European farmers will not have to struggle to sell their wheat this season, despite a flood of cheap Russian exports onto world markets as the EU benefits from ample internal demand and from its established African buyers. Although it is very unlikely to repeat the hefty sales numbers from last season when it benefited from
EU Wheat Can Hold Its Own Against Russian Export Flood
“Cattle plague” rinderpest now wiped out: OIE
A global effort has eradicated the cattle disease rinderpest, which caused the starvation of millions of people, making it the second disease after smallpox to be wiped out by humankind, says the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Rinderpest, known before the Roman era and also called “cattle plague,” did not affect humans directly but
Russia Could Prolong Full Grain Export Ban
Russia’s embargo on grain exports is due to expire on July 1, but traders on international markets think Moscow will likely play it safe and wait until end-September for a full lifting of the ban. However, if crops develop well it may release some wheat in July to relieve hefty stocks in its south. Any
Information And Transparency Key To Market Stability
France’s presidency of the Group of 20 nations should focus on promoting transparency on agricultural data worldwide, and not so much regulation, speakers said at the Reuters Global Food and Agriculture Summit. France has blamed financial speculation in commodity markets for the surge in prices for food staples, and has called a meeting of G20
France Takes On Germany In Global Gastronomy Battle
France unveiled a global campaign Feb. 16 to reconquer the world’s dinner plates and regain its standing as the gastronomic yardstick four years after Germany overtook it as Europe’s top food exporter. Germany, known more as an industrial powerhouse, pushed ahead of France in the European Union’s 2007 food export ranking, as tough competition in
Banks seen curbing grain loans after collateral crops vanish
(Reuters) — Small and medium-sized grain trading houses will have a tougher time getting loans after lenders were caught by the disappearance of grains in Russia said to have cost Swiss banks over US$100 million. Financial institutions will demand more guarantees from companies before getting credit — even when they are not trading with Russia
Grains Increasing Shipping Volatility
Grains trades have increased volatility in the global dry bulk shipping market and will start to support freight rates from 2012, ship broker Howe Robinson’s joint chairman said Nov. 19. Deliveries of new bulkers ordered before global turmoil in 2008 have been weighing on the freight market even as a record-large U.S. soybean crop and
INRA Halts Research On Developing New GMO Varieties
Europe’s top farm researcher has abandoned work on developing new genetically modified crops (GMOs) due to widespread distrust and even hostility by European consumers. “We have no research on GMO innovation anymore, none,” Marion Guillou, president of the National Institute for Agronomical Research (INRA), told Reuters in an interview. INRA, which has more than 1,800
French Firms Pull The Plug On Palm Oil
French firms have stepped up restrictions on the use of palm oil, decried for being linked to deforestation in Asia, in a move that may boost demand for local oils. But some warned it could raise new food and land problems. The debate about palm oil’s impact on the environment has intensified after green groups
Thousands Of French Farmers Stage EU Aid Protest
Thousands of farmers from France’s largest grain-growing regions took to the streets of Paris March 25 to protest against government plans to change the way EU farm aid is allocated. The police said 4,000 people were taking part in the protest while organizers put the number at between 5,000 and 8,000 participants. The farmers, largely
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