Basel, Switzerland-based drugmaker Novartis plans sell its animal health arm to Eli Lilly for about US$5.4 billion. (Novartis.com)

Lilly eyes emerging markets in Novartis animal health deal

Paris | Reuters — The purchase of Novartis’ animal health business will strengthen Eli Lilly’s hand in emerging markets, tapping into growing demand there for protein-rich diets and household treatments for pets, a senior executive at the U.S. group said. As part of a multi-billion dollar revamp announced earlier on Tuesday, Swiss drugmaker Novartis said






French farmers protest rules limiting nitrate pollution

French farmers are protesting what they see as burdensome environmental regulations linked to European Union targets on water quality. Environmental rules have become a major grievance in recent years for French farmers, who blame such measures for eroding their competitiveness. Last month’s protests, including a pre-dawn street blockade near the Farm Ministry in Paris, were

Brazil threatens WTO action over BSE restrictions

The world’s top beef exporter, Brazil, will give countries that curbed imports of its beef after a case of BSE until March to drop the measures, or it will file a complaint at the World Trade Organization, farm ministry officials said. Five countries have implemented full or partial bans on Brazilian beef imports since confirmation


You ain’t seen nothing yet — analyst predicts $9 corn is on its way

AgResource says stocks are perilously tight 
and if more weather woes hit, 
“we don’t know how high is high”

Reuters – U.S. corn prices could rise to a record $9 a bushel in the next six months as global grain markets continue to feel the effects of severe weather disruptions, says Chicago-based consultancy AgResource Co. The worst drought in half a century in the U.S., the world’s biggest corn grower and exporter, triggered a



World powers weigh emergency meeting on food prices

Leaders want to avoid grain export embargoes that factored 
into global shortages and political instability in 2008.

Leading members of the Group of 20 nations are prepared to trigger an emergency meeting to tackle soaring grain prices caused by the worst U.S. drought in half a century and poor crops from the Black Sea bread basket. France, the United States and G20 president Mexico will hold a conference call at the end