World Agriculture
Developments, trade, data, and topics in world agriculture
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African Bread Basket~ ~ OCT 16, 2015 The African Breadbasket KIGALI - On the first World Food Day in 1945, people around the world celebrated the creation of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the launch of the first coordinated global action to combat hunger. This year, on the 70th World Food Day, countries are mobilizing behind the Sustainable Development Goals - one of which calls for the elimination of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, together with the creation of a more resilient and sustainable food system. Can it be done? With the world population growing rapidly (to an estimated 8.5 billion by 2030), the impact of climate change becoming increasingly apparent, and the amount of arable land dwindling, there can be no denying that achieving this goal will be a daunting challenge. But for Africa, which boasts 60% of the world's arable land and climates conducive to a tremendous diversity of crops, striving to do so represents a remarkable opportunity to ensure food security for Africans (one in four is undernourished) and boost its economy by becoming a major food exporter. Though many African economies have experienced rapid growth in recent years, the agricultural sector has remained stagnant. Indeed, African agriculture is still dominated by small-scale farmers who lack access to productivity-boosting technology, focus mainly on a narrow range of products, and remain poorly linked to markets, manufacturing, and the broader economy. Beyond undermining food security - Africa remains a major food importer - low agricultural productivity contributes to the persistence of rural poverty, even as a middle class emerges in many of Africa's cities. Africa can and should be the world's breadbasket. But to realize this vision - and to do it in an environmentally sustainable way - its agricultural sector must undergo a genuine transformation that entails higher capital investment, significant crop diversification, and improved linkages to burgeoning urban consumer markets. Moreover, Africa must start manufacturing more value-added food products for both internal consumption and export, especially to countries like India and China, where demand is growing. From Europe and North America to East Asia and Latin America, agricultural advances have proved to be key precursors of industrial development and gains in living standards. Africa has the added benefit of technologies that other regions lacked at this stage of their agricultural development, from cost-competitive off-grid solar power to mechanisms for mapping soil characteristics, regulating water use, and ensuring farmers' access to accurate price information. And innovation is already happening. Rwanda, for example, is working to link agriculture support with broader services like electricity and education. And the country's farming communities are pioneering participatory decision-making structures for agricultural planning and conflict-resolution mechanisms to settle disputes among growers. To bolster agricultural innovation and modernization, governments must ensure that farmers have secure titles to their land, and thus an incentive to make the needed investments. The challenge lies in the fact that, in many parts of Africa, land is communally owned, with almost everyone in a village having traditional rights to some farming land - a system that has helped to prevent landlessness and destitution in rural areas. Given this, reforms to make land tenure more compatible with modern commercial agriculture must be sensitive to local traditions and respect the ownership rights of communities and traditional smallholders. Of course, agricultural development can have serious economy-wide pitfalls, which must be navigated carefully. For example, as technology-driven productivity gains reduce the number of workers needed on farms, strategies to boost employment in other parts of the value chain and to manage migration to cities become even more essential. With Africa's rural population already largely underemployed, there is no time to waste in implementing such strategies. Fortunately, Africa's large population of increasingly well-educated young people, who are largely uninterested in the backbreaking work of subsistence farming, is well suited to fill the higher value-added jobs that emerge in the agricultural sector and beyond. Another potential pitfall of agricultural development is environmental damage, including land degradation, soil nutrient mining, excessive water use, and water pollution. Here, again, Africa can benefit from experience and know-how that other regions could not access at a similar stage in their agricultural development. By drawing on other countries' best practices - and avoiding their mistakes - Africa can develop an environmentally sustainable agricultural system that fits African conditions. Such a system must place a high priority on protecting biodiversity and prevent the emergence of monocultures across the continent, which is home to some of the world's richest ecosystems. Climate-change considerations - including the expected costs of mitigation and adaptation - must be central to the process of upgrading agriculture, including the relevant infrastructure. Ultimately, each country must chart its own course toward agricultural development. But cooperation - even just to exchange ideas and emulate best practices - can help the process considerably. That is why, next March, the African Transformation Forum in Kigali will convene leading figures from African governments, business, academia, and civil society to discuss practical next steps toward agricultural transformation in Africa, and the broader push to build globally competitive economies. Africa's agricultural transformation will be a long and complex process. But it has the potential to ensure regional food security, promote broader economic development, and ultimately help to feed the world. We are confident that African leaders will rise to the challenge. https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/improving-african-agriculture-food-security-by-paul-kagame-and-k-y--amoako-2015-10 Read more at https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/improving-african-agriculture-food-security-by-paul-kagame-and-k-y--amoako-2015-10#MCaj8SIrgOCYLQgP.99
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GARD VEGETABLES IN THE SEA? ITALIAN COMPANY BECOM'S A FARRIORAccording to foreign media reports, an Italian company has built an underwater greenhouse on the seabed off the coast of Italy to try to grow various plants under the sea. It is reported that the underwater greenhouse is an experimental agricultural project, operated by a company specializing in diving facilities. This underwater greenhouse is located under the sea on the shore of the Italian coastal town of Nora. It is 8 meters deep and consists of 5 bulbous biospheres. Several plants such as lettuce, strawberries and beans are grown. It is understood that this balloon-like biosphere uses the natural characteristics of the ocean to grow plants, and its underwater temperature is constant. Sensors inside the biosphere can provide real-time data, such as humidity, air temperature, and carbon dioxide concentration. Among them, high concentrations of carbon dioxide can make plants grow rapidly. http://www.twwtn.com/Agriculture/56_285649.html
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In order to ensure food safety, "European cupboard" made what moveIn recent years, the Global Food Safety Index report, Denmark has been in the forefront. This small Nordic country with a local area of only 43000 square kilometers and a population of more than 550 million is known as the "European cupboard". Nearly three-quarters of agricultural products are exported, and pork exports account for a quarter of the world. Recently, Bent Hassen, chairman of the central region of Denmark, visited Shanghai and accepted an exclusive interview with "Liberation Monday. In his narration, it can be understood that "the reason why a small country like Denmark can maintain its status as a major exporter is precisely due to an efficient and strictly controlled food safety system". Inject animals with antibiotics how was it ended? Denmark can be called an out-and-out "farmer's kingdom". There are about 67000 farms in the country, and family farms own an average of 40 hectares of land. Agriculture occupies a pivotal position in the Danish national economy. Some Danish agricultural products are well-known and highly competitive in the international market. After long-term development, Danish agriculture has formed a modern agricultural industry chain focusing on breeding, planting and processing, which has its mature and unique industrial advantages and characteristics. Among them, the most important feature is that Denmark has established an extremely efficient and strict food safety guarantee mechanism, strictly restricting the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and agricultural products are welcomed by consumers all over the world with high quality, health and safety. Liberation Monday: Food safety is a chain that requires strict standards, security systems, and supervision and spot checks. What is the most important link in this chain? Bent Hasson: The quality of the food is the most important thing. In the case of the pig industry, we have adopted the most stringent quarantine standards in the world, both in the breeding and slaughtering process. In the slaughterhouse, all pigs must be subjected to strict inspection by a professional veterinarian vetted and employed by the government before they can be slaughtered. Such quarantine work is carried out independently to ensure its strictness and objectivity. Slaughterhouse employees must carry out careful internal and external inspections of the workplace in accordance with the standards of the food safety management system to ensure the highest standards of hygiene. Liberation Monday: In the process of animal breeding, the phenomenon of hormone injection exists in many countries and regions. Does Denmark have such a problem? Bent Hasson: We have strictly controlled the residues of antibiotics, hormones and other drugs in animals. In order to control antibiotics, we have indeed made a lot of efforts. In the 1990 s, Denmark's animal husbandry also encountered a crisis, when the use of antibiotics to promote animal growth was very common. In 1995, the government conducted an investigation and found that the use of antibiotics in farms can cause very dangerous chain reactions: the antibiotics used by farmers to animals are the same as the antibiotics prescribed by doctors to patients; the bacteria in the intestinal tract of animals are resistant to these antibiotics; then, people are infected with drug-resistant bacteria in these animals; some people get sick or even die, and the best antibiotics do not work in the treatment. In 2000, the government banned all antibiotic feed for all animals, large and small. Today, all Danish farms are free of antibiotics. People have successfully found alternatives to antibiotic feed-probiotics and zinc oxide in the feed, which can promote feed conversion. In 2000, many farmers thought that if they didn't use antibiotics, the livestock industry would be over. Now, not only have the number of farms not decreased, but the animals are healthier. Liberation Monday: Denmark's organic agriculture is also at the world's leading level. Compared with traditional planting, what are the characteristics of organic planting? Bent Hasson: compared with the traditional planting industry, the organic planting industry is characterized by the fact that it does not use pesticides and fertilizers at all, which means the increase of biodiversity, the protection of drinking water from pollution and other environmental benefits, so it is generally welcomed by Danish people. The Danish Ministry of Agriculture will send regular spot checks every year. If the use of pesticides and fertilizers exceeds the standard, farmers will be deprived of the right to produce. Organic agriculture is the direction of the future development of modern agriculture. We have issued policies to first turn the canteens of public institutions such as kindergartens, schools, hospitals, and nursing homes into "organic canteens" to ensure that the food ingredients in these canteens come from organic food. At present, 95% of the food ingredients in the canteens of all public institutions in Copenhagen come from organic food. Liberation Monday: The production process of food should also be organic. What experience do you have in this regard? Bent Hazen: Many of our farms use animal manure to produce biogas and recycle energy. In 2010, Denmark opened a special "pig city" in Garten: pigs are raised on the ground floor and tomatoes are planted on the top. The planted tomato seedlings can absorb the carbon dioxide emitted by the pig shed and remove the unpleasant smell of the pig house. Pig manure provides rich fertilizer for tomato seedlings. This is a virtuous circle. Slaughterhouse Rian "undercover" in Denmark, if you want to enter the farm to visit, it is not easy. The vast majority of Danish farms are enrolled in pathogen-specific health programmes, using pathogen-free seed breeding and segregated closed management. In order to prevent people from bringing in bacteria, farms have strict standards for people to enter and leave. When farmers enter and leave the barn, they must be cleaned, even the computer keyboard, telephone, shower head, toilet and restaurant in the farm office must be carefully cleaned. Liberation Monday: Prince Joakim of Denmark once confessed that he likes to be a farmer best. He said: "Because the farms are all mechanized, it's cool to be a farmer in Denmark." bent Hasson: Being a farmer in Denmark is happy, but not everyone can do it. Farmers also need to receive higher education. Whether you are taking care of livestock on the farm or cultivating farmland, you must first receive 3 years of basic education in the agricultural college and about 1 year of internship. Only after passing the examination can you be qualified to cultivate and manage farms and pastures. At the same time, an ecological food Junior College school has also been established to teach farmers how to grow ecological crops. If you want to be an "ecological farmer", you must first take an ecological farming course. Such Junior College schools require about two and a half years of schooling. In this way, farmers have learned the basics of how to grow safe food. In addition, all personnel related to the cultivation, breeding and testing of agricultural and sideline products must receive professional training before they can take up their posts. Liberation Monday: It seems that it is not easy to be a farmer in Denmark, so who will pay for the training? Bent Hasson: We have invested a lot of money in the development of agricultural science and technology and new agricultural products, of which more than 90% of agricultural research funding comes from government investment. The government subsidizes agricultural education. Most of the agricultural schools are subsidized by the government. The government subsidy funds account for 70% of the school running funds. Free education is implemented for the children of poor farmers. Farmers can receive education with very little money. The Government has invested in the establishment of an agricultural advisory body. Liberation Monday: What else is the government involved in the management of food sources? Bent Hasson: Some of the inspectors on the slaughter line are the slaughterhouse's own workers, while others are "undercover" by the government ". Twice a year the government will calculate the salaries of these inspectors, how many inspectors we have and how long we have worked here, and then send a bill to the slaughterhouse asking them to pay these inspectors. Once a problem is found, the quarantine personnel have the right to independently exercise supervision and inspection functions, and immediately recommend improvement measures. If the situation is serious, the factory can be closed. We have a very strict system that other EU countries are unlikely to do, because different links, such as farms, organizations, slaughterhouses, etc., have different interests. However, Denmark has adopted a joint venture system. Each farmer is a member of the industry. The entire industry must share risks and benefits. Therefore, the government, organizations, farms, and slaughterhouses can cooperate closely. Every animal has an ID number" food safety is a concept that everyone in Denmark has. Therefore, the most stringent food safety standards have been implemented for a long time, and there is a strict food quality and safety assurance system. Advanced testing methods and instruments can ensure food safety; independent agencies supervise and spot check food manufacturers to ensure that the products entering the market are safe. In many ways, Denmark's food safety requirements are even more demanding than EU standards. Liberation Monday: The food production process pursues excellence. What is Denmark's special practice in other processes in the food safety chain? Bent Hasson: The transportation of food should be more strict. Many animals enjoy the treatment of "VIP luxury box" in transportation. To avoid infection during transportation, we use special vehicles with sealed air filter ventilation to transport animals. The air circulation, temperature, humidity and other data in the cabin are controlled by computer, and even the drivers are specially trained. In addition, the truck must be cleaned, disinfected, and isolated for a certain period of time before it can be transported to the farm again. In Denmark, every animal on the farm has an "ID number". We have established a central database for all livestock, including their time and place of birth, whether they have changed farms, etc. Each animal has a number. Once there is an epidemic, it can be quickly traced back to what went wrong. Liberation Monday: how to ensure food safety for the commercial operation of the table? Bent Hasson: I have also seen smiling faces in some Chinese restaurants, and Denmark also has such a smiling face scheme. In 2001, we implemented the "from farm to table" food safety supervision mechanism. After the introduction of the plan, all restaurants, canteens, snack bars, butcher shops and other shops in Denmark will be subject to regular inspections by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. Inspection is approximately 1 to 3 times per year. The inspection results will be displayed on the "smiley face scheme" and required to be posted in the most conspicuous position of the store and announced to consumers. If the results are posted in the corner, the store will be punished for it. Our "smiley face scheme" consists of 4 different faces: laughing, smiling, expressionless and sad. If the store has been "sad" several times in a row and still does not improve, the store will face a high fine. If the store gets a "laugh" rating four times in a row and has no bad record in the past 12 months, it will be awarded a higher level of smiling face-"elite smiling face". 2015-09-30 http:// www. World Seed Industry Network
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Rabobank Raises Sugar Price Forecast Expected Global Sugar Price RiseOn September 30, Rabobank (Rabobank) raised its forecast for sugar prices, saying it was due to extreme weather in Brazil and India, the main producing countries. The bank raised its estimate for raw sugar futures in New York by 0.60 cents a pound. It raised its estimate for raw sugar prices next summer to 12.40 cents a pound, up from 12.20 cents on Monday in the July 2016 contract. "Support for sugar market fundamentals is improving," the bank said." the bank expects a shortfall of 4.8 million tons of global sugar production in 2015/16, which is larger than other agencies' estimates. Platts Kingman, for example, expected a shortfall of 3.2 million tonnes two weeks ago. Rabobank said: "India and Brazil and other major producing countries are experiencing extreme weather. With the further strengthening of the El Niño phenomenon, the supply shortage caused by production cuts may further intensify." Rainfall in south-central Brazil has been affected by the El Nino phenomenon, and the remaining sugar cane harvest in the region is still at risk. In India, the second largest sugar producer, the country's sugar output in 2015/16 may be less than 27 million tons, down 5% from the previous year, mainly due to insufficient precipitation in the rainy season. The rainy season precipitation in Uttar Pradesh is only 54% of the normal level, while the precipitation in Maharashtra is 70% of the normal value. Verma, director Abinash of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), also said on Monday that India's sugar output in 2015/16 is expected to be 27 million tons. Source: Yunnan Sugar Net | Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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EU farmers under pressure~ ~ EU farmers under pressure BILL CRABTREE - WESTERN AUSTRALIAN FARMER AND CONSULTANT 30 Sep, 2015 04:00 AM I RECENTLY travelled for three weeks throughout Western Europe along with about 20 other Australian farmers, learning about the region's agriculture and associated challenges. As we all know Australian farmers battle droughts, frost and weeds. But what we learned from our travels is that the battles our European farming cousins face are just as significant as ours. Farmers in Western Europe face issues like excessive taxes (along with distorted subsidies); significant weed challenges; over-regulation; small scale and fragmented farms; a loss of herbicide tools; and excessive tillage which leads to constant soil loss. The strongest impression that struck me during this farming tour was the volume of weeds in every field. In many crops farmers have resorted to hand weeding and we saw few crops that had low weed burdens. It made me reflect on what a speaker said at the International Herbicide resistance conference in Fremantle in January 2014, where he talked of the increasing prevalence of herbicide resistance in Europe. Combine this with their banning of six major herbicides that we use in Australia, and their significant weed seed bank, I can foresee huge challenges for weed control in Europe. This could well be reflected in lower yields in the future unless they change. The farmers our tour group spent time with realise that they are on a downward productivity and efficiency slide. This is reflected in the farmer tractor protest held in Paris while we were there. One of the farmers we visited was involved in the protest and married a Bendigo girl. They both explained their challenges, in detail. Indeed the corn crop yields in France have flat-lined for the last 16 years while their global competitors have seen strong annual increases. Ironically, we discovered, through visiting two of Europe's big agrochemical companies - Bayer and Syngenta - that they have discovered chemicals that could potentially act as new knock-down herbicides. However, they did not envisage these herbicides would be brought to market because of the increasingly strict, and I would argue, over-regulations that have engulfed Europe in the last 20 years. This makes me wonder if the Grains Research and Development Corporation funded project looking at molecules with Bayer, for Australian agriculture, could lead to a significant breakthrough for us, in potentially accessing some novel products. Since we don't have subsidies, I would think this might be a fair futuristic reward. But, our commercial Australian farming community needs to actively protect and argue for common sense with retaining sensible pesticide access. There are global market bloggers who profiteer from encouraging consumers to preference products from unsustainable farming systems. The farmers we spent time with from UK, France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy were generally quite pessimistic about their future in agriculture. The small farms of 100-250 hectares in size just can't produce enough to be economically viable, even with subsidies and wheat yielding 6-11t/ha. Most farmers had a second job off-farm. In Spain, where the lowest yields occur (down to 1 t/ha), some farmers were diversifying from wheat, corn and canola into almonds, onions and other intensive crops. In France farmers were also swinging over to sugar beet, potatoes and onions. The no-till farmers were being challenged by increased mice activity and fox hunters that remove their mice predators. We were told by a Spanish agronomist that the solar panels that frequented the Spanish landscape and espoused as a great success for sustainable energy were kaput. Some 50 per cent have been turned off three years ago as the Spanish government could not afford to subsidise them anymore. We learnt from a wind turbine expert that each turbine costs $A3 million and has a lifespan of 15 years and can supply enough power, when the wind blows, to power 20,000 houses. We saw many turbines doing nothing on many days. The local communities subsidise these turbines which they found annoying. We visited a biogas plant in Italy where 30pc of the cost is subsidised. This plant takes corn and manure and drives a V12 engine to pump electricity into the grid. On a positive note we met with Tony Reynolds who farms two hours north of London and he has been no-tilling successfully for 10 years. Tony has had an excellent year with one wheat field yielding 11.3 t/ha, his soil structure has improved greatly with good water infiltration improvements and an abundance of earthworms. Tony's neighbour and good friend Tony Gent has designed a unique disc opener (pictured below) which I think is very original with some very nice features - it is great for clay soils. It has a lifting action where the disc does not compact the seed zone, avoids hair-pinning and can cut through massive amounts of residue. The opener also has a unique swivel action. I believe it has good potential for Australian farming conditions. The opener is being commercialised by Weaving Seeders. We had many vibrant discussions while on the bus and the group became good friends and like all our trips will likely stay in touch with each other for life http://www.theland.com.au/news/agriculture/general/opinion/eu-farmers-under-pressure/2744552.aspx?storypage=0
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More than half of EU countries reject GM~ ~ Over Half of E.U. Countries Are Opting Out of GMOs by Alexandra Sifferlin October 4, 2015, 1:03 PM EDT 16 countries want to prohibit genetically modified crops. Sixteen countries have alerted the European Union that they want to opt out of E.U.-approved GM crops. Members of the economic bloc have until Oct. 3 to let the E.U. know if they were requesting to opt out of growing GMO produce from major companies like Monsanto, Dow, Syngenta and Pioneer, and according to the Food Navigator, a food trade publication, countries including Germany, Italy, Denmark, Bulgaria and Cyprus recently filed their requests and applications, increasing the number to 16. Exactly how many countries will ultimately opt out could be confirmed as soon as Monday. In August, Scotland publicly said it would prohibit GMO crops out of concern that they could damage the country's “clean and green” brand. “Scotland is known around the world for our beautiful natural environment - and banning growing genetically modified crops will protect and further enhance our clean, green status," Rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead said in a statement at the time. http://fortune.com/2015/10/04/over-half-of-e-u-countries-are-opting-out-of-gmos/ “A growing number of governments are rejecting the commission's drive for GM crop approvals," Greenpeace's E.U. food policy director Franziska Achterberg told the Guardian. “They don't trust the E.U. safety assessments and are rightly taking action to protect their agriculture and food. The only way to restore trust in the E.U. system now is for the commission to hit the pause button on GM crop approvals and to urgently reform safety testing and the approval system ." The Guardian reports that environmentalists have praised the news, while industry and biotech supporters have responded to opt-outs with “weary resignation ." “The new E.U. legislation allowing these bans is a 'stop' sign for agricultural cultivation that sends a negative signal for all innovative industries considering investing in Europe," Beat Spath, the director of the industry group Europabio, told the Guardian. The science community holds a variety of opinions on GMOs. Some members, like Jonathan Foley, executive director of the California Academy of Sciences argue the problem with GMOs isn't necessary the technology, but the fact that they haven't lived up to their hype. Genetically modified crops have not fully delivered on promises to drastically reduce world hungry or significantly cut down on the need for pesticides. In the U.S., GMOs have been in the food supply for around 20 years, and are regulated by federal groups including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “While FDA regulates foods and ingredients, including foods made from [genetically engineered (GE)] plants, the agency neither supports GE plants based on their perceived benefits nor opposes them based on their perceived risks," the agency says. This article was originally published on Time.com.
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California agriculture weathered drought, but at great cost~ ~ California agriculture weathers drought - at a cost El Niño might bring relief, but longer and deeper dry spells are predicted. Erika Check Hayden 30 September 2015 Zackary Canepari/NYT/Redux/eyevine Wildfires have proliferated during California's ongoing drought. Three brown, withered lawns surround David Behar's home in Marin County, north of San Francisco in California. Behar, who directs the climate programme at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, no longer waters his grass - after several years with next to no rainfall, he gave in and brought greenery to his home in the form of drought-resistant plants instead. It is just one of the many adjustments that Californians have had to make as the state enters its fifth year of drought (see 'Dry state'). As of 30 September - the end of the 2015 'water year' - the state's water supplies are desperately low. The spring snowpack is the paltriest ever measured - by April it contained just 5% of a normal year's water - and by the end of August the major reservoirs held 59% of their historical average. Wildfires have burned through almost three times more land than they do in an average year. And there are myriad ecological impacts, including more patches of dead foliage than usual in the canopies of the state's iconic giant sequoia trees. Yet despite the severe lack of rainfall, the state's biggest consumer of water has fared remarkably well. Agriculture last year generated revenues that were just 1.4% lower than in 2013, when it took in a record US$34 billion, according to the Pacific Institute, a think tank in Oakland, California. Agriculture-related employment reached a record high of 417,000, and the amount of land being used for farming had fallen by less than 10% from pre-drought levels. But that has come at a cost. Farmers have sustained production mainly by pumping up huge amounts of groundwater. “The massive overdraft of groundwater to make up for lost surface water has buffered farmers, and that can't continue forever," says Pacific Institute president Peter Gleick. In August, NASA reported that the massive increase in pumping has caused parts of the state to sink by 33 centimetres in less than a year. Some households that rely on wells have been left without water to shower or wash dishes. The weather looks set to change, although only in the short term. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that this winter will see a strong El Niño, a storm pattern that has delivered extremely wet winters to California in the past. But plentiful rains are by no means certain, especially for regions outside southern California. “It remains to be seen whether an El Niño will provide relief this year," Behar says. But the rains are unlikely to last for long. A team led by climatologist Noah Diffenbaugh of Stanford University in California has used historical data and climate models to show that global warming is increasing the odds of the state seeing warm, dry conditions similar to those that spawned the current drought (N. S. Diffenbaugh et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 112, 3931-3936; 2015). The droughts could even last for many decades. By incorporating palaeoclimate data into climate models, Benjamin Cook of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City and two co-authors are predicting droughts that could last as long as 35 years (B. I. Cook et al. Sci. Adv. 1, e1400082; 2015). “We're in a new climate, and it's a climate in which the probability of severe drought conditions is elevated," Diffenbaugh says. “That recognition is really critical ." The state is working hard to respond to the dire warnings. In April, governor Jerry Brown called for a 25% reduction in municipal water consumption. Californians managed to save even more than that in both June and July, even though that is when irrigation needs tend to be highest. Last September, Brown signed legislation that takes the first steps towards regulating groundwater use by asking localities to make plans to ensure the sustainability of their groundwater supplies. However, some complain that he has not been tough enough. The path to sustainability does not need to be in place until 2040 - that is hardly an aggressive timeline, says Gleick. And in June, the state's water board ordered some of the most-senior water-rights holders - the farmers and irrigation districts entitled to draw first in times of shortage - not to take water from rivers and streams. Some irrigators have responded with lawsuits that are still working their way through the courts. The state's water-rights system is said to discourage conservation, because rights holders with priority may see their water allotments cut if they do not use their allocations in a given year. Push to recycle Meanwhile, Behar and other planners around the state are pushing technological fixes that range from less-water-intensive agriculture and more-efficient home appliances to treating wastewater for reuse. Orange County already pumps treated wastewater into its groundwater; San Diego is developing a similar system and, on 8 September, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission approved a plan to recycle wastewater to irrigate Golden Gate Park. Steven Ritchie, the commission's assistant general manager for water, says that some regions are even looking into the long-discussed idea of desalination - a perennial option that is seldom used because it is energy intensive and therefore expensive. Ritchie says that one idea on the table for the region would be to cut the cost by desalinating brackish water from the San Francisco Bay Delta, rather than ocean water. Water produced in that way would cost about as much as that pumped from wells, Ritchie says, but would still be more costly than surface water. “The choice might be: expensive water, or no water," Ritchie says. “We have to continue to plan for the future and diversify our supply; we cannot take anything for granted." Nature 526, 14-15 (01 October 2015) doi:10.1038/526014a
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US calls for dropping agricultural barriers in TTP~ ~ US urged to drop TPP agri barriers JOHN KEHOE 02 Oct, 2015 08:24 AM Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb. I came to lower protection so I get frustrated if we are talking about increasing protection Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb. A FRUSTRATED Australia and New Zealand have directly challenged the Obama administration to tear down protectionist trade barriers for agriculture to help reinject momentum into a stalling Pacific Rim free trade deal. As negotiations between trade ministers from the 12 Trans-Pacific Partnership countries looked likely to drag on beyond Thursday's deadline in Atlanta, Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb urged the United States to take a leadership role by opening up dairy and sugar markets to foreign competition. Mr Robb held two face-to-face meetings with US Trade Representative Mike Froman on Wednesday and laid out the Turnbull government's conditions for signing a deal. The US is pressuring Australia to increase intellectual property protections for new-age pharmaceutical drugs, known as biologics, beyond the existing five years. Mr Robb has responded that Australia's system adequately balances incentivising drug innovators and ensuring medicines are affordable. "I came to lower protection so I get frustrated if we are talking about increasing protection in the case of biologics or see no reduction in other areas," Mr Robb said. Mr Robb and his New Zealand counterpart, Tim Groser, view the US as the potential key trend-setter in encouraging other TPP countries, including Japan, Canada and Mexico, in going the extra yard to strip away trade barriers and seal the TPP. Mr Robb is concerned the US government is hamstrung by edgy Congress members threatening to vote against the TPP if it is perceived to harm American dairy and sugar farmers. On the other hand, Australia's push to increase its 87,000 tonne sugar quota in the US gained the backing of 45 Congress members who signed a letter to Mr Froman urging him to "significantly expand US sugar imports ".
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Ukraine seeks foreign capital to invest in its agriculture~Ukraine looks for foreign investment in agriculture Richard Halleron ? October 4, 2015 ? 0 Comment Ukraine looks for foreign investment in agriculture Ukraine is about to open up as a uniquely attractive farm and agri-development opportunity for potential investors from Ireland and the rest of the EU, according to the country's deputy agrarian policy minister Vladyslava Rutytska. “Both land leasing and purchase options are now available," she said. “The Ukranian government has introduced a series of measures which make land ownership more transparent while, at the same time, clamping down on issues, such as corruption. “Our government is creating a stable and sustainable business environment, which will make international investment opportunities in Ukraine extremely attractive ." Rutytska spoke recently at a Ukrainian investment conference held in London, which was co-hosted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The deputy minister confirmed that Ukraine has vast acreages of highly productive land. “But we want to build on this for the future," she said. “Four large scale irrigation projects, planned for the south of the country, will allow farmers in these regions to double crop yields. These initiatives are backed by the likes of the World Bank and the European Investment Bank. “The projects are part of a complete overhaul regarding the effectiveness of the national irrigation system in Ukraine ." Farming and food products account for 6.6% of Ukraine's total exports. One fifth of the Ukrainian work force is employed within the farming industry. “During the first seven months of 2015, agriculture accounted for US$7.7 billion of export sales," said Rutytska. “This figure accounted for 35% of foreign currency earnings. We expect the value of our agri food exports to double over the coming years. This will be achieved on the back of our current reform policies and a commitment to secure higher levels of inward investment. Ukraine exports 950,000t of wheat, 400,000t of maize and 250,000t of barley to the EU, courtesy of a quota system. The Netherlands is a major importer of Ukrainian maize with trade in this commodity amounting to US$158m so far this year. Italy imported US$53m of Ukrainian wheat during the same period. Up to the end of Septembers Ukrainian farmers had harvested 38.618m tonnes of grains and pulses, taking in an area of 10.68m ha. The equivalent figures for maize and oilseeds are 1.065m tonnes and 3.34m tonnes respectively, taking in a combined area of almost 2m ha. Over recent weeks, Ukrainian cereal growers have planted out just over 1m ha of winter wheat plus half this area again of winter oilseeds Minister Rutytska admitted that the recent annexation of Crimea by Russia has had an significant economic impact. “We estimate total agricultural losses, in terms of both revenues and property, at approximately US$1billion," she said. “As a result of imposed restrictions, Ukraine's agricultural exports to Russia decreased by 50% from US$2 billion to US$1 billion. “But this will have no impact on the investment opportunities that now exist in Ukraine. A combination of government and land reforms will ensure a totally transparent system of governance where all aspects of land ownership and management are concerned ." http://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/ukraine-looks-for-foreign-investment-in-agriculture/
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Sustainable Development Goal: Fisheries~~A Fish Called Development Oby Ezekwesili, a former Nigerian Education Minister and cofounder of the anti-corruption organization Transparency International, is a Global Ocean Commissioner. Photo of José María Figueres José María Figueres José María Figueres, former President of Costa Rica, is Co-Chair of the Global Ocean Commission. Photo of Pascal Lamy Pascal Lamy Pascal Lamy, a former director-general of the World Trade Organization, is a Global Ocean Commissioner. GENEVA - The just-adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are expected to herald the start of a new era in global development, one that promises to transform the world in the name of people, the planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership. But there is an ocean of difference between promising and doing. And, while global declarations are important - they prioritize financing and channel political will - many of today's pledges have been made before. In fact, whether the SDGs succeed will depend to a significant degree on how they influence other international negotiations, particularly the most complex and contentious ones. And an early test concerns a goal for which the Global Ocean Commission actively campaigned: to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development ." When political leaders meet at the tenth WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi in December, they will have an opportunity to move toward meeting one of that goal's most important targets: prohibition of subsidies that contribute to overfishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing by no later than 2020. This is not a new ambition; it has been on the WTO's agenda for many years, and it has been included in other international sustainable development declarations. But, even today, countries spend $30 billion a year on fisheries subsidies, 60% of which directly encourages unsustainable, destructive, or even illegal practices. The resulting market distortion is a major factor behind the chronic mismanagement of the world's fisheries, which the World Bank calculates to have cost the global economy $83 billion in 2012. In addition to concerns about finances and sustainability, the issue raises urgent questions about equity and justice. Rich economies (in particular Japan, the United States, France, and Spain), along with China and South Korea, account for 70% of global fisheries subsidies. These transfers leave thousands of fishing-dependent communities struggling to compete with subsidized rivals and threaten the food security of millions of people as industrial fleets from distant lands deplete their oceanic stocks. West Africa, where fishing can be a matter of life and death, is being particularly hard hit. Since the 1990s, when foreign vessels, primarily from the EU and China, began to fish on an industrial scale off its shores, it has become impossible for many local fishers to make a living or feed their families. From 1994 to 2005, Senegal's catch fell from 95,000 to 45,000 tons, according to government estimates, and the country lost half of its fleet of traditional wooden pirogues. As the fish stocks collapsed in 2005, 5,000 people decided to put their redundant fishing boats to a different use, by fleeing to the Spanish Canary Islands. A year later, more than 30,000 others made the same perilous journey, and an estimated 6,000 drowned. Senegalese and Mauritanian fishermen and their families are also among the thousands of people risking their lives to get to Europe today. On the high seas, the distortion is even larger. According to fisheries economists, subsidies by some of the world's richest countries are the only reason large-scale industrial fishing in areas beyond coastal countries' 200-mile exclusive economic zones is profitable. But fish do not respect international boundaries, and it is estimated that 42% of the commercial fish being caught travel between countries' exclusive zones and the high seas. As a result, industrial fishing far from shore undermines developing countries' coastal, mostly artisanal, fisheries. Eliminating harmful fisheries subsidies by 2020 is not only crucial for conserving the ocean; it will also affect our ability to meet other goals, such as our promises to end hunger and achieve food security and to reduce inequality within and among countries. The credibility of both the WTO and the newly adopted SDGs will be on the line in Nairobi. The Global Ocean Commission has put forward a clear three-step program to eliminate harmful fishing subsidies. All that is needed is for governments finally to agree to put an end to the injustice and waste that they cause. Fortunately, there are encouraging signs. Nearly 60% of the WTO's membership supports controlling fisheries subsidies, with support from the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of developing countries - together with the EU's contribution to improve transparency and reporting - giving new momentum to the effort. Among the initiatives being put forward in advance of the Nairobi meeting is the so-called “NZ +5 proposal." Co-sponsored by New Zealand, Argentina, Iceland, Norway, Peru, and Uruguay, the plan would eliminate fisheries subsidies that affect overfished stocks and contribute to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The Global Ocean Commission urges the remaining 40% of the WTO's members - and especially the biggest players currently blocking this process - to accept the relatively modest proposals on the table. A sustainable future for our planet and its oceans depend on it.
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EU allocates 0.5 billion euros of "emergency" money to bail out agricultureOn September 7, 2015, thousands of farmers from many EU countries demonstrated in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, where the EU headquarters is located, to protest against the sharp drop in agricultural prices. According to reports, the European Commission announced on September 7, 2015 that it would allocate 0.5 billion million euros (about 0.557 billion US dollars) and implement a package of related measures to bail out agriculture. At present, the EU agriculture, especially the dairy industry is seriously troubled by low prices and cause widespread concern. Amid rising protests from farmers and repeated "calls for help" from member states, the agriculture ministers of the 28 EU countries held a special meeting on the 7th to discuss countermeasures. European Commission Vice President Katainen announced after the meeting that the EU will provide farmers with 0.5 billion euros of support to ease the agricultural price crisis. The European Commission stated that the rescue funds will be used to help farmers experiencing cash flow difficulties, stabilize markets and improve the operation of the supply chain. Catainen said that most of the funds will be distributed directly to member states in the form of "gift packages" to help the dairy industry tide over the crisis. The specific distribution ratio of this rescue fund in each member state has not yet been announced, but the European Commission emphasized that it will give priority to providing funding to some of the most severely affected countries under the principle of fairness. As a supporting measure, the EU allows member states to pay farmers up to 70% of the advance payment from October 16. At the same time, the EU will also vigorously develop private processing and storage for the dairy and pork production industries. Other measures include opening up new markets, promoting agricultural exports, increasing export budgets, and speeding up the signing of new bilateral trade agreements with other countries. However, the European Commission rejected the "price intervention" request made by some member states. Catainen said that price intervention cannot solve the current problem of disconnection between EU agricultural production and demand, and is not beneficial to the long-term development of EU agriculture. For more than a year, farmers in EU member states, especially in Western European countries, have become increasingly difficult. As the EU's economic sanctions against Russia led to Russia's counter-sanctions, the EU's agricultural exports to Russia were greatly affected, with pork exports to Russia alone falling from 740000 tons in 2013 to 65000 tons in 2014, a drop of 91 per cent. At the same time, with the weakening of external demand, the overproduction of agricultural products in the EU has led to lower prices. The abolition of the dairy quota system in the EU at the end of March 2015 has made this situation even worse. According to statistics from the European Commission, the price of raw milk in the EU fell by 20% in the year to June 2015. Earlier on the 7th, thousands of farmers from several EU member states drove tractors to hold a large-scale protest outside the EU headquarters, demanding that the EU promptly introduce a rescue policy to subsidize farmers on the verge of bankruptcy. According to the statement, the funds will be specifically used to help farmers solve the problem of short-term cash shortage, stabilize the market, and improve the supply chain of agricultural products. 2015/9/9 World Wide Web
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EU corn production has been revised down to an eight-year low.The monthly supply and demand data released by the French analysis agency Strategic Grain Company in September showed that the EU corn production forecast for 2015/16 was lowered to the lowest level in eight years. Strategic cereals this month cut its 2015/16 EU corn production forecast by 2.3 million tons to 57.4 million tons, the lowest level in eight years, as hot and dry weather affects the yield potential of corn crops. The very hot and dry weather in August further threatened the corn yield potential in central and southeastern Europe, especially Poland, Germany, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Croatia, according to Strategic Grain. The latest maize yield data is 24% lower than the previous year, and the maize yield is expected to be 6.1 tons/ha. In contrast, the European Commission expects EU maize production to be 58.75 million tons per hectare in 2015/16, with a yield of 6.3 tons per hectare. Time: September 25, 2015 | Source: China Grain Network | Responsible Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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Genetically modified and junk science~~GMOs and Junk Science • STANFORD - In today's media landscape, where unfounded opinions, hype, and rumors are rife, the scientific method - the means by which we determine, based on empirical and measurable evidence, what is true - should serve as a touchstone of reality. Science enables us to gauge what we think we know and to identify what we do not. Most important, it discredits false claims made for personal or political reasons - at least it should. But scientists occasionally “go rogue," forsaking the scientific method - often for notoriety or economic gain - to produce propaganda and to sow fear in a public that lacks expertise but is hungry for information. This abuse of scientific authority is especially widespread in the “organic” and “natural” food industries, which capitalize on people's fear of synthetic or “unnatural” products. A recent example is the Indian-American scientist V.A. Shiva Ayyadurai, who, with Prabhakar Deonikar, published the much-ridiculed paper “Do GMOs Accumulate Formaldehyde and Disrupt Molecular Systems Equilibria? Systems Biology May Provide Answers." (“GMOs” are “genetically modified organisms," itself a misleading and often unfairly stigmatized non-category, circumscribing a universe of organisms modified with the most modern and precise techniques of genetic engineering.) Although the article supposedly passed the peer-review process, a key component of legitimate science, it appeared in a low-impact “pay-for-play” journal, Agricultural Sciences, which is produced by a “predatory” publisher. Within days of publication, anti-biotechnology organizations like the Organic Consumers Association and GMO Inside were reporting on Ayyadurai's “findings” with frightening headlines - “Formaldehyde in GMO Soy?" and “New Study Shows GMO Soy Accumulates Cancer Causing Chemical Formaldehyde” - accompanied by scary graphics. But the problems with Ayyadurai's paper are legion. Its title alone is enough to show that something is amiss. If you think that GMOs might “accumulate formaldehyde” - a chemical that is probably carcinogenic at high levels but is present in most living cells and found widely in our environment - the obvious response would be to measure its levels in the organisms. Ayyadurai, however, chose to make guesses based on modeling via “systems biology ." “Systems biology” enables only a prediction, not an experimental conclusion. Rather than actually testing the levels of any chemicals in plants, Ayyadurai plugged data into a computer algorithm to predict the levels of two chemicals, formaldehyde and glutathione. This is akin to a meteorologist predicting from his models that it will be sunny all day, instead of looking out the window to see whether rain is falling. To be sure, as Kevin Folta, the head of the horticultural sciences department at the University of Florida, explained, systems biology can be a useful approach if employed properly. As he put it, systems biology “is a way to make predictions based on integrating existing data, and then statistically deriving a likelihood that the predictions may be correct." But, he emphasizes, the predictions are then to be tested, “and the systems approach validated ." Like all predictive studies based on computer modeling, the validity of the results depends on the integrity of the data and the algorithm. If the data are cherry-picked to support the modeler's desired conclusions, or if the algorithm is flawed, the results will be inaccurate. But it is unclear from Ayyadurai's article which data were used, and there is no validation of the model. Folta offers a brilliant send-up of Ayyadurai's work. “If you developed a computer program that integrated Internet data to predict the location of Munich, and the program told you it was squarely in the Gulf of Mexico, right off Florida, it does not mean that Munich is in the Gulf of Mexico, right off of Florida." Instead, it means that you have made a mistake, in your program, assumptions, or input data - all of which are testable. To decide not to challenge those data, Folta continues, and instead to “publish a map showing that Munich is squarely in the Gulf of Mexico, opposing all other data and the claims of millions of rather dry Germans, does not mean that you are brilliant. It means you have absolutely no clue, or more likely, have some reason you want a major German metropolis to be a two-hour boat ride from Tampa ." Folta also has something to say about Ayyadurai's publisher. If you print the deceptive map showing the location of Munich, “what does that say about your integrity as a reliable information source?" In the spirit of scientific cooperation, Folta offered to collaborate with Ayyadurai on university-based testing of genetically engineered corn and soy samples (along with appropriate controls), with analysis by an independent lab. Ayyadurai declined, so Folta will proceed himself. The experimental data is forthcoming. In the meantime, if you get a hankering for sauerbraten and spaetzle, head for Central Europe, not the Gulf of Mexico. Read more at https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/gmos-junk-science-by-henry-i--miller-and-kavin-senapathy-2015-09#d35SrVf1KoBzOsBZ.99
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Brazil's total output value of agriculture and animal husbandry increased by 1% in 2014-2015According to statistics from the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture in August, Brazil's agricultural and animal husbandry output value from 2014 to 2015 was 473.2 billion reais, an increase of 1% from 2014 (468.6 billion reais), of which, the output value of the planting industry including 21 crops was 303.34 billion reais, an increase of 0.3 year-on-year; the output value of animal husbandry 169.88 billion reais, an increase of 2.2 year-on-year. In the area of cultivation, the largest increase in crop output was in onions, by 147.5 per cent, followed by black pepper by 58.6 per cent, soybeans by 3.7 per cent, corn by 3.4 per cent and coffee by 1.6 per cent; the largest decreases in output were in apple by 21.6 per cent, grape by 19.2 per cent, tomato by 13.8 per cent and potato by 8.8 per cent. Mato Grosso, as the largest agricultural and livestock producing state in Brazil, has become increasingly important. From 2014 to 2015, the GDP of agriculture and animal husbandry in the state was 62.37 billion reais, surpassing Sao Paulo state (61.21 billion reais) for the second consecutive year, ranking first among Brazilian states. Among them, the output value of cotton, corn, soybean and beef accounted for 89% of the total output value of agriculture and animal husbandry in Massachusetts. In 2014-2015, the output value of cotton, corn and soybean in Massachusetts accounted for 56.5, 24.5 and 29% of the national total respectively. In the second quarter, 1.105 million cattle were slaughtered in Massachusetts, surpassing South Malaysia, Minas, Goias and Sao Paulo. Source: Xinnong Network | Time: September 20, 2015 | Responsible Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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Since September 20, Ukraine has adopted EU standards for food safetyAccording to the "Act on Amendments to Certain Ukrainian Food Legislation" (№ 4179), which has been passed by the Ukrainian Parliament, most of the provisions related to EU integration have entered into force since September 20. The law aims to ensure the consistency of Ukrainian legislation with EU legislation in the field of food safety and quality. The new law provides for the introduction of a European system model for food safety and quality in Ukraine based on the principle of "from field to table" and the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) procedure. Without corresponding laws, Ukraine will not be able to implement the food supply quotas within the framework of the association agreement with the European Union. The new law significantly reduces the number of administrative control procedures and national regulations, and eliminates licensing procedures that are not available in the EU. The detailed requirements for the national regulatory procedures for food for the Ukrainian market and imported food have been clarified in accordance with EU practice. The conditions for obtaining a licence to operate have been significantly relaxed and will only apply to enterprises engaged in the production and/or storage of food of animal origin. For other enterprises, including public catering establishments and some retail establishments, it is sufficient to complete the registration procedures. According to the new law, food safety supervision will be the responsibility of a state agency. The entire food production chain will be under supervision. Enterprises need to have accurate information on the source of raw materials or food and the direction of delivery at any time. The above information must be kept for 6 months after the marked food sale deadline. Heavy penalties are imposed for non-compliance with food legislation. Implement an effective accountability system for producers, other market operators (within their business scope) and regulatory agencies that violate the standards of the Food Safety Law. Since the introduction of HACCP requires time and certain resources, the law contains special provisions that will enter into force 2-5 years after the date of publication. Part VII-General Hygienic Requirements for Food Handling will enter into force on September 20, 2016. This section requires market operators to ensure the health and cleanliness of plants and animals that have an impact on human health. The transitional period is set out in Chapter 20, Section 2 [for enterprises (except small enterprises) that produce food containing animal-derived raw ingredients], Chapter 21 [for enterprises (except small enterprises) that produce food without animal-derived raw ingredients] and Chapter 64, Section 1, Section 4 [for small enterprises], respectively: September 20, 2017, September 20, 2018 and September 20, 2019. Section 1 of Chapter 36 [Regarding the sale of household products in the agricultural product market based on the test results of the laboratory stationed in the agricultural product market to confirm their eligibility] will take effect on September 20, 2019. It is reported that the law "On the revision of certain Ukrainian food legislation" was adopted by the Parliament on July 22, 2014 and published in the "Voice of Ukraine" newspaper on September 19, 2014. HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) is a system of hazard analysis and critical control points adopted by international organizations. The use of HACCP system can be transformed from the final product detection to the development of preventive measures. In order to implement the HACCP system, manufacturers need to check not only their own products and their manufacturing methods, raw materials and accessories suppliers, distribution and retail systems also apply these requirements. Ukraine is currently implementing the national standard DSTU4161-203 "Food Safety Management System. Requirements" (since July 1, 2003) and the national standard DSTUISO22000:2007 (same ISO22000:2005. since August 1, 2007). Source: Xinnong Network | Time: September 20, 2015 | Responsible Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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Vietnam Encourages Farmers to Develop Cashew Planting and ProcessingIn the first eight months of 2015, Vietnam exported 214000 tons of cashew nuts, with an export value of US $1.55 billion billion, an increase of 8.4 and 22% respectively, and an increase of 13% in export prices. The United States, the Netherlands and China continue to be Vietnam's top three cashew nut export markets, with export shares of 36.55 per cent, 12.43 per cent and 11.95 per cent, respectively. Vietnam has become the world's largest exporter of cashew nuts. According to the Vietnam Cashew Association, at present, the raw materials of cashew nuts grown in Vietnam are difficult to meet the processing demand, and the price of cashew nuts raw materials is higher than the import price due to the shortage of supply. According to the report, Vietnam's cashew nut planting area ranks fourth in the world, mainly distributed in Pingfu, Tongnai and Lam provinces, with planting areas of 182000 hectares, 50000 hectares and 25000 hectares respectively. In order to encourage farmers to carry out the "big farmland" planting mode and combine processing and sales, the Vietnamese government provides the following preferential policies: credit preference; investment in water conservancy and infrastructure construction; farmers' technical training fees, etc. Source: Agricultural Information Network | Time: September 9, 2015 | Responsible Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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Sri Lanka has great potential to generate foreign exchange through agricultural developmentAt the recent Sri Lankan economic summit, Prime Minister Lanier expressed his goal of 50 billion exports throughout the year. Up to now, the foreign exchange income of the country has reached 11 billion billion US dollars, and a series of effective measures need to be taken to achieve the annual target. The planting area of crops in the country is about 800000 hectares, and 30% of the foreign exchange income comes from the agricultural sector. An increase in the productivity of the agricultural sector would contribute significantly to the growth of foreign exchange earnings. In the past few years, the foreign exchange income of the agricultural sector has been increasing, mainly due to the increase in the cost of export products. The export of crops such as tea, rubber, coconuts and spices is the country's main source of foreign exchange income. The export value increased from US $2 billion in 2010 to US $2.8 billion in 2014. However, the production of these crops has not increased accordingly. For example, the production of tea in 2010 was 331.4 million kg, and the production from 2011 to 2014 was 327.5 million kg, 328.4 million kg, 340.1 million kg and 338.1 million kg respectively. Between 2010 and 2014, both rubber and coconut production declined. One of the main reasons for the decline in average yields of tea, rubber and coconut is land degradation. Therefore, to promote agricultural development, the implementation of appropriate land protection measures is very important. Since many trees have aged and lost their productivity, increasing the rate of re-planting can increase productivity to some extent. In addition, effective management will increase productivity, which in turn will increase foreign exchange earnings, including better fertilization, weeding and pest control, diversification of cultivation, improved production methods and increased value-added production. In addition to tea, rubber and coconut, there are a large number of other crops with potential export value, such as pepper, cinnamon, garden flowers and so on. In 2013, the spice crop earned $0.35 billion. There are 24 agro-ecological zones, each with unique climate and soil characteristics, which provide conditions for the cultivation of different crops. Of the 6.5 million hectares, there are 2 million hectares of wetlands, 75% of which are planted with crops, but most are less productive due to land degradation. Of the 4.5 million hectares of dry land, only 200 hectares are effectively used. As a result, large areas of potentially arable land exist in arid areas. Most soils in these areas are relatively more fertile than those in the wetlands. Insufficient precipitation during the dry season is one of the main constraints to crop growth in arid areas, so good water supply management will reduce this constraint. Currently, major irrigation projects such as Mahawilli, Kilindi Eurasia (Kirindioya), Mutu Kaindia (Muthukandiya) and Ian Genimidiya (Inginimitiya) have provided irrigation needs for 200000 hectares of land in arid areas, and a large number of small irrigation projects will also provide conditions for these areas. Therefore, it has great potential to improve the level of crop production. In addition, the agricultural product processing industry also plays an important role in earning foreign exchange. At present, the agricultural products processing industry involves only a small number of crops such as rubber, coconut and some fruits. Cassava, gardening flowers, herbs, sugar cane, bamboo, sunflower, castor, Ayurvedic herbs and other crops have potential processing value, but have not yet developed into any obvious commercial value through processing market demand, neither obvious variety improvement, nor related processing technology and market information. Therefore, promoting the development of agro-industry will not only provide new channels for export income generation, but also provide opportunities for economic development and job creation in rural areas. Source: Agricultural Information Network | Time: September 10, 2015 | Responsible Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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Almonds Become Australia's Most Valuable Cash Crop Export ProductThe latest data from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resources Economics and Technology (ABARES) shows that the total export of Australian almonds in the 2014-15 fiscal year reached 0.522 billion Australian dollars, making it the horticultural product (cash crop) with the highest export value in the previous fiscal year. Agriculture Minister Joyce (Barnaby Joyce) said that Australian growers, exporters and the horticulture industry as a whole, to increase the production of almond crops is of great significance. The latest Almond Market Perspective Report (Almond Insights) released by the Australian Almond Chamber of Commerce (ABA) shows that the development momentum of the Australian almond industry is becoming stronger and stronger. Thanks to favorable factors such as output growth (output in 2015 is 10000 tons higher than that in 2014), rising demand and rising prices, the export volume in the next fiscal year is expected to reach A $0.6 billion. In recent years, the global demand for almonds has continued to grow. At present, the annual consumption of shell almonds has exceeded 1 million tons, and consumer demand is mainly met by international trade. Minister Joyce said that the development of the almond industry means that the planting area of apricot trees in Australia will continue to increase, and the number of jobs and export trade will also increase, which will create more economic income for growers. Joyce also stressed that according to ChAFTA, the current export tariff of 10-24% faced by Australian almond producers will be canceled in the next four years, "which highlights the significance of China Australia FTA for Australian horticultural products exporters". At present, the Australian almond industry has entered a large-scale expansion phase, this winter in the new state and Victoria's Murray Valley region (Murray Valley) apricot tree planting area is expected to increase by 50% to 43,000 hectares. Joyce pointed out that based on the Almond Market Perspective Report, in order to promote plantation expansion and increase processing facilities, the government will invest an additional A $0.4 billion million in the Murray Valley region, which will bring more economic benefits to growers across Australia. Source: Agricultural Information Network | Time: September 14, 2015 | Responsible Editor: Zhai Tianchang
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South Korea Releases Requirements for Classification and Labeling of Processed Meat ProductsOn September 8, 2015, South Korea issued a notice to divide processed meat products with different meat content into six categories, including ham, raw ham, pressed ham, and sausage, according to product processing and ingredient specifications. The main categories include: 1, ham and raw ham meat requires meat content of more than 90%, the use of meat or other food, the right amount of food additives to manufacture, processing; 2, pressed ham requires meat content of more than 85%, starch below 5%, the use of meat or other food, add appropriate amount of food additives manufacturing, processing; 3. Mixed ham requires meat content above 75% and starch below 8%. Meat or other foods and appropriate amount of food additives are used for manufacturing and processing; 4. Sausage requires meat content to be above 70% and starch content to be below 10%. Add finely ground meat to other foods and add appropriate food additives for manufacturing and processing. If it contains specific ingredients such as chicken, it needs to be indicated on the label. Source: Agricultural Information Network | Time: September 14, 2015 | Responsible Editor: Zhai Tianchang