Rio de Janeiro | Reuters – Brazilian police arrested one of the controlling shareholders of meatpacker JBS SA on Friday in connection with an ongoing police inquiry into illegal campaign contributions while a local news outlet reported two former agriculture ministers were also arrested. A member of JBS’ controlling family Joesley Batista is expected only to
JBS shareholder Batista arrested in food sector corruption investigation
Russia to resume beef, pork imports from Brazil
Moscow/Sao Paulo | Reuters – Russia’s agriculture safety watchdog said on Wednesday it would allow imports of beef and pork from nine Brazilian plants beginning on Thursday, ending an 11-month ban triggered by concerns about the safety of their meat products. Russia’s Rosselkhoznadzor had placed temporary restrictions on imports of pork and beef products from
Hog industry worldwide getting slaughtered in trade war
Beijing/Chicago/Carambei | Reuters – Ken Maschhoff, chairman of the largest U.S. family-owned pork producer, has watched profits fall as trade tensions rise between the United States and China. His company, The Machhoffs, has halted U.S. projects worth up to $30 million and may move some operations overseas. Investing in domestic operations now would be “ludicrous”
Brazil judge orders Monsanto to deposit royalties related to GMO seed
Sao Paulo | Reuters — A Brazilian judge has ordered local units of Monsanto to put royalties related to a GMO soy seed technology in an escrow account, in a decision likely to hinder the U.S. seed company’s ability to collect royalties from the business. The July 3 ruling relates to a patent dispute between
Chickens culled as Brazil truckers disrupt commodity exports
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Striking truckers in Brazil have disrupted supply and exports of farm produce from one of the world’s agricultural commodity powerhouses. Brazil is the top global exporter of soybeans, sugar, coffee and chickens. The strike over high fuel prices has paralyzed Latin America’s largest economy, emptied Brazilian roadways and left major
Marfrig to buy control of U.S.-based National Beef
Sao Paulo | Reuters –– Brazil’s Marfrig Global Foods said Monday it would buy control of Kansas City-based National Beef Packing for US$969 million, in a deal that would make it the world’s No. 2 beef processor. Marfrig also said it was seeking to sell an existing U.S. unit, Keystone Food. The proceeds will be
JBS still keen on U.S. IPO despite scandals
Sao Paulo | Reuters — JBS SA, the world’s largest meatpacking firm, remains intent on a stock market listing of subsidiary JBS Foods International in the U.S. despite corruption and food safety scandals, executives said on Thursday. In April all of JBS operations will meet U.S. auditing and compliance requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, JBS
Corn as cash: Brazil’s bartering farmers raise risks for Canada’s Nutrien
Lack of credit makes for an interesting and unfamiliar business environment in this Latin American powerhouse
Taking a page from its aggressive growth strategy in the United States, cash-rich Canadian fertilizer giant Nutrien plans to plow investment into Brazil in a bid to reap up to 30 per cent of farm supply sales in fertile pockets of the country. But business in Brazil’s farm sector — the world’s fastest growing —
Heavy rains not seen slowing Brazilian winter corn
There might be a small acreage drop, but the country is expected to continue to be a leading exporter
Reuters – Forecasts of heavy rainfall during Brazil’s soy-harvesting season are unlikely to discourage farmers from planting winter corn, according to Agroconsult, as it kicked off an annual crop tour Jan. 16 in the top grain-producing state of Mato Grosso. Once an afterthought, winter or second corn is planted after soybeans are harvested in states
Brazil pushes back decision on Bayer-Monsanto tie-up
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazilian antitrust agency Cade on Wednesday extended its deadline to review Bayer’s proposed takeover of Monsanto by 90 days to late March, potentially spoiling plans to wrap up the US$66 billion tie-up by the end of the year. A spokesman said Cade had approved the extension at a session on
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