Wednesday, March 09, 2016

8th March 2016 Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Today Rice News Headlines...



·         UNISAME's request to FCCOPI regarding urgent meeting on Rice Industry

·         Korean gov’t to buy 157,000 tons of rice to stabilize prices

·         Award proves research is cream of the crop

·         Private-public collaboration needed for rice R&D
·         El Nino effect: Salt wounds Vietnam’s rice crop
·         Lao Rice-export Target Sparks Alarm
·         Report calls for action to keep rice sector afloat
·         KPPU Finds Early Indications of Cartel Practices in Wholesale Rice Marketi
·         Jakarta. Indonesia's antimonopoly agency says it has found indications of cartel practices in the country's largest rice wholesale market, which cause prices of the staple to rise during certain months of the year.
·         USA Rice Encourages Kids to 'Wake Up' to School Breakfast
·         Are CARBS the new cigarettes? White bread, bagels and rice 'increase the risk of lung cancer by 49%', experts warn
·         Natural Products Expo West 2016 preview scoop of top exhibitors!
·         Slow cookers bring out the best in pork and Indian flavors
·         SLOW COOKER PORK SHOULDER VINDALOO
·         Hain Celestial Celebrates Innovation at Natural Products Expo West 2016
·         Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report
·         Rice Prices
News Detail...
UNISAME's request to FCCOPI regarding urgent meeting on Rice Industry
Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has requested the standing committee on rice of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCC&I) to hold urgent meeting on immediate and long term measures needed to save the rice industry. The union also invited the attention of the ministries of commerce, industry, science and technology and agriculture to the urgent need to join hands for the modernization of rice farming, milling,processing and marketing and to enable it to meet the global challenges
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the FPCC&I standing committee meeting scheduled for 9th March 2016 has been postponed indefinitely. It is very important that it is convened without delay, it is very unfortunate that rice industry which is ranked as the second biggest after textiles is left mercilessly neglected. Regardless of the fact that it employs huge number of entrepreneurs from farm land to factories.
The SME rice farmers, millers, processors, traders and exporters are in turmoil due to the step motherly treatment of the government. The cost of production has gone high and this has made the rice industry noncompetitive. The farm inputs have become costly. The only answer to survival is value addition, quality bench mark and entering non traditional markets. Thaver urged Rafique Suleman chairman FPCC&I committee on rice to invite the officers of the ministries of agriculture, commerce, industry and science and technology to attend the meeting and co-ordinate with one another for the uplift of the rice sector
UNISAME
Korean gov’t to buy 157,000 tons of rice to stabilize prices
March 7, 2016
SEOUL (Yonhap) — The government said Tuesday that it will purchase an additional 157,000 tons of locally produced rice last year, as part of its effort to stabilize market prices.Under the measure approved at a Cabinet meeting, the government will spend 140 billion won (US$113.6 million) to isolate 157,000 tons of rice from the market following its previous purchase of 200,000 tons in October 2015.In 2015, South Korea harvested a surplus amount of 3.57 million tons of rice.The government will resell the reserved rice in the market after considering supply and demand conditions, as well as local prices, officials said.
The Seoul government purchases the staple grain as part of the country’s strategic reserves so it can cope with national emergencies, or a sudden spike in international grain prices. The purchase of rice also directly impacts the income of farmers.A huge surplus of rice coupled with Koreans eating less rice and more bread has led to a fall in rice prices over the years.The state-controlled rice stockpile reached 1.9 million tons at the end of 2015, according to agriculture ministry data.

http://www.koreatimesus.com/korean-govt-to-buy-157000-tons-of-rice-to-stabilize-prices/

 

Award proves research is cream of the crop


Professor Peter Halley and QUT’s Emeritus Professor Graeme George with the award.
New degradable plastic film that is less than the width of a human hair is helping to regenerate native trees and establish high-value crops.The new technology, developed by a team in partnership with the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Polymers, with The University of Queensland’s Professor Peter Halley as co-project leader, won the Excellence in Innovation Award at the CRC Association gala dinner last night (8 March).Professor Halley said the ultra-thin films were applied to the crop at seeding, trapping heat and moisture close to the ground to create a greenhouse effect.“As the plants grow, the plastic film breaks down in the sunlight, removing any environmental hazards,” Professor Halley said.
“This is a great benefit to crop growers, as they will be able to plant earlier, improve the germination of their crops, use less water and potentially produce higher yields.“Licensed by Australian company Integrated Packaging, the new plastic film technology is already in use in Ireland for the production of maize.”Integrated Packaging CEO John Cerini said his company joined the CRC for Polymers seeking to improve the technology of the film to make it more sustainable for a wider range of crops.“Our collaboration with the CRC led us to a new range of films that give greater control over the timing of a film’s degradation both above and below ground,” Mr Cerini said.The CRC is also developing a computer-based support tool to help farmers decide when to use the films for a given crop by providing information on the best time to plant, the grade of film product to use, the likely yield and the potential costs and benefits.
The technology is being adapted to Australian conditions and farming practices and to more than a dozen commercially important crops in a series of field trials run across four states.Professor Halley said the trials demonstrated that the films resulted in more uniform germination, early growth and establishment.“Also, many crop specific benefits were seen, such as a wider growing season, the opportunity for a price premium for getting to market early, the ability to grow higher value crops in cooler regions, more efficient use of available water, and increased yields,” he said.
CRC for Polymers CEO Dr Ian Dagley said the new technology was the result of more than a decade of research in the CRC between Integrated Packaging, UQ, QUT, CSIRO, ANSTO, Greening Australia, Birchip Cropping and Rice Research Australia.“It demonstrates the great value of the CRC Programme which assists companies to develop new products that result from collaborative multidisciplinary research with Australian universities and research organisations.”The CRCP team at UQ consisted of Professor Halley, Associate Professor Rowan Truss, Dr Bronwyn Laycock, Dr Greg Cash, Ms Emilie Gauthier, Mr Michael Murphy, Mr John Milne, Dr Paul Luckman, Dr Jorja Cork, Dr Sherri Hsu and Dr Tim Nicholson, with strong involvement from researchers at QUT, the Queensland Government and Queensland farmers.

Media: Madelene Flanagan, m.flanagan@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 8525

Private-public collaboration needed for rice R&D

 [COTONOU, BENIN] Africa’s private and public sector institutions should collaborate to address rice research and production challenges, a forum has heard.Rice researchers, scientists, policymakers, processors and seed producers who a attended the 2016 AfricaRice Science Week and Global Rice Science Partnership-Africa Science Forum last month (1-5 February) at the Africa Rice Center in Benin. 
The conference was organised by AfricaRice, a member of the CGIAR Consortium, to review activities carried out by rice sector development hub teams carried out in 2015. 

“The private sector’s involvement is absolutely essential to develop rice cultivation.”

Marco Wopereis, AfricaRice


The forum also sought to disseminate scalable technologies for rice production and carry out effective and efficient planning of rice research-for-development (R4D) activities in 2016.The forum was attended by 200 experts from 30 countries, 27 of which are in Africa, including Cote d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Nigeria and Senegal.Marco Wopereis, AfricaRice deputy director-general, told the forum that African countries will face a strong demand for rice of around 38 million tons by 2040, urging researchers to help farmers increase production capacity “to grow rice in Africa for Africa”. “The private sector’s involvement is absolutely essential to develop rice cultivation,” Wopereis said. Rice experts said that the combined efforts and strengths of public-private sector partnerships of all actors in the rice value chain could help increase production and stimulate research on rice in Africa.

 Noting that rice is a strategic crop for achieving food security and providing export opportunities, AfricaRice director-general Harold Roy-Macauley, called for intensifying advances in scientific research to encourage such partnerships that are crucial for the development of increased rice production in Africa.Sali Ndindeng, a researcher at AfricaRice, told SciDev.Net: “We have the same interests and a partnership between the private and public sector will achieve these interests.”Lucie Eulalie Racalaharimino, a manager at Relharf Agro Business, a seed production company in Madagascar, added: “The close collaboration between the public and private sectors will allow us to know in advance the most efficient [rice] varieties for our business.”
This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk

http://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/cooperation/news/private-public-collaboration-rice-r-d.html

El Nino effect: Salt wounds Vietnam’s rice crop

(From Radio Free Asia)
Vietnamese rice farmers are facing tough times this year as drought continues to punish the country’s rice bowl bringing salt levels in the Mekong delta to record levels.
The  Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is already reporting that more than 200,000 metric tons of rice have been damaged, resulting in a loss of over 1 trillion VND ($44.64 million U.S.) to the region. It’s a number that is likely to grow as the ministry expects salinity in the delta to reach its highest level in a century.According to the ministry, saltwater intrusion appeared two months earlier than previous years due to serious river water shortages that are caused, at least in part, by dry conditions that began in 2013. If the drought persists until June, it could put some 500,000 hectares of rice crops at risk.
Not only is the drought harming rice farmers, but Hanoi blames the dry weather for a fresh water shortage affecting some 575,000 people throughout the region.“The source of water this year is lower than before, this leads to deeper salinization compared to previous years,” Duong Van Ni, an expert of Can Tho University told RFA. “This is partly due to the weather conditions.”A rice farmer drills a well to water a drought-hit rice field in the southern Mekong delta province of Soc Trang, March 2, 2016.
El Nino effect
Both 2013 and 2014 were drier than usual, while 2015 saw the complete lack of the normal flood as an El Nino began to grip the Pacific, he said. The drought and more upstream agricultural development in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam are pushing saline levels up, he explained.
“Because of El Nino effects this year, the water is very salty,” rice farmer Ben Tre told RFA. “Normally it is not salty after Tet, but this year the water was salty since the tenth month of the lunar year last year.”
Salinity in the Vam Co, Tien and Hau Rivers and other rivers in the delta is now higher than traditional levels. Meanwhile, saltwater has intruded upstream 50 to 60 kilometers into the mainland, and even 93 kilometers in the Vam Co River’s neighborhood, about 15 to 20 kilometers deeper than previous years, according to local media reports.
The problem has caught Hanoi’s attention as Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended a Feb. 17 meeting at Can Tho where he pledged  VND 2.3 billion (U.S.$ 103,132) in government aid for farmers in the region.
The government has organized a meeting with relevant ministries and leaders of all 12 Mekong Delta provinces on Monday to discuss solutions, according to TuoiTreNews.
River stress
The Mekong River delta has been under stress for quite some time as many countries in Asia see the river 2,700-mile-long river as a road to industrialization. Countries that have a claim on the Mekong have built dozens of dams along the river.
China and Laos see the river as a way slake the region’s thirst for electricity as well as for agriculture and flood control. By 2020 Beijing wants to produce 282 gigawatts of hydroelectric power, and Laos wants electricity to become its major source of revenue by 2025.
Daming the river changes its water flow and is expected to have impact on agricultural production downstream, and particularly in countries like Vietnam that lie near the Mekong’s mouth. Dams block sediment that normally flows into the delta, causing it to shrink.
Add in the effects of climate change which is causing sea levels to rise,and the Mekong gets hit with an environmental double-whammy.
While the government is taking action to ease the burden for rice farmers and others living on the delta, Duong Van Ni said it could be too little too late.
“Irrigation projects have been carried out. Dykes to prevent salinization have been built in some place, and in others farmers have even changed their crops,” he explained. “However, most of the measures are just for the short term and do not address the issue for a longer term. I think what they need to do is to provide people with capacity to deal with risks.”
Reported by Gia Minh  for RFA’s Vietnamese Service. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.
Radio Free Asia

http://atimes.com/2016/03/el-nino-effect-salt-wounds-vietnams-rice-crop/


Lao Rice-export Target Sparks Alarm

Khmer Times/May Kunmakara
 Wednesday, 09 March 2016
Local rice millers and exporters have responded with alarm to the rice-export target set by the Lao government of 1 million tons this year, while Cambodian rice millers and traders have yet to overcome numerous barriers hindering their competitiveness at home and abroad.The Cambodian government missed its target of exporting 1 million tons of milled rice last year.

Oryza, a rice industry website based in Thailand, quoted the director of the department of planning and cooperation at the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, as saying the impoverished landlocked county is aiming to export 1 million tons of rice this year.The website said the Lao government has set a production target of about 4.2 million tons of paddy in the 2015-2016 season. The director said the target includes 40,000 tons of rice for reserve purposes and 60,000 tons for seeding. The Lao government is also planning to have 2.1 million tons for domestic consumption this year.

“To boost rice production, the government is encouraging local farmers to increase the area under wet rice cultivation to 1 million hectares and that of upland rice to 100,000 hectares,” the director is quoted as saying.Son Saran, the president of Cambodia Amru Rice (Cambodia), one of the country’s leading milled rice exporters, told Khmer Times yesterday that the Kingdom already faces challenges with Vietnamese rice flooding the local market and a lack of funding for millers to buy paddy. He said Cambodia’s rice sector will now face another challenge when it has to compete in the export market with Laos.
The intention of Laos to increase rice production will affect Cambodian rice producers as the target market will be the same. We see Lao rice as a similar type as Cambodia produces,” Mr. Saran said. He urged the government to take immediate action to address the issues in the local industry in order to avoid a crisis.“This will put more pressure on the rice industry – more pressure to solve our issues so we can prevent a crisis. If no action is taken, our rice industry will slowly collapse and our farmers will be affected in the long term,” he added. Mr. Saran said the government should intervene and stabilize the supply chain, seed production, find financing to buy paddy, add drying facilities, improve logistics and reduce the cost of electricity for millers.
 
Hun Lak, the Managing Director of Mekong Oryza Trading, a local rice exporter and also the vice-president of the Cambodia Rice Federation, said there will now be more competition in traditional export markets. “Actually, Laos didn’t export much before, but now they are attempting to export big amounts. Of course, we will compete with them as they have the same markets and trade we have,” he said.“Local rice millers and exporters have to cooperate together to find ways or a strategy to maintain our market share and our export volume,” he added.

Early last week, a group of “activist” millers and exporters within the federation bypassed its senior leaders and sent a letter to the Ministry of Commerce warning that the rice sector could collapse within two years if the government did not take swift action.They warned that besides driving domestic millers out of business, a failure to address threats to the industry as well as weaknesses in its value chain would cause massive uncertainty, poverty and unrest in rural areas as farmers would not be able to sell their paddy.The rice federation will hold a press conference today to release its strategies and outline what action it will take to address challenges the rice sector is facing.
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/22477//

Report calls for action to keep rice sector afloat

Tue, 8 March 2016
A group of rice millers and exporters critical of the direction in which the rice industry is being steered submitted a detailed report to the Commerce Ministry yesterday, warning that local producers were being driven to bankruptcy and calling for immediate action, such as a quota on rice imports and debt rescheduling for millers, to alleviate the sector’s woes.The report expands on a presentation made during a meeting last week between the group, whose initiative is called Rice Industry Strategic Key Solution (RISKS), and Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol, in which its members outlined the rice sector’s deteriorating conditions and cast blame in part on the ineffectual governance of the Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF).
Following the presentation, Chanthol requested a more detailed report on the situation and recommendations, which he said would be forwarded to Prime Minister Hun Sen.Of the suggested action, the group prioritised the imposition of a quota on the import of milled rice from Vietnam, which they say makes local millers less competitive, as well as working with commercial banks and microfinance institutions to delay millers’ debt payments.“According to estimates, around 700,000 tonnes to 800,000 tonnes of milled rice was imported from Vietnam in 2015,” the report reads. “These imports from Vietnam have ‘taken over and invaded’ the local rice market.”
The RISKS group, which has grown from 18 members last week to 24 now, claims that the flood of milled rice imports from Vietnam has driven 40 per cent of Cambodian millers out of business in the last three years.The proposed rice quota, the group says, would limit foreign imports to 100,000 tonnes a year and add a 35 per cent tax to the invoiced price of the imported rice. It said similar measures have been implemented in other countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.“We have a lot of our own potential for rice export, so there is a case for a quota limiting the import of rice” said Kann Kunthy, CEO of Battambang rice miller Brico. “We have already studied this suggestion and it will have no issues with WTO regulations.”
Kunthy said the group’s nine-point solution needed to be addressed in the next three months if the government wanted millers to reach its ambitious one-million-tonne per year milled rice export target.
“We have done 50 per cent of the work by finding solutions and the government has to help complete the remaining 50 per cent by implementation,” he said, adding the CRF has failed to address the industry’s troubles since it was formed two years ago.Softening its initial demand, the RISKS group urged the government to help millers obtain $250 million in soft loans at 4 per cent interest per annum, while pushing back their loan obligations.“We suggest that banks and microfinance institutions reschedule the loan payments for rice millers in order to give them a chance for survival,” said Song Saran, CEO of Amru Rice and a member of the RISKS initiative.
Other solutions listed in the report include stricter enforcement of punitive action for millers found mixing local and imported rice, reducing the cost of electricity for millers and elimination of the value-added tax (VAT) for millers.In response to the group’s first meeting with the Commerce Ministry, the CRF issued a press release last week stating that it was looking at three key issues – rice imports from neighbouring countries, shortage of financing options for millers and high electricity costs.“The CRF is trying their best to work with relevant stakeholders to seek solutions for the rice sector and requests that all members join us and find a solution together,” said CRF president Sok Puthyvuth.
Contact author: Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/report-calls-action-keep-rice-sector-afloat
KPPU Finds Early Indications of Cartel Practices in Wholesale Rice Marketing

Jakarta. Indonesia's antimonopoly agency says it has found indications of cartel practices in the country's largest rice wholesale market, which cause prices of the staple to rise during certain months of the year.
President Joko Widodo last year called on the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) to investigate domestic rice trading after the government had to import rice despite official data showing that the harvest actually exceeded local demand.The agency suspects that certain large traders at the Cipinang Wholesale Rice Market – the nation's main rice exchange – often block supplies from other provinces in favor of imported rice, KPPU chairman Syarkawi Rauf said on Monday (08/03)."They often drive the prices up high enough to vindicate demand for rice imports [...] because there is more profit in selling imported rice," Syarkawi said.
The traders can make 10 percent profit on imported rice, compared to just 3 percent on local rice. They also buy the rice from state procurement agency Bulog's nearby warehouses, resulting in significant savings on transport costs compared to having to source the commodity from other regions, the KPPU chairman added.The agency says a group of five to seven companies control 70 percent of local market trade, compared to Bulog, which only has the capacity to supply 20 percent of the country's rice demand."We are having trouble to find evidence, because their operations are quite sophisticated," Syarkawi said.However, he said the KPPU was expected to gather enough evidence for a hearing on the case in April.
Meanwhile, Nellys Sukidi, chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Rice Millers and Entrepreneurs Association (Perpadi), dismissed any notion of cartel practices in the local market."In Cipinang alone we have 600 traders with 3,000 tons of rice changing hands every day [...] There is also real-time, transparent pricing information available," Nellys said. "What is there to be manipulated?"
http://www.jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/business/kppu-finds-early-indications-cartel-practices-wholesale-rice-market/
USA Rice Encourages Kids to 'Wake Up' to School Breakfast 
 ARLINGTON, VA -- USA Rice is helping schools around the country celebrate School Breakfast Week with three great tasting, healthy recipes developed especially for the foodservice K-12 program.  The three recipes, Berry Breakfast Brown Rice, Creamy Cinnamon Breakfast Rice Pudding, and Great Day Rice Wrap, feature U.S.-grown rice in the center of the plate.
 "These breakfast recipes are part of our effort to promote rice beyond the side dish to the center of the plate and to get people thinking about rice for other meals besides dinner," said Katie Maher, USA Rice director of domestic promotion.
 Maher added, "By attending the School Nutrition Association (SNA) conferences over the years, we've compiled a database of influential school foodservice operators so we can regularly communicate with them and share new recipes and resources.  This week, USA Rice sent an e-newsletter to SNA contacts promoting School Breakfast Week along with links to the three recipes and our Rice 101 Guide."
Rice 101 is a compilation of everything a school cafeteria staff needs to know about how to make perfect rice for students in one handy reference guide.  No matter which type of rice or equipment the school kitchen uses, the answers are all in the guide.  There is also a collection of delicious rice recipes that meet child nutrition program requirements for grains in school meals.
 The annual school breakfast celebration was launched in 1989 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to raise awareness about the availability of the School Breakfast Program which meets federal dietary guidelines and to highlight the established link between eating breakfast and academic success.

Are CARBS the new cigarettes? White bread, bagels and rice 'increase the risk of lung cancer by 49%', experts warn


Many studies suggest carbohydrates are bad for your waistline.
But a new study has warned they may also be bad for your lungs.
Specifically, foods with a high glycemic index - such as white bread or bagels, corn flakes and puffed rice - may increase the risk of lung cancer, scientists say.
And non-smokers, who account for 12 per cent of those killed by the disease, appear to be particularly at risk.
Scientists say foods with a high glycemic index - including white bread, bagels, corn flakes and puffed rice - increase a person's risk of lung cancer, even if they have never smoked The glycemic index is a measure of the quality of dietary carbohydrates - and is defined by how quickly blood sugar levels are raised after a meal.
The theory now is that a high-GI diet triggers higher levels of blood glucose and insulin.
This, in turn, increases levels of a type of hormone called Insulin-Like Growth Factors (IGFs).
Elevated levels of IGFs have previously been linked with a higher risk of lung cancer.
Lead study author Dr Stephanie Melkonian, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, said: 'We observed a 49 per cent increased risk of lung cancer among subjects with the highest daily GI compared to those with the lowest daily GI.' 
And the findings suggest cutting out foods with high glycemic index could reduce a person's risk of developing lung cancer.  
Examples of low GI foods include whole-wheat or pumpernickel bread, rolled or steel-cut oatmeal and wholemeal pasta.
However the study also found glycemic load - a related measure of carbohydrate quantity - had no significant association with lung cancer risk.This suggests it is the average quality, instead of quantity, of carbohydrates consumed that may modulate lung cancer risk. 
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women across the US.
Furthermore, it is also the leading cause of cancer deaths.

ALL ABOUT THE GLYCEMIC INDEX 

The glycemic index, or GI, measures how a carbohydrate-containing food raises blood glucose. 
Foods are ranked based on how they compare to a reference food — either glucose or white bread.
A food with a high GI raises blood glucose more than a food with a medium or low GI. 
Foods with low GI include:
·         100% stone-ground whole wheat or pumpernickel bread 
·         Oatmeal (rolled or steel-cut), oat bran, muesli 
·         Wholemeal pasta, converted rice, barley, bulgar wheat 
·         Sweet potato, corn, yam, lima/butter beans, peas, legumes and lentils
Foods with high GI include: 
·         White bread or bagel 
·         Corn flakes, puffed rice, bran flakes, instant oatmeal 
·         Shortgrain white rice, rice pasta, macaroni and cheese from mix 
·         Russet potato, pumpkin 
·         Pretzels, rice cakes, popcorn, saltine crackers 
·         melons and pineapple
Source: American Diabetes Association  
More than 150,000 people in the US are expected to die from lung cancer in 2016, according to an estimate from the American Cancer Society.Meanwhile in the UK there are around 45,525 new cases of the disease diagnosed each year, while 35,371 people lose their life to the disease annually, according to Cancer Research UK.And while tobacco is the leading cause of lung cancer it does not account for all cases - particularly for those who never smoked. The new study, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, is the largest ever to investigate the potential link between glycemic index and lung cancer.It is also the first to show GI was more significantly associated with lung cancer risk in specific subgroups - including people who had never smoked and those with the sub-type squamous cell carcinoma.
Previous studies have found that dietary factors may have an influence on a person's risk of developing lung cancer.

Diets high in fruits and vegetables were found to decrease the risk - while increased consumption of red meat, saturated fats and dairy products are know to increase the risk of the disease.Dr Melkonian said: 'Diets high in glycemic index result in higher levels of blood glucose and insulin, which promote perturbations [disturbances] in the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs).'Previous research suggests increased levels of IGFs are associated with increased lung cancer risk. 'However, the association between glycemic index and lung cancer risk was unclear.'For this study, the research team surveyed 1,905 patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer - and found there was a higher risk of lung cancer in patients with the highest daily GI.Senior study author Dr Xifeng Wu said: 'The associations were more pronounced among subjects who were never smokers, diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma or had less than 12 years of education. 
+2
The study found high glycemic foods increase the risk of lung cancer by 49 per cent - perhaps because they trigger important hormonal fluctuations in the body The scientists also found that among people who had never smoked, those with high GI were more than twice as likely to develop lung cancer.And for smokers, the risk was only elevated by 31 per cent compared to those in the lowest GI group.Furthermore, those with the highest GI levels were 92 per cent were more likely to develop the squamous cell carcinoma sub-type, as compared to the lowest GI group.
Participants who had less than 12 years of education were 77 per cent more likely to develop lung cancer than those in the lowest group.In contrast, those with more than 12 years of education only had an elevated risk of 33 per cent. The study recommended that people limit foods and beverages with high GI.Examples of low GI foods include whole-wheat or pumpernickel bread, rolled or steel-cut oatmeal and pasta. Dr Wu said: 'The results from this study suggest that, besides maintaining healthy lifestyles, such as avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption and being physically active, reducing the consumption of foods and beverages with high glycemic index may serve as a means to lower the risk of lung cancer.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3481226/Are-CARBS-new-cigarettes-White-bread-bagels-rice-increase-risk-lung-cancer-49-experts-warn.html#ixzz42P51AYkE 
/www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3481226/Are-CARBS-new-cigarettes-White-bread-bagels-rice-increase-risk-lung-cancer-49-experts-warn.html

Natural Products Expo West 2016 preview scoop of top exhibitors!

8th March 2016 by April Neale

One of our favorite finds are the gluten free 34 Degree Crisps!
Monsters and Critics is heading to the best food show around for health conscious foodies, the annual Natural Products Expo West 2016 in Anaheim, CA.Always one of our favorite destinations, the Natural Products Expo West is the largest tradeshow in the natural, organic and healthy products industry and is held at the Hilton Anaheim March 10-12, 2016 and the Anaheim Convention Center March 11-13, 2016.As we do annually, M&C has a jump start on the Expo and we’ve been eating our way through some exceptional new food items.  Every year we munch, chew, drink and savor everything under the sun sent to us for inclusion in our Best of The Show picks ahead of the event to alert buyers and consumers what to look for.
This year we have discovered some incredible new entries in the sweets, snack, vegetarian and non-veg categories that will be at a grocery near you soon… if not already.
The majority of items are made in the USA by smaller companies who have worked hard to make a mark in a very competitive field of non-GMO, gluten free, and organically sourced ingredients.
Highly recommend are the following fantastic finds for anyone attending this event to look for:
They are all individually wrapped and so good!
There really was an Ines! In 1910, she began making Olive Oil Tortas by hand and selling them at the train station in Seville, Spain. She used local extra virgin olive oil and unbleached wheat flour. In a short period of time, this Andalusian snack was knocking them dead in Spain.
Today, they are made by hand with the same recipe Ines Rosales created over one hundred years ago. Women from the local village are still employed to create her delectable baked goods in small batches.
We LOVED the tortas, in Original, Seville Orange, Cinnamon, Rosemary & Thyme and Sesame & Sea Salt. Eat them alone or with dips perfect for dipping or topping with cheese. the Cinnamon and Seville orange ones are brilliant with tea or coffee in the morning. They remind me of when I was little and my mom let me roll out her extra pie dough scraps, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake “cookies” until they were crispy and golden.
These Spanish cookies are the best-in-show as far as we are concerned.
Another genius item from Inés Rosales is their Cinnamon Cookies, a smaller thicker powdered sugar cookie with cinnamon and anise, a shortbread-like cookie with a caster sugar cover. They win for best cookie we tried of the show!
Genius for bikers, hikers and kids who love that candy bar break without the crap!
There is serious truth in advertising here as these all fruit leather bars are thicker than a rollup and way more satisfying. That’s it. makers of two-ingredient snack bars sent us their entire line of all fruit bars, and we are better for it.
You get real fruit and they limit the ingredient list two ingredients per flavor. And the top flavor for me? Apple + Coconut, incredible, moist and satisfying, the fruity apple is enhanced with the nutty coconut. There are nine flavors to choose from: Apple + Apricot, Apple + Banana, Apple + Blueberry, Apple + Cherry, Apple + Mango, Apple + Pear, Apple + Pineapple, Apple + Strawberry, and Apple + Coconut.
The bad stuff is missing. No additives, preservatives, concentrates, purees, juices, added sugars, corn syrup, artificial coloring, or flavoring are in them, and they have an 18-month shelf life. That’s it. fruit bars are gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, kosher, raw, and diabetic friendly.
So easy- my 420 people in Washington, Colorado, and California take note
Paleo friendly, non-GMO, naturally dairy, soy and gluten-free and low in sugar does not mean cardboard, people!
We whipped up the three mixes sent and found that the Chocolate Chip cookie mix was fast easy and made a good chewy cookie that delighted. The Artisan bread made great calzone dough and breadsticks and the waffle mix made fluffy gluten free waffles that rocked.
The Simple Mills Chocolate Chip Cookie Almond Flour Mix makes 20-24 cookies made with 7 ingredients, you add eggs, oil, and vanilla, and bake for about 15 minutes. They were great and not at all dry like some mixes that use coconut flour. They really were good.
The artisan bread has half the sugar, twice the protein and half the carbs of regular bread, and is paleo-friendly, gluten-free, dairy-free, and non-GMO. You can creative with it and make a pizza crust or calzone wrap if you like.
Gooey, paste, vanilla bean flecks, say yes to this
Are you a mental case for good vanilla? Do you find yourself huffing the vanilla when no one is around? Or doubling the vanilla in every recipe because you just know the vanilla proportions are Just.All.Wrong?
Me too. Get ready to lose your mind with Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste, a kind of costly (about $30 for the bottle) but so worth it…pure vanilla with natural vanilla bean seeds in a gooey brown fragrant suspension infusing the pure vanilla pod into your desserts. 1 teaspoon of vanilla paste is equivalent to 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract – but of course, if you are like me, you will still double it.
Nielsen-Massey Pure Orange Extract
Orange you glad I showed you this?
I never realized what I was missing not having good orange extract in my life. That changed when they sent me Nielsen-Massey orange oil extract that is like having a thousand perfectly juiced navel oranges with the rind oil at your fingertips. Need orange zest? No problem. Need fresh juice? Bingo.  Chefs can use this with poultry, fish, and seafood dishes. The mixologist of the house can whip up some crafty run, gin and vodka masterpieces.
Orange Oil Extract Features Gluten-free, Kosher orange oil extract 100% Natural, Allergen-Free, GMO-Free 3 Year shelf life. It won;t last that long.
Dandies are super soft pillows of marshmallow love
USA!USA!USA! We make awesome healthy gluten free kosher marshmallows! Time to go off the sugar wagon and fire up some s’mores or hot chocolate.
Vegan puffy soft heaven! Non-GMO, Dandies Marshmallows are comprised of tapioca cane sugar and natural ingredients, and zero high fructose corn syrup or gelatin (they’re 100% vegan!), and are the first ever marshmallow to be Non-GMO Project Verified.  These suckers are made for those who demand their guilty pleasures adhere to the no horse hoof gelatine rules! So yay for Dandies.
yes they are calorific and full of gluten and sugar and dang it, I loved it
USA!USA!USA! We did it again, actually, Shela G did it, she made a tasty guilty pleasure that defies categories. Okay just stop judging. yes… they are full of gluten and sugar but they are made with really quality ingredients you should probably limit in your diet.
Personally, I always wanted the corner brownie, the crisped crunchy corner where the gooey fudge seemed to migrate to the middle I hate the middle. Brownie Bites are for people like me who like brownies flat, crispy and like a crunchy brittle cookie.  They are convenient and come in a new flavor I recommend: Peanut Butter Chip Brownie Brittle.
These caramels will make you a believer
So where’s the kale you ask? Not here! This right here is caramel heaven and homecooked Annie B’s caramels are made in the same copper kettles for 25 years.  They are enhanced with a bit of sea salt. Buttery and creamy caramel aromas that don’t stick to your teeth. If you dig caramels, this is the best.
They can be cut them up in brownies, on your apple pie, for your favorite sweet treat. Keep them refrigerated as no preservatives are in them approx. 3 mo. shelf life.
One cracker will sell you.
Laiki Rice Crackers
Red Rice/ Black Rice
These Thai crackers are like crack! Addictive, almost a popcorn lightness and really tasty, they go with everything and for the gluten free people, so darn worth your time to investigate. The secret to Laiki’s taste is black and red rice from Thailand. I don’t know how they do it with three ingredients, but these are buttery and crispy, super light and versatile, whether you eat them alone, with cheese or even peanut butter.
They are 100% whole grain, vegan, gluten-free, nonGMO. Laiki Crackers are made from rice, oil, salt and nothing else, made in a dedicated facility and ELISA tested for any presence of gluten with independent lab services provided by Intertek, a globally renowned testing firm AND they use sustainably-sourced palm oil from Thailand. Their palm oil does not harm orangutans or their habitat.
Thes crackers are like wisps of paper, tasty crunchy paper…
Oz-land rules! Aussies are the inventors of this eucharist-like ultra thin (paper actually) wafer of gluten-free love. Australian crispbread 34 Degrees was invented in Sydney and now is made in Colorado, where pot is legal, so their sales have to be amazing!
34 Degrees is a gold certified bakery and regularly audited by Silliker, the leading internationally accredited food testing and consulting network. HAACP-certified (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so these crackers are so pure and perfect, anyone concerned about gluten fear not.
Plus, they give to the Food Bank of the Rockies’ “Children’s Totes of Hope” program. Tote bags filled with 8-9 pounds of nutritious food are distributed on Fridays to hungry children in Colorado and Wyoming.  34 Degrees also gives to Project Angel Heart, an organization that delivers nutritious meals at no cost, for those coping with life-threatening illnesses.
Here’s what you need to know, nine crackers equals 50 calories. And they are ethereal, loaded with flavor but like air on the tongue. A perfect foil for a strong cheese or a dip, and addictive and toasty perfection. The Cracked Pepper and the Natural are our favorites.
Sprouted Chia, flax seed, and quinoa never tasted so good. These are AMAZING quality tortilla chips with a nacho flavor that does not taste artificial, and they disappeared in a nanosecond. Light, crispy, buttery, not too salty, just a fabulous new item from a company that knows how to make a chip. Head to booth #5586 to see what I’m talking about.  Best chips that we tried.
Coco be loco
This line of natural oils works my brain, they are exceptional and packaged so well. There newbie is Organic Sun Coco Oil, a unique blend of organic high-oleic sunflower oil and organic refined coconut oil IN A SPRAY! Love th econvenience, as I already use their Olive Oil and Seasme Oil in the spray form too. Neutral in flavor and with a smoke point of 440°F, Organic Sun Coco Oil combines high-heat properties of high-oleic sunflower oil and buttery texture from coconut oil, making it perfect for any non stick situation.
The new pourable “must haves’ in your pantry is their three winners: Herbes de Provence, Basil, and Garlic Oil. Making a vinaigrette? Use any of these. Stir frying anything? Garlic Oil! Making a pasta salad? Basil Oil! There. I just made summer season easier for you.
For the Sun Coco spray: Store in a cool, dry place. Do not refrigerate. Make sure to shake well before using. If stored at room temperatures under 76°F – coconut oil may solidify at the bottom.  Organic Sun Coco oil is Omega-rich, contains MCT oil and acts as a natural antioxidant due to the high level of vitamin E.
You will be speaking French in no time.
The Herbes de Provence Oil can take the heat and is fantastic for meat and fish. I used it as a brush on for the artisan bread from Simple Mills mentioned above! Grown in France by a five generation family owned-producer, the herbs are utilized at their freshest, they are naturally infused in organic expeller-pressed high-oleic sunflower oil. Herbs de Provence Infused Oil is made with fresh rosemary and thyme.
Of all the granolas, this one had to walk into that joint…
There are a million granolas. So why Viki’s? Simple. This granola pinged on taste, ease of eating, quality of ingredients and varieties. Granola can be a boondoggle, meaning it can rip the roof of your mouth out and shred it, or it can break your teeth.
This granola has a softness or smaller “bite” that makes it a pleasure to eat.  Simple ingredients, no fillers, salts or preservatives, mix in favorite yogurt or ice cream, enjoy it as a bowl of cereal with milk, or straight out of the bag.  Recommended: Viki’s Granola Original Honey, made of Rolled Oats, Honey, Almonds, Sunflower Seeds, Canola Oil, Unsweetened Coconut, Pecans. Contains Tree Nuts.
This used in Chai tea is bonkers and fabulous
Dense, moist coconut palm sugar is a brilliant swap for the white stuff. It’s a low-glycemic sweetener that is rich in minerals and delivers energy by delayed glucose absorption.  Nutiva’s palm sugar comes directly from the blossoms of Indonesian coconut trees. This coconut sugar has a brown sugar and caramel vibe. Unrefined, unprocessed, and mineral-rich, use it for baking, smoothies, and to balance out the flavor of savory dishes.
Where’s the kale? Not yet! Another natural sugar.  The Real Co organic raw cane sugar is made at the Assukar farms, owned by The Ortuño Family, in the Jurassic Park location of Tayutic Valley of Costa Rica. This multi-generational family-run farm dates back to 1877 and they make it in the original process, A true non-GMO cane crystal sugar.
Personally, I believe in quality real sugars over anything artificial, just use less of it. The farming and milling operations at Assukar farms is a sustainable community food product that employs ten villages.
No gas is used. Instead, through the use of animal traction, a non-pollutant manual method is utilized, see how they do it.
The Real Co Himalayan pink rock salt comes from a small mining community in the Karakorum range of the Western Himalayas. Hand-mined and crushed at the source, this has 84 live minerals, which is exactly the same as found in the human body. The alleged benefits of this natural salt include managing the water content throughout your body, healthy PH balance in your cells, hydration, anti-muscle cramping, blood pressure and circulation improvements and helps the intestines absorb nutrients.
The Real Co White Basmati Rice will have you hearing Zeppelin’s Kashmir in your head. It is sourced directly from one farm in the Himalayas. This unique farming situation – aging the grain six months – nets a grain that doubles in size when cooked.  Tastes amazing too.

We flipped for the tarter fruits like Cherries, Cranberries
Raisins but not raisins. Chewy, dried natural sweet balls of real fruit that can go solo or mix in with granola. This is a staple in our house for mulled wine (glogg) and for Sangria too, as the dried cherries are a secret flavor weapon. These are Washington State, USA grown, minus artificial colors or flavors, hydrogenated oils, sulfites, or high fructose corn syrup. Go for the dried cherries or the Blended Fruit Mix.
See? kale. Okay not as sexy as the Brownie Bites, but not everyone loves the sweets. Savory snacks rule and smart ones like Broccoli Bites and Roasted Kale by Rhythm are pretty amazing.  It is no secret that cruciferous veggie broccoli is full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, – a virtual powerhouse of nutrition and health benefits. Rhythm blends broccoli florets in a light dressing of seeds, veggies, herbs and spices, and dehydrates them at low temperatures to crispy perfection, preserving all of those naturally occurring nutrients for a straight outta the bag blissful snackathon.
Their 100% fresh organic Lacinato Kale is triple-washed, roasted in a delicate oil and seasoned preserving their vitamins A, K, and C.It’s wispy thin and full of flavor.

Nobody wants a mouthful of mercury…
Tuna is a disappearing species in the oceans, as it is being overfished and quite frankly, is a repository for heavy metals like mercury. SafeCatch mercury limits are ten times stricter than the FDA mercury action limit making it the official tuna of the American Pregnancy Association.  Safe Catch Elite Wild Tuna is also a fantastic tasting tuna and worth the extra money – this is your body and your health. Support these fishermen who do it right.
Spit that Slim Jim out and get some religion when it comes to a meat snack. Vermont Smoke & Cure launched three new flavors of its Meat Sticks during the 2015 Natural Products Expo East. They are also going to be at Natural Products Expo West! Like the other half-dozen flavors of the better-for-you meat snacks in the line, the Spicy Italian Pork, Rosemary Thyme Chicken and Teriyaki Chicken Sticks are gluten free and contain considerably less fat and salt than competing meat sticks.
Most meat sticks are snout or mushed up ears and guts, so be kind to yourself and eat real meat, not offal. These are made with quality meat. Beef in the sticks sources from lead supplier Pineland Farms Natural Meats in Maine or other similar suppliers. Pork is purchased at DuBreton in Quebec or from Coleman Natural Foods, which works with family farmers throughout the country to produce meat raised entirely without antibiotics
Slow cookers bring out the best in pork and Indian flavors


Slow cooker pork shoulder vindaloo in Concord, N.H. This dish is from a recipe by Meera Sodha. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)
By MEERA SODHA, Associated Press
Published: March 8, 2016, 6:07 AM
There’s a real joy in slowing down in the kitchen. Gone is the frantic stress of trying to get dinner on the table in an instant and in its place comes a different type of gentle cooking. It allows beautiful smells to waft through the house and ingredients to mingle and develop over time into something deep, rich and flavorful.
Of all slow cooked dishes, Goan pork vindaloo is my favorite. Originally a Portuguese stew made with meat, garlic and wine, the dish made its way to India in the 1500s with Portuguese explorers. Like so many other dishes, it then was reinterpreted. Today, vindaloo curry is a sweet, hot and sour dish popular all over the world.
Though the modern recipe, like the original dish, still uses garlic and wine vinegar, it has changed to include chilies and lots of warming spices, such as cinnamon, cumin and cloves. I like to use a cheaper and fattier cut of meat, such as pork shoulder, which responds well to a slow braise and shows its true colors after a few hours to become the best type of pork — succulent, sweet and soft.
Whatever happens, rest assured that there are no wrong moves with slow cooking. It’s one of the only mediums of cooking that creates a level playing field between the pro chef and the amateur. It gives you the flexibility to taste and adjust as you go until it tastes just right. The only trouble is that after several hours of cooking, it will only take a few minutes to eat.
SLOW COOKER PORK SHOULDER VINDALOO
 If you’re nervous about the amount of chili powder, halve the amount called for in the recipe. It will still be delicious. If your slow cooker doesn’t have a saute setting, start the dish in a large saute pan, then transfer to a slow cooker.
Start to finish: 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours (1/2 hour active)
Servings: 4
4 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil, divided
20 black peppercorns
1 star anise
3-inch cinnamon stick
6 whole cloves
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1 1/2-inch chunk fresh ginger, grated (plus extra to serve)
2 teaspoons chili powder
5 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 medium red onion, finely sliced
28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 1/4 pounds boneless pork shoulder, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
Plain Greek-style yogurt, to serve
Cooked basmati rice, to serve
Set the slow cooker to saute mode. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and heat until hot. Add the peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, cloves and cumin. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the peppercorns and cloves swell and are fragrant. Transfer the spices to a mortar and pestle or spice grinder. Grind until smooth, then add the garlic, ginger and chili powder. Grind again, then transfer to a small bowl and stir in the vinegar. Set aside.
Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil in the slow cooker. When hot, add the onions and cook, stirring often, until brown and caramelized. Add the tomatoes, and cook for 5 minutes. Add the spice paste, salt and sugar. Stir well, then add the pork. Coat the pork with the paste then add just enough water to cover the meat. Stir well, then cover and cook for 3 hours on high or 5 hours on low, or until the meat is completely tender and straining to hold its shape.
Serve topped with grated ginger, dollops of yogurt and basmati rice.
Nutrition information per serving: 740 calories; 210 calories from fat (28 percent of total calories); 24 g fat (4.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 155 mg cholesterol; 1040 mg sodium; 61 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 12 g sugar; 68 g protein.

Hain Celestial Celebrates Innovation at Natural Products Expo West 2016

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SOURCE The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
FEATURES OVER 100 NEW AND EXCITING FOOD, BEVERAGE, SNACK, PROTEIN AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS LATER THIS WEEK
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., March 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: HAIN), a leading organic and natural products company with operations in North America,Europe and India providing consumers with A Healthier Way of Life™, today announced over 100 new products that will be featured later this week at Natural Products Expo West, produced by New Hope Natural Media.  Expo West is the world's largest and premier tradeshow for the natural, organic and healthy products industry and is expected to host more than 70,000 attendees.

"As a company known for setting the standard for organic, natural and better-for-you products since the 1990s, we are proud of our brands and our new product innovation, which solidifies our leadership in the organic and natural, health and wellness space," said Irwin D. Simon, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hain Celestial.  "Our best-in-class organic, non-GMO sourcing capabilities and our ability to identify emerging and significant consumer trends resonate with consumers and our customers across all generations with our food, beverage, snack, protein and personal care products."
Selected new product innovation from Hain Celestial includes: 
·         Arrowhead Mills®, one of America's trusted organic brands for over 50 years, introduces new re-sealable bags and two new cold cereals, Organic Vanilla Sunrise Blend with Kamut® Flakes and Amaranth Clusters with Almonds and Flax Seeds and Organic Maple Morning Blend with Kamut® Flakes and Spelt Clusters with Sunflower and Chia Seeds, each with whole grains and 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving.
·         BluePrint® brand adds a new Organic Vegetable & Fruit Drink line crafted with cold pressed juice from fruits and vegetables, designed to address key benefits identified by consumers while expanding into four new categories focused on function and real food nutrition. Also launching,BluePrint®  Kombucha, Ready-To-Drink Tea, Vinegar Tonic and Dry Tea BluePrint®continues to innovate its core 16 green fluid ounce products with Watercress Warrior andDandelion Drive vegetable and fruit drinks.
·         Celestial Seasonings® brand offers innovative new products in popular herbal and green tea lines with Sleepytime® Mint, Sangria Zinger® and Spiced Vanilla Herbal Teas; Ginger Greenand Matcha Green Teas, and three Fair Trade Organic Green Teas: Pure Green, Jasmine Green and Lemongrass Green Teas.  In conjunction with Keurig®, Celestial™ Lattesintroduces Dirty Chai Tea Espresso K-Cup® Pods.
·         DREAM® brand plant-based beverage offerings expand in the refrigerated category withUltimate Almond Beverages, which contain four times more almonds for more protein in every 8 ounce serving than Almond Dream Original for a rich and creamy tasting beverage. DREAM®is also introducing three new product lines for the shelf-stable section-Ultimate Almond Beverages, Boosted Beverages and Rice DREAM® with Coconut, an extension of the popular Rice DREAM® line.
·         DREAM® frozen novelties expand with two new Almond Dream™ Bites flavors:  Peppermintand Pumpkin Spice, delicious and indulgent bite size frozen nuggets made with almonds and coated with rich chocolate.
·         Earth's Best® introduces new packaging design and innovation in infant feeding and kids meals including Earth's Best Organic® Homestyle Meal Pouches, inspired by classic meal time favorites–Chicken Pot Pie, Cheesy Pasta with Veggies and Turkey Quinoa Apple Sweet Potato.  Earth's Best® brand of kids frozen products expands with Stuffed Bites:  Egg, Cheese & Spinach; Chicken & White Bean Chili and Beef, Cheese & Vegetable Taco andVeggie Medley Nuggets made from carrots, green beans and spinach.
·         Ella's Kitchen® brand nutritious organic drink options expand with Organic Aloe Water Juice Blend Drinks, a refreshing drink with naturally hydrating aloe and just 5 grams of sugar per 6.75 fluid ounce serving. Ella's Kitchen® HPP Organic Raw Juice Pressies are cold pressed juice blend drinks that are pasteurized by pressure, never heated, to help keep more nutrients and flavor.
·         Empire® Kosher poultry brand introduces deli meats, natural and certified kosher, with no antibiotics ever, including Pre-Sliced and Bulk Deli Turkey, Chicken Franks, Turkey Baconand Chicken Sausage in Mild Italian, Hot Italian and Spicy Apple Chicken varieties.Empire® Kosher is also introducing new children's frozen  chicken bites and chicken and turkey burgers. 
·         FreeBird® brand introduces natural, with no antibiotics ever, frozen ¼ pound burgers-Lightly-Seasoned Chicken, Lightly Seasoned Turkey and Mediterranean-Style Chicken with feta cheese and savory spices. 
·         The Greek Gods® brand unveils a high protein Nonfat Greek Yogurt with Chia Seeds, available in four delectable flavors: Blackberry, Peach, Strawberry and Vanilla.
·         Imagine® brand has a strong soup position for fall 2016 that features Imagine® Cauliflower & Potato Creamy Soup and two Imagine® Asian-style Noodle Chunky Soups: Ginger Misoand Soy-Ginger Chicken & Edamame. Imagine® also debuts Organic Ramen and MisoBroth and Imagine® Bone Broth available in Chicken and Hearth, a combination of chicken, beef and turkey.
·         MaraNatha® brand introduces new No Sugar or No Salt Added, No Stir Almond Butter, made with two simple ingredients: dry roasted almonds and palm oil so that no stirring is required.  Our palm oil is verified by Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
·         Plainville Farms® brand announces an expanded deli meat lineup with no antibiotics ever including Certified Organic Beef Franks, Pre-sliced Certified Organic Chicken Breast andOrganic Turkey Bacon featuring the brand's new logo and packaging. Plainville Farms® has also expanded its fresh organic product line with new Organic Lean Ground Turkey.
·         Spectrum® brand introduces three Non-Aerosol Oil Sprays with no propellants- Extra Virgin Olive Oil and White Truffle Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Avocado Oil.  Our extra virgin olive oil is sourced from a family-owned olive grove in the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Spectrum® Sriracha Mayonnaise enhances every bite with its spicy, bold flavor and creamy, feathery light texture. 
·         TERRA® adds Real Freeze Dried Fruit to its portfolio, simple ingredients with the taste of real fruit in a convenient shelf stable format. TERRA® Real Freeze Dried Fruit is available in two delicious varieties: Honey-Infused Fuji Apples and Tropical Fruit Blend with coconut oil and made with pineapple, mango and banana.
·         Tilda® brand introduces Wholegrain Brown Basmati Rice & Quinoa, classic brown basmati rice grown in the foothills of the Himalayas combined with nutritious quinoa.
·         WestSoy® by Yves® Seitan Salad Topper is a convenient blend of seitan cubes with a delicious Mediterranean sauce, with 21 grams of protein per serving.
·         Yves Veggie Cuisine® Jackfruit Pulled BBQ is nutritious shredded jackfruit with a tangy and tasty BBQ sauce-vegan and cholesterol free.
Hain Celestial's featured personal care products include:
·         Alba Botanica® brand Body in the Buff freshly-fragranced, biodegradable body scrubs; Very Emollient™ Mineral Sunscreen Sprays for reef-safe, broad spectrum SPF 35 sun protection; and Cooling Aloe Burn Relief Spray for instant, pain relieving treatment of sunburned skin.
·         Avalon Organics® brand Intense Defense with Vitamin C Detoxifying Facial Towelettescleanse, tone and hydrate in one step; Antioxidant Facial Oil crafted to protect skin from environmental stressors; Intense Defense Sheer Moisture SPF 10 daily moisturizer with mineral sunscreen for incidental UV exposure; Wrinkle Therapy Cleansing Oil to help reduce fine lines;  Brilliant Balance™  Purifying Facial Towelettes, hypo-allergenic and dermatologist tested; Damage Control Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner to help resist the visual signs of aging hair, leaving it soft and shiny.
·         JASÖN® brand introduces indulgent, nourishing Foaming Shower Oils that instantly transform into moisturizing, cleansing foams.  The Gentle Basics™ line offers clinically-tested, hypoallergenic hydration for people with dry, sensitive skin while the Total Protection Sea Salt Mouth Rinse cares for the whole mouth and freshens breath with a Cool Mint flavor.  Dry Spray Deodorants deliver quick-dry, 24-hour odor protection, available in 3 fresh scents and JASÖN®Men, a new line featuring Dry Spray Deodorant, Stick Deodorant and All-in-One Body Wash, provides just-for-Men personal care, each one with the same woodsy fragrance.
·         Queen Helene® brand introduces 100% Coconut Oil, rich in antioxidant Vitamin E and polyphenols that are beneficial to skin, hair and nails.
Hain Celestial's products will be coming to market now through the end of 2016 and sold in selected markets in the United States.
The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
The Hain Celestial Group (NASDAQ: HAIN), headquartered in Lake Success, NY, is a leading organic and natural products company with operations in North America, Europe and India.  Hain Celestial participates in many natural categories with well-known brands that include Celestial Seasonings®, Earth's Best®, Ella's Kitchen®, Terra®, Garden of Eatin'®, Sensible Portions®, Health Valley®, Arrowhead Mills®, MaraNatha®, SunSpire®, DeBoles®, Casbah®, Rudi's Organic Bakery®, Gluten Free Café™, Hain Pure Foods®, Spectrum®, Spectrum Essentials®, Walnut Acres Organic®, Imagine®, Almond Dream®, Rice Dream®, Soy Dream®, WestSoy®, The Greek Gods®, BluePrint®, FreeBird®, Plainville Farms®,, Empire Kosher®, Kosher Valley®, Yves Veggie Cuisine®,Europe's Best®, Cully & Sully®, New Covent Garden Soup Co. ®, Johnson's Juice Co. ®, Farmhouse Fare®, Hartley's®, Sun-Pat®, Gale's®, Robertson's®, Frank Cooper's®, Linda McCartney®, Lima®, Danival®, Natumi®, GG UniqueFiber®, Tilda®, JASÖN®, Avalon Organics®,Alba Botanica®, Live Clean® and Queen Helene®.  Hain Celestial has been providing A Healthier Way of Life™ since 1993.  For more information, visit www.hain.com.
Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report
Rice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
- - -
- - -
Long Grain New Crop
- - -
- - -


Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Mar '16
1042.0
1042.0
1029.5
-16.0
May '16
1073.5
1048.0
1053.5
-16.5
Jul '16
1098.5
1075.0
1080.0
-16.5
Sep '16
1107.0
1090.0
1095.0
-15.0
Nov '16
1131.0
1131.0
1110.0
-15.0
Jan '17
1126.0
-14.0
Mar '17
1126.0
-14.0

Rice Comment

Rice futures gave back all of yesterday's gains. Most active May made a run at resistance at $11 yesterday but failed at that level. The market continues to absorb disappointing export news. Weekly export sales of 91,200 tons weren't enough to generate any upward momentum. USDA pegged US acreage at 2.8 million acres, up from last year's 2.6 million. This week's weather will put a stop to any field work, as most of Arkansas is forecast to get 6+ inches of rain. Another weather even the following week is also being watched closely, as it could delay progress even further.

Rice Prices

as on : 08-03-2016 08:10:36 PM

Arrivals
Price
Current
%
change
Season 
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Bangalore(Kar)
3442.00
83.38
94988.00
4150
4150
-2.35
Varanasi(Grain)(UP)
670.00
-1.47
7795.00
1960
1960
-1.75
Etawah(UP)
500.00
4.17
17260.00
2255
2260
2.04
Bharthna(UP)
500.00
-28.57
6700.00
2240
2250
1.82
Kanpur(Grain)(UP)
420.00
5
7065.00
2140
2140
-2.28
Siliguri(WB)
400.00
8.11
1502.00
2600
2600
-
Sultanpur(UP)
322.50
11.98
2474.00
2200
2170
7.84
Faizabad(UP)
180.00
-5.26
3331.50
2100
2085
-
Sitapur(UP)
150.00
-6.25
5191.00
2160
2160
-0.23
Bahraich(UP)
145.00
-2.03
2906.50
2080
2080
NC
Agra(UP)
140.00
1.45
3899.00
2125
2100
5.20
Hardoi(UP)
135.00
-60.53
1362.00
2110
2070
-3.21
Basti(UP)
125.00
-8.42
3664.50
2080
2080
6.94
Ballia(UP)
120.00
-7.69
5970.00
1980
1970
0.25
Lucknow(UP)
113.00
4.15
3094.50
2150
2140
2.38
Shahjahanpur(UP)
110.00
-19.41
39533.30
2210
2200
7.80
Pilibhit(UP)
98.00
-2
16804.00
2185
2190
-6.82
Dhing(ASM)
92.00
21.05
2301.20
1800
1800
-18.18
Gangavathi(Kar)
91.00
127.5
216.00
1750
1720
-
Bareilly(UP)
86.00
-18.87
6006.00
2175
2190
3.57
Kalipur(WB)
82.00
5.13
3360.00
2000
2000
-9.09
P.O. Uparhali Guwahati(ASM)
78.00
1.3
2671.50
2100
2100
-19.23
Junagarh(Ori)
73.20
58.37
838.33
2100
2100
-4.55
Thodupuzha(Ker)
70.00
NC
1540.00
2650
2650
8.16
Saharanpur(UP)
68.00
-15
3644.00
2100
2040
0.24
Mainpuri(UP)
65.00
-7.14
532.00
2020
2020
5.21
Barabanki(UP)
62.50
-1.57
197.00
2035
2035
0.49
Beldanga(WB)
61.00
-1.61
1082.00
2275
2275
-10.78
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
60.00
100
1035.00
3000
3000
-
Achalda(UP)
60.00
NC
2784.50
2260
2250
3.67
Haridwar Union(Utr)
60.00
-
60.00
3000
-
25.00
Barasat(WB)
55.00
-15.38
1680.00
2300
2300
2.22
Kendupatna(Ori)
53.00
165
73.00
1800
1800
-
Kasganj(UP)
50.00
354.55
442.00
1920
1910
-6.57
Gauripur(ASM)
46.00
9.52
2078.50
4500
4500
-
Kasimbazar(WB)
45.00
NC
1097.50
2320
2340
-9.02
Muzzafarnagar(UP)
43.00
-8.51
905.00
2150
2130
-
Bindki(UP)
43.00
-57
1906.00
2245
2235
8.19
Jorhat(ASM)
40.00
-23.08
975.00
2700
2700
-
Jaunpur(UP)
38.00
-24
984.00
1950
1950
NC
Gazipur(UP)
37.00
NC
1109.00
1930
1920
4.89
Kalahandi(Dharamagarh)(Ori)
36.19
-28.04
507.44
2100
2100
-4.55
Dadri(UP)
35.00
75
1375.00
2070
2100
-2.59
Shikohabad(UP)
30.00
20
337.50
1980
1985
-7.04
Purulia(WB)
30.00
-16.67
1398.00
2180
2180
-8.40
Dhekiajuli(ASM)
28.00
7.69
683.50
1960
2000
3.16
Lohardaga(Jha)
26.00
6.12
583.00
1750
1850
2.94
Jalpaiguri Sadar(WB)
25.00
NC
629.00
2750
2675
-0.36
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)
24.60
-1.6
743.20
2300
2300
-11.54
Diamond Harbour(South 24-pgs)(WB)
22.00
NC
352.00
1850
1900
-13.95
Karimganj(ASM)
20.00
NC
120.00
2900
2800
-
Jajpur(Ori)
20.00
NC
258.00
2200
2200
-
Meerut(UP)
20.00
33.33
422.50
2200
2200
4.76
Mekhliganj(WB)
20.00
-11.11
411.00
2050
2050
-
Jasra(UP)
18.00
-10
397.50
2015
2025
0.75
Kudchi(Kar)
17.00
-
17.00
3000
-
-
Naugarh(UP)
17.00
36
470.50
2060
2065
8.71
Dibrugarh(ASM)
15.00
15.38
770.30
2400
2400
-
Pukhrayan(UP)
15.00
NC
100.50
2020
2020
-4.49
Balugaon(Ori)
14.00
-53.33
229.00
3200
3200
12.28
Mirzapur(UP)
13.00
-13.33
1064.00
1925
1930
-0.26
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
12.90
63.29
975.50
1900
1900
-
Jahanabad(UP)
12.00
-11.11
177.50
2200
2289
11.39
Bijnaur(UP)
11.00
-21.43
374.00
2210
2200
-
Karvi(UP)
11.00
-33.33
145.50
2145
2150
15.95
Raiganj(WB)
11.00
10
606.00
2875
2850
19.79
Kottayam(Ker)
10.00
NC
100.00
3500
3500
16.67
Champadanga(WB)
10.00
-16.67
527.00
2300
2300
-14.81
Deogarh(Ori)
9.00
-5.26
297.00
2500
2500
NC
Baraut(UP)
9.00
-18.18
182.00
2100
2150
0.48
Kaliaganj(WB)
9.00
-10
414.00
2650
2550
15.22
Cherthalai(Ker)
8.50
NC
239.50
2300
2300
-14.81
Bhivandi(Mah)
8.00
-20
208.00
3570
3200
112.50
Chengannur(Ker)
7.00
16.67
375.50
2500
2400
-13.79
Bolangir(Ori)
7.00
7.69
134.00
2200
2200
-8.33
Nilagiri(Ori)
7.00
-22.22
294.00
2300
2400
NC
Baberu(UP)
7.00
16.67
118.00
2130
2125
13.60
Khairagarh(UP)
7.00
16.67
250.50
2110
2110
4.46
Buland Shahr(UP)
7.00
40
292.00
2050
2050
0.49
Karanjia(Ori)
6.50
8.33
191.80
2600
2600
4.00
Palghar(Mah)
6.00
-40
432.00
1950
2125
-
Tusura(Ori)
5.50
-21.43
128.50
2200
2200
-8.33
Hamirpur(UP)
5.00
400
26.00
2050
1950
-
Nimapara(Ori)
4.50
-25
142.50
2200
2200
15.79
Farukhabad(UP)
4.20
-6.67
173.20
2170
2180
1.40
Jeypore(Ori)
4.10
-4.65
169.90
325
325
-
Chintamani(Kar)
4.00
-85.71
243.00
2000
2000
NC
Aroor(Ker)
4.00
33.33
142.70
6700
6700
-28.72
Mangaon(Mah)
4.00
300
23.00
2500
2800
-10.71
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)
4.00
-48.72
164.20
4200
1500
29.23
Fatehpur(UP)
4.00
14.29
122.00
2265
2235
5.59
Rura(UP)
3.50
-12.5
57.10
2220
2220
5.71
Melaghar(Tri)
3.00
20
86.80
2400
2350
2.13
Chorichora(UP)
3.00
33.33
269.65
2080
2125
6.67
Islampur(WB)
3.00
-6.25
194.40
2150
2150
-
Darjeeling(WB)
2.70
NC
57.60
2800
2800
3.70
Pakur(Jha)
2.50
-51.92
58.30
3148
3151
1.55
Kendupatna(Niali)(Ori)
2.50
-
8.50
1600
-
-
Balarampur(WB)
2.30
-4.17
38.70
2150
2150
-9.66
Rahama(Ori)
2.10
-27.59
21.00
2400
2400
-
Khliehriat(Meh)
2.00
66.67
7.50
2700
2700
-
Bonai(Bonai)(Ori)
2.00
NC
70.10
2000
2000
-9.09
Sardhana(UP)
1.50
50
54.70
2140
2130
2.64
Thirthahalli(Kar)
1.00
-
3.00
2440
-
-
Punalur(Ker)
1.00
-33.33
9.50
1600
1600
-
Mawana(UP)
1.00
NC
17.20
2150
2125
3.86
Kalimpong(WB)
0.90
NC
21.50
2350
2350
-11.32
Shillong(Meh)
0.70
16.67
36.00
3500
3500
NC
 

















Tuesday, March 08, 2016

8th march ,2016 Daily exclusive oryza rice enewsletter by riceplus magazine

EU Rice Imports from Asian LDCs Increase Sharply y/y in First Six Months of 2015-16
Mar 07, 2016

The European Union's (EU) rice imports from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) of Asia such as Cambodia and Myanmar under the Everything But Arms (EBA) Agreement have reached around 185,180 tons in the first six months of the crop year 2015-16 (September 2015 - February 2016), up about 42% from around 130,408 tons imported during the same period last year, according to data from the European Commission (EC).
The EC data shows that imports from Cambodia (which account for about 83% of total imports from Asian LDCs in September 2015 - February 2016) increased about 51% to around 154,020 tons from around 102,184 tons during the same period last year. Meanwhile, rice imports from Myanmar (which account for about 15% of total imports from Asian LDCs in the first six months of 2015-16) have increased about 12% to around 28,348 tons from around 25,350 tons during the same period last year.

China Seeks to Stabilize Grain Production, Prices and Reduce Imports by 2020


The government of China is planning to stabilize total grain, including rice, production and prices by 2020, and rely less on foreign imports, Daily News quoted the Agriculture Minister.
Addressing the annual legislature meeting in Beijing, the Minister noted that the country aims to improve mechanisms for grains pricing and enhance its stockpiling system. The government is reportedly expecting the total grains output to exceed 550 million tons in 2016.
Recently, the Chinese Premier prioritized increasing the agricultural production to ensure food security in the country. He has urged the local grain producing companies to take lead in developing genetically modified (GM) crops to boost gain production.
Meanwhile, analysts are criticizing the government's grain procurement policy at high prices for distorting grain markets in the country. The country is said to be facing severe grain storage problems owing to excessive buying by the government to maintain prices and protect the local grain markets in the country.
China imported around 287,200 tons of rice in the first month of 2016 (January), about 2.3 times from around 122,400 tons imported during the same period last year, according to data from China Customs General Administration. The East Asian nation imported about 3.35 million tons of rice in 2015, up about 31% from around 2.56 million tons imported in 2014. 
USDA estimates China to produce around 145.77 million tons of milled rice in MY 2015-16 (July - June). It estimates China to import around 4.7 million tons and export around 450,000 tons of rice in 2016.

Government of Laos Aims to Export One Million Tons of Rice in 2016


The government of Laos is aiming to export one million tons of rice this year, local sources quoted the Director of the Department of Planning and Cooperation under the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
In order to achieve the goal, the government targets a production of about 4.2 million tons of paddy in the 2015-16 season, according to the official. He reportedly noted that the target includes 40,000 tons of rice for reserve purposes and 60,000 tons for seeding purposes. The government is also keen on ensuring 2.1 million tons for domestic consumption during the year.
To boost paddy rice production, the government is encouraging local farmers to raise the area under wet rice cultivation to one million hectares and that of upland rice to 100,000 hectares.
The Laos government is keen on exploring new export markets after the country officially received order to export about 8,000 tons of rice to China this year.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Laos unofficially sells 300,000 to 400,000 tons of paddy rice to neighboring countries through land borders every year.
The USDA estimates Laos to produce around 2.778 million tons of paddy rice (around 1.75 million tons, basis milled) from around 925,000 hectares in MY 2015-16 (January – December 2016).


UNISAME President Calls for Modernization of Pakistan Rice Sector to Cope with Growing Competition


The President of the Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the government of Pakistan to modernize the rice farming, milling, processing and marketing to enable the country's rice sector to meet the global challenges, according to local sources.
The official had called for a coordinated effort by the Ministries of Agriculture, Commerce, Industry, and Science and Technology for the upliftment of the rice sector. He noted that the rice sector is being neglected despite being the second largest foreign exchange earner. Dedicated efforts are required from grass root level to modernization of all the related activities.
The UNISAME President urged the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) under the ministry of industries and the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) under the ministry of science and technology to join hands for modernization of the rice industry.
He also noted that the Rice Research Institute under the Agriculture Ministry should invest more in the development of new varieties to boost production. The Ministry of Commerce also needs to step up efforts to get geographical indication (GI) recognition to Pakistan’s basmati rice, he said.
The official also called the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) to increase efforts to regain lost market shares in Iran, Gulf and the Middle East as well as find new markets for Pakistan's basmati rice.


Government of Philippines Advised to Consider 35% Tariff on Rice Imports after QRs End Next Year


A Senior Research Fellow at the state-run Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) has advised the government to consider imposing a 35% tariff on rice imports after the WTO-imposed quantitative restrictions (QRs) on rice imports expire in July 2017, according to local sources.
The researcher noted that the expiration of QRs would intensify competition among rice importers and foreign suppliers leading to a fall in domestic prices and affecting the incomes of local farmers and traders.
He also noted that the government should simultaneously consider a direct cash transfer program for farmers to promote competition as well as increase their standard of living. He stated that government should consider the direct cash transfers over and above the current support in the form of irrigation investments as well as subsidies for farm machinery, and farm inputs. "The government should continue to continue providing these traditional support programs as these have significant medium term and long term impact but direct payments to farmers would have immediate impact as it would provide an immediate safety net for local producers," he said.
The PIDS researcher, however, noted that the proposal would demand significant resources but is financially feasible and would directly address the problems faced by farmers once the protection renegotiated by the government with the WTO ends next year.
QRs apparently allow the government to import a stated amount of rice at lesser duty and imports over and above the quota attract higher duties. Last year, the WTO allowed the Philippines to extend the QRs until 2017. Under the new QR policy, the Philippines can import 805,200 tons of rice under the minimum access volume (MAV) of at 35% duty. Imports above the MAV will attract 50% duty.

Global Rice Quotes
March 7th, 2016
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade   370-380       ↑
Vietnam 5% broken        370-380       ↑
India 5% broken    370-380       ↑
Pakistan 5% broken         335-345       ↔
Myanmar 5% broken       420-430       ↔
Cambodia 5% broken      410-420       ↔
U.S. 4% broken     455-465       ↔
Uruguay 5% broken        445-455       ↔
Argentina 5% broken      435-445       ↔
Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken      350-360       ↔
Vietnam 25% broken       350-360       ↔
Pakistan 25% broken       305-315       ↔
Cambodia 25% broken     395-405       ↔
India 25% broken 330-340       ↔
U.S. 15% broken (sacked)         440-450       ↔
Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd    365-375       ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd      NQ    ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd 355-365       ↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken          480-490       ↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken        520-530       ↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken   NQ    ↔
Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92%   660-670       ↔
Vietnam Jasmine   445-455       ↑
India basmati 2% broken           NQ    ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken      NQ    ↔
Cambodia Phka Mails      755-765       ↔
Brokens
Thailand A1 Super          325-335       ↔
Vietnam 100% broken     335-345       ↑
Pakistan 100% broken stxd        285-295       ↔
Cambodia A1 Super        335-345       ↔
India 100% broken stxd   265-275       ↔
Egypt medium grain brokens     NQ    ↔
U.S. pet food         280-290       ↔
Brazil half grain     NQ    ↔
All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com



Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Prices Firm Slightly with Futures; Everyone Waiting on Iraq Tender Results
Mar 08, 2016

The U.S. cash market was slightly firmer with offers from resellers increasing with the futures market while farmer sell interest was nearly non-existent today.
Analysts note that both buyers and sellers are sitting on the sidelines waiting to see the results of the latest Iraq tender which is supposed to be announced on March 14.
If the U.S. is able to secure a cargo or two of this business many market participants expect prices to stabilize or firm slightly.  However, if the U.S. is overlooked prices will likely continue their downward trajectory.

Vietnam Domestic Paddy, Rice Prices Increase on Higher Export Demand, Says MARD

Mar 07, 2016
Domestic paddy and rice prices in Vietnam are increasing due to increased exports to Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as higher orders from China, local sources quoted the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
Prices are also said to increase amid concerns of lower production due to severe saltwater intrusion and serious water shortages in rivers.
Paddy prices in An Giang and Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta region increased between 50 to 150 VND to around 4,550 VND per kilogram (around $204 per ton) and 4,650 VND per kilogram (around $208 per ton) respectively.
Harvesting of the winter-spring rice crop is on-going, and more than 200,000 tons of rice worth at least 1 trillion Vietnamese dong (around $44.64 million) is likely to be damaged by the salt water intrusion, according to the MARD officials.
Domestic prices of rice have been declining since November 2015, according to the data from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The decline can be attributed to low export demand.
Vietnam 5% and 25% broken rice exports are quoted at around $375 per ton and $355 per ton respectively, on par with Thai quotes of around $375 per ton and $355 per ton. However, the MARD officials are expecting a stiff competition for Vietnam rice exports this year from India, Thailand and Pakistan.

Oryza CBOT Rough Rice Futures Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Start the Week on Bullish Note as Rally in Crude Supports U.S. Grain Prices



Chicago rough rice futures for May delivery settled $0.195 cents were cwt (about $4/ton) higher at $10.700 per cwt (about $236 per ton). The other grains finished the day higher; Soybeans closed about 0.4% higher at $8.8175 per bushel; wheat finished about 0.4% higher at $4.6275 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.2% higher at $3.5900 per bushel.
U.S. stocks traded mostly lower Monday, after their first three-week rally of the year so far, as investors eyed oil prices and awaited indications on monetary policy around the world. Brent crude topped $40 a barrel for the first time in 2016, while WTI traded more than 5% higher above $37.50 a barrel. The major averages opened lower before trying to hold mildly higher in afternoon trade. The key event in the data-light week is the European Central Bank's Thursday meeting. The Federal Open Market Committee meets March 15 to 16. European stocks came off session lows in the close. Asian stocks closed mixed, with the Shanghai composite ending about 0.8% higher. Over the weekend, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced a 2016 target GDP growth range between 6.5% and 7%.In afternoon trade, the Dow Jones industrial average traded up 58 points, or 0.35%, at 17,065. The S&P 500 was flat, with energy leading six sectors higher and information technology the biggest laggard. The Nasdaq composite declined 16 points, or 0.36%, to 4,700. Gold is seen trading about 0.6% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 4.8% higher, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.2% lower at about  1:30pm Chicago time.
Friday, there were 352 contracts traded, down from 795 contracts traded on Thursday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Friday decreased by 44 contracts to 11,849. 

Philippines Scientist Developing Eco-Friendly Mechanical Rice Pest Remover

A scientist from the University of Philippines in Los Baños is developing a mechanical device called Mechanical Postharvest Pest Removal System (MPReS) to easily remove pests from rice and corn in an environment-friendly manner, according to GMA News.
Normally, pests are removed using a two-pronged method. First cooling with dry ice to reduce pest activity and then fumigating to kill the pests. However, the scientist says, the method is expensive for many farmers.
She says the newly developed MPReS device is more useful for farmers in rural areas where there are no proper storage facilities. She adds that the device works in a very simple manner.
"It tumbles the produce, shaking off pests that then fall through a sieve on the contraption's floor. Thus, pests are sifted out and the cleaned produce can be safely removed from the device," she says. Thus device can process up to 50 kilograms of rice at a time. It would take between 5 - 8 minutes for one round of spin, and the cleaned rice can be easily tilted into another sack by pushing up to tilt the compartment. The device also does not need electricity or expensive fuel, she says.
The scientist said: “The device must be affordable for farmers, easy to clean and operate, and durable so that it can be used for years.” The device is still in the planning stages and she is planning to release in the market soon.
She is planning to present the device in the  Young Agriprenuer Program, a global contest for young agricultural entrepreneurs.

Vietnam Rice Exports Double y/y in First Two Months of 2016

Vietnam exported 856,219 tons of rice in first two months of 2016, up about 103% from 421,202 tons of rice exported during same period in last year, according to data from the Vietnam Food Association (VFA). The average rice export price so far in this year stands at around$406 per ton (FOB), down about 10% per ton from around $452 per ton recorded during same last year.
In February, 2016, Vietnam exported 439,449 tons of rice, up about 119% from 200,814 tons rice exported in February 2015, and up about 5% from 416,770 tons rice exported in full month of January 2016. The average export price in February stands at around $405 per ton, down about 11% per ton from a year ago and down about 0.6% per ton from a month ago

Thailand, Vietnam, India Rice Sellers Increase Some of Their Quotes Today; Pakistan Rice Quotes Unchanged

Mar 07, 2016

Thailand rice sellers increased their quotes for high quality rice,  100% B grade, rice by about $5 per ton to around $370-$380 per ton. Vietnam rice sellers increased their quotes for 5% broken rice, 100% broken rice and Jasmine rice by about $10 per ton, $5 per ton and $15 per ton to around $370-$380 per ton,  $335-$345 per ton and $445-$455 per ton, respectively, today.  India rice sellers increased their  quotes for 5% broken rice by about $5 per ton to around $370-$380 per ton. Pakistan rice sellers kept their quotes unchanged today.                      
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $360 - $370 per ton, about $10 per ton discount to Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $370 - $380 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $370 - $380 per ton, about $35 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice shown at around $335 - $345 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice is indicated at around $350 - $360 per ton, on par with Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $350- $360 per ton. India 25% rice is indicated at around $330 - $340 per ton, about $25 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $305 - $315 per ton.
Parboiled Rice           
Thailand parboiled rice is indicated at around $365 - $375 per ton. India parboiled rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton, about $50 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice last shown at around $405 - $415 per ton.
100% Broken Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super is indicated at around $325 - $335 per ton, about $10 per ton discount to Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $335 - $345 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $265 - $275 per ton, about $20 per ton discount to Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $285 - $295 per ton.




Exclusive News have been shared with written permission of ORYZA.com with thanks

Tuesday, March 01, 2016

1st March,2016 Daily Exclusive ORYZA rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine


Indian Finance Minister Enhances Agricultural Credit in 2016-17 Union Budget
Feb 29, 2016

The Indian Finance Minister, who presented the Union Budget 2016-17 today, has enhanced the agricultural credit to Rs.9 lakh crore (around $131 billion) from Rs.8.5 lakh crore ($124 billion) last year.
A total of Rs.35,984 crore (around $5.2 billion) is allotted for agriculture in the 2016-17 budget, he said. The Minister also announced that the government aims to cover all the 140 million farm holdings in the country under the soil health card scheme by March 2017. The soil health card scheme was introduced in last budget. Under the scheme, the government will advise farmers on the usage of inputs like fertilizers for different types of soils and for different types of crops after testing the soil in various soil testing labs across the country.
He also noted that about 200,000 hectares would be brought under organic farming over a period of three years. He stated that Rs.6,000 crore (around $874 million) would be allocated for sustainable management of ground water resources.
The Minister announced that Rs.15,000 crore ($219 million) would be allocated towards interest subvention to lower burden for farmers.
He also announced that a Unified Agricultural Marketing ePlatform would be provided for wholesale markets.

Government of Rwanda May Stop Rice Imports by 2018 to Reduce Trade Deficit

Feb 29, 2016

The government of Rwanda may stop importing rice by 2018 as part of its efforts to reduce the bulging trade deficit, according to local sources. Rwanda imported around $37 million worth rice in 2015 compared to around $31.1 million in 2014. The country 's trade deficit stood at around $1,761.3 million in 2015. Higher deficit is attributed to a fall in the country’s exports due to falling global prices.
The State Minister for Agriculture reportedly told the Parliament recently that the Agriculture Ministry has drafted a new plan aimed at increasing the local rice production, enough to meet all the country's needs by 2018.
The measures reportedly include expanding the rice planting in marshland areas as well as allocating more land to private investors who are interested in venturing into commercial rice growing activities. Currently, only 28,500 hectares of marshland areas are used for rice cultivation, while the country has a total capacity of 66,094 hectares.
"The new plan involves working with co-operatives and easing access to farm inputs to boost production. The government is currently trying to address the challenges in rice production including limited Post-harvest infrastructures, insufficient amount of good quality seeds due to absence of efficient public seed production and distribution," said the Agriculture Ministry's Permanent Secretary.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry added that “streamlining the production and supply value chains will help increase local production."
The government of Rwanda is aiming to achieve rice self-sufficiency by increasing yields to 7 tons per hectares by 2018. In 2014, the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) reportedly unveiled an initiative that sought to increase rice production, ensure quality along the value chain, and ease access to agro-inputs.
Rwanda imports about 40% of its annual rice demand of arbout 98,000 tons, according to the USDA.

Cambodia Lacks Comprehensive Rice Export Policy, Say Exporters

Feb 29, 2016

Cambodian rice exporters have expressed concerned that Cambodia lacks a comprehensive rice export policy, which can aid in boosting production and exports, according to the Phnompenh Post.
They noted that despite winning the world's best rice competition for three consecutive years, the Cambodian rice industry continues to face challenges such as access to finance, as well as inadequate irrigation, milling and storage facilities.
“Relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance together with the Ministry of Agriculture and CRF [Cambodian Rice Federation] have yet to come up with a thorough strategy design, accompanying policies and policy implementation framework that can be rolled out to enhance the competitiveness of our rice industry in the global market, especially within the context of how to allow Cambodian millers to become a cost leader to compete with the same level playing field [of our] Thai and Vietnamese counterparts,” one of the leading exporters was quoted.
“Cambodia’s rice industry has a huge potential but unless we manage to solve the cost impediments, this potential may be squandered. It is the survival of the fittest,” he added.
They noted that "a pragmatic, professional, and thorough marketing strategy with appropriate market positioning and implementation plan" is necessary along with the government's on-going efforts to develop a national brand name for the country's rice.
Meanwhile, the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) is planning to expand the production of organic rice in the country to around 1,000 - 1,500 tons this year due to its higher export potential. Local farmers affiliated with CEDAC produced around 400 tons of organic rice in 2014 and around 800 tons in 2015.
Cambodia has exported around 538,396 tons of milled rice in 2015 (January - December), up about 39% from around 387,061 tons exported in 2014. The government of Cambodia aimed to increase official rice exports to one million tons in 2015 but missed the target due to inadequate milling facilities and infrastructure as well as lack of access to funding.

India Average Wholesale Rice Prices Decline Slightly m/m in February 2016

Feb 29, 2016
India average wholesale rice prices have declined slightly in February 2016, after increasing for three consecutive months. The decline can be contributed to increasing supplies from the on-going Rabi/secondary rice crop (November - May) harvests.
Average monthly wholesale rice prices in India stood at around Rs.2,773.3 per quintal in February 2016, slightly up from around Rs.2,782.77 per quintal in January 2016, and slightly down from their year-ago levels of around Rs.2,787.06 per quintal.
In terms of USD per ton, wholesale rice prices in India stand at around $404 per ton (using current exchange rates) in February 2016, down about 3% from around $415 per ton (using historical exchange rates) in January 2016, and down about 10% from around $450 per ton (using historical exchange rates) in February 2015.     
Analysts are expecting India’s average prices to increase due to a likely reduction in this year's output following below-average monsoon rains during the kharif season (July - December).The government, in its second advance estimates for major crops, forecasts India's 2015-16 (July - June) milled rice output to decline about 2% to around 103.61 million tons from around 105.48 million tons in 2014-15.

Indian Authorities Unearth $146 Million Scam in Basmati Rice Exports Routed to Iran

Feb 29, 2016

Authorities from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have unearthed a massive scam involving over 200,000 tons of basmati rice worth Rs.1,000 crore (around $146 million) in rice exports routed to Iran, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).
The DRI authorities found that the rice routed to the Bandar Abbas port in Iran was being fraudulently diverted mid-sea to Dubai. They noted that exporters involved in the scam would load the rice at the Kandla port in Gujarat. They have also filed shipping bills to Iran. However, the consignment was diverted mid-sea to Dubai allegedly with the connivance of cargo ship operators carrying the goods. They also noted that payments are understood to be made from Iran to these exporters with the importers and port officials officially acknowledging the receipt of rice.
The authorities are reportedly suspecting the involvement of about 25 rice exporters from Haryana and Punjab in this scam.
Local sources noted that the intelligence agencies are investigating the end use of the rice off-loaded in Dubai. They noted that the authorities are suspecting the use of rice as barter system to fund some illegal activities. Locally, they are expecting the proceeds of the scam are a form of black money, the sources said.
The DRI has reportedly involved the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team on black money as well as the Enforcement Directorate to resolve the case. It is also in touch with the concerned authorities in Dubai

Oryza CBOT Rough Rice Futures Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Bounce Higher to Start the Week on a Positive Note

Mar 01, 2016

Chicago rough rice futures for Mar delivery settled 10.5 cents per cwt (about $2 per ton) higher at $10.495 per cwt (about $231 per ton). The other grains finished the day with mixed results; Soybeans closed about 0.3% lower at $8.6100 per bushel; wheat finished about 0.2% higher at $4.5325 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.7% lower at $3.5700 per bushel.
U.S. stocks traded higher Monday, the last trading day of February, amid higher oil prices and after some disappointing data. U.S. crude oil futures extended gains trading more than 2.5% higher near $33.70 a barrel in afternoon trade. In economic news, Chicago PMI came in at 47.6 in February, missing expectations and dropping from 55.6 in January. Pending home sales fell 2.5% in January, versus expectations for a slight gain. Key data for the week include ISM manufacturing on Tuesday and the jobs report on Friday.
European equities came off session lows to close mixed after China's central bank announced further stimulus measures. The People's Bank of China cut further the reserve requirement ratio, the amount of cash the country's banks have to hold, by 0.5% points after China's markets closed Monday. The cut was the first since October and the fifth since last February. The reserve requirement ratio comes into effect Tuesday and means most large Chinese banks will have a reserve ratio of 17%, Reuters said. Asian equities closed mostly lower, with the Shanghai composite down about 2.9% but above session lows and the Nikkei 225 reversing gains to close down 1%.In afternoon trade, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 42 points, or 0.25%, at 16,682. The S&P 500 traded 5 points higher, or 0.4%, at 1,953, with utilities leading eight sectors higher and health care and energy the only decliners. The Nasdaq composite was up 17 points, or 0.38%, to 4,607. Gold is seen trading about 1.1% higher, crude oil is seen trading about 2.6% higher, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.1% higher at about  1:00pm Chicago time.
Friday, there were 4,710 contracts traded, up from 3,079 contracts traded on Thursday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Friday increased by 264 contracts to 13,037. 

Iraq Seeks to Buy 30,000 Tons of Rice in Tenders

Feb 29, 2016

Iraq is seeking to buy about 30,000 tons of rice in tenders from the U.S., Uruguay and Argentina, Bloomberg quoted a statement from Iraq's Trade Ministry.
Deadline for submission of bid is reportedly March 8, 2016, and the offers will be valid till March 14, 2016.
Last week, Iraq passed off tenders to buy 90,000 tons of U.S. rice due to high prices. Bidders reportedly offered South American rice at low prices.

Pakistan Resumes Banking Ties with Iran as Sanctions End

Feb 29, 2016

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has resumed banking ties with Iran allowing all commercial banks and financial institutions in the country to restart business with their Iranian counterparts, according to Reuters.
"In line with the federal government's decision to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution regarding lifting of sanctions against Iran, the State Bank of Pakistan has communicated to banks/financial institutions that previous sanctions on Iran have been removed and normal business activities can be commenced within the scope of the Resolution," the central bank was quoted.
"It is expected that the lifting of sanctions and restoration of banking channels between Pakistan and Iran would revive normal trade and business activities between the two neighbours," it added.
Major Pakistani exports to Iran include basmati rice, plastics, paper and oranges, and the big imports items include liquefied petroleum gas, petroleum products, electric transformers and dry fruits. The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has been urging the government to restore payment mechanisms between the two countries to help boost exports.
Earlier this month, the global transaction network Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) reconnected a number of Iranian banks to its system, allowing them to restart cross-border transactions with foreign banks. The move came after sanctions were lifted on Iran in January this year. Iranian banks were removed from the Belgium-based SWIFT in March 2012, following the tightening of the international sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear program.
Global Rice Quotes
February 29th, 2016
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade          365-375           ↔
Vietnam 5% broken    355-365           ↑
India 5% broken         360-370           ↔
Pakistan 5% broken    335-345           ↔
Myanmar 5% broken   420-430           ↔
Cambodia 5% broken             410-420           ↔
U.S. 4% broken           455-465           ↔
Uruguay 5% broken    445-455           ↔
Argentina 5% broken 435-445           ↔
Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken 345-355           ↔
Vietnam 25% broken 345-355           ↑
Pakistan 25% broken 305-315           ↔
Cambodia 25% broken           395-405           ↔
India 25% broken       325-335           ↔
U.S. 15% broken (sacked)      440-450           ↔
Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd            365-375           ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd    NQ      ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd         350-360           ↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken       480-490           ↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken    520-530           ↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken            NQ      ↔
Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92%          665-675           ↔
Vietnam Jasmine         415-425           ↔
India basmati 2% broken        NQ      ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken   NQ      ↔
Cambodia Phka Mails             755-765           ↔
Brokens
Thailand A1 Super      325-335           ↔
Vietnam 100% broken            330-340           ↑
Pakistan 100% broken stxd    285-295           ↔
Cambodia A1 Super   335-345           ↔
India 100% broken stxd         260-270           ↔
Egypt medium grain brokens NQ      ↔
U.S. pet food 280-290           ↔
Brazil half grain          NQ      ↔
All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com

Vietnam Exports About 727,847 Tons of Rice During January 1 – February 25, 2016

Feb 29, 2016
Vietnam exported about 727,847 tons of rice in January 1 - February 25, 2016, up about 73% from around 421,202 tons of rice exported in first two months of 2015, according to data from the Vietnam Food Association (VFA). The average rice export price so far in this year stands at about $399 per ton (FOB), down about 11% per ton from around $452 per ton recorded during same last year.
During February 1-25, 2016, Vietnam exported around 311,077 tons of rice, up about 55% from around 200,814 tons rice exported in full month of February 2015, and down about 25% from around 416,770 tons rice exported in full month of January 2016. The average export price so far in February stands at around $387 per ton, down about 15% per ton from a year ago and down about 5% per ton from a month ago.

Vietnam Rice Sellers Increase Their Quotes Today; Other Asia Rice Quotes Unchanged

Feb 29, 2016

Vietnam rice sellers increased their quotes for 5% broken rice, 25% broken rice and 100% broken rice by about $5 per ton each to around $355-$365 per ton, $345-$355 per ton and $330-$340 per ton respectively today. Other Asia rice sellers kept their quotes unchanged today.                       
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton, on par with Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $355 - $365 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $360 - $370 per ton, about $25 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice shown at around $335 - $345 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice is indicated at around $345 - $355 per ton, on par with Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $345- $3505per ton. India 25% rice is indicated at around $325 - $335 per ton, about $20 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $305 - $315 per ton.
Parboiled Rice           
Thailand parboiled rice is indicated at around $365 - $375 per ton. India parboiled rice is indicated at around $350 - $360 per ton, about $55 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice last shown at around $405 - $415 per ton.
100% Broken Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super is indicated at around $325 - $335 per ton, about $5 per ton discount to Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $330 - $340 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $260 - $270 per ton, about $25 per ton discount to Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $285 - $295 per ton.

Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Prices Seen Steady after IGB Reissues Another Tender Including South American Origins

Mar 01, 2016

The U.S. cash market was seen mostly unchanged today after it was confirmed that Iraq canceled their U.S. origin only tender and reissued another tender to buy at least 30,000 MT from either the U.S., Uruguay, or Argentina.
Analyst note that the lower and unsolicited offers from South America on the old tender likely complicated things for the Iraqi Grain Board as they likely faced difficulties justifying paying a roughly $90 per ton premium for U.S. rice over South American.
Going forward, analysts expect that offers from the U.S. will decrease while offers from South America will increase which some believe will give the U.S. a decent shot at booking one cargo.
Offers need to be submitted no later than March 8 and need to remain valid until March 14.
 News have been shared with permission of ORYZA.com with thanks