UAE Eyes Farmland Deals In Ukraine

“Already we have received a lot of interest from the UAE to invest in Ukraine’s agriculture sector, and we are offering all kinds of projects such as leasing of 100,000 hectares of land to the creation of animal farms with 3,000 cows.” AUnited Arab Emirates delegation plans to visit Ukraine to look at opportunities to

Minimal U. S. Food, Drink Price Hikes Seen In 2010

The days of big price increases for U. S. food and drinks makers are likely over due to easing ingredient costs and high unemployment levels that weigh on consumer spending, credit rating agency Fitch Ratings said. For food companies, 2010 sales should increase by low single digits, in line with long-term forecasts, Fitch said, noting


Investor Fund Seeks To Buy Farmland

Aprivate sector agriculture fund worth $350 million plans to launch by the end of the year in the Gulf, with an aim to acquire farmland in Eastern Europe and Africa, an executive told Reuters Nov. 11. Gulf countries, mainly reliant on food imports, have increased efforts over the last year to buy or lease land

Canada Biofuels Sector Seeks Bigger Fuel Mandate

Canada’s biofuels industry will ask the government early in 2010 to expand fuel blending mandates and production incentives, even as plants rapidly boost capacity to meet incoming targets, the president of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association said Nov. 12. “We absolutely would be looking at all those instruments as a way of ensuring we build


Food Majors Triple Investment In Ending Hunger

World majors in agriculture and food sectors have tripled their investments in boosting global food security but need to spend more to help eradicate hunger, participants at an international forum said Nov. 12. With the number of hungry people rising to a record 1.02 billion this year, up 100 million from 2008, the United Nations’

U. S. House Cat Catches H1n1

A 13-year-old indoor cat in Iowa is confirmed to have had and recovered from pandemic H1N1 influenza, marking another species crossover for the virus. “Two of the three members of the family that owns the pet had suffered from influenza-like illness before the cat became ill,” veterinarian Dr. Ann Garvey of the Iowa Department of


Ag Products Still On Buy, Sell List

Agricultural commodities will be an attractive investment opportunity in 2010 while gold could suffer a correction after rallies to record highs this year, a hedge fund manager at Federated Investors said Nov. 4. “A basket of agricultural commodities would seem sufficiently attractive as a long-term investment,” Steve Lehman, manager of the $1.48-billion Federated Market Opportunity

U. K. Scientist Seeks Food Security In Climate Deal

Agriculture has a critical role to play in a global agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the British Farm Ministry’s chief scientist said Nov. 2. “The text has to recognize the critical role of agriculture in both mitigation and adaptation,” Robert Watson told Reuters at a food security conference at London-based think-tank Chatham House. Negotiators


Ethiopia Targets Land For Commercial Farms

Ethiopia plans to offer three million hectares of land over the next two years for investors to develop large-scale commercial farms, a government official said Nov. 5. Countries in Asia and the Gulf – such as China, India and Saudi Arabia – have rushed to buy farmland abroad to grow crops for their own people

Indonesia Defends Converting Peatlands To Palm Estates

“Some companies are interested in peatlands and we are working with those who want to safeguard the environment and ensure our country’s prosperity.” PALM PROTESTS: Protesters from Greenpeace, dressed as orangutans, demonstrating outside the Unilever building in London last year. Greenpeace said it wanted to raise awareness of companies who buy palm oil from companies