Daily Archives: February 18, 2013

USA – As world population explodes, genetically modified rice is our best hope, University of Arizona scientist says

Source: Arizona Daily Star17/02/2013 – Rod Wing, director of the Arizona Genomics Institute, has played a major role in mapping the structure and function of the world’s primary cereal crops. Rice is the one that needs our immediate attention, he says.

Can a heirloom rice with a 12,000-year history help feed the world?

Source: Care217/02/2013 – Called Wuyuanzao by locals, the heirloom rice is grown on only 50 acres of land in Wannian county in the Chinese province of Jiangxi. It’s a species of rice that has been cultivated for more than 12,000 years, but this is the only place in the world today that it can thrive.

USA – Southwest Louisiana could benefit from rice exports to China

Source: The Advertiser17/02/2013 – Southwest Louisiana rice farmers could reap benefits from growing Chinese agriculture markets by exporting rice there.

USA – Shorebirds get a boost with new rice management practices, including in Butte County

Source: ChicoER.com17/02/2013 – Rice farmer Josh Sheppard can see clearly how careful management of winter water levels in rice fields has brought more types of birds to his land.

Thailand – Public warehouse challenged to conduct random inspections of rice

Source: The Nation14/02/2013 – The Democrat MP for Pitsanulok, Dr Warong Dejwikrom, on Thursday challenged the Public Warehouse Organisation to inspect rice in warehouses without prior notice to prove that the organisation has no degraded rice stored in the rice pledging scheme.

Nigeria – Nigeria can stop rice importation by 2015 – AfDB official

Source: Vanguard14/02/2013 – The African Development Bank (AfDB) has expressed optimism that Nigeria can stop the importation of rice by 2015, if the right things are done.

Thailand – Govt promoting rice sales at trade fairs in Germany, UAE

Source: The Nation14/02/2013 – As one of its strategies to release rice from the government stockpiles, the Commerce Ministry is participating in two giant international exhibitions this month to promote the sale of Thai rice overseas.

Low-arsenic rice discovered in Bangladesh could have major health benefits

Source: EurekAlert12/02/2013 – Scientists identified aromatic rice with very low arsenic content and higher concentrations of essential nutrients, selenium and zinc.