PMAC weekly update 25th November to 2nd December

1. New Zealand News: New High Commissioner in South Africa; Foreign Minister to visit the United Arab Emirates; Trade for All Board releases recommendations; The Real Cost of Vegetables; New Zealand's agriculture sectors come together to plan way forward with climate change mitigation; Continued growth expected internationally for two New Zealand apple and pear varieties; More New Zealand visas for temporary seasonal workers; Future proofing vegetable growing in Pukekohe; "This season had record numbers of consumers creating unprecedented demand"; Picking season is nearing for Southland's only blueberry farm; New report looks into Kiwi's eating behaviours and food consumption; New members join Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Investment Advisory Panel; Onions abandoned a century ago in Antarctica were found; Rutherford Foundation postdoctoral fellowship awarded; Growers more than double olive production with new techniques; NZ consumers asked to support growers after Canterbury hail storm; Lineage Logistics acquires Emergent Cold

2. International news: EU regulations obstruct biological crop protection; Ireland: Minister launches plant health and biosecurity strategy; Freshfel Europe launches Consumption Monitor 2019; Japan’s $50 strawberries that New York’s chefs are looking for; Chinese frozen vegetable export facing pricing pressure; Strawberry picking robot; E.coli recall in US; Prices likely to go up on romaine and leafy greens post-CDC advisory; E. coli outbreak in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, has ended; Leafy greens work well but cereals and fruits are a challenge’; Use of Nanofertilizers; Without state support, Russian flower growers face bankruptcy; Aluminum sensor on the sleeves indicates vase life; Study says onions may lower risk of cancer; Microbes ‘set to be an integral part of agriculture over the next 20-30 years’

Editors comments A great variety of articles in the New Zealand section this week. Three articles however touch on the common issue of work underway that helps growers to keep pace with the increasing rate of regulation. Mike Chapman warns that the country must be careful not to force grower out of business because of the cost of increased requirements it will cost all of society a considerable amount in terms of increased fresh produce prices and decreased health – a salient reminder.

In the international section food safety features strongly . Two e coli outbreaks have occurred – one in the USA and the other in Canada . In total between the two countries 97 people are known to have been made sick. Not such a lot of people across these two big countries you might but large enough to interrupt supplies of fresh leafy greens in both countries. And as one article says one death would be one death too many. One article looks at the effect of the outbreaks on a supply business and another predicts that

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fresh greens production will be forced indoor to reduce the possibility for contamination . The third predicts significant increases in the cost of leafy greens. All interesting reading and if nothing else they again underline the need for making sure none of our sectors make international headlines in this area.

1. New Zealand News

1.1. New High Commissioner in South Africa Sarah Lee has been appointed as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to South Africa. She will be the first female Head of Mission to represent New Zealand in Africa. Ms Lee currently serves as Deputy Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Wellington. She has also served in the Americas, Strategy, Economic, and Australia Divisions at the Ministry, as well as at the New Zealand High Commission in London. Full article available here

1.2.Foreign Minister to visit the United Arab Emirates Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters travelled last week to the United Arab Emirates, one of New Zealand’s most important partners in the Middle East. While in the UAE Mr Peters meet with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Full article available here

1.3.Trade for All Board releases recommendations The Trade for All Advisory Board has released its recommendations for making New Zealand’s trade policy deliver for all New Zealanders.  “The report builds on existing work while also providing new insights and ideas. In the first quarter of 2020 a comprehensive all-of-government response to the Board’s recommendations is expected . 

“Interesting findings include the suggestion trade policy should avoid putting future governments in a position where they need to choose between implementing their election policies and remaining in existing international agreements. “The report also notes that Investor-state Dispute Settlement (ISDS) clauses have damaged public trust and confidence in trade agreements.” The Government has instructed trade negotiators to oppose the inclusion of ISDS clauses in future trade agreements. The board’s report is available at:  https://www.tradeforalladvisoryboard.org.nz/ Full article available here

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Commentary

1.4.The Real Cost of VegetablesThe real cost of vegetables is in the health of New Zealanders.  Only 40% of us are eating enough vegetables and fruit. 

But the other cost is ensuring that those who grow vegetables can continue to produce healthy food.  The cost to the country and consumers will be when the growers can no longer afford to grow.  This is because the cost of growing vegetables – due to compliance and council requirements – has increased exponentially over the past decade.  However, in many cases, returns to growers have not increased.  This is a zero-sum game that at some point will make continuing to grow healthy food uneconomic.

Add to this scenario the expense and effort involved in meeting climate change and freshwater quality commitments.  Hort NZ are concerned that a number of farming, fruit, berry, vegetable growing and urban businesses will struggle to find the money to fund these climate and freshwater quality commitments.  These costs will affect urban businesses as equally as rural though in the majority of cases, rural New Zealand will have a much greater commitment.

Imports will not be the answer as with the increase in world population and the decrease in food production due to climate change, reliance on other countries to feed New Zealand will not only be unaffordable or unsustainable but may not be at all possible. Full article available here

1.5.New Zealand's agriculture sectors come together to plan way forward with climate change mitigation

New Zealand horticulture, as part of that country’s primary production sector, has welcomed the New Zealand Government’s endorsement of the plan the industry developed to reduce climate change.The plan is called the Primary Sector Climate Change Commitment, or "He Waka Eke Noa, Our Future in Our Hands". "The Government’s endorsement of the plan sends the strong message that if you respond to the Government’s objectives, it is likely to let you get on with it.

Mr Chapman says the key to making and demonstrating progress is audited Farm Environment Plans."These plans are a vehicle for growers to deliver freshwater quality outcomes, and reduce environmental impact," he explained. "So, it fits nicely together. Through Farm Environment Plans, we can measure progress and deliver on the agreement that we have with the Government."

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HortNZ has also started work to identify the research and development needed for horticulture to continue to prosper and be able to meet medium to long term climate change commitments."We need new techniques and technology if we are going to meet the new targets. Our industry’s biggest challenges are to be as effective as possible with fertiliser and water application. That’s why tech transfer in the area of precision horticulture is so important,”. Full article available here

1.6.Continued growth expected internationally for two New Zealand apple and pear varieties

A long-standing New Zealand apple and pear exporter is expecting two of its 'exciting varieties' to again be in hot demand in 2020.Fern Ridge Fresh supply the Piqa®Boo® Pear and KORU® Apple, which led the way for the company in a great year for apple exports into China and South East Asia." effectively living up to its tagline 'Escape Ordinary' and resulting in exceeding demand.

The Hastings based company has been exporting New Zealand’s finest apples since 1997 on behalf of some of New Zealand’s leading growers located across the country; in Hawkes Bay, Nelson, Timaru, Central Otago and Gisborne. Fern Ridge Fresh have seen a large growth in Vietnam China and surrounding Asian markets. The company believes that New Zealand offer unique varieties which are setting new standards for flavour and appearance, which have been bred with the global consumer in mind. Full article available here

1.7.More New Zealand visas for temporary seasonal workersThe number of temporary visas for foreign seasonal workers will increase by just over 3000 in the next two years. In the first year, 1550 more visas will be available for workers from the Pacific to come to New Zealand under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.

Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said the industry would also need to up its game and make sure more accommodation was built for workers. Lees-Galloway said restrictions would be placed on the further use of residential housing by seasonal workers to prevent New Zealanders being squeezed out of local housing by the increased cap: “Full article available here

1.8.Future proofing vegetable growing in PukekoheMore than 50 people are finding more about how to manage vegetable growing in Pukekohe in a changing regulatory environment, thanks to Horticulture New Zealand, Vegetables New Zealand, Potatoes New Zealand, Onions New Zealand and the Pukekohe Vegetable Growers’ Association. 

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‘Growers, their advisers, fertiliser companies, and Auckland Council attended our first workshop,’ says Horticulture New Zealand Sustainability and Extension Manager, Ailsa Robertson. 

‘‘What the horticulture industry needs is evidence of its good management of the land and water as we advocate for fair and reasonable rules for vegetable growing across New Zealand. ‘That is where Farm Environment Plans come in, audited under the New Zealand Good Agricultural Practice (NZGAP) Environmental Management System (EMS)*.  ‘Auckland Council is very supportive of this approach.  The next workshop - on farm mapping and soil control - will be in February 2020. Full article available here

1.9.This season had record numbers of consumers creating unprecedented demand

The last of New Zealand’s 2019 kiwifruit crop has been shipped, with four containers of Zespri Green leaving Tauranga for North Asia, unloading in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Over the course of the season Zespri moved 44 full charter shiploads and 17,160 containers, or more than 500,000 ton in total, to its markets.

While the number of containers shipped was slightly down on the previous record year, the 2019 season was still the second-largest crop ever harvested by New Zealand’s kiwifruit growers while it also marked the first season Zespri exported more SunGold than Green.

In total, over 74 million trays of Zespri’s SunGold and 73 million trays of Green were supplied to global consumers and customers from New Zealand this season. The first vessel expected to export the new season’s fruit will be in March 2020. Full article available here

1.10. Picking season is nearing for Southland's only blueberry farmWith 220 hectares of land planted in bushes, Otautau's Blueberry Country will be opening its gates to the public this summer, for the eight-week season. Blueberry Country general manager Simon Bardon said the 10 staff members were hoping to be able to welcome visiting pickers from early January through till the end of February. Full article available here

Bits and pieces

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1.11. New report looks into Kiwi's eating behaviours and food consumption

A partnership between leading life science company Bayer and the NZ Nutrition Foundation (NZNF) released the insights from its inaugural Bayer Food Focus Project, taking a look into Kiwis’ eating behaviours and food consumption.

Findings from the survey indicate that respondents Identified the amount of plastic packaging as their top concern when making

decisions to purchase food and beverages, (42 percent) Only 27 percent identified that knowing their food was produced in an

environmentally sustainable way (including organic) was extremely or very important.

21 percent found the use of modern farming techniques to be extremely or very important

Collectively, 30 percent of respondents stated that they currently are or have been in the last 12 months vegetarian or vegan with a further eight percent stating that they have followed a flexitarian diet in the same period. ( higher among younger people )

Older participants were less likely to rank environmental sustainability as an important factor when making decisions around food. To read the full report, click here. Full article available here

1.12. New members join Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Investment Advisory Panel

Lucy Griffiths of Masterton and Anne-Marie Broughton of Whanganui have been appointed to the MPI’s Independent Investment Advisory Panel (IAP) for Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFF Futures). The IAP performs an important role in SFF Futures by providing independent expert advice on both funding proposals and active programmes.

From farming roots in Southland, Lucy Griffiths has run her own marketing, sales, and export company – Innov8 Aotearoa – for the past decade and has worked with some of the country's premium producers. She is a Nuffield New Zealand scholar, and holds various board appointments including Wools of New Zealand, Great South, and Central Economic Development Agency. She was recently re-elected to the Masterton Community Trust and Trust House.

Anne-Marie Broughton has significant experience in sustainable business development, including Māori agribusiness, project and change management, strategy development and implementation, and governance. Her experience includes leading the start-up of Māori food innovation venture Kaitahi – The Native Superfood Company, Te Rua o Te Moko dairy farm, which won the 2014 Ahu Whenua Trophy, and over 5 years as Kaiwhakahaere/CEO for her iwi.

Lucy Griffiths and Anne-Marie Broughton join existing IAP members Steve Smith (chair), Barry Brook, Zoe Attwood, and Harry Burkhardt. MPI and the IAP farewell John Parker,

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whose term as chair of the IAP recently ended and Sir Maarten Wevers, For further information about SFF FuturesFull article available here

1.13. Onions abandoned a century ago in Antarctica were foundThe New Zealand organization, Antarctic Heritage Trust, reported their organization had found  red onions that had been abandoned more than a century ago in the Discovery cabin(last used 1916) , on the Antarctic island of Ross. The onions had not rotted, had no signs of mould, and are clearly identifiable. "They are wrinkled and deformed, but they are clearly identifiable. It's easy to see that they are red onions thanks to their pink tint. Full article available here

1.14. Rutherford Foundation postdoctoral fellowship awardedPlant & Food Research postdoctoral scientist Dr Jay Jayaraman is undertaking research which aims to identify the first Psa-resistant R-gene system that is naturally present in some non-industrial kiwifruit species, with the ultimate goal of breeding a durable commercial cultivar. This requires developing a deep understanding of the interaction between kiwifruit and Psa. Using molecular genetics, gene-knockout, and gene-replacement techniques, Dr Jayaraman will identify the effectors and corresponding R-genes that trigger resistance.

Additionally, he will determine which R-genes are the ones that recognise and target the most pernicious effectors, to ensure the durability of a future Psa-resistant cultivar. Once identified, fast and accurate natural breeding strategies can be used to develop a new cultivar for orchards that have long-term resistance to Psa, eliminating the need for chemical controls. Full article available here

1.15. Growers more than double olive production with new techniques Olives New Zealand has completed research and developed new techniques, which have enabled olive production to more than double and improve the issue of biennial bearing. This could see the local share of the olive oil market grow to 20 percent. Low production was found to be better managed through better pruning and disease control. ‘’Olives New Zealand has received MPI funding for a further three years to see if production can be extended by an additional 5kg per tree, and will include revising harvesting methods. It will also trial organic methods of production Full article available here

1.16. NZ consumers asked to support growers after Canterbury hail storm

New Zealanders are being asked to put taste and nutrition above the appearance of leafy green vegetables, after the hailstorm that struck Canterbury last week. The storm, which

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saw hailstones the size of eggs, caused damage to crops across the region. Central Canterbury vegetable grower Allen Lim said he had been 'wiped out' and stands to lose more than $100,000: "I grow around 50 hectares of processed peas and leafy greens, including pak choi, cabbages, spring onions and silverbeet, between Lincoln and Rolleston, all of these crops have been damaged.” Lim said while some may recover, they're likely to have blemishes on the outer leaves, which most people don't eat anyway. "Full article available here

1.17. Lineage Logistics acquires Emergent ColdLineage Logistics Holdings has announced it has signed definitive agreements to acquire Emergent Cold. This acquisition strengthens the company’s leading port presence in the United States and signifies its entry into the Australian, New Zealand, and Sri Lankan temperature-controlled logistics markets, building on Lineage’s existing presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Its global footprint now spans North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Full article available here

2. International news

Comment

Regulatory

2.1.EU regulations obstruct biological crop protectionCrop protection agents must become more sustainable. The EU and the Dutch government therefore accord preference to biological agents that work on the basis of micro-organisms and insects. However, new research conducted by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and other institutes reveals that EU regulations make it unnecessarily expensive, cumbersome and time-consuming to admit new biological crop protection agents. Fewer sustainable agents based on micro-organisms are entering the market as a result. This poses an obstacle to the rapid, green transition of agriculture. Biological crop protection products need to offer an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical protection agents in European agriculture and horticulture. A switch to biological protection will be of benefit to the quality of surface water and biodiversity. Full article available here

2.2.Ireland: Minister launches plant health and biosecurity strategyThe Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture, Andrew Doyle, T.D., last week launched DAFM’s Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy. This strategy outlines the

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importance of plant health biosecurity for Ireland, as well as ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are aware of the risks to plant health in Ireland, and their role and responsibilities to reduce that risk.

Ireland is recognised as having a favourable plant health status which means that many of the pests and diseases of plants which are present elsewhere are still absent from Ireland. A fully functional and efficient biosecurity system helps to protect our forestry, horticulture and wider agriculture sectors, including tillage and grassland. The strategy will also play an important role in protecting the wider environment. Full article available here

Business/ Industry

2.3.Freshfel Europe launches Consumption Monitor 2019: Freshfel Europe’s latest edition of its Consumption Monitor shows that since 2013 EU consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables has very slowly picked up again after a noticeable decreasing trend since the turn of the century.

The data shows that consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables in the EU-28 stands at 348 grams per capita per day. This represents a slight decrease of 1.1% compared to 2016 but is an increase of 2.4% compared to the average of the previous five years (2012-2016). This increase of consumption over the last four consecutive years is hopefully a positive sign of increasing awareness of the importance of fruit and vegetables in the daily diet and should encourage both the public and private sector to step up efforts to promote the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables. Full article available here

2.4.Japan’s $50 strawberries that New York’s chefs are looking forAt the end of October, diners at New York restaurant Sushi Ginza Onodera could have ended their 19-course meal with a pair of whole strawberries. They are presented to the diners as the dessert course, placed in a silver-flecked glass bowl without anything added. But these juicy, aromatic, and tender strawberries are not the typical supermarket or even farmers market variety. These are “Omakase berries,” a specialty fruit from a Kearny, New Jersey-based company called Oishii. “The sweetness is completely different Full article available here

2.5.Chinese frozen vegetable export facing pricing pressureThe rising prices of frozen vegetables over recent years have undoubtedly reduced the competitiveness of many Chinese frozen vegetable exporters in the international market. The industry as a whole is now facing many challenges. Miya, the head of Qingdao Sunnywell, talked about the export of Chinese frozen vegetables.

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“Germany, the Netherlands, and Eastern European countries are our main overseas markets. Thanks to fixed sales channels, our annual export volume has been stable at 2,000-3,000 tons over recent years. Overall, the added value of Chinese frozen vegetables is lower, so when competing with similar products from other countries, pricing is leveraged as a competitive edge,” Miya said.

“Currently, the challenge that Chinese frozen fruit and vegetable exporters are facing is that product prices are getting higher and higher. To analyze objectively, costs of raw materials haven’t been fluctuating wildly, but the rising environmental-protection fees, labor costs, and other fees have led product prices to rise once and again. Now, Chinese frozen vegetables are even more expensive than those from Egypt and India. Full article available here

2.6.Strawberry picking robot Human and machine have 10 seconds per plant. They must find the ripe strawberries in the leaves, gently twist them off the stems and tuck them into a plastic clamshell. Repeat, repeat, repeat, before the fruit spoils. Designing a robot with a gentle touch is among the biggest technical obstacles to automating this process. Reasonably priced fruits and vegetables are at risk without it, growers say, because of a dwindling pool of workers.

The problem is so pressing that competitors in the USA are banding together to fund the robot which has raised about $9 million from corporate behemoths like Driscoll’s and Naturipe Farms, as well as from local farmers. The result the electronic picker is still pretty clumsy. During a test run last year, it gathered 20 percent of strawberries on every plant without mishap. This year‘s goal: Harvest half of the fruit without crushing or dropping any. The human success rate is closer to 80 percent. The aim is for the robot to do the work of 30 people. Full article available here

Food safety2.7.E.coli recall in US

The FDA has not yet linked any specific romaine lettuce grower, supplier, distributor, or brand to the E.coli outbreak in Salinas, California. This week the outbreak has spread further with 67 people reported sick in 19 states. Just like last year around Thanksgiving, the advice is not to eat Romaine lettuce. Other than last year, the FDA declared a specific growing region (Salinas) and says indoor grown lettuce is safe. "Outbreaks like these are another confirmation that the future of the industry will be indoors",.

It's partly because of situations like these that food safety in general has become the driving force behind the development of hydroponic lettuce in both Europe and America. "There are many opportunities in the indoor industry. Retailers want to avoid situations like these, where people get sick and they have to recall product. They want a continuous supply of traceable, packed produce that's guaranteed safely grown and that

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has a story they can share with their consumers. The quality of the indoor grown lettuce, the freshness and the sustainable way of growing offer additional opportunities in this."  It's shown on the indoor grown lettuce in the US: other than in Europe, the product is easy recognisable by the words 'indoor grown' or 'greenhouse grown' on the packaging. It's a quality label, and not only when there's a food crisis

2.8.Prices likely to go up on romaine and leafy greens post-CDC advisoryFollowing the recall and advisory warning that was issued late last week in the USA over romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas, Ca. region, at least one food distributor is hoping for some long-term change while dealing with the short-term effects of the warning. As of November 25th, a total of 67 people are confirmed to have been infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7, found in romaine lettuce. The infected people are spread across at least 19 states. 

Liability is one major issue of contention for Brent Erenwert whose company, Brothers Produce Houston/Houston Cold Storage based in Houston, Tex., has customers in restaurants, schools and some retail. “I have products in this growing area because my customers are mandating who I buy from,” he says. “But what happens is I’m now stuck holding the bag when there’s an advisory and not a recall because the customers aren’t going to see the product.”

While he notes that yet another advisory on romaine lettuce is another mark against the produce industry, he’s thankful it’s not like the late 2018 North American-wide recall of romaine, which saw grocery store shelves cleared completely of the leafy green. “This time at least they did an advisory over a growing area but it’s in all sorts of salad mixes, romaine hearts and other different value-added items,”.

He’s also predicting that soon, if not already, the industry will see escalated markets on romaine. I expect elevated prices for several weeks because farmers need to recoup this money. They’ll have to keep their prices up. If it’s anything like the last go-around, I expect to see this thing stay high for the next 60-90 days. We’ve got to catch up on those volumes.”

Additionally, other leafy greens are also likely to go up in price and demand as well. “In the end, users are going to be afraid of romaine in general,”

Looking ahead though, Erenwert remains concerned over the bigger issue: how can these advisories be prevented or stopped from happening? “What is the number that triggers an advisory to a recall? I’ve never heard an answer to that question,” says Erenwert. “One person dying is one too many. He also wonders what may happen to romaine as a commodity in general in the future. “I’ve heard so many farmers talk about so many recalls tied to romaine over the past four to five years that we may start seeing romaine make a retreat,” adds Erenwert. Full article available here

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2.9.E. coli outbreak in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, has endedIn October there were reports of an E. Coli outbreak in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Health officials now say that the outbreak has ended. Test results from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg have shown that Newfoundland and Labrador was the only affected province in Canada that was affected by the outbreak. 30 cases overall were confirmed by the province’s western, central, and eastern health authorities, reports the provincial Department of Health and Community. In a statement they say that the “probable source” of the bacteria was spinach, but there is no longer a health risk because the source has been removed from the food supply. Full article available here

2.10. Leafy greens work well but cereals and fruits are a challenge’

With the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis becoming increasingly pressing, we could see a shift away from conventional agriculture towards indoor food production, say some experts.The NFU Mutual’s Mr Yorke agrees it’s early days and that, ‘at present, the technology is not suited to all crops; leafy greens work well but cereals and fruits are a challenge.’ Overall, however, he believes the future of sustainable food production lies very much in integrating vertical farming into a wider mix that also includes other ground-breaking tools, such as digital soil mapping systems, robotic micro-sprayers or livestock sensors, that support land-based agriculture and help make it more productive and eco-friendly at the same time.

‘We don’t see vertical farming replacing traditional farming methods — rather we see it complementing farming and maximising spaces which may have previously been seen as non-agricultural,’ he says, quoting, as an example, Growing Underground, a micro-green and salad producer operating 108 feet below the streets of Clapham, in London. ‘It is one of a number of innovations which are already demonstrating alternatives to conventional field-based production.’Read the complete article here. Full article available here

2.11. Use of NanofertilizersPresently agriculture all across the world is facing a wide range of challenges; the important challenges are (a) crop yield stagnation (b) decrease in arable land due to land degradation and urbanization (c) low nutrient use efficiency (d) deficiencies of more than one nutrients in soil (e) declining soil organic matter (e) water availability etc. Under these challenges, it would be difficult to produce enough food to feed the ever increasing populations, which is expected to cross 9 billion by 2050.

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology research in agriculture and horticulture are still at an elementary stage but developing rapidly. Conventional bulk fertilizer or traditional

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fertilizers are not only expensive for the producer, but may be harmful to humans and the environment. This has led to the search for environmentally friendly fertilizers or smart fertilizer, mainly those with high nutrient-use efficiency, and nanotechnology is rising as a promising alternative. In agriculture, nanotechnology products are being tested for various applications, such as nanoscale sensors for sensing nutrients, nanoscale pesticides, smart and target delivery of nutrients, agronomic fortifications, water purification and nutrient recovery. However, the benefits of nanofertilizers or nanomaterials are unquestionably opening new approaches towards precision and sustainable agriculture; their limitations should also be carefully considered before market implementation. In particular, the extensive release of nanomaterials into the environment and the food chain may pose a risk to environment and human health.

Like conventional fertilizers, the nanofertilizers are also nutrient fertilizers composed, in whole or part, of nanostructured formulation(s) that can be delivered to the plants, allowing for efficient uptake or slow release of active ingredients. The exceptional properties of nanoparticles, such as high surface area/volume size ratio and enhanced optoelectronic and physicochemical properties, compared to their bulk counterparts, is now emerging as a promising strategy to promote plant growth and productivity. As a result of their unique properties, nanoparticles may influence metabolic activities of the plant to different degrees compared to conventional materials and have the potential to mobilize native nutrients, such as phosphorus, in the rhizosphere. To read the complete article click here. Full article available here

Floral news

2.12. Without state support, Russian flower growers face bankruptcyOn November 26, 2019, at the press center of the MIA “Russia Today” a press conference on the urgent problems of floriculture in Russia was held. The meeting discussed the need for state support for domestic flower producers.

Contributors noted there is an insufficient level of state support will bring Russian floriculture to bankruptcy. Without state support in matters of tax and customs benefits, as well as affordable lending conditions, domestic flower growers face bankruptcy. In addition to payment by flower producers of a single agricultural tax of 6%, from January 2019 they added VAT – 20%. This significantly increased both the cost of the flower and its price in the retail. As a result, the competitiveness of Russian products is falling, and foreign producers dictate the pricing policy.

Due to the overwhelming volume of imported flowers on the market (85%), it is the importers who dictate the selling prices for flowers sold in Russia. Only 5% is levied for the import of flowers into Russia – this is practically the lowest duty in the world. For comparison, world leaders in the economy: China –10%, EU –8.5%. According to the calculations of the NFA, an increase in the duty will make the market civilized and will not affect the price of products for the final consumer. Full article available here

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2.13. Aluminum sensor on the sleeves indicates vase life “Unexpectedly positive” Raymond Oosterveld of Jarja Floral calls the reactions of growers to their new color changing sensors that indicate the freshness of flowers. They showcased it for the first time at the PMA Fresh Summit in Anaheim (CA), USA, last October. The Floral Merchandising Aid, or FMA, helps to determine when floral products need to be discounted for quick sale. A partly aluminum sensor being put on the sleeves indicates the vase life of the product. The color changes from gray (full vase life) to yellow (50% vase life). The consumers understand they are purchasing a product with a reduced vase life. 3 or 4 days versus 7 days when bought at its freshest point.”Full article available here

Health

2.14. Study says onions may lower risk of cancerOnions -belonging to the allium family- have a nutritional value that is really their secret superpower. Researchers have found that the phenolic compounds contained in onions act as antioxidants to inhibit the activity of destructive free radicals. According to a study published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology, the outermost layer of onions has the most antioxidants. A study in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2019 compared 833 patients with colorectal cancer and 833 patients without the disease. Many researchers have found that some people who regularly consume onion vegetables such as onions have a 79% lower risk of developing colorectal cancer. Full article available here

2.15. Microbes ‘set to be an integral part of agriculture over the next 20-30 years’:

Ag-biotech start-up Joyn Bio engineers microbes for more sustainable agriculture. Microbiome diets are becoming increasingly trendy as consumers consider their gut health, helping to shift attitudes towards genetically modified foods which will help the world to sustainably feed the world. Joyn Bio is developing plants that fertilise themselves, which would help to reduce environmental degradation. Full article available here

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