AGRIC AND FOOD : View Posts

What started more than a year ago as an experiment by Tmall.com, China’s largest B2C shopping website, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture allowing Chinese online shoppers to buy fresh seafood from Alaska and other American food products has grown into a multi-country buffet that is regularly putting fresh food from dozens of countries on the tables of PRC consumers.

Capitalizing on growing demand from China for imported edibles that can’t often be found in local supermarkets, Tmall.com has been steadily building the website’s fresh food platform through a series of joint promotions with trade offices of foreign governments.

The latest promotion, tied to Chinese New Year, has seen shoppers buying blueberries from Chile, lamb from New Zealand, lobsters from Canada, and custard apples from Taiwan. In all, 25 countries are participating in the CNY promotion, during which more than 120,000 consumers have spent more than RMB 20 million on imported specialty foods.

The New Year promotion is part of an ongoing effort by Tmall.com, owned by Alibaba Group, to broaden e-commerce’s role in China’s food imports. There’s growing demand for overseas foods, fresh and processed both, because of the country’s many food-safety scares; at the same time, China’s domestic agricultural industry is having a harder time satisfying the appetites of the burgeoning middle class. In the first half of last year alone, Tmall.com saw a 500 percent surge in sales of imported food, according to Tmall officials (more recent figures are not available).

E-commerce offers a way for overseas producers to help fill the gap by selling directly to consumers. Bypassing traditional distribution networks cuts out middlemen and lowers costs, said Tmall.com spokeswoman Florence Shih.

“Chinese consumers, especially those who live beyond Beijing and Shanghai, lack access to high quality, fresh and nutritious imported food products,” Shih said. “Our model enables suppliers from around the world to tap into the currently unmet demand in China, and our users to purchase cherries from the U.S., king crab from Chile or even kiwis from New Zealand at affordable prices, much of the time at below the cost of what they would be charged in their local supermarkets.”

Getting fresh produce, fish and meat to consumers’ doorsteps poses international shipping and supply chain challenges. One of the keys to the Tmall.com program has been the sale of fresh food through the website’s pre-sale channel, yushou.tmall.com.

Products sold via yushou are available only by special order. Customers place advance orders during designated promotion periods so that farmers and fishermen know precisely what demand is, later shipping the goods within a specified time period. Depending on the country and type of produce, field-to-doorstep deliveries take place in as little as 2-3 days, ensuring foods don’t spoil during international shipping.

Other Alibaba-owned e-shopping websites, Taobao Marketplace and group-shopping site Juhuasuan, are also encouraging food imports through special promotions. But Tmall.com appears to have enjoyed particular success working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s trade office in Shanghai.

This collaboration last year resulted in limited-time deals on a variety of food products, including Alaska salmon and cod, and raisins and cherries from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California and Utah. Last summer Tmall.com sold 168 tons of cherries in less than two weeks; more than 50 tons of Alaskan seafood were sold during a fall promotion.

These successes “really got the attention of our U.S. agricultural producer associations,” prompting other producers to sign up for future Tmall.com promotions, said Keith Schneller, director of the USDA’s Agricultural Trade Office in Shanghai, in an e-mail. In the works are promotions of a wide variety of U.S. products including pork, seafood, fresh fruit, snack foods and others, he said.

“One of the main benefits of using e-commerce is that the U.S. producer does not have to worry about paying various ‘shelf’ fees and distributing the products to numerous supermarkets,” Schneller said, “but only has to deliver the product to the distribution center of the e-commerce company that takes care of the marketing, sales, and distribution of the product directly to the consumers.”

Schneller stressed that sales via Tmall.com makes it much easier for U.S. producers to reach millions of consumers in 2nd and 3rd tier cities across China who might not have access to higher end supermarkets that carry imported food and beverage products.

He added that selling via the Internet also allows U.S. producers to promote their goods using videos and by posting nutritional information, recipes and other detailed information. “This is useful for the consumer and helps the U.S. producer differentiate his products from others,” he said. E-commerce “provides us an opportunity to educate consumers across China about the health benefits of our products and helps assure them that the products are authentic.”

Schneller said he expected sales volumes will continue to increase rapidly as more Chinese go online, “especially through smart phones, which should increase mobile online sales of U.S. food and beverage products in China in the future.”

Tmall.com is continuing to work with agricultural trade agencies in countries including Chile, Thailand, Taiwan, Denmark and others on fresh food promotions. “Talks are ongoing and we are constantly looking to expand the product offerings available to Chinese consumers via Tmall.com,” Shih said.

This news is courtesy of www.alizila.com

ARLINGTON, VA – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will make three grants totaling $5 million to universities to develop childhood obesity prevention programs. Vilsack made the announcement during the keynote address before the 2014 National PTA Legislative Conference in Arlington, VA.

“USDA is at the forefront of the Obama Administration’s efforts to combat childhood obesity, which poses a threat to the health and future productivity of our entire nation,” said Vilsack. “These grants fund critical research that will help USDA and our partners implement effective strategies to support America’s next generation so they can have a healthy childhood and develop healthy habits for life.”

The awards announced are:

University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., $4,887,083 – “Get Fruved:” A peer-led, train-the-trainer social marketing intervention to increase fruit and vegetable intake and prevent childhood obesity
Tufts University, Boston, Mass., $149,988 – A using “kids-only” retail coupon study to promote healthy snack options among adolescents in convenience stores: The CHOMPS Pilot Project
Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, N.C., $150,000 – Childhood Health & Obesity Initiative: Communities Engaged for Success, which seeks to help 10-12 year-old children from low income families.
NIFA made the awards through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Childhood Obesity Prevention program. This year’s funding is focused on supporting research programs aimed at generating new knowledge of behavioral, social and/or environmental factors that influence childhood obesity. All three projects funded this year were required to integrate all three functions of agriculture science: research, education and Extension. Award decisions were made through a competitive process based on scientific merit.

USDA will also make $9 million available for research, education and Extension activities that aim to develop obesity prevention strategies having released the request for applications for fiscal year 2014 AFRI childhood obesity prevention program. Details can be found on the NIFA website.

AFRI is NIFA’s flagship competitive grant program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. AFRI supports work in six priority areas: food safety, nutrition and health; plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities.

Improving child nutrition is a focal point of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that was signed by President Obama in December 2010. This legislation reauthorizes USDA’S child nutrition programs, including the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program, which serves nearly 32 million children each day. It will allow USDA the chance to make real reforms to the school lunch and breakfast programs by improving the critical nutrition and hunger safety net for millions of children. Investigating science-based interventions and studying obesity in children can also strengthen these programs. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is the legislative centerpiece of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative. To learn more, visit www.LetsMove.gov.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people’s daily lives and the nation’s future.

This news is courtesy of www.usda.gov

CANBERRA, Australia, – Australia could increase its food security role in Asia, with food consumption modelled under specific scenarios to more than double by 2030, according to new research from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
The EIU report, commissioned by DuPont, considers scenarios for economic growth in the sector over the next decade, providing an outlook to 2030 that points to a situation where real per-capita food consumption could increase by 79 percent for developing countries, and could more than double in China and South Asia.

This forecasted spike in food consumption begs the question of who will fill the market gap. The report suggests that if Australia is to capitalize on this opportunity, the country should consider changes in the nation’s political and global approach toward agriculture.

DuPont Crop Protection President Rik L. Miller said that despite these challenges, opportunities are available for Australia to make a greater contribution to Asian food security and increase the international competitiveness of its farming sector.

“Ensuring food security, with the increasing need for food in a developing Asia, will require sustained growth in agricultural productivity in the continent of 1-2 percent a year for the coming two decades,” Miller said. “This is not an impossible task, but it will require investment and policy reforms if the rise in demand is to lead to better nutritional outcomes and a more food-secure Asia.”

The report also suggests that promoting inwards and outwards investment in agriculture is a necessary component of food security, both for importing countries and exporting countries. Miller explained that DuPont is investing in Australia agriculture, through partnerships with farmers in crop protection, seed technology and in nutrition.

“Innovation will be a critical element in addressing the food security challenge in Asia. Partnerships between government and industry for R&D are well-established here, and there is scope to do more,” Miller continued.

DuPont plays a significant role in supporting, enhancing and helping food sectors in Asia Pacific, providing protection for crops, Pioneer® brand seed, packaging to protect and preserve food, and ingredients to enhance flavor, nutrition and ensure food is safe to eat.

DuPont and the EIU have hosted dialogs on food security at forums around the world – including Belgium, Brazil, Chile, India, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa and the United States. Participants have included public and private sector leaders.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment.

This news is courtesy of www.dupont.com

WASHINGTON – Today, United States Reps. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), Lee Terry (R-Neb.), Mike McIntyre (D-NC) and Jim Costa (D-Cal.) introduced legislation to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from disclosing the private and confidential information of livestock and poultry producers to the public.

The Farmer Identity Protection Act (H.R. 4157) comes in response to the EPA’s release of livestock and poultry producers’ names and other personal information to three radical environmental groups through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in February and again in April 2013.

The release divulged names, addresses, geographic coordinates and in some cases telephone numbers and email addresses of over 80,000 producers in 29 states. EPA has plans to release information on thousands more farmers and ranchers in the future. “There is no justification for the blatant disregard of our privacy,” said NCBA President Bob McCan.

“To turn this type of information over to anyone who has a computer is not just reckless, but it poses serious agro-terrorism threats.” EPA claims it lacks statutory authority to protect livestock producers’ personal information. The Farmer Identity Protection Act would unequivocally provide the agency with the ability to prevent such farm-specific releases from happening in the future, allowing the agency to provide information to outside parties only in aggregate without individual identifying information, or with the producer’s consent.

“Once this information is released, you cannot take it back,” said McCan. “With EPA planning to release more information as soon as it is able, Congress must step in and provide relief to livestock producers. We applaud the representatives that have introduced this bill to help protect the health and safety of cattle producers and their families.” H.R. 4157 is the companion bill to S. 1343 introduced in the Senate by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) in July 2013. –

This news is courtesy of www.beefusa.org

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today proposed to update the Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods to reflect the latest scientific information, including the link between diet and chronic diseases such as obesity and heart disease. The proposed label also would replace out-of-date serving sizes to better align with how much people really eat, and it would feature a fresh design to highlight key parts of the label such as calories and serving sizes.
“Our guiding principle here is very simple: that you as a parent and a consumer should be able to walk into your local grocery store, pick up an item off the shelf, and be able to tell whether it’s good for your family,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “So this is a big deal, and it’s going to make a big difference for families all across this country.”

“For 20 years consumers have come to rely on the iconic nutrition label to help them make healthier food choices,” said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. “To remain relevant, the FDA’s newly proposed Nutrition Facts label incorporates the latest in nutrition science as more has been learned about the connection between what we eat and the development of serious chronic diseases impacting millions of Americans.”
Some of the changes to the label the FDA proposed today would:

Require information about the amount of “added sugars” in a food product. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that intake of added sugar is too high in the U.S. population and should be reduced. The FDA proposes to include “added sugars” on the label to help consumers know how much sugar has been added to the product.
Update serving size requirements to reflect the amounts people currently eat. What and how much people eat and drink has changed since the serving sizes were first put in place in 1994. By law, serving sizes must be based on what people actually eat, not on what people “should” be eating. Present calorie and nutrition information for the whole package of certain food products that could be consumed in one sitting.

Present “dual column” labels to indicate both “per serving” and “per package” calorie and nutrition information for larger packages that could be consumed in one sitting or multiple sittings.

Require the declaration of potassium and vitamin D, nutrients that some in the U.S. population are not getting enough of, which puts them at higher risk for chronic disease. Vitamin D is important for its role in bone health. Potassium is beneficial in lowering blood pressure. Vitamins A and C would no longer be required on the label, though manufacturers could declare them voluntarily.

Revise the Daily Values for a variety of nutrients such as sodium, dietary fiber and Vitamin D. Daily Values are used to calculate the Percent Daily Value on the label, which helps consumers understand the nutrition information in the context of a total daily diet.

While continuing to require “Total Fat,” “Saturated Fat,” and “Trans Fat” on the label, “Calories from Fat” would be removed because research shows the type of fat is more important than the amount.

Refresh the format to emphasize certain elements, such as calories, serving sizes and Percent Daily Value, which are important in addressing current public health problems like obesity and heart disease.

The proposed updates reflect new dietary recommendations, consensus reports, and national survey data, such as the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, nutrient intake recommendations from the Institute of Medicine, and intake data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The FDA also considered extensive input and comments from a wide range of stakeholders.

“By revamping the Nutrition Facts label, FDA wants to make it easier than ever for consumers to make better informed food choices that will support a healthy diet.” said Michael R. Taylor, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine. “To help address obesity, one of the most important public health problems facing our country, the proposed label would drive attention to calories and serving sizes.”

The Nutrition Facts label has been required on food packages for 20 years, helping consumers better understand the nutritional value of foods so they can make healthy choices for themselves and their families. The label has not changed significantly since 2006 when information on trans fat had to be declared on the label, prompting manufacturers to reduce partially hydrogenated oils, the main source of trans fat, in many of their products.

The changes proposed today affect all packaged foods except certain meat, poultry and processed egg products, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The FDA is also proposing to make corresponding updates to the Supplement Facts label on dietary supplements where applicable.

The agency is accepting public comment on the proposed changes for 90 days.

For more information:

Federal Register notice
2nd Federal Register notice
Nutrition Facts at a Glance
Questions and Answers
Consumer Update: Nutrition Facts Label: Proposed Changes Aim to Better Inform Food Choices
Consumer Update: Food Serving Sizes Getting a Reality Check
Consumer Update: Proposed Nutrition Facts Label Changes Based on Science and Research
FDA Voice Blog
What’s Different infographic (PDF – 587KB)
Serving size infographic (PDF – 556KB)
Sound bites
Let’s Move!
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.fda.gov

EAST HANOVER, N.J., Mondelez International is taking another important step in creating a best-in-class global supply chain today by announcing plans to invest more than $130 million in new biscuit manufacturing technology and capabilities in its current U.S. network. The investment will focus on bakeries in Fair Lawn, N.J., and Richmond, Va., supporting priority cookie and cracker brands and product platforms. To enable this investment, the company will consolidate its current U.S. biscuit manufacturing footprint on the East Coast, resulting in the closure of its Philadelphia bakery by early 2015.

“This investment in our North American biscuit supply chain offers us an exciting opportunity to further improve the overall effectiveness, efficiency and the competitiveness of our manufacturing network, with a focus on driving big bets and accelerating growth for the biscuit category,” said Cindy Waggoner, Vice President, North America Integrated Supply Chain, Biscuits. “This announcement is also bittersweet. It’s always a difficult decision to close a manufacturing facility, especially one like the Philadelphia bakery, which has been part of our organization and the community for many years.”

The role of the Philadelphia bakery within the company’s biscuit manufacturing network footprint has changed over time. The site currently produces a limited number of core products. Other facilities are better positioned to support the company’s future business needs.

The closure of the Philadelphia bakery will affect approximately 350 employees, who were informed of the company’s decision earlier today.

“Our focus right now is on our employees in Philadelphia. We’re making this announcement almost a full year in advance of the planned closure to help provide a smooth transition. We’re committed to treating our employees fairly and working with them through this difficult time,” Waggoner added.

With this announcement, Mondelez International further demonstrates its global focus on redesigning its manufacturing network and creating an integrated supply chain organization capable of delivering a demonstrable advantage while generating savings that can be reinvested for growth.

About Mondelez International
Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ) is a global snacking powerhouse, with 2012 revenue of $35 billion. Creating delicious moments of joy in 165 countries, Mondelez International is a world leader in chocolate, biscuits, gum, candy, coffee and powdered beverages, with billion-dollar brands such as Cadbury, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Milka chocolate, Jacobs coffee, LU, Nabisco and Oreo biscuits, Tang powdered beverages and Trident gum. Mondelez International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor’s 500, NASDAQ 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.mondelezinternational.com

WASHINGTON,- Today, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden and Admiral William H. McRaven signed a Memo of Understanding between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to increase support services for military families. The MOU allows the USDA supported Cooperative Extension System and Land Grant Universities to work directly with USSOCOM to conduct research and develop programs for military families of Special Operations Units on issues such as personal financial management, health and nutrition, child care and youth empowerment.

“The USDA and the Department of Defense have a longstanding relationship in support of service members and their families” said Deputy Secretary Harden. “This agreement allows us to extend similar support to Special Operations Forces by developing programs and services that help improve the quality of life for military family members. From offering workshops and classes about financial management for families, to creating positive youth development environments for military kids, to promoting healthy lifestyles, the USDA stands at the ready to serve.”

“We are very grateful for USDA’s support to our special operations warriors and their families,” said Admiral McRaven. “One of the fundamentals of special operations is that people are more important than hardware. This partnership exemplifies that truth. By facilitating access to a magnitude of valuable and credible family support programs and research through land grant universities, USDA will play a vital role in strengthening our force’s resiliency and mission readiness.”

This MOU builds on a current MOU between USDA and the Department of Defense to strengthen child, youth and family programs for military personnel and their families. That agreement was signed by Dr. Roger N. Beachy, former Director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and Dr. Clifford L. Stanley, for Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) in 2010. Under that agreement, the USDA supported Cooperative Extension System and Land Grant Universities and DoD are engaged in a 10 year effort to leverage each other’s resources and expertise in support of military families. Successful efforts have included the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State University [ http://www.militaryfamilies.psu.edu/This is an external link or third-party site outside of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website.], an interactive, knowledge-based platform for helping professionals supporting military families to enhance their program implementation and assessment activities, the Military Extension Internship Program at Purdue University [ http://www.ydae.purdue.edu/military/This is an external link or third-party site outside of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website.] that recruits college students through internship training to help meet the workforce development needs in military child and youth programs, and a Virtual Lab School at Ohio State University [ https://www.virtuallabschool.org/This is an external link or third-party site outside of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website.] dedicated to online professional development for military child care providers.

The MOU was signed at the Agriculture Outlook Forum, the USDA’s annual conference of over 1,800 agricultural, Land Grant University and Cooperative Extension leaders. The signing ceremony followed a conference panel discussing USDA services for military veterans.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that up to $35 million will be provided during the next three years to help landowners conserve grasslands and wetlands in the Prairie Pothole region. The announcement was made on the Secretary’s behalf by Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie.

Farmers, ranchers and conservation partners will have access to a mix of financial and technical assistance opportunities through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to restore wetlands and grasslands.

“This region of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Montana provides critical breeding and nesting habitat for more than 60 percent of the nation’s migratory waterfowl,” Bonnie said of the Prairie Pothole region. “Our goal is to help landowners manage their working lands in a way that’s compatible with agricultural production and good stewardship of the soil, water and habitat resources of the area so we are really talking about keeping working lands working.”

The wetlands and grasslands that characterize the region provide vital water storage to reduce regional flooding, improve water quality, and have tremendous potential to store carbon in soils, which reduces the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, one of the leading greenhouse gases contributing to climate change.

The funding comes in a couple of pieces, including:

Environmental Quality Incentives Program: The agency’s largest conservation program will help producers with expiring Conservation Reserve Program contracts keep their lands as working grasslands or haylands through implementation of prescribed grazing and other conservation practices.
Ducks Unlimited-NRCS partnership for carbon credits: NRCS is working with North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana to create a carbon credit marketing system for landowners who agreed to avoid tilling grasslands. This work started in 2011 in North Dakota as part of a Conservation Innovation Grant, but now it’s being expanded to the three states. Through this system, interested landowners can keep their land in grass, continue grazing and haying, and generate verified carbon credits that place a conservation easement on their land. These credits can be sold or traded into existing voluntary carbon markets.

NRCS also is providing additional technical assistance to complete certified wetland determinations, needed by producers to meet conservation compliance requirements first put in place in 1985.

Additionally, the 2014 Farm Bill has expanded opportunities for conserving grasslands and wetlands, including those in the Prairie Pothole region. To find out more about USDA’s efforts to work with producers in the region click here. USDA also recently solicited proposals for Conservation Innovation Grants.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.usda.gov

MILTON, Pa.- A ConAgra Foods Milton, Pennsylvania establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 5,200 cases of Healthy Choice Chicken with Rice Microwaveable Bowl Soup that may contain Healthy Choice Chicken Noodle Soup.

The following products are subject to recall:

Product Brand Name: Healthy Choice Chicken with Rice Microwaveable Bowl Soup (may contain Healthy Choice Chicken Noodle Soup)

UPC: 50100 17170

The product is packaged in microwaveable bowls with a net weight of 14 OZ (397 g).

The product has the following Best By date: JUN092015

The establishment making all affected product: EST #P770

This recall applies only to only Healthy Choice Chicken with Rice Microwaveable Bowl soups and does not impact Healthy Choice canned soup products. No other Healthy Choice products, refrigerated or frozen, have been affected.

The products were produced on Dec. 16, 2013 and distributed to retail establishments in the following states: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. The products were also distributed to Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

This product is a food safety concern only for people who are allergic to egg and wheat containing products or who may have gluten sensitivity, intolerance or Celiac disease.

The company will work with retail customers to ensure that the recalled products are removed from store shelves. Consumers who purchased this product and who are allergic to egg and wheat containing products or who may have gluten sensitivity, intolerance or Celiac disease should not consume it and should contact ConAgra Foods at 800-289-6014 for product replacement.

The issue was discovered through consumer contacts. No illnesses have been reported in association with this recall. Anyone concerned about an allergic reaction should contact a physician.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.conagrafoods.com

SAN FRANCISCO – Data science has the potential to fundamentally improve the productivity and sustainability of global agriculture. With recommendations customized for their fields, farmers will continue to make more informed decisions that help them maximize their yield potential and use our planet’s finite resources more efficiently. However, some barriers still exist to unlocking the tremendous potential of data science in agriculture due to understandable uncertainty about the privacy of farmers’ data.

Today, The Climate Corporation is announcing a number of groundbreaking principles and commitments related to data use and privacy in an openly published Guiding Principles on Data and Privacy statement, available online at www.climate.com/principles.

“The application of data science in agriculture is relatively new, and with the development of new technologies comes some level of uncertainty about its potential implications. In our experience, farmers are more likely to embrace new technologies that will drive the evolution of agricultural production when they have certainty about the use, privacy and control of the data they personally generate on their own farms,” said David Friedberg, CEO of The Climate Corporation.

“We want to immediately and transparently address some farmers’ concerns about data use and privacy, while advancing the conversation about industry standards that support farmers’ needs. Farmers come first and we need to do what we can to make sure the industry is adopting practices and standards that do what’s best for the farmer,” said Friedberg.

Two years ago, Monsanto established its Integrated Farming Systems platform that aimed to combine data science with precision agriculture technologies to help farmers derive new value. Recently, these research and product development teams, along with the Precision Planting group, transitioned to The Climate Corporation, led by Friedberg.

“Throughout the process of building our platform, we’ve reached out to our farmer customers and industry stakeholders for their input and they’ve told us that farmers need to know how their data will be used and protected in order for them to embrace data science in agriculture. The Climate Corporation believes that farmers must have control over the data they provide to us, and they must be able to move it easily across different technology platforms,” said Friedberg. “It’s our responsibility to remove the roadblocks to the growth and adoption of these important technologies. We realize that combining farmers’ data with unique modeling capabilities requires trust. Thus, we are sharing our guiding principles and commitments today.”

The company is committing to several guiding principles that will drive its development of data related products and services:

Farmers own the data they create.
The company will make it easy for farmers to control who can access the data they provide and for what purpose, and enable farmers to easily remove that data from our systems. We will only use a farmer’s data to deliver and improve the services for which they are subscribing. We will ensure safeguards are in place to protect farmer information from outside parties, and we will not sell customer-provided data to third parties.
We will provide basic data services for farmers free of charge.
Farmers need to be able to easily create, store and access their data, and The Climate Corporation will provide basic data services free of charge.
Farmers need to easily access and share their information across technology platforms.
The company will enable farmers to share their data across other platforms at no cost. This approach requires industry standards that enable both consistency in the collection of data and farmers’ easy transfer of that data between platforms.
The Climate Corporation is forming an Open Agriculture Data Alliance (OADA) of providers and farmers to act as an independent body that will ensure that different platforms share common interoperability, common data formats, and security and privacy standards. Enabling different systems to work together will give farmers more control, and can ultimately help farmers optimize yield, improve conservation practices, and improve the profitability of their operations.

Many other industries, including healthcare, banking, retail and online services, are leveraging data to deliver improved customer experiences and new value.

“As data science is applied to agriculture, The Climate Corporation understands and respects our need to earn the trust of our farmer customers,” said Monsanto President and Chief Operating Officer Brett Begemann. “We’re at the forefront of a revolutionary new opportunity to advance agricultural productivity. We’re taking a bold step in the direction of transparency to enable the growth of this platform and to make farming more sustainable as we work to meet the demands of a growing planet.”

This Press Release is courtesy of www.monsato.com

SEATTLE – Evolution Fresh is initiating a voluntary product recall of approximately 1,700 bottles of “Organic Sweet Greens and Ginger” juice with a best by date of March 2, 2014. The juices, which make up less than half of one percent of total Evolution Fresh production, were sold beginning on January 18, 2014, only in California and Nevada at approximately 120 grocery stores.

The company initiated the recall after identifying a small number of Organic Sweet Greens and Ginger juices with best by dates of March 2, 2014 that were swollen and is currently conducting an investigation. There are no customer complaints or known illnesses related to this product at this time. Regardless, customer well-being is Evolution Fresh’s top priority, so this voluntary product recall is being initiated out of an abundance of caution.

Organic Sweet Greens and Ginger juices with other best by dates are not included in this recall, nor are any other Evolution Fresh products. This product was only sold at grocery retailers in California and Nevada, not Starbucks retail stores.

Customers in possession of the recalled product should not consume it and should discard it. Customers with questions may contact the company by phone at 1-800-794-9986 to get a refund.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.starbucks.com

CAMDEN, N.J.- Now in the eighth year of its sponsorship with the American Heart Association and its support of the Go Red For Women movement, Campbell Soup Company (NYSE: CPB) today announced the launch of the Campbell’s® Address Your Heart Pantry Project sweepstakes in an effort raise awareness of heart health. Heart disease continues to be the number one killer of Americans and, according to the American Heart Association, a healthy diet and lifestyle are the best weapons in the fight against heart disease. Campbell will give consumers the chance to win over a thousand prizes designed to help them kick start heart-healthy habits in their kitchen pantries.

Additionally, Campbell is introducing two new flavors of Healthy Request soups, Southwest-Style Bean & Barley and Tuscan-Style Lentil, making it even easier for people to start refreshing their pantries.

“As a proud long-standing supporter of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement, we are committed to encouraging Americans to make heart-healthy choices each day through our products and resources,” said Leah Dunmore , Vice President, U.S. Soup, Campbell Soup Company. “This year, we are looking at the kitchen pantry through the Campbell’s® Address Your Heart Pantry Project to show women that they can take small steps towards big improvements in their heart health.”

Campbell’s® Address Your Heart Pantry Project

To enter the Campbell’s® Address Your Heart Pantry Project sweepstakes, U.S. residents ages 18 and older can visit www.addressyourheart.com by Feb. 28, 2014 and submit a photo and caption that shares how their pantry inspires their heart-healthy lifestyle. No purchase is necessary for entry. The prizes range from storage tools, organizing solutions and Healthy Request soups to one grand prize of a $5,000 complete pantry makeover. The website also features American Heart Associationcertified recipes and cooking tips.

Jennie Garth to be Honored with Campbell’s Healthy Heart Award

Campbell is continuing its support of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement by honoring actress, heart health advocate and mom, Jennie Garth , with the Campbell’s Healthy Heart award at the annual Woman’s Day Red Dress Awards in New York City on Feb. 11, 2014. The award recognizes a woman who has made a commitment to improving heart health among women.

“Almost 43 million women in the U.S. are affected by heart disease – and that’s a number that I know we can change,” said Garth. “That’s why I’m so honored to receive the Healthy Heart award from Campbell Soup Company – together we can help make a difference for women across the country by encouraging women to make heart-healthy choices and supporting them along the way.”

This Press Release is courtesy of www.campbellsoupcompany.com

Milford, CT —First Lady Michelle Obama today announced that SUBWAY® restaurants joined the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) in a three-year commitment to promote healthier choices to kids, including launching its largest kid-targeted marketing effort to date. As part of its commitment, the SUBWAY® restaurant chain will launch a series of new and fun campaigns aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in children; set and implement new marketing standards to kids; and strengthen its already-nutritious children’s menu offerings.

“I’m excited about these initiatives not just as a First Lady, but also as a mom,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “Subway’s kids’ menu makes life easier for parents, because they know that no matter what their kids order, it’s going to be a healthy choice.”

The commitment follows the first-ever White House convening on food marketing to children this fall, during which Mrs. Obama called on the private sector to leverage the power of marketing to promote healthier products and decrease the marketing of unhealthy products to kids.

The SUBWAY® restaurant chain is the first and only quick service chain to join PHA, which works with the private sector and Mrs. Obama – PHA’s honorary chair – to broker meaningful commitments to help end the childhood obesity epidemic.

As part of its commitment, the SUBWAY® restaurant chain will only offer items on its kids menu that meet strong nutritional guidelines informed by federal standards for the national school lunch program, including offering apples as a side and low-fat or non-fat milk or water as a default beverage. Additionally, the chain will deliver $41 million in media value in the next three years to market healthier options to children and families, with a specific focus on increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables. This is the brand’s largest kid-focused marketing campaign to date, and includes general marketing, in-store merchandising, television, social and digital media and public relations. Training materials will teach Sandwich Artists to encourage kids to choose apples, and in-store merchandising and marketing will focus on these healthy options.

“SUBWAY® restaurant’s commitment today builds on the brand’s already strong track record of offering healthier choices to kids, for which it has been lauded by families and health advocates alike,” said PHA Board Chair James R. Gavin, III, MD, PhD. “The new and significant investment it is making today will not only help make fruits and vegetables fun for kids, it will also offer busy moms and dads easy, healthy choices for their families when they’re on the go.”
“Ending childhood obesity is a cause that has been near and dear to SUBWAY® since we introduced the
Fresh Fit for Kids Meals in 2007,” said Suzanne Greco, vice president of R&D and Operations for the SUBWAY® brand. “With this partnership with PHA, we will now reach millions of kids as part of ahealthier eating education campaign, making it our largest outreach campaign to date. From a sign on each restaurant’s door that says ‘Playtime Powered by Veggies’ to a video collaboration with Disney’s The Muppets, we will build upon our ongoing efforts to create even better choices for families. We hold ourselves to the highest standards in the industry when it comes to speaking to children and their families. Now we are letting everyone else know what that standard is.”

Specifically, during each of the next three years, the SUBWAY® brand will:

• Offer on the SUBWAY® menu only kids’ meals that are Fresh Fit for Kids™ meals and meet the following profiles[1]:
o Nutrient Profile – less than or equal to 600 calories, including no artificial trans fat, less than 10% of calories from saturated fat and less than 935 mg of sodium, in line with federal children’s meal standards.
o Food Profile – all meals provide ½ cup fruit equivalent; and ¾ cup vegetable equivalent; low-fat or nonfat milk[2] (or dairy equivalent) or water[3] as the default beverage. In addition, the SUBWAY® brand will work with PHA to develop bread options that meet dietary guidance.
o Affordability Profile – the brand will recommend its franchisees price Fresh Fit for Kids™ meals less than or equal to all items sold individually.

• Assist the selection of fruit with Fresh Fit for Kids™ meals by:
o Providing training for staff to prompt taking of apples from cooler
o Placing messaging on/in Fresh Fit for Kids™ meal bag that promotes fruit selection.

• Implement policy with regard to marketing to children, such that any advertising on children’s programming or targeting children meets the profiles set above.
• Deliver $41 million in media value over the next three years in marketing and advertising specifically targeted to children to encourage healthy eating, fruits and vegetables. This includes general marketing, in-store merchandising, television, social and digital media and all public relations.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.subway.com

WASHINGTON, – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA will make $20 million available for agricultural water conservation efforts throughout California to combat the effects of drought. Interested landowners and managers have until March 3, 2014 to apply for available funds.

“Working with our federal, state, and local partners, we are doing everything within our power to support those farmers and ranchers affected by this intense drought.” said Vilsack. “These funds will help get a suite of scientifically proven conservation techniques on the ground and helping producers. USDA has a long, successful history of helping farmers and ranchers plan for and employ conservation practices that conserve and protect and maximize every available drop of water.”

This announcement is part of broader Obama Administration efforts to help those impacted by the drought. Through the National Drought Resilience Partnership, launched as part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, federal agencies are working closely with state, local government, agriculture and other partners on a coordinated response.

USDA is announcing this additional funding through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to help agricultural operators use water more efficiently, stabilize fallowed cropland, and protect their livelihoods for the future. Funds are available statewide to install a number of conservation practices including irrigation efficiency, cover crops, rehabilitation of existing spring developments, protection of grazing lands, and other supporting components.

Funds will be divided between two specific funding pools: cropland and grazing lands. Cropland with a reduced water allocation of at least 85 percent will receive the highest priority. In order to be considered eligible for EQIP, the applicant must have a vested interest in agricultural production and meet other program eligibility requirements.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.usda.gov

Agriculture amounts to half of Kenyan GDP and employs 75% of the Kenyan workforce, according to World Economic Forum. The shipping and logistics industry have played a vital role in enabling Kenyan farmers expand their markets resulting in a positive impact on the local economy. By use of Maersk Lines’s reefer containers with special technology it has been possible to improve the transit time of e.g. fresh fruit.

During the recent four years, the Kenyan avocado industry has seen an increase in potential transit time in reefer containers from 10 to 40 days making it possible to reach premium European markets – and avoid fast ripening.
Kenya is widely recognised as East Africa’s economic powerhouse. Kenya also houses East Africa’s busiest container terminal, the Port of Mombasa, which is the origin of a transport corridor transiting through Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda and the new state of South Sudan, linking some 200 million people, similar to the size of the population of Brazil, to the global markets.

Small fruit, big impact
Joseph Githii is one of those successful Kenyan avocado farmers. Located just outside the small town of Kanjuku, 70 km from Nairobi, the 2.8-hectare property – which the man modestly calls his garden – forms an intricate system in which crops rotate, protecting the red soil and constantly making way for in-demand produce. In recent years, avocado trees have become more frequent. “Avocados are more profitable than the other things I grow in my garden,” he says and stops at an avocado tree. One of his grandsons climbs it and picks a fruit for him.

The tree will continue to grow fruit throughout the season, with the total yield reaching as many as 5,000 avocados. What began 20 years ago as a hobby and two trees has now turned into more than ten trees and a steady stream of income.
“I put my children and grandchildren through school with the money from avocados. They have been a very good thing for me. I can hardly express how good,” he says.

Maersk Line’s reefer containers opened up the market
Kenya’s avocado was not always this appreciated. The introduction of Maersk Line’s Star Care reefer container four years ago, however, fundamentally changed its fate. Before, the Middle East was the end of the line. Now, Europe, where the fruit would sell for roughly triple the price, was within reach. According to Beth Wanjiku Ihomba, a Maersk Line sales executive, the industry players were excited yet sceptical at the outlook. “To win them over, I encouraged them to ship one container to Europe,” Beth Wanjiku Ihomba recalls. “Anyone could put a pallet in the container. We sealed it and carried it to Europe on a no-cure-no-pay basis. Our promise was that if the fruit went bad, no one would pay a cent.”

Around 15-20 exporters went along, and a container was shipped to Belgium. It arrived, was opened and the buyers liked what they saw – the fruit sold at premium rates. A second trial was shipped to Rotterdam, under the same terms and with the same result. The exporters and farmers were convinced. “From then on it was good times for all in the industry,” says Beth Wanjiku Ihomba. “The world market has opened up to us thanks to Maersk Line’s reefers. Ten days used to be the limit. Now we can carry the fruit for 25 days to Europe, and even 40 days to Russia. During July’s peak season each container will be carrying up to 100,000 avocados. Without those reefers we would be doing something else,” says Peter Nderu, a director and partner at Keitt Exports in Nairobi.

Small scale farmers with great impact on local economy
Within the next ten years, new avocado fields are expected to more than double Kenya’s current production of avocados, and small-scale farmers will be the main driver. This development is nothing new to Beth Wanjiku Ihomba at Maersk Line. After introducing the Star Care reefer, her visits to farmers and exporters by the hundreds have seen Maersk Line taking the lion’s share of the market. “We want to be first wherever avocados are grown. We tie up everything with the exporters, we partner with farmers, and we help with the technology. What we realised is when you begin with someone when they are just starting up, they stay with you forever,” Ihomba says. June of 2013 saw another milestone, as she arranged the first five reefers with avocados from Moshi in Northen Tanzania. The buyers in Europe were delighted with the fruit. “If Tanzania comes on board, we would be doing two seasons, and believe me, we could easily more than double our volumes and hit 2,000 reefers,” Beth Wanjiku Ihomba says.

Passing it on
While Joseph Githii is preparing for the next visit from the avocado broker, he also has the next generation in view, passing on the skills: “One of my daughters saw what I was doing, and she took two seedlings. She planted them, and now she makes money. Her three daughters are in secondary school,” he says. He examines the quality of the avocado in his hand. In a few weeks it might be on the shelf of a greengrocer in the Netherlands.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.maerskpress.com

WASHINGTON, – Truitt Brothers Inc., an East Bernstadt, Ky. establishment is recalling approximately 1.77 million pounds of shelf-stable pasta and ground beef products because of misbranding and an undeclared allergen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The products are formulated with hydrolyzed soy protein and dried soy sauce, known allergens, which are not declared on some labels.

The products subject to recall include: [Labels]

3.3-pound cases containing six, 9-ounce microwaveable containers of “Kraft Velveeta Cheesy Skillets SINGLES – ULTIMATE CHEESEBURGER MAC” [a macaroni & cheese product] with a Used By/Sell By date code of “02 MARCH 2014 – 23 OCT 2014.” Identifying UPC code is 2100004329, and case codes are: 00210000432900, 00210000432910, 00210000432925, 00210000464000 and 00210000465100.
The products were produced between May 6, 2013 and Jan. 16, 2014 and shipped to Kraft Foods distribution centers and retail locations nationwide.

No other Velveeta or Kraft products are impacted by this recall.

The problem was discovered during a recent routine quality check conducted by the company, which then contacted FSIS. The company believes the problem occurred when a label supplier inadvertently mixed labels with incorrect ingredient lines with labels containing correct ingredient information.

FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.fsis.usda.com

WASHINGTON,– The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will accept applications for easements from landowners who want to enroll floodplains impacted by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Applications will be accepted until April 18, 2014. This is the second round of applications to be accepted.

“Floodplain easements are a long-term solution to provide relief for landowners while preventing future damage from flooding,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The Obama Administration is continuing to work with states, local governments and the private sector to help the victims of Sandy recover. This new round will allow eligible landowners to apply to place more critical floodplain acres under easement.”

“During the first sign-up, some landowners and potential project sponsors didn’t have enough time to apply, didn’t know they were eligible, or weren’t aware of the program,” Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Jason Weller said. “This second sign- up period is another opportunity to reach more landowners who need relief and assistance.”

Funds are available for eligible landowners through the NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection Program – Floodplain Easements. In December 2013, NRCS announced the first round of applicants selected for enrollment, which could put about 400 acres in perpetual, floodplain easements to help protect against future floods. Landowners in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York were selected.

NRCS purchases the permanent easements on eligible lands and restores the area to natural conditions. A healthy floodplain enhances fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, flood water retention and ground water recharge while making it more resilient to flooding.

All applications not selected during the first sign-up will be automatically submitted for review this time. “Several applications could not be funded because of their isolated nature. We are hoping that areas surrounding these current applications will apply and fill in these gaps,” Weller said.

Funds are only available in counties affected by Hurricane Sandy and where a major disaster was declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia.

Private lands and those owned by local and state governments are eligible if they are located in a floodplain that is not subject to tidal influence or action from storm waves. The land must also meet one of the following requirements:
• Damaged by flooding at least once within the previous calendar year or damaged by flooding at least twice in the past 10 years (in both cases, the land must have been flooded during Sandy);
• Would contribute to the restoration of flood storage and flow, provide for control of erosion, or improve the practical management of the floodplain easement; or
• Could be inundated or adversely impacted as a result of a dam breach.

Easement compensation rates and ranking priorities vary by location and depend on where the land is in the floodplain and how it is used. The program easements are permanent in term. Lands with structures, such as homes, are eligible for enrollment as well as lands that are open or used for agriculture. If a structure is present, NRCS will cost-share the removal or demolition of that structure and enroll the remaining lot in a permanent easement.

Interested landowners should contact their local USDA Service Center to learn more about the program and submit an application prior to the April 18, 2014 deadline. More information is also available on the NRCS floodplain easement website.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forestland owners conserve the nation’s soil, water, air and other natural resources. All programs are voluntary and offer science-based solutions that benefit both the landowner and the environment

This Press Release is courtesy of www.usda.gov

MOSCOW, Russia – The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) has officially launched a new sustainable agriculture program in Russia to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by implementing more sustainable farming practices and healthier seed crops, which will also promote better food choices for consumers in Russia. As the Official Carbon Partner of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, this innovative project is part of the Company’s “Sustainable Future” program to mitigate the direct carbon footprint associated with the hosting of the Games by the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee.

Traditional farming practices include the use of heavy machinery for deep tilling of fields each year which consume fuel, cause long-term soil erosion and lead to substantial GHG emissions. Dow Seeds, a unit of Dow AgroSciences, is deploying leading technology in Russia and engaging with local farmers to encourage low-till agriculture and other sustainable farming solutions to reduce the negative impact on the environment, while also enabling the production of healthier crops.

Dow is partnering with Farmer’s Edge (a world leader in precision agronomy) and ADVAG (a leader in Russian Agriculture Management) to work with five large farms: “Shatsk Zolotaya Niva” LLC (AgroTerra), KFH “Baigora”, “VAPC” LLC, SKPSSK “Izmalkovskiy” and “ADVAG – Baltic Farms” LLC. The program will provide access to state-of-the-art precision agriculture and advanced expertise to optimize farm productivity of Nexera™ hybrid canola seeds while focusing on more sustainable practices, such as reduced tillage, optimized use of nutrients and variable rate application of fertilizer.

The partnership is set to last for two years, and has the potential to eliminate up to 100,000 metric tons of GHG emissions at these five farms combined over a 10-year span. The emissions reductions will count toward the mitigation of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games’ direct carbon footprint, estimated to be up to 360,000 MT.

“The project will demonstrate to the Russian Agricultural Industry how yields can be increased and optimized using more sustainable farming practices,” explains Dr. Nicoletta Piccolrovazzi, Sustainability and Technology Director, Dow Olympic Operations. “Advancing sustainability while enabling increased production of healthier oils is a very significant way to connect Dow’s ‘Sustainable Future’ program with the very values of the Olympic Movement, which combine the environment with the promotion of healthier lifestyles.”

Holistic Approach, Amplified Results

In addition to minimizing emissions, low -till farming has positive effects on the entire ecosystem, keeping existing carbon based materials in the soil rather than emitting them into the atmosphere. Maintaining higher carbon content in soil improves water retention, reduces the need for additional irrigation and decreases soil erosion. By increasing soil resilience, crops become stronger and better able to resist weeds and pests, therefore reducing the need for additional pesticide and herbicide applications. Avoiding overuse of fertilizers also decreases the emissions of nitrogen oxides, or gases with extremely high global warming potential. A resulting healthier ecosystem will lead to higher crop yields, ultimately benefitting the local economy.

This program also improves the quality of crops produced. Dow is focusing on rapeseed (canola), aiming to reduce Russia’s dependency on oil imports in the long term and promoting the use Omega-9 canola oils, which are low saturated fat oils for healthier food production. The seeds to be introduced by Dow are bred to work particularly well with reduced tillage practices, producing higher yields and, therefore, more efficient farms.

Training for farmers is another key component of the program, which focuses on mastering low-tillage practices to achieve higher crop yields, and using water and fertilizers in an optimized way. The training programs started in December of 2013, and a technological map and special guidelines will be developed for each farm to support the implementation in early 2014.

“Innovation and sustainability are part of our core as a Company. We feel these specific training programs have the potential to bring lasting, positive change to Russia’s environment, agricultural sector, and overall economy,” said Igor Savinskiy, country leader for Dow Seeds in Russia. “Enabling greenhouse gas emissions reductions that will support the climate goals of Sochi 2014 is a very special way to celebrate our 40 years presence in Russia.”

Contributing to more sustainable Olympic Games

As The Official Carbon Partner of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, supporting sustainable agricultural practices is just one piece of Dow’s “Sustainable Future” program, a unique and innovative program to mitigate the direct carbon footprint associated with hosting the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Dow is collaborating with partners and customers in Russia to implement energy-efficient and low-carbon technologies that will result in a net decrease of GHG emissions in the key areas of infrastructure, industry and agriculture. All projects will be implemented in-country, generating benefits to the Russian economy by targeting upgrades in building infrastructures, farming practices and industrial processes.

“As The Official Chemistry Company of the Olympic Movement, we are in a unique position to advance sustainability beyond the Games and catalyze change globally through the excitement generated by the Olympics,” said George Hamilton, vice president, Dow Olympic Operations. “GHG emission reductions are happening in Russia as we speak, thanks to the low carbon and energy efficient technologies introduced through this unique sustainability program tailor-made by Dow for Sochi 2014.”

This Press Release is courtesy of www.dow.com

(Arden Hills, Minn.) – Land O’Lakes, Inc., today announced its acquisition of Geosys, a global technology firm that provides satellite imaging and insights to agribusiness.

The acquisition caps a multi-year relationship between Geosys and Land O’Lakes through its WinField division, which utilizes select Geosys technologies in the United States.

“This acquisition further cements Land O’Lakes’ position as a leader in agribusiness. We are developing tomorrow’s agricultural technology today, and this acquisition fits that strategic drive,” said Land O’Lakes President and CEO Chris Policinski. “Today’s purchase demonstrates Land O’Lakes’ leadership in helping to build the farm of the future with cutting-edge concepts and technologies. These industry-leading technologies give farmers the tools to make critical decisions to improve yields while reducing their environmental footprint and further help our member cooperatives to leverage proven tools that turn data into decision enablers that drive productivity and sustainable agricultural practices.”

Geosys, which has more than 50 employees in multiple countries, has sought a strategic partner for accelerated growth, said Damien Lepoutre, president of Geosys.

“We are excited to align our business with Land O’Lakes because of the cooperative’s outstanding reputation in the industry, their understanding of the critical need for cutting-edge technology in agronomy and our excellent relationship,” said Lepoutre, who will remain president of Geosys. “We know the combination of Land O’Lakes’ expertise in agriculture and Geosys’ expertise in technology have proven results, and we know this combination will position both companies to continue to be leaders in precision agriculture.”

Land O’Lakes, Inc., owns Winfield Solutions, LLC, a leading distributor of crop protection products, agricultural seed and agricultural technology to drive productivity through sustainable practices.

WinField will remain a key customer of Geosys. Geosys will continue to develop its customer base and continue its expansion into the U.S. and international agricultural markets. Precision agriculture allows farmers to use data-driven insights to achieve optimized yields by combining technology, data and agronomic science. This approach enables farmers to customize inputs, rather than a one-size-fits all approach to crop management. WinField’s R7® Tool, which utilizes Geosys technology, is a leading precision agricultural tool in the industry.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.landolakesinc.com

WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s intent to purchase up to $126.4 million worth of fruit and vegetable products, to be distributed to needy families under The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The products to be purchased include tart cherries, processed apples, cranberries, fresh tomatoes, wild blueberries, and raisins. This purchase will expand efforts to provide high-quality, wholesome, domestically-produced foods to support low-income families in need of emergency food assistance.

“Food distribution programs are a vital part of our Nation’s nutrition safety net, and today’s food purchases will give communities additional means to help those in need,” Vilsack said. “A comprehensive Farm Bill is absolutely critical to these efforts, and Congress should adequately support feeding programs for American families by passing a new Farm Bill as soon as possible.”

Foods distributed through TEFAP are either purchased with funds appropriated specifically for TEFAP, or are procured through USDA’s market support programs. The foods are provided to states for distribution to local agencies, such as food banks. These local agencies further distribute the food to organizations, such as food pantries and soup kitchens that provide communal meals or distribute foods directly to low-income families.

The purchase announced today is part of the surplus removal program, which allows USDA to purchase foods in order to help stabilize prices in agricultural commodity markets by balancing supply and demand, while providing healthy food to low-income households. Products purchased in the past year have included fruit, vegetables, catfish, lamb, turkey, and chicken. Surplus products are provided to TEFAP, as well as the National School Lunch Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, and other USDA nutrition assistance programs.

Nearly 90 healthy products – including canned fruits and vegetables, dried beans, grains and pasta products, milk, juice, and meat products – are provided through TEFAP to local soup kitchens, food pantries, and community action agencies across the country. A recent analysis found that TEFAP foods achieved a score 89 out of 100 on the Health Eating Index, a measure of diet quality based on the Federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

In Fiscal Year 2013, Congress appropriated $311.34 million for TEFAP – $265.75 million for food and $45.59 million for administrative support for States and local agencies. In addition to these funds, TEFAP receives surplus foods purchased through USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to support American agricultural markets. In FY 2013, 366.3 million pounds of food purchased for TEFAP through the congressional appropriation and another 270.8 million pounds of food through AMS surplus removal efforts. Surplus food purchases for TEFAP in FY 2013 totaled $228.51 million.

USDA provides food for TEFAP to states according to the number of unemployed persons and people living below the poverty level. States set the income standards for the program, and can adjust the eligibility criteria to ensure that assistance is provided only to those most in need.

This Press Release is courtesy of USDA.gov