News on International Food

2010-09-01 To Eat or To Grow Biofuel: That is the Question : Discovery News

The rapid expansion of biofuel production in Africa over the past decade has stirred up enormous controversy. Critics have questioned the efficiency of the alternative fuels, and charged rich countries with endangering the food security of developing nations by commandeering land that would be used to grow food crops.

Pdf) by the environmental group Friends of the Earth points a wagging finger at the European Union, among other international organizations, for buying over 19,000 square miles of land across Africa -- an area larger than the Netherlands -- to build massive biofuel projects that supposedly provide few returns for local communities.

news.discovery.com

Is biofuel production competing with food production for African land space, or can the two forms of land-use coexist - Global Warming Renewable Energy Anthropology Media and Criticism Activism Agriculture

2010-08-31 Raising awareness of Pakistans flood victims

The flood is very gradual versus a big shock, like an earthquake," said Farshad Rastegar, chief executive of Los Angeles-based Relief International, which is raising funds for health clinics and food distribution in Pakistans flooded areas.

The U. S. government has committed usd. 200 million for flood assistance, more than any international donor thus far, but private contributions have lagged behind those for other disasters, officials say. About usd. 11 million has been raised by U. S. aid groups to date; in the first two weeks after the

www.latimes.com

For a disaster that has displaced millions, financial support has lagged behind that offered to victims of Haitis quake. An Anaheim man and others started their own group, Americans for Flood Relief.

2010-08-30 The world trade according to Frank

I think very well. Exports increased 17 percent in the first seven months of 2010. As I said, through our advocacy efforts we have seen contracts totaling usd. 11. 5 billion in U. S. content just on our advocacy cases. We led or organized 18 trade missions with 160 companies. We have brought hundreds of international buyers to the U. S to attend trade shows and trade fairs. I am confident we are going to show results.

www2.tbo.com

Soon after he took office, President Barack Obama appointed Tampa native Frank Sanchez as undersecretary for international trade at the U. S. Department of Commerce.

2010-08-29 Report says EU biofuel demand fuelling land grab in Africa

Growing European and international demand for biofuels as a transport fuel is creating market demand for biofuels. While African politicians may promise that biofuels will bring locally sourced energy supplies to their countries, the reality is that most of the foreign companies are developing biofuels to sell on the international market," said the report released on Friday.

A separate study by the International Food Policy Research Institute estimated that 20 million hectares of land have been sold since 2006 in land deals, with 9 million hectares acquired in Africa.

news.xinhuanet.com

2010-08-28 Wheat Rally Likely to Fade as Stockpiles Cover Crop Losses, Olam CEO Says - Bloomberg

The International Grains Council yesterday cut its global wheat production forecast to 644 million metric tons, 1. 1 percent lower than its estimate the previous month, because of dry weather in Russia, Ukraine and Australia, and excessive rain in parts of the European Union. The council increased its consumption forecast to 657 million tons, from 655 million a month earlier.

Climbed to S usd. 92. 3 million ( usd. 68 million) in the three months ended from S usd. 46. 7 million a year earlier, as demand increased for agricultural commodities including cotton, cocoa, coffee and food staples including wheat, gained, the company said yesterday.

www.bloomberg.com

The rebound in wheat futures will probably fade because there is enough global supply to cover production losses caused by drought in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, Olam International Ltd. said.

2010-08-24 Rice Rebounding in Widest Discount to Wheat Since Food Crisis Amid Floods - Bloomberg

While food prices tracked by the United Nations climbed to a five-month high in July, theyre still 22 percent below the mid-2008 peak. Unlike then, global growth is predicted to accelerate to 4. 6 percent this year, the fastest pace since 2007, according to the International Monetary Fund.

The staple food for half the world tumbled 24 percent this year in Chicago trading while wheat as much as doubled since June. The last time the discount was this wide was in , two months before rice reached a record in a global food crisis that sparked riots from Haiti to Egypt. Drought in Thailand and flooding in Pakistan, representing a combined 43 percent of global exports, is also threatening supply.

www.bloomberg.com

Rice, this years worst-performing grain, is set to rally as consumers and investors seek alternatives to wheat after heat waves, wildfires and floods ruined crops across the Northern Hemisphere.

2010-08-22 Busch ties Nationwide season win record at Bristol - Nationwide Series

Kyle Busch picked up his Nationwide Series record-tying 10th victory of the season by taking Friday nights Food City 250 in dramatic fashion at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Keselowski is on probation for the remainder of the season after his on-track altercation with Carl Edwards last month at Gateway International Raceway.

www.miamiherald.com

Kyle Busch picked up his Nationwide Series record-tying 10th victory of the season by taking Friday nights Food City 250 in dramatic fashion at Bristol Motor Speedway. - NASCAR Nationwide Series

2010-08-20 U. S. -EU food fight dogs anti-counterfeiting talks Reuters

Reuters) - A long-running battle over the right to use European place names, like Parma or Roquefort, for some of the worlds most popular foods and beverages looks to be the toughest remaining issue in international trade talks aimed at reducing copyright and trademark theft.

Thomson Reuters is the worlds largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on , video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A long-running battle over the right to use European place names, like Parma or Roquefort, for some of the worlds most popular foods and beverages looks to be the toughest remaining - (France Western Europe Europe Online Report text item European Union China Asia Korean Republic (south) Mexico South and Central America Washington / US Government News Domestic Politics

2010-08-17 Infant breast growth not linked to Synutra baby formula Healthy Living

Synutra Chairman and CEO Liang Zhang told to media that the report is highly irresponsible and based on speculation instead of evidence. We have invested heavily in research, quality control, formulations and ingredients of the formula and do not add hormones to the products. He said that the company was working with state authorities, including the Dairy Association of China and the Office of Food Safety, to test product samples.

On the controversy of hormone-tainted formula made by Synutra International, the Ministry of Health in China tested products made by Chinese baby-formula maker Synutra International

www.knowabouthealth.com

There was a report that speculated that some cases of infant breat growth were due to elevated level of hormone present in milk powder made by Synutra. Tests did not confirm the link. - Infant breast growth china milk powder synutra baby formula baby formula tainted with hormone milk formula and breast growth china milk controversy