U.S. chemical maker Dow has signed a long-term supply agreement with bioconversion company New Energy Blue for plastic materials made from corn residue, in its move to renewable energy sources for production. Under the agreement, Dow will support design of New Energy’s Iowa ethanol facility which aims to process 275 kilotons of corn stalks and […] Read more
Tag Archives Environment — page 6
Dow signs bio-plastics agreement
Cummins makes a green turn
Diesel engine maker sets sights on electrolyzers, a key component in green hydrogen
Glacier FarmMedia – Cummins, an American firm known for its diesel engines, is shifting its investments toward the green economy and green fertilizer. In early April, U.S. President Joe Biden visited a Cummins manufacturing plant in Fridley, Minn., and saw what Cummins will soon make at the facility. “In just a few weeks, we will […] Read more
Fight to keep climate-friendly farming funds
Biden administration will have to defend funds in Farm Bill discussions
Reuters – The Biden administration will defend funding for climate-smart farming in the $430 billion U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) if Republican lawmakers seek to cut it during negotiations for the next farm bill, an official said May 1. The IRA, which aims to cut emissions across the U.S. economy, includes $20 billion to support farmers […] Read more
Editorial: A big carrot in one hand, nothing in the other
It’s rarely a great idea to compare yourself to someone else. You can end up dissatisfied with something about yourself or about what they have and you don’t. Psychologists have a name for this behavior. It’s called social comparison. The theory suggests that people value their own personal and social worth by assessing how they […] Read more
Senators dig into soil at the grassroots level
Agriculture and Forestry Senate Committee goes on fact-finding mission
Senators soiled their undies for science and dug into soil research at the Soil Health Interpretive Centre in Elora on April 25. “We’re seeing important work that happens on the ground, yesterday at the farm level and here at the university academic level,” said Senator Rob Black, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and […] Read more
Hedgerows enjoy potential new growth in Ontario
Living fence lines offer a plethora of biodiversity and ecological positives
The European practice of hedgerows and hedge laying is slowly entering Ontario’s landscape. During a recent Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario webinar, Jim Jones, a British ecologist and hedge laying expert, explained how a managed hedgerow can fulfil several roles within agriculture. Why it matters: Managed North American hedgerows could provide a biodiversity and ecological […] Read more
Fuel makers look to winter canola for carbon neutral goals
New U.S. partnership aims to expand double-cropping acreage
Low-carbon fuel standards and other climate change-related government policy initiatives, along with a recent initiative to grow more winter canola for biofuel production, could see more winter canola grown in Ontario. North American energy companies are eyeing ways to reduce the long-term carbon footprint of what they sell. A recently-announced U.S. collaboration could benefit southern […] Read more
Net-zero farming requires wide social buy-in
A systemic re-think of farming is needed to reach net zero emissions by 2050, but impetus and support must come from inside and outside the sector
Glacier FarmMedia – A “durable” net zero farming system may be unattainable without a broad re-think of the sector, and that will require broad social buy-in, says an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher. “This is a much bigger question than simply developing practices and encouraging adoption,” says Henry Janzen. “This involves the rest of us.” […] Read more
New sustainable soybean program launched
Voluntary program aims to drive new market opportunities for growers and value chain
A new national and voluntary sustainability program has been launched to ensure Canadian soybean growers, grain handlers and exporters have continued access to premium markets. The Sustainable Canadian Soy program was designed to meet the needs of soybean customers and drive new market opportunities, said Soy Canada executive director Brian Innes during the program’s official […] Read more
Opinion: Persistent chemicals can be managed in livestock
Research shows that grazing and crop sites, along with seasonal affects change how chemical levels show up in livestock
PFAS, known as “forever chemicals”, have been found just about everywhere on Earth, including in toilet paper. These chemicals are a group of artificial compounds based on carbon and fluorine – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. They comprise thousands of individual chemicals with hundreds of documented uses, including water proofing and fire suppression. It […] Read more
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