Reuters — Syngenta has rejected ChemChina’s offer to buy the Swiss agricultural chemicals group, citing regulatory concerns, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. China National Chemical Corp., better known as ChemChina, offered about 449 Swiss francs (C$597) per share for Syngenta, valuing the Basel, Switzerland-based company at about 41.7 billion Swiss francs (C$55.4 billion), according to the […] Read more
Syngenta reported rejecting ChemChina takeover offer
EU scientists say glyphosate unlikely to cause cancer
Brussels | Reuters — Glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer in humans, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which nevertheless proposed limits on Thursday on the amount of residue of the herbicide widely used by farmers deemed safe to consume. The EFSA advises EU policymakers and its conclusion could lead the 28-member European […] Read more
Kraft Heinz to shut SW Ont. salad dressing plant
Merged food and condiment giant Kraft Heinz will shut down its salad dressing and sauce factory in southwestern Ontario and six other U.S. plants in a bid to cut its “excess capacity.” The company announced Wednesday it will shut its Richardson Foods plant at St. Marys, Ont., which makes and sells salad dressings, sauces and […] Read more
Pete Luckett’s stores to become arm of Sobey’s
A hero to foodies across Canada is set to sell his retail and wholesale grocery businesses in Nova Scotia off to grocery giant Sobeys. Pete Luckett, the owner of the Pete’s Fine Foods stores in Halifax and Bedford, N.S. and a related wholesale business, announced Thursday he’ll sell those operations to Nova Scotia-based Sobeys for […] Read more
Syngenta CEO leaves in wake of Monsanto deal rejection
Zurich | Reuters –– Syngenta CEO Mike Mack is stepping down as head of the Swiss agrochemicals group just two months after the company spurned a US$47 billion takeover approach from U.S. rival Monsanto. Mack, 55, will quit at the end of the month and chief financial officer John Ramsay will take charge on an […] Read more
U.S. hopes to release TPP text in 30 days
Reuters — The U.S. administration hopes to release the full text of a Pacific trade deal within the next 30 days, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said in an interview with CNN. The U.S. sealed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with 11 trading partners this week, after more than five years of negotiations. “The lawyers are […] Read more
Slowdown in sales softens fertilizer market
CNS Canada — A lack of buying throughout North and South America has put fertilizer prices under pressure, but so far, no one is lining up to capitalize on the weakness, according to an industry watcher. “Farmers aren’t in the mood to buy fall fertilizer. I think they’re more uncertain this year than they normally […] Read more
PotashCorp withdraws takeover bid for K+S
New York/Frankfurt | Reuters –– PotashCorp said Monday it had withdrawn its 7.9 billion euro (C$11.6 billion) offer for German potash producer K+S, citing a decline in global commodity and equity markets and a lack of engagement by K+S management. K+S shares dropped 24 per cent after Potash announced its decision in a statement, wiping […] Read more
U.S. workers sue Monsanto claiming herbicide caused cancer
Reuters — A U.S. farm worker and a horticultural assistant have filed lawsuits claiming Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide caused their cancers and Monsanto intentionally misled the public and regulators about the dangers of the herbicide. The lawsuits come six months after the World Health Organization’s cancer research unit said it was classifying glyphosate, the active weed-killing […] Read more
Farm managers seek a few good aggies for awards
Agriculture students may be eligible for financial encouragement to improve their communication, critical thinking and leadership skills through Farm Management Canada’s national awards program. FMC and the Canadian Association of Diploma in Agriculture Programs (CADAP) recently opened the 2015-16 edition of their Excellence Award for Agricultural Students, with a top prize of $1,500. The awards […] Read more
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