France to seek September grain talks if crisis looms

paris / reuters France will convene in the first half of September a rapid reaction forum of G20 countries if upcoming data on grain markets points to serious tensions following drought in the United States and Russia, a Farm Ministry official said July 30. The French government announced July 28 it was ready to call

Higher Prices Return To Sales Ring

CO-OPERATOR CONTRIBUTOR There was approxi- mately 550 sheep and goats delivered to the Winnipeg Livestock Auction Nov. 3. It was a full day of bidding that brought smiles to producers. The auctioneer commented on the good quality of animals entering the arena. The selection of ewes was good with no one breed dominating the classification.


France Kicks Off Wheat Research Group

Wheat researchers gathered in Paris Sept. 15 to launch a global research program in what G20 president France says will support efforts to feed a growing world population. France hopes the initiative will select priority research areas by next year, but support for the initiative is uncertain, with only 10 countries signed up so far

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


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

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


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

In Brief… – for Mar. 17, 2011

Terminal deal:Richardson International Limited said March 10 it has agreed to buy the North East Terminal grain-handling facility in Wadena, Saskatchewan. The $25-million deal, which also includes crop input facilities at Wadena, Kelvington, Foam Lake and Ponass Lake, Saskatchewan, is expected to close on April 13. The sale hinges on approval by North East shareholders,


Food Price Rises Bring Risk Of New Riots

France’s agriculture minister warned the United Nations Feb. 18 that food riots like those of three years ago could break out around the world because of steep rises in food prices. Bruno Le Maire was addressing the General Assembly after the UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported earlier this month that its food price index

Africa, Caribbean Urged To Brace For Food Price Shocks

The World Bank and International Monetary Fund are warning poor regions that have so far not been hit by rising food prices, like sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean, to get ready to face them. Food price volatility is here to stay, the World Bank cautioned, amid growing worries there could be another full-blown food crisis