Commitment to and research in food and agricultural microbiology is
on the decline despite the ever-present threats to the food supply
posed by disease, spoilage and the specter of bio-terrorism.
Organic production produces the same corn and soybean yields as
conventional farming, but consumes 30 percent less energy and uses
no pesticides, according to a revealing new study.
NASA satellite technology could soon be used to help food producers
distinguish between GM (genetically modified) crops and non-GM
crops, opening the door to greater acceptance of GM food, writes
Anthony Fletcher.
The most recent forecast for this year's California almond crop
signals a decline on that reaped 12 months ago, heralding an almost
certain price rise, reports Philippa Nuttall.
The US will host its first international symposium on the
burgeoning threat of agroterrorism to discuss ways of reducing the
US food supply chain's vulnerability to terrorist tampering, Tom
Armitage reports.
Orange prices for fruit juice producers look destined to remain
high as March reveals yet another dip in the forecast for
production in Florida for the 2004-05 season.
A lack of government funding and a weary image threaten to cause a
widespread shortage of British crop production experts, says one
industry body, warning the problem may bring serious disruption to
UK grain and cereal processors...
Joining the heated debate on GM food crops and ingredients, a group
of agricultural experts, herded together under the UN-backed FAO,
declare an A to Z approach must be the only path for 'responsible
deployment' of GM crops.
The link between taste, and the production of a food crop, needs to
be explored, claim food scientists on the back of new research into
the widely consumed potato.
E-Fruitrace, a technology initiative funded under the EU's fifth
framework programme, has validated a Europe-wide Internet-based
solution for food producers.
Law makers, consumer groups and industry continue to clash over the
use of GM ingredients in the European food chain, but a major
UK-based food science body asserts this week that genetic
modification has the potential to offer strong...
In the face of rising meat and dairy prices, animal disease
outbreaks and consumer health concerns, world agriculture policy
makers, meat traders, dairy experts, veterinarians and private
sector producers have attended the 20th session...
Researchers in the US are to investigate the link between livestock
wellbeing and the risk of foodborne disease, a move which could
have widespread implications for animal husbandry and food safety.
Grown in 113 countries and the staple food for over half the
world's population, rice is the globe's most popular food that
shapes religious festivals, customs, cuisine and celebrations. But
at a conference this week dedicated...
The European Parliament adopted an own initiative report on 11
February, calling on the Commission to focus more on the
sustainability of agriculture in the Sixth and Seventh Framework
Programmes, and not technology for food production,...
Two years ago to the day terrorist attacks in the United States
struck a nation, leaving the country shocked, angry and vulnerable.
As the country continues to recover, national security remains very
much a top priority, in particular...
A few months after the US Department of Agriculture gave the all
clear for processors to use activated lactoferrin, a milk protein,
to fight disease-causing bacteria arrives the endorsement from the
US Food and Drug Administration.
SureBeam has announced the opening of its new Brazilian food
processing centre. The company will use the plant to develop
disinfestation treatments for the fruit and vegetable market.
A new chickpea variety called Sierra has been released by
Agricultural Research Service scientists and their co-operators in
the US. Sierra's high yield and disease resistance to Ascochyta
blight are expected to appeal to the...
The debate on the yield superiority of traditional crops over
organic crops is set to continue as a recent study reveals that
corn and soybeans were only minimally reduced when organic
production practices were used instead of conventional...
New legislation to tighten the 'origin of labelling' for food
products in the US continues to incite reactions with a coalition
of consumer and agricultural organisations this week claiming that
the United States Department...
In a bid to limit the contamination of food crops by pharmaceutical
plants the US Department of Agriculture has issued a new guidance
to tighten the rules covering the permittance process for companies
to plant and produce plant-made...
