Basmati
GI tagging: Chouhan slams Punjab CM over letter to PM
06 AUGUST 2020 Last Updated at 4:34 PM
| SOURCE: PTI
Bhopal, Aug 6 (PTI) Madhya
Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday criticised his Punjab
counterpart Amarinder Singh over his letter urging the Centre not to allow GI
tagging of basmati rice to MP.
Taking to Twitter, Chouhan alleged that the
Punjab CM''s letter was "politically motivated".
Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, urging him not to allow geographical indication (GI) tagging of
basmati to Madhya Pradesh in the larger interest of Punjab and other states
that already have GI tag for basmati.
In his tweet in Hindi, Chouhan said, "I
strongly condemn the letter written by the Punjab Chief Minister to @PMOIndia
regarding allotment of GI tagging. It is politically motivated."
"This is not an issue of Punjab or Madhya
Pradesh, it''s a subject pertaining to the whole country''s farmers and their
livelihoods," he said.
Apart from Punjab, other states that already
have GI tagging for basmati are Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi,
western UP, and select districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Madhya Pradesh has
sought inclusion of its 13 districts for GI tagging for basmati.
However, the Punjab CM has urged the PM to
direct the concerned authorities not to disturb the status quo in this matter,
saying that is was essential for safeguarding the interests of farmers and
basmati exporters of India.
He also contended that any dilution of
registration might help Pakistan, which also produces basmati as per GI tagging
in the international market.
Countering his argument, Chouhan said,
"The case of APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority) with Pakistan has no relationship with Madhya Pradesh''s
claim as it is under the GI Act of India. It is not connected to inter-country
claims of basmati rice."
He asserted that GI tagging was a matter of
pride for farmers and recognition of their years of toils.
"The matter should not be turned into a
Punjab vs Madhya Pradesh tussle. GI tagging will provide stability to basmati
prices in international markets and bolster our exports," the MP CM said.
The Punjab chief minister has alleged that
MP''s move infringes the GI tagging procedure and laws.
However, Chouhan said, "Madhya Pradesh has
a written recorded history since 1908 of basmati production in 13 districts.
Records of supplying seeds to farmers in MP in the year 1944 was recorded in
the records of Scindia State."
He said that the Indian Institute of Rice
Research, Hyderabad, had recorded production of basmati rice in their
Production Oriented Survey Report for the last 25 years.
"Basmati exporters of Punjab and Haryana
are procuring basmati rice from MP. This is also supported by Government of
India data of export from the Mandideep (industrial area), Madhya
Pradesh," he added.
In June, Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister
Kamal Patel had said that the state government would move the apex court to
challenge a Madras High Court''s ruling in the matter of not providing the tag
to MP''s basmati-growing regions.
The MP government and a basmati growers''
association had lost two separate cases in the court filed in 2016 to challenge
the exclusion of the districts from a map submitted by the APEDA for the tags.
Patel said they condemn Punjab CM''s move.
MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra said the
Congress is anti-farmer and that is why Punjab was opposing Madhya Pradesh''s
claim. PTI LAL MAS NP NP
Pakistan's exports rebound
after four months of decline
05 AUG 2020
NEWS
DAWN
Published 05 Aug,2020 via Dawn ISLAMABAD -
Pakistan’s exports bounced back in July following a steep fall for four
consecutive months since March when the government imposed lockdowns to contain
the spread of coronavirus.
The new fiscal year started with a positive
note as export proceeds grew 5.8 per cent to $1.998 billion in July, from
$1.889bn in the corresponding month of last year, data released by the Ministry
of Commerce (MoC) showed on Tuesday.
In rupee terms, the export proceeds jumped
11.3pc year-on-year in July.
Visible improvement was observed in export
orders from international buyers, mainly in the textile and clothing sectors
since May. The decline had widened in April with a plunge of 54pc, which
relatively improved but still came in at 35pc contraction in May and 6pc in
June.
In FY20, exports fell by 6.83pc or $1.57bn to
$21.4bn, compared to $22.97bn the previous year.
Imports fall 4.2pc in first month of FY21
The continuous decline in imports is also
providing some breathing space for the government to manage external account
despite a downward trend in exports the last four months.
In July, the import bill decreased by 4.2pc to
$3.54bn, as against $3.696bn over the corresponding month of last year.
During 2019-20, the import bill witnessed a
steep decline of $10.29bn or 18.78pc to $44.509bn compared to $54.799bn last
year.
The country’s trade deficit also came dipped by
14.7pc in July from a year ago, mainly due to a fall in imports and paltry
growth in export proceeds. However, imports are also expected to bounce back in
the coming months following abolishing of regulatory duty on imports of raw
materials and semi-finished products.
In absolute terms, the trade gap narrowed to
$1.542bn in July, as compared to $1.808bn over the corresponding month of last
year. During FY20, it narrowed to $23.099bn, from $31.820bn.
Data breakdown shows that export of 10 products
posted impressive growth during the month under review: worn clothing and
clothing accessories surged by 2,078pc, followed by food preparation 344pc,
made-up clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 313pc, tarpaulins, awnings
and sunblinds 154pc, tracksuits 135pc, gloves, mittens and mitts 83pc.
Similarly, export of fish and fish products
soared by 50pc, jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles
44pc, women’s garments 34pc, leather apparel 28pc, made-up articles of textile
materials 27pc, home textiles 24pc, copper and articles thereof 19pc, and men’s
garments 10pc.
The export proceeds of some important products
posted a decline during the month under review including wheat, wheat flour,
cotton, synthetic filament yarn, raw leather, ethyl alcohol, cotton yarn,
plastic products, tanning, dyeing extracts, rice and cement.
Meanwhile, top 10 importing products which
increased in July were: soya beans up by 616pc, petroleum coke 192pc, palm oil
190pc, rubber 36pc, fruits and vegetables 24pc, pharmaceuticals products 17pc,
inorganic chemicals 14pc, iron and steel 12pc, tea 11pc, plastic products 8pc,
electrical and electronic equipment 5pc.
On the other hand, items that saw a decline in
imports included rape seeds, cotton yarn, motor cars, footwear, parts and
accessories for tractors, petroleum gas, petroleum oils, coal, machinery,
fertilizers, organic chemicals, petroleum oils excluding crude and paper and
paperboard.
Commerce Adviser Abdul Razak Dawood underlined
that the MoC will be evaluating its geographical diversification in order to
realign the focus towards new opportunities. He also advised the ministry
officers to extend all kind of necessary support to exporters in order to
achieve the targets, not only in terms of numbers but also with regards to
intended policy outcomes.
Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2020
Copyright © Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.)
Ltd. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
https://www.salaamgateway.com/story/pakistans-exports-rebound-after-four-months-of-decline
Trade Center Being Planned To
Enhance Pakistani Exports To Georgia; Shehbaz Khan
A
Georgia-based Pakistani is contemplating to set up a trade center in order to
enhance Pakistani exports to Georgia and its neighbouring countries in addition
to strengthen trade relations between business communities of two countries
FAISALABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point
News - 6th Aug, 2020 ) :A Georgia-based Pakistani is
contemplating to set up a trade center in order to enhance Pakistani exports to Georgia and its
neighbouring countries in addition to strengthen trade relations between business communities
of two countries.
These views were expressed by Colonel (R)
Shahbaz Khan during his meeting with Rana Muhammad Sikandar Azam Khan
President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI).
He explained his attachment with Pakistan Army and told
that he had an opportunity to serve the UN forces. During this period he remained posted
at Congo and after his retirement, he settled
in Georgia. He said that there is no Pakistani embassy
and hence there is a wide gap between trade potential and actual bilateral
trade. He said that he has a property in Georgia in
which a trade center could be established to facilitate Pakistani exporters.
Colonel (R) Shahbaz Khan also spelled out his plan to provide space for display
of Pakistani products in addition to allocating part
of this premises as warehouse and a residential block for the Pakistani visitors.
Regarding the import of Georgia, he said
that Pakistan could export rice, hospital linen, bed
sheets and towels etc. He requested President FCCI to give his input regarding
this plan so that he could materialize it. Rana Sikandar Azam Khan FCCI
President appreciated the patriotism of Colonel (R.) Shahbaz and said that
after defending the geographical boundaries, now he is committed to serve Pakistan in the
field of economy. He appreciated the proposal of establishing a trade center in
his personal property and assured his full support to make this project
successful. He said that he could arrangea trade delegation for Georgia so that
our members could personally explore the potential of Georgian market.
During
this meeting Dr. Sajjad Arshad, Ayub Aslam Manj and Rana Ikramullah were also
present.
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/trade-center-being-planned-to-enhance-pakista-994428.html
External account position remains stable in FY2020
APP
ISLAMABAD -Despite challenging global
environment, the country’s external account position remained stable during the
fiscal year 2020. The current account deficit continued to narrow, even though
both exports and imports have fallen sharply since the coronavirus outbreak,
official document revealed. During FY2020, current account deficit was reduced
by 77.9 per cent to $ 2.9 billion (1.1 per cent of GDP) against $ 13.4 billion
last year (4.8 per cent of GDP). The exports from the country declined by 7.2
per cent to $22.5 billion during FY2020 compared to exports of $ 24.3 billion
last year, it said adding that the exports values were suppressed due to weak
terms of trade, despite significantly higher quantum exports.
On the other hand, Imports declined by 18.2 per
cent to $ 42.4 billion as compared to $ 51.9 billion last year. Consequently,
trade deficit reduced by 27.9 per cent to $ 19.9 billion against the deficit of
$ 27.6 billion last year. Export of services declined by 8.6 per cent to $ 5.4
billion as compared $5.9 billion last year while the import of Services
declined by 24.3 per cent and was recorded at $ 8.3 billion compared to $ 10.9
billion last year. Quoting Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), it said the
textile sector exports decreased by 6.0 per cent in value over the last year
while Basmati rice registered a growth of 35 per cent (quantity) and 24.6
per cent (value). Other varieties of rice decreased by 5.3 per cent
(quantity) and 3.5 per cent (value).
ANF seizes
484kg drugs, arrests 07, impounds 03 vehicles in countrywide operations
The Petroleum group import is recorded at $
10.4 billion (share of 23.4 per cent in total imports) decreased by 27.8 per
cent (value), of which import of petroleum crude decreased by 40.4 per cent
(value) and 24.5 per cent (quantity). Import of petroleum product increased by
3.7 per cent (quantity) and declined by 24.5 per cent (value). It is pertinent
to mention that despite being confronted with multifaceted challenges,
Pakistan’s economy witnessed significant improvement in some of its sectors
during Fiscal Year 2020. The sectors that showed positive improvements included
external account, which had been stabilized with current account deficit
reduced by 78 per cent. Likewise, the workers’ remittances surged to a historic
high level of $23.1 billion during FY2020 compared to $21.7 billion during
FY2019, witnessing a growth of 6.5 per cent and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
increased by 88 per cent and reached $ 2.6 billion during FY2020 as compared to
$ 1.4 billion in FY2019.
Only solution
govt has is to increase prices of whatever is short: Hassan Murtaza
https://nation.com.pk/06-Aug-2020/external-account-position-remains-stable-in-fy2020
Ford announces
new CEO as it eyes bigger electric push
Published August 5, 2020, 10:00 PM
NEW YORK (AFP) –
Ford announced Tuesday that Jim Hackett would resign as chief executive and be
replaced by auto veteran Jim Farley as the car giant pushes further into
digital and electric investment.
The move follows a bumpy
period for Ford after some manufacturing stumbles and a major corporate
restructuring that has yet to boost profitability. Hackett,
65, will retire and hand over the job to Farley, 58, on October 1, but stay on
as a special advisor through March 2021. Farley came to Ford in 2007 after a
long tenure at Toyota and currently serves as chief operating officer.
Hackett, who had no auto
industry experience prior to Ford, joined in 2017 after a career at furniture
company Steelcase and was known for his skills in turning around struggling
organizations. He also had a stint in the athletics department at the
University of Michigan.
Hackett has unveiled an
$11 billion cost-savings programs that has involved closing plants in Europe
and Latin America
He has overseen major
shifts at the 117-year-old Detroit firm, including phasing out most sedan
models in the US market and launching the Mustang Mach-E, an all-electric sport
utility vehicle built on one of the auto industry’s most iconic brands.
Both moves drew criticism,
with some analysts pointing out that ending sedan-building in the
truck-centered US market alienated some customers, and design mavens decrying
the Mustang’s makeover into a suburban-oriented mainstay.
The company also botched
the 2019 rollout of the Explorer SUV due to manufacturing fumbles that the
company blamed on an overly-ambitious plan.
Ford’s share price has
fallen during Hackett’s tenure amid doubts over long-term direction as it has
lagged rival General Motors.
Chairman Bill Ford
credited Hackett with ”taking on the tough issues and slaying the sacred cows.”
Ford, the great-grandson
of company founder Henry Ford, said during a briefing with reporters that
Hackett’s mission at the outset of his appointment included preparing the
company for a successor.
Ford characterized Farley
as a true car person, noting he enjoys racing vintage cars as a hobby.
‘All in’
Farley said during the
briefing that there were no major strategic differences between him and Hackett
and that he was ”all in” on the outgoing CEO’s emphasis on refashioning car
design around digital capacities.
Bill Ford said the board
had talked casually about looking at outside candidates, but that momentum
built for Farley as he helped lead the response to the coronavirus pandemic,
which involved shutting plants for several weeks and then reopening them.
Analysts said Ford faces
challenges ahead.
”Hackett was an unorthodox
CEO pick to begin with, as an external candidate with no prior auto industry
experience, and his tenure was marred by a deteriorating bottom line,” said
CFRA Research analyst Garrett Nelson.
”While Ford’s new vehicle
lineup has shown some promise with the Mustang Mach-E and Bronco, we think
Farley will have his work cut out to ‘right the ship,’ as Ford remains in the
middle of a multi-year restructuring and we don’t see its vehicle sales
returning to pre-COVID levels anytime soon.”
Cox Automotive analyst
Michelle Krebs recalled an early public appearance by Farley in which he
invoked his grandfather’s experience at Ford and talked about how coming to the
company was like coming home. Farley again mentioned his grandfather on
Tuesday.
The remarks suggest that
Farley understood what ”makes vehicle products something more than a
commodity,” Krebs said.
”The road ahead for Farley
and Ford will be anything but easy as the industry struggles to adopt new
technologies, new global regulations and high customer expectations. In times
of transformation, leaders that dream big and lead with emotions often rise to
the top,” Krebs said. ”And that certainly seems to be the case right now with
Jim Farley.”
https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/05/ford-announces-new-ceo-as-it-eyes-bigger-electric-push/
Rice subsidies create complacency, says economist
August
6, 2020 7:00 AM
Malaysia
produces only 70% of rice requirements and Bernas has been granted an extension
on its licence to import rice. (Bernama pic)
PETALING
JAYA: A national policy of self-sufficiency in rice supply is needed, says an
economist, urging that the government look into raising padi harvests with
simple high-yield methods already used elsewhere.
The
economist, Barjoyai Bardai, said the government should not rely on Padiberas
Nasional Bhd (Bernas). Putrajaya’s decision to extend Bernas’ rice import license
should only be a temporary solution to ensuring Malaysia’s food security.
“We know
Malaysia only produces 70% of the rice it consumes. We still need to import.
Our cost of production is relatively high compared to the price to import, so
there are some elements of subsidy.
“In the
longer term, we should think of taking back Bernas from a private entity to
government control so that Bernas can really function with the ultimate
objective of Malaysia being self-sufficient in rice,” he told FMT.
Barjoyai
said the agriculture and food industry ministry should gear the industry
towards getting rid of subsidies.
Other
countries such as Indonesia had made use of simple technologies and innovations
that helped increase paid harvests almost three times more than what Malaysia
produces.
Indonesia’s
planting method could generate 15 tonnes of padi per hectare, compared to 5
tonnes in Malaysia. “The Kelantan state government actually experimented with
it on 30 acres of land in Kota Bharu, and it produced a yield of about 12
tonnes. I don’t know why they weren’t willing to embark on this,” he said.
“I think
it’s because everyone has grown complacent with the existing system, where
farmers get subsidies. And we don’t want to lose that subsidy.”
Tey
Yeong Sheng, of Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Institute of Agricultural and Food
Policy Studies, said extending Bernas’ monopoly on rice imports would see no
change in the industry’s existing structure.
The
renewed concession means that Malaysia was allowing “what did not work and what
has not worked well” to expand, he told FMT.
He said
Malaysia missed out on decades worth of opportunities to develop the industry,
which was still troubled by “below-cost” ceiling prices and stagnant
productivity.
He said
Bernas should create a more competitive market, allowing other entreprenuers to
grow.
However,
imports of cheaper rice was not an alternative. Farmers would be hurt, although
consumers would benefit.
On
Tuesday, Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Ronald Kiandee said Bernas will
be allowed to remain the sole gatekeeper in managing the country’s rice supply.
He told
the Dewan Rakyat that this was to ensure food security in the country with the
pandemic affecting the global food chain.
Rice strategy awaiting rejig
PUBLISHED : 6 AUG 2020 AT 07:23
NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS
WRITER: PHUSADEE ARUNMAS
Thai jasmine
rice varieties on display at the Thai Hom Mali Rice Awards organised by the
Commerce Ministry and the Internal Trade Department. Varuth Hirunyatheb
Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit pledges to
speed up adjustment of the Thai rice strategy as quickly as possible as the
industry faces a slew of challenges including a strong baht and rising
production costs.
Mr Jurin said after presiding over a Thai hom
mali fragrant rice fair on Wednesday that
rice exports have fared poorly since the beginning of last year because of
foreign exchange swings and the ascendant baht, making Thai rice more expensive
than competing grains.
"The ministry is pursuing a rice strategy
to improve competitiveness, covering all systems including marketing,
cultivation and R&D of new rice varieties," Mr Jurin said. "We
are also working to find ways to reduce production costs for farmers, to make
Thai rice more affordable."
He said the ministry is promoting seven rice
products and seed development as part of a marketing-led production strategy
for 2020-24 recently announced by the ministry.
The four-year strategic plan will focus on Thai
hom mali rice, Thai fragrant rice, soft-textured white rice, hard-textured
white rice, parboiled rice, glutinous rice and specialty rice.
The rice market will also be divided into three
categories: Thai hom mali and fragrant rice for the premium market;
soft-textured white rice, hard-textured white rice and parboiled rice for the
mass market; and glutinous rice and specialty-quality rice for the specialty
market.
Mr Jurin said the Commerce Ministry will work
closely with the Thai Rice Exporters Association to seek new trade partners to
expand the export market, as Thai rice remains in strong demand globally given
its quality.
He confirmed that the strong baht and the
coronavirus pandemic are the main obstacles for rice exports this year.
Mr Jurin has already ordered commercial
ambassadors in various countries to accelerate seeking new markets and promote
Thai rice to reach more consumers in overseas markets.
Charoen Laothammatas, president of the Thai
Rice Exporters Association, said rice export prospects look gloomy due to the
stronger baht and higher prices.
The free-on-board (FOB) price of Thai white
rice 5% is now quoted at US$460 a tonne, while Indian white rice stands at $370
a tonne, leading importers to buy more Indian rice, Mr Charoen said.
He urged the government to speed up finding
ways to reduce logistics costs, including transport costs.
The association recently lowered its rice
export forecast for 2020 to 6.5 million tonnes, the lowest in 20 years, from an
earlier forecast of 7.5 million, citing a host of headwinds, including the
virus crisis that weakened global demand, a strong baht making Thai rice more
expensive and continued drought cutting into production.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1963447/rice-strategy-awaiting-rejig
‘Madhya
Pradesh should not get GI tag for basmati rice’, Punjab CM writes to Prime
Minister
CHANDIGARH, AUGUST
05, 2020 22:28 IST
The
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, in his letter, has said GI tagging of Madhya
Pradesh basmati would negatively impact the State’s agriculture and India’s
basmati exports.
Amid Madhya Pradesh government’s push for the
Geographical Indication (GI) tag for basmati rice, Punjab Chief Minister
Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his
personal intervention against allowing this in the larger interest of Punjab
and other States which are already basmati GI tagged.
Apart from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Delhi, Western Uttar Pradesh and select districts of Jammu and
Kashmir have GI tagging for basmati.
The Chief Minister said India exported basmati
to the tune of ₹33,000 crore every year.
Any dilution in registration may give advantage
to Pakistan (which also produces basmati as per GI tagging) in the
international market in terms of basmati characteristics, quality parameters.
Also read: Madras
High Court dismisses Madhya Pradesh’s plea on GI tag for basmati rice
The Chief Minister, in his letter, has said GI
tagging of Madhya Pradesh basmati would negatively impact the State’s
agriculture and India’s basmati exports. Madhya Pradesh has sought inclusion of
its 13 districts for GI tagging for basmati.
Urging Mr. Modi to direct the authorities not
to disturb the status quo in this matter, the Chief Minister said this was
essential for safeguarding the interests of farmers and basmati exporters of
India.
Place of
origin
“As per the Geographical Indications of Goods
(Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 a geographical indication tag can be
issued for agricultural goods that are originating in the territory of a
country, or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality,
reputation or other characteristics of such goods is essentially attributable
to its geographical origin. GI tag for basmati has been given on the basis of
the traditionally grown areas of basmati due to special aroma, quality and
taste of the grain, which is indigenous to the region below the foothills of
Himalayas in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and basmati of this area has distinct
recognition across the world,” the Chief Minister has pointed out.
Also read: Indian basmati
rice all set to get GI tag
Capt. Singh said Madhya Pradesh did not fall
under the specialised zone for basmati cultivation. “It was for this reason
that the State was not included in the indigenous area of basmati cultivation
in India.” Madhya Pradesh’s move is a direct violation of the GI tagging
procedure and laws. Any attempt to breach the GI tagging areas will not only
hit the status of aromatic basmati cultivation in India’s specialised areas but
will also negate the purpose of GI tagging regulation in the Indian context.
Demand
rejected
The Chief Minister said Madhya Pradesh had
earlier attempted to get the GI tag for basmati cultivation in 2017-18.
However, Registrar of Geographical Indications (RGI), constituted under the
Geographical Indications of Goods (Registrations and Protection) Act 1999,
rejected the demand after investigating the matter. The Intellectual Property
Appellate Board, Government of India, had also discarded the State’s claim.
Later, Madhya Pradesh challenged these decisions in Madras High Court, but did
not get any relief.
“The Central government had also constituted a
committee of eminent agricultural scientists, which, after thorough
deliberations, rejected the State’s claim,” said Captain Singh.
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In effort to block
Philippines’ GMO Golden Rice, activists falsely link nutrition-enhanced staple
to COVID
Cameron
English | August 6, 2020
This article or excerpt is included in the GLP’s daily curated
selection of ideologically diverse news, opinion and analysis of biotechnology
innovation.
Anti-biotech
groups in the Philippines are trying to link the COVID-19 pandemic to Golden
Rice as part of a week-long effort to
derail commercialization of nutritionally enhanced staple food. Critics,
led by Stop Golden Rice Network (SGRN), say the approval is part of an onslaught to advance “corporate
control in food and agriculture.” According to Cris Panerio, national
coordinator of farmer-scientist group MASIPAG:
The
pandemic exposed what we feared a long time ago – that our food system has
become so flawed and weak, it will inevitably fail to sustain our needs. …
There are enough reasons to safely conclude that multinational corporations are
exploiting the dire situation of our food system during COVID-19 as a pretext
for further greedy gains.
The new
campaign is a desperate attempt to derail the roll-out of Golden Rice, which is
expected later this year. Food safety regulators in the Philippines finally approved the
crop for human consumption on December 18 of last year after two decades of
deliberations, protests and missteps by scientists. According to the International Rice Research
Institute:
After
rigorous biosafety assessment, Golden Rice ‘has been found to be as safe as
conventional rice’ by the Philippine Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant
Industry. The biosafety permit, addressed to the Philippine Rice Research
Institute (PhilRice) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), details
the approval of GR2E Golden Rice for direct use as food and feed, or for
processing (FFP).
Last
December, after the approval, Greenpeace claimed that Golden
Rice violated the ‘precautionary principle,’ which stresses the hypothetical risks and
minimizes the demonstrated benefits of consuming the crop. Moreover, there is
no evidence to support the allegation that Golden Rice—approved well before the
international spread of COVID-19—is being advanced as a way to exploit the
current crisis.
Rice that
saves lives
Golden
Rice contains high levels of beta carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, and was
developed to combat severe nutrient deficiencies that can lead to
blindness, anemia and weakened immune function that boosts the severity of
infectious diseases—jeopardizing the health of 
millions
of impoverished people. As the GLP reported last November:
[R]oughly 250 million people, mostly
preschool children in southeast Asia, are vitamin A deficient. Between 2
50,000 and 500,000 of them go blind every year—and half die within 12 months of
losing their sight. Genetically engineered Golden Rice …. could alleviate much
of this suffering without otherwise harming human health or the environment,
according to a mountain of studies.
SGRN and
its allies nonetheless oppose the introduction of Golden Rice, labeling it a “Trojan horse” that
will allow biotech giants like Bayer to expand their footprint in the
developing world. The three scientists who developed Golden Rice—Adrian Dubock, Ingo Potrykus,
and Peter Beyer—argued in a recent GLP article that such
opposition is a last, desperate attempt to salvage the anti-GMO movement, which
has receded as one country after another has embraced transgenics to reduce
agricultural chemical use, increase yield and, in the case of Golden Rice and a
few other crops, enhance nutrition:
Golden
Rice is created to deliver a consumer benefit, it is not for profit—for
multinational agribusiness or anyone else; the technology originated in the
public sector and is being delivered through the public sector. It is entirely
altruistic in its motivations; which activists find impossible to accept. So,
the activists believe suspicion against Golden Rice has to be amplified, Golden
Rice has to be stopped: “If we lose
the Golden Rice battle, we lose the GMO war.”
Although
Bayer and Syngenta helped develop the enhanced rice variety, they don’t stand
to profit once the crop is approved, as science writer Matt Ridley pointed out in January:
Potrykus
and Beyer insisted that the technology be donated free to benefit children
suffering from vitamin A deficiency and Syngenta gave up its right to
commercialize the product even in rich countries. Given the scale of human
suffering Golden Rice could address, there may be no better example of a purely
philanthropic project in the whole of human history.
A crowd breaking through a fence to destroy an experimental field
of genetically modified golden rice in the Philippines. Credit: Philippine
Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 5
Claims
of corporate subterfuge are further undermined by the fact that the Philippines
has grown insect-resistant GMO Bt corn for 17 years—which means biotech
companies are clearly not using Golden Rice to sneak GMOs into the country.
Moreover, high-profile legislators not only supported the release of Golden
Rice, they have endorsed simplified
regulations that will enable the use of new breeding techniques including
CRISPR gene editing. For these reasons the USDA has called the Philippines a “regional
biotechnology leader.”
In an
email to GLP, Ed Regis, author of Golden Rice: The Imperiled
Birth of a GMO Superfood, summed up the situation this way:
This latest campaign against Golden Rice is yet
one more installment in the long-running soap opera that pits corporate
villains against helpless farmers, and now also illogically throws the Covid-19
crisis into the mix.
But
neither this lurid stagecraft nor the apocalyptic rhetoric of the protesters
has anything to do with Golden Rice, which is governed by the Golden Rice
Humanitarian Board, not a corporation, and which will be given away free to
small landowner farmers who may plant it or not as a matter of their own
individual choice. Nobody is holding a gun to their heads and nobody’s rights
are being infringed by the planting or use of Golden Rice.
Cameron
J. English is the GLP’s managing editor. BIO. Follow
him on Twitter @camjenglish
The
GLP featured this article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and
analysis. The viewpoint is the author’s own. The GLP’s goal is to stimulate
constructive discourse on challenging science issues.
The GLP Needs Your Help
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easier than ever for advocacy groups to spread disinformation on pressing
science issues, such as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. No, vaccines are not
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Jollibee suffers P12-B H1 loss in, sees better
H2
Published August 5, 2020, 10:00 PM
Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) reported an attributable
net loss of P11.96 billion in the first half of 2020—a 578 percent fall from
the net income of P2.5 billion in the same period last year.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange,
the firm said attributable net loss in the second quarter of 2020 amounted to
P10.17 billion, 1077 percent lower than the profit of P1.04 billion in the same
period of 2019.
The attributable net loss for the second quarter of 2020
included the cost for Business Transformation of P7.0 billion. Excluding this
cost for Business Transformation, the net loss would have been P3.2 billion.
The losses also included significant costs incurred in
response to the crisis such as emergency response fund for employees and workers,
assistance to front liners, health workers and low income households, partly
offset by economic stimulus packages received from the Singapore and China
governments.
“The business results were very bad but in line
with our forecasts. We are now focusing on rebuilding our business moving
forward along with implementing major cost improvement under our Business
Transformation program,” said JFC Chief Executive Officer
Ernesto Tanmantiong.
He added that, “We expect sales and profit to improve
over the next few months. Our business building effort includes introducing
exciting new products, launching new marketing campaigns, opening cloud
kitchens, introducing improvement in our delivery systems and opening new
stores at selected locations particularly in North America, Vietnam, Malaysia
and China.”
Tanmantiong said “We plan to open a total of 338 stores
worldwide in 2020. We expect sales and profit to increase significantly in 2021
to a point closer to the levels of 2019 and to grow at least at historical growth
rate of 15% annually by 2022.”
System wide sales, a measure of all sales to consumers,
both from company-owned and franchised stores, declined 24.5 percent to P85.83
billion in the first half of 2020 from P113.71 billion in the same period last
year.
For the second quarter, system wide sales dropped 48.4
percent to P30.68 billion compared to P59.43 billion in the same quarter last
year with same store sales decline of 41 percent as the business felt the full
impact of government restrictions intended to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the beginning of the second quarter, 50 percent of JFC
Group’s stores worldwide were temporarily closed. By the end of the quarter, 88
percent of all stores were already open.
However, most of the stores that were open relied heavily
on delivery and take-out businesses while practically all dine-in operations
were either still closed or had low level of sales volume.
Revenues decreased by 46.6 percent to P23.3 billion for
the quarter versus year ago and was down by 25.3 percent to P62.76 billion in
the first half of 2020.
As JFC’s stores resumed operations all over the world,
the speed of recovery in same store sales varied across different countries and
territories.
In April, global same store sales declined by 47 percent
with the Philippine business declining by 57
percent, China down by 37 percent, North
America lower by 25 percent and Europe, Middle East and Asia
(EMEAA) down by 45 percent.
In June, global same store sales improved compared to
April’s to negative 39 perent with the Philippine business lower by 48 percent,
China by 25 percent, North America by 9 percent and EMEAA by 22 percent.
JFC estimates that financial performance will get
progressively better in the next two quarters of the year as stores will have
been being reopened and sales will have been gradually building up. Total
EBITDA is forecasted to be positive by the fourth quarter of 2020 with the
Philippines, China, Vietnam, Europe/Middle East and Other Parts of Asia
forecasted to generate net operating income by that time. This assumes that
government restrictions related to the control of the pandemic will not be
re-imposed.(
https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/05/jollibee-suffers-p12-b-h1-loss-in-sees-better-h2/
Rice Tariffication Law: Good
or bad?
August
6, 2020
“It is the height of foolishness to do things
over and over again and expect a different result.” – Albert Einstein
After the country’s membership to the World
Trade Organization (WTO) in 1994, the most significant change in our
agricultural policy landscape is the passage of Republic Act 11203, or the
“Rice Tariffication Law” (RTL), in February 2019. The RTL removed the
quantitative restriction (QR) or import ban on rice, and in the process, lifted
the sole authority of the National Food Authority (NFA) to import rice. It
allowed private traders to import rice provided that they pay the corresponding
tariffs (taxes) for the imported stocks.
The passage of RTL took more than 25 years.
Upon our accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Philippines
applied for the exemption of rice from trade liberalization (as provided for by
the WTO Agreement on Agriculture) for ten years, arguing that our rice farmers
could not compete with cheap imported rice. We claimed then that the 10-year
grace period was needed to allow the government to provide the necessary assistance
to our rice farmers to raise their productivity and make them competitive
vis-à-vis their foreign counterparts. After the expiration of the 10-year grace
period, the Philippines requested for a 10-year extension, this time noting
that it was in a better position to help rice farmers realize the goal of
raising their productivity. By then, the “Agriculture and Fisheries
Modernization Act” (AFMA) of 1997, creating the Agricultural Competitiveness
Enhancement Fund (ACEF), was in place to provide both the structure and funds
to attain its productivity-enhancing goal for the rice sector.
The second extension expired in 2014. Sadly,
successive political administrations in the past failed to do their homework
properly of increasing the productivity of our rice farmers. As a result, we
just maintained the QR policy for another five years, arguing that it was
necessary for our food security.
‘Lazy man’s’ policy
However, when we experienced a rice shortage in
2018 because of a miscalculation by NFA on the entry of our rice imports,
resulting in a significant rise in our inflation (rice price is a key factor in
computing inflation rate) to more than 6 percent in the third quarter of 2018,
our economic managers were alarmed. They resurrected the arguments long made by
reputable economists and agricultural economists from the University of the
Philippines Los Baños, UP School of Economics, and Ateneo’s Department of
Economics that rice tariffication was needed to replace the policy of
maintaining QRs. Economists viewed QR as a “lazy man’s” policy because there
was no urgency in implementing productivity-enhancing measures for as long as
the import ban was maintained.
Studies after studies conducted by the UP and
Ateneo scholars have identified a number of benefits a shift to rice
tariffication will bring. One, it will save the government an enormous amount
of money because NFA operated at a loss, “buying high” (i.e., palay or unmilled
rice from farmers) and “selling low” (i.e., rice to consumers), which was a sure
formula for financial bankruptcy. At that time, it was calculated NFA had
already incurred an accumulated debt of around P170 billion. Second, it will
prevent many rent-seeking activities emanating from G2G
(government-to-government) transactions. It is an open secret among those who
know the rice trading business that a commission for every kilo of rice
imported is given by the wholesaler to the seller, and that there are contracts
that could be cornered along the logistics of rice imports (e.g., shipping,
cargo handling, trucking, barging, bagging, among others). Also, it is
well-known that some farmers’ groups actually front for private traders to gain
access to the minimum access volume (MAV) of rice, which comes at a lower
tariff.
Third, it will force the government to finally
do its job of improving rice farmers’ productivity. This is the reason behind
the creation of the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF), a yearly
P10-billion fund, that will come from the proceeds of tariffs imposed on rice
imports by private traders. Fourth, the more than 100 million rice consuming
Filipinos will undeniably benefit from lower priced and quality rice. Lastly,,
it will lower the inflation rate because seasonal rice shortages will be
prevented and will tame rice price increases during the lean palay harvest
season. After the passage of the RTL, inflation dropped from its peak of 6
percent in the third quarter of 2018 to its lowest of less than 2 percent in
the same quarter of 2019.
On the negative side, RTL resulted in the
expected drop in palay prices, which went down to lower than P13 per kilo for
wet palay during the latter part of 2019. It was during this period when
detractors of the law launched a cacophony of organized and calibrated vicious
attacks on our economic managers and implementors of RTL. They wanted to
reverse RTL, return to the QR regime, hence continue with the old order that
existed for more than three decades despite its massive failure in uplifting
the plight of our rice farmers and the burden of high rice prices it imposed on
our rice consumers.
Less than a year and a half after RTL’s
passage, rice prices have remained stable despite the lean palay harvest
season. More importantly, local supply has remained steady amid the coronavirus
pandemic. In fact, the ending rice stock of 2.675 million MT in 2019, due to
the liberalization of rice trading, is the main reason rice prices and supply
are stable. As for palay prices, the Phiippine Statistics Authority reported
that dry palay was selling above P19 per kilo during the last week of May. In
other words, the drop in the palay prices experienced during the second half of
2019 was a temporary phenomenon.
If the entry of rice imports can be scheduled
better during the coming peak harvest season (late September to early
December), a significant drop in palay prices can be prevented.
And with multiple assistance extended by the
Department of Agriculture (DA) to rice farmers through RCEF programs and the
Rice Resiliency Program, expect a surge in rice supply due to increased farm
productivity. These are positive indications that RTL is working.
Proving detractors wrong
No wonder then that RTL detractors are now
shifting the focus of their criticisms on: alleged non-collection of ACEF
funds, or their release by Department of Budget and Management (proven wrong);
lower RCEF tariff proceeds because of misdeclaration of imported rice (animal
feed vs regular milled vs well milled), which is the main function of Bureau of
Customs and not DA; and the slow and improper delivery of assistance to the
palay farmers under RCEF. Expectedly, these detractors end up resorting to
their usual pamphleteering technique of attributing all these problems to the
RTL when the connection is ostensibly tenuous.
In the academic world wherein I grew my roots,
we believe that “one’s criticism is only as good as one’s alternative.” Playing
the nihilist role in the struggle for supremacy is the easiest job to perform
as all one needs to do is give in to one’s anarchic tendency of destroying what
others have painstakingly built. But for one to build a new and better order is
the most challenging aspect of governance. As former Cuban revolutionary leader
Fidel Castro once remarked: “It is much easier to topple a government than to
build one.”
The alternative is to persist in doing things
over and over and wait for a different result.
This seems to be what the RTL detractors want
as they offer no better alternative than to revert back to the old ways. Albert
Einstein, the genius of our times, already adjudged them foolish. I think that
is the kindest description that one can give them.
Ana Caicedo
Receives an Alexander von Humboldt Research Award
August 5, 2020
Ana Caicedo
Evolutionary
biologist Ana Caicedo, associate professor of biology, has received an Alexander von Humboldt
Research Award to support her collaboration with Detlef Weigel,
head of the molecular biology department and executive director of the Max
Plank Institute for Developmental Biology in Tübingen, Germany. Caicedo spent
the recent spring semester there as a guest researcher while on sabbatical.
She
studies how plants adapt to new environments such as those created by
agriculture. Her research focuses on the domestication of crops – a recent
study traced the evolution of tomatoes – and the evolution of agricultural
weeds, such as weedy rice.
She says
of the honor, “I’m delighted at being given this opportunity to work with
collaborators in Germany. This award is particularly meaningful to me, given
that many of Humboldt’s insights came from his explorations of South America,
which is where I grew up.”
She
adds, “The Humboldt will make it possible for me to collaborate with Detlef on
trying to understand the evolution of agricultural weeds. In particular, we
plan to focus on species from the genus Echinochloa– often called barnyard grass – which are among
the worst weeds in the world and have evolved resistance to multiple
herbicides.”
These
weeds have worldwide distribution and invade rice fields primarily, she adds,
but also wheat and other crops in countries where rice isn’t grown. “There is
some taxonomic confusion among weeds in this group, and there are also some
cultivated species whose relationships to the weeds aren’t known. I’m
interested in determining the relationship among barnyard grass infestations
around the world and why they are such successful weeds.”
The
Humboldt Research Award honors scientists and researchers who have
distinguished themselves through their fundamental findings over their
scientific career and from whom further important achievements can be expected
in the future. The foundation awards 100 such research awards per year. Award
winners may be invited to spend up to one year cooperating on a long-term
research project with specialist colleagues at a research institution in
Germany. The award is valued at €60,000.
https://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/ana-caicedo-receives-alexander-von
Rice
Contributes to Prolonged Low-Level Arsenic Exposure Leading to Increased Global
Premature
Deaths, Study
Aug 05, 2020 10:25 PM EDT
Rice is the most important food crop, and a
large part of the world's population consumes rice as their main food source.
According to Ricepedia, nine out of ten people who
eat rice are Asian, but lately, it is slowly growing popular in Africa, Latin
America, and the Caribbean.
However, a recent study has confirmed that the
increased global premature deaths every year can be linked to prolonged
low-level exposure to arsenic in rice-based diets.
(Photo : Pixabay)
Rice Contributes to Prolonged Low-Level Arsenic Exposure Leading to Increased
Global Premature Deaths, Study
Arsenic
Exposure in Rice-Based Diets
Arsenic
is a well-known acute poison and a natural component present in the air, water,
and land. People get exposed to arsenic by drinking contaminated water or using
contaminated water to prepare food, and irrigation of food crops, industrial
processes, eating food contaminated by arsenic and smoking tobacco.
People could get long-term exposure to arsenic
when they drink water consume food with low-levels of arsenic. According to
the World Health Organization, people could get cancers,
skin lesions, and cardiovascular diseases if exposed in long-term to arsenic.
Of all
food crops, rice tends to concentrate more inorganic arsenic. With over three
billion people who consume rice as a major part of their diet, scientists
estimate that it could give rise to over 50,000 avoidable premature deaths per
year.
The
study was conducted by researchers from the University of Machester and the
University of Salford. They explored the relationship between rice consumption
and cardiovascular diseases caused by arsenic exposure in England and Wales.
The researchers published their findings in the
journal Science of the Total Environment, which showed a
significant association between elevated cardiovascular mortality and the
consumption of inorganic arsenic in rice.
The
researchers ensured that other factors, such as obesity, smoking, age, lack of
income, and education, are ruled out before making their conclusion.
One of the researchers, Professor David Polya
from the University of Manchester said their study suggests that the highest 25% of people who
consume rice in England and Wales may have a higher risk of dying due to
cardiovascular disease from inorganic arsenic exposure compared to the lowest
25% of rice consumers.
"The modeled increased risk is around 6%
(with a confidence interval for this figure of 2% to 11%). The increased risk
modeled might also reflect in part a combination of the susceptibility,
behaviors, and treatment of those communities in England and Wales with
relatively high rice diets," said professor Polya.
Read Next:
Is Rice
Not Advisable to Eat?
The
researchers suggest that a more robust study should be conducted to confirm
their findings. According to them, eating rice has many beneficial effects on
human health due to their high fiber content.
Rather
than avoid eating rice, the team suggests that people could consume a variety
of rice, like basmati, and different types like polished rice, which are known
to have lower inorganic arsenic contents compared to whole grain rice.
Lastly,
people could also practice other positive behaviors, like eating a balanced
variety of staples and not just rice.
Uttarakhand:
600 Crore Rupees Rice Scam Caught In Special Audit –
Uttarakhand:
Big sport performed within the identify of rice, stunning issues revealed in
600 crore rip-off
BY ABIGALE LORMEN ON AUGUST 5,
2020
, , Dehradun
Updated Wed, 05 Aug 2020 04:37 PM IST
* Yearly subscription for simply ₹ 249 +
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summary
·
State’s
greatest rice rip-off surfaced in particular audit
Detailed
In Uttarakhand, the scandal of practically 600 crores of rice scams
has been confirmed at each stage by the particular investigation report of the
audit. Secretary Finance Amit Singh Negi has despatched this investigation
report for 2015-16 and 2016-17 to Principal Secretary Food. It is obvious from
the report that there was disturbance at each stage from paddy procurement to
milling, packing, transporting to godowns. Even the state pool that provided
rice to the PDS was not spared.
The rice rip-off within the state was revealed
in 2017. It was additionally investigated by the SIT and estimated a rip-off of
round 600 crore rupees. There have been many different instances of hera
ferries in poor quota rice. Some officers have been additionally suspended on
this.
Now it has additionally emerged within the particular audit that on this
rip-off the sport was performed at each degree. Demonetisation was additionally
taken benefit of and crores of rupees have been made within the sacks.
According to the report, the federal government misplaced practically Rs 18
crore in meals safety. In the reimbursement of sacks, an overpayment of Rs 43
crore was proven. This is when the Special Audit staff didn’t conduct a full
investigation resulting from non-cooperation from the events involved.
Main
factors of audit report
1. About 250 crore rupees of rice have been
bought from the millers with out contract beneath the state funded scheme.
2. The nodal company mandi committees assisted in procuring paddy from exterior
as a substitute of mandi. This didn’t give farmers MSP. The mandis neither
checked the accounts of the stockholders nor inspected the bought paddy.
3. Rules weren’t adopted within the course of of creating rice from paddy from
uncooked broods.
4. In the Kharif season 2015-16 and 2016-17, the State Cooperative Marketing
Association collected extra rice within the godowns than the paddy they bought.
Rice price Rs 1.18 crore was deferred from the millers and over Rs 30.38 lakh
was paid.
5. The facilities of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies issued checks
price greater than two lakh rupees, made purchases with out verifying and
bought greater than the quantity of weights on the fork.
6. Many disturbances have been additionally discovered within the State Pool
godowns.
7. Under the National Food Security, a lack of 18.27 crores was incurred.
8. Artisans and millers confirmed an overpayment of Rs 43.38 crore in
reimbursement of recent sacks.
9. In CMR rice dhulan, over 30 lakh rupees have been paid, 40 lakh beneath
State Food Scheme.
10. Excess fee of 8.63 lakhs on account of Sukhai Kutai, place on mandi fees
and weight can also be not clear. There have been additionally severe flaws in
motion invoices and payments.
10. There has been a distinction of about 30 lakh rupees within the buy of
uncooked brokers.
11. The state authorities had a transparent order that the acquisition of paddy
could be accomplished by way of uncooked brokers within the mandis.
Documents
have been additionally not discovered for investigation
The authorities had shaped a separate committee to analyze the
funds made to the farmers. Evidence was additionally given to this committee by
304 out of 350 in 2015-16 and 361 out of 400 in 2016-17. It was stated to
purchase paddy price Rs 1781 crore. Paddy buy of about Rs 217 crore was not
confirmed resulting from lack of proof.
There was lots of profit in demonetisation
additionally
The report additionally revealed that money funds of about Rs 408.45 crore have
been made after demonetisation. Out of this, proof of Rs 217 crore was not
discovered. 65 p.c of the entire fee was made by way of the financial
institution, 12 p.c in money funds throughout demonetisation and the remaining
23 p.c in money, besides demonetisation.
learn forward
Main
factors of audit report
About Post
Author
Abigale
Lormen
Abigale is a Masters in Business Administration
by education. After completing her post-graduation, Abigale jumped the
journalism bandwagon as a freelance journalist. Soon after that she landed a
job of reporter and has been climbing the news industry ladder ever since to
reach the post of editor at Our Bitcoin News.
India:
Monsoon Update - July 2020
August
4, 2020
Locations
On July 31, the Indian Meteorological
Department issued its Long-Range Forecast for rainfall during the second half (August
–September) of the 2020 Southwest Monsoon. The rainfall over the country as a
whole during the second half of the season is likely to be 104 percent of the
long period average (LPA). Below normal rains in Northwest and Central India in
July offset the early start to the monsoon in June. The cumulative rainfall for
the Southwest Monsoon 2020 reported by the Indian Meteorological Department, as
of July 31, 2020, is in normal range similar to the fifty-year average of 452
millimeters. The kharif crop planting acreage is 14 percent higher than last
year, with significant area increases for rice, pulses, and oilseeds.
India: Monsoon Update
- July 2020
https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/india-monsoon-update-july-2020
Myanmar exports over 2.25 mln
tons of rice, broken rice in 10 months
Source:
Xinhua| 2020-08-05 20:15:00|Editor: huaxia
YANGON,
Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar exported over 2.25 million tons of rice and broken
rice as of July 17 this fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020, according to a release from
the Myanmar Rice Federation on Wednesday.
"We
are expecting to reach our target of 2.4 million tons of rice export in present
fiscal year which will end in two months," U Myint Lwin, deputy chief
executive officer of the federation, told Xinhua.
According
to the figures released by the federation, the country exported over 1.4
million tons of rice and 839,956 tons of broken rice, earning over 678.29
million U.S. dollars.
This
fiscal year's rice and broken rice export surpassed the last fiscal year's
figures by 355,874 tons when Myanmar exported over 1.8 million tons of rice and
broken rice in the corresponding period of last fiscal year.
In the
first 10 months of this fiscal year, 85.12 percent of total rice export is done
through sea route while 14.88 percent through border gates.
During the
period, 30.20 percent of Myanmar's rice and broken rice are exported to African
countries, followed by China with 27 percent and EU member states with 20.45
percent, respectively, the federation's figures said. Enditem
POSCO
International, RDA to support Myanmar rice industry
Posted
: 2020-08-05 17:17
Updated
: 2020-08-05 17:51
6
|
|
|
Posco
International CEO Joo Si-bo, left, poses with Rural Development
Administration Administrator Kim Kyeong-kyu during an MOU signing ceremony
for support of Myanmar's farming market at POSCO Group's Seoul office,
Wednesday. / Courtesy of POSCO International. |
By Kim Jae-heun
POSCO International said Wedneday it signed a memorandum of understanding with
the Rural Development Administration (RDA) in an effort to improve the value
chain of Myanmar's rice industry.
RDA Administrator Kim Kyeong-kyu and POSCO International CEO Joo Si-bo met at
POSCO Group's office in central Seoul to participate in the signing ceremony.
Through this deal, the two entities plan to establish a public-private
cooperative relationship where the RDA will share its skills in rice production
technology with Myanmar farms to produce quality raw materials while POSCO
International will be in charge of processing and distributing raw local rice.
They also promised to train local farmers on cultivation techniques and
post-harvest management. Post-evaluation will also be given to help them
improve their rice quality. The two expect this cooperation between public and
private firms to set a good example for Myanmarese farmers.
After acquiring a local rice processing plant with an annual capacity of 1.5
million tons in 2017, POSCO International established a new one capable of
processing 8.6 million tons annually last year. It operates a rice processing
and exporting business there.
Through the recent MOU deal, the company hopes to expand sales and improve
profitability in China, Africa and Europe with quality raw materials processed
in Myanmar.
The RDA also owns locale-customized rice production management technology
through the KOPIA project, through which it has carried out cooperation tasks
for rice variety development, improvement of cultivation technology and
post-harvest management since 2014.
"Our partnership will serve as a meaningful opportunity to actively
practice POSCO Group's corporate citizenship management ideology and enhance
the national prestige of Korea by contributing to the increase of income for
Myanmar farmers and development of Myanmar's rice industry," Joo said.
Arkansas Rice
Federation Names New Executive Director
By Josh
Hankins
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- The
Arkansas Rice Federation Board selected Kelly Robbins as the organization's new
executive director, effective August 1.
He succeeds Lauren Waldrip, a partner at
Campbell Ward, a Little Rock-based public affairs and public relations firm. 
Most recently, Robbins served as executive
director for the Arkansas Petroleum Council, and has previously served as
executive vice president for three trade groups including the Associated
General Contractors of Arkansas, the Arkansas Independent Producers and Royalty
Owners
Association, and the Arkansas Forestry Association.
"Kelly has a proven track record in
association management that will serve our industry well," said Arkansas
Rice Federation Chairman David Gairhan. "His years of lobbying
experience will benefit Arkansas Rice and we look forward to working with
him."
Robbins will oversee all trade association
activities and manage contract work for the federation.
"It's an honor to join a well-established
team of hardworking producers, millers, and merchants," Robbins
said. "With their ongoing input and guidance, Arkansas Rice will
continue its successful efforts representing our important community to the
public, consumers, and officials at all levels."
The Arkansas Rice Federation represents all
aspects of the rice industry including the Arkansas Rice Council, Arkansas Rice
Farmers, Arkansas Rice Merchants, and Arkansas Rice Millers.
Fred Miller
Eshan Shakiba discusses hybrid rice breeding efforts at the Rice
Research and Extension Center during a rice field day. The Division of
Agriculture hybrid rice breeder will be one of the presenters during an online
rice field day Aug. 20.
USA Rice Daily
Rice leads off series of
online research field days for Arkansas commodities
Online
rice field day set for Aug. 20 at 6 p.m., with corn, soybean, and cotton field
days to follow at 2-week intervals.
Rice will lead off a series of
online commodity-based field days designed to give Arkansans a first look at
the latest University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture research and
extension from the safety of their homes.
The rice field day will be
held at 6 p.m. on Aug. 20, and will be followed at two-week intervals by corn
on Sept. 3, soybeans on Sept. 17 and cotton on Oct. 1.
Social distancing protocols
during the COVID-19 pandemic led the Division of Agriculture to take its annual
agricultural field days online, said Nathan Slaton, associate vice president
for agriculture and assistant director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment
Station.
“Field days are an important
activity for the Division of Agriculture,” Slaton said. “They provide our
farmers and other Arkansans an opportunity to hear directly from our scientists
about research and extension programs that are important to them. Visitors
also have an opportunity to ask questions and speak to us about the
agricultural challenges they face and how we can assist them.
“In keeping with physical
distancing precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are moving our field
days online to maintain that face-to-face interaction without the risk of
spreading the virus,” Slaton said.
The rice field day will cover
new varieties, the latest research in hybrid varieties, soil fertility, weed
management, and disease and pest control. The event will open at 6 p.m. with a
welcome from Bob Scott, former director of the Rice Research and Extension
Center and new Division of Agriculture senior associate vice president and
director of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
Roger Pohlner, chairman of the
Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board will give an update on the board’s
activities.
Online presentations by Arkansas Agricultural
Experiment Station researchers and Extension Service specialists will include:
·
Weed Control in
Rice — Jason Norsworthy, professor of weed science
·
Hybrid Rice
Breeding — Ehsan Shakiba, assistant professor of hybrid rice breeding
·
Managing
Potassium in Rice — Trent Roberts, associate professor and extension soil
fertility specialist
·
Foliar
Fungicides / Fungicide Seed Treatments — Yeshi Wamishe, extension rice
pathologist
·
New
Rice Varieties — Xueyan Sha, professor and rice breeder
A live question-and-answer
session following the presentations will give participants an opportunity to
interact with scientists and learn more about how the research applies to their
crops and operations.
The field days are free, but registration is
required to connect. Register for the rice field day here: https://bit.ly/ArkRiceOnline
For more information about the
online field days and to register for the later commodity events, visit the
2020 virtual field day website: https://aaes.uark.edu/field-days.
A recording of the field day will be available on demand from the website after
the live broadcast on Aug. 20.
To learn more about Division of Agriculture
research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow us on Twitter
at @ArkAgResearch and
Instagram at ArkAgResearch.
To learn about Extension Programs in Arkansas,
contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @UAEX_edu.
Source:
U of A System Division of Agriculture, which is solely responsible for the
information provided, and wholly owns the information. Informa Business Media
and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained
in this information asset.
https://www.farmprogress.com/rice/rice-leads-series-online-research-field-days-arkansas-commodities
Consumption of inorganic
arsenic bearing rice associated with elevated cardiovascular mortality
Rice is the most widely consumed staple food
source for a large part of the world's population. It has now been confirmed
that rice can contribute to prolonged low-level arsenic exposure leading to
thousands of avoidable premature deaths per year.
Arsenic is well known acute poison, but it can
also contribute to health problems, including cancers and cardiovascular
diseases, if consumed at even relatively low concentrations over an extended
period of time.
Compared to other staple foods, rice tends to
concentrate inorganic arsenic. Across the globe, over three billion people
consume rice as their major staple and the inorganic arsenic in that rice has
been estimated by some to give rise to over 50,000 avoidable premature deaths
per year.
A collaborating group of cross-Manchester
researchers from The University of Manchester and The University of Salford
have published new research exploring the relationship, in England and Wales,
between the consumption of rice and cardiovascular diseases caused by arsenic
exposure.
Their findings, published in the journal Science
of the Total Environment, shows that - once corrected for the major
factors known to contribute to cardiovascular disease (for example obesity,
smoking, age, lack of income, lack of education) there is a significant
association between elevated cardiovascular mortality, recorded at a local
authority level, and the consumption of inorganic arsenic bearing rice.
The type of study undertaken, an ecological
study, has many limitations, but is a relatively inexpensive way of determining
if there is plausible link between increased consumption of inorganic arsenic
bearing rice and increased risk of cardiovascular disease."
Professor David Polya, The University of
Manchester
Professor Polya from The University of
Manchester said "The study suggests that the highest 25 % of rice
consumers in England and Wales may plausibly be at greater risks of
cardiovascular mortality due to inorganic arsenic exposure compared to the
lowest 25 % of rice consumers.
"The modelled increased risk is around 6 %
(with a confidence interval for this figure of 2 % to 11 %). The increased risk
modeled might also reflect in part a combination of the susceptibility,
behaviours and treatment of those communities in England and Wales with
relatively high rice diets."
While more robust types of study are required
to confirm the result, given many of the beneficial effects otherwise of eating
rice due to its high fibre content, the research team suggest that rather than
avoid eating rice, people could consume rice varieties, such as basmati, and
different types like polished rice (rather whole grain rice) which are known to
typically have lower inorganic arsenic contents. Other positive behaviours
would be to eat a balanced variety of staples, not just predominately rice.
Punjab CM urges PM not to
allow GI tagging of MP basmati
Chandigarh, Aug 5 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister
Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his
personal intervention to not allow Geographical Indication (GI) tagging of 13
basmati producing districts of Madhya Pradesh in the larger interest of the
other basmati producing state’s, including Punjab.
Apart from Punjab, other states which already
have GI tagging for basmati are Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi,
Western Uttar Pradesh and select districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Noting that the All India Rice Exporters
Association is also opposed to consider any claim of Madhya Pradesh for GI
tagging for basmati, raising concerns about its serious negative impact on
India’s export potential, the Chief Minister noted that India exports basmati
to the tune of Rs 33,000 crore every year, but any dilution in registration of
Indian basmati may give advantage to Pakistan, which also produces basmati as
per GI tagging, in the international market in terms of basmati characteristics
and quality parameters.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, the Chief
Minister has drawn his attention to the economically and socially important
issue of geographical tagging, saying that GI tagging of Madhya Pradesh basmati
would negatively impact the state’s agriculture and also India’s basmati
exports.
Madhya Pradesh has sought the inclusion of 13
of its districts for GI tagging for basmati.
Urging Modi to direct the authorities not to
disturb the status quo in this matter, the Chief Minister said that this was
essential for safeguarding the interests of the farmers and the basmati
exporters of India.
As per the geographical indications of the
Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, a “geographical indication tag
can be issued for agricultural goods that are originating in the territory of a
country, or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality,
reputation or other characteristics of such goods is essentially attributable
to its geographical origin”.
“GI tag for basmati is given to the
traditionally growing areas of basmati due to their special aroma and quality
and taste of the grain, which is indigenous to the region below the foothills
of Himalayas in the Indo-Gangetic plains, and basmati of this area has distinct
recognition across the world,” the Chief Minister pointed out.
–IANS
https://www.canindia.com/punjab-cm-urges-pm-not-to-allow-gi-tagging-of-mp-basmati/
Pies, rice and dog food urgently recalled over salmonella
and nut allergy fears
Some products may contain small pieces of sharp
glass or ingredients not mentioned on the label such as nuts
·
16:17, 4 AUG 2020
·
UPDATED16:25, 4 AUG 2020Bottom
of Form
Products may have even been exposed to harmful salmonella (Image: Getty Images)
Food
products that could be dangerous to eat are being urgently recalled by
major supermarkets across the country.
Food
Standards Scotland shared the alerts over
items including beef pies, hot sauce, rice, scallops and dog food.
Some
items may contain small pieces of sharp glass or ingredients not
mentioned on the label such as nuts.
Other products may have even been exposed to
harmful salmonella.
Customers are being advised not to eat any of
the listed items and to return them immediately in exchange for a full
refund.
Here are all the latest product recalls and the
actions you should take if you have purchased them:
Uncle Ben’s
Brown Basmati rice
·
Mars Food UK is recalling Uncle Ben’s Brown
Basmati ready to heat rice pouches as some packs may contain pieces of glass.
The possible presence of glass makes this
product dangerous to eat.
Pack
size: 250g
Best
before dates: 17 November 2020 to 24 May 2021
Highland
Bay Seafoods Whole King Scallops
Highland Bay Seafoods is recalling their Baked
Whole King Scallops with a creamy leek and kale sauce topped with mash potatoes
because it contains fish which is not mentioned on the label.
This means the product is a possible health
risk for anyone with an allergy to fish.
Product: Baked
Whole King Scallops with a creamy leek & kale sauce topped with mash potato
Pack
size: 200g (2 scallops in a pack)
‘Best
before’ end date: 07/2020, 09/2020, 12/2020 and
04/2021
Batch
codes / Lot numbers: R006, R007, R008 and 20106
Benyfit
Natural Pet Food
Benyfit Natural Pet Food Ltd has taken the
precautionary step of recalling several types of frozen raw dog food products
containing beef because the products might contain salmonella.
These products have been sold by various
independent pet food stores and online.
Product:
Beef Meat Feast, Beef & Tripe, Beef & Ox,
Succulent Beef, Raw Natural Working Dog Food Beef Complete, Premium Beef,
Unique Raw Chicken, Beef & Ox.
For more
information on expiry dates and batch codes, click here.
S&B
Golden Curry Medium Hot Sauce
JFC (UK) Ltd is recalling S&B Golden Curry
Medium Hot Sauce Mix because it contains celery and mustard which are not
mentioned on the label.
This means the product could pose a risk to
those allergic to celery or mustard.
Pack
size: 1 kg
‘Best
before’ end date: 22 December 2020, 16 March 2021, 07 May
2021, 23 May 2021, 12 June 2021, 10 July 2021
Allergens: Celery,
Mustard
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/rice-pies-dog-food-urgently-22468115
Increased global mortality
linked to arsenic exposure in rice-based diets
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
Rice is the most widely consumed staple food
source for a large part of the world's population. It has now been confirmed
that rice can contribute to prolonged low-level arsenic exposure leading to
thousands of avoidable premature deaths per year.
Arsenic is well known acute poison, but it can
also contribute to health problems,
including cancers and cardiovascular diseases, if consumed at even relatively
low concentrations over an extended period of time.
Compared to other staple foods, rice tends to
concentrate inorganic arsenic.
Across the globe, over three billion people consume rice as their major staple
and the inorganic arsenic in that rice has been estimated by some to give rise
to over 50,000 avoidable premature deaths per year.
A collaborating group of cross-Manchester
researchers from The University of Manchester and The University of Salford
have published new research exploring the relationship, in England and Wales,
between the consumption of rice and cardiovascular diseases caused by arsenic
exposure.
Their findings, published in the journal Science
of the Total Environment, shows that—once corrected for the major factors
known to contribute to cardiovascular disease (for example obesity, smoking,
age, lack of income, lack of education) there is a significant association
between elevated cardiovascular mortality, recorded at a local authority level,
and the consumption of inorganic arsenic bearing rice.
Professor David Polya from The University of
Manchester said: "The type of study undertaken, an ecological study, has
many limitations, but is a relatively inexpensive way of determining if there
is plausible link between increased consumption of inorganic arsenic bearing
rice and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Professor Polya from The University of
Manchester said "The study suggests that the highest 25 % of rice
consumers in England and Wales may plausibly be at greater risks of
cardiovascular mortality due to inorganic arsenic exposure compared to the
lowest 25 % of rice consumers.
"The modeled increased risk is around 6%
(with a confidence interval for this figure of 2% to 11%). The increased risk
modeled might also reflect in part a combination of the susceptibility,
behaviors and treatment of those communities in England and Wales with
relatively high rice diets."
While more robust types of study are required
to confirm the result, given many of the beneficial effects otherwise of eating
rice due to its high fiber content, the research team suggest that rather than
avoid eating rice, people could consume rice varieties, such as basmati, and
different types like polished rice (rather whole grain rice) which are known to
typically have lower inorganic arsenic contents.
Other positive behaviors would be to eat a balanced variety of staples, not
just predominantly rice.
https://phys.org/news/2020-08-global-mortality-linked-arsenic-exposure.html
Pokkali rice seedlings travel from Kerala to the Sunderbans
KOCHI: , AUGUST
05, 2020 21:09 IST
Khudiram
Halder, who has brought pokkali seeds from Kerala, sowing them in his village
in Mathurapur Block-2, Sundarbans, West Bengal. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Saltwater
resistant variety may help farmers tide over saltwater incursion caused by
cyclone Amphan
Two farmers in South 24 Parganas district in
West Bengal are betting on the pokkali variety of rice from Kerala to tide over
a crisis-like situation created by severe seawater incursion into paddy fields
in vast areas of the Sundarbans after the cyclone Amphan hit West Bengal on May
20.
The pokkali variety of rice is known for its
saltwater resistance and flourishes in the rice paddies of coastal Alappuzha,
Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. The uniqueness of the rice has brought it the
Geographical Indication (GI) tag and is the subject of continuing research.
Ramkumar Mandal and Khudiram Halder, who have
brought about 30 cents of land under pokkali sowing on an experimental basis,
said from their village in Mathurapur Block-2 that they heard of the saltwater
resistant pokkali rice through the Breakthrough Science Society, which has
science clubs in the Sundarbans.
Eminent physicist Soumitro Banerjee of the
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Kolkata, who is a
member of the science society, said that pokkali rice had been in the news
because of its uniqueness and also because a group of people in Kerala have
been trying to revive the cultivation of the rice variety in the State. Dr.
Banerjee said that the science society was aware of the problem facing the
farmers in the Sundarbans and it was decided that pokkali seeds could be tried
out as saltwater incursion had been quite serious in vast areas of the
Sundarbans.
Mr. Mandal said that about 80% of the rice
paddies in the Sundarbans faced the problem of saltwater incursion and if the
pokkali experiment succeeded, it would be a good step to turn around the fortunes
of the farmers. He said that the seedlings were doing well so far.
Vytilla-11
variety
Five kilos of Vyttila-11 variety of pokkali
seedlings were sent by post by Francis Kalathungal, who is part of the Pokkali
Samrakshana Samithi, which has been at the vanguard of a movement to revive
pokkali cultivation and prevent it from dying out. He said on Tuesday that the
success of the experiment in the Sunderbans will be a big boost to pokkali
cultivation even in Kerala.
Vyttila-11 is the latest variety to come out of
Kerala Agricultural University’s field station in Vyttila, said Dr. A. K.
Sreelatha of the Rice Research Station. She said that Vyttila-11 promises
better yield of about 5 tonnes per hectare than the previous varieties, and is
crossed with the Jyoti variety of rice popular in Kerala. The crop duration is
about 110 days.
FDA
announces limit on inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereals
By on August
6, 2020
The Food and Drug Administration has announced the
availability of a final guidance for industry entitled “Inorganic
Arsenic in Rice Cereals for Infants: Action Level.”
“This
guidance finalizes FDA’s action level for inorganic arsenic in rice cereals for
infants of 100 micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg) or 100 parts per billion (ppb)
and identifies FDA’s intended sampling and enforcement approach. The basis for
the action level is set forth in the revised supporting document,” according to
the agency announcement.
The guidance identifies for industry an action
level for inorganic arsenic in rice cereals for infants that is intended to
help protect public health and is achievable with the use of current good
manufacturing practices. It also describes intended sampling and enforcement
approaches. It comes eight years after Consumer Reports (CR) first went public
with the problem of the potentially dangerous presence of inorganic
arsenic in infant rice cereals.
CR applauded the FDA for taking the action but
did reiterate its concern that limits are still needed on arsenic in other
rice-based products and on heavy metals in baby food. And, the Healthy Babies Bright Futures
(HBBF) alliance was more blunt, saying the organization’s research shows that
FDA’s 100 ppb (parts per billion) “action level” is not a protective,
health-based limit for babies.
“We’ve known for years that arsenic is found at
troubling levels in infant rice cereals and can pose serious health threats to
babies regularly exposed to it,” said Brian Ronholm, CR’s director of food
policy. “The FDA’s action is an important first step, but the agency
needs to be far more aggressive in protecting young children from the dangers
of arsenic and other heavy metals in food.”
Ronholm is a former deputy undersecretary for
food safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Under the new guidance issued, the FDA has
established the limit of 100 ppb for inorganic arsenic in infant rice
cereal—not far from the 90 ppb limit recommended by CR. Infants and
children are especially vulnerable to exposure to arsenic. It can cause damage
to a baby’s developing brain even at low levels, according to CR. Arsenic has also been proven to
increase the risk of developing bladder, lung, and skin cancers, as well as
heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
No federal limit exists for inorganic arsenic
in most foods. Since 2012,
Consumer Reports has been calling on the FDA to set limits on arsenic in rice
and rice products. Tests conducted by CR that year found varying levels of
inorganic arsenic in more than 60 rice and rice products, including worrisome
levels in infant cereals.
CR found that some infant rice cereals, which
are often a baby’s first solid food, had levels of inorganic arsenic at least
five times more than has been found in alternatives such as oatmeal. According
to federal data, some infants eat up to two to three servings of rice cereal a
day. Eating rice cereal at that rate, with the highest level of inorganic
arsenic CR found in its tests, could result in a risk of cancer twice as high
as its experts calculated to be acceptable.
Subsequent tests by Consumer Reports in 2014 found
that rice cereal and rice pasta can have much more inorganic arsenic than its
previous test showed. CR concluded that one serving of either could put
children over the maximum recommended amount they should have in a week.
And CR tests in 2018 of
other packaged foods for babies and toddlers found troubling levels of
inorganic arsenic, cadmium, and lead. CR found that at least two-thirds of the
50 packaged foods it tested had worrisome levels of at least one of these heavy
metals. Fifteen of the foods would pose health risks to a child who regularly
ate just one serving or less per day. Snacks and products containing rice and
sweet potatoes were particularly likely to have high levels of heavy metals.
The risks from heavy metals grow over time, in
part because they accumulate in the kidneys and other organs. Regularly
consuming even small amounts over a long period of time may raise the risk of
bladder, lung, and skin cancer; cognitive and reproductive problems; and type 2
diabetes.
“Parents can take a number of steps to limit
their child’s exposure to heavy metals in food, but they should be able to
expect that the government is putting public health first,” said Michael
Hansen, senior scientist for Consumer Reports. “The FDA should set protective
targets for reducing exposure to heavy metals with the goal of having no
measurable levels in children’s food.”
For parents concerned about exposure to heavy
metals, Consumer Reports recommends talking with a pediatrician to determine
whether their child should be tested. Parents can reduce exposure by serving
their child a broad array of healthful whole foods, limiting the amount of rice
cereal in their diet, and being mindful of how much fruit juice they serve.
Arsenic is strictly regulated in drinking
water, but unrestricted until now in infant rice cereals. Healthy Babies Bright Futures
(HBBF), which includes scientists, nonprofit organizations, and interested
donors, says FDA has not considered IQ loss and other forms of neurological
impact that children may experience from high exposures to arsenic in rice.
”And FDA failed to consider harm from multiple
toxic heavy metals—arsenic as wells lead, cadmium, and mercury, that
contaminated not only rice but other common baby foods as well—all of which
contribute to risks for a baby’s healthy development,” the organization’s
statement said.
An HBBF study in 2017 found toxic heavy metals
in 95 percent of 168 baby foods tested. They
also found rice cereals on average contained 85 ppl of arsenic.
“The FDA’s announcement is a step toward
ensuring that babies’ brains are protected from exposure to harmful chemicals,
but it is not a large enough step,” said Charlotte Brody, HBBF’s national
director. “When we released our baby food study in 2017, we suggested that the
FDA set an enforceable, health-based limit for arsenic in infant rice cereal
and other rice-based foods to protect infants from both cancer and neurological
harm. Three years later, this newly announced guidance is not the solution.
It’s just the first step in the right direction.”
HBBF said the FDA action will do little to
lower babies’ risks from toxic heavy metals in rice-based foods. Because of
their high levels of heavy metal contamination, 15 foods consumed by children
under two years of age account for 55 percent of the risk to babies’ brains.
Topping the list are rice-based foods — infant rice cereal, rice dishes, and
rice-based snacks. These popular baby foods are not only high in inorganic
arsenic, the most toxic form of arsenic, but also are nearly always
contaminated with three additional toxic heavy metals, lead, cadmium, and
mercury.
Lead and arsenic in rice-based foods account
for one-fifth of the more than 11 million IQ points children lose from birth to
24 months of age from dietary sources, according to HBBF, It says
this concentrated risk underscores the need for more clear and protective
action from the FDA and baby food companies.
The HBBK statement also says the lack of
guidance has also played a role in inequality and racial health disparities,
pointing to these findings:
·
Children with
celiac disease often eat rice in place of gluten-containing grains. They ingest
14 times more arsenic than other children, on average.
·
National diet
surveys show that Hispanic infants and toddlers are 2.5 times more likely to
eat rice on a given day than other children.
·
Asian Americans
eat nearly 10 times more rice than the national average.
·
Black toddlers
are 2 to 3 times as likely to eat arsenic-laden rice snacks.
“Making the food that babies eat safe should be
the baseline,” Brody said. “Setting a standard for the maximum amount of
arsenic allowed in baby foods is a start to keeping them safe — but 100
ppb is still far too high. No amount of arsenic, lead or other toxic heavy
metal is safe for babies.”
(To sign
up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)
Tags: arsenic, Brian
Ronholm, Consumer
Reports, FDA, Healthy
Babies Brigh
Researchers
use InSight for deep Mars measurements
Analysis of NASA lander seismograph data reveals boundaries
from crust to core
Date:
August 5, 2020
Source:
Rice University
Summary:
Using data from
NASA's InSight Lander on Mars, seismologists have made the first direct
measurements of three subsurface boundaries from the crust to the core of the
red planet.
Share:
FULL
STORY
Using data from NASA's InSight Lander on Mars,
Rice University seismologists have made the first direct measurements of three
subsurface boundaries from the crust to the core of the red planet.
"Ultimately it may help us understand
planetary formation," said Alan Levander, co-author of a study available
online this week in Geophysical Research Letters. While
the thickness of Mars' crust and the depth of its core have been calculated
with a number of models, Levander said the InSight data allowed for the first
direct measurements, which can be used to check models and ultimately to
improve them.
"In the absence of plate tectonics on
Mars, its early history is mostly preserved compared with Earth," said
study co-author Sizhuang Deng, a Rice graduate student. "The depth
estimates of Martian seismic boundaries can provide indications to better
understand its past as well as the formation and evolution of terrestrial
planets in general."
Finding clues about Mars' interior and the
processes that formed it are key goals for InSight, a robotic lander that
touched down in November 2018. The probe's dome-shaped seismometer allows
scientists to listen to faint rumblings inside the planet, in much the way that
a doctor might listen to a patient's heartbeat with a stethoscope.
Seismometers measure vibrations from seismic
waves. Like circular ripples that mark the spot where a pebble disturbed the
surface of a pond, seismic waves flow through planets, marking the location and
size of disturbances like meteor strikes or earthquakes, which are aptly called
marsquakes on the red planet. InSight's seismometer recorded more than 170 of
these from February to September 2019.
Seismic waves are also subtly altered as they
pass through different kinds of rock. Seismologists have studied the patterns
in seismographic recordings on Earth for more than a century and can use them
to map the location of oil and gas deposits and much deeper strata.
"The traditional way to investigate
structures beneath Earth is to analyze earthquake signals using dense networks
of seismic stations," said Deng. "Mars is much less tectonically
active, which means it will have far fewer marsquake events compared with
Earth. Moreover, with only one seismic station on Mars, we cannot employ
methods that rely on seismic networks."
Levander, Rice's Carey Croneis Professor of
Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, and Deng analyzed InSight's 2019
seismology data using a technique called ambient noise autocorrelation.
"It uses continuous noise data recorded by the single seismic station on
Mars to extract pronounced reflection signals from seismic boundaries,"
Deng said.
The first boundary Deng and Levander measured
is the divide between Mars' crust and mantle almost 22 miles (35 kilometers)
beneath the lander.
The second is a transition zone within the
mantle where magnesium iron silicates undergo a geochemical change. Above the
zone, the elements form a mineral called olivine, and beneath it, heat and
pressure compress them into a new mineral called wadsleyite. Known as the
olivine-wadsleyite transition, this zone was found 690-727 miles (1,110-1,170
kilometers) beneath InSight.
"The temperature at the olivine-wadsleyite
transition is an important key to building thermal models of Mars," Deng
said. "From the depth of the transition, we can easily calculate the
pressure, and with that, we can derive the temperature."
The third boundary he and Levander measured is
the border between Mars' mantle and its iron-rich core, which they found about
945-994 miles (1,520-1,600 kilometers) beneath the lander. Better understanding
this boundary "can provide information about the planet's development from
both a chemical and thermal point of view," Deng said.
Story Source:
Materials provided by Rice University. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
1.
Sizhuang Deng,
Alan Levander. Autocorrelation Reflectivity of Mars. Geophysical
Research Letters, 2020 DOI: 10.1029/2020GL089630
Cite This Page:
Rice
University. "Researchers use InSight for deep Mars measurements: Analysis
of NASA lander seismograph data reveals boundaries from crust to core."
ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 5 August 2020.
<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200805160929.htm>.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200805160929.htm
