Brazil Poised to Become Agricultural Superpower

March 7, 2011 | Robert Puro

“Brazil stands on the brink of becoming an agricultural superpower.” So says the Financial Times.  Motivated by fears that reliance upon imported food staples would prove financially unsustainable, Brazil, has worked tirelessly over the past four decades to augment its domestic agricultural production through major investments in agriculture research.  As a result of investment in farm technologies and practices, grain production yields have grown by 152% in the past 20 years.  Read More

Bayer CropScience Holds Annual Ag Issues Forum

March 4, 2011 | Robert Puro

Bayer CropScience hosted its annual Ag Issues Forum this week to discuss the impending challenge of sustainably feeding a fast-growing world population in the 21^st century.  Speakers at the event ranged from Clayton Yeutter, former US Secretary of Agriculture to Robert Kenner, the producer, writer, and director of Food, Inc. Discussion topics included “A look at Agriculture through the Food, Inc. Prism,” “Capital Investment in Agriculture,” and “Standing Up for Our Food System.”  Read More

Seedstock Digest – Sustainable Agriculture and Tech News

March 1, 2011 | Robert Puro

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation along with the UK Department for International Development (DFID) will provide nearly $105 million in funding over the next 5 years for sustainable agriculture programs that benefit developing countries.  Cornell University will receive $40 million from the partners to develop wheat varieties that are resistant to emerging strains of stem rust disease.  For more on the partnership read the article “Gates Foundation Supports Sustainable Agriculture.” Read More