21st november,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine www.ricepluss.com

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter

21st November 2014

Today’s News Headlines…   

Govt to provide subsidy Rs 5,000 per acre to rice growers USA Rice Federation disputes latest arsenic report Corn, rice, wheat, and soybean crops contribute to global warming, finds research  Arsenic in Rice Levels Compared: Consumer Reports Weighs In On Safest, Most Dangerous Options  Pakistan‘s food crisis  Fragrant rice of Cambodia, Thailand named world's best  Boon for Odisha farmers: CRRI develops drought, flood resistant rice varieties  Iraq will buy U.S. rice after all  UA's Rice Symposium Tackles 'People Question'  Turkish National Media Continue to Focus on U.S. Rice Health  USA Rice Conducts Wild Rice Seminars in Istanbul & Antalya  Japan Announces Results of 7th Ordinary Import Tender in FY 2014  CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures  Iran's ban on basmati may impact Indian paddy prices: KRBL  Basmati rice: ECC spells out criteria for compensation  LCRA seeks approval to cut irrigation water for fourth straight year  California farm water leaders talk local drought impacts  EPA, federal and state agencies, rice growers, industry act to protect endangered salmon and steelhead trout in California  USA Rice Federation disputes latest arsenic report  ECC okays subsidy for rice growers  Rice Prices Reverse Recent Slump After Heavy Rains  Paddy prices decline 40 percent on supply glut  REAP urges government to facilitate farmers  Millers probed over adulterated rice  Research and Markets: Rice Bran Oil (CAS 68553-81-1) Market Research Report 2014 Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847  Growing Super Crops: Conventional or GM?  Growing a Second Green Revolution

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine News Detail….

USA Rice Federation disputes latest arsenic report 11/20/2014 - by Jeff Gelski ARLINGTON, VA. — An executive of the USA Rice Federation on Nov. 18 said the federation has not seen any science that supports new results from Consumer Reports showing potentially dangerous arsenic consumption when children eat rice.―Arsenic in our food supply is a challenging, yet unavoidable, situation, which is why we support the U.S. Food and Drug Administration studying the issue carefully,‖ said Betsy Ward, president and chief executive officer of the Arlingtonbased USA Rice Federation. ―But CR‘s new consumption recommendations aren‘t supported by any science that we‘ve seen.‖Consumer Reports originally released a report on arsenic in rice in 2012.

Most recently Consumer Reports examined data released by the F.D.A. in 2013 on the inorganic arsenic content of 656 processed rice-containing products.Consumer Reports found rice cereal and rice pasta may have more inorganic arsenic (a carcinogen) than the 2012 data showed. The new tests from Consumer Reports showed one serving

of rice cereal or rice pasta could put children over the maximum amount of rice that Consumer Reportsrecommends they have in a week.―Rice cakes supply close to a child‘s weekly limit in one serving,‖ Consumer Reports said. ―Rice drinks also can be high in arsenic, and children younger than 5 shouldn‘t drink them instead of milk. ‖Arsenic has two chemical forms: organic and inorganic. Organic may be less toxic, according to Consumer Reports. Regular exposure to small amounts of arsenic has been shown to increase the risk of bladder, lung and skin cancer, as well as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, according to Consumer Reports.Scientists from the F.D.A. in 2013 determined the amount of detectable arsenic is too low in rice and rice product samples to cause any immediate or short-term adverse health effects. Ms. Ward said the rice industry, labs at land grant universities and the F.D.A. have tested U.S.grown rice extensively.

The rice has been found to contain arsenic levels that are below safe maximum levels established by the World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization‘s Codex Alimentarius.Consumer Reports also investigated arsenic levels of different types

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine of rice and other grains, including glutenfree grains. Scientists at its Food Safety and Sustainability Center tested 128 samples of basmati, jasmine and sushi rice for arsenic.

Results were combined with the results of 2012 tests and F.D.A. data on arsenic in rice for a total of 697 samples of rice.―Our latest tests determined that the inorganic arsenic content of rice varies greatly depending on the type of rice and where it was

and that if found the regional claims perplexing. ―All the tests we‘ve seen show that levels of inorganic arsenic are lowest in U.S.-grown rice, regardless of what state it came from,‖ said Michael Klein, a spokesperson for the federation.He said few, if any, rice packages identify the state where the rice was grown.―We‘ve seen levels vary from plot to

‖All types of rice (except sushi and quick cooking) with a label indicating it‘s from Arkansas, Louisiana or Texas or just from

plot and field to field,‖ he said. ―So making blanket statements about one state versus another is totally unscientific, disingenuous and misleading. Analyzing toxins in food is not the same as analyzing which television gives you the best picture in a well-lit room. CR should let the F.D.A. continue its careful scientific evaluation and make the recommendations to the public.‖Consumer

the United States had the highest levels of inorganic arsenic in the tests. For instance, white rices from California had 38% less inorganic arsenic than white rices from other parts of the country.Brown rice has 80% more inorganic arsenic on average than white rice of the same type, according to Consumer Reports. Arsenic accumulates in the grain‘s outer layers, which are removed to make white rice. Brown basmati

Reports also looked at the inorganic arsenic levels in 114 samples of non-rice grains. The gluten-free grains amaranth, buckwheat, millet and polenta or grits had negligible levels of inorganic arsenic. Glutencontaining grains bulgur, barley and farro also had very little arsenic. Gluten-free quinoa had average inorganic arsenic levels comparable to those of other alternative grains, but some samples of quinoa had

from California, India or Pakistan is the best choice since it has about a third less inorganic arsenic than brown rice from other areas, according to Consumer Reports.The USA Rice Federation said it still is analyzing the newConsumer Reports data

―quite a bit more.‖

grown,‖ Consumer Reports said. ―White basmati rice from California, India and Pakistan and sushi rice from the U.S. on average has half of the inorganic arsenic amount of most other types of rice.

Corn, rice, wheat, and soybean crops contribute to global warming, finds research Posted on Nov 21 2014 - 9:00am by Charles Omedo

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine is still released during winter via the soil to the earth. ―Something is changing about this cycle.

Ecosystems are becoming more productive, pulling in more atmospheric carbon during the summer and releasing more during the dormant period,‖ Friedl adds.

While the UN and other world governments are blaming industrial facilities and greenhouse gas emissions as contributing to climate change, a new study has revealed that four crops, namely: corn, rice, wheat, and soybean are also playing their parts in the whole climate change game.Scientists found that it is true that crops require carbon dioxide for respiration and to manufacture their food, but they do not burn up this element before their deaths; they store it.

Carbon dioxide is therefore re-released into the soil when these crops die, and this ultimately makes carbon dioxide to find its way back into the environment.

According to Mark Friedl of the University of Boston, ―It‘s a remarkable story of what we‘ve done in agriculture in general. And particular in corn, which is one crop that‘s just exploded. Over the last 50 years, the area of croplands in the Northern Hemisphere has been relatively stable, but production has intensified enormously. The fact that this land area can affect the composition of the atmosphere is an amazing fingerprint of human activity on the planet.‖Friedl‘s research establishes one fact: the return of CO2 via dead crops like corn to the earth enriches the soil and makes it more fertile and efficient for further crop growths. The soil yields more crops per acre, even though more carbon dioxide gas

The National Science Foundation‘s Water Sustainability and Climate Program‘s director, Tom Torgersen, notes that ―these indications of increased productivity speak well for agriculture. But such enhanced agricultural productivity makes significant demands on water supplies, which will require further investigation.‖While crop scientists continue to research the effects of enhanced agriculture on natural water supplies, researchers found that corn, rice, wheat, and soybean constitute 64% of all calories consumed around the world. And that, is something of interest.

Arsenic in Rice Levels Compared: Consumer Reports Weighs In On Safest, Most Dangerous Options Nov 20, 2014 05:21 PM By John Fischer Consumer Reports has found that certain rice products contain higher levels of inorganic arsenic, a toxic mineral, than previously reported in a 2012 study. Reuters

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine oxygen and sulfur. Both inorganic arsenic are toxic though inorganic is worse, the Occupational Safety Administration.

organic and to humans, according to & Health

Rice is a grain used in many products, including cereal, pasta, even wine. But a

The main factors that determine how much inorganic arsenic is present are region and variety of rice grains. Consumer Reports found that all types of rice, excluding quick

2012 study by Consumer Reports pointed out that these products contain ―worrisome levels‖ of arsenic. Now, the organization has come back, saying that those levels are even higher.Consumer Reports, in a follow-up to the 2012 study, has found that through the examination of 656 rice-based products, cereals and pastas consist of higher levels of inorganic arsenic than previously noted in

cooking and sushi, from Texas, Arkansas, or Louisiana had higher levels of the substance than rice from any other part of the United States. But white rice from California had 38 percent less inorganic arsenic than white rice from other parts of the country.―White basmati rice from California, India, and Pakistan, and sushi rice from the U.S. on average has half of the inorganic-

the information from the original study, putting infants especially at risk.

arsenic amount of most other types of rice,‖ Consumer Reports said in the follow-up, adding that brown basmati rice from these regions is also ideal, containing a third less of inorganic arsenic levels found in other brown rice.

―According to the results of our new tests, one serving of either could put kids over the maximum amount of rice we recommend they should have in a week,‖ said Consumer Reports in the follow-up. ―Rice cakes supply close to a child's weekly limit in one serving. Rice drinks can also be high in arsenic, and children younger than 5 shouldn‘t drink them instead of milk.‖Arsenic is an element that makes up earth‘s crust, with high levels of the substance found in soil, rocks, and water.

Inorganic arsenic is a combination of natural arsenic and other elements, including

Variety extends even farther, with brown rice containing 80 percent more inorganic arsenic than white rice of the same type, though Consumer Reports still encourages people to consume some level of brown rice as it contains more nutrients. Gluten-free grains such as buckwheat and millet also have low levels, along with certain gluten grains, such as burro and barley. Quinoa has

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine an average amount compared to other types of grains.The report recommends rinsing one cup of rice with up to six cups of water before cooking will help reduce the amount of inorganic arsenic.

The 2012 study only tested 60 rice-based products, with Consumer Reports recommending that babies and toddlers be served cereals from a variety of grains, and that they consume only one serving of infant rice cereal per day. Data from the follow-up did not change this view, though the Food and Drug Administration recommends that everyone, from babies to pregnant women, eat many different grains. The FDA has yet to set a federal limit on arsenic levels in rice.

Pakistan’s food crisis

By Shah Faisal Afridi November 21, 2014 There is an emergent need to reorganize the agriculture sector of the country, and bring about the revolution in the production of agriculture. The agriculture lands are being drastically reduced in the country and Foodrelated social unrest is putting burdens on already weak or borderline governance systems in Pakistan, which is experiencing persistent food insecurity. If the country faces recurrent food crises in the future, this situation could deteriorate further. How much patience will the people of Pakistan be prepared to continue to show?

Pakistan on a list of 36 countries that face a serious food crisis. Like rest of the world Pakistan is also facing food crisis that has two sides; one is unavailability of edibles and second is soaring prices due to gap in demand and supply of edibles. A recent analysis of the causes and consequences of Pakistan‘s food insecurity points out that food security has been under constant threat since 2008, when world food prices reached their highest levels and Pakistan‘s food inflation registered as high as 34%.

World Food Programme (WFP) data fro m 2008 concluded that 77 million Pakistanis – nearly half the country‘s population – were going hungry.

Pakistan is an agriculture economy where more than seventy percent of the population is directly or indirectly de pending on agriculture. This vital sector has been contributing more than 24% to our GDP. In spite of its vital significance the economy is facing challenges of food deficiency. Analysts observed that food crisis in Pakistan come hand in hand with an energy crisis and uncertain political environment along with the extremist threats. It is expected that food and energy shortages could become worse in Future.

More problem appears to those economies that are not agriculture based and Pakistan is a wheat and rice producing country and shouldn‘t have had to face an acute shortage.

A very important question arises here how did it get to this stage?

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine The impact of floods on economy and agriculture has been devastating in Pakistan.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that, more than 20 million people had been displaced by the flood and some estimates the damage to crops, housing, other buildings, roads, and irriga-tion infrastructure now reached $6.5 billion. Huge numbers of people still suffer from lack of shelter, hunger and disease, and winter is approa ching, when in many parts of the country temperatures can fall below zero centigrade.Therefore ―individual hunger in Pakistan needs to be seen as a national security threat, not just charity work .

Whatever the improvements in Pakistan‘s food security responses, they will be meaningless without addressing the underlying structural causes of poor governance, skewed resource allocations and severe inequality including the highly unequal distribution of land ownership. The skyrocketing prices are jeopardizing the purchasing power of financially crumbling consumers.

The price of food items such as vegetables, chicken and meat has increased by more than 20 percent just in one month, which has further made the half of the population of country food insecure. It is stated that 50 percent of the population is talking less calories recognized for average human need. The situation of food shortage in Pakistan calls for a multi-sectoral strategy to address this serious issue. It is also important to note that Ministry of Finance alone cannot provide a solution to the

worsening problem. Pakistan needs cohesive strategy including the focus on revising the import parity; pricing formula and revised structure of taxes levied on petroleum products, further demand and supply management in energy sector, agriculture, and communication.

It is also suggested that the Planning Commission of Pakistan should take lead in formulating proposals in this regard.Agriculture scientists will have to introduce modern technologies for high yield at low price to enable the government to cope with the persistent crisis of food shortage. We can observe examples of various countries like Brazil, India, China and Philippines which became self sufficient in the food production by the adaptation of the biotech crops and Eco Friendly Cultivation model.

China has achieved great success in increasing crop yield, China, accounting for only 10 percent of arable land, produces food for 20 percent of the world‘s population and it ranks first in worldwide farm output. ―It is because they have devised different techniques to increase the yield of crops just by making use of nature, and such farming model is termed as, ―ECOFARMING‖. Ecological Farming ensures healthy farming and healthy food for today and tomorrow, by protecting soil, water and climate, and does not contaminate the environment with chemical inputs.The current model of destructive, polluting agriculture relies on expensive nonrenewable and artificial resources (fossil fuels, pesticides and agrochemicals) that damage the basic natural resources needed

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine for food production. Destructive agriculture pollutes nature with synthetic fertilizers and toxic chemicals that strip the soil of its fertility harm biodiversity and destroy nature‘s capacity to keep pests and disease under control.

Chinese scientists and farmers in Yunnan during 1998 and 1999, demonstrated the benefits of biodiversity in fighting rice blast, the major disease of rice, caused by a fungus, by growing a simple mixture of rice varieties across thousands of farms in China.

Fungicidal sprays were no longer applied by the end of the two-year program.A recent analysis showed that globally, ecological farming can produce, on average, about 30 percent more food per hectare than conventional agriculture. Pakistan‘s per hectare rice yield is 3.1 ton whereas China is the largest producer of rice with per hectare yield of 6.5 ton, similarly Pakistan produces pulses per year with per hectare yield of 0.6 ton and China produces 1.2 ton per hectare which is twice that of Pakistan. Pakistan‘s sugarcane production is 52.4 ton per hectare whereas China obtains a yield of 65.7 ton per hectare.

Some of the interesting techniques implied

by China under the cultivation model of ―ECO-FARMING‖ are Rice Duck Farming; in which ducks are raised on rice paddies and feed on pests and weeds, which means the farmer doesn‘t have to use earth and water-ravaging chemical pesticides and herbicides on their plants. Duck droppings are also an excellent, natural fertilizer for rice plants. Similarly, growing two or more

crops in proximity helps reduce disease outbreaks. The technique is particularly effective at reducing loss from rice blast disease, a destructive fungus that causes damage on panicles and leaves, killing them before rice grains form. Therefore Chinese cultivation pattern is the best model to be implemented, on the land of Pakistan in order to cope with the upcoming expected food crises.

Defining the strategy to ensure food security, Government should allocate land to locals in association with Chinese to obtain farm productivity on the same pattern as Chinese are doing. Corporate farming trend should be introduced to compensate rising inflation and high input prices through which agricultural productivity can be increased, he added.

Cooperative society model could be introduced Under specialized technical support with Chinese collaboration through national productivity organization in Pakistan where people can join hands, pool their resources-invest and deduct all expenses to share fortune.Chinese Model of Eco- Farming ensures healthy farming and healthy food for today and tomorrow, by protecting soil, water and climate, promotes biodiversity, and does not contaminate the environment with chemical inputs or genetic engineering.

The writer is a professional businessman and CEO of Ruba SEZ Group. He received his formal education from Stamford College, Singapore and afterwards joined the family business and gained extensive experience in business management

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Fragrant rice of Cambodia, Thailand named world's best Phnom Penh, Nov 20 (IANS): Fragrant rice from Cambodia and Thailand was awarded the world's best rice for 2014 prize during the 6th World Rice Conference here Thursday.Jeremy Zwinger, president and chief executive officer of the Rice Trader, which organised the competition, said 25 rice samples from 15 countries and regions, including Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Myanmar and the US joined the contest.Rice from Cambodia and Thailand is awarded the best rice for this year," he announced during the World Rice Conference, and added that the judgement was made mainly based on the rice's appearance and taste.

Sok Puthyvuth, president of the Cambodia Rice Federation, said it was the third year that Cambodia's fragrant rice won the award."It is another significant milestone for Cambodia's rice industry," Xinhua quoted him as telling reporters. "The award clearly reflects our rice's high quality and I hope that the reputation of our rice will grow internationally."He said Cambodia's Romduol rice species won the prize.According to Puthyvuth, during the first 10 months of this year, Cambodia exported 304,788 tonnes of milled rice, earning about $180 million.

Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said

Thailand's brown jasmine rice also won the prize."We are one of the world's largest rice exporters and our rice's quality is internationally recognised," he said, adding that so far this year, Thailand has exported about eight million tonnes of milled rice and is expected to reach 10.5 million tonnes by the end of the year 2014.Stay updated wherever you go with Daijiworld.com and Daijiworld 24X7 tv channel mobile apps.

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Boon for Odisha farmers: CRRI develops drought, flood resistant rice varieties Odisha Sun Cuttack, Nov 20:

Times

Bureau

Scientists at the Odisha based Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) at Bidyadharpur have developed two new varieties of paddy that are resistant to drought and another that can withstand floods.While the droughtresistant two varieties require very little quantity of water to grow, the other can sustain itself in floods.The three varieties, which will be made available to farmers for

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine cultivation soon are CR -204, CR -205 and CR -306. The first two varieties require very little water to grow which are ideal for drought prone areas while the third can sustain itself in excess water conditions. ―These varieties have been developed keeping in mind climate change and the needs of the farmers,‖, informed Sarat Kumar Pradhan, chief scientist at CRRI.While the two new drought resistant paddy varieties can be grown on the highlands of Kalahandi, Balangir, Angul, and Dhenkanal districts, the water logging resistant variety is ideal for growing in the climatic conditions of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Puducherry, said sources in the CRRI.The two drought resistant paddy varieties CR -204 and CR -205 are fast growing varieties and can be harvested in 105 to 110 days producing an average yield of 60 quintals of paddy per hectare.CR-306, the excess water resistant variety of paddy developed by CRRI scientists can remain submerged up to a maximum of one metre in water preventing damage caused to paddy plants due to blowing winds while giving an average yield of 50 to 60 quintals per hectare, said CRRI sources. ―Water is a major problem for farmers. To get a kilogram of paddy yield the farmer requires 5,000 litres of water. The new varieties developed through research require only 3,000 litres of water for the same yield,‖ said Pradhan.In the last two years, the CRRI has developed several new varieties of paddy suitable for climatic conditions of Odisha as well as outside states. These varieties are CR-201, 202, 204, 205, 300, 303, 304,305,306,407 and 505.

Similarly, CR-601 has been developed as adalua variety of paddy. This paddy variety can be grown even in extreme cold conditions.

Iraq will buy U.S. rice after all Staff report9:54 p.m. CST November 21, 2014

(Photo:

File photo ) 132CONNECT 30TWEETLINKEDINC OMMENTEMAILMORE

After passing on three bids for U.S.-grown rice, Iraq has decided to commit to buying a portion of this year's crop, U.S. Sen Mary Landrieu's office said Thursday.In previous years, Iraq has been a steady customer of American rice, buying approximately 1.5 million metric tons a year.Rice is grown in 30 Louisiana parishes. There are 1,225 rice farm operators and rice mill workers in Louisiana, making the state the third-largest producer in the country, the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Center reported.

Last week, Landrieu, D-New Orleans, called on the State Department and the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Stuart Jones, to take a close look at why the Iraqi Grain Board and the Iraqi Minister of Trade, Mallas alHussaini, declined to buy American rice

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine from the 2014 harvest, her office said in a statement issued Thursday."Last week, I heard the concerns of Louisiana rice farmers and pushed the State Department and the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq to quickly address the issue," Landrieu said in a statement.

"Our rice farmers are hardworking and just produced one of the best crops we've seen in years.

They know how to produce some of the best long grain rice in the world, but without a fair international market, their livelihood is put at risk."I'm proud to say our farmers have been chosen to continue providing their world-class rice at competitive prices," Landrieu added. "Today, Iraq purchased more than $75 million of rice from American farmers. After five months of Iraq passing on opportunities to purchase U.S. rice, I hope today's purchase signals a renewed commitment to our farmers. I appreciate the State Department and Ambassador Jones' cooperation to assist me and Louisiana farmers."

UA's Rice Symposium Tackles 'People Question'

By Lisa Romero, BIO5 Institute | November 20, 2014

Rod Wing explains the rice genome for the specific genus Oryza and how this information will lead to better crops and more food production for growing

populations. (Photo: Christina Close/BIO5 Institute) Rice will remain the primary source of food for half of the world, but the world's population is expected to grow by more than two billion in the next 35 years.

Among the most pressing issues facing the

world today is how to grow enough food to feed a human population that will expand by more than two billion in the next 35 years without exhausting resources and destroying the environment.Rice will play an essential role in the quest to solve this "9 Billion People Question." Rice is, and will continue to be, the primary source of food/calories for half the world and many rapidly growing regions.

The University of Arizona is home to innovative research and scientists committed to forging new paths to make sure that a crisis is averted and the situation is improved for future generations.Several hundred of the world‘s top scientists spent this week at the UA participating in the12th International Symposium on Rice Functional Genomics, or ISRFG.This year‘s symposium marked a significant milestone. It was at the ISRFG meeting held at the UA 10 years ago that the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project celebrated the completion of the rice genome. This was

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine the first genome completed for any crop plant, and to date it remains the highestquality reference genome, impacting the fields of plant biology and agriculture.

The UA‘s Rod Wing — director of the Arizona Genomics Institute, a member of the BIO5 Institute and the Bud Antle Endowed Chair Professor in the School of Plant Sciences, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology — served as co-chair of this year‘s symposium.The implications of the 2004 landmark were scientifically complex but applicable to other genome sequencing projects."We learned how many genes rice have and their order across its 12 chromosomes," Wing said. "The rice genome provided an unlimited set of genetic markers that could be used to map agriculturally important genes related to yield, grain quality, biotic (diseases) and abiotic (drought, heat, salt) stresses, for example.

"The genome opened the door for the cloning of hundreds of important genes for understanding plant biology, evolution, and domestication that informed the sequencing of other cereal genomes, such as maize, sorghum, barley and wheat.The goal was to ensure that further work could be translated into practical solutions that rice breeders could use to improve and stabilize the world food supply for generations to come.This year‘s symposium focused on recent breakthroughs in structural, functional and evolutionary rice genome biology and breeding — pushing current scientific knowledge to address the need of sustainably increasing crop yields and global food security.

A series of sessions was aimed at capitalizing on biological resources and new discoveries to design a new age of crop plants that have less of on environmental footprint (plants that use less water, fertilizer, pesticides) but are higher yielding and more nutritious. There also was discussion on promoting collaborative research opportunities across the world.In addition, collaborators devised a set of strategic plans to promote a campaign for $9 billion to help solve the 9 billion people question. This effort will focus on raising funds to create and staff a half-dozen collaborative, green science and technology centers across the globe to perform coordinated research aimed at creating the next generation of crops that will feed the world's population in a sustainable way.The Arizona Genomics Institute, housed in the UA‘s BIO5 Institute, specializes in building a physical map of a genome, which will allow scientists to locate and identify genes that can improve and strengthen crops and increase yield, creating strains of crops that make up 60 percent of a person's diet.

Turkish National Media Continue to Focus on U.S. Rice Health Advantages

Now that's healthy ISTANBUL, TURKEY -The USA Rice

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Contact: Hartwig Schmidt, (011-49-40-45038660)

USA Rice Conducts Wild Rice Seminars in Istanbul & Antalya Get wild, Turkey

ISTANBUL, TURKEY -- The

Federation has been aggressively promoting the health benefits of U.S.-grown rice here to help boost consumption, and garnering a great deal of media coverage as a result.Seventeen major national newspapers featured U.S. rice articles and recipes with photos during the month of September, and in October, a record 76 articles and recipes were published.At least 22 regional newspapers and major online media commended U.S.-grown rice for its "outstanding nutrients and great taste" in October, including major daily newspapers with between 3 and 6 million daily readers.

The estimated ad value generated from this positive media coverage exceeded $50,000 in October 2014.In 2013, Turkey was the twelfth largest export market for U.S. rice, at over 140,000 MT valued at $62 million. In the first nine months of 2014, Turkey has jumped to our fifth largest export market, due to paddy rice sales of over 73,000 MT and medium grain, milled rice at 70,000 MT. Thus far this year, Turkey is the third largest export market for medium grain, milled rice.

USA Rice Federation conducted two seminars in collaboration with Chefs Associations here and in the resort city of Antalya that featured U.S. wild rice in cooking demonstrations and workshops that reached more than 200 executive chefs.USA Rice regional director Hartwig Schmidt showed a documentary about the benefits of using U.S. wild rice, and provided chefs with samples.

The seminars focused on incorporating wild rice as an ingredient in meals as a means of increasing profitability and providing nutritious and flavorful meals.The attendees participated in hands-on cooking of U.S. rice with wild rice-based recipes. Three major media representatives attended the seminar and reported on the event. The results of a post event survey indicated that 110 participants decided to incorporate wild rice into their cooking routine.

Contact: Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Japan Announces Results of 7th Ordinary Import Tender in FY 2014 Country of Origin USA

China

Thailand

Variety

Number of Importer

Quantity (MT)

Participated Bidders

Amount of Bids (MT)

Non-glutinous milled rice (medium grain) Non-glutinous milled rice (medium grain) Non-glutinous milled rice (long grain) Glutinous milled rice (long grain)

1

12,000

14

168,000

1

12,000

3

13,000

21

130,494

35

298,494

3,247

Grand Total

5

40,247

JPY 95,630/mt

(tax excluded)

JPY 103,280/mt

(tax included)

Avg Price for Successful Bids

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for November 21

Month

Price

Net Change

January 2015

$12.595

+ $0.015

March 2015

$12.855

+ $0.010

May 2015

$13.095

+ $0.010

July 2015

$13.295

+ $0.010

September 2015

$12.450

+ $0.005

November 2015

$12.350

+ $0.005

January 2016

$12.350

+ $0.005

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Iran's ban on basmati may impact Indian paddy prices: KRBL Iran has barred rice from other countries as its local crop is reported to be good this year 1 13 0Google +2 0Comments (7) Bazaar 08:00 am Media reports indicate that Iran has imposed an import ban on basmati rice.

Iran has barred rice from other countries as its local crop is reported to be good this year and is set to arrive in the market there. The move may further drag depressed prices of basmati rice in the domestic market.

Confirming the news, Anil Mittal, CMD, KRBL , said the ban could impact the Indian paddy prices.

The company exports around 2 percent (of total exports) to Iran. Below is the transcript of Anil Mittal's interview with Latha Venkatesh & Sonia Shenoy on CNBCTV18. Latha: Is this true that Iran is not going to import basmati this season? A: It is not new, every year when new harvest is expected to arrive, they increase the duty in Iran and they try to put some ban on the imports to safeguard their farmers and that‘s one of the reason. Every year they put a stop by increasing the duties to 40-50 percent but this year they have specifically put a ban not only on Indian but on all varieties of rice which will definitely impact the Indian basmati market.

Latha: What did Iran import last year, so what is the market you have lost in terms of million tonne? A: It will be too difficult to say what quantum of market we will lose because if they open up in January again then the shortfall of November and

December can be met in January. Therefore, it is too premature to say what would be the impact but Indian paddy prices will come down definitely. Latha: By how much you think? A: It will have an impact of another Rs 1,000-1,500 a tonne. Sonia: What is KRBL‘s exact exposure to the Iranian market? How much do you export annually?

A: We annually export around 2 percent of our total exports. Our exposure to Iran is very less.

Our prime exposure is into Middle East, Far East, Europe and America. KRBL stock price On November 21, 2014, KRBL closed at Rs 94.55, down Rs 4.95, or 4.97 percent.

The 52-week high of the share was Rs 107.45 and the 52-week low was Rs 30.40.

The company's trailing 12-month (TTM) EPS was at Rs 11.69 per share as per the quarter ended September 2014. The stock's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was 8.09. The latest book value of the company is Rs 43.33 per share. At current value, the price-tobook value of the company is 2.18.

Basmati rice: ECC spells out criteria for compensation November 21, 2014RECORDER REPORT The Federal Minister for Finance Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar Thursday chaired a meeting of the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) here at the Prime Minister''s Secretariat. As the Prime Minister has already approved the proposal, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research moved a summary on his direction to ECC to compensate the farmers of basmati rice at the rate of 5000 per acre subject to the following provisions: The total amount of compensation would be shared equally between the Federal and provincial

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine governments, said a press release issued here.

The total amount of subsidy will be around Rs 10 billion. The compensation will be made to small growers of 25 acres only. The farmers who have already received compensation against crop damage in recent floods in Punjab will not be eligible to this additional compensation. The Committee also considered and approved the proposal moved by the Ministry of Water and Power for allowing an extension in the subsidy to agriculture consumers at the rate Rs 10.35 per unit till 30.6.2015.

According to the earlier decision, Ministers of Water and Power and Finance had decided in a meeting with the representatives of Kissan Ittehad (in August 2013) to subsidise tariff for agriculture consumers whereby the Federal government bore the tariff differential subsidy while provincial governments were directed to pay the GST. In yesterday''s decision it was also decided that the GST will be adjusted against the electricity fee payable to the provinces. It is also important to mention that during peak hours agri- tube wells will not be entitled for power supply.

The Federal Minister for Finance said the amount paid in subsidy will be around 22 billion rupees which was around 18.5 billion rupees last year but the Federal Government has taken the decision to support farmer as with the help of this decision Punjab has given a historic crop of wheat production of 19.470 million tons during 2013-14, fuel price adjustment will also be paid by the federal government, the Minister added. The ECC also considered and approved the policy guidelines under section 21 of the OGRA ordinance 2002. According to the guidelines: Volume pilfered by non consumers but detected and determined by

the companies in accordance with OGRA procedure as provided in rule 30 of Natural Gas licensing Rules 2002.

Till the finalisation of a new tariff regime by Ogra, the income from non-core activities (LPS, meter manufacturing plant, royalty from JJVL and sale of condensate/LPG) may also be provisionally treated as nonoperating income. The provision of doubtful debts may be determined at the minimum of 1% of the sales in line with the prevailing accounting practices. The chair and the participants of the meeting, however, did not agree to the idea of "volume against minimum billing amount charged to domestic consumers".

The chair emphatically ordered all the relevant ministries and authorities to discuss the proposals in advance and suggest mutually accepted and well prepared plans to be accepted by the esteemed forum as this place is not the place for debate on minor details.

The chairman also acknowledged and appreciated the services of Rukhsana Shah, federal Secretary of Textile Industry, in preparing the Textile policy 2014-19, but gave the Ministry one month''s period to review and scrutinise it in detail as suggested by Minister for Planning. The ECC also approved the proposal of Ministry of P&NR to allocate around 110MMCFD of gas produced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to this province for power generation with the condition that the gas will be given to PPIB available to KP only after following the appropriate procedures laid down in rules and regulations of the PPIB.

LCRA seeks approval to cut irrigation water for fourth straight year

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Nov 20, 2014Logan Hawkes While it comes as no surprise, farmers and community leaders in the Lower Colorado River Basin are struggling with the news that they face yet another year without irrigation water from the Colorado River.The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Board of Directors voted 11 to 2 this week to ask permission from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to curtail releases from the lakes once again in 2015. LCRA's request is identical to the one requested and granted by the state for 2014, which cut off releases of interruptible water supplies for most downstream irrigation, including Texas rice growers in the lower basin.

This year's emergency request comes with a new twist to the usual story. The latest request to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality also seeks to reduce downstream water releases for the blue sucker, a state-listed threatened species of fish."This was not an easy decision, but we must protect the region‘s water supply," LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson told the board Wednesday. "More than a million people depend on water from the Highland Lakes, and right now, there is just not enough water for everyone to have all they want.

"The board will also continue limiting outdoor watering by LCRA firm customers and their customers to a maximum of one

day a week in an effort to conserve water in 2015. Firm customers include cities in Central Texas that depend on water from the Highland Lakes.In response to LCRA's action Wednesday, the Lower Colorado River Basin Coalition (LCRBC) released a statement acknowledging the need for the unprecedented request by LCRA to cut off most irrigation water for a fourth straight year. But the Coalition also called for increased water conservation and drought contingency measures to help stretch water supplies.

California farm water leaders talk local drought impacts Nov 19, 2014Cary Blake

All California farmers and water districts want for Christmas this year is a slow, rainy winter – with perhaps a timely rain tucked in the stocking hanging from the fireplace.While the winter rain scenario will be determined in the weeks and months ahead, three California agricultural water leaders have plenty to say about the California drought, and how the lack of moisture from the sky and regulator

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine intervention on the environment have placed farmers in financially perilous situations.

During the 2014 Western Plant Health Association annual meeting held this fall in Palm Desert, Calif., the water leaders took center stage for a two-and-a-half hour water discussion chocked full of drought facts and placing some blame at government regulators.The water leaders included: Jason Peltier, the Westlands Water District‘s chief deputy general manager; Ron Jacobsma, Friant Water Authority general manager; and John Garner, a Northern California Water Association board member and Colusa County rice grower.

Image: Three California agricultural water leaders describe the California drought, and how the lack of moisture from the sky and regulator intervention on the environment have placed farmers in financially perilous situations.

Three California agricultural water leaders discuss drought and water at the Western Plant Health Association annual meeting – from left – rice grower John Garner, board member, Northern California Water Association; Ron Jacobsma, general manager, Friant Water Authority; and Jason Peltier, chief deputy general manager, Westlands Water District.

Hit hard by the three-year-old drought is farm land in the Westlands Water District (WWD) which provides water to about 600,000 irrigated acres on the Westside of the San Joaquin Valley in western Fresno County.The WWD has a contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for about one million acre feet of surface water annually.

Surface water deliveries to farmers this year were zero percent.―About half of the (farm) land in our district is out of production this year,‖ said Jason Peltier of Westland‘s.

EPA, federal and state agencies, rice growers, industry act to protect endangered salmon and steelhead trout in California

―Farmers are employing coping strategies to deal with the zero allocation, but those who rely on a healthy farm production sector like farmworkers, schools, social service agencies, and small businesses have few, if any, viable coping strategies.‖

SAN FRANCISCO — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, in cooperation with state agencies, rice growers and industry, announced an agreement to create federally enforceable restrictions of the pesticide thiobencarb, an herbicide used

Release Date: 11/20/2014 Contact Information: Suzanne Skadowski, 415-972-3165, skadowski.suzanne@epa.gov

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine on rice crops, to protect threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead trout in California. ―Working closely with our state and federal partners, our joint efforts will protect salmon and steelhead trout while maintaining rice production in California,‖ said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA‘s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. ―This action also supports EPA‘s commitment to minimize pesticide pollution in the San Francisco Bay Delta.‖―This is a smart approach to pesticide use that includes important safeguards for protected fish while still allowing growers to care for their crops,‖ said Will Stelle, administrator of NOAA Fisheries' West Coast Region. ―This demonstrates that we can find balanced and workable solutions through collaboration."U.S. EPA, NOAA Fisheries, California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR), the California Rice Commission, and Valent, the manufacturer of the pesticide thiobencarb, worked to put these restrictions in place.

The CDPR put in place measures to protect salmon and steelhead trout based on proximity to endangered species habitat according to NOAA Fisheries geographic locations and information from rice growers.

After reviewing CDPR‘s data on pesticide use and the state‘s protective measures, NOAA Fisheries found that thiobencarb use on rice in California would not jeopardize salmon and steelhead trout provided protective measures currently being applied in California are ensured.

U.S. EPA is now making California‘s geographic use limits federally enforceable by incorporating them into the pesticide label. These use limitations will be effective April 1, 2015. This action represents U.S.

EPA‘s first implementation of a NOAA Fisheries salmon and steelhead trout Biological Opinion. This action was a result of litigation brought against U.S. EPA and NOAA Fisheries by the Washington Toxics Coalition and the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides. NOAA Fisheries‘ final Biological Opinion for thiobencarb is at:www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/consultation/opini ons/biop_thiobencarb.pdf The protection measures included in the NOAA Fisheries‘ final Biological Opinion came from several sources including the California enforcement standards, the use limitations on California‘s on-line database that recommends protective measures for endangered and threatened species and from the management practices the California Rice Commission receives from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.

California is the only state within the range of Pacific salmon and steelhead trout where rice is grown. Thiobencarb is typically used on rice from May 1 through June 15.View the Thiobencarb use restrictions for endangered salmon in 14 California counties where rice is grown at:www2.epa.gov/endangeredspecies/thiobencarb-use-limitations For more information on endangered species protection bulletins visit our BullentinsLive site at:www.epa.gov/oppfead1/endanger/bulletin s.htm Learn more about EPA‘s work to restore and protect the San Francisco Bay Delta at: http://www2.epa.gov/sfbay-delta

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine USA Rice Federation disputes latest arsenic report 11/20/2014 - by Jeff Gelski ARLINGTON, VA. — An executive of the USA Rice Federation on Nov. 18 said the federation has not seen any science that supports new results from Consumer Reports showing potentially dangerous arsenic consumption when children eat rice.―Arsenic in our food supply is a challenging, yet unavoidable, situation, which is why we support the U.S. Food and Drug Administration studying the issue carefully,‖ said Betsy Ward, president and chief executive officer of the Arlingtonbased USA Rice Federation. ―But CR‘s new consumption recommendations aren‘t supported by any science that we‘ve seen.‖ Consumer Reports originally released a report on arsenic in rice in 2012. Most recently Consumer Reports examined data released by the F.D.A. in 2013 on the inorganic arsenic content of 656 processed rice-containing products.Consumer Reports found rice cereal and rice pasta may have more inorganic arsenic (a carcinogen) than the 2012 data showed. The new tests from Consumer Reports showed one serving of rice cereal or rice pasta could put children over the maximum amount of rice that Consumer Reportsrecommends they have in a week.

―Rice cakes supply close to a child‘s weekly limit in one serving,‖ Consumer Reports said. ―Rice drinks also can be high in arsenic, and children younger than 5 shouldn‘t drink them instead of milk.‖Arsenic has two chemical forms: organic and inorganic. Organic may be less toxic, according to Consumer Reports.

Regular exposure to small amounts of arsenic has been shown to increase the risk of bladder, lung and skin cancer, as well as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, according to Consumer Reports.

Scientists from the F.D.A. in 2013 determined the amount of detectable arsenic is too low in rice and rice product samples to cause any immediate or short-term adverse health effects. Ms. Ward said the rice industry, labs at land grant universities and the F.D.A. have tested U.S.-grown rice extensively. The rice has been found to contain arsenic levels that are below safe maximum levels established by the World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization‘s Codex Alimentarius.

Consumer Reports also investigated arsenic levels of different types of rice and other grains, including gluten-free grains.

Scientists at its Food Safety and Sustainability Center tested 128 samples of basmati, jasmine and sushi rice for arsenic.

Results were combined with the results of 2012 tests and F.D.A. data on arsenic in rice for a total of 697 samples of rice.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine ―Our latest tests determined that the inorganic arsenic content of rice varies greatly depending on the type of rice and where it was grown,‖ Consumer Reports said. ―White basmati rice from California, India and Pakistan and sushi rice from the U.S. on average has half of the inorganic arsenic amount of most other types of rice.‖All types of rice (except sushi and quick cooking) with a label indicating

if any, rice packages identify the state where the rice was grown.

it‘s from Arkansas, Louisiana or Texas or just from the United States had the highest levels of inorganic arsenic in the tests. For instance, white rices from California had 38% less inorganic arsenic than white rices from other parts of the country.

room. CR should let the F.D.A. continue its careful scientific evaluation and make the recommendations to the public.‖

Brown rice has 80% more inorganic arsenic on average than white rice of the same type, according to Consumer Reports. Arsenic accumulates in the grain‘s outer layers, which are removed to make white rice.

Brown basmati from California, India or Pakistan is the best choice since it has about a third less inorganic arsenic than brown rice from other areas, according to Consumer Reports.

―We‘ve seen levels vary from plot to plot and field to field,‖ he said. ―So making blanket statements about one state versus another is totally unscientific, disingenuous and misleading. Analyzing toxins in food is not the same as analyzing which television gives you the best picture in a well-lit

Consumer Reports also looked at the inorganic arsenic levels in 114 samples of non-rice grains. The gluten-free grains amaranth, buckwheat, millet and polenta or grits had negligible levels of inorganic arsenic. Gluten-containing grains bulgur, barley and farro also had very little arsenic.

Gluten-free quinoa had average inorganic arsenic levels comparable to those of other alternative grains, but some samples of quinoa had ―quite a bit more.‖

ECC okays subsidy for rice growers November 21, 2014

The USA Rice Federation said it still is analyzing the newConsumer Reports data and that if found the regional claims perplexing.―All the tests we‘ve seen show that levels of inorganic arsenic are lowest in U.S.-grown rice, regardless of what state it came from,‖ said Michael Klein, a spokesperson for the federation.He said few,

Imran Ali Kundi

Islamabad

- The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Thursday approved

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine to compensate farmers of basmati rice @ Rs5000 per acre for which federal as well as provincial governments would provide Rs10 billion subsidy.The ECC, which was chaired

by Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, has approved the summary of Ministry of National Food Security and Research of giving compensation to the rice farmers.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif already approved the proposal.

Federal Govt. bore the tariff differential subsidy and provincial governments were directed to pay the GST. In today‘s decision it was also decided that the GST will be adjusted against the electricity fee payable to the provinces. It is also important to mention that during peak hours agri- tube wells will not be entitled for power supply.

The top economic decisions making body of the country, the ECC approved the compensation to the farmers of basmati rice @ 5000 per acre subject to the following provisions: total amount of compensation may be shared equally among Federal and provincial governments. The total amount of subsidy will be around Rs.10 billion. The compensation will be made to the small

the amount paid in subsidy will be around Rs22 billion which was around Rs18.5 billion last year but the Federal Government has taken the decision to support farmers as with the help of this decision Punjab has given historic crop of wheat production 19.470 million ton during 2013-14, the Fuel Price adjustment will also be paid by the federal government, added the Minister.

growers of 25 acres only. The farmers who have already received compensation against crop damage in recent floods in Punjab will not be eligible to this additional compensation.

The Federal Minister for Finance said that

Meanwhile, the Committee also considered and approved the proposal moved by the Ministry of Water and Power for allowing

The ECC also considered and approved the policy guidelines under section 21 of the Ogra Ordinance 2002. According to the guidelines, Volume pilfered by nonconsumers but detected and determined by the companies in accordance with Ogra procedure as provided in rule 30 of Natural Gas Licencing Rules 2002. Till the

extension of subsidy to the agriculture consumers @Rs10.35 per unit till 30.6.2015.

According to the earlier decision, Ministers of W&P and Finance had decided in a meeting with the representatives of Kissan Ittehad (in August 2013) to subsidise tariff for the agriculture consumers whereby the

finalisation of the new tariff regime by Ogra, the income from non-core activities (LPS, Meter Manufacturing plant, Royalty from JJVL and sale of condensate/LPG may also be provisionally treated as non-operating income. The provision of doubtful debts may be determined at the minimum of 1pc

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine of the sales in line with the prevailing accounting practices.

The chair and the participants of the meeting however did not agree to the idea of ―volume against minimum billing amount charged to domestic consumers‖. The chair emphatically ordered all the relevant ministries and authorities to discuss the proposals in advance and suggest mutually accepted and well prepared plans to be accepted by the esteemed forum as this place is not the place for debate on minor details.

The chairman also acknowledged and appreciated the services of Ms. Rukhsana Shah, federal Secretary of Textile Industry in preparing the Textile Policy 2014-19, but gave the Ministry one month‘s period to review and scrutinise it in detail as suggested by Minister for Planning.The ECC also approved the proposal of Ministry of P&NR to allocate around 110MMCFD of gas produced in KP to Khaber Pakhtunkhwa for power generation with the condition that the gas will be given to PPIB available to KP only after following the appropriate procedures laid down in rules and regulations of the PPIB.

Rice Prices Reverse Recent Slump After Heavy Rains

By KYAW HSU MON / THE IRRAWADDY| Friday, November 21, 2014 |

Rice farmers sow their crops in western Burma‘s Arakan State.

(Photo: Steve Tickner / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — Rice prices have pulled back from a sharp slump in recent days, amidst a predicted rise in exports and expectations that recent heavy rains could reduce the size of this year‘s crop.Prices bottomed out at US$280 per 100 baskets (about 1.5 tons) in the middle of October, rising to $380 per 100 baskets this week.―Due to the heavy rains earlier this month, traders thought there might be a rice shortage in the market,‖ Chit Khaing, the chairman of the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF), told The Irrawaddy on Friday. ―That‘s why the slumped rice prices have been increasing in the last few days.‖Aung Chan, the owner of a 30-acre paddy field in Rangoon‘s Mingaladon Township, said that his paddy production will be less than last year‘s yields once he finishes harvesting next month.―I expect that the paddy prices won‘t decrease next month due to the heavy rain—there will be less production, which will increase prices,‖ he said.

The collapse in rice prices came right before the start of the harvest season, threatening a severe impact on the livelihood of farmers, already one of the poorest sectors of Burmese society.Soe Tun, the chairman of the Myanmar Farmers Association, said that

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine his organization had enacted a scheme to buy paddies at a fixed price above the market rate to alleviate an impending production crisis—a plan that has now been rendered unnecessary by the boost to prices.―Prices have increased about 10 percent in the last week [from 350,000 to 380,000K], so farmers will be happy, they won‘t want to sell us with our prices,‖ he said.

China has taken steps this year to regulate the import of Burmese rice, demanding a trade agreement guaranteeing that most rice is milled and meets certain quality and hygiene requirements.As a result, warehouses have retained higher than usual stockpiles of rice, depressing prices to the levels seen last month.China has long been one of Burma‘s biggest customers for rice, much of which is harvested in Burma‘s Irrawaddy Delta and shipped over land borders in Shan and Kachin States.

A bilateral agreement on rice standards would allow the MRF to legally export some 200,000 tons of milled rice to China, starting from early January next year. At the same time, the MRF has attempted bolster the market by encouraging a swift conclusion to the export deal.―We‘ve been encouraging to China to buy as much as earlier than January to pull up prices,‖ Chit Khaing said.In October, the Myanmar Rice Federation reached an agreement with Indian rice traders to supply two states in northeastern India with 240,000 tons of rice per year at US$400 per ton, although Burmese traders will incur all costs for transporting the goods to the Indian border.

The tender for the Indian export deal will close on Nov. 26. Anticipation over the commencement of trade, along with the impending Chinese deal, has buoyed the market rate for rice this month, according to Soe Tun.Despite the recent increase, rice prices are still well below the 2013 season rate of US$400-450 per 100 baskets.

Chit Khaing said he expects rice prices to rise to 2013 levels once export arrangements with China are finalized.―A delegation will come here soon to check the quality of export rice to China,‖ he said. ―I hope that paddy prices will increase as soon as the China and Myanmar bilateral trade agreement is a success.‖According to recent MRF figures, Burma exported 900,000 tons of rice to China, Europe, Japan and South Africa from April to October. The government has set an export target of 1.5 million tons for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

Paddy prices decline 40 percent on supply glut Salman Siddiqui Friday, November 21, 2014 From Print Edition KARACHI: A pick up in paddy harvest has weakened its prices to at least 40 percent this season and they are likely to fall considerably more if the rice millers further delay buying of the stockpile, growers said on Thursday.

The price of paddy – raw rice – has dropped

by Rs1,000/40 kilogram to around Rs1,5001,600/ 40 kilogram against the last year‘s price of Rs2,500-2,600/40 kg.―This is a man made crisis... a group of paddy buyers is deliberately delaying the buying,‖ said

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Hamid Malhi, president of Basmati Growers Association.Growers harvest most of the paddy from the first week of October to end of November.

Growers, who lack storage facility, have no other option but to sell it, but buyers — notably the mill-owners and middlemen — are deliberately delaying the buying to pressurise the growers sell the crop at throwaway rates, Malhi added.Initially, rice exporters have halted buying to exploit the growers. Later, local traders also joined them and put their buying on hold, he said.Malhi said local paddy prices should be steadier due to good demand of rice internationally. Exporters got an average price of $1,153/ton last fiscal year of 201314.‖The price is stable at world markets.‖He demanded the government to fix the minimum export price at the previous year average export rate of $1,153/ton. This will help avert such price crisis at the growers end.The government should also not intervene through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan and Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Supplies Corporation. ―The government should immediately announce subsidy to farmers through providing subsidised fertilisers, seeds and diesel for the next crop. And for this year, it should compensate growers in cash,‖ Malhi demanded.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also taken notice of the situation and has asked the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and other authorities concerned to submit a proposal for providing subsidy to the paddy growers to support them.Malhi said the buyers are even not willing to quote Rs3,200/40 kilogram for basmati at the wholesale this year, which was quoted at Rs4,600 to Rs4,800/40 kilogram last year.The country is estimated to produce 2.2 million tons of basmati this harvest against the local consumption of one

million tons. Last year, the country exported around 733,860 tons of aromatic basmati.

Total rice production, including nonbasmati, stands at six million tons.Syed Javed Shah, another paddy grower in Ghotki, expressed the hope the prices would increase in a month or so. ―The paddy and rice prices will go up a few weeks after the completion of harvesting.‖Shah said the average price of paddy in Ghotki has declined to Rs1,200 /40 kilogram from around Rs2,500/40 kilogram last year.Farmers, mostly in Sindh, grow export quality rice, Kaynaat and Kernel, and Russian basmati, Irri-6 and Irri-9.Shah demanded the government to announce the paddy support price like it has been doing for wheat and sugarcane. Zulfikar Thaver, president of the Union of Small and Medium Enterprises, said the farmers are exploited by the middlemen who finance them on severe terms and get lien on their crops before the harvest.―Farmers are compelled to sell their crops to the middlemen and the millers in haste who drive hard bargains,‖ he added.

REAP urges government to facilitate farmers November 21, 2014 RECORDER REPORT Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan's (REAP) acting Chairman Mohsin Aziz has urged the federal government to fully facilitate the farmers who are one of the most important stakeholders of the rice industry. In a statement issued here on Thursday, he said all the rice exporting countries are facing tough competition and prices are on the declining trend. He further said that this is the market phenomena and due to the demand supply aspect, we see such trend in times and have to cope with it.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine He urged the government to compensate farmers in the shape of free seeds, free pesticides, free water, free fertilizer, free electricity and other facilities. As farmers are not equipped with the latest machinery and due to the mishandling, every year we have to see crop loss, and we could not get the right quality of rice.

Millers probed over adulterated rice

He said, "We are agreeing with the government to support farmers, but this should be done through a proper mechanism". He recalled that in year 2008 Passco had procured 200,000 m/tons rice with prices higher than the prevailing market and even after 6 years they could not dispose off these stocks and ultimately the government had to face up to Rs 24 billion loss. He also quoted the example of Thailand, where the government procured the rice with high prices and that could not be materialised and up to 17 million tons of rice was damaged, as they do not have the proper storage and warehousing facility and finally they have to face $30 billion loss to the exchequer

SURIN — Two millers are being investigated after pledged rice delivered to buyers arrived as a mix of two different varieties. Charoen Pokphand Group, which won an auction to buy fragrant rice from the Phoon Phol mill in Muang district and the Namchai mill in Sangkla district complained to the Commerce Ministry that it found white rice mixed with the fragrant rice the company purchased.Local authorities have been asked to investigate the case.Col Ekkaparp Surai, deputy commander of Surin's Internal Security Operations Command, said representatives from local agencies met Thursday to discuss the case and assess the damage.

He said the government's involvement in such business activity would be harmful to the private sector who had invested billion of rupees to build an infrastructure and human resources and rice export trade become the 2nd largest foreign exchange earner for the country. However, in case of the government involvement in rice business, we will lose a heavy foreign exchange as well as the credibility which the rice exporters have earned after long hard working. REAP demanded the government to give due consideration to the grievances of the rice industry and give free hand to the private sector for playing their positive role, boosting the economy which badly affected due to certain reasons. He appealed to the prime minister for sympathetic consideration in the larger interest of rice industry.

Published: 21 Nov 2014 at 11.21 Online news: General Writer: Nopparat Kingkaew

He said CP still had not yet taken delivery of around 6.7 tonnes of rice from Phoon Phol, so the company wanted to determine the exact amount of adulterated rice. Experts will be sent to check the remaining stock.The previous government implemented a rice-pledging scheme that saw stocks auctioned off to both domestic and foreign buyers. The scheme was accused of being tainted by huge amounts of corruption.

Research and Markets: Rice Bran Oil (CAS 68553-81-1) Market Research Report 2014 November 21, 2014 11:57 AM Eastern Standard Time

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

          

Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.c om/research/zj86ld/rice_bran_oil) has announced the addition of the "Rice Bran Oil (CAS 68553-81-1) Market Research Report 2014" report to their offering. ―Rice Bran Oil (CAS 68553-81-1) Market Research Report 2014‖ Rice Bran Oil (CAS 68553-81-1) Market Research Report 2014 presents comprehensive data on rice bran oil markets globally and regionally (Europe, Asia, North America etc.)

The report includes rice bran oil description, covers its application areas and related patterns. It overviews rice bran oil market, names rice bran oil producers and indicates its suppliers.Besides, the report provides rice bran oil prices in regional markets.In addition to the above the report determines rice bran oil consumers in the market.

The following topics for each chemical product in any country or region can be analyzed: Capacities and production Consumption volume and structure Market price trends Exports and imports Existing technologies Feedstock market Market news digest Market forecast Features Market condition and estimations, market forecast Chemical product ranges, trademarks, analogous products, application areas Regional and global producers, consumers and traders (including contact details) Key Topics Covered: 1. RICE BRAN OIL: GENERAL INFORMATION 1.1. Properties 1.2. Composition, information on ingredients 1.3. Hazards identification 1.4. Handling and storage

1.5. Toxicological & ecological information 1.6. Transport information 2. RICE BRAN OIL END-USE SECTOR 2.1. Application areas 2.2. Patents 3. RICE BRAN OIL MARKET WORLDWIDE. MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS OF RICE BRAN OIL (INCLUDING CONTACT DETAILS).

3.1. Manufacturers of rice bran oil 3.2. Suppliers of rice bran oil 4. CURRENT RICE BRAN OIL MARKET PRICES 5. RICE BRAN OIL CONSUMERS For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/re search/zj86ld/rice_bran_oil Contacts Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-3000470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-5268630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-4168900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Sector: Process and Materials

Growing Super Crops: Conventional or GM? Aida Akl Posted November 21st, 2014

A customer stands in a supermarket as a label of GM-free food is seen in the foreground in Moscow, Russia, June 22, 2007. (Reuters)

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine A lot of folks probably don‘t like their food messed with, meaning they‘d rather not have carrots cross-bred into pea-carrots, for example, or potatoes genetically fortified with nutrients they weren‘t born with. But in

regions like Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia, fortified crops can help populations struggling for survival.Fortified crops are created either through conventional farming techniques or genetic modification (GM) – two methods that have enough supporters

and opponents to start a food war. But that is a topic for next week‘s post.

Biofortification, conventionally speaking Biofortification enables farmers to add higher levels of micronutrients to staple crops.

With conventional breeding, the method uses ―naturally occurring varieties that have the desired nutrients,‖ says Yassir Islam, spokesman for HarvestPlus, a non-profit group that fights global hunger by enhancing crops with essential nutrients to populations in need.―Biofortification is getting the plants to develop [the] capability to do the work— they take up zinc or iron from the soil or produce Vitamin A, so that the higher levels of nutrients are already in the crop at harvest,‖ he said in an email. ―We focus on three critical micronutrients that the World Health Organization has identified the people‘s diets to be most deficient in – iron, zinc, and Vitamin A.‖ HarvestPlus breeds Vitamin A into maize, cassava and sweet corn, iron in pearl millet and beans, and Zinc in wheat and rice. And the seeds that grow these crops are not transgenic or genetically modified, says Islam.―The science behind our biofortified crops is largely confined to conventional hybridization in fields using conventional breeding,‖ he said. ―This is the reason why our biofortified crops are not controversial and do not require approval from regulatory bodies of the governments.‖

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine To enhance pearl millet with iron, for example, ―scientists single out a strain of pearl millet with naturally high content of iron and cross it with other popular or acclimatized varieties with other desirable traits,‖ said Islam. ―This results in new varieties that are very high in iron, as well as high-yielding, drought-resistant and diseaseresistant.‖ Climate tolerance Biofortification also allows farmers to grow crops that are better able to withstand climate change. HarvestPlus grows what Islam calls ―climate-smart crops‖ like iron beans and iron pearl millet.―They are heat and/or drought tolerant,‖ he said. ―The orange sweet potato, which is being widely grown in Africa, is also drought tolerant.‖But both types of crops are also being developed through genetic modification – the more controversial of the two methods.

An undated handout photo from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) shows genetically-modified ―Golden Rice.‖ (AFP/IRRI) Genetic modification ―There are 100,000 varieties of rice in the world and not a single one has any Vitamin A in the grain. And so the only way you can add the beta carotene content in rice is through genetic engineering,‖ said C.S. Prakash, Professor of Plant Molecular

Genetics at Tuskegee University and a proponent of genetically-modified foods.

GM can add one or more traits to a crop, with varying degrees of complexity. Some traits can only be added with genetic engineering, as in the case of Golden Rice, which has enhanced Vitamin A content.

So how long does it take to genetically engineer a crop trait? ―It takes anywhere from 3-10 years, I would say, because much of it is the time that we are spending really in testing and in meeting the regulatory requirements to make sure that this is safe,‖ said Prakash.

As the technology progresses, he says ―we can not only add many traits, but we can also remember a lot of improvement in nutrition comes from turning off traits that are not necessarily good for nutrition, like allergens and toxins.‖ In GM lab trials, scientists have enhanced protein content in crop lines, which are typically less nutritious than meat-based or animal-based proteins. ―We have ongoing research … [to see] how we can improve the protein quality and also many other nutrients, including phytonutrients.‖ Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) can also be manipulated to acquire a degree of resilience to climate change, making them more heat-tolerant or flood and drought tolerant.Drought-tolerance varies, so that a crop might be engineered to last two weeks

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine without water, for example. But Prakash says more research is needed to achieve longer periods.

In rice-growing areas in the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Mekong rivers in Southeast Asia, which are often flooded due to overflowing rivers, Prakash says the International Rice Research Institute is developing flood-tolerant rice using ―genetic engineering and a combination of conventional technologies.‖And in regions where climate change is more acutely felt, Prakash says there is an increase in pests and diseases. ―Wheat right now is being threatened by a new race of disease … called Ug99, which originated in Uganda and it is already spreading beyond and threatening the wheatgrowing areas of Asia, for instance,‖ he said. ―And a good resistance might be found in wild wheat.‖

the difference between the two methods is ultimately philosophical, not scientific, according toRicardo Salvador, Director of the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit scientific analysis group.That debate is the subject of next week‘s post.

Growing a Second Green Revolution The ‗golden rice‘ champion on the bewildering campaign to stop a miracle food that could save millions of children from blindness and death.

KEN FALLIN

By HUGO RESTALL Nov. 21, 2014 6:39 p.m. ET Los Baños, Philippines Robert Zeigler is an environmentalist, but he is also a plant scientist. And that has led him

He argues that it is ―faster, but also more precise‖ to introduce that resistance using GM.

to question the motives of an environmental

Going forward: conventional or GM?

they are safe.As director general of the

HarvestPlus spokesman Islam suggests the two methods can continue to co-exist, although he believes that conventional breeding ―is still the fastest way to get the crops into the hands of farmers – as there are no regulatory hurdles to overcome.‖

movement that opposes genetically modified crops despite overwhelming evidence that

International Rice Research Institute, Mr. Zeigler is pushing the development of ―golden rice,‖ a genetically modified variety that began in the lab about two decades ago.

Geneticists inserted a gene into the rice plant that allows it to produce beta carotene,

Prakash says the two co-exist without problems as farmers already grow a mix of conventional and GMOs on separate lots.But

which makes its grains yellow.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Because the human body converts beta

Greenpeace is petitioning the Philippine

carotene to vitamin A, golden rice has the

government to ban GMOs and promote

potential to dramatically improve the lives

organic farming. The organization says that

of millions of people around the world,

vitamin A deficiency can be tackled with

particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia,

more balanced nutrition and calls golden

where vitamin A deficiency is an especially

rice a ―Trojan horse‖ designed to overcome

common malady that can cause blindness

public resistance to a dangerous technology.

and increases the risk of death from disease.

Children are particularly vulnerable: ―An estimated 250,000 to 500,000 vitamin Adeficient children become blind every year, half of them dying within 12 months of losing their sight,‖ according to the U.N.

More than just golden rice is at stake. Total rice production is stagnant but populations are growing. Asia badly needs a second ―green revolution‖ of increased yields—Mr. Zeigler estimates that the harvest must increase to 550,000 tons of milled rice a

World Health Organization.

year by 2035 from 450,000 tons today.One Golden rice thus sounds like a godsend—but

important way to achieve that is through

don‘t tell that to activists opposed to

genetic modifications that will produce

anything that falls in the category of

higher-yielding

genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

International Rice Research Institute will be

In August 2013, anti-GMO vandals broke

central to that effort. Founded in 1960 with

into

Research

funding from governments and the Ford and

Institute‘s research facilities and destroyed

Rockefeller foundations, the IRRI was one

field trials of golden rice.The attack set back

of the leading institutions in the original

the program by only a few months, and Mr.

green revolution of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

the

International

Rice

varieties,

and

the

Zeigler still hopes to bring the new variety to market in the next two to three years. But the

episode

was

a

reminder

that

environmental groups will campaign hard to put political obstacles in his way, and try to scare farmers and consumers off the yellow rice.

Transgenic technology is becoming an important part of its research arsenal.Mr. Zeigler is an avuncular 63, but he maintains a grueling schedule. He is just back from Nepal, where a deal was signed for India, Bangladesh and Nepal to accept the others‘

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine approvals of new rice varieties, and he will

holders stipulated that golden rice could not

give the keynote address at the World Rice

be sold for a profit. While the rice will be

Congress in Bangkok next week. Sitting in

provided

his office, he looks out on rice fields that the

eliminating all profits meant that it would be

institute has cultivated since 1963 to test

excluded from existing marketing and

whether high-yield varieties will exhaust the

distribution channels.Finally there are the

soil (so far so good). Nearby is a refrigerated

extra safeguards imposed on any transgenic

gene bank that holds seed samples of more

crop, even though they are safer than those

than

developed

117,000

rice

varieties

used

in

crossbreeding programs.

to

farmers

using

at

a

traditional

low

cost,

breeding.

Crossbreeding different rice varieties runs the risk of creating a weed that can‘t be

Golden rice is a proof of concept in several ways, he explains. It started out showing that ―you could engineer a relatively complex trait into a staple food that

killed without destroying the crops it infests, whereas GM rice can incorporate a single well-understood gene into an existing variety.

addressed a major dietary deficiency in hundreds of millions of people.‖ But on the

Solving the problems facing golden rice will

way to market, golden rice ran into difficulty

demonstrate that publicly funded entities can

not of the radical-protester variety: The

use transgenic technology to enhance food

difficulty and expense of developing a GM

security.

food beyond the lab turned out to be much

like Monsantomake important contributions,

harder than golden rice‘s champions initially

Mr. Zeigler believes governments can play a

understood.For

crucial role when there is no clear business

instance,

the

Philippine

While

companies

government has a well-established process

model.

for assessing rice varieties that are already

Rice is a good example. It is self-pollinating,

approved in other countries.

so farmers can buy a new variety and then save some of the grain to plant next year.

The IRRI had to work with the authorities to develop new procedures to certify a GM crop developed in the country.Then there was the problem that the original patent-

Some firms sell sterile hybrids, but these have weaknesses that have confined them to a small share of production. Rice farmers have tended to be poor and isolated and

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine produce on a small scale, hardly an

―The

question

is,

will

this

fantastic

appealing market demographic.

technology that has the ability to address so many serious human needs be limited so that

Yet the returns to society as a whole from

only short-term, high-profit products of the

higher-yielding rice varieties are staggering.

private sector will be enjoyed, or will the

The IRRI‘s semi-dwarf varieties, including

broader public be able to benefit from

the famous IR8, saved India from famine in

them?‖ Mr. Zeigler asks. ―And I think it‘s a

the

good

pretty important question. You can‘t destroy

investment opportunities for the World Bank

the public sector‘s ability to take advantage

across the region, since they responded well

of this and move it forward and then at the

to better growing conditions. Up went dams

same time complain that it‘s only the

and fertilizer factories, and up went Asian

multinationals that use the technology.

1960s.

And

they

provided

incomes and living standards. ‖GM food has become a casualty of the However, about half of Asia‘s rice farmers

anticapitalist ideology of the environmental

were left behind because they tilled marginal

movement, he explains. ―You see that

land, prone to drought, flooding and other

jingoism used when people talk about

problems. The 1960s breeding technology

corporate farming, it is a code word for

didn‘t have answers for them. But today the

evil.‖ This obscures the fact that the

rice institute is developing varieties that

fundamental

have better resistance and grow well on

sound.Mr. Zeigler can‘t resist a comparison

poorer land. That will be one part of a new

to partisans on the right who he says

jump in yields.The environment will also

willfully misrepresent science in a similar

benefit from the second green revolution, as

way: ―If you strip away the actual words and

crops will require less water, fertilizer and

look at the argument structure, it‘s exactly

pesticides. There will be opportunities to use

the same as the climate-change deniers,‖ he

GM technology to develop new varieties

says, and ―the anti-fracking people.

science

behind

GM

is

faster and more safely—as long as the green activists don‘t succeed in demonizing them.

If you‘re not tied to the science and the facts,

you

can

anything.‖Nevertheless,

say

just

about the

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine environmentalists are his main target: ―This

sectors working on GM food in parallel,

is the thing that drives me crazy. As you‘ve

each focused on what it does best. A

probably figured out, my politics are a little

partnership of that sort underpinned the

bit to the left and I feel that society has roles

original green revolution, but it has been

to play, etc. And to see my former allies just

lost.That‘s because the world has become

throwing out any association with fact and

complacent

what I‘d like to think of as truth, it‘s very

assumption is that grain shortages are a

disheartening because I look at the position

thing of the past and we can concentrate on

of the left on the environment and GMO

better nutrition and how to meet the demand

technology as being totally indefensible.

for meat.

‖Mr. Zeigler also says that governments

While those are legitimate goals, ―if we take

need to stop trying to control prices in ways

our eye off the basic staples, we could run

that prevent incentives from reaching the

into trouble,‖ Mr. Zeigler warns.He makes a

farmer. Shortsighted export bans during the

good case that mass starvation is the kind of

spike in food prices in 2008 further

risk

disrupted an already thin and distorted

contingency

market. And he cites the lack of clear

solutions. Even on current trends, the

property rights in many countries as a

International Rice Research Institute has a

deterrent for farmers to invest in their

significant role to play. And if the institute

land.Private companies may also be able to

can get golden rice to market, it will have

take advantage of the telecommunications

forged a key part of the second green

revolution that has put cellphones in the

revolution.

that

about

food

security.

governments plans

for

should and

The

make

invest

in

hands of rice farmers.

Mr. Restall is the editorial-page editor of The kinds of tailored information services

The Wall Street Journal Asia.

that help big American farmers make decisions based on satellite images and big data could be provided to small farmers at little marginal cost.Ideally Mr. Zeigler would like to see the public and private Contact us for Advertisement & Specs: mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2847