Ghana’s farmers could soon enjoy a handsome cocoa price raise, Reuters reported September 2, 2024. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the country might increase the 2024-25 farm-gate rate by almost 45%, to boost growers’ revenue and deter smugglers. Farmers could earn 48,000 cedi ($3,062) a tonne or 3,000 cedi ($191.40) per 64 kg bag, beginning September 2024. The amount is almost...
The U.S. apple harvest strong in Michigan, New York
Yields from the ongoing U.S. apple harvest are proving robust in the states of Michigan (MI) and New York (NY). Both states rank among the top 3 apple-producing regions of the United States after Washington, hence the importance of their seasonal crop. Apples in the Big Apple New York is already seeing orchards offering “you-pick” services, especially in the cool northern region....
Lab-cultivated cocoa beans become a reality in Israel
An Israeli firm is pioneering lab-cultivated cocoa beans, the first such move outside the tropics. The company, Celleste Bio, says that it can now grow the beans to maturity without pods in a week’s time. According to the company’s CEO M. Beressi Golomb, the cocoa grows on a bioreactor, which has become a virtual “forest.” This process does not employ gene-editing...
Rice production in Asia up by 176% courtesy nuclear technology
The use of climate-smart nuclear technology has improved rice production in Asia by at least 176% in six trial nations. This is courtesy of the Atoms4Food program by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IEEA) in partnership with UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). The two bodies atomic program combines organic and chemical means to improve paddy yields. The program’s field...
The cocoa sector in Ghana witnesses three staggering developments
End August 2024 has redefined the cocoa sector in Ghana through a historical self-financing intention and a price tripling demand by farmers. An announcement on self-financing rather than relying on syndicated loans has arguably been the defining story for the sector. On August 23, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) promised to stop high interest international loan requests, a first in 32 years. The announcement...
Ginseng harvest starts outside Virginia’s state forests, North Carolina’s still paused
The Commonwealth of Virginia has begun its statewide ginseng harvest September 1, 2024, apart from within state forests. At the same time, North Carolina has extended its 3-year “pause” in harvesting of the resource in its wetlands. This comes a week after nearby West Virginia kick-started the U.S. ginseng season by issuing seasonal root-gathering permits. Rules in Virginia’s Ginseng Harvest Like its...
Canola biodiesel capped at 20% in California
A California Air Resources Board (CARB)’s amendment is about to cap canola biodiesel at 20% of all biofuel output per producer. On August 27, CARB closed public commentary on the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) proposal. Among the proposal’s amendments awaiting a November 8, 2024 final hearing is one for reducing canola renewable energy production per company. If the board’s 20% cap...
Potato supply in South Africa almost stable despite price spike
South Africa is at a potato supply crossroads after a late July 2024 frost affected the keynote Limpopo crop. Despite a followup price rally as a result, insiders believe this could affect national reserves by only a minor margin. According to a survey report by Potatoes SA, 2024 reserves will end up being just 3% less than the 2019-23 average. This means up to...
Avocados from Michoacán are getting certification stamps
Avocados from Michoacán in western Mexico could prove quite sustainable soon, as an origin certification program begins August 28, 2024. Notably, this comes barely two months after a June 2024 routine avocado inspection exercise by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). For the current certification, certificates will only go to farmers who grow their fruits on land that is not deforested. Satellite...
New rice varieties to combat heat, shortage in Japan
New rice varieties (Oryza sativa) could solve Japan’s difficult rice dilemma following a 2023 drought that cut 2024’s stocks to 25-year lows. Private rice reserves have declined to 1.56 million tonnes, the lowest since 1999, per Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture via Reuters. The 2023 summer proved hard on northern paddy fields, leaving countrywide shortage of the sushi-making cereal. Analysts however think that the shortage...