Ottawa | Reuters — Canadian helicopters carried out multiple missions on Monday to rescue hundreds of people trapped in their vehicles on a highway after huge rainstorms sparked landslides in British Columbia. The rainstorms that started on Sunday triggered landslides, shut roads, prompted the evacuation of an entire community, forced an oil pipeline to close […] Read more
Severe B.C. rainstorms spur landslides, shut roads
Bill Gates’ green tech fund bets on farming robots
As some parts of North America struggle under a crippling drought, a California startup that believes robots can grow produce more sustainably has raised US$50 million in a funding round led by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Iron Ox uses robots that are integrated with a hydroponic system consuming 90 per cent less water than […] Read more
APEC ministers call for curbs on farm, fuel, fishing subsidies
Washington/Wellington | Reuters — Pacific Rim trade and foreign ministers on Tuesday pledged to sustain the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic while pursuing talks to curb subsidies for fisheries and agriculture at a forthcoming World Trade Organization meeting. The ministers from the 21 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries said in a communique issued after […] Read more
Durham College launches centre focusing on urban agriculture
The Barrett Centre for Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture will offer enhanced research and training
Durham College is expanding its field-to-fork educational opportunities with the addition of the Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture (the Barrett Centre). The Barrett Centre will complement the college’s existing food, farming and horticulture programs. The vision for the centre, said the college in a release, is to “become an internationally recognized hub […] Read more
More acres seen needed worldwide to meet mounting crops demand
U.S. acres may have already hit ceiling: AgResource chief
Geneva | Reuters — Farmers need more space to grow crops to meet mounting demand for food and renewable fuel at a time of slowing growth in yields, consultancy AgResource said on Tuesday. A renewable fuel push under U.S. President Joe Biden’s climate agenda is set to trigger a boom in soyoil use, reinforcing a […] Read more
Conagra flags price increases to cushion inflation impact
Prepared foods firm raises sales forecast
Reuters — Conagra Brands said on Thursday it would increase prices again on its frozen meals and snacks to help cushion the blow of higher inflation, after the diversified food maker raised its annual sales forecast and topped quarterly results. Packaged food companies are grappling with inflation as the U.S. economy rebounds, while spending heavily […] Read more
Police reopen Ambassador Bridge
Bridge reopened following search for explosives
Updated, Oct. 4 — Toronto | Reuters –– Canadian police reopened a major road bridge between Canada and the U.S. after largely shutting it down for hours on Monday to search for possible explosives in a vehicle, resulting in long delays for truckers at the busiest international crossing in North America. The Canada Border Services […] Read more
Regulations on gene-edited crops to be eased in England
London | Reuters — Britain’s farming and environment minister George Eustice announced Wednesday that regulations related to gene editing in agricultural research would be eased in England following a public consultation. Rules will now largely be aligned with conventional breeding methods for research and development into plants although scientists will still be required to notify […] Read more
Greenhouse CO2 application technology expands global reach
Canadian company CO2 GRO says growers can get up to 30 per cent yield improvement
A growing number of feasibility projects for a water-based carbon dioxide application technology that improves greenhouse crop yields are now underway in Canada. Launched in 2018 by Toronto-based CO2 GRO, the trademarked and patented CO2 Delivery Solutions system makes it possible for growers with greenhouses, hoop houses, tunnels or shaded structures to use CO2 supplementation […] Read more
Drought maps show little change at end of August
MarketsFarm — Much of Western Canada remained in some state of drought at the end of August despite widespread rains late in the month, according to updated maps compiled by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The area mapped out as dealing with ‘exceptional drought’ in south-central Manitoba’s agricultural regions contracted slightly compared to the previous month […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
