Global round-up

8 March 2000



Global round-up

• Hungarian dairy farmers protest over unpaid milk money
  
  Three hundred Hungarian dairy farmers took to the streets demanding billions of forints in unpaid milk money from MiZo-Baranyatej Rt, currently under liquidation.

• US Grains Council critical of Japanese GMO certification
  
  Japans mandatory certification of GMO products could blatantly disrupt U.S. agricultural export trade, claims the president of U.S. Grains Council.

• 25m biotechnology centres to study GMOs
  
  Three biotechnology centres are to be built in Ireland at a cost of 25 million.

• Hungary and Vietnam revive farm links
  
  Hungary and Vietnam could closely co-operate in scientific research and education, a senior Hungarian agriculture ministry official has announced.

• Ion beam bio-engineering improves crops in China
  Chinese scientists have successfully bred seven new strains of crops by using “ion beam bio-engineering ” technology.

• Alamo acquires Schwarze Industries
  Tractor mounted mowing equipment manufacturer Alamo Group Inc. acquired Schwarze Industries Inc, a privately owned manufacturer of sweeping equipment.

• Irish farmer guilty of importing BSE-infected cow into his herd
  
  An Irish has farmer pleaded guilty to deliberately importing a cow infected with BSE into his herd so that he could claim compensation.

• Deere & Co acquires parts distributor
  
  Deere & Company has acquired Sunbelt Outdoor Products — a regional distributor of parts for all makes of outdoor power equipment.

• Latvia bans import of Danish beef
  
  Latvia has banned the import of Danish beef following discovery of a case of BSE in Denmark.

• New Deere & Co director named
  
  Deere & Company has announced the election of Thomas H Patrick to its board of directors.

• Czech women protest over poultry conditions
  
  Female animal rights activists gathered in front of the Czech Senate to protest about living conditions for Czech hens.

• Low prices threaten Zimbabwe beef exports
  
  Zimbabwes Cold Storage Company (CSC) will continue to fall short of its beef export quota to the EU until it pays competitive prices to local ranchers, an industry official has claimed.

• New BSE case in France
  
  A NEW case of mad cow disease has been detected in France, the seventh since the beginning of the year, authorities said.

• India launches major GM programme
  
  The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has announced the launch of a major project to develop genetically engineered cotton, rice and pigeon pea that are resistant to major devastating pests

• Rwanda investigates “toxic waste” pesticide from Europe
  
  The Rwandan parliament is investigating persistent claims that pesticide sent by European countries was in fact toxic waste.