TRADE, TRADE RELATED ISSUES:
U.K. Mulling Turkey-Style Trade Pact After Brexit, Liam Fox Says - Bloomberg - By Timothy Ross (Dec 18)
Link:?https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-18/u-k-mulling-turkey-style-trade-pact-after-brexit-liam-fox-saysInternational Trade Secretary Liam Fox strikes new trade deals with South Korea leading to post-Brexit jobs and exports boost - The Sun (UK) - By David Wooding (Dec 18)
"The International Trade Secretary ?expects it to open up lucrative new markets for UK goods once Britain leaves the EU next year"
Link:?https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2424427/international-trade-secretary-liam-fox-strikes-new-trade-deals-with-south-korea-leading-to-post-brexit-jobs-and-exports-boost/
Exclusive: Britain will be front of the queue for trade deal with US under Donald Trump's new commerce secretary - The Telegraph (UK) - By Ben Riley-Smith (Dec 17)
Link:?http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/17/exclusive-britain-will-front-queue-trade-deal-us-donald-trumps/EU sees Japan free-trade deal in early 2017 - Reuters (Dec 17)
Link:?http://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-eu-idUSKBN1460GFRussia: EU prolongs economic sanctions by six months - European Council of the European Union, Press Release (Dec 19)
Link:?http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/12/19-sanctions-russia/Ernst: Expanded trade opportunities critical for Iowa - Iowa Farm Bureau - By Senator Joni Ernst (Dec 19)
Link:?https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/Article/Ernst-Expanded-trade-opportunities-critical-for-IowaIs Donald Trump?s Trade Talk Confusing on Purpose? - Wall Street Journal - By William Mauldin (Dec 22)
"Some experts see a strategy for approaching negotiations with China and other countries"
Link:?http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2016/12/22/is-donald-trumps-trade-talk-confusing-on-purpose/A tough year for free trade - DW (Germany) - By Rolf Wenkel (Dec 27)
"Donald Trump in the US and rising populist parties in Europe - 2016 wasn't a good year for advocates of free trade. Recent studies have identified some key aspects of globalization that nativists fear most."
Link:?http://www.dw.com/en/a-tough-year-for-free-trade/a-36865533
Editorial: Panama's new canal and Chicago: A plus for the Midwest, but also a triumph of human yearning - Chicago Tribune (Dec 28)
Trade worries dim optimism for the new year - Southwest Farm Press - By Logan Hawkes (Dec 28)
"Trade and Secretary of Agriculture appointment remain concerns as President-elect Trump gets closer to Inauguration Day. Trans Pacific Partnership and North American Free Trade Agreements are key trade deals concerning farmers who depend on export markets."
AG, AG TECH, PRODUCTION, RESEARCH, RELATED ISSUES:
Scientists get down and dirty to unlock northern Australia's agricultural potential - ABC (Australia) - By Dominique Schwartz (Dec 19)
"The samples are now being analysed as part of the Federal Government's multi-billion-dollar plan to develop the Top End and double the nation's agricultural output." Link:?http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-18/scientists-dig-up-the-dirt-on-northern-australia/8124142Farmers are abandoning traditional ploughing - BBC - By?
Link:?http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-38332276 *Note - story includes GFN member Jake Freestone (UK)Survey Shows Producer Support for GMO Crops - Agri-Pulse - By Spencer Chase (Dec 16)
Link:?http://www.agri-pulse.com/Survey-shows-producer-support-for-GMO-crops-12162016.asp#.WFcR2RMjd7s.twitterCuba comenzar? cultivos transg?nicos de ma?z y soya en 2017 - El Espectador / AFP (Dec 17)
"Si bien este pa?s cultivar? especies transg?nicas a gran escala con el fin de disminuir su d?ficit alimentario, lo har? bajo estricto control cient?fico y legal." Translated: Cuba to begin transgenic corn and soybean crops in 2017 - "Although this country will grow transgenic species on a large scale in order to reduce its food deficit, it will do so under strict scientific and legal control."Global omega-3 supply set for GM plant shock??- NutraIngredients.com - By Shane Starling (Dec 20)
"The omega-3 sector has faced down some mega challenges in recent times: Sustainability concerns. Research questioning health benefits that has affected global markets.?But volume may be its greatest challenge."
Link:?http://www.nutraingredients.com/Markets-and-Trends/Global-omega-3-supply-set-for-GM-plant-shock
Pesticide sensors could be saving grace for agriculture - Southwest Farm Press - By Logan Hawkes (Dec 22)
"This biosensor is made of graphene, a strong and stable nanoparticle, and provides instantaneous feedback versus the time and money it would otherwise take to send a sample to a lab and await results." Link:?http://www.southwestfarmpress.com/crop-protection/pesticide-sensors-could-be-saving-grace-agricultureAustralia's OGTR Authorizes Field Trials of GM Banana - Crop Biotech Update, ISAAA (Dec 21)
Link:?http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=15038POLICY, REGULATION, ACTIVISM, OTHER:
Californian farmers delight in US Government $A766 million drought aid package - ABC Rural (Australia) - By Sarina Locke (Dec 19)
"After years of wrangling over water allocations for the environment and fish, the legislation was approved by the US House and Senate, and signed by President Obama." Link:?http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-19/californian-drought-assistance-package/8131570Important wins were notched up for African agriculture in?2016 - The Conversation - By Calestous Juma (Dec 18)
"Leaders need to upgrade their capacity to govern increasingly complex agricultural economies if they?re to sustain the gains seen and reported in 2016." Link:?http://theconversation.com/important-wins-were-notched-up-for-african-agriculture-in-2016-69907No mandatory labelling needed for GM foods, Commons committee says - iPolitics (Canada) - By Kelsey Johnson (Dec 14)
Link:?http://ipolitics.ca/2016/12/14/no-mandatory-labelling-needed-for-gm-foods-commons-committee-says/Del Monte?s pretty in pink with OK for GMO - Food Safety News - By Coral Beach (Dec 20)
Link:?http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2016/12/beach-beat-del-montes-pretty-in-pink-with-ok-for-gmo/#.WFlemuYrKUkAffluent nations? anti-GMO stance is arrogant - The Packer - By Joe Guenthner (Dec 19)
"... he pointed his finger at me and said people in the U.S. interfered in Africa and prevented approval of a biotech corn variety that was resistant to drought." Link:?http://www.thepacker.com/news/opinion/affluent-nations%E2%80%99-anti-gmo-stance-arrogantUSDA Demands Holiday Snacks (and Parents) Be Removed from Schools - National Review - By Julie Gunlock (Dec 21)
Link:?http://www.nationalreview.com/article/443243/school-food-rules-christmas-cookie-crisis-fears-empower-federal-governmentCalifornia applauds President's signature on massive water bill - Western Farm Press - By Todd Fitchette (Dec 18)
"California farmers and water users applaud President's signature on massive water bill though most say it's the "first step" in a long journey to repairing the state's broken water system"
GM soybeans risk evaluation: EU court finds for Commission - Feed Navigator?- By Jane Byrne (Dec 21)
"Monsanto developed genetically modified soybeans were risk assessed in accordance with EU regulations, found the EU Court of Justice (CJEU)."
Link:?http://www.feednavigator.com/Regulation/GM-soybeans-risk-evaluation-EU-court-finds-for-Commission
