Looming Phosphorus Shortages Require Change

Farmers have found an ally in a new report from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), which says the responsibility for better phosphorus management cannot be carried by agriculture alone. The report shifts the focus from phosphorus as a noxious nutrient that must be regulated to prevent it from damaging the environment, to phosphorus

Options Abound For Improving Phosphorus Management

“The underlying problem leading to food waste stems in part from consumer behaviours supported by an economic system built to produce more than we need.” Anew report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines several avenues that could be explored to improve phosphorus management: Another case for local food networks: “Cycling phosphorus exported in


Producers Need To Participate In Their Organizations

A National Food Strategy is required to ensure that we have a vibrant contributing agriculture sector in Canada. As the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) celebrates its 75th anniversary, the future of Canadian agriculture is at a crossroads and the future of food in this country is uncharted. Currently, Canada has no comprehensive strategy for

Burger King Pulling Slice From Double Cheeseburger

Burger King Corp. is taking a page from the playbook of McDonald’s Corp. and pulling a slice of cheese from its $1 double cheeseburger. Starting on April 26, the fast-food chain will sell a “BK Dollar Double” with two burgers and one slice of cheese, Burger King said Feb. 18. That’s six days after the


Trees Add Value To Rural Properties

How much is a good shelterbelt worth? A lot, if you consider how much it would cost to have one put in. Blair English, an agroforestry specialist at AAFC Brandon, was once told by a rural homeowner how much a contractor had quoted her on the cost of putting in a row of six-to eight-foot

Eat Local To Sustain Farmers, Conference Told

Lori Stahlbrand is on a 96 per cent mission. It’s estimated only four per cent of the food Canadians consume is grown and sold through local farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture projects and the like. The rest comes from mainstream retailers, mostly supermarkets. As a result, there’s a huge potential market for the local food economy


DuPont Collaborates On Biotech Maize For Africa

DuPont said on Feb. 17 that its agricultural unit had formed an alliance in sub-Saharan Africa to collaborate on development of higher-yielding maize varieties that need less fertilizer. DuPont’s Pioneer Hi-Bred unit will contribute gene technology in work led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and funded with $19.5 million in grants

Fungi-Resistant GM Canola Passes Lab Tests

Atechnique used already against viral diseases has been put to lab-scale tests that show it can help canola plants fight off sclerotinia and other fungi. University of Alberta biochemist Nat Kav and his research team introduced an antibody gene into a plant to see if it would have any effect against sclerotinia stem rot. Canola


Great Home Cooking Inspired Swan Valley Farm Family’s Cookbook

RECIPE SWAP 3,000 copies in print today. Another on the way. It was at an August long weekend reunion that this large Swan Valley-area farm family started talking about creating a cookbook. The Hogg family had a wealth of recipes to share, with a mother who was indisputably the best of the best among home

Food Prices To Remain High

“If we get a climate shock in one of the major producing countries, then we are back to Square 1.” – JACQUES DIOUF Food prices are likely to rise again on resumed demand for agricultural commodities for food and energy and higher input costs due to rising oil prices, the United Nations’ food agency said