The International Potato Center (CIP) recently launched a series of experiments to discover if potatoes can grow under Mars atmospheric conditions. CIP’s proof of concept experiment to grow potatoes in simulated Martian conditions began on Feb. 14, 2016 when a tuber was planted in a specially constructed contained environment built by engineers from University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC) in Lima, Peru, based upon designs and advice provided by NASA.

So far researchers say the results have been both positive and helpful to address some issues back here on Earth. In particular they say it could help grapple with the thorny question of how to produce enough food in a changing environment.

“Growing crops under Mars-like conditions is an important phase of this experiment,” says Julio Valdivia-Silva, a research associate working on the project. “If the crops can tolerate the extreme conditions that we are exposing them to, they have a good chance to grow on Mars.”

The sealed environment houses a container holding soil and the tuber. Inside this hermetically sealed environment the CubeSat delivers nutrient-rich water, controls the temperature for Mars day and night conditions and mimics Mars air pressure, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. Sensors constantly monitor these conditions and live-streaming cameras record the soil in anticipation of the potato sprouting.

Potatoes were chosen for their genetic capacity to adapt to harsh environments.

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Virginia-based Mars on Monday announced a US$9.1 billion, US$93 per share deal for all outstanding shares of VCA Inc., whose assets cover almost 800 animal hospitals with 60 diagnostic labs across North America.

Those assets include Calgary-based AVC, which today operates as the Canadian unit of VCA with over 80 veterinary hospitals and clinics, employing over 2,000 people including 350 veterinarians.

AVC today operates sites in and around Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria, Saskatoon, Nanaimo and Lake Country, B.C., and across southern and eastern Ontario, treating companion and exotic animals.

VCA, headquartered in Los Angeles, first took a minority stake in AVC in 2008 and bought control of the business in 2012, for a total combined investment of C$77 million.

AVC, on its website, promotes itself as an option for veterinary clinic owner-operators seeking a succession or exit strategy, “whether you are looking to stay with the hospital full time, reduce your time, or step away completely.”

Mars, whose Mars Petcare business is headquartered in Brussels and includes the Pedigree, Iams, Whiskas and Royal Canin pet food brands, is also already a player in veterinary services, with assets including the Banfield, Bluepearl and Pet Partners animal hospital chains.

Once the deal closes, which is expected to happen in the third quarter of 2017, VCA would become a “distinct and separate business unit within Mars Petcare,” parallel to Banfield and Mars’ other veterinary units, the company said.

The deal also still requires approval from VCA shareholders and the “customary regulatory approvals,” Mars said, noting it already has “committed financing” in place for the purchase.

While holding a significant share of the global pet care market, Mars is arguably better known worldwide as the owner of Mars Chocolate, which produces the M+Ms, Twix, Snickers and Mars candy brands; Mars Food, owner of the Uncle Ben’s brand; and chewing gum and hard candy maker Wrigley, whose brands include Skittles, Life Savers and Altoids.

In October, Mars announced plans to combine the Wrigley and Mars Chocolate arms into one division, Mars Wrigley Confectionery, to be phased in later this year.

The move follows Mars having “accelerated” its purchase of investment firm Berkshire Hathaway’s minority stake in Wrigley. — AGCanada.com Network

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Mars plans to combine Wrigley with its chocolate business, putting M+Ms, Snickers, Skittles, Lifesavers, Starburst fruit chews, Doublemint and Extra gum and Altoids mints under one roof.

In 2008, Berkshire invested in Wrigley when it acquired $2.1 billion of preferred stock and $4.4 billion of bonds in connection with privately held Mars’ $23 billion purchase of the chewing gum maker (all figures US$).

The bonds were repurchased in 2013, and Berkshire expected Mars to redeem half of the preferred stock, which carries a five per cent dividend, by early January. Mars will instead redeem all of it. Terms were not disclosed.

“I have enjoyed all of Berkshire’s experiences with the Mars family and management and wish them the very best,” Buffett said in a statement. “Both Mars and Berkshire have profited from our investment and that’s the way it should be.”

The global confectionery business, worth $183 billion last year according to Euromonitor International, has struggled as more consumers move toward healthier foods, prompting some retailers to reduce shelf space for processed and sugary snacks.

“We are grateful for the strong and productive partnership we have with Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway,” Mars CEO Grant Reid said in a statement. “Sole ownership of Wrigley provides us with an opportunity to rethink how we simplify our chocolate and Wrigley businesses.”

Mars, the world’s largest candy maker ahead of rivals such as Mondelez International and Hershey Co., expects to combine its chocolate and Wrigley businesses during 2017 into Mars Wrigley Confectionery, with about 30,000 employees.

The combined business will be based in Chicago, Wrigley’s longtime home, and led by Martin Radvan, Wrigley’s president and a 30-year veteran of Mars. Mars is based in McLean, Virginia.

In Canada, Mars operates three manufacturing plants in southern Ontario in segments including packaged foods, pet foods and confectionery. Wrigley announced last year it would shut down its lone Canadian plant, a gum facility in Toronto, this spring.

Known for his taste in less-than-healthy food, Buffett has made Berkshire the largest shareholder of Coca-Cola, and helped Brazil’s 3G Capital take over Kraft Heinz and Restaurant Brands International Inc., which owns Burger King and Tim Hortons. Berkshire also owns See’s Candies.

But unwinding the Mars stake will deprive Berkshire of a $105 million annual income stream from the preferred stock.

The investment was one of several that Buffett’s Omaha-based conglomerate made during and soon after the financial crisis in brand name companies seeking to shore up their finances, and win the billionaire’s imprimatur.

From 2008 to 2011, Berkshire invested well over $20 billion in high-yielding securities from Bank of America, Dow Chemical, General Electric, Goldman Sachs Group, Swiss Re and Wrigley.

But many have been repurchased, forcing Buffett to find other ways to invest Berkshire’s $72.7 billion of cash.

He lost $720 million of annual income in June when Kraft Heinz, in which Berkshire still owns a 26.8 per cent stake, redeemed preferred stock. The Wrigley notes had thrown off an 11.45 per cent coupon.

— Reporting for Reuters by Jonathan Stempel and Chris Prentice in New York and Gayathree Ganesan in Bangalore.

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ConAgra and other food companies such as Campbell Soup and General Mills have decided to use such labels nationwide, finding it to be the easiest way to comply with a Vermont law.

In 2014, Vermont became the first U.S. state to pass a law requiring food companies to label GMOs on their products. The legislation will come into effect in July.

ConAgra said while it believed consumers should be informed as to what is in their food, addressing labeling requirements separately, just for the state of Vermont would be a costly affair.

“With a multitude of other states currently considering different GMO labeling requirements, the need for a national, uniform approach in this area is as critical as ever. That’s why we continue to urge Congress to pass a national solution as quickly as possible,” the company said in a statement.

Paul Norman, president for Kellogg North America, said this week on the company’s website that the breakfast-cereal giant will begin labelling “some” of its products nationwide for presence of GMOs, starting in mid- to late April.

Snack and pet food maker Mars, Inc. also said this week it is introducing “clear, on-pack labeling on our products that contain GM ingredients nationwide,” with the Vermont legislation in mind.

The U.S. Senate, last week, blocked a bill that would nullify state and local efforts requiring food makers to label products made with genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, as the industry races to stop the Vermont law from taking effect July 1.

— Reporting for Reuters by Amrutha Penumudi in Bangalore. Includes files from AGCanada.com Network staff.

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Yields will stay below levels seen in 2014, when the EU posted record production in several crops, but exceed the average of the past five years, the MARS service said in a monthly report.

For soft wheat, the EU’s most-produced cereal, MARS increased its yield projection to 5.89 tonnes per hectare from 5.79 t/ha estimated last month. This was down three per cent on last year’s yield but 3.7 per cent above the five-year average.

MARS does not issue area or production estimates.

“In most regions, the weather conditions have been favourable for winter crop growth and spring sowings,” it said.

“Soil moisture contents are still satisfactory in the regions with rain deficits, but more rain would be welcome now, especially in Portugal.”

A dry, warm spell in Western Europe this month has raised some concern about crop stress, although analysts say weekend showers and more rain expected this week could relieve plants.

Dry northern Portugal and damp parts of southeast Europe continued to be monitored as risk zones, MARS said.

In other crops, MARS raised its outlook for this year’s all-barley yield to 4.71 t/ha from 4.63 t/ha last month.

This was down 3.6 per cent compared with 2014 but 2.5 per cent above the five-year mean.

Most of the upgrade was due to winter barley, for which the yield was raised to 5.57 t/ha from 5.44 t/h. The spring barley forecast was almost unchanged at 5.09 t/ha against 5.08 t/ha.

MARS also increased slightly its yield projection for grain maize — sowing of which is still in progress — to 7.22 t/ha from 7.19 t/ha last month. This compared with last year’s 7.93 t/ha and a five-year average of seven t/ha.

In oilseeds, MARS raised its outlook for the EU’s rapeseed yield to 3.35 t/ha from 3.24 last month. This was down 6.4 per cent on 2014 but 6.9 per cent above the five-year average.

At country level, most EU members were also expected to see a similar trend of crop yields falling from last year but surpassing the five-year average, with the notable exception of Spain, which was projected to see broad rebound from last year.

— Reporting for Reuters by Gus Trompiz and Valerie Parent.

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