Sugar at four-month top, March deliveries loom

Raw sugar futures sprang to a four-month peak on Monday on fund and investor buying as players turned their focus into the upcoming delivery for the spot March contract when it goes off the board on Wednesday.

Coffee was mixed and cocoa was modestly firmer.

New York's March raw sugar contract climbed 0.31 cent to close at 26.50 cents per lb, just below the session peak at 26.69 cents, which is the highest intraday level for the spot contract since October 28, 2011.

London's May white sugar increased $9.70 to conclude at $671.10 per tonne.

"People are rolling out of March and we could see a noticeable drop in open interest," said Country Hedging Inc senior analyst Sterling Smith.

Dealers said the sugar front-month premium indicated potential for a large delivery against expiry of the March ICE raw contract on February 29.

But Smith and other sugar brokers pointed to the fact that ICE Futures US data showed open interest in the previous two sessions in the March raw sugar contract has dropped over 24,000 lots.

Open interest as of Friday stood at 40,537 lots.

"We could drop 30,000 in the next three days so the amount of deliveries remains fluid," a dealer for a brokerage house said.

London-based brokers said the delivery, likely to go to a sole receiver, was expected to stand at between 500,000 and 1 million tonnes.

Brokers said the sugar will probably come from the smaller north-east crop of leading producer Brazil, Thailand and Central America.

Logistical constraints may prune the amount of sugar from Thailand, while Central American sugar exporters could move their sugar to the US and Mexico, where tightly supplied markets could fetch them higher prices.

Smith said sugar is trading at the upper end of its trading range, and other analysts said the overbought market is vulnerable to a setback.

"We're vulnerable to the risk of a correction (down)," said James Kirkup, head of sugar brokerage at ABN Amro Markets.

Market participants kept a close watch on the front-month robusta premium in the London coffee market, which has seen sharp volatility in recent weeks.

The market was focused on the extent of origin selling from top producer Vietnam, with a risk the front-month premium could widen again in the next few weeks, said Andrea Thompson, analyst with CoffeeNetwork, a subsidiary of INTL FCStone.

London's May robusta futures fell $44 to end at $2,012 a tonne.

New York's May arabica rose 1 cent to finish at $2.046 per lb.

Arabica coffee futures on ICE edged up, with upside capped by the firmer dollar.

"The dollar is weighing - there is general commodity selling, with oil going down," Thompson said.

Cocoa futures moved higher, sweeping past a topside barrier to enable New York bean values to trade over $2,400 per tonne.

New York's May cocoa futures added $43, or 1.8 percent, to finish at $2,400 a tonne, down from a session peak at $2,443.

Prices were underpinned by recent tight arrivals of beans in West Africa.

The firmer dollar limited upside potential.

London May cocoa increased 29 pounds, or almost 2 percent, to finish at 1,542 pounds per tonne.

Australia to probe new Indonesia cattle cruelty video

(Reuters) - Australia will investigate new images appearing to show cattle being mistreated at an Indonesian abattoir, and could reimpose an export ban on the slaughterhouse if it broke animal welfare rules, Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said on Wednesday.

Australia suspended live cattle exports to Indonesia for a month in 2011 after a video showing cows being beaten and whipped before slaughter was aired on Australian television. The footage outraged many Australians, while the government response angered farmers who said the move jeopardized Australian jobs.

Fresh footage that animal rights activists said showed cows being inhumanely treated in an Indonesian abattoir were broadcast in Australia late on Tuesday, prompting calls for Australia to end the $340 million live cattle trade with its biggest customer, Indonesia.

"There will be mistakes, there will be slips, but the system ensures we can deal with those slips and mistakes," Ludwig told Australian radio.

He said a independent regulator would investigate the latest incident. Under rules introduced after last year's outcry, the Australian government requires exporters to ensure animal welfare standards are met at the Indonesian abattoirs they supply, and can punish firms which ship cows to slaughterhouses where cruelty occurs.

Animal rights group Animals Australia said the latest images came from an Indonesian investigator and showed workers slitting a cow's throat without first stunning it, as required under the new rules.

"Australians will rightfully feel betrayed to know that despite government assurances, the cruel treatment of cattle is continuing," Animals Australia's campaign director Lyn White said.

The Australian Greens said the latest incident proved Australia needed to suspend live animal exports.

"We don't have confidence in the present system," Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon told Australian television.

Industry bodies the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association and the Cattle Council of Australia rejected calls for any wider suspension of animal exports, and said the new rules for trade with Indonesia would allow authorities to fix problems with individual abattoirs.

"Last year when that happened there was no system of regulation which sat underneath the industry in Indonesia," Cattlemen's Association president Luke Bowen said.

"Now we are in a position where there is a system of regulation put in place by the Australian government. If there are problems identified, there is a rule book and there are penalties involved."

(Reporting By Maggie Lu YueYang; Editing by Daniel Magnowski)

Egypt’s Meditrade Is Said to Purchase Sunflower, Soybean Oil

Meditrade, an Egyptian private commodity trader, bought 43,500 metric tons of sunflower oil and 6,000 tons of soybean oil at auction, two traders involved in the tender said.

Meditrade, which buys the commodities on behalf of the Egyptian state, purchased 18,500 tons of sunflower oil at $1,190.90 a ton from Louis Dreyfus and 10,000 tons of sunflower oil at the same price from Nidera Inc., said the two traders, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they aren’t allowed to comment to the media.

The company also bought 15,000 tons of sunflower oil in today’s tender at $1,189 a ton from Toepfer International and 6,000 tons of soybean oil at 7,275 Egyptian pounds ($1,205) a ton from Alex Seeds, according to the traders.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ola Galal in Cairo at ogalal@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: John Deane at jdeane3@bloomberg.net

Ukraine exports 1.24 million tonnes of grain

Ukraine exported about 1.24 million tonnes of grain, mostly corn, in the first 24 days of February, Kiev-based consultancy ProAgro said on Monday.

It said Ukraine exported about 951,000 tonnes of corn and 266,000 tonnes of wheat.

No figures for the same period of 2011 were immediately available.

The consultancy said Ukrainian wheat went mostly to Italy (38,500 tonnes), Jordan (25,500 tonnes), Israel (72,000 tonnes) and Spain (52,500 tonnes).

The former Soviet republic supplied corn mostly to Egypt (172,000 tonnes), Iran (139,500 tonnes), South Korea (59,700 tonnes), Japan (50,100 tonnes), Germany, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and Turkey.

An additional 957,000 tonnes of corn, 257,000 tonnes of wheat and 106,000 tonnes of barley would be exported in the near future, it said.

The Agriculture Ministry forecasts exports at about 23 million tonnes of grain in the 2011/12 season after Ukraine harvested a record 56.7 million tonnes of grain in 2011.

Japanese-funded forestry project gets approval

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has approved a project on sustainable management of protected forests using ODA loans from the Japanese government.

The project has a total capital of over US$123 million, of which US$99.7 million comes from Japan and the remaining capital, contributed by the Vietnamese side.

Forty three management boards for protected forests in 11 central and southern provinces from Thanh Hoa to Binh Thuan will implement the project from 2012 till 2021.

The project will help plant nearly 18,000 ha of upstream forests, improve the quality of 2,690 ha of existing forests and put another 34,437 ha under protection.

It will also help improve the capacity of local authorities and farmers in forest management, equip target localities with fire fighting equipment and build establishments to help local people to earn a living from forest.

Nhan Dan

Halal wine anyone?

Dubai Muslims and non-drinkers who may have felt left out at parties can now raise a toast with ‘halal' wine and champagne.

(Gulf News) Zero-alcohol drinks companies at the Gulfood show in Dubai this week said these beverages, which taste and look like regular drinks, are quite popular among Muslims and also health and safety conscious non-Muslims who like to party without getting drunk.

"If you don't drink, but at the same time don't want to feel left out at parties, our non-alcoholic drinks are just right," said Rashid Gacem, a businessman behind Belgium's Night Orient brand of alcohol-free festive drinks.

A couple of visitors who tasted the ‘Black label' grape-must ‘Champagne' and Chardonnay French ‘wine' said they tasted similar to real liquor.

Another ‘celebration drinks' brand offering "all the fun without the alcohol" — UK's Pure Heaven line — is doing well across religions and age groups, said Dr Rami Ranger, chairman of brand owner Sun Mark.

Drink to bird spit

A drink containing bird spit and nest flakes leaves you healthy and glowing, according to Singapore refreshments brand Kim. Saliva used in nest-making by swallows or swifts is available in bottled form, said Kim's international sales director, Christine Lim.

She told XPRESS, "Everybody loves it, especially the ladies, because it makes your skin beautiful."

Kim, which costs about $2.30 (Dh8.5) a bottle, is now eyeing a foothold in the UAE.

US biofuel policy excludes Indonesian and Malaysian palm oil amid industry protests

(Forests Blog) Palm oil industry experts in Indonesia and Malaysia — two of the world’s largest producers — have criticised a recent analysis by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that biodiesel produced by palm oil does not qualify as a renewable fuel under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.

The EPA’s Notice of Data Availability (NODA) concluded that biodiesel and renewable diesel produced from palm oil do not meet the minimum 20 percent lifecycle greenhouse gas reduction threshold needed to qualify as renewable fuel under the scheme.

However, the policy is not banning crude palm oil imports to the United States, assured Dennis Voboril from the Counselor Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta.

In order to calculate lifecycle GHG emissions, the EPA utilised models which took into account energy and emissions inputs for fuel and feedstock production, distribution and use, as well as economic models that predict changes in agricultural market.

Speaking at the International Conference on Oil Palm and Environment (ICOPE) in Bali last week, Rosediana Suharto of the Indonesian Palm Oil Commission and Tan Yew Al of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board questioned the EPA’s decision that the greenhouse gas emission saving from palm oil produced in Indonesia and Malaysia is only 17 percent.

“The model (of study) used is not correct. [It] does not match that used by the European Union and creates uncertainty,” Suharto said.

Their main criticism was that the data used for analysis was out-of-date and projected high deforestation rates in Malaysia and Indonesia- a point that Yew Al strongly refuted.

“As far as the Rio 1992 summit goes, Malaysia committed to preserving 50 percent of land cover as forest. After 20 years we are still at 55 percent forest cover, that means we haven’t actually expanded oil palm based on opening up the forests,” she said.

“An increase in palm oil production need not necessarily come from land expansion.”

Suharto said Indonesia must strongly protest against NODA before it is legislated.

“As a major palm oil producer, Indonesia is concerned about this policy as the potential [for the US] biofuel market is huge,” she said.

While the US is not a major crude palm oil export market for Indonesia – exports currently amount to about 62,000 tons — it is a lucrative market, with the projected US biofuel demand from various kinds of vegetable oil tipped to reach 400 billion gallons by 2022.

Indonesia and Malaysia are the largest oil palm producing countries, supplying 90 percent of the world’s demand for palm oil. In both countries, there are huge economic benefits from oil palm, with seven million hectares under plantation in Indonesia producing 16 million tons of palm oil per annum. Oil palm companies are bringing in big profits, receiving USD$910 per ton in 2010, and the industry is said to employ 6 million people globally.

However, rampant deforestation and the conversion of carbon rich peat forests into oil palm plantations which accounts for 80 percent of all carbon emissions in Indonesia has raised alarm over efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A recent study by the Center for International Forestry Research quantified the atmospheric effects on changes in land use from biofuel production and found that for palm oil grown on peatlands, the carbon emissions generated from land conversion would take hundreds of years to reverse.

For commercial palm oil producers, obtaining certification under the International Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is of utmost importance. RSPO certification is crucial for meeting the stringent sustainability regulations on palm oil being sold to large markets like the European Union.

In keeping with its promise to ensure that at least 10 percent of fuel consumed in the transport sector is derived from renewable sources (including biofuels) by 2020, the European Commission recently introduced voluntary certification schemes to verify compliance with the sustainability requirements of the EU’s renewable energy policy. However this may have deleterious impacts on rural livelihoods in producer countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia according to a recent CIFOR study.

The EPA has extended the deadline for public comments over its policy to March 28 to give more time for the palm oil producers and other stakeholders of the industry to provide inputs and suggestions.

Hugo Yon, Deputy Consul for economic affairs at the US Embassy in Indonesia said that the policy would be finalised after the public consultation period has been completed, but could not confirm when it would be enacted.

He urged the palm oil industry in Indonesia as well as other stakeholders to submit their comments to the EPA.

Gold kiwifruit shortage window an opportunity for Chilean growers, says T&G

After Zespri Gold plantations were wiped out by verticillium a few years ago, many Chilean growers will be apprehensive to embrace a new gold kiwifruit variety, but Enza Gold has so far proven more resistant to Psa-V disease in New Zealand. Turners & Growers CEO Jeff Wesley says it still needs to be shown whether Enza Gold will hold up against verticillium in Chile, but expects 15,000-20,000 trays of the fruit to be exported this season from the South American country. In a recent visit to Santiago, he discussed the changes in store for Chile with both gold and red Enza varieties, and the need to get a grip on the early season ‘cowboys’ who have damaged its reputation in the past.

(Fresh fruit Portal) The Chilean kiwifruit industry is set to record a 7% rise in kiwifruit exports this year according to market researcher iQonsulting, but the country is still dominated by the green Hayward variety.

Wesley says the gold kiwifruit crop is still not very large but that is set to change in the coming years, especially as Zespri Gold production in New Zealand is on the decline and replacement variety G3 is yet to be confirmed, with years still in the pipeline for significant production if it is.

“The purpose of this visit was to basically catch up with growers who already have Enza Gold, it’s all very new. There are plenty of plantings, I’ve seen those and they’re very healthy – in two years time there will be quite a big crop

“Zespri produces about 100,000 trays of kiwifruit, of which about 20,000-30,000 have been Zespri Gold, but it looks at this point that in two to three years time there won’t be any Zespri Gold left anywhere, they’ll be finished.

“So there’s a big window where the customers will be looking for gold product so we may accelerate those plantings; it’s a big opportunity for Chile, and it’s a big opportunity for growers everywhere really.”

Wesley says Zespri Gold has a “fantastic taste” but it is understood G3 is not quite the same, while the Enza Gold is also different with mango overtones and a creamy texture.

“We have done trials on Enza Gold here (Chile) for verticillium so Zespri, I imagine are also trialling verticillium as well as Psa on G3,” he says.

“G3 is a very new product. We’ve been working with Enza Gold since 2000, so that’s 12 years of experience; I think Zespri probably only got one or two years’ experience with G3.

“I think there will be a window of three to five years there for gold kiwifruit that’s not Zespri branded.”

Comparative benefits to green

Wesley highlights that Chilean green kiwifruit growers are in a very different situation to their New Zealand counterparts when it comes to profitability, and this – along with the Zespri Gold verticillium history – will have an effect on the take-up of Enza Gold.

“Despite the strong Chilean peso, green growers here still make a reasonable income, even though the amount they’ve got over the years because of the exchange rate has become less,” he says.

“They’re still making a profit with green Hayward kiwifruit; that’s not the case in New Zealand for the vast majority of growers.

“A lot of them will keep the green, as if you’re making money on green you don’t want to suddenly take the orchard out and put a new orchard in. I believe some of the bigger growers who are already planting Enza Gold and in the winter will be planting red, will go through a few years and then the green growers will look and think that’s good – no verticillium problem and resistant to Psa (virulent strain), if it arrives.”

He says the growing and marketing qualities of Enza Gold have more profitable prospects than Chile’s Haywards, while it is also higher yielding than main Chilean gold variety Jingold.

“You have to remember that with Gold chinensis kiwifruit you get almost double the production compared to Hayward, and often 60% more in the price per kilogram, so in other words you’re almost four times ahead if you can grow good gold kiwifruit.

“We think Jingold, which is another gold kiwifruit, appears to have very low production with 20,000-25,000 (metric) tons per hectare, whereas Enza Gold is a very prolific kiwifruit and we think in the same circumstances there will be 50,000-60,000 (metric) tons per hectare.

“With Jingold there’s about 500 hectares planted so we’ll see over time about 500 hectares or more of Enza Gold.”

Wesley adds that the pruning costs for Enza Gold appears to be significantly lower than for Zespri Gold.

Europe worried over spread of Bt cotton in India

India has made rapid strides in cotton production ever since adopting the genetically modified technology 10 years ago. It has also helped the country emerge as a key supplier of the natural fibre to the global market, especially China.

However, the large-scale adoption of genetically modified technology is causing concern to other nations, especially in Europe. This, in turn, could begin to hurt exports of other agricultural products exports, especially ones that are organic and non-genetically modified.

According to available statistics, India exported about 300 organic products fetching Rs 1,960 crore in 2011. In contrast, it shipped out 66 lakh bales (170 kg each) of cotton earning over Rs 15,500 crore. This year, it is projected to export 80 lakh bales and it could end up earning foreign exchange of about Rs 14,000 crore.

Of the nearly 12 million hectares brought under cotton this year, nearly 95 per cent grew Bt cotton.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) has fixed a target of touching Rs 5,000 crore in organic products exports by 2015.

“We in Europe, particularly Germany, are worried over the spread of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in India. Your Government has to deal with that immediately,” said Mr Ulrich Walter of Ulrich Walter GmbH, Germany. Mr Walter's company is one of the largest importers of organic Darjeeling tea. It is also importing coffee and spices from Kerala, mainly Peeramedu, and holy basil (tulsi) from Uttar Pradesh.

He made these remarks at a session on tea at BioFach 2012 that was held here last week.

‘CANNOT COEXIST'

“Europeans want to consume products with a clear conscience. Therefore, there is increasing awareness on organic and fair-price products,” said Mr Walter.

He told Business Line later that genetically modified and conventionally produced crops cannot coexist. “They may be kept at a distance but still there could be pollution of conventional and organic crop through wind and pollen,” he said, adding that people in Germany were particularly concerned over the strides made by India in Bt cotton.

According to Apeda, 4.84 million hectares are under organic farming in India and 75 per cent of this is grown in the wild. Again, only 16 per cent of organic products produced in the country is exported.

Among products treated as non-GMOs, soyameal accounts for a major share in exports. Indian organic products are primarily exported by Europe, the US, Canada and Japan. In Europe, Germany and Switzerland are the main buyers.

Mr Gerald A. Herrmann of Organic Services Germany GmbH said that organic products' exports from India were increasing by 33 per cent every year and most products were being marketed as being free from pesticides.

“However, at the recent World Spice Congress at Pune in India one of the speakers pointed out that India topped in cases of pesticide residues being higher than permitted limits,” he said.

Mr Herman Lanting, an agronomist, said that it was increasingly becoming difficult to find non-Bt cotton in India. “India has begun to lose some great traditional varieties such as DCH-32,” he said.

According to Ms Simone Seisl of Remei AG, Switzerland, her firm that sources organic cotton for retailing is finding it difficult as farmers were switching over to Bt varieties. “Though some want to get back, it is a big task to get them going again, particularly due to the switch over,” she said.

However, Mr Mukesh Gupta of Morarka Organics Foods said that Bt cotton is not posing danger since it was grown in irrigated areas. “Organic products are mainly grown in rain-fed areas and there need not be any fear of GMOs getting mixed,” he told an interactive session at BioFach.

“Every buyer, particularly in Europe, wants a face to any product that he or she buys. They are just not satisfied with buying organic products. What more is their question. In these circumstances, GMOs and mere non-GMO products could put Indian exports under pressure,” said a global consultant who did not wish to be identified.

mrsubramani@gmail.com

The Hindu Business Line

Bangladesh: Pesticides in dried fish processing

(The Financial Express-Bd) Allegations of widespread pesticide use in dried fish processing have once again been coming in from various coastal regions in Bangladesh. As reported in a contemporary on Saturday, 25 Feb 2012, many involved in the trade have been found soaking the raw fish in pesticide (ripcord, submicron, DDT, NOGOS, basudin, diosgenin, formalin, etc) solutions prior to putting them up to dry. This goes to show that there has been precious little in the way of raising awareness against the dangerous practice although successive governments have been alerted long ago --- ever since this health hazard was reported in the early 1980s. According to the Bangladesh Fish Development Corporation (BFDC) in 2010-2011 period, the fish catch amounted to some 3.1 million metric tonnes. On average about 10 per cent of an annual catch is sun-dried, for home consumption as well as export, and many of the traders choose to apply pesticides in a bid to keep flies and maggots away. And they do it at their peril, as well as that of the ultimate consumers.

Thousands of workers are found using their bare hands to mix the poisons without the foggiest notion about the short and long-term health effects. NOGOS for example can destroy nerve cells, result in heart attacks, spontaneous abortion, stomach cramps, vomiting and other adverse effects, the degree of poisoning depending on dose and duration. People in general seem to be ignorant about the dangers and the government itself is hardly up to the task of monitoring pesticide use or abuse, wherever it may be . Many of the worst kinds, though officially banned here, are still available, and reportedly, even sold without names or with labels that do not match the contents. This clearly increases the health risks. Reliable statistics on pesticide casualties may not be available but reports of deaths and sufferings from chronic effects are common enough.

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research ( IEDCR), investigating cases of 'mysterious' deaths in some villages in recent years had found evidence of extreme callousness in the handling of these agrochemicals, some of which belong to the banned 'dirty dozen' group known as POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants). These have been condemned globally decades ago, and in Bangladesh too they are officially banned. Yet, some of the nastiest are found to be in use, not only on dried fish and on cropland but to 'manage' public health. A functioning central register, or list, of pesticides available in Bangladesh could bring some discipline in the sector and give an adequate idea of the use and abuse of such poisons. The Department of Environment is said to control the country's pesticide registration scheme but strangely there is no specific legislation for controlling their production or use.

The deadliest pesticides can wreck the human body and mind ---- the nervous, reproductive, immune systems and the brain itself. Pesticide residues turn up virtually everywhere in Bangladesh, in ground water and in foods, causing many adverse health effects of 'unknown' origins. Some studies link these pollutants to serious diseases, including cancer and other subtle but potent health problems, such as systemic damage to the endocrine, immune and nervous systems. With such information at hand it should be considered a dereliction of duty if awareness against indiscriminate use of pesticides is not revved up. The government's relevant ministries and departments ---- agriculture, environment, health, commerce ---- all need to put their heads together for long-term solutions to the grave risks posed by the continuing use of the highly toxic pesticides.

India : There's a growing interest in bonsai

Bonsai trees seem to be everybody's favourite. This is evident from the crowd they attract in exhibitions and the fact that their sales are skyrocketing.

The bonsai techniques can be used to grow plants indoor which is more manageable.

This encourages city women to learn the art of bonsai cultivation and maintenance from horticulture associations and trusts.

Kiran Desai, executive of Gujarat Horticulture Association, a charitable trust, said, "The number of people enrolling with us for the classes of bonsai cultivation are increasing every year. In order to accommodate all those who have registered, we have started classes in batches."

Nowadays, people are more ready to spend a great deal of money in decorating their gardens and beautifying them.

A look at the sales and the profits made at a recently organised horticulture fair suggests that not only the elite but working middle class are also spending on gardening. While on an average, a middle class family spends Rs5,000 a month on gardening, an elite family spends as high as Rs10,000-15,000.

Most of the visitors at a recently held three-day fair were seen buying nursery plants. Fertiliser and gardening equipment were the second largest purchase, said Desai.

The plantation season starts in October and continues till February.

During this period various horticulture exhibitions are held where people spend on acquiring plants and other gardening requirements.

Soyoil, palm oil prices to rise

Global soyoil and palm oil prices are likely to rise in 2012 with a looming poor South American soybean crop to provide upward momentum, Hamburg-based oilseeds analysts Oil World said on Tuesday.

"We expect vegetable oil prices to appreciate in coming months," it said.

"The supply and demand balance is going to become tighter, mainly as a result of recent additional soybean crop losses in South America and smaller-than-expected world production and export supplies of soyoil." "This will spill over to palm oil, pulling up prices in coming months, despite the seasonal recovery of palm oil production." Global dependence on palm oil supplies will continue to rise in 2012, keeping exports high in both leading producers Malaysia and Indonesia, it said.

Japan to cut wheat selling price

Japan will cut the price at which it sells imported wheat to domestic users to an average 48,780 yen ($610) per tonne from April 1, down 15 percent from the previous six-month period, the farm ministry said on Wednesday, likely paving the way for a fall in prices of bread and other wheat products.

The fall from the current average of 57,720 yen reflects a fall in imported wheat prices in the past six months, with ample global supply weakening Chicago wheat prices, a ministry official said.

New moth species invades Italy's vineyard

A moth with a taste for Chardonnay leaves, which has infested vineyards across northern Italy, is a new species of leafminer, scientists say.

The pest was first discovered by Italian scientists in 2006, but they were unable to identify it.

Now, by examining a snippet of the moth's genetic code, researchers have confirmed that it is a previously unnamed species.

The team published their findings in the journal ZooKeys.

The Italian team enlisted the help of insect expert Erik van Nieukerken from the Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity in Leiden.

"We first turned to the [scientific] literature to find out what was already known, which was appallingly little for this group [of moths]," Dr van Nieukerken told BBC Nature.

He and his colleagues used a method known as DNA barcoding to examine a section of the insect's genetic code.

"I figured out that this one, despite being quite common in North America, had no name," he recalled.

The new species, which now bears the name Antispila oinophylla, had previously been confused with a North American species (Antispila ampelopsifoliella), which feeds on Virginia creeper.

Only the genetic studies revealed it to be a different species with a taste for grapevines. Its native range is across eastern North America, where it feeds on several species of wild grapes.

So far, the species has been found in vineyards in Italy's Trento and Veneto regions, spreading and increasing in population since it was first recorded.

Having observed the moths in the field, the scientists say that the insect seems to have a preference for the leaves of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Muscat grapes, but they added that the economic impact of this particular pest was not yet clear.

The researchers do not know exactly how the moth arrived in Italy, but Dr van Nieukerken said that it was very easy for the cocoons containing the larvae to be accidentally transported with plant material.

"They're very small and exactly the same colour as the leaves," he told BBC Nature. "So if you were carrying plants, you would probably not notice them.

The scientist said that another species from this same group had been discovered in commercial walnut crops and that more needed to be known about the insects.

"This group is very poorly studied," he told BBC Nature.

"If you know exactly what it is and where it belongs, if you know its evolutionary history.... you can understand better how to control it."

GEPEX exporters end Ivorian cocoa auction boycott

The GEPEX group of exporters that accounts for about 55 percent of Ivory Coast's cocoa exports has agreed to end its boycott of auctions, three industry sources told Reuters on Thursday.

The group, which includes Nestle, Cargill , Barry Callebaut, Olam and ADM Cocoa, will take part in auctions starting from Friday, the sources told Reuters, asking not to be named.

Many main exporters in the world's top grower had boycotted the auctions for forward sales of next season's crop, arguing that reforms, aimed at guaranteeing farmers about 50 to 60 percent of the market price, were unclear and unworkable.

"We will take part in the auction but that doesn't mean we are in agreement on everything," the head of an international export firm told Reuters.

"We are continuing our discussions with the government and the CGFCC (regulator) to find an overall agreement on the taxes.

There are still lots of little points of disagreement," he added.

Last week, a separate group of exporters, which included majors such as Armajaro and Noble and accounts for about 40 percent of Ivory Coast's exports, reached an agreement with the government and ended its boycott of the auctions.

South African ostrich industry hit hard by HPAI

A strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza is devastating the South African commercial ostrich industry with 41,000 birds already been reported culled.

Officials say the H5N2 virus, which was first detected in the Western Cape Province last April, does not pose a threat to humans but could mutate and affect poultry.

African authorities have imposed an exports suspension of ostrich products and banned restocking until the entire region is declared virus-free. Officials say farmers whose animals were culled have received compensation of 50 million rand ($6.5 million) but warn that the impact on the industry, which accounts for up to 80% of the world's ostrich products, is still severe.

"The industry estimates that it is losing more than 100 million rand ($13 million) per month which is very serious," says Wouter Kriel, the spokesman for the Western Cape Provincial Department of Agriculture. "The situation cannot continue indefinitely and we very urgently need to try and get the industry back on its feet again".

South Africa is the global leader in ostrich farming. Its industry exports 90% of its output, generates about 1.2 billion rand ($155 million) a year and provides thousands of direct job opportunities.

Anton Kruger, head of the South African Ostrich Business Chamber, the business body representing the industry, says that meat-exporting farms that were spared the virus are also suffering the strain, hit by the European Union import ban on all ostrich meat from the area.

Last month, authorities announced that the seventh round of surveillance for the H5N2 virus were negative. If the next round of tests also yields negative results, then the government can deem the outbreak to be over - it is only then that South Africa can apply to the European Union, their biggest importer of ostrich meat, to lift their ban and farmers can start restocking.

But Kruger says even if the ban is lifted "it will take at least three years for the industry to recover," affecting the livelihood of the area's farmers.

Source: CNN / OIE

Spices Board to avail Railways offer to explore north Indian markets

KOCHI: The Spices Board will avail the offer from the Railways to run a new train to facilitate movement of products originating from Kerala to different North Indian destinations.

The Board would avail the facility offered to explore new domestic markets for spices in North India. This will facilitate sustained supplies at economic prices, the Board said in a press release here.

Many major Indian spices are costlier in upcountry market areas on account of the high cost in road traffic, it said.

The Thiruvananthapuram Division of Southern Railways has mooted a plan to start a train service for the movement of agro-based products in assured transit time for small and medium scale entrepreneurs and farmers of Kerala to different upcountry marketing centres in North India.

The new train 'Kairali Queen' will facilitate faster and cheaper mode of transport, offering solution to the challenges faced by the traders and agriculturists in Kerala, it added.

This train service will help in transportation of Kerala spices like cardamom, pepper, ginger, turmeric, nutmeg, mace, clove, cinnamon, tamarind, garcinia,spice powders,mixes and blends besides rubber, cashew, clay and coir products in a much more simpler and smoother way, the release said.

These Kerala-based products have very strong market in places including Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Chandigarh, Amritsar and Jallandar.

Traders of these South India grown spices and producers of value added spice products who face various challenges in the transport of their merchandise by road in terms of heavy costs of inter state tax tariffs, road permits, octroi can also make use of the new service, the release said.

To make full use of the facility and to assess assured supplies of spices for transport, the Board is arranging an interaction with traders, exporters, NGOs, farmer groups, farmers and officials of various farm oriented enterprises.

Rotterdam vegetable oil prices (24-Feb-12)

Thursday's Rotterdam vegetable oil prices at 1700 GMT.

SOYOIL EU degummed: euro tonne fob ex-mill February 2012 960.00 +0.00 March 2012/April 2012 960.00 -5.00 May 2012/July 2012 965.00 +0.00 August 2012/October 2012 970.00 +5.00.

RAPEOIL Dutch/EU: euro tonne fob ex-mill March 2012/April 2012 unquoted May 2012/July 2012 977.00 +3.00 August 2012/October 2012 975.00 +5.00 November 2012/January 2013 972.00 +2.00 February 2013/April 2013 967.00 +3.00.

SUNOIL EU: dollars tonne ex-tank six ports option March 2012 unquoted April 2012/June 2012 1260.00 +5.00 July 2012/September 2012 1265.00 +0.00 October 2012/December 2012 1260.00 +5.00.

SUNOIL any origin: dollars tonne cif Rotterdam unquoted.

GROUNDNUT OIL any origin: dollars tonne cif Rotterdam unquoted.

GROUNDNUT OIL Braz/Arg/US: dollars tonne cif Rotterdam.

LINOIL any origin: dollars tonne extank Rotterdam March 2012/April 2012 1317.50 +5.00.

CRUDE PALM OIL Sumatra/Malaysia: slrs option dollars tonne cif R'dam March 2012 1130.00 +5.00 April 2012/June 2012 1130.00 +5.00 July 2012/September 2012 1127.50 +2.50 October 2012/December 2012 1125.00 +2.50.

PALMOIL RBD: dollars tonne cif Rotterdam April 2012/June 2012 1177.50.

PALMOIL RBD: dollars tonne fob Malaysia April 2012/June 2012 1112.50 +7.50.

PALM OLEIN RBD: dollars tonne fob Malaysia March 2012 unquoted April 2012/June 2012 1122.50 +7.50 July 2012/September 2012 1120.00 +10.00 October 2011/December 2011 1112.50 +7.50.

PALM STEARIN: dollars tonne fob Malaysia March 2012 995.00 +10.00 April 2012 995.00.

PALM FATTY ACID DISTILLATE: dollars tonne fob Malaysia March 2012 815.00 +10.00.

COCONUT OIL Phil/Indon: dollars tonne cif Rotterdam March 2012/April 2012 1390.00 -40.00 April 2012/May 2012 1400.00 -30.00 May 2012/June 2012 1410.00 June 2012/July 2012 1410.00.

PALMKERNEL OIL Mal/Indon: dollars tonne cif Rotterdam February 2012/March 2012 unquoted March 2012/April 2012 1400.00 +0.00 April 2012/May 2012 1400.00 +0.00.

TUNGOIL any origin: dollars tonne extank Rotterdam unquoted.

CASTOROIL any origin: dollars tonne extank Rotterdam April 2012/May 2012 1875.00 +0.00.

Pesticide in juice: Coca Cola says ok, expert says no

Edited and translated by Ye Xin

People's Daily Online

In late December, Coca-Cola Co alerted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it had detected low levels of carbendazim in its own juice, as well as in samples taken from a competitor's orange juice and juice concentrate imported from Brazil.

In addition, Coca-Cola China said in a statement on its website on Jan 12 that Orange juice containing extremely small amount of the fungicide will not cause health hazards.

However, Professor John W.S. Ho from the Department of Biochemistry under the Chinese University of Hong Kong challenged the interpretation. He pointed out that the carbendazim, like other pesticides, has the greatest impact on brain and it can cause partial paralysis.

In China, this kind of orange juice Minute Maid produced by Coca-Cola is still on sale in supermarkets and stores.

Some of consumers, who bought Minute Maid said they never heard this news, some adopted an indifferent attitude and only a few of the consumers said they will never buy the drink in the future.

In late December, Coca-Cola Co alerted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it had detected low levels of carbendazim in its own juice, as well as in samples taken from a competitor's orange juice and juice concentrate imported from Brazil.

In addition, Coca-Cola China said in a statement on its website on Jan 12 that Orange juice containing extremely small amount of the fungicide will not cause health hazards.

However, Professor John W.S. Ho from the Department of Biochemistry under the Chinese University of Hong Kong challenged the interpretation. He pointed out that the carbendazim, like other pesticides, has the greatest impact on brain and it can cause partial paralysis.

In China, this kind of orange juice Minute Maid produced by Coca-Cola is still on sale in supermarkets and stores.

Some of consumers, who bought Minute Maid said they never heard this news, some adopted an indifferent attitude and only a few of the consumers said they will never buy the drink in the future.

In late December, Coca-Cola Co alerted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it had detected low levels of carbendazim in its own juice, as well as in samples taken from a competitor's orange juice and juice concentrate imported from Brazil.

In addition, Coca-Cola China said in a statement on its website on Jan 12 that Orange juice containing extremely small amount of the fungicide will not cause health hazards.

However, Professor John W.S. Ho from the Department of Biochemistry under the Chinese University of Hong Kong challenged the interpretation. He pointed out that the carbendazim, like other pesticides, has the greatest impact on brain and it can cause partial paralysis.

In China, this kind of orange juice Minute Maid produced by Coca-Cola is still on sale in supermarkets and stores.

Some of consumers, who bought Minute Maid said they never heard this news, some adopted an indifferent attitude and only a few of the consumers said they will never buy the drink in the future.

In late December, Coca-Cola Co alerted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it had detected low levels of carbendazim in its own juice, as well as in samples taken from a competitor's orange juice and juice concentrate imported from Brazil.

In addition, Coca-Cola China said in a statement on its website on Jan 12 that Orange juice containing extremely small amount of the fungicide will not cause health hazards.

However, Professor John W.S. Ho from the Department of Biochemistry under the Chinese University of Hong Kong challenged the interpretation. He pointed out that the carbendazim, like other pesticides, has the greatest impact on brain and it can cause partial paralysis.

In China, this kind of orange juice Minute Maid produced by Coca-Cola is still on sale in supermarkets and stores.

Some of consumers, who bought Minute Maid said they never heard this news, some adopted an indifferent attitude and only a few of the consumers said they will never buy the drink in the future.