News
Updated Friday 26th February 2010. On this page....
Pesticide Stewardship I Food Security I Environmental Security I Pesticide Industry I Climate Change I Pesticide Legislation/ Regulation I Pesticide Exposure/Residues I Agricultural Policy I Soil Management I Water I GM Crops I Organic Crops I Biofuels and Biopesticides IResearch, Resources & Knowledge Transfer
Pesticide Stewardship
Misbranded, improperly stored pesticides still a problem (24 February, saipantribune.com) The Division of Environmental Quality, the Division of Quarantine, and the Division of Customs Services continue to find pesticides and pesticide devices that are illegal, or those that do not have English labels and are not registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
UNEP launches hazardous substances responsibility campaign (24 February, antara.co.id) The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) here Wednesday launched a `Safe Planet` or `body burdens` campaign to raise global awareness of the need for action on the threats posed by hazardous chemicals and wastes.
Police warning over counterfeit pesticides (23 February, farmersguardian.com) Police have issued a warning to farmers to be on the alert for counterfeit pesticides after it was revealed potentially dangerous fakes were being imported into Europe.
Sign up by March 5 for free pesticide disposal near Quincy and Mattawa (23, February, agr.wa.gov) Pesticide disposal events planned for early April.
FAO urges pesticides reduction in growing plants (22 February, bernama.com) The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Monday urged countries to reduce pesticides in growing plants at an environment meeting in Indonesia's Bali province, China's Xinhua news agency reports.
Food Security
Inflation to rise sharply in Tanzania due to fall in crop production (22 February, theeastafrican.co.ke) Tanzania forecasts low food production - far from previous projection — following crop destruction by heavy rains in 18 regions early this year.
Smallholder farmers hold the key to global food security (22 February, businessdailyafrica.com) While a lot of money is being pumped into agriculture in a bid to boost production and alleviate hunger in the world, these efforts are unlikely to succeed without focusing on mixed smallholder farmers, a new study has warned.
Bumper harvest highlights need to help Somali farmers help themselves (22 February, freshplaza.com) In war-torn Somalia, daily life is a struggle for the 40 percent of the population who rely on humanitarian aid to survive, but in recent months green shoots have started to emerge.
Where will the next food crisis strike and how to face it? (21 February, eurekalert.org) The European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the American Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) are working to innovate and reinforce their food security monitoring systems and to develop more efficient early warning tools.
Environmental Security
European experts recommendation for bioenergy crops environmental sustainability (24 February, teatronaturale.com) The Standing Committee of the Bern Convention (the Council of Europe Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats), worried that the increase of biofuel cropping systems may lead to cultivation escapes of invasive taxa with subsequent negative effect on native biological diversity, adopted advices to reduce impacts, of potentially invasive alien plants being used as biofuel crops, on species biodiversity and natural ecosystems (Recommendation 141, 2009).
Candidate crops for contaminated land biofuels crop considered (23 February, edie.net) A tough grass that thrives on polluted land could be cultivated to put the sites to good use while providing an excellent fuel stock for biomass boiler.
Global meet on environmental hazards begins in Bali (22 February, rttnews.com) A global conference on environment seeking joint action to address chemical and waste management issues began in the Indonesian resort island of Bali Monday.
Pesticide Industry
Study highlights sustainable footprint of chemical companies (23 February, sciencedaily.com) Global chemical companies could release at least one billion Euro in cash flow if they increase their sustainability performance.
Frbiz reports the pesticide industry in 2010 is expected to be steady (22 February, prnewswire.com) Frbiz.com, one of China's leading B2B search platforms, reports that the pesticide industry in 2010 is expected to be relatively steady.
Fungicide-resistant apple scab arrives in Ont. (21 February, grainews.ca) Bayer CropScience is warning Ontario apple growers away from one of its products as a treatment for apple scab now that a resistant strain of the disease has arrived in the province.
Climate Change
Outcry over claim GM crops can fight climate change (25 February, walesonline.co.uk) Claims that GM crops could play a role in helping the UK cope with the impacts of climate change were met with anger by Welsh consumer and environmental groups last night.
Minister's plea on climate change (25 February, thecitizen.co.tz) Farmers in the country are continuing to dig deep into their pockets to buy pesticides to fight crop diseases that are emerging due to climate change, according to Agriculture minister Stephen Wassira.
Global warming could lift farmers out of poverty (24 February, thefirstpost.co.uk) Research suggests climate change could mean higher food prices - and give poor farmers a cash bonanza.
Environment watchdog predicts 'precision farming' using GM crops for UK (24 February, telegraph.co.uk) Genetically modified crops should be considered for Britain as part of plans to tackle climate change, according to the UK's top environment watchdog.
Pesticide Legislation and Regulation
Chinese man indicted in CNMI for illegally importing pesticides (26 February, pacificnewscenter.com) Guam - A Federal Grand Jury in the CNMI has indicted Bo Hu Li on two counts stemming from his alleged importation of undeclared pesticides from the People’s Republic of China.
Supreme court decision tightens pesticide regulation (22 February, hoosieragtoday.com) The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to re-open the case of the National Cotton Council VS the the Environmental Protection Agency.
Pesticide Exposure and Residues
Contaminated cowpeas banned (25 February, shanghaidaily.com)Inspectors take samples of cowpeas on Tuesday at the Zhougudui vegetable and fruit wholesale market in Hefei, Anhui Province.
Why fish are dying in L. Naivasha (25 February, nation.co.ke) Following the death of fish in Lake Naivasha, flower growers under the Kenya Flower Council and the Lake Naivasha Growers Group wish to express their shock and would urge the government to establish the cause of this occurrence.
Key pesticides found in watercourses (24 February, fwi.co.uk) Several different active ingredients have been found above the drinking water standard in watercourses across the country as well as the banned herbicide isoproturon.
Farmers fighting for their health: Taking on chemical companies and transitioning to sustainable agriculture (24 February, huffingtonpost.com) The Ecologist reported recently that three French farmers have successfully sued chemical companies for cancer and Parkinson's disease that resulted from their occupational use of pesticides--an issue as widespread as it is under-reported.
Toxic pesticides rife in Kingdom, NGO reports (23 February, phnompenhpost.com) A new report released by the Pesticide Action Network at a UN Environment Programme forum on the use of toxic chemicals has found that Cambodia and 10 other Asian countries are awash in highly hazardous pesticides.
Researchers say toxic pesticides poisoning Indonesia's farmers (21 February, thejakartaglobe.com) As Indonesia hosts an international meeting on toxic and hazardous chemicals here, a nongovernmental organization said on Sunday that an increase in the country’s pesticide use had resulted in the poisoning of farmers.
Agricultural Policy
Ireland - Looking at the CAP (26 February, meattradenewsdaily.co.uk) The EU needs a better tailored, reformed Common Agricultural Policy, to answer the challenges of food security, growth and jobs in rural areas.
Need to address challenges of agricultural sector through comprehensive and coordinated efforts: Economic Survey 2009-10 (25 February, pib.nic.in) The Economic Surrey 2009-10 has called for addressing the challenges of the agricultural sector through comprehensive and coordinated efforts.
Agriculturist blames woes in the agricultural sector on inconsistent policies (23 February, ghananewsagency.org) The Acting Northern Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr. Steven Yakubu, has observed that the failings of the country's agricultural sector are due to inconsistencies and varied foci of government policies.
IFAD advocates renewed support for smallholder farmers (22 February, businessdayonline.com) International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has been called upon to renew support for rural development.
Green revolution in India wilts as subsidies backfire (22 February, online.wsj.com) In the 1970s, India dramatically increased food production, finally allowing this giant country to feed itself.
Soil Management
Leading the char (24 February, nowtoronto.com) Biochar is black magic, our climate saviour.
China's soil deterioration may become growing food crisis, adviser claims (23 February, guardian.co.uk) The quality of China's overworked, polluted and artificially fertilised soil needs to be protected or the country could struggle to grow enough crops for the 300 million to 400 million people who will move from the countryside to the city over the next 30 years, a senior government adviser warned today.
Cermetek previews wireless soil monitor at world ag expo (23 February, prnewswire.com) Cermetek Microelectronics presented a preview of its AquaMon wireless soil monitoring system at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, California, February 9th through February 11th.
Understanding soils for better results (22 February, farmonline.com.au) Research by the Department of Agriculture and Food has found wheat and lupin growers using no-till can improve yields by optimising phosphorus fertiliser placement under variable seasonal conditions.
Soil and crop management and carbon sequestration (22 February, environmental-expert.com) Research results from management scenarios ranging from those in the South Eastern, Great Plains, and Upper Midwest regions of the US and from Italy are reported in the March-April, 2010 issue of the Soil Science Society America Journal.
Parsa farmers take organic path (21 February, thehimalayantimes.com) Birgunj: Seeing that chemical fertilizer is reducing the fertility of soil, farmers in Parsa district have started resorting to using organic fertilizer for low cost, environmental friendly and healthy farming factors.
Water
Water diverted to arid spring crops (25 February, vnagency.com.vn) The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Electricity of Viet Nam have decided to release more water from reservoirs in the next two days to ensure that there is enough water for the crops in northern Vinh Phuc and Bac Ninh provinces.
Water pumps rushed to El Niño-hit areas (25 February, businessmirror.com.ph ) In an attempt to mitigate the effect of the El Niño phenomenon on the agricultural community, a legislator distributed on Wednesday 125 water pumps to farmers in Ilocos Norte and Laoag City.
Uproar in House over Hadoti water crisis (24 February, timesofindia.indiatimes.com) JAIPUR: The Opposition in the Assembly on Tuesday created uproar over the issue of non-availability of water for irrigation in the Hadoti region of the state.
Indian farmers go bananas for easy irrigation (24 February, freshplaza.com) With seven months of drought each year, Indian farmers are rarely far from disaster. Could the answer be as simple as a piece of plastic tubing?
Modern irrigation system is key to water conservation: Gondal (23 February, dailytimes.com.pk) Islamabad: The government is conscious of the scarcity and decreasing water resources in the country and would implement systems through which water can be conserved.
Using remote sensing to assess crop water productivity (22 February, spie.org) Crop consumptive water use, biophysical parameters, and water productivity values can be mapped to support ‘more crops per drop.’
Soil moisture sensors help researchers to grow strawberries with less water (22 February, farminguk.com) East Malling Research (EMR) is an independent research, development and consultancy organisation that serves the food chain and other sectors of the land-based industry.
GM Crops
Biotech crops are top choice for world's farmers (25 February, medicalnewstoday.com) Because of its contribution to agricultural productivity and sustainable farming, growers around the world continue to choose genetically engineered (GE) crops according to a report released today by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA).
Global GM plantings rise (24 February, farmersguardian.com) Plantings of GM crops rose by seven per cent last year, as farmers around the world continued to turn to technology to boost crop yields.
China may take three years to allow sales of gene-modified corn (24 February, businessweek.com) China, the world’s biggest grain producer, may take at least three years before gene-modified corn can be grown commercially, according to a state scientist who participated in the research.
Organic Crops
Karnataka backs organic farming to reduce fertiliser use (25 February, littleabout.com) The Karnataka government will encourage organic farming to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers in cultivation, Governor H.R. Bhardwaj said Thursday.
Almost 10 percent of Czech agricultural land now given over to organic farming (24 February, radio.cz) Nearly 10 percent of all agricultural land in the Czech Republic is now given over to organic farming, according to new data from the Ministry of Agriculture.
USDA releases first organic production survey results (22 February, hobbyfarms.com) Survey shows organic farmers incur high production expenses but have high sales.
Biofuels and Biopesticides
Fungal fumes clear out crop pests (24 February, sciencedaily.com) A cocktail of compounds emitted by the beneficial fungus Muscodor albus may offer a biologically based way to fumigate certain crops and rid them of destructive pests.
Biofuel crops in forest (24 February, pib.nic.in) The government proposes to use forest land to grow bio-fuel crops if they are indigenous to that area.
A new life for jatropha (24 February forbes.com) A much-hyped biofuel crop gets some professional help.
Biofuels driving hunger and climate change (24 February, goallover.org) ActionAid estimates that 100 million people could be hunger stricken if the UK and the EU stick to their plans in increasing biofuels consumption.
Biofuel breakthrough on non-food crops (23 February, farmersguardian.com) Motorists could soon be running their cars on affordable ethanol produced from wheat straw or woodchips after a biofuel breakthrough.
Biofuel hope seen in salt-water plant seed (23 February, bernama.com) With major national carriers of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries announcing their decision to go for biofuel, spotlight is on a salt-water plant following researchers said that the salt-tolerant plant could be used as a potential feedstock for alternative aviation fuel.
Research, Resources and Knowledge Transfer
Agrochem R&D strangled by red tape (25 February, rsc.org) Launches of new crop protection chemicals are becoming scarcer due to the increasing burden of field trial data required by the regulators and their associated costs.
Africa: Finding the food crops of the future (24 February, irinnews.org) Temperatures seem set to soar to perilously high levels because of climate change.
Cloned gene used to develop aluminum tolerant crops (24 February, truthabouttrade.org) Cornell University researcher Leon Kochian, in collaboration with Brazilian scientists, has cloned a unique sorghum gene that is being used to develop sorghum lines that can withstand toxic levels of aluminum in the soil, a consequence of acidic soils.