Agriculture

• Wednesday, July 15th 2020 - 08:32 UTC

  Nestlé and Cargill face demands from slave descendants of Ivory Coast cocoa farms

  

  The US Supreme Court will decide whether American corporations can be sued for alleged human rights abuses occurring abroad under a 1789 law, agreeing to hear appeals by two companies: Cargill Inc and a Nestle SA subsidiary: accused of knowingly helping perpetuate slavery at Ivory Coast cocoa farms.

• Thursday, July 9th 2020 - 08:59 UTC

  Polynesian sweet potato mystery solved: epic transoceanic journey to South America

  

  New genetic research shows that there was mingling between ancient native peoples from Polynesia and South America, revealing a single episode of interbreeding roughly 800 years ago after an epic transoceanic journey.

• Wednesday, July 8th 2020 - 07:33 UTC

  World 2020 cereal production forecasted to reach new record

  

  World cereal production is poised to reach a new record level of 2 790 million tons in 2020 - up 9.3 million tons from the May forecast - surpassing the record-high registered in 2019 by as much as 3%, according to FAO's Cereal Supply and Demand Brief.

• Wednesday, July 8th 2020 - 07:01 UTC

  Pandemic forecasted to usher highest retreat for global meat consumption

  

  The pandemic is poised to usher in the biggest retreat for global meat consumption in decades. Per capita consumption this year is set to fall to the lowest in nine years and the 3% drop from last year represents the biggest decline since at least 2000, according to data from the United Nations.

• Tuesday, July 7th 2020 - 09:10 UTC

  Dairy prices in June increased 4%, but beef is down because of larger export volumes

  In June, global food commodity prices rose for the first time since the beginning of the year driven by a rebound in vegetable oils, sugar and dairy quotations. However, in the cereals and meat markets, most prices remained under downward pressure amid market uncertainties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Monday, July 6th 2020 - 07:25 UTC

  China suspends imports from two pork plants in the state of Rio Grande do Sul

  

  China has suspended imports from two Brazilian pork plants owned by meatpackers JBS SA and BRF SA, according to the Chinese customs authority, as it cracks down on meat shipments amid concerns about the new coronavirus.

• Saturday, July 4th 2020 - 08:00 UTC

  International banks accuse Argentine major soy crusher of “diverting hundreds of millions of dollars” in a US court

  

  Banks owed money by cash-strapped Argentine soy crusher Vicentin are accusing the company of diverting hundreds of millions of dollars and have asked a U.S. court to subpoena records as part of a lawsuit, including wire transfers and bank statements.

• Saturday, July 4th 2020 - 07:55 UTC

  Outbreaks of coronavirus at Brazilian pork and chicken slaughter plants

  

  Mass testing revealed an outbreak of novel coronavirus infections at plants operated by JBS SA and BRF SA in Brazil's Center West, the labor prosecutor's office in Mato Grosso do Sul state said on Friday, citing company data.

• Wednesday, July 1st 2020 - 08:36 UTC

  Chinese May imports of Brazilian soybeans at their highest level in two years

  

  Beijing customs data indicates that Chinese soy imports from Brazil (now its largest supplier), reached its highest level in two years in May. China is the world’s largest importer of soy.

• Tuesday, June 30th 2020 - 11:03 UTC

  Argentine farmers accuse Kirchnerite goons of vandalizing silo bags

  

  Argentine farmer association CRA has expressed its concern over a recent wave of vandalism on silo bags that store grain and oilseeds on-farm.