Electric power from potatoes Monday, February 28, 2011 Slices of freshly cooked potatoes can provide electricity for remote, off-grid communities, says a research team at the University of Jerusalem. A slice of potato can generate light for 20 hours, and several slices could power simple medical equipment, or even a low-powered computer.The work was described last year in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy and hinges on a recent discovery that electricity flows from membranes disrupted by boiling. Potato batteries are estimated to generate electricity at a cost of about US$9 per kilowatt hour, about the same cost as AA alkaline batteries. D cells generate electricity for about $50/kWh.Expect to see another debate about "food or energy" to develop. The "antis" argue that these "food batteries" would be grown and used in areas of Africa where food may already be in short supply. Proponents, on the other hand, say many potatoes can't be moved to city markets in time to prevent them from rotting. BF ALUS and EG&S: The tangled world of ecological services Key Asian meat market in turmoil
Parliament’s shut down leaves farmers vulnerable Wednesday, January 22, 2025 In March 2025, Canada's agriculture sector and broader supply chain will face a another setback with the expiration of the extended interswitching pilot program. With Parliament prorogued until March 24th, there is effectively no opportunity to renew or make the program permanent before... Read this article online
Peavey Mart Closing 21 Stores in Ontario Wednesday, January 22, 2025 Peavey Industries LP (“Peavey”) has announced the closure of 21 Peavey Mart stores in Ontario and one store in Nova Scotia as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its operations and ensure long-term sustainability. The decision is part of an effort to streamline Peavey’s retail... Read this article online
$10 million investment supporting Ontario ag mental health Wednesday, January 22, 2025 On January 22, 2205, the Ontario provincial and federal governments announced that two initiatives designed to meet the mental health needs of the agricultural community will continue for the next three years thanks to close to $10 million in new funding. With this new funding, the... Read this article online
Tariffs and their impact on farming Wednesday, January 22, 2025 The swearing-in of a new government in Washington, DC, has brought concerns about potential tariffs on Canadian agricultural exports. With approximately 60% of Canada’s agricultural exports heading to the United States, such measures could significantly impact farmers and consumers... Read this article online
Dynasty kidney bean wins U of G Innovation of the Year award Wednesday, January 22, 2025 A kidney bean variety developed at the University of Guelph has won the school’s Innovation of the Year award for 2024. The award went to Dynasty, which Dr. Peter Pauls, a professor at the Department of Plant Agriculture at the Ontario Agricultural College, and research technician Tom... Read this article online