Land and water ‘grabbing’ affects 62 countries

As world food and energy demands grow, nations and some corporations increasingly are looking to acquire quality agricultural land for food production. Some nations are gaining land by buying up property — and accompanying water resources — in other, generally less-wealthy countries. Sometimes called “land grabbing,” this practice can put strains on land and water



Canola award of excellence

Staff / The Manitoba Canola Growers Association has awarded honoured Dugald farmer Ken Edie the 2013 Manitoba Canola Growers Award of Excellence. Edie was the first president of the association back in 1970, when the association went by the Manitoba Rapeseed Growers Association. During his farming career, he served the Manitoba canola and agriculture industry

Be on guard against bird flu, FAO warns

rome / reuters / Governments must not allow financial constraints caused by the current global economic crisis to stop them keeping their guard up against avian flu, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Jan. 29. The agency, one of three international bodies that lead the global response to bird flu, warned of a repeat


WHO issues its first guidelines for sodium intake for children

Reuters / The World Health Organization (WHO) has for the first time recommended limits on children’s daily consumption of sodium, which it hoped would help in the global fight against diet-related diseases becoming chronic among all populations. In advice to its 194 member states Jan. 31, the UN agency noted high sodium levels were a

Black carbon a worse pollutant than feared

Reuters / Black carbon, the soot produced by burning fossil fuels and biomass, is a more potent atmospheric pollutant than previously thought, according to a new study. Emitted by diesel engines, brick kilns and wood-fired cookstoves, black carbon is second only to carbon dioxide as the most powerful climate pollutant, according to the study published


Russia may block U.S. and Canadian meat over ractopamine

Russian watchdog says U.S., Canada 
violated import rules but little impact 
is expected on Canada

Reuters / Russia may impose a temporary ban on the import of some U.S. and Canadian beef and pork products as of Feb. 4, amid concerns that they may contain a drug used to make animal muscle more lean. Russia’s Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service said Jan. 23 that both countries were continuing to send