Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks as Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Martin Romualdez applaud during his first State of the Nation Address, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, July 25, 2022.  Photo: Aaron Favila/Pool via Reuters

Philippines’ Marcos lays out ambitious policy agenda with farm sector in focus

Manila | Reuters – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Monday outlined ambitious plans for his six-year term in office that focus on fiscal management, infrastructure upgrades and turning the long-neglected farm sector into an engine of growth. The Philippines is beset with numerous challenges, from soaring prices, food shortages, poverty and inequities in education, but Marcos, the

An original proposal by Health Canada to label ground beef as high in saturated fat has been shelved.  Photo: Jeff Haynes/Reuters

Health Canada to slap warning labels on sugary, salty and fatty foods

Ottawa | Reuters – Foods high in sugars, sodium and saturated fat will come with clear warning labels in Canada starting in 2026, the federal government said on Thursday, in an effort to promote healthier eating choices and reduce chronic health risks. “We know that it’s not always easy to make healthy choices,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos told


China hit by rare convergence of rainfall, heat waves and a tornado

China was hit the week of June 12 by a rare convergence of record rainfall, heat waves, and a tornado in the southern mega-city of Guangzhou, displacing millions of people, damaging properties and swamping farmland, with more storms and floods on the way at press time. Southern China is expected to see torrential rain until

France’s InVivo aims to become top world malt producer

Company aims to double size of malt business with help of new investors

Reuters – InVivo aims to become the world’s largest producer of malt within five years, supported by new investors after it completed the acquisition of agribusiness peer Soufflet, its chief executive said Dec. 9. The takeover, which values Soufflet at 2.2 billion euros (US$2.5 billion), will give rise to a group with nearly 10 billion euros in sales from

Corn growers in China are already illegally growing GMO corn, suggesting a robust market awaits seed companies.

China’s Monsanto

Little-known Beijing biotech firm banks on GM corn in race to be China’s market leader

Reuters – As China prepares to open its US$120-billion corn market to genetically modified (GM) seed, little-known Dabeinong Biotechnology hopes to reap the benefits of early biotech investments and a law keeping foreign firms on the sidelines. The long-anticipated commercialization of GM corn in the world’s No. 2 producer is set to significantly boost yields,


Brazil’s BRF sees holiday food sales back to pre-pandemic level

Reuters – Brazilian pork and poultry processor BRF SA expects food sales to return to pre-pandemic levels during the holiday season as consumers and families gather again after almost two years of social distancing. In an interview with Reuters Dec. 1, Sidney Manzaro, who leads the company’s Brazilian operation, said he does not expect the


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U.S., UAE lead $4-bln effort to help farming adapt to climate change

Johannesburg | Reuters – The United States and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday used COP26 climate talks  to launch efforts to channel funding into making agriculture resilient to climate change, as well as to cut its emissions. The farming industry, a major part of the U.S. economy, is already battling the effects of climate change, including


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Bunge raises 2021 profit outlook on higher food, renewable fuel demand

Bunge Ltd reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter results and raised its full-year profit outlook on Wednesday for a third time this year amid improved demand for food and renewable fuel as pandemic restrictions have eased. Although volumes in the U.S. agricultural commodities trader’s core agribusiness and its refined and specialty oils units were down, robust oilseed processing

Kazakhstan sees 2021 grain crop down due to drought

Kazakhstan expects its 2021 grain crop to fall by 24 per cent to 15.3 million tonnes after drought hit main producing regions of the Central Asian nation, acting Agriculture Minister Yerbol Karashokeyev told a government meeting Aug. 17. Kazakhstan, the top grain producer in Central Asia, has been hit by dry and hot weather in