. As a result of climate change, the yield of major crops may be reduced by 10%, and the total crop production will be reduced by 1%-5% per year. It is estimated that the Mekong River will reduce its output by at least 7.6 million tons per year in the short term, equivalent to about 40% of Vietnam's total rice production. In addition, rising sea levels will contribute to the intrusion of seawater into inland fields, affecting about 2.4 million hectares of rice fields. In the Red River Delta, about 1300 hectares of fields have also been reported to be affected by seawater intrusion. In the northern mountains and the central highlands, farmers are facing severe drought due to extreme weather. During the last winter-spring season, the coastal areas of Vietnam suffered a severe drought. It is estimated that the drought will cause serious damage to the upcoming autumn and winter crops. And that's not all, climate change is also at the root of the increased use of pesticides on farmland. In the past three years, rice production in the Mekong Delta has been severely reduced due to pest damage. Quang also said that agricultural production in Vietnam accounts for about 43 percent of the total carbon dioxide emissions, of which 58 percent comes from rice cultivation, 22 percent from agricultural land use activities and 12 percent from livestock production. Quang said: "In response to this situation, between 2008 and 2012, Vietnam introduced a number of reduced carbon Dioxide the emission approach aims to make agriculture green and sustainable." vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued instructions to all localities across the country to implement several measures to ensure sufficient water for irrigation during the dry season, prevent wetland erosion, and introduce better crop cultivation systems to combat climate change. Vietnam is one of the countries frequently affected by tropical storms, floods, droughts, desertification and other natural disasters. Citation from Science and Technology World Network http://www.twwtn.com/Agriculture/53_203768.html man of Feeding
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USDA invests in conversion of beetle-infested trees into renewable energyRelease No. 0206.13 Contact: USDA Office of Communications (202) 720-4623 WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2013 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it has awarded nearly $10 million to a consortium of academic, industry and government organizations led by Colorado State University (CSU) and their partners to research using insect-killed trees in the Rockies as a sustainable feedstock for bioenergy. The award, provided under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), is part of USDA's effort to develop modern solutions for climate challenges in agriculture and natural resource management. AFRI is provided under the Farm Bill, and Secretary Vilsack highlighted the need for passage of a comprehensive, long-term Food, Farm and Jobs Bill to continue groundbreaking agricultural research across the nation. "Infestations of pine and spruce bark beetles have impacted over 42 million acres of U.S. forests since 1996, and a changing climate threatens to expand the threat from bark beetle on our forest lands," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "As we take steps to fight the bark beetle, this innovative research will help take the biomass that results from bark beetle infestation and create clean, renewable energy that holds potential for job creation and promises a cleaner future for America. This is yet another reminder of the critical investments provided by the Farm Bill for agricultural research, and I urge Congress to achieve passage of a new, long term Food, Farm and Jobs Bill as soon as possible ." Vilsack noted that the funding for this research is provided by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) - a 2008 Farm Bill program - and reiterated the critical need for passage of a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill that adequately invests in groundbreaking agricultural research. There are many benefits to using beetle-killed wood for renewable fuel production. It requires no cultivation, circumvents food-versus-fuel concerns and likely has a highly favorable carbon balance. However, there are some challenges that have been a barrier to its widespread use. The wood is typically located far from urban industrial centers, often in relatively inaccessible areas with challenging topography, which increases harvest and transportation costs. In addition to technical barriers, environmental impacts, social issues and local policy constraints to using beetle-killed wood and other forest residues remain largely unexplored. CSU researchers, together with other scientists from universities, government and private industry in the region, created the Bioenergy Alliance Network of the Rockies (BANR) to address these challenges. The project will undertake comprehensive economic, environmental and social/policy assessment, and integrate research results into a web-based, user-friendly decision support system. CSU will collaborate with partners across four states to complete the project. Partners include: University of Idaho, University of Montana, Montana State University and the University of Wyoming, U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, National Renewable Energy Lab and Cool Planet Energy Systems. More information is available on the project website at banr.colostate.edu. Specifically, the team will explore recent advances in scalable thermochemical conversion technologies, which enable the production of advanced liquid biofuel and co-products on-site. The project is working with Cool Planet Energy Systems, which is based out of Greenwood Village, Colorado. The company's prototype pyrolysis system can be tailored to the amount of feedstock available and thus can be deployed in close proximity to stands of beetle-killed timber. This localized production leads to significantly lower costs related to wood harvest and transportation. Their distributed scalable biorefinery approach is a key element in making the use of insect-damaged trees as feedstock plausible. As a NIFA Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP), this grant brings together teams of researchers that represent various geographic areas to support discovery, applications and promote communication leading to innovative, science-based solutions to critical and emerging national priorities and needs. This year's awards broaden NIFA's CAP bioenergy portfolio, which includes six projects awarded since 2010 focusing on woody biomass, switchgrass and perennial grasses, energy cane and sorghum. NIFA made the awards through The AFRI Sustainable Bioenergy challenge area, which targets the development of regional systems for the sustainable production of bioenergy and biobased products that contribute significantly to reducing dependence on foreign oil; have net positive social, environmental, and rural economic impacts; and are compatible with existing agricultural and forest production systems. All grants are awarded over a period of five years, with continued funding contingent on annual project success. AFRI is NIFA's flagship competitive grant program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. AFRI supports work in six priority areas: 1) plant health and production and plant products; 2) animal health and production and animal products; 3) food safety, nutrition and health; 4) renewable energy, natural resources and environment; 5) agriculture systems and technology; and 6) agriculture economics and rural communities. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. More information is available at:: www.nifa.usda.gov. http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2013/11/0206.xml&contentidonly=true man of Feeding
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Vietnam rice prices hit low Asian rice prices fell significantly2013/9/23 11:43:00 New Rural Network content Summary: Global rice production will rise to a record 0.497 billion tonnes in 2013/14, up 1.3 per cent from 0.491 billion tonnes in 2012/13. Most of the increase in production was concentrated in Asia. Rice prices in Vietnam have hit a three-month low due to weak demand and increased supply. The price advantage of low-cost imported rice is obvious, which has caused a great impact on China's processing enterprises. Rice prices in Vietnam have hit a three-month low due to weak demand and increased supply. In addition, since 2013, the "high import" of grain varieties has become the norm in China's grain market, especially the "high import" of rice industry has caused an impact on China's domestic rice industry. Low prices in the international market will undoubtedly intensify the impact on the Chinese market. From a fundamental point of view, both domestic and foreign rice production increased in 2013. According to the latest report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on September 9, 2013, global rice production will increase to a record 0.497 billion tons in 2013/14, up 1.3 percent from 0.491 billion tons in 2012/13. Most of the increase in production was concentrated in Asia. Global rice ending stocks may be 0.181 billion tons, up 4%. Domestically, due to the lack of early drought and high temperature weather, early indica rice continued to increase production and go on the market in 2013. In addition, the stock of old rice is abundant, and the domestic supply of early indica rice is relatively loose. According to the latest early rice output released by the National Bureau of Statistics, the total output of early rice in 2013 reached 34.073 million tons (68.15 billion jin), an increase of 783000 tons (1.57 billion jin) over 2012, an increase of 2.4 percent. In 2013, the sown area of early rice nationwide was 5791.9 thousand hectares (86.878 million mu), an increase of 27.1 thousand hectares (406000 mu) over 2012, an increase of 0.5. It is understood that the price advantage of low-priced imported rice is obvious, which has caused a great impact on Chinese processing enterprises. The FOB price of Vietnamese rice with a crushing rate of 5% is only 380 US dollars/ton, which is equivalent to only 1.17 yuan/kg. The FOB price of rice with a crushing rate of 5% in Thailand is 442 US dollars/ton, equivalent to only 1.36 yuan/kg. The price of smuggled rice in border trade is only between 1.5 and 1.7 yuan/kg, which is quite obvious compared with the price of domestic indica rice (above 1.8 yuan/kg). It is reported that in 2012, China became the world's second largest rice importer, while in 2011, China only ranked 18th among global rice importers. In 2013, the "high import" of grain varieties has become the norm in China's grain market, especially in the rice industry. The "high import" has caused a huge impact on the domestic rice industry. According to customs data, as of July 2013, China imported 46.13 million tons of grain and 1.472299 million tons of rice (not including smuggled rice). Among them, a total of 144019 tons of rice and rice were imported in July 2013, a slight decrease from June 2013. The market expects that China's rice imports will reach 3 million tons in 2013. In the second half of the year, the import of rice and rice will continue to be high and continue to impact the domestic rice market. Citation from Science and Technology World Network http://www.twwtn.com/Agriculture/58_202909.html man of Feeding
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The 2013 Congressional Christmas Tree Tour Begins2013 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour Begins Release No. 0205.13 Contact: Office of Communications (202)720-4623 Newport, Wash., Oct.31, 2013 - The Colville National Forest and its nonprofit partner, Choose Outdoors, announce the kickoff of the 2013 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree tour with a cutting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. The "Peoples Tree" will be harvested and is scheduled to arrive in downtown Newport, Wash., that afternoon. The tree will visit 22 cities on its way to Washington, D.C., arriving on November 25th. Last summer, Ted Bechtol, superintendent of the U.S. Capitol Grounds, selected an 88 foot Engelmann Spruce located on the Newport Ranger District of the Colville National Forest in Washington State. The tree will be delivered to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. where it will be decorated with lights and thousands of handcrafted ornaments made by Washingtonians. In December, Speaker of the House John Boehner and one student from Washington State will light the tree and showcase the state's historical, cultural and natural beauty. Throughout the holiday season, the tree will be lit at dusk and enjoyed by people from around world. The theme of this year's Capitol Christmas Tree is "Sharing Washington's Good Nature." For more information on the 2013 Capitol Christmas Tree tour, please visit www.capitolchristmastree.com . Follow the 2013 Capitol Christmas Tree on Twitter and Facebook.://capitolchristmastree.com /. The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, part U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation's clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live. http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2013/10/0205.xml&contentidonly=true 2013 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour Begins Release No. 0205.13 Contact: Office of Communications (202)720-4623 Newport, Wash., Oct.31, 2013 - The Colville National Forest and its nonprofit partner, Choose Outdoors, announce the kickoff of the 2013 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree tour with a cutting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. The "Peoples Tree" will be harvested and is scheduled to arrive in downtown Newport, Wash., that afternoon. The tree will visit 22 cities on its way to Washington, D.C., arriving on November 25th. Last summer, Ted Bechtol, superintendent of the U.S. Capitol Grounds, selected an 88 foot Engelmann Spruce located on the Newport Ranger District of the Colville National Forest in Washington State. The tree will be delivered to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. where it will be decorated with lights and thousands of handcrafted ornaments made by Washingtonians. In December, Speaker of the House John Boehner and one student from Washington State will light the tree and showcase the state's historical, cultural and natural beauty. Throughout the holiday season, the tree will be lit at dusk and enjoyed by people from around world. The theme of this year's Capitol Christmas Tree is "Sharing Washington's Good Nature." For more information on the 2013 Capitol Christmas Tree tour, please visit www.capitolchristmastree.com . Follow the 2013 Capitol Christmas Tree on Twitter and Facebook.://capitolchristmastree.com /. The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, part U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation's clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live. http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2013/10/0205.xml&contentidonly=true man of Feeding
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East Asia Summit Declaration on Food SecurityOctober 10, 2013 22:25:07 Source: Xinhua xinhuanet, Sri Begawan, October 10 (Reporter Xia Fan, Ouyang is Liu Tian) The 8th East Asia Summit closed on the 10th in the capital of Brunei, Sri Begawan. The meeting issued the 8th East Asia Summit Chairman's Statement and the East Asia Summit Declaration on Food Security. The East Asia Summit focused on food security, energy security, climate change, disaster management, epidemic control, as well as international hot spots and regional issues, and reached broad consensus. Regarding food security, the meeting emphasized that sustainable food security is an important part of the long-term goal of the East Asia Summit and has a direct impact on the lives of people in the region. At the same time, food security is also closely related to the key areas of concern of the East Asia Summit, such as the environment, energy, global health and connectivity. The meeting pointed out that the East Asia Summit countries should strengthen their efforts to ensure food security in the following three areas in accordance with the food security declaration issued on the same day: 1. to improve production and supply chain efficiency, strengthen information sharing, and find the best solutions; 2. strengthen health management, Establish awareness of nutrition and healthy lifestyles; 3. solve environmental problems affecting food security, and cooperate in the management and protection of water resources and fisheries, strengthen the ability to cope with climate change and reduce the impact of climate change. The meeting considered that climate change is an area in which the East Asia Summit countries can cooperate. Relevant countries should strengthen cooperation in areas such as environmental protection, sustainable development and disaster management that can reduce the impact of climate change. The meeting emphasized that the cooperation carried out under the framework of the East Asia Summit in the past few years shows that this mechanism can achieve important results, especially in times of crisis. The participants also discussed issues such as energy security and stressed the need to further develop renewable and alternative energy sources. The first East Asia Summit, the "10 6", was held in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia at the end of 2005. The members included 10 ASEAN countries and 6 countries including China, Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand, and Australia. The United States and Russia joined the East Asia Summit in 2011, and the East Asia Summit mechanism was expanded to "10+8". Man of Feeding
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FAO estimates that 30-40% of total food production may be lost before reaching the market.Important facts every year, 1/3 of the world's food production is lost or wasted. This means that some 1.3 billion tons of food worth more than $1 trillion have been lost or wasted at some point between sowing in the fields and feeding the world's 7 billion population. These figures are intolerable in today's world, as FAO notes that about 0.87 billion people worldwide do not have enough to eat. In fact, a study commissioned by FAO that came up with these figures shows that simply saving the 1/4 of the amount of food lost or wasted could end global hunger. The release of the results has focused global attention on the need to improve the efficiency of food production systems. At the same time, FAO launched Save Food, a global initiative involving a range of public and private sector partners focused on reducing loss and waste. When the food packaging industry made food loss and waste the theme of its 2011 International Trade Fair, the industry approached FAO for an authoritative study to highlight the importance of the issue. The aim is to quantify loss or waste across the food chain and identify ways in which the packaging industry can help reduce it. While the dire impact of loss and waste on food security has indeed been recognized, the study will be the first to aggregate global figures. The results show that the huge loss and waste of food "from farm to fork" is actually enough to feed more than four times the world's 0.87 billion hungry people. In response, the trade fair's host, Exhibition Group Düsseldorf, added a global conference on the subject during the 2011 International Exhibition of Packaging, Packaging and Confectionery Machinery. The Congress, held on 16-17 May 2011, invited representatives of the public and private sectors to discuss how to work together to reduce this intolerable waste. The conference, entitled "Save Food", enabled participants to form a wide range of partnerships and global initiatives aimed at reducing loss and waste. Today, the partnership is the SAVE FOOD initiative, led by FAO, with more than 150 public and private sector partners, the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the United Nations food sister agencies, and the United Nations Environment Programme. All parties are committed to contributing their expertise and technical knowledge to find new ways to improve the efficiency of the world's food system. Food loss is different from food. Waste under the guidance of FAO, SAVE FOOD has established field programmes that focus on supply chains in various developing countries and advise governments on how to improve efficiency. In developing countries, food losses occur in the production chain and cost smallholder farmers the most. FAO estimates that 30-40 per cent of total production may have been lost before reaching the market due to a range of reasons, from the improper use of inputs to the lack of proper post-production storage, processing or transportation facilities. The loss rate of root crops, fruits and vegetables can be as high as 40-50%, the loss rate of grains and fish can reach 30%, and the loss rate of oilseeds can reach 20%. In industrialized countries, waste is on food that has already reached the market. Part of the problem is that affluent consumers have developed the habit of "throwing away food" and buying more food than their families are likely to consume. Waste also includes overproduction and the taking of safe food from market or supermarket shelves due to strict regulations. Overproduction often leads to oversupply as a result of crop subsidies. Taken together, consumers in Europe and North America waste almost 10kg per capita per month, which is more than even consumers in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia waste in a year. Loss and waste affect the economy and environment on a larger scale, whether it's lost production or retail waste, such waste reduces the food supply on the market. This, in turn, could push up prices, particularly in developing countries, where consumers cannot afford them. In addition, while food is wasted, energy and resources such as land and water used to grow or produce food are also wasted. The world's population is expected to increase from 7 billion today to 9 billion by 2050, and food production will need to double to meet the needs of this population. Against this backdrop, it is sad to see such a huge food loss "from farm to fork. In short, this situation is unbearable in the world, and the "Save Food" partners have realized this fact and have assumed the responsibility of finding ways to increase production efficiency and thus improve the level of world food security. http://www.fao.org/in-action/seeking-end-to-loss-and-waste-of-food-along-production-chai man of Feeding
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Japanese solar double-season cultivation for efficient use of expensive land2013/10/12 14:08:00 China News Network Font Size: small medium big content Summary in Japan, agricultural land is very expensive. But the use of solar energy for double-season cultivation, there are countless ways to do a multi-use. However, the use of the premise is not to use permanent concrete piles as a support, and does not affect agricultural operations and grain production. Solar energy is good, but how much land do we need to use solar energy on a large scale? And how can we balance energy needs with other important needs, such as food? In Japan, agricultural land is very expensive. Currently, a group of farmers is pushing a similar goal: to develop what they call "solar sharing". Renewable Energy World JunkoMovellan wrote an interesting report about solar Energy the exploration of the sharing phenomenon explains that until recently the government allowed the construction of solar power plants on farmland that is being cultivated. In April 2013, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries approved the installation of photovoltaic systems in existing grain farmland, provided that permanent concrete piles cannot be used as support and will not affect agricultural operations and grain production. Movellan explained that this gave Japanese farmers the opportunity to promote the concept of solar double-season cultivation on a large scale. The concept was first proposed in 2004 by AkiraNagashima, a retired agricultural mechanical engineer who later studied biology and studied the "light saturation point". As the irradiance level increases, the rate of photosynthesis also increases; however, after reaching a certain point, no matter how much the amount of light shines on the plant increases, the rate of photosynthesis does not change. Knowing that too much sunlight does not help plants grow more vigorously, Nagashima came up with the idea of combining photovoltaic systems with farming. He designed and invented a special structure, which is very similar to the pergola in the garden. From double-season cultivation in solar power plants to self-generating greenhouses, we see countless ways to do multiple uses in one place. Japanese farmers seem to be making it through their own efforts. Citation from Science and Technology World Network http://www.twwtn.com/Agriculture/53_205040.html man of Feeding
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African countries agree on curbing illegal timber trade in Congo BasinAfrican countries agree to curb illegal timber trade in the Congo Basin A breakthrough for sustainable and legal development of the wood industry The Congo Basin harbours the world's second largest tropical forest. It is also a key resource for stabilizing the global climate. 23 October 2013, Brazzaville/Rome-Governments from Africa's main timber producing countries, together with timber industry representatives and civil society organizations agreed to jointly combat illegal timber trade in the Congo Basin, FAO said today following an international wood industry meeting in Brazzaville. Covering an area of 300 million hectares, the Congo Basin harbours the world's second largest tropical forest. It is also a major supplier of illegal timber, part of a global trade that cost governments some US $10 billion per year in lost tax revenues worldwide. At an international forum held in Congo's capital Brazzaville from 21-22 October, representatives of six African countries - the Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire and Gabon - adopted Brazzaville Declaration, marking an unprecedented commitment towards the sustainable and legal development of the wood industry in the region. The Declaration was adopted jointly with timber industry representatives and civil society organizations. It engages partners to implement measures that improve timber tracking, transparency and forest governance. "We must ensure that our forest resources contribute to the development of the countries in this region," said Raymond Mbitikon, Executive Secretary of the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC). "This is what the Brazzaville Declaration sets out to achieve ." Changing consumer demands The Declaration is the outcome of a long term debate among key stakeholders in the forest and wood industry, as well as regional and international partners, including the Association Technique International des Bois Tropicaux (ATIBT), the European Forest Institute (EFI), the European Union (EU) and FAO, in particular through their joint efforts to advance the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) process. "FLEGT meets growing consumer demand for environmentally and socially benign timber products through collaboration between producing and consuming countries," explained Robert Simpson, EU-FAO FLEGT programme manager. "Ultimately, it aims to assure that forests remain productive, yet intact ." In 2003, the EU adopted a FLEGT Action Plan, promoting concrete measures to stem the illegal timber trade. These include technologies to trace the origin of timber, the creation of forest enforcement teams and community forest monitors to observe logging activities, as well as legally binding agreements - known as Voluntary Partnership Agreements - between the EU and timber-producing countries, that establish mechanisms to distinguish between legally and illegally harvested timber. A key resource "The Brazzaville Declaration could help slow down the pace of deforestation in the region," said Olman Serrano, an FAO forestry officer, explaining that FAO estimates the net loss of forest in the Congo Basin at some 700 000 hectares per year from 2000-2010. The Congo Basin is not only home to the world's second largest rainforest after Amazonia. It is also a key resource for stabilizing the global climate. Recent research shows that Congo Basin tree species are larger in stature on average than their Amazon counterparts, suggesting the African rainforest may be a larger carbon storehouse and a crucial resource for productive and sustainable forest management. http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/203295/icode/ man of Feeding
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FAO: Promoting the use of biotechnology by family farms to address the challenges faced by smallholder farmers.A new FAO publication explores the role of biotechnology, from breeding to pathogens, in small-scale farming, livestock and fish production harvest Jian carp. 2013 rome, 29 October-A new FAO publication calls for increased national and international support to teach agricultural biotechnologies to small producers in developing countries. This is entitled 《 biotechnology for Smallholder Production: Case Studies of Crops, Livestock and Fish in Developing Countries the publication insists that biotechnology can help smallholder farmers improve their livelihoods and food security. Biotechnology for Smallholder Production contains 19 case studies on crops, livestock and fisheries, prepared by scientists and researchers from around the world. It describes the realities and experiences of biotechnology research in different parts of developing countries and its application to smallholder production such as bananas, cassava, rice, livestock and shrimp. These case studies cover a number of biotechnologies, including older or "traditional" biotechnologies such as artificial fertilization and fermentation, as well as cutting-edge technologies based on DNA rather than transgenic methods. The publication was prepared by a multidisciplinary team from FAO as part of an agricultural biotechnology project activity funded by the Government of Canada. "With the right institutional and financial arrangements, governments, research institutions and organizations can help to transfer biotechnology to smallholder farmers and increase their capacity to respond to challenges such as climate change, plant and animal pests and diseases, and overuse of natural resources," said Andrea Sonino, Chief of FAO's Research and Extension Section. Case Study there were four case studies from India, two from China, and one each from Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Cuba, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Thailand. The researchers used their knowledge of DNA markers to develop a waterlogging-tolerant rice variety in India that could yield 1-3 tonnes per hectare more under flood conditions than previously used varieties. This new variety called "Swarna-Sub1" was quickly promoted after its release in 2009 and was adopted by 3 million farmers in 2012. "In short, waterlogging-tolerant varieties provide an opportunity to improve and stabilize yields in flood-stricken areas and play an important role in ensuring national food security," said Uma Singh, who prepared the case study at the International Rice Research Institute, and his colleagues. In China, Jian carp is a breed developed using intraparty breeding and gynogenesis (a breeding technique that results in whole-female offspring containing only maternal genes). At present, there are about 160000 fish farms breeding Jian carp, accounting for more than 50% of China's carp production. In northern Cameroon, the use of DNA diagnostic tools has enabled veterinary authorities to rapidly diagnose outbreaks of Peste des petits ruminants in the field. Peste des petits ruminants is a highly contagious viral disease affecting goats and sheep. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of the disease means that authorities can eliminate the outbreak in time to stop the spread of this deadly disease to other herds. "Without this rapid response mechanism, thousands of sheep would have died during the outbreak, resulting in millions of CFA francs in losses," affirmed Wade and Soule of the National Veterinary Laboratory in Cameroon. The editors of the publication believe that biotechnology can improve livelihoods related to crops, livestock and fish by increasing yields and facilitating market access. The adoption of new and traditional biotechnologies on family farms can also reduce production costs and improve the sustainable management of natural resources. Lessons learned the publication presents lessons learned from these case studies to inform decision makers and to assist them in making decisions on programmes involving biotechnology. Important lessons include the need for political State commitment to increase smallholder productivity and improve livelihoods; financial support from non-governmental sources to complement State efforts; and long-term State investment in scientific and technological personnel and infrastructure. The publication also notes that international and national partnerships are key to ensuring effectiveness, as is the sharing of genetic resources, technology and knowledge at the national and global levels. The publication also emphasizes that smallholder farmers should be involved in the entire process, given their knowledge, skills and initiatives. http://www.fao.org/news/story/zh/item/203672/icode/ man of Feeding