OK, folks, I know this platform is for agricultural economics related notes, but an exception once in a while won’t hurt. Last night I met up with an old schoolmate, Nikkie Korsten, who is in town for a conference.

For Pete Zimmerman, a Minnesota farmer, the age of gene-edited foods has arrived. While he couldn’t be happier, the hi-tech soybeans he’s now harvesting are at the crux of a long-running debate about a frankenfood future.

The tough economic conditions in recent months have impacted on the daily lives of all South Africans and have been of great concern to government. The rise in the oil price, change in sentiment towards emerging markets and deteriorating international trade relations have been among the contributing factors. 

Using drone technology and data analytics among other technologies, SA start-up Aerobotics is helping farmers manage disease and pest control at the touch of a button.

Since its introduction, Enogen® corn enzyme technology has provided corn growers with the opportunity to be enzyme suppliers for participating ethanol plants and earn a per-bushel premium. Syngenta reports that premiums-to-date paid to Enogen corn growers are expected to surpass $100 million during 2018. 

Growers in the Netherlands had to contend with a dry period in recent weeks. Because of these extreme weather conditions, growers have to take various measures when looking at resources, usage, energy and water. For example, current water storage is often not sufficient for this long period of drought. In the horticultural area around Dinteloord, this shortage has been solved by using water from the Suiker Unie: the sugar factory, also known as the irrigation water factory.