Better Farming - August 2016

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Better Farming August 2016 Farm News First > 55
FARAFIELD
In late May, according to a report
from Reuters, the Chinese government
released an action plan to address the
country’s soil pollution. It will be
earmarking funds specifically for this
project. Soils used for agricultural
production are said to take priority.
As of last year, according to China’s
environment minister, 16 per cent of
the country’s soil was contaminated.
Guohai Securities researchers
estimate current soil remediation
projects will cost 500 billion yuan (or
approximately $98.5 billion). There
are 100 such projects.
Officials also promised new
legislation to address the problem of
soil pollution by 2017. BF
China combats soil pollution
A recent study by professors Bran-
don McFadden and Jayson Lusk
highlights consumers’ limited knowl-
edge of GMOs.
McFadden and Lusk conducted
an online survey with over 1,000
consumers. Their study examined
knowledge and beliefs about bio-
technology.
A majority of respondents support-
ed GMO labelling. Most, however,
also supported similar labelling for
food containing DNA. Such a policy,
of course, would mean the addition
of labels to most products.
McFadden is based at the Univer-
sity of Florida Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences, while
Lusk is with the
Oklahoma State
University.
The article was
published in the
FASEB Journal,
and SeedWorld
reported the
study in June. BF
Consumers lack GMO understanding
In a March release, researchers at
Purdue University in Indiana
announced the development of a new
type of technology for drought-resis-
tant crops.
Plants with this gene can go
dormant when they don’t receive
enough water. Research assistant
Yang Zhao likens this response to
grass lawns which appear brown and
dead in drought conditions but that
start to grow again when the rain
arrives.
The research focused on rice and
the Arabidopsis plant. (This plant is
part of the mustard family and is
commonly used
for studies in
plant biology.)
The technology
could also be
applied to
crops like corn
and wheat. BF
New tech for drought-resistant crops
Sorghum is making a comeback in
American agriculture, according to a
May report from SeedWorld. While
there was a slump in production
between 1996 and 2011, total
acreage last year hit 8.5 million. The
most sorghum was grown in Kansas,
Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and
Colorado. Sorghum is noted for its
drought tolerance. According to
Chad Hayes, a specialist with the
USDA’s Agricultural Research
Service, this crop requires about 50
per cent of the water needed to grow
corn and soybeans.
Markets for this grain are growing
beyond the typical livestock feed. In
the pet food market, grain sorghum is
valued for its digestibility and cost-
competitiveness. In the health food
market, sorghum provides another
gluten-free flour option. It can even
be prepared as a snack, similar to
popcorn. BF
The resurgence of sorghum
Investors and organizations from
Russia, Thailand, China and the
Middle East are working together to
create a new dairy complex in Russia,
according to a May report from RT
News. Total investments are anticipated
to be approximately US $1 billion.
The complex will include feed
production on 40,000 to 60,000
hectares and farms with 80,000 dairy
cows. It will also include milk process-
ing facilities.
Production levels are expected to
reach 400,000 tons each year.
According to a release from the
Russian Direct Investment
Fund , which was established to
support foreign investment in the
Russian economy, this will be the
country’s “largest integrated dairy
complex.” It will be operational in
less than five years.
Other key investors include:
Charoen Pokphand Group from
Thailand, Banner Infant Dairy
Products Company from China,
and the local regional government. BF
New Russian dairy complex