In Brief… – for Jul. 21, 2011

Construction underway: Legumex Walker Inc. is starting construction of its 10th production facility, a canola oilseed-processing plant in Warden, Washington. The new facility, the company’s first in the United States, will produce expeller-pressed canola oil and high-quality canola meal. The plant will be the first commercial-scale canola-crushing operation west of the Rockies and is well

It’s The Economy, Stupid

Canada’s ruling prime minister, Stephen Harper, seems to have persuaded voters that, as an “economist,” he is fit to rule the country, since there is nothing more important than “the economy.” But just what is it that he is talking about? An economy is how we organize our material affairs, from the household to the


Rosann Wowchuk Not Seeking Re-Election

How does a 4-H mom and farm wife wind up as a deputy premier and finance minister – one of the most powerful portfolios in politics? It’s quite simple really: work tirelessly and file your nomination papers on time. After 21 years in provincial politics, NDP Deputy Premier Rosann Wowchuk has announced she won’t seek

U.S. Must Lead Fight Against Hunger — Bill Gates

Billionaire Bill Gates knows how to end the poverty and hunger that afflicts nearly one billion people worldwide – help them grow more food. At a food security conference May 24, Gates called for U.S. leadership in a global campaign to expand food production. Agriculture ministers of the Group of 20 major developing and emerging


Emerging Fast-Food Nation Indonesia Props Up Wheat Market

Indonesia will be crowned top Asian wheat importer this year, as higher incomes turn Southeast Asia’s largest economy into a fast-food nation and help to keep global prices on the boil. As affluent Indonesians turn away from rice, their country is vying with Japan to be Asia’s leading wheat buyer, while the latter battles economic

More Questions For Reena – for Jul. 21, 2011

Dear Reena, Is there any way I can reduce the scratch marks on my glass dining room tabletop? They are in the middle, and can be covered with a vase or placemat, but it would be much better to eliminate them all together. Thanks for any hints you may have. – Heather Heather, Typically scratches


Global Food Inflation To Return After Brief Respite

Red-hot food inflation that has vexed policy-makers around the world seemed to take a breather last month, when corn and wheat prices tumbled on reports that crop shortages were easing. The sell-off was also driven by global economic worries that prompted funds to exit grains in droves. But prices are climbing again, and have already

Think-Tank Creates Food Price-Volatility Detector

Anew statistical tool will help world leaders identify when food prices become dangerously volatile and help hunger fighters decide when to release food reserves to feed the poor, said a think-tank July 7. The tool developed by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) could answer two goals of agriculture ministers from the Group of


Cfia Gets New President

George Da Pont, a seasoned federal bureaucrat, has been named president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. He replaces Carol Swan who has retired. Da Pont became executive vice-president of the agency a year ago with the expectation that he would move into the top job eventually. With CFIA under repeated attack by its main

Subsidies, New Methods Lift Zambian Farm Yields

Peasant farmer Joseph Mhlanga proudly points to the pile of maize or corncobs in his modest house: a good crop for him that is part of Zambia’s bumper harvest this year. “This is my maize from this year. I plan to start shelling it soon,” said Mhlanga, a spry 76-year-old retired schoolteacher who farms a