Understanding the gravity of the situation and the threat hovering over the head of the mankind, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is  taking bold steps to save the day. The technique to make the plants strong enough to survive the extreme and preserve their diversity lies in the body itself. Yes. The genetics. Genetic engineering is a great field that allows us to modify the characteristics of the plants in a specified manner. These genetic research ventures require lot of training, knowledge and great research facility. These facilities are very costly and hence affects the pace of the research. But it has been completely evident from the fact that the condition of the planet is getting even worse. There is a call for immediate action. To pace up the research there are various factors need to be attended. Promotion of the research to attract brighter minds, amazing research facilities, Top-notch guidance and the best tie ups with institutes and organizations.

“Plant genetic biodiversity is a key factor for sustainable agriculture. We share the commitment to ensuring that the world’s ecosystems, and in FAO’s specific case the world’s agro-ecosystems, are healthy and sustainable.” said Jose Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General, at the 2^nd High Level Round Table on the International Treaty for Food and Agriculture at Rio.

The USA has granted an astounding €5 Million towards this great cause. They have taken this will to change seriously and are willing to take bold steps quickly. This has definitely shown a great positive approach towards building a greener planet. This diversity protection has gained a lot of support and promotion in the recent years. This amount is enough to sustain years of research and findings. These findings will not only help us improve the environment but also help improve life and economy on this planet. Currently, the world is slowly migrating towards this field in impressive numbers. Various new ideas are being discussed and implemented, which has never happened before. This new wave of enthusiasm has created hope and scope in the field.

Nano-technology has impacted food industry in a number of aspect ranging from how food is planted to how it is packaged. Firms are utilizing the Nano-tech to modify nanomaterial that are not only boosting the taste and look of food but also food safety, health utility a certain food gives.

This kind of technology hasn’t diffused to many countries as it was confirmed by Secretary for Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) – Sandy Lawrie that a little was seen from UK industries’ products meaning that the idea of Nano-tech was not fully implemented. But now the body had a good relationships with industries from other novel areas, he assured that the technology is going to be imported and be put into practice through the following projects;

1. Processed nano-structured or textured foods by use of less fat, emulsifiers and better fat.
2. Nano carrier systems for the delivery of nutrients and supplements in the nature of liposomes, biopolymer-based nanoencapsulated food substances.
3. Organic nano-sized additives such as food colors, preservatives and flavorings, supplements and animal feed.
4. Inorganic nano-sized additives for food and feed.
5. Food packaging applications, to replace plastic materials which have a lot of impact on the environment and quality of packed foodstuff.

With full adoption and implementation of the above proposed technology, a lot gains associated with Nano-tech will be available in UK markets. These gains include:

• Better packaging

This will reduce the over usage of plastic, this will also improve the sensitivity in a way that it will come with sensors which will be telling if the food is fresh or not. In USA, packaging is adopting nanotechnology whereby it is replacing plastic bottling which for a number of years have lowered the quality of beer by fizzing out carbon dioxide and therefore lose flavor. Nanoparticles of clay are therefore used instead of plastic.

• Improved and nutritional foods

Most less developed countries are unable to meet the requirement of a balanced diet due to drought and natural calamities. With the current application of nanotech, it will be possible to improve the nutritional content as well as the taste by use of nutritional enzymes hence mitigating nutritional deficiencies.

• Keeping food stuffs fresh

Food packing department is more complex than the nanofood itself and therefore it shows a lot of concern on bacteria, moisture and pathogens which are major causes of food rooting.

Considering the rate at which nanotech is applied in the food industry, it is therefore very important to come up with ways of measuring  nanomaterial in the production process in order to trace consistency, safety, possible benefits and effects of the same. Thus, the task left for everyone is to know how to identify nanomaterial in food.

Life wouldn’t have meaning without that river. It is shared by six countries – Angola, Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique.

Infection cases across the World

EUS was initially discovered in Japan in 1970s which later spread to Australia as well as Asia countries and finally to USA in 1984. So far it has been reported in 24 countries in the world.

Causes of EUS

Publications from WHO, FAO Global Information System together with the Early warning System revealed that the Life sustaining river, R. Zambezi to be invaded by a deadly killer disease -Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS)in 2009. This disease posed a very great threat to the aquatic life. EUS is believed to be caused by mildew or fungus Aphanomyces invadans which kills a large number of fish by forming a nauseous lesion on fish which affects mostly finfish.

The outbreak of this bacteria into water was attributed to high levels of sewage which has been channeled into water bodies. This sewage contains nutritional elements such as Phosphorous which favor the growth and development this bacteria such as tapeworms and roundworms.

The same disease was initially detected in Africa in 2007 whereby aquatic analyst fear that the disease has been spreading upstream as well as downstream of river Zambezi causing a shortage of the cheap source of protein. This also has interfered with the revenue since fishing is the main economic activity for over 700,000 people living by the River Zambezi basin.

Health hazards related to EUS

Human consumption on fish infected with EUS can lead one to a deadly disease such as diarrhea, typhoid, amoebiasis and schistosomiasis. Therefore, members of the community were advised to embark seriously on drinking boiled water, thoroughly cooked food and also digging deep pit-latrines to avoid further spreading of the same.

Control measures

Even though it is very hard to regulate natural waters from infection of EUS, those involved in small scale fish business are advised to prevent possible carriers into fish ponds as well as maintaining high quality water for fish survival.

To curb the same problem, the government of Zambia banned fishing in River Zambezi until a medical test has been issued to clear fish free from EUS.

These are large planting-eating dinosaurs which were named so by Titans. They lived during the Mesozoic era -250million years ago and the climate by then warm and wet a condition which made researchers to found out there reason behind that.

For decades, a considerable number of world’s population thought it was myth or a tale that the family of Sauropod whose members include dinosaur had some impact to the environment. It is scientifically proven that Sauropod like the other carnivores have micro-organisms in their gut system which help them to breakdown food materials. Sauropod are believed to contain bacteria in their hindguts which release methane upon farting.

Research findings

British scientist ended up calculating the amount of methane Sauropod released by sampling 10 Sauropod which emitted 7.6 tons per year. Generalizing this logistics to accommodate the total land Sauropod believed to occupy, (probably half the earth’s size) he affirmed that they emitted 550 million tonnes of raw methane per year. This could be contributive factor in global warming for about 1 degree per year (according to climate modeler –David Beerling).

In his study, Dr. Wilkinson used the available statistics of the amounts horses and cows contribute in the total amount of Methane produced per year and concluded that Sauropod had a major contribution in increase in temperature. However, Sauropods were not the only living animals which contributed to rise in Methane levels and thus over time the level would rise much higher.

The Sauropod had extensive land to feed on which was favored by warm and wet kind of climate. They also had special features like long necks which made them to feed far and near. Therefore, the Sauropod population was expected to rise due to the above mentioned reasons and the effect would be worse.

Chemical explanation on effects of methane

Methane is believed to have greenhouse effect whereby it absorbs infra-red radiation from the sun and contain it in the atmosphere hence contributing to rise in temperatures.

Critique

While Wilkinson had negative perspective on the existence of Sauropods, Paul Barrett (Natural History Museum in London) critiqued this idea by saying that Dinosaur were important for climate modification.

Conclusion

Even though Sauropods were viewed as contributors to adverse climatic conditions which could not support the lives of squarely all living beings. Nevertheless, this could be prevented by raising the number duck-pilled hadrosaurs and beaked ceratopsians which could be used pump out methane.

North East Licolnshire Council (NELC) submitted a bid of around 14 million pounds to the Department of Business Innovation Skills (BIS) this June.  This bid was made with a sole purpose of promoting entrepreneurship in the market. But it was the response that escalated even quickly. In response to the funds by the NELC, private businesses have promised to support the initiative with a huge 61 million pounds. This huge amounts of money have gained the attention of many people in the market. The procedure was not straightforward. The bid was taken into account and the first round of shortlisted organizations was released in the autumn.

After the shortlisting was done, BIS contacted NELC for further clarification on the application form and their terms and conditions. All this information was used to prepare the final draft which was sent for consideration. By the start of 2013, jobs were created and recruitment process could be initiated. This showed that the entire effort had brought positive results in the system. The burst of so many vacancies has worked in a two-fold way. Firstly, it has boosted the food industry by leaps and bounds. The marketing that came with it was just and added advantage. Secondly, the jobs have helped the economy to increase the purchasing power in the hands of people.

“We are seeing a lot of consolidation in the industry, so we want to ensure we remain at the forefront of seafood manufacturing and see our sector grow rather than decline. We have listened to the industry. Food manufacturing is a key sector for us, directly employing 4,500 staff locally, excluding the wider supply chain. There is an absolute government mandate about private-sector-led growth. We are proud of our links with private businesses and we want to capitalize on the food manufacturing industry.”, said James-White.

India is the third largest global pollutant after China and the U.S. This pollution was never a matter of country but of global concern. No matter whoever  pollutes, the entire world has to suffer. This creates a need of global awareness and global initiatives to tackle the problem. Now, the European Union(EU) is trying to analyze India’s pollution level. EU is also trying to gauge whether the measures taken by the government to check pollution fits the global parameters. This makes sure that there is a standard and unified attempt at the same level on a global platform.

This attempt sounds great but it is not a leisurely walk in a park. There are lot of troubles and political instability associated with it. Most important of all, India is a democratic country and the resistance of the people to not change causes lot of difficulties. This effect was apparent by the fact that India, the United States and China resisted to EU’s intervention to control global emission. Their prime objection was against the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme that makes sure that all the flights using EU airports must pay a price for carbon emission. This is not exactly what carbon tax is, but it is inspired from the idea. Any number of  opposition this idea may face, experts believe that it will reduce a lot of pollution in the airline sector.

Connie Hedegaard told the reuters after a meeting with India’s aviation minister Ajit Singh on Friday, “We are not dictating what others do. They can do whatever they want and we can discuss if they are equivalent measures.” There is a scheme for waiver as well, if the measures taken by the other countries are mutually agreed to be equally effective.  Another strict approach could be taken by the EU is to ban the airlines that don’t agree to play by the rules.  According to the figures and estimates provided by EU, it could be concluded that this moves can reduce global carbon emissions by 20% in the next 5 years. Though the idea and laws seem pretty strict and promising there are some issues and threats on the global level, that stand in its way.

“The key point is some of those who now rally against the European Legislation what alternative can they rally on. It is always easy to say what you do not like. I would very much like to hear what do they like.” – Connie

Although it had some positive effects of boosting India’s GDP, to some extend it become a source of stress to many farmers who had high expectation which Bayer Crop science had promised them in their new product in the view that;

1. High yield due to effective control of three major types of bollworms; Viz. American, Spotted and Pink bollworms. Bt gene produces a sensitive crystalline endotoxin protein which protects cotton from bollworms.
2. Reduction in the cost of cultivation and lower farming risks.
3. It is environmental friendly and no health hazards due to rare use of insecticides. Air pollution caused by insecticides is not going to be experienced.
4. Bt cotton is ecofriendly and does not have adverse effect on organisms present in soil.
5. It promotes multiplication of parasites and predators which help in controlling the bollworms by feeding on larvae and eggs of bollworm.

In light to 2009 statisticians, Indian agricultural experts noticed a decline in staple lengths and ginning ratios. There were no control measures taken to counter this effect and therefore the same problem re-manifested itself in 2013/14 season where the crop yield was classified as lower-quality medium staple length. The ginning ratio was posted to be relatively lower by 0.4 compared non-GM counterparts.

Therefore the Government of Maharashtra state, through the court of Madhya Pradesh ordered the company to compensate almost 1000 farmers for the huge losses amounting to $1.1m which farmers had incurred.

In response to the order, the Bayer Crop Company disowned the claims put forward by the government and blamed the farmers on poor handling and maintenance of their crops. A number of factors were given out by the seed company as to why the expected yield dropped by significant amount;

1. The knowledge concerning the GM cotton so as to give out good results had not been fully absorbed and implemented by the farmers.
2. The emerging problem of leaf curl virus on the Bt-hybrids affected the crop physiology therefore lowering its productivity.

• They also pointed out that genetically modified -Bt varieties demands more water and nutrients which the farmers were not aware.

1. The soil fertility and organic materials in the soil could not fully support the cotton crops to a point flowering and therefore it called for fertilizer so as to achieve optimal yields. As a result, farmers were forced to acquire loans and inventories so as to see their crops do well.
2. Unfavorable weather conditions also contributed greatly to the lower yield.
3. Diseases and insects with time had developed resistance to this type of GM varieties.

• Small farmers were not much informed on what they were supposed to buy and even had less idea how to grow these new varieties. Their traditional ideas could not transferred into this new technology.

However, Bayer Crop Science therefore promised to introduce new varieties, embark on farmer education so as to boost their knowledge on this new Bt cotton variety. They also agreed to improve the on the product such that it will be in a position to offer resistance to wide range of crop diseases as well as utilizing minimal amount of water and fertilizer.

On the other hand D’Unienville is a talented chef and a food researcher who has worked for the sugar industry for past 17 years. His experience allows him to give some great input to the system. That makes him a perfect candidate to do research in the Real Good food company development section. The company has liked working with the chef as well. In their words,“I am delighted that Jacques has accepted our invitation to join the board. We have worked with Omnicare for almost a decade and look forward to even greater co-operation in future, as we explore many exciting opportunities to work together, particularly in opening new markets in Africa.” This statement was made by the RGFC executive chairman Pieter Totte. This completely demonstrates the company’s plan and vision. This also makes it pretty evident that how Jacques D’Unienville will play an important role in it.

Apparently this duo is enjoying itself very much by working for each other. Recently Jacques also said that, “I look forward to working even more closely with Pieter and his team in identifying new market opportunities internationally, and in the advancement of our strategic plans to develop an integrated model of sugar and energy production worldwide.” Since sugar is the strong suit on Jacques’s resume’ the Real Good food company is definitely going to benefit from his input. The company has also shown hike in the stock market since the integration with the expert. Other companies are also interested in its functioning. Recently Omnicare bought 20% stakes of the company. The future of the company seems bright and prosperous. They are taking their efforts to a whole new level. With advanced features and powerful minds working on an important aspect, success for this company seems to be coming closer.

The main content of these drums is the rocks and soil leftovers after digging multiple wells on the site. These materials were stored in the drums placed nearby with no conflict.

But in December 1970, a train derailment took place. At the site of mishap, spills of TCE were found. The experts thought that this chemical was spilled from those drums. Hence, all those drums were sent for inspection. To everyone’s surprise, the first 203 passed the test. This meant that they showed no traces of the hazardous chemical. Around 7 drums showed the presence of some basic lab chemicals. These chemical were not hazardous but this was considered as a failed test. The major shock came in when around 25 drums showed detectable traces of the chemical. Possibly drums like these released the liquid TCE during the mishap. This issue is of serious concern and demands immediate attention. A single derailment can cause massive destruction in life and property. More supporting evidences were found during 2001, when corps discovered traces of hazardous waste was found in Glen Cove Creek.

All these events let to the start of indefinite suspension of the dredging program and the inclusion of the creek as part of Li Tungsten Superfund Site. The Glen Cove Development Corporation (GCDC) acquired the Li Tungsten facility in 1984. This was again leased to the Li Tungsten Corporation till 1985. Noticing the consequences and dangers, EPA decided that it is in the best interest that these drums are removed from the site altogether. Removal of this huge amount of rubbish requires space. EPA made a deal with the landfills where they dumped all the rocks and soil in the barrels. The facility was willing to accept the dumped hazardous waste. The EQ-Wayne Disposal Inc. is that facility that provides the dumping ground. Some parts of the waste is also dumped in portions of Captain cove, which was also a dumping ground for various previous hazardous waste.

Also Soy complex skimmed cut down early Thursday morning before the NOPA pulverize report. Reuter’s gages for Sep squash was represented at 129.24 million bushels, diverged from 99.97 million last Sep and soy oil stocks gages came in at 1.352 billion pounds which appeared differently in relation to 937 million pounds last Sep. News of expanded Chinese request helped the exchange bounce about 3% Tuesday with their soybean imports for Sep rising 44% over a year ago. November soybeans moved 3 pennies lower to $9.075/bushel before first light Thursday morning, while December Soy Oil lost 0.16 pennies to 28.67 pennies/pound and December supper dropped $1.4 to $314.4/ton.

The wheat market also dropped nearly by 2% l, cancelling the 2% gains of Tuesday market. Adverse dry climate in the U.S.A plains, Black Sea wheat planting regions contributed much to drive the fall in wheat market. However, analysts of natural rain in both the U.S and Russia added a lot of significance demand in the wheat trade, this included features like insignificant supply and poor exports. The winter sowing season for wheat crop was reported to be relatively high – 64% in comparison to 49% of last week and also the outstanding logistics of 66% for the last five years down the line. The December exchange rates for wheat were 10.75 cents lower at $5.0825 per bushel on Thursday.

Live cattle forecast registered lower on Wednesday for three day respectively after rising significantly last week and early this week, the beef prices have started to show a promising returns. Logistics of heavy weight beef have surpassed through the market forces, establishing a balanced condition between the demand and its supply. Canned beef barriers were overcame again on Wednesday with choice up 2.35 to 210.81 and select up 2.01 to 205.35. Cattle slaughter so far this week was at 336,000 head, in comparison to 331,000 head last week and 335,000 head for a period like this in the previous year. December cattle lost 0.04 cents to 137.42 cent/pound Wednesday, while February cattle fell 0.25 cents to 139.50 cents/pound. November beef consumption shot up with 0.22 cents up to 180.82 cents/pound, while January consumers lost 0.40 cents to 180.82 cents/pound.