My Budget Plan: Annex Canada

Sure, Rep. Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, has a 10-year plan to take this country back from the poor, the uninsured, the elderly, the hungry and all the unemployed who threaten to make America a warmer Iceland. But, I ask, does Mr. Ryan’s plan go far enough in reining in this

South Korea Likely To Lift Canadian Beef Import Ban

South Korea is likely to lift an eight-year ban on Canadian beef imports by the end of June and plans sweeping changes in its grain-growing and import policies in the face of rising global food prices, the country’s farm minister said April 14. Rising global food prices have prompted the country to eye participation in


How-To Workshops Were Popular Last Year

The Assiniboine Regional Health Authority (ARHA) is offering workshops again this spring to help more people learn gardening basics. This is a second year the health authority is hosting the spring workshops at health centres across Westman, bringing in speakers to talk about starting and tending a backyard garden. A series of garden workshops last



World Needs Modern Agricultural Technology

CropLife International executive director Denise Dewar promotes pesticides and genetically modified crops from her Washington, D.C. office, but as a young, idealistic student, she dreamed of saving the world from pesticides. “At that time I was being influenced by the environmentalists’ very negative anti-pesticides environment,” she told the Canada Grains Council’s annual meeting in Winnipeg

Bangladesh Adopts Food Security Plan

Bangladesh has adopted a nearly $8-billion plan to ensure food security over the next five years, Food and Disaster Management Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said April 2. “We have finalized the investment plan for our food security until 2015 and have full support from our development partners to implement it,” he told Reuters. The government


FAO Sees Food Price Rebound

Global food prices are expected to rebound in the next few weeks after coming off record highs in March as demand keeps growing against tight supplies, a top official at the United Nations’ food agency said on April 7. “We believe that in the next few weeks, and there are already signs of it, prices

Cancer Cause Or Crop Aid? Glyphosate Faces Big Test

Critics say it’s a chemical that could cause infertility or cancer, while others see it speeding the growth of super weeds and causing worrying changes to plants and soil. Backers say it is safe and has made a big contribution to food production. It’s glyphosate, the key – but controversial – ingredient in Roundup herbicide


Brazil Turns And Backs French Commodity Proposal

Brazil has come around to back France’s proposal for increased regulation of commodity markets which have bumped food prices to record highs this year, the agricultural giant’s farm minister said April 7. France is seeking the support of the G20 group of wealthy and developing economies for a series of reforms intended to help stabilize

Healthy Food Initiative Receives Additional Funds

The province is championing healthy eating among children in the North by partnering with communities and schools with an initial investment of $75,000 as part of its childhood obesity strategy, Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors Minister Jim Rondeau and Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson announced April 11. “Ensuring access to affordable healthy foods