International

• Friday, July 9th 2010 - 01:58 UTC

  UK and Irish farmers’ claim Brazil’s beef exports fail to meet EU standards

  

  The UK National Farmers Union, NFU and Irish Farmers' Association have expressed concern about the reopening trade talks with the Mercosur group of South American countries because of the impact it could have on farmers.

• Friday, July 9th 2010 - 00:17 UTC

  European Parliament poises two clear positions in battle for agriculture subsidies

  

  Members of the European Parliament have set out their list of demands regarding the future shape of the EU common agricultural policy (CAP), insisting that EU farm payments should not be reduced.

• Friday, July 9th 2010 - 00:12 UTC

  EU promises support for farmers in event of trade agreement with Mercosur

  

  The European Commission underlined the significance of negotiations for an association and trade agreement with Mercosur and promised EU farmers “accompanying measures” for those sectors most affected, if a deal with the South American block is finally closes.

• Thursday, July 8th 2010 - 07:59 UTC

  EU court ruling favours Argentina in dispute with Monsanto over soy-seed patent

  

  United States Monsanto Co., the world’s biggest seed company, can’t use a European patent on its Roundup Ready soybeans to block Argentinean soy meal imports, the European Union’s highest court said Wednesday.

• Thursday, July 8th 2010 - 07:56 UTC

  FAO establishes new standards for melamine in infant food and animal feed

  

  The maximum amount of melamine allowed in powdered infant formula is 1 mg/kg and the amount of the chemical allowed in other foods and animal feed is 2.5 mg/kg, according to new rulings from the United Nations' food standards body, Codex Alimentarius Commission.

• Thursday, July 8th 2010 - 01:53 UTC

  Asia needs to double food production in the next decades warns FAO

  

  Philippines-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) is encouraging developing economies in Asia and Pacific to boost their investment in the agriculture sector to address the widespread hunger and cushion billions of people from future spikes in food prices.

• Thursday, July 8th 2010 - 01:32 UTC

  China rules out ‘nuclear option’ of dumping vast holdings of US Treasury bonds

  

  China ruled out the “nuclear” option of dumping its vast holdings of US Treasury securities but called on Washington to be a responsible guardian of the dollar.

• Thursday, July 8th 2010 - 01:27 UTC

  Falklands’ Fisheries scientists discover mating habits of deep-sea squid

  

  The mating habits of deep-sea squid have been revealed for the first time, after the discovery of a male squid with a huge elongated and erect penis, according to an article from the BBC credited to Matt Walker, Editor, Earth News.

• Wednesday, July 7th 2010 - 06:50 UTC

  Mrs. Kirchner to Beijing to mend trade relations with China

  

  Argentine president Cristina Kirchner will be signing 10 billion US dollars in trade agreements with China during her official visit to the Asian giant scheduled to begin next July 13, according to Foreign Affairs minister Hector Timerman.

• Wednesday, July 7th 2010 - 06:42 UTC

  Moreno re-elected president of the Inter American Development Bank

  

  Luis Alberto Moreno was re-elected president of the Inter-American Development Bank today during a special meeting of the IDB Board of Governors at the Bank’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.