News items related to ag biotech, trade ? and perhaps some other interesting items out there related to agriculture ? will be posted on this page throughout the week (as the week progresses newly added items will be in?green at bottom of sections). ?Be sure to check in regularly!   **Senate passes GMO labeling compromise - Farm Futures (July 8) "The Senate on Thursday passed the Roberts-Stabenow compromise on GMO labeling, 63-30" Link:?http://farmfutures.com/story-senate-passes-gmo-labeling-compromise-0-143745

POLICY, LABELING, REGULATION, etc.:

As Vermont GMO law takes effect, Senate debates national standard -?Minneapolis Star Tribune - By Jim Spencer (July 2)

"Last Friday, Vermont implemented the country?s first law that makes food distributors reveal the presence of genetically engineered ingredients...In a few weeks, that law could be dead."

Link:?http://www.startribune.com/as-vermont-gmo-law-takes-effect-senate-debates-national-standard/385247351/

How vegetarians, gluten-frees, grain-frees and other L.A. food tribes ruined my BBQ tradition - Los Angeles Times - Op-ed by Robin Rauzi (July 1) "Back in 2011, when the tradition began, I didn?t fully appreciate the proliferation of distinct food tribes, many of which would have starved in the spear-chucking days." Link:?http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-rauzi-la-bbq-food-tribes-20160701-snap-story.html

Ag?s aging infrastructure: Capital needed to modernize, expand - Southwest Farm Press - By Ron Smith (July 5)

Link:?http://southwestfarmpress.com/management/ag-s-aging-infrastructure-capital-needed-modernize-expand

France will trial mandatory country of origin labelling for two years?- Food Navigator -?By Niamh Michail?(July 6)

"France will be trialling mandatory country of origin labelling for meat and dairy in prepared foods for two years, a move which has split industry."

Link:?http://www.foodnavigator.com/Policy/France-will-trial-mandatory-country-of-origin-labelling-for-two-years

Consumer survey suggests Vermont GMO labels ?strongly mislead consumers,? claims CRA?- Food Navigator USA -?By Elaine Watson?(July 6)

"An industry-backed survey of 1,665 online primary shoppers suggests that Vermont?s mandatory GMO labels ?strongly mislead consumers,? claims the Corn Refiners Association (CRA)."

Link:?http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Markets/Vermont-GMO-labels-strongly-mislead-consumers-claims-CRA

EPA Gives More Time to Comment on Atrazine - AgWeb - By Alison Rice (July 6)

Link:?http://www.agweb.com/article/epa-gives-more-time-to-comment-on-atrazine-naa-alison-rice/

Report: Vermont Supermarkets Lose 3,000 Products Over GMO Law - AgWeb - By Ben Potter (July 6)

Link:?http://www.agweb.com/article/report-vermont-supermarkets-lose-3000-products-over-gmo-law-naa-ben-potter/

Editorial -?Vermont's newest export is bad GMO policy - Los Angeles Times, Editorial (July 7)

"It?is wrong to let the baseless fears of certain?consumers dictate national food policy."

Link:?http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-gmo-bill-20160706-snap-story.html

TRADE:

Obama backtracks on trade warning after Brexit?vote - New York Post / AP (July 2) "President Barack Obama is backtracking on his warning that Britain would go to the ?back of the queue? for a U.S. trade deal, as he tries to contain the fallout of the U.K.?s decision to leave the European Union." Link:?http://nypost.com/2016/07/02/obama-backtracks-on-trade-warning-after-brexit-vote/

Potential Clinton VP Perez still supports trade deal - Politico - By Kevin Robillard (July 3)

Link: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/tom-perez-trade-pacific-225067#ixzz4DT5D1yXM CETA and TTIP threaten the EU?s precautionary principle - EurActiv -?By C?cile Barbi?re;?Translated By Samuel White?(July 1) Link:?http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/ceta-and-ttip-threaten-the-eus-precautionary-principle/

Is Free Trade Dead? - Investor's Business Daily - Commentary by Terry Jones (July 2)

"[C]riticizing trade deals because they make trade freer is a little like criticizing the Indy 500 because the cars go fast."

Link:?http://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/is-free-trade-dead-clinton-trump-fight/

Protectionism won't make America great - Columbia Tribune (Missouri) - By Rich Lowry, Creators Syndicate (July 5)

Link:?http://www.columbiatribune.com/opinion/columnists/protectionism-won-t-make-america-great/article_4b84af16-4663-5544-a65d-2307c52bfe6c.html   ***Conflicting messages coming from Europe... TTIP impossible in 2016, French minister says - EurActiv / AFP (July 5) Link:?https://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/ttip-impossible-in-2016-french-minister-says/

TTIP free trade deal between U.S. and EU at dead end: Italy minister - Reuters (July 5)

Link:?http://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-usa-ttip-italy-idUSKCN0ZL1JV

EU trade officials reiterate Brexit won't derail TTIP talks - KTIC / DTN/Progressive Farmer (July 5)

Link:?http://kticradio.com/agricultural/eu-trade-officials-reiterate-brexit-wont-derail-ttip-talks/

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U.S. trade chief says China offer falls short, UK could join TPP - Reuters (July 6)

Link:?https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/u-trade-chief-says-china-222612880.html

A Chance for a Catfish Vote - The Wall Street Journal, Review & Outlook (editorial) (July 6)

"Failing to repeal would set up a WTO showdown that the U.S. could lose."

Link:?http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-chance-for-a-catfish-vote-1467834756

China?s pork imports will hit record highs?- Food Navigator Asia -?By Oscar Rousseau?(July 6)

"Imports of pig meat to China will boom by a third as the government shuts down unsuitable farms and the sow herd shrinks to an historic low, analysts have claimed."

Link:?http://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Markets/China-s-pork-imports-will-hit-record-highs

Why Britain Belongs in a New Nafta - The Wall Street Journal - Opinion by Robert B. Zoellick (July 7)

"After Brexit, the U.S. must help prevent Europe from slipping into nativism and protectionism."

Link:?http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-britain-belongs-in-a-new-nafta-1467932567

AG TECH, FOOD SECURITY, OTHER:

Rwanda: Govt to Unveil Position On GMOs Use After Enacting Biosafety Law - allAfrica / Rwanda Focus - By Michel Nkurunziza (June 30)

Link:?http://allafrica.com/stories/201607010048.html

Nobelists To Greenpeace: Drop Your Anti-Science Anti-GMO Campaign - Forbes.com - By Steven Salzberg (July 4)

Link:?http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2016/07/04/nobelists-to-greenpeace-drop-your-anti-science-anti-gmo-campaign/#131df93f3ad7

Nigeria: Exploring Biotech Cotton Opportunities - allAfrica / Daily Trust (Nigeria) - Opinion by Rose Gidado (July 3)

"A major public policy issue in West Africa is not whether, but how to introduce Bt.-cotton in the region"

Link:?http://allafrica.com/stories/201607030311.html

Inside Scotts Miracle-Gro's Plan For GMO Grass - Forbes - By Dan Alexander (July 26 issue)

Link:?http://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2016/07/06/inside-scotts-miracle-gros-plan-for-gmo-grass/#22e70f8856cd

Fighting Zika in the US: ?The Battle Over GMO Mosquitoes - ABC News - By Gillian Mohney and Justine Quart (July 6) "How one island in the Florida Keys could change the way we fight mosquito-borne diseases." Link:?http://abcnews.go.com/Health/deepdive/fighting-zika-40277607 1 In 10 People May Face Malnutrition As Fish Catches Decline - NPR, The Salt - By Clare Leschin-Hoar (June 30) Link:?http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/06/30/484015370/1-in-10-people-may-face-malnutrition-as-fish-catches-decline

Why the African food basket should be full of beans and other?pulses?- The Conversation - By?Nokuthula Vilakati?(July 5)

Link:?https://theconversation.com/why-the-african-food-basket-should-be-full-of-beans-and-other-pulses-60207

What Would a World Without GMOs Look Like? - National Geographic, The Plate - By April Fulton (June 29)

"Without genetically-modified foods, we might have to give up oranges and resign ourselves to living with avian flu and more malnutrition." Link:?http://www.nationalgeographic.com/people-and-culture/food/the-plate/2016/06/what-would-a-world-without-gmos-look-like-/#.V3wUYVwYO-g.twitter

Companies woo consumers with GMO crops with health benefits?- Des Moines Register - By Christopher Doering (July 8)

"DuPont Pioneer, Monsanto and other companies working on genetically modified technologies are?focusing more?attention on creating foods that improve public health and provide convenience for shoppers."

Link:?http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2016/07/07/companies-woo-consumers-gmo-crops-health-benefits/86476200/