Wednesday, July 15, 2015

10th July (Friday),2015Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Rain brings drought relief in North Korea
June rainfall eases fears of chronic food shortages although many areas remain extremely short of water, says South Korea
Description: A farmer stands in front of a field in South Hwanghae province North Korea. In other parts of the country, rains have eased the drought that has been called the worst for a century, according to South Korean officials.A farmer stands in front of a field in South Hwanghae province North Korea. In other parts of the country, rains have eased the drought that has been called the worst for a century, according to South Korean officials. Photograph: Wong Maye-E/AP


Friday 10 July 201515.20 BSTLast modified on Friday 10 July 201515.24 BST
North Korea received enough rain in June to ease a drought that had been described by Pyongyang as the worst in a century – although parts of the country remain acutely short of water, the South Korean government said on Friday.The North’s official media said in mid-June the country had been hit by the worst drought in 100 years. The lack of rain is believed to have compounded chronic food shortages in North Korea, which has seen external aid decline in recent years.“We believe the drought was eased considerably in June,” said South Korea’s unification ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee. “Rainfall in June rose to almost 90% of the average year.”
Jeong said rainfall in May had been about half that of an average year, and that the drought continued in the main rice farming regions of Hwanghae and some of the northern provinces.The KCNA news agency said in June that paddies around the country, including in Hwanghae and Phyongan provinces in the south, were drying up due to the lack of rainfall.The shortage of rain in May prompted the UN resident coordinator for North Korea, Ghulam Isaczai, to warn of a looming food crisis, especially after rains in 2014 were the lowest in records going back 30 years.
The UN children’s fund, Unicef, released a statement recently calling for urgent action to prevent deaths. “The situation is urgent,” said Unicef east Asia regional director Daniel Toole. “If we delay until we are certain of crop failures it may well be too late to save the most vulnerable children,” pointing to significant increases in cases of diarrhoea.North Korea’s farm production periodically suffers from droughts and floods in the summer, but experts said the state has updated farming methods and allowed the emergence of markets and an unofficial economy to promote food trade.
U.S. Rice Industry United in Efforts to Open Chinese Market
Dow Brantley
Brantley wants a reasonable agreement
DALLAS, TEXAS -- At a meeting here yesterday the USA Rice Producers' Group unanimously passed a motion urging the conclusion of negotiations between the United States and China to establish a phytosanitary agreement that would pave the way for U.S. rice to be exported to China.The group, representing rice farmers in all six rice states covering close to 90 percent of the U.S. rice crop, offered guidance to U.S. negotiators to help them finalize a deal that would be acceptable and manageable to the U.S. industry.The negotiations, between USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and their Chinese counterparts (AQSIQ), have dragged on for years and hit snags recently when the Chinese made demands the U.S. industry felt were not based on sound science.
 "The Chinese are demanding our industry set traps for insects that do not exist in the United States, and that we set a totally unreasonable number of traps per square foot of storage space," said John Owen, a Louisiana rice farmer and chairman of the USA Rice Producers' Group.The USA Rice Millers' Association, whose members would be responsible for the trapping, agreed with the producers."We're not opposed to trapping, but, any agreement needs to meet reasonable standards that are consistent with international trade agreement precedents and be based on quantifiable, scientific data consistent with previous USDA/APHIS procedures," said Chris Crutchfield, a California miller and chairman of the USA Rice Millers' Association.
 Chinese negotiators are also demanding very specific package labeling that is both unprecedented and many felt unfeasible."The labeling requirements are not appropriate for inclusion in a phytosanitary protocol at all," said Dick Ottis, chairman of the USA Rice Merchants' Association.The three organizations came together under the industry's national organization, USA Rice, to adopt the joint resolution.Dow Brantley, an Arkansas rice farmer and chairman of USA Rice, was pleased with the industry's unity and strong statement that both supports, and guides, U.S. negotiators.
 "There's no question we'd like to participate in the Chinese market, but these ever-evolving demands being made by the Chinese government were making it ever-less likely we were going to actually gain access to the market," Brantley said.  "We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. negotiators on our behalf, and are happy to provide input as a united industry."
Brantley said the market has great potential for the U.S. industry, and that his group has been working for years to establish trade relationships and line up customers for the day the phytosanitary deal is complete.  However, he says if the final deal is based on unreasonable, unscientific demands that can never be truly satisfied, there's little point to agreeing."The notion that you can agree to something with the Chinese government now and fix it later is very naïve," he said.  "Once the ink dries on that deal, the Chinese are going to hold us to it, so it needs to be a deal we all can live with today and that actually allows us to start sending our rice over there."
 Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458

USA Rice Federation News
WASDE Report Released
WASHINGTON, DC --U.S. 2015/16 all rice supplies are lowered 11.0 million cwt to 278.4 million due to a production decrease. Supplies of long-grain rice are lowered 12.5 million, but medium- and short-grain rice supplies are raised 1.5 million. All rice production is lowered 12.0 million cwt to 207.0 million due mostly to a decrease in area with long-grain production reduced 9.5 million and medium- and short-grain rice lowered 2.5 million. All rice planted area, as reported inAcreage is estimated at 2.77 million acres, with long-grain at 2.07 million, and medium- and short-grain area at 0.69 million. Beginning stocks for 2015/16 are raised 1.0 million cwt to 46.4 million due to revisions made to 2014/15 all rice and rice-by-class supply and use. All rice average yield is estimated at 7,544 pounds per acre. All rice total use is lowered 1.0 million cwt to 240.0 million cwt, with domestic and residual use lowered 1.0 million cwt to 130.0 million, and exports unchanged at 110.0 million cwt. Ending stocks are projected at 38.4 million cwt, down 10.0 million.
U.S. 2014/15 all rice exports are lowered 1.0 million cwt, raising ending stocks by the same amount. Long-grain domestic and residual use and exports are raised; ending stocks lowered; and the season-average price increased. Medium-and short-grain domestic and residual use and exports lowered; ending stocks raised and the average price unchanged. June 1 Rice Stocks implied shifts in the rice-by-class domestic and residual use estimates. Rice-by-class export estimates are based on U.S. Census Bureau trade data through May and the latest export sales data.
U.S. long-grain 2015/16 rice season-average price is projected at $10.90 to $11.90 per cwt, up 90 cents per cwt on each end of the range. Medium- and short-grain price is unchanged at $17.80 to $18.80 per cwt. All rice price is projected at $13.00 to $14.00 per cwt, up 70 cents on each end of the range. California medium- and short-grain price range is raised 50 cents. Other States medium-and short-grain price midpoint is lowered 20 cents per cwt.

Reduced global 2015/16 rice production leads to lower ending stocks. World rice production is projected at 480.3 million tons, still a record, down 1.4 million from last month, but up 4.0 million from last year. Rice crops are lowered for Australia, Madagascar, North Korea, Thailand, and the United States. Dry conditions in principal rice growing areas of Thailand led to a 4-percent cut in production to 19.0 million tons, still slightly above 2014/15. North Korea's crop is lowered 6 percent to 1.6 million tons due to dry conditions in the main rice producing region. Australia's rice crop is lowered due to falling reservoir levels and a drop in expected planted area. Global consumption and trade are lowered. Thailand's export projection is reduced 0.8 million tons to 10.2 million because of tighter supplies.  Conversely, export projections are raised for Burma, Pakistan, and Vietnam. Global ending stocks are projected at 90.5 million tons, down 0.9 million, the lowest since 2007/08. The global stocks-to-use ratio at 18.5 percent is the lowest since 2006/07. Ending stocks are lowered for Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States.

Read the full WASDE report here.

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   
CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for July 10.
Month
Price
Net Change

July 2015
$10.855
+ $0.040
September 2015
$11.085
+ $0.035
November 2015
$11.355
 + $0.035
January 2016
$11.620
 + $0.035
March 2016
$11.780
+ $0.035
May 2016
$11.950
+ $0.035
July 2016
$11.950
+ $0.035

Foodgrain imports rise to four-year high

Farmers hurt by high imports
Description: http://www.thedailystar.net/sites/default/files/styles/big_4/public/feature/images/foodgrain-23.jpg?itok=VaVCMTd8&c=96f3e4024abad5157a116cd7484b4b7d
Sohel Parvez and Ahmed Humayun Kabir Topu
Food grain imports surged to a four-year high of 52.69 lakh tonnes in the just concluded fiscal year owing to low prices of rice and wheat on the international market.In fiscal 2013-14, cereal imports stood at 30.65 lakh tonnes, according to data from the food ministry.Rice imports by private traders soared nearly four times last fiscal year to 14.9 lakh tonnes, while wheat imports rose 40 percent year-on-year to 37.79 lakh tonnes.The private sector accounted for 91 percent of the wheat imports, the data showed.
The latest import figure was one of the highest in the last three decades. Such high imports were recorded earlier in fiscal 2010-11 and 1998-99, when 53.13 lakh tonnes and 54.91 lakh tonnes were brought in.Wheat imports went up due to lower prices on the international market, said Abul Bashar Chowdhury, chairman of BSM Group, a Chittagong-based commodity importer.The demand for wheat flour rises when its prices are lower than that of rice, he said.Both the surging imports and higher domestic production have increased the supply of rice and wheat in the market, leading to a drop in prices -- a situation that benefits consumers but hurt growers.
Description: http://www.thedailystar.net/sites/default/files/styles/very_big_1/public/news/images/foodgrain-22.jpg?itok=lI6lHWFxRice and wheat are now trading below last year's prices, according to traders and market price data compiled by government agencies.The domestic glut of rice crops and high imports created a surplus in the market, so the demand remained lukewarm, said Md Layek Ali, general secretary of Bangladesh Auto, Major and Husking Mills Association.Subsequently, paddy sold at prices much lower than the farmers' cost of production, he added.Farmers bagged higher paddy in the immediate aman and boro crops, which accounted for over 90 percent of total annual rice production. Additionally, imports rose.“Regular rice imports keep the demand for locally produced rice low. Most of the small millers are not buying paddy,” said Ali.
Though prices rose after the government imposed duty on rice imports, it could not discourage imports to a great extent, he added.Depending on quality, paddy is trading between Tk 510 and Tk 730 each maund now, said Md Sajjad Ali, a farmer as well as a paddy trader at Naogaon, a rice-producing district in the northwest.
The current prices are lower than the prices of last year, he said.To ensure fair prices for farmers, the government buys rice at Tk 32 per kilogram from millers and at Tk 22 per kilogram of paddy.But the ongoing purchase of boro rice could not support farmers to recover their paddy production cost of Tk 20 per kilogram, according to farmers.“Millers are not buying. Instead, many millers are supplying rice to the government warehouses by milling previously bought and stocked paddy.”Apart from rice, wheat growers also suffer for falling prices due to soaring imports and higher domestic production in the immediate season.
The wheat production estimate is yet to be finalised, but the Department of Agricultural Extension forecasts that farmers harvested 14.83 lakh tonnes of the grain this year, up from last year's 13.02 lakh tonnes.The private sector has stocked a huge amount of imported wheat due to lower prices in the international markets and that has affected prices, said SK Wazed Ali, owner of Lakhya Flour Industry.Wheat is now trading at Tk 700-900 each maund, he said, adding that wheat prices were higher last year.Though the quality of locally grown wheat is good, its overall prices have decreased because of increased imports, he said.Each maund of locally grown wheat is selling between Tk 800 and Tk 850 at wholesale level, down from Tk 950 and Tk 1,150 last year, said Md Shohel Hossain, a wheat trader from Pabna, a northwest district.The prices may fall after the end of the government's wheat procurement drive, he said.“The supply of wheat is more than the demand due to the bumper production of the crop. So the prospect of price recovery in the near-term seems gloomy.” 
http://www.thedailystar.net/business/foodgrain-imports-rise-four-year-high-110206

Philippines' rice production under pressure from El Niño

 

The Philippines is suffering the worst from the effects of the El Niño dry spell and driving up demand for milled rice imports, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)...
See detail…
 http://www.hoteldealsphuket.com/phukettravelnews/news/philippines-rice-production-under-pressure-from-el-nino#sthash.7lQvH6o9.dpuf

Move Over Golden Rice: Scientists Claim to Have Invented New Rice “To Feed the World”

July 10, 2015 by Christina Sarich. 
  For more CE articles regarding GMOs please click HERE.
Biotech scientists claim to have created the holy-grail once again after mutating genes of rice to “have longer, hardier grains that cook faster and taste better.” This is the latest GM ‘discovery’ being hailed as a way to feed the world.Rice is a staple food in many countries and has been for thousands of years. That’s also another reason it is a Blue Ribbon prize for biotech. If they can create a genetically modified version of rice and force it into markets as they have already done with soy and corn, they will have monopolized not only the US market, but international markets as well.Somehow biotech thinks that their version of genetically manipulated rice will be better than the over 40,000 varieties that currently exist. The US produces only two percent of the world’s rice, but is the world’s fourth largest rice exporter. They are also quite possibly the only country which has allowed biotech to absolutely dominate their farmland, governmental regulatory agencies, and even universities.
Rice is also the staple food of most low and lower-middle income countries, with Asia consuming 90 percent of all rice grown, and Africa coming second, making it a very attractive option indeed for the biotech industry. You know the saying, beggars can’t be choosers.Entire continents like Africa have even refused donated food though, and in the article titled “Better Dead than GM Fed?” the Economistdetails how Zambia and other countries have refused deliveries of GM corn and soya from the UN World Food Programme, though they face some of the largest populations of the poverty-stricken, arguably, in the entire world.
Golden Rice, involving standard first generation gene technology funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, was also developed to “feed hungry and poor” countries, as well as to eliminate blindness by being genetically modified to have higher levels of Vitamin A, but after 70 patents were filed on the GM genes and constructs used in making the golden rice to protect its creation, this rice failed to feed the poor or reverse blindness.Indeed, the new GM rice could feed “half the entire population,” as some mainstream news headlines suggest, but so could the already existing strains of rice that are currently being grown.Furthermore, the “we need GM to feed the world” propaganda has been exposed for what it truly is. We already produce 17% more food than we did 30 years ago, and food distribution is more at the heart of the problem than food creation. We also throw away tons of the stuff. Americans waste more than $165 billion worth, annually. Power keeps people hungry, not the lack of food – especially not the genetically modified creations of Big Biotech. We simply don’t need them.
http://www.collective-evolution.com/2015/07/10/move-over-golden-rice-scientists-claim-to-have-invented-new-rice-to-feed-the-world/

Senate Tasks CBN To Recover N30bn Rice Import Waiver

Chinenye Ugonna,
The Senate has tasked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to return N30bn given by the federal government for rice waiver.The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, has asked the CBN to recover the N30 billion import waiver, especially on rice, given to them by the federal government.This was disclosed on Wednesday, July 8, when the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, was invited to the Senate to brief the principal officers on the country’s economic status.

Saraki said that the large amount of money given as waivers is the primary reason for the low progress of the rice industries in the country. He also stressed the need for alteration of the economy asides oil as its primary source.“It has been brought to our notice some of the waivers on duties especially on rice. Over N30bn were given to certain comp
http://www.naij.com/484193-senate-tasks-cbn-to-recover-n30bn-rice-import-waiver.html
Venezuela to stop buying rice from Guyana amid dispute
By BERT WILKINSON - Associated Press - Thursday, July 9, 2015
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) - Venezuela has decided to stop buying much of Guyana’s rice crop amid an escalating border dispute between the South American neighbors, the Guyanese finance minister said Thursday.Finance Minister Winston Jordan said Venezuelan officials informed him during a visit to Caracas that they will be acquiring rice from other suppliers, including Suriname, by the end of the year.

Description: http://staticd.cdn.adblade.com/banners/images/298x224/31425_5555ff4c483c9.jpgVenezuela has in the past four years purchased about 40 percent of Guyana’s rice production, or about 200,000 tons, paying for it with oil that amounts to about half of Guyana’s daily supply needs. “It will be a significant blow to us,” said Peter DeGroot, president of the Rice Millers Association.The exchange of rice for oil was done under the Petrocaribe program, a Venezuelan initiative that provides fuel at generous financial terms to Caribbean and Central American countries. Guyana remains a member of Petrocaribe and will continue toBUY OILDescription: http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png from Venezuela, Jordan said.
Jordan said Venezuela did not disclose the reason for its decision, but the long-running border dispute has been heating up following the recent disclosure of a major oil discovery off Guyana in waters that Venezuela also claims. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced Monday that he was recalling his ambassador in Guyana for consultations and would review relations between the countries.Venezuela has long refused to recognize a boundary drawn in 1899 and it claims about two-thirds of Guyana’s territory as its own. Venezuela published a new map in May that expanded its maritime territory to essentially leave Guyana landlocked.
Guyana Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said the timing of the rice announcement made it at least appear that it is connected to the border fight.“It will have to be considered whether Venezuela’s position of the non-renewal of the Petrocaribe barter agreement is indeed an act of economic sanction against Guyana,” he said in a statement.President David Granger told Parliament on Thursday that Guyana does not have the military capacity to challenge Venezuela and his government would seek an international judicial settlement over the border issue.
“Guyana has never used aggression against any state,” said Granger, a retired army general. “In as much as we are a peace loving state we will not allow our territorial integrity to be violated and threatened.”The finance minister said Venezuela did not rule out future purchases of rice. He also said that Venezuela had previously informed Guyanese officials of the plans to discontinue the bulk purchase of rice but the government of President Donald Ramotar, which lost May elections, did not disclose the information.

UP scientist clarifies she didn't say eat 'fake' rice

ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 07/11/2015 10:54 AM
MANILA - A University of the Philippines (UP) food scientist clarified that she did not say that the people should eat the alleged "fake" rice recently discovered in Davao.Ma. Concepcion Lizada, a professor emeritus of Food Science in UP Diliman, said she does not know the nature of the fake rice being sold in Davao.She advised the public not to consume it, and recommended that it be confiscated so that authorities can determine its sources."I did not say we should eat 'fake rice,'" Lizada said in a statement."If it is extruded grain, it should have gone through FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), and its quality and safety checked. If it is from another country, it must have gone through these agencies, and the DA (Department of Agriculture) as well.""At this point, we don't know what it's made of and if it's safe. And I would advise that we don't consume it, that it be confiscated and the source determined," she added.She stressed that any food product sold in Philippine markets should have gone through proper documentation and certification processes required by the FDA.
"If it has plasticizers, I would hope these are not intentionally added. There is also the possibility that these contaminants may have leached out of the packaging materials, especially if the packaged product has been exposed to high temperatures during storage, shipment or handling," she noted.According to Lizada, she was referring to "extruded grains" when she talked during an open forum at the two-day 37th Annual Scientific Meeting of the National Academy of Science and Technology at theMANILA HOTELDescription: http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png."I discussed the possibility of processing different starches (from broken rice, corn, cassava or sweet potato) and shape them like grains. The process is extrusion, which has been around for some time and is the same process for producing snacks, breakfast cereals, etc. The more precise term to use would be 'extruded grains.' Corn rice is locally manufactured and I presume this is extruded corn. Perhaps we should not call it corn rice, but use a more appropriate name to reflect the fact that it is not made from rice," she said.She said the Bureau of Agricultural Research of the DA supported the network of food science, postharvest and nutrition in the early 2000's. Among the projects supported was iron-fortified rice implemented by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute.
The iron was mixed with pulverized rice starch and extruded to produce rice grains. The grains were then mixed with polished rice, she said, adding that was even marketed by the National Food Authority (NFA)."The extrusion process provides the opportunity to produce rice with nutrients that are otherwise absent or found in low levels in rice. This allows us to address the issue of nutrient deficiency. Grains made from high fiber sources, e.g. sweet potato, cassava, would have a lower glycemic index so that blood sugar does not go up as much after eating the grains, compared to polished rice. In terms of health benefits, brown rice is superior to extruded grains. However, it takes longer to cook," said Lizada.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/07/11/15/scientist-clarifies-she-didnt-say-eat-fake-rice

Rice farmers learn global advantages at annual "Field Day"

Posted: Jul 10, 2015 7:23 AM PST
 

Description: http://kbmt.images.worldnow.com/images/8277119_G.jpgRice farmers are constantly searching for a cheaper and more effective ways of harvesting their crops, while staying ahead of the "agricultural curve".50 percent of the rice grown in the U.S. is exported, which is why local rice farmers, like Alan Gaulding of Gaulding Farms, comes to the annual "Field Day" program to help get a leg up on agricultural trends and information.Gaulding Farms, located off I-10 near Taylor's Bayou, has been loyal participants of the Texas A&M Agrilife Research Center's "Field Day" research program for generations, which is where they gain a fraction of their information on rice farming trends.Field Day began in 1947 as a way for the Texas A&M Agrilife Research Center to share its scientific research, and assist in rice production.Dr. Ted Wilson, director of the Agrilife program, said that the point of the program is to give rice farmers a broader view of the market, production, and trends.
"We give them a full picture of the different aspects of rice production management research that we have going on the in the state of Texas," Wilson said.Wilson brings rice farming experts, like Dwight Roberts, president of the U.S. Rice Producers Association, to the area to provide a global perspective on the market."We're fortunate to have our next door neighbor as our biggest buyer," Roberts said. "The U.S. ships 800,000 tons a year to Mexico."Researchers credit American farmers for separating the "types of rice" more effectively than farmers in other nations across the world, which is a demand expected to grow.
"As global growth occur, particularly in areas that have a higher population growth rate than ours, we're going to see demand by these countries," Wilson said.Information on the possibility of more demand for products keeps both Roberts and Alan Gaulding, of Gaulding Farms, smiling."Hopefully the future of agriculture is long term profitable and we get to continue to do what we love to due."

UP scientist clarifies fake rice comments

By Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star) | 
Description: http://media.philstar.com/images/the-philippine-star/headlines/20150711/fake-rice-6.jpg
Video grab from ANC shows the styrofoam-like appearance of the synthetic rice, which is reportedly made from potatoes, sweet potatoes and resin.
MANILA, Philippines - A food scientist at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City clarified reports yesterday that she recommended the consumption of “fake rice” that has surfaced in Davao.Ma. Concepcion Lizada, professor emeritus of UP Food Science, stressed that she was not familiar with the nature of the “fake rice” being sold in Davao City that has caused a health or nutrition scare.“I did not say we should eat fake rice,” Lizada said in a statement to The STAR, commenting on an article that came out on July 9.The article quoted statements she made on the fake rice scare, giving fabricated rice produced from extrusion technology a bad reputation.
Lizada made the comment at an open forum on the first day of the two-day 37th Annual Scientific Meeting of the National Academy of Science and Technology at the Manila Hotel, where she gave a presentation on “Agriculture-Health Convergence: Synergy in Managing Non-Communicable Diseases.”She stressed that she did not know the nature of the “fake rice” being sold in Davao, if that was what she referred to as fabricated rice produced using extrusion technology.
 “It is extruded grain. It should have gone through Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Trade and Industry, and its quality and safety checked,” she said.“If it is from another country, it must have gone through these agencies, and the DA as well.“At this point, we don’t know what it’s made of and if it’s safe. I would advise that we don’t consume it, that it be confiscated and the source investigated,” Lizada said.She explained that any food product being sold in the market should go through proper documentation and certification processes required by the FDA.“If it has plasticizers, these might have leached out of the packaging materials, especially if it has been exposed to high temperatures during storage, shipment or handling,” Lizada said.
“I would rather not call it fabricated rice. It’s giving fabricated rice a very bad reputation,” Lizada told her fellow scientists, academicians and researchers at the forum.She cited a commercial product called corn rice that is now widely available in the market.“In fact, there was a media blitz about the corn rice. It’s good. I tasted it myself,” Lizada said.Lizada said the fabricated rice or corn rice was a product of food extrusion technology, which she discussed in her presentation as being tapped to fortify food staples.“It’s available. It’s a good technology. The issue is just why did it go through the backdoor rather than it being sold as grains made from different starch sources,” Lizada said in the open forum.In her clarification letter, Lizada recalled that she discussed the possibility of processing different starches from broken rice, corn, cassava or sweet potato and shaping them like grain.
“The process is extrusion, which is the same process for producing snacks, breakfast cereals, etc. The more precise term to use would be ‘extruded grains’,” Lizada said.“Corn rice is locally manufactured and I presume this is extruded corn. Perhaps we should not call it corn rice, but use a more appropriate name to reflect the fact that it is not made from rice,” she said.She reportedly complained of cyber bullying over the story. (The STAR apologizes for the misunderstanding over her remarks.)
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/07/11/1475594/scientist-clarifies-fake-rice-comments
Probiotics, Now For Plants

By News Staff | July 9th 2015 10:57 AM | Print | E-mail | Track Comments
Bottom of Form
Television commercials assure us that probiotic products are good for our health, with claims ranging from improved digestion to managing allergies and colds,
If so, why wouldn't plants also benefit from certain microbes?
In plants, beneficial bacteria and fungi are endophytes. Scientists have known for decades that plants like legumes (peas, beans, and lentils) have beneficial bacteria in nodules attached to their roots. These bacteria "fix" vital nitrogen, turning it into a form the plant can easily use. However, researchers have recently found some nitrogen-fixing bacteria actually live inside plant tissue--in the leaves, stems, and roots--with impressive results. Sharon Doty, an associate professor at the University of Washington, was one of the first to discover these bacteria, and their successful transfer between plants.
Description: http://content.science20.com/files/images/rice_plants_and_endophyte.jpg
A comparison of rice plants grown without the endophyte (E-) and with the endophyte (E+). Photo by Hyungmin
Doty and her team isolated endophytes from poplar and willow trees. These trees thrived despite a rocky, forbidding surround. "All I have to do is look at these trees in their native habitat to see that we are clearly on the right path; simple nitrogen use efficiency cannot explain the continued biomass accumulation of these amazing trees," Doty says.
Doty then transferred the endophytes to rice plants. The result? Larger and taller plants with fuller root systems--despite limited nitrogen conditions in the greenhouse.
This endophyte-plant relationship is partly a matter of speed in adaptation. "Plants have a limited ability to genetically adapt to rapid environmental changes (heat, drought, toxins, or limited nutrients) and so they may use microbes that do have this capacity to rapidly evolve due to their vastly shorter life cycles," she explained. "By having the right microbes for the conditions, the plants are healthier. That is how it is similar to humans taking probiotics to improve their health."
And the environmental payoff? Thanks to these bacteria fixing nitrogen for the plant, farmers could use less chemical fertilizers to give plants the nitrogen they need. Because runoff from these fertilizers can be harmful to surrounding ecosystems, being able to use less is great news and can even decrease greenhouse gas emissions, added Doty. "This research offers the potential alternative for chemical fertilizers in crop production, thus aiding sustainable agriculture with minimum impacts on the environment."
This benefit is not limited to rice. "Research on endophytic nitrogen-fixation has enormous potential benefits since endophytes have a very broad host range," she said. "Unlike root nodules that are limited to [just a few plants], endophytic nitrogen-fixation could be used for any plant species."
The endophytes of poplar and willow can also provide growth benefits for such diverse species as corn, rice, ryegrasses, tomato, pepper, squash, Douglas fir, and western red cedar. "This suggests that the plant-microbe communication is ancient," Doty noted.
The way these bacteria get inside the plant and then live there is still being studied. It most likely differs by the type of bacteria, Doty said. Some may transfer through seeds and others through the environment. Once inside a plant, the bacteria can migrate throughout -- unlike those found in root nodules -- and are often found in the spaces between plant cells and in areas that transport water or sugars.
Doty's work is also a study in long-term commitment. "When I began as an assistant professor in 2003, I always had side projects on nitrogen-fixation but it was impossible to get funding to study it since [this idea] goes against the established dogma that symbiotic nitrogen-fixation can only occur in root nodules," she said. "I continue to fight that battle even now, over a dozen years later."
Other researchers may study how the endophytes interact with the soil, but Doty's research centers on the internal interactions. This, in turn, has external results. "Many of the endophytes produce plant hormones that (help them grow more roots), so they are impacting how the plants interact with soil in that way as well," she added. "It is essential to find environmentally sustainable crop production methods that reduce the demand for nitrogen fertilizers in cultivation."
The next steps in this work have practical applications. Doty's lab is collaborating with an agricultural company to take advantage of these bacteria on a large scale. This could include seed coating or spraying.Doty's research was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (NIFA grant # 2012-00931) and published in Crop Science.

Forbidden Rice Spring Rolls
By Christine Waltermyer

Ingredients
  2- 2.8 Ounce packages Organic Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen Noodles
  1 cup grated carrots
  1 thinly sliced avocado
  1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  1/3 cup fresh mint leaves
  8 8-inch, spring roll rice paper wrappers
Preparation:
1.      Cook ramen noodles according to package. Drain and rinse ramen in cold water. Leave ramen to drain in a fine mesh drainer until you roll the spring rolls.

2.      To roll the spring rolls: Immerse the rice paper in a shallow bowl of warm water, one at a time, to soften. Flip the rice paper in the bowl of water after a few seconds and then when it is soft and firm on both sides, spread it out gently on a dry dish towel. In the middle of the rice paper, add some carrots leaving about an inch on the right and left sides. Then sprinkle on the herbs, a few slices of avocado, and then some noodles. Tuck in the right and left sides to wrap around the noodles. Then roll up the spring rolls (away from you). Repeat with the rest of the carrots, noodles, herbs and avocado. Serve immediately with peanut sauce and/or tamari

APEDA India News
Price on: 09-07-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Garlic
1
Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2100
2
Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
2000
3
Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
1800
Ginger
1
Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
4600
2
Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
5100
3
Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
3000
Guar Gum Powder
1
Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
4510 
2
Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
1930
3
Indian 200 mesh 5000 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)
3030
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 09-07-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Rice
1
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
2000
2200
2
Vadodara (Gujarat)
Other
2650
3300
3
Solapur (Maharashtra)
Other
2150
5525
Wheat
1
Amirgadh (Gujarat)
Other
1300
1350
2
Manvi (Karnataka)
Other
1525
1530
3
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
1450
1600
Pine Apple
1
Harippad (Kerala)
Other
2500
3000
2
Ropar (Punjab)
Other
1800
2500
3
Shillong (Meghalaya)
Other
2000
2400
Cabbage
1
Aroor (Kerala)
Other
2800
3000
2
Koraput (Orissa)
Other
2100
2140
3
Gumla (Jharkhand)
Other
3000
3500
Source:agra-net
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 09-07-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
326
2
Nagapur
305
3
Namakkal
330
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 08-07-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Baltimore
Idaho
Russet
24
27
2
Dallas
Nevada
Russet
23.50
23.50
3
Detroit
Wisconsin
Russet
19
19.50
Carrots
Package: 30 1-lb film bags
1
Baltimore
California
Baby Peeled
24
24
2
Chicago
California
Baby Peeled
22
23.50
3
Miami
California
Baby Peeled
26
29
Apples
Package:  cartons tray pack
1
Baltimore
Washington
Red Delicious
26
26
2
Dallas
Washington 
Red Delicious
18
18
3
Miami
Washington
Red Delicious
28
28
Source:USDA
Indian businessman’s worry: Sanctions-free Iran
Jul 10, 2015 | Reuters | New Delhi
Indian businessman Pankaj Bansal is losing sleep. He says that any nuclear deal under which global powers lift sanctions against Iran could wipe him out.“I have been forced to take sleeping pills now to avoid nightmares as my business with Iran has drastically come down,” said Mr Bansal, 43, from his base in a teeming commercial district of South Delhi.Mr Bansal’s trading firm, TMA International, has expanded from metals into motors, auto parts and chemicals as rivals were shut out of Iran by Western sanctions aimed at forcing Tehran into a nuclear compromise.Talks to finalise a deal have run deep into overtime but may wrap up on Friday. He is one of thousands of exporters who enjoyed a three-year run because India did not back the sanctions.
In that time, India’s exports to Iran doubled to $5 billion, helping to halve its bilateral trade deficit.Now, they could be forced aside by European and US competitors just as Asia’s third-largest economy reels from a 20 per cent export slump prompted by a global slowdown in trade. The revival of India’s historic friendship with Iran, shared with Russia and Venezuela, does hold the promise of long-term trade gains. Yet short-term pain looms for oil buyers and banks that benefited from sanctions-related payment delays.A delegation of Indian exporters met finance minister Arun Jaitley last week to lobby for support to help them cope with a revival of competition for the Iranian market. They came away empty handed.

“The lifting of Western sanctions on Iran would have an adverse impact, particularly on non-agricultural commodities,” said S.C. Ralhan, president of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations. Yet, millions of farmers too would face a hit from the easing of sanctions on Iran, a buyer of basmati rice, soymeal, sugar, barley and meat.Under sanctions, Iran paid a premium of up to 20 per cent over global prices to buy from India.“Iran is shifting to other suppliers like South American countries. They are supplying at much lower prices compared to India. We cannot compete," said B.V. Mehta, ED, Solvent Extractors’ Association of India.

Download/View On-Line the above News in pdf format,just click the following link