26th august,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Rice E-Newsletter by Rice Plus Magazine www.ricepluss.com
News and R&D Section mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874
26th
August, 2014
TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU
Latest News Headlines…
 Philippines rejects bids in 500,000 ton rice tender
 Rice planting campaign and contest held in Buriram
 Food exports down by 1.41%, rice exports up 14.5%
in July-May 2014
 Burma’s rice exports up 41 percent
 Govt plans to import 5 LT rice from Myanmar for NE
states
 Govt to export 50,000 MT rice to Sri Lanka
 National Rice Month Spotlight: Retail and
Foodservice Promotions
 MCCI demands subsidy on agriculture inputs, farm
machinery
 Sri Lankan Provincial Minister speaks of cooperating
with Pakistan to strengthen agriculture sector
 Rice Bucket Challenge seeks to help India's poor
 Rice and Shine 2.0 is making a comeback in 11th HRT Weekend
 Golden Rice gets push to solve vitamin A deficiency
 Netafim: Drip irrigation can increase rice yields, reduce greenhouse gas emissions
 Fukushima Rice Back on Sale in Singapore - Reports
 Rice importers sabotaging Mahama'

 U.S. rice farmers see opportunity in China
 Hard to believe
 Rice Bucket Challenge Morphs into Rice Bucket Challenge
 Can't sleep? Try eating more rice: High GI food increases levels of protein used to make
serotonin, known to induce sleep
 Farmers worried as heavy rain hampers aus harvest
 3D Printing With Plastics Derived from Cocoa, Rice, Parsley & Spinach? Researchers
May be Close
 Vietnam experts pinpoint risks when selling rice to China
 Govt to export 50,000 MT rice to Sri Lanka
 Prices of essentials jump on taxes, import costs
 More Basmati rice under cultivation this Kharif, farmers expect better returns
 Vietnam experts pinpoint risks when selling rice to China
 Rice planting campaign and contest held in Buriram
NEWS DETAILS:
Philippines rejects bids in 500,000 ton rice tender
By ENRICO DELA CRUZ, ReutersAugust 27, 2014 4:05pm
The National Food Authority (NFA) said on Wednesday it had rejected all bids submitted in its tender to buy
500,000 tons of rice because they were higher than the government budget allowed. The imports, targeted to
arrive between September and November, were meant to beef up state stockpiles and bring down local retail
prices of the grain, which have helped push food price inflation up to its highest in more than five years.The
NFA will likely hold another tender following Wednesday's rejected bids, after the agency's bidding committee
reviews its budget, said spokesman Rex Estoperez.
The government had set an undisclosed budget of $456.60 per ton but bids ranged from $460 to $496.75 per
ton."Based on the non-responsive bids, we can declare a failure of bidding," Efren Sabong, head of the NFA

bidding panel, told an audience of rice traders.Four traders submitted bids at the tender, namely Vietnam's
Vinafood 1 and Vinafood 2 and global commodities traders Louis Dreyfus and LG International. A successful
tender would bring the Philippines' total duty-free shipments this year to around 1.7 million tons, the biggest in
four years. Additionally, the private sector can import 350,000 tons this year subject to a 40 percent tariff.
The Philippines expects to miss its rice output target of 19.07 million tons this year by 2 percent, based on the
latest forecast by the Philippine Statistics Authority. The latest forecast could be revised down if strong
typhoons hit rice-producing provinces in the second half of the year and damage crops or prevent farmers from
planting more.With crop losses possible in the next four months, the government has also authorized the NFA
to import 500,000 tons more for emergency needs, on top of the volumes tendered on Wednesday and in
previous months.Major rice exporters such as Vietnam and Thailand are looking for any signs the Philippines
may need to import more, hoping to unload grain from their huge stockpiles.
With the Philippine rice imports this year possibly exceeding 2 million tons, the Southeast Asian country is on
track to become the world's No.3 buyer as ranked by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), up
from the No.8 spot last year.The USDA has forecast that the Philippines may need to import as much as 1.6
million tons in 2015.The Philippines has agreed to loosen tariff restrictions on rice imports starting next year
under a new deal with the World Trade Organization. – Reuters
Rice planting campaign and contest held in Buriram
Tuesday, 26 August 2014By NNT
BURIRAM, 25 August 2014 - Buriram province, in collaboration with local administrative organization, has
organized a rice planting campaign and competition to conserve the traditional farming method as well as
helping farmers reduce their costs.Buriram Deputy Governor Chalermpol Pollawan this morning led more than
1,200 people from government offices, local administrative organizations, students and residents in Paisan sub
district, Prakonchai district, Buriram, to a rice field of 50 rais in Baan Nongsaeng, Moo 4, Prakonchai district in
order to grow rice under the ―Rice Planting for Reconciliation and Returning Happiness‖ campaign.A rice
growing competition was also held, with contestants from 16 villages in the province joining the event. The
campaign is aimed at promoting reconciliation in the community in line with the NCPO’s policy, cooperation
between government sector and public, and traditional rice growing conservation as well as helping farmers
reducing their costs on wage. The seeds of rice of this lot will be given to farmers for use in the following
agricultural season.
Food exports down by 1.41%, rice exports up 14.5% in July-May
2014

ISLAMABAD: Although the rice exports form the country increased by 14.5 percent, the overall food exports
from the country witnessed negative
growth of 1.41 percent during July to
May fiscal year 2013-14 compared to
the corresponding period of last
year.The over all food exports from the
country during July-May 2013-14
were recorded at $4.295 billion
compared to the exports of $4.357
billion in July-May 2012-13, according
to the data of Pakistan Bureau of
Statistics (PBS).
The food products contributed in negative growth in trade included vegetables, exports of which dropped by
14.03 percent from $234.320 last year to $201.455 in 2013-14 while the exports of leguminous vegetables
(pulses) decreased from $4.463 million to $2.820 million, showing fall of 36.81 percent.Exports of tobacco
decreased by 13.50 percent by declining from $22.909 percent to $19.817 percent while the exports of wheat
decreased by 86.79 by going down from $53.436 million to $7.058 million.Spices and sugar exports from the
country also witnessed decrease of 16.16 percent and 46.12 percent respectively as the exports of spices
declined from $61.202 million to $51.312 million while the sugar exports decreased from $474.768 million to
$255.800 million.
Meanwhile the food products witnessed positive growth in trade including rice, exports of which increased from
$1.758 million to $2.013 million, showing an increase of 14.50 percent. Among the rice varieties, the exports of
basmati increased by 12.29 percent whereas the exports of other rice commodities expanded by 15.64
percent.The exports of fish and fish preparations increased by 15.25 percent by going up from $291.301 to
$335.732 million whereas the exports of fruits increased by 16.84 percent from $357.748 million to $417.997
million.The oil seeds, nuts and kernals exports from the country increased by 136.72 percent from $33.535
million to $79.383 million whereas the exports of meat and meat preparations increased by 10.24 percent from
$194.032 million to $213.893 million.The exports of all other food commodities witnessed negative growth of
19.98 percent by falling from $871.070 last year to $697.054 million in 2013-14.Country’s overall trade deficit
narrowed by 5.66 percent during first 11 months of current fiscal year as exports expanded by 3.71 percent
while imports witnessing negative growth of 0.57 percent as compared to the same period of last year.
On year-on-year basis, the trade deficit witnessed sharp decrease by 27.60 percent in May 2014 when compared
to the deficit of the same month of last year.According to break up figures, the exports from the country during
July-May 2013-14 were recorded at $23.112 billion against the exports of $22.286 billion recorded during July-

May 2012-13.On the other hand, the imports into the country during the period under review were recorded at
$40.777 billion against the imports of $41.011 billion during the corresponding period of last year.Meanwhile,
on year-on-year basis the seafood exports from the country increased by 18.24 percent by going up from
$35.520 million last year to $42 million in 2013-14.On month-on-month basis, the exports of seafood increased
by 7.64 percent in May 2014 compared to the exports of $39.018 million during the April 2014, the data
revealed.
Burma’s rice exports up 41 percent
In this file picture from August 2013, Burmese farmers collect rice seeds in Naypyidaw. (PHOTO: AFP)
 By ORYZA AND DVB
26 August 2014
Burma has exported around US$196 million worth of rice from 1 April to 15
August 2014, up 41 percent from around $139 million exported during the same
period in the last fiscal year, according to local sources. Burma, officially known
as Myanmar, exported around 530,000 tons of rice between 1 April and 15 august,
a Commerce Ministry official was quoted as saying.Sources at the ministry told
local sources that the rise in exports is mainly due to increased demand from
Russia. However, Burma’s rice exports to China have suffered since the
beginning of the fiscal year due to a freeze in official exports through the Muse
border by Chinese officials. Authorities from both countries are reportedly
discussing a new trade agreement that will allow hassle-free exports from Burma to China.DVB reported last week
that Chinese officials will enter discussions geared towards allowing the legal import of Burmese rice, according to
Yu Ding Cheng, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce in Yunnan.Seizures of illegal rice have led to a steep
decline in value. Yu Ding Cheng said that he met with Burma’s Federation of Chambers of Commerce in efforts to
boost cross-border trade on 14 August. The Myanmar Rice Federation said that they do not expect to meet this year’s
target of exporting two million tons of rice, as value and demand have both dropped.
These exports figures were originally published onwww.oryza.com. Oryza is a leading source in the rice industry
and a media partner of DVB.
Govt plans to import 5 LT rice from Myanmar for NE states
Sandip Das | New Delhi | Published: Aug 26 2014, 01:59 IST
SUMMARYThe government is planning to import 5 lakh tonne (LT) of rice from Myanmar to meet Public Distribution
System (PDS) requirements of two north-eastern states, Tripura and Mizoram.to Mizoram, is also yet to be complete.India

recently transported 10,000 tonne of rice from Andhra Pradesh to Tripura through Bangladesh on a pilot basis. Further transport
of grain through Bangladesh to NE states is yet to discussed between the two countries.
Govt to export 50,000 MT rice to Sri Lanka
Hasan Jahid Tusher
Encouraged by a bumper yield and good stocks at home, the government has decided to export at least 50,000
tonnes of rice, first of its kind since the independence, to Sri Lanka in the current fiscal year. The decision
came at the cabinet meeting yesterday, two months after the government extended the ban on non-fragrant rice
export until June 2015 in order to ensure good supply and control price hikes in the local market.Notifying the
cabinet about this year's rice production, Food Minister Qamrul Islam said the Sri Lankan government had
sought one lakh tonnes of rice from Bangladesh. In response, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who chaired the
meeting suggested that he should better export 50,000 tonnes now considering the flood situation, cabinet
sources said.If there is a good Aman harvest, another 50,000 tonnes of rice will be exported under government
to government arrangement, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury told The Daily Star.Bangladesh has so far
exported only aromatic rice in small quantities. In the last two fiscal years, export of aromatic rice amounted to
Tk 77 crore, according to government statistics.
On the other hand, the government imported 3,000 tonnes of non-fragrant rice in the last fiscal year. This year
the rice production has been satisfactory fulfilling the demand of the local market. The Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) projected a slight increase in the rice production this year.
Speedy Power and Energy Act
The cabinet yesterday also approved a proposal to extend the Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special
Provision) (Amendment) Act-2014 for another four years till October 11, 2018.The law aims at ―quick
disposal‖ of contracts in the power and energy sectors to meet the demand for power and energy in a short
time.Amidst criticism, the government enacted the Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provision) Act
in October 2010 for two years. In September 2012, the government extended the timeframe for two years,
which will expire on October 11.Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain
Bhuiyan said the law had been fruitful. It would not have been possible for the government to meet the growing
demand for power and energy had it followed the traditional procurement laws and rules, he added.Speaking
about the power generation in the country, Hasina told the cabinet that her government wanted to set up a
second nuclear power plant in the southern part to meet the growing needs of power.

PM ORDERS TO SAVE DHAKA
The prime minister directed the water resources ministry to take immediate steps to free the Balu river from
land grabbers and connect it with Hatir Jheel lake so that flood water can be drained to prevent water-logging in
the capital, sources in the cabinet said.She also asked the authorities concerned to construct and repair roads in
Dhaka city immediately to ease traffic jam. She advised the Ministry of Housing and Public Works to build a
planned city in Purbanchal with modern facilities and broadened roads.
National Rice Month Spotlight: Retail and Foodservice Promotions

First in a series of three articles this week highlighting
upcoming USA Rice NRM promotions
ARLINGTON, VA -- September is National Rice Month (NRM), the time to celebrate the rice harvest and "Reach for Rice" in the
grocery store and school lunch line.
This year, the USA Rice Federation is working with supermarket registered dietitians (SRDs)
to reach shoppers at the point of purchase. An NRM toolkit containing consumer handouts,
recipes, sample social media and blog posts, as well as media pitch ideas was distributed to
more than 400 SRDs in June.
"The toolkit
materials
have been
downloaded
more than
2,000 times
and dietitians
at eight retail
chains have
indicated
they will be
using our
materials in
their shopper
outreach
during
September,"
said Paul
Galvani,
chairman of
the USA
Rice Retail
Subcommitte
e. "We are
optimistic that this pilot program will be a successful first step to working more closely with this influential
group in the future."
Again this year, USA Rice is partnering with Advanced Fresh Concepts, the largest supermarket sushi
distributor in the United States, to conduct an NRM promotion in grocery stores and military
commissaries. More than 2,000 stores across the country will feature sushi display case signage and 'Grown in
the USA' stickers on sushi containers. Last year, sushi sales increased five percent
during the promotion.
This week, USA Rice announced the annual "Healthy Brown Rice on the Menu"
Contest for K-12 foodservice directors and menu planners. Schools are encouraged to
serve brown rice and submit their dish in one of three categories - breakfast, lunch, or
rice bowl."This contest is a great way to remind school menu planners about the
versatility of U.S.-grown brown rice and that it can help them meet the school meal
nutrition requirements," said John Hasbrook, chairman of the USA Rice Foodservice
Subcommittee.NRM is a well-known national promotion, strongly supported by rice
producers and millers, educating consumers, health professionals, and foodservice
operators about the benefits of U.S.-grown rice, and boosting U.S. rice sales nationwide.
Contact: Katie Maher (703) 236-1453
NRM toolkit

MCCI demands subsidy on agriculture inputs, farm machinery
August 25, 2014
RECORDER REPORT
Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) have stressed the need for continuation of subsidy on
agricultural inputs and farm machinery like India to ensure the food security as it is global issue. President of
MCCI Khawaja Muhammad Usman said that World Trade Organisation (WTO) favoured the continuation of
subsidy in agricultural sector to save the country from food autarky, the Indian instance to grant subsidies to its
various agriculture products. He said Pakistan being agro-based country and exporter agro based products to the
various countries lagged behind its competitors in the region. India is demanding subsidy on agricultural
products from Pakistan under Agreement on Agriculture (AoA), this would imbalance the regional trade and
Pakistani products. He said the government should object and oppose the demand of subsidy by India. Khawaja
Usman said in such situation the Indian farmers would be in a position to supply their products at cheaper prices
with the help of government financial support (subsidies).
Consequently, export of rice from India will be available at cheaper prices in the international markets as
compared to Pakistani rice. Pakistani exporters will not be in a position to compete Indian exporters on base of
subsidies besides WTO and International Monetary Fund put condition on Pakistan not to provide subsidies on
agriculture produces. He suggested the government could provide subsidy on those agriculture products, which
were concerned with the Global Food Security issue. Food processing industry, dairy products, agriculture
equipments and machinery may be included in those products. The supply of energy and other utilities may be
subsidised for food processing and agriculture industry. He proposed inland freight subsidy could also be
covered in this clause; however the major factor of in competitiveness of Pakistani products in the international
markets was the cost of shipping.
Sri Lankan Provincial Minister speaks of cooperating with Pakistan
to strengthen agriculture sector
Tue, Aug 26, 2014, 10:47 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 26, Lahore: Sri Lanka and Pakistan have lot to offer to each other to strengthen the agriculture
sectors of the two countries, a Sri Lankan Provincial Minister visiting Lahore said.Minister of
Agriculture of Sri Lanka's Eastern Provincial Council Naseer Ahmed made this remark when he
called on the Vice President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Kashif Anwar
in Lahore Monday.The visiting Sri Lankan Provincial Minister said that there is a need for Pakistan and Sri
Lanka to join hands to strengthen their respective economies.He further emphasized that Sri Lankan public

sector has huge opportunities for Pakistan's private sector and the Sri Lankan businessmen have shown their
willingness to do business with their Pakistani counterparts.
LCCI Vice President Kashif Anwar noted that Pakistan and Sri Lanka are members of the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and have good diplomatic and economic relations and Pakistan
is the second largest trading partner of Sri Lanka in South Asia after India.Anwar however said that despite
having good trade and economic relations and a free trade agreement since 2005, the bilateral trade figures are
not up to the full potential."Our exports to Sri Lanka are ranging between US$ 300 - 350 million and similarly
the imports have yet to reach US$ 100 million," the LCCI Vice President said.
Pointing out that Sri Lanka-India trade is around US$ 5.2 billion, Anwar said considering the size of Sri Lanka's
economy there is not much room left for Pakistan.He said that both countries should identify more items of
trade to bring some positive change in bilateral trade.The Sri Lankan Minister said due to the prolonged drought
in Sri Lanka, the government is planning to import 100,000 MT rice to meet its local demand and since Pakistan
is a major rice exporter Sri Lanka can consider importing a bigger share of rice from Pakistan.LCCI Vice
President said that, both Pakistan and Sri Lanka heavily depend on their agriculture sectors and their industrial
sectors primarily use agriculture produce, the two countries must join hands in developing their agriculture
sectors.
Rice Bucket Challenge seeks to help India's poor
'Why waste water?' asks creator Manju Latha Kalanidihi. Her challenge encourages participants to simply
hand over a bucketful of rice to someone in need.
BY MEREDITH ENGEL
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Monday, August 25, 2014, 4:20 PM
SHARE THIS URL
Journalist Purnima Sri Iye (r.) is one of the first to donate rice for the Rice Bucket Challenge.
Forget the Ice Bucket Challenge. The newest way to make a
difference is the Rice Bucket Challenge.There's no cold-water
dousing in this dare. Participants simply give a bucket of rice —
a diet staple in India — to someone in need.It's an "Indian
version for Indian needs," says the mission's Facebook page. The
first donation was made Sunday morning. Manju Latha
Kalanidihi, an editor for the rice research site Oryza.com in

central India, came up with the challenge, which already has 20,000 likes on Facebook. She has gotten well
wishes from as far as England and Sweden, too."Why waste water?" she asked, to CNN. "I felt like doing
something more locally tangible. Rice is a staple here. We eat it every day, we can store it for months. Why not
donate rice to someone who is hungry?"
mengel@nydailynews.com
Rice and Shine 2.0 is making a comeback in 11th HRT Weekend
By Anthony de Leon
WTF
Monday, August 25, 2014
RICE is one of the oldest food known to mankind. It is the main dietary staple for more than half of the world's
population. There are thousands of different varieties of rice.The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
has a special relationship with the Philippines since its founding in 1960. IRRI’s partnership with the
Philippines began on September 1959 when the government of the Republic of the Philippines, in cooperation
with the Ford and Rockefeller foundations, approved the proposal to establish IRRI in the country. IRRI’s
international prestige lends prominence to the country as the center for collaboration in rice research. The
International Rice Research Institute headquarters, located at Los Baños in Laguna Province comprises of
screen houses, glasshouses, phytotron, two hundred hectares of experimental rice fields, library, office
buildings, a bookstore, and Riceworld museum. (www.irri.org).
At the International Rice Research Institute Genetic Resources Centre in the Philippines, there are 80,000 rice
samples in cold storage. This variety is a result of rice being cultivated for so many years, in various countries.
In fact, it is cultivated in almost all continents with the exception of Antarctica. Research for the development
and improvement of varieties of rice is limitless. During the Marcos Regime the Philippines enjoyed its status as
the Rice Granary of Asia.Production was bountiful. It was a time when we didn’t have to import rice from
neighbouring countries like Vietnam and Thailand.Rice has been cultivated for over 5,000 years. More than one
billion people throughout the world are actively involved in growing rice. Some of the best known types of rice
include white rice, whole or brown rice, jasmine and basmati.
They vary in size. It can be long-grain, which produces light fluffy rice like the Basmati rice. It can be short-
grain, typically found in East Asian Cooking (the sticky rice).Examples of which include the Arborio used to
make risotto and mocha, the Japanese sweet rice. It can also be medium-grain which is a bit shorter than the
long-grain and less sticky than the short-grain. This type is typically sued for making paella.As a fitting tribute
to the versatility of Rice, and to pay homage to the Filipino Farmer, the 11th Hotel and Restaurant Tourism
Weekend, is giving rice a comeback.
Dubbed as ―Rice and Shine 2.0‖, Nine (9) Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) member-
establishments are featuring eleven (11) ways to enjoy rice meals at SM Baguio on September 11, 2014.The
event honors the essential place of rice in the Filipino palate and life, and will focus on the diverse ways by

which this prime Filipino staple is to be prepared, celebrated and enjoyed. Rice and Shine was launched
previously in the 8th Annual Hotel, Restaurant Tourism Weekend in 2011, which featured 525 kilos of all
organic highland rice varieties made into delicious recipes for the public to partake in participated by hotels and
restaurants.We invite the public to come and celebrate with us as we feature Rice and Shine 2.0 as one of the
many culinary and event highlights of the 11th Annual Hotel and Restaurant Tourism Weekend, and in
celebration also of Baguio's Charter anniversary month.
Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on August 26, 2014.
Golden Rice gets push to solve vitamin A deficiency
Category: Agri-Commodities
25 Aug 2014
Written by Marvyn N. Benaning
SEN. Cynthia A. Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, welcomes the distribution
of Golden Rice, which is said to help reduce vitamin A deficiency (VAD) that affects 250 million children and
lactating mothers.―Of course we welcome that,‖ said Villar, who is also the food chairman at the recent
Nutrition & Healthier Rice Congress.Helen Keller International (HKI) is set to carry out tests of the efficacy of
Golden Rice on actual VAD patients before government finds it appropriate to release the Genetically modified
rice variety to the market.―It’s good if the researchers can justify it, we will give it to more people,‖ Villar
said.Villar acknowledged that some groups like Masipag, an organization of agriculturists, farmers and plant
breeders, and greenpeace, are opposed to the commercialization of Golden Rice and its distribution among
those affected by VAD.Dr. Chito Medina of Masipag contends that sweet potato and other indigenous crops
have more betacarotene than Golden Rice and it would be better for the government to encourage their
consumption.Greenpeace also rejects Golden Rice and says there are alternatives much better than the GMO
Golden Rice.
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas in Bicol raided a farm that was testing Golden Rice, uprooting the
plants and declaring that the region should be free from the rice variety.These groups are not expected to take
Villar statements sitting down.―There are some people opposing it as a GMO. But me, I welcome that if it will
give more nutrition to affected people,‖ Villar explained.Nutrition should always be prioritized, said Villar, in
her keynote address at the congress held at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños.IRRI
is a co-developer of Golden Rice, along with the government-run Philippine Rice Research Institute―I believe
agriculture does play a significant role to improve public health and nutrition by addressing cases of
malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies which remain leading nutritional problems,‖ Villar said.Experts

belonging to the Golden Rice Network (GRN) are subjecting Golden Rice to rigid food and environment safety
procedures.These are overseen by the government, including the National Committee on Biosafety of the
Philippines and Bureau of Plant Industry.The food safety tests include allergenicity, toxicity and
bioavailability—showing ability of the human body to absorb the beta carotene that is a precursor to the
production of vitamin A in the human body.
HKI has declared plans to include Golden Rice as one of the VAD solutions upon completion of efficacy
studies. It claimed that a total of 190 million pre-school children and 19 million pregnant women suffer from
VAD.―In the Philippines approximately 1.7 million children aged 6 months to 5 years and an additional three
out of every 10 school-aged children have VAD, as do one out of every five pregnant and lactating mothers,‖
reported the GRN.Iron deficiency is the most alarming among the micronutrient deficiencies affecting infants,
56.6 percent; pregnant women, 50.7 percent; and lactating women, 45.7 percent, Villar said.Moreover, the
nutrition data of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization showed seriousness of VAD in the
Philippines.―Vitamin A status of the country is considered severe subclinical deficiency also,‖ Villar added.The
toll of these micronutrient deficiencies on the global economy is estimated at $3.5 trillion per year in lost
productivity and direct health-care costs.―I commend IRRI for their initiatives to enhance nutritional content of
rice which is widely grown and eaten not only in the Philippines but in other parts of the world,‖ said Villar.The
Golden Rice project has been pursued by the GRN in the hope of reducing VAD and related disorders.Iron,
vitamin A, iodine and zinc are considered to be vital micronutrients but the deficiencies in their intake are high
among the poor in Asia, where the main staple is rice.
―Dependence on rice as the predominant food source, therefore, necessarily leads to VAD, most severely
affecting small children and pregnant women,‖ according to GRN.The World Health Organization reported in
2012 that around 250 million preschool kids are inflicted with VAD.Vitamin A supplementation in these
children can save 33 percent of all deaths among 5-year-olds involving 2.7 million children.VAD affects the
immune system and exposes the human health to infection including HIV-AIDS. As many as 40 percent of
children below 5 years old are said to be affected by VAD.―For the 400 million rice-consuming poor, the
medical consequences are fatal: impaired vision—in extreme cases irreversible blindness; impaired epithelial
integrity, exposing the affected individuals to infections; reduced immune response; impaired haemopoiesis
(and hence, reduced capacity to transport oxygen in the blood) and skeletal growth; among other debilitating
afflictions,‖ said the network.―In many countries VAD leads to large numbers of vision-impaired people and
increased mortality due to a weakened immune system. Many more cases of ailments caused by subclinical
deficiency levels go undetected.‖Golden Rice can provide the recommended dietary allowance for vitamin A
needs in rice-based societies, according to bioavailability studies.―This improved version [of Golden Rice]
produces 31 microgram per gram and more beta-carotene, which is more than enough to supply the required
amounts of beta-carotene, according to the bioavailability results,‖ said GRN.The American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, a peer-reviewed scientific publication, has carried out a study that showed that one cup of cooked
Golden Rice is enough to fill one half of an adult’s recommended daily intake of vitamin A.
Marvyn N. Benaning

Netafim: Drip irrigation can increase rice yields, reduce greenhouse
gas emissions
By SHARON UDASIN
08/24/2014 19:18
In conjunction with the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Netafim has long been studying rice crops in India.
A drip irrigation farm. Photo: REUTERS
By integrating drip and micro irrigation technologies
within the world’s rice paddies, farmers can
simultaneously contribution to the international
struggle against greenhouse gas emissions and
increase their crop yields, according to Israeli
irrigation giant Netafim.In conjunction with the
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Netafim has
long been studying rice crops in India, finding that
"flooding" irrigation – which is still practiced heavily
around the world – is causing "tremendous
greenhouse gas emissions compared to the more
economical drip irrigation."By employing drip
irrigation to both water and fertilize the paddies, the
company said it has significantly reduced the amount
of greenhouse gases released and can prevent the penetration of nitrates into groundwater.―We’re talking about
huge amounts of gas emissions,‖ Dubi Raz, chief agronomist for Netafim, told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday
.Established in 1965, Netafim originated in the drip irrigation discovery of water engineer Simcha Blass. While
still based in Israel, the company now has subsidiaries in countries on every continent around the world,
excluding Antarctica.The dominant greenhouse gases generated in rice growth are methane and nitrous oxide.
Methanogens produce methane gas under anaerobic conditions in the rice fields, while nitrifying and
denitrifying bacteria that operate under anoxic conditions generate nitrous oxides.
In rice paddies irrigated by flooding, Netafim researchers in the southern Tamil Nadu state found that about 2.9
milligrams of nitrous oxides are generated per square meter each day. Whereas, those paddies irrigated by drip
methods only produce about 0.5 milligrams of nitrous oxides per square meter daily, Raz explained.Not only is
it important to use drip irrigation technologies to water the rice plants, but it is also critical to use these methods
for fertilization, he stressed.This way, the plants can absorb all of the water and nutrients they need without
risking downward seepage of nitrates from fertilizers into the groundwater and surrounding environments – a
phenomenon that has caused heavy damage globally in places such as the Great Barrier Reef, Raz

explained. ―The plant will take everything and nothing will go down,‖ he said.Employing drip irrigation, he
added, is ―much friendlier to the environment.
‖A similar study about the relationship of traditional rice field cultivation and greenhouse gas emissions
occurred in Thailand, at King Mogkut's University of Technology in Thonburi in 2005. In that study,
researchers looked at various options for reducing the enormous greenhouse gas emissions emanating from the
paddies, such as draining the flooded fields and altering fertilizer application methods.The American study,
presented to the Pew Center on Global Climate Change in 2006 by researchers from Coloardo State University,
Montana State University and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, explored the production of
greenhouse gases in the US agricultural sector as a whole.
As in the other studies, these researchers also conclude that a more efficient use of nitrogen can reduce nutrient
runoff and improve water quality in both the ground and surface waters.Because rice has been grown for 5,000
years using flood irrigation, it is somewhat of a challenge to prove the advantages of revolutionizing the
watering technologies of a global industry.Nonetheless, Raz said that Netafim’s research teams have now
reached the point at which they are yielding three times the amount of rice on their drip irrigated commercial-
sized plots than similarly sized flooded fields. They are currently in the process of launching a full-fledged
commercial effort among local Indian farmers, in conjunction with the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and
the government, Raz explained.―If in the end it is not commercial, people will not invest,‖ Raz said. ―We have
to show economically wise people that they will get back their investment, that there are high yields.‖
Fukushima Rice Back on Sale in Singapore - Reports
© Fotolia/ mamamiapl
11:28 25/08/2014
Tags: Fukushima, TEPCO, Hong Kong, Fukushima, Japan
MOSCOW, August 25 (RIA Novosti) - Rice produced in
Japan’s Fukushima Prefecture has gone on sale in Japanese
supermarkets in Singapore, the BBC reported Monday.Singapore
is said to have extremely strict food safety standards, and
Japanese farmers have expressed hope that passing the state’s
requirements could improve global confidence in their rice,
especially the rice from Fukushima.The Japanese government
prohibited rice cultivation and export from the Fukushima
Prefecture since the nuclear disaster in 2011 due to the
contamination of the region’s fields with radioactive substances. The area is going through a decontamination
process conducted by the Japanese government.The Fukushima region accounts for about 450,000 tons of rice
annually, which is 6 percent of Japan’s total of 7.6 million tons, according to rice news, research and analysis
website Oryza.com. The region exported about 100 tons of rice in the first quarter of 2011 to Hong Kong and

other countries before a tsunami caused a meltdown at a nuclear plant there.In 2011, Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s
Fukushima No. 1 atomic plant was hit by a tsunami, resulting in a meltdown of three of the plant’s six nuclear
reactors. Large amounts of radioactive material were released contaminating the surrounding area. Tens of
thousands of local residents were evacuated from the area.
Rice importers sabotaging Mahama'
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Board,
Kojo Twum-Boafo, says he has evidence that some rice
importers in the country are sabotaging government’s efforts at
making Ghana food-sufficient.He suspects the rice importers
have connived to import to the Ghanaian market high priced rice
with the intention of making the Mahama-led administration
unpopular.Ghana currently spends about US$600 million
annually to import rice.
President John Mahama in February this year said government is aiming at shoring up Ghana’s rice production
capacity and eventually becoming a net-exporter rather than an importer.As part of long-term measures to
achieve the objective, the President told the BBC that his government is targeting a reduction in the US$1b
imports of food by developing the local capacity to produce more of them.However, Twum-Boafo believes the
government could achieve more if all the rice importers in the country supported the vision of the
president.―Some of the rice importers are sabotaging the president. They secretly import more and blame the
Mahama administration for high market prices for the staple. It's deliberate they want to sabotage the
government, I know them but I won’t mention their names,‖ he said on Radio Gold on Saturday.
U.S. rice farmers see opportunity in China
Josh Sheppard, a fourth-generation rice grower in Biggs, Calif., about 60 miles north of Sacramento, said he
would welcome Chinese buyers because they probably would pay more for his grains than U.S. customers.
(Carl Costas / For The Times)
By DAVID PIERSONcontact the reporter
BusinessChinaAgricultureImportsU.S. Department of AgricultureEuropean Union

Until a few years ago, no one would have considered exporting much rice to
China, but that's changing U.S. agricultural producers must either
accommodate China or risk being shut out of its consumer market Rice
consumption in China is so high the country could eat through America's
annual production in 17 days .Greg Yielding was given a quixotic task: travel
to China and determine if consumers there would be willing to eat American
rice.So he set up tables at some of the most popular supermarkets in southern
China, hung American flags and began dishing out steamy samples of rice
from Arkansas and California."At first they'd say, 'There's rice in the U.S.?"
said Yielding, head of emerging markets for the U.S. Rice Producers Assn., a
Houston-based trade group. "And we'd have to show them a map to explain that it's grown in California and the
South. Then they'd try it, and they would really like it."
------------
FOR THE RECORD:
Rice exports: An article in the Aug. 24 Section A about U.S. rice farmers hoping to enter the China market
described the USA Rice Federation as a trade association that largely represents millers. The group said it also
represents merchants and 90% of the nation's rice growers. —
------------
Chinese importers,
distributors and grocery
chains lined up. Selling
U.S. rice to China
seemed like a slam-dunk.
But eight years after
Yielding's first venture
on behalf of the U.S.
industry, not a single
shipment of American
rice has officially made it
into Chinese hands.That

won't happen until the two countries agree on a so-called phytosanitary protocol, which determines the
necessary steps U.S. rice exporters must take to mitigate pests such as insects. The disagreement highlights the
growing pressure on U.S. agricultural producers to either accommodate China or risk being shut out of the
world's largest emerging consumer market.That might not have mattered a decade ago when U.S. farmers could
rely on domestic buyers or traditional foreign markets such as Mexico and Canada. Today, China's swelling
appetite for food is touching agribusiness everywhere and forcing companies to choose whether to
that comply are seeing dividends. American agricultural exports to China rose to a record $25.8 billion last year
from $5 billion a decade earlier.Until a few years ago, no one would have considered exporting much rice to
China, the world's largest producer and consumer of the grain.Tim Johnson, president and chief executive of the
California Rice Commission, called it "the ultimate example of selling ice to the Eskimos."But starting in 2012,
China went on a spree, scooping up millions of tons of the grain from countries such as Vietnam, Pakistan and
India. China is now on pace to import a record 3.4 million tons of rice this year — six times more than it did in
2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
At first they'd say, 'There's rice in the U.S.?' ... Then they'd try it, and they would really like it.- Greg Yielding,
head of emerging markets for the U.S. Rice Producers Assn.
Chinese regulators want the U.S. rice industry to expand the use of insect traps down the supply chain and keep
records of their findings. The USA Rice Federation, a trade association in Washington, D.C., that largely
represents millers, called the Chinese demands "unrealistic and onerous."The U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service declined to provide details about the negotiations. A spokeswoman
said the agency was currently reviewing the latest Chinese response, received Aug. 1.Other food exporters
have overcome challenges gaining access to the China market.
Before Chinese buyers purchased Smithfield Foods last year, the Virginia pork giant began ramping up
production of meat free of ractopamine, a feed additive used to promote lean muscle that's banned in
China.Dairy farmers in Nevada also built a first-of-its-kind milk powder plant to meet China's preference for
whole milk powder rather than the skim milk powder standard in the U.S.Other industries remain shut out. The
U.S. beef industry is still trying to overturn a 2003 ban on American cattle over mad cow disease. Starting late

last year, nearly a million tons of U.S. corn have been rejected at Chinese ports because of inclusion of an
unapproved genetically modified strain. And some American pork imports were halted this month over fears
they contained traces of ractopamine.
"Demand is growing so quickly in China for so many food products — and with so many places to get them
from — China can pick and choose," said Jim Harkness, a senior advisor on China for the Institute of
Agriculture and Trade Policy in Minneapolis. "From a U.S. perspective, it looks
like the Chinese are being picky and erecting non-tariff barriers for political
reasons. But I think from the Chinese perspective, the U.S. is an outlier in some
cases. Ractopamine is banned in over 100 countries."
Fourth-generation rice grower Josh Sheppard is accompanied by his dog, Tonka, on his farm in Biggs, Calif.
(Carl Costas / For The Times)
In addition to China, the European Union and Russia also ban the additive. It's deemed a risk to people with
cardiovascular problems.While other products struggle to win access, the U.S. rice growers are hopeful that
officials in Washington and Beijing can come to terms as early as next year. If they do, analysts estimate, U.S.
rice exports to China could reach several hundred million dollars a year. That would make China a top buyer of
the American grain, on par with Mexico and Japan.Though it produces only 2% of the world's rice, the U.S.
accounts for nearly 10% of the rice traded globally — enough to make it the fifth-biggest exporter. About half
the rice grown in the U.S. ends up abroad.
Still, rice consumption in China is so high the country could eat through America's annual production in 17
days.California's Sacramento Valley produces about one-fifth of America's rice, generally a stickier medium
grain that's popular in north Asia and often is used in sushi. The rest is mostly long grain grown in the southern
U.S. in states such as Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.The growing Chinese appetite for imported
rice may partly reflect surging food demand, analysts said. But it's mostly driven by arbitrage, as government
policies have kept domestic rice prices high to protect Chinese farmers. Rice mills in China decided it was
cheaper to buy foreign supplies.

American rice producers can't meet that sort of mass demand — nor do they want to. Their interest is in selling
packaged rice to China to fill a high-end niche. The rice producers association's survey of Chinese consumers
buttressed that idea. Despite the concerns of Chinese regulators, shoppers in China overwhelmingly perceived
U.S. rice as a safe alternative in a country hit by myriad food safety scandals.Josh Sheppard, a fourth-generation
rice grower in Biggs, Calif., about 60 miles north of Sacramento,
said he'd welcome Chinese buyers because they probably would
pay more for his grains than U.S. customers — much the way
Japanese buyers currently do. That's especially important now
when drought has cut rice acreage in the state by 25%."We don't
want to compete down in the gutter. We consider ourselves a
premium product, like a fine wine," said Sheppard, who heads a
rice farming cooperative in Butte County that's already made plans to export to China.The cooperative is
managed by Stuart Hoetger, co-founder of Stogan Group, an agricultural consulting firm in Chico,
Calif.Hoetger has arranged a partnership between the rice growers and Chinese food and agriculture
conglomerate Wufeng.
California grower Josh Sheppard heads a rice farming cooperative in Butte County that has made plans to
export to China. (Carl Costas / For The Times)
Medium grain rice known as Calrose grown by the cooperative is being shipped in limited quantities to Chinese
ports, where Wufeng is redirecting it to customers in small markets such as the Solomon Islands, the idea being
Hoetger and his growers will be ready to ship to China shortly after a trade agreement is finalized."If China asks
for something, you do it," Hoetger said. "You ask any farmer that's sold to China in the last few years and
they'll tell you they've made a lot of money."
david.pierson@latimes.com
Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

Hard to believe
By Dennis Limlingan
The Advocate
Monday, August 25, 2014
AGRICULTURE Secretary Proceso Alcala must be dreaming when he said that the country shall have 98
percent rice self-sufficiency by the end of this year. With the current situation on our rice supply, the secretary
should wake up on his dream and do something to attain his aspiration of making the Philippines rice
sufficient.Alacala’s statement was said before his department’s budget hearing before the House of
Representatives when he was grilled by congressmen particularly on rice sufficiency and the current state of the
agriculture sector.His projection of 96 to 98 percent rice self-sufficiency by the end of 2014 is far from reality
as the government has increased in importation of rice from other countries such as Vietnam and Thailand.We
may be sufficient in rice but the sources are from other countries and not from our own farmlands. The rice
sufficiency of a country is determined on the number of production of its own soil and not dependent on
imports. If we have rice sufficiency, then we need not do importation and even resort to exportation if we have
only enough rice for our own.
Alcala of course has his safety net on his statement, that we can attain such figure if weather permits and that
there will be not much damage on our farmlands. We have to take note that we are still on the rainy season and
so far have not experienced very deadly typhoons.For 2013, according to the secretary, we have attained 96
percent rice sufficiency and could have reached 100 percent if not for typhoon Yolanda. As expected, he blames
the typhoon for the far believable figure. If I may ask him, how come other countries such as Vietnam and
Thailand who are likewise visited by typhoons have been rice-sufficient for the past years? They are even the
leading exporters of rice in many parts of the world as a matter of fact.I find irony in the hard-to-believe
statement of Secretary Alcala, thus figures said we were 96% rice self-sufficient in 2013 and yet the country has
imported 500,000 metric tons of rice. Again, how can we have 98% rice self-sufficiency for this year when we
are importing 1.3 million metric tons of rice?
The Philippines in fact is one of the top rice importers in the world to this date and the government seemed to
have done nothing to address this concern. This is despite the fact that we are agriculture-based country and one
of our major products is supposed to be rice.One reason for this perhaps is the high cost of production of rice in
our country where the input is higher than the output. The lack of subsidy of the government and support for our
farmers is missing.The first thing that the Department of Agriculture should do is to lower the importation rate
on rice by helping farmers reduce their production cost. This may come in the form of subsidies or discounts on
seedlings, fertilizers, irrigation costs, insecticides and others.
We have to make the price of our rice competitive among other rice producers to attain sufficiency and we can
do this perhaps by lowering the production cost.The government should likewise put up post-production
facilities such as solar dryers, harvesters and millers to somehow help our burdened farmers in their rice
production. If only these facilities will be made available for them, we can then increase our production and
lower its cost. We can never know that we can be rice importers someday, bringing back the glory that was in

terms of rice production.The mere fact that we are importing rice means that we are experiencing shortage in
our rice supply, despite that we are on the rainy season, it can be noted that rice production is on its lean period
during the dry season as farmers have a hard time coping up with irrigation costs.We can perhaps expect more
rice shortage next year when its summer.
***
For any comments, ideas, suggestions or opinions, text or call The Advocate at 09213636360 or send email
atdencious@yahoo.com.
Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper on August 26, 2014.
Ice Bucket Challenge Morphs into Rice Bucket Challenge
by Valerie Gotten on Mon, 25 Aug 2014
NEW YORK, N.Y. and TANAUAN, Philippines, Aug. 25, 2014
(SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Since Spring, the ―Ice Bucket
Challenge‖ has raised over $80 million for funding ALS research.
Inspired by this success, the Rice Bucket Challenge has been
created by non-profit groups including the World Mind Network,
Adelina Foundation andBatangasVarsitarian.net.
According to Foundation president Reina Timbol, UNESCO estimates that 842 million people around the world
suffer from malnutrition. The Rice Bucket Challenge invites participants to help end world hunger by spreading
weird photos of themselves, together with the organization’s poster in the same picture, while also donating to the
U.N.’s World Food Programme.
Those who do so may have their photos publicized on a website, entered in a contest for strangest entry, and may
have their donations to the WFP matched.Timbol points out that despite the admirable success of the Ice Bucket
Challenge, there are some obstacles that could hamper further participation. For one thing, in a world stricken with
drought, dumping several gallons of ice water on people might not give the best message about saving this precious
resource, especially if repeated millions of times.Also, in a small number of cases, there have been seizures reported
from the shock of an instant ice bath.

The Rice Bucket Challenge attempts to preserve the fun aspect of the Ice Bucket Challenge, by encouraging
creativity and silliness in the photos submitted. But the fact that no one needs to obtain a bucket of ice water, or
suffer the unpleasant effects thereof, may increase participation.The Rice Bucket Challenge also invites those who
wish to submit their photos to the organization’s website, and to be entered in a contest to determine the strangest
picture.For more information see the website at http://ricebucketchallenge.net/ or write to
worldmindnetwork@gmail.com.
* IMAGE: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/14-0825-rice-poster_300dpi.jpg .
Published on CaliforniaNewswire.com Mon, 25 Aug 2014 ::
NEWS SOURCE: World Mind Network :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is
solely responsible for its accuracy) by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.
Can't sleep? Try eating more rice: High GI food increases levels of protein
used to make serotonin, known to induce sleep
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 00:55 GMT, 26 August 2014 | UPDATED: 10:15 GMT, 26 August 2014
The more rice participants ate, the better they rated the quality of their sleep
Have trouble nodding off? Eating rice could help, suggests new
research. In a study of nearly 2,000 people, the more rice they
ate, the better they rated the quality of their sleep.Researchers
also compared how much bread or noodles were consumed, but
the same link was not found. Just how it works is not clear, but
rice has a high glycaemic index or GI - a measure of how
quickly carbohydrates are broken down into sugar in the blood.
High GI foods increase levels of a protein called tryptophan
that is used by the body to make the brain chemical serotonin,
which is known to induce sleep. Bread and noodles have a
lower GI, which may be the key, concluded the researchers
from Kanazawa Medical University, Japan.
Farmers worried as heavy rain hampers aus harvest
Habibur Rahman, Pirojpur

A farmer at Tona village in Pirojpur Sadar upazila stacks up aus paddy by the side of a road after harvest. He
also brought a threshing machine but cannot use it fearing that rain water may damage the paddy or wash it
away from the road. The photo also shows aman saplings on a seedbed ready for being planted on the field
after the aus harvest. PHOTO: STAR
Growers of aus paddy in different upazilas under the district are passing busy time in harvesting the crop and
preparing the same land for planting aman seedlings there.The yield this year is good as there was not any
serious natural disaster, farmers said.
―I am expecting to get around 28-30 maunds (one maund = 40 kg) of
paddy from my one bigha of land. I spent around Tk 4,000 for the
cultivation,‖ said Md Zyat Hossain of Uttor Tona village under
Pirojpur Sadar upazila as he was collecting paddy from the field.The
market price of one maund of paddy is Tk 450 to 500, said local
growers.Meanwhile, farmers are facing problem to harvest paddy
due to heavy rainfall.―Most of the paddy of my two and a half bigha
of land is ripe, but I am yet to collect them as it has been raining for
a few days. We pay Tk 300 daily to a labourer.
But most labourers don't like to work in such water,‖ said Abdus Sobahan of Kadamtala village in Pirojpur
Sadar upazila.Farmers often use roads for threshing paddy, much to the disturbance of vehicular movement.―As
there is no dry space nearby, I am using the road for threshing paddy,‖ said Ramjan Ali, who was threshing
paddy on the road at Parerhat village in Zianagar upazila.―Aus has grown very well due to favourable weather
this year. Besides, farmers now use other fertilisers with urea,‖ said Md Nazmul Karim, deputy director of the
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Pirojpur. Different species of aus paddy have been cultivated on
19,675 hectares of land in the district while it was 23,510 hectares of land last year, DAE sources said.
Published: 12:02 am Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Last modified: 1:51 am Wednesday, August 27, 2014
TAGS: Aman seedlings Farmers worried harvest Growers natural disaster Pirojpur Sadar upazila
3D PrintingWith Plastics Derived from Cocoa, Rice, Parsley & Spinach?
Researchers May be Close

BY WHITNEY HIPOLITE · AUGUST 25, 2014
One of the top goals that material science strives to
achieve, is that of the biodegradability of commonly
used materials. The planet can only hold so much waste
before ecosystems, water supplies, and its atmosphere
begins to see horrific damage. For those of you who
have a 3D printer, you know how much plastic waste
you end up creating. While some of this waste is infact
biodegradable, if you use Polylactic acid (PLA) for
printing, other materials used are not.Polylactic acid is
derived from renewable resources such as tapioca,
sugarcane and corn starch. While it is biodegradable, many recycling plants also recyle it by breaking it down to
monomer through processes known as thermal depolymerization or hydrolysis. This monomer can then be used
to create new PLA, with properties that are identical to the original. Unfortunately though, PLA isn’t the only
material used when producing plastics.
Even within
the consumer
level 3D
printing
space, many
people prefer
ABS over
PLA due to
its strength,
flexibility and high temperature resistance.So what happens in a decade from now, when 3D printers become
more prevalent, and the technology is used to create more parts with a greater selection of plastic materials to
choose from? Will the world’s plastic waste problem only get worse? Without a doubt, this will be the case
unless someone, somewhere, can come up with a method for creating a greater diversity of biodegradable
materials.

There may be a solution! Researchers at the Italian Institute of
Technology, Ilker S. Bayer, Susana Guzman-Puyol, José
Alejandro Heredia-Guerrero, Luca Ceseracciu, Francesca
Pignatelli, Roberta Ruffilli, Roberto Cingolani, and
Athanassia Athanassiou have come up with a way of
transforming edible vegetable waste into bioplastic. Their
findings, which appear in the ACS journal, Macromolecules,
provide details on the process of creating bioplastics by using
waste from vegetables such as spinach, rice, parsley, and
cocoa, rather than the traditional methods of using petroleum, which can be very harmful to the environment.
Film from non-dissolvable portion of plant waste solutions (spinach) after 10 days. (Credit: A. Abrusci –
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia )
In 2012 alone, plastic production reached 288 millions tons worldwide; the majority of which are toxic to the
environment, and take centuries, or even thousands of years to completely break down.By using an organic,
naturally occurring acid (TFA), the researchers were able to process cellulose, which is the main building block
of plants. They mixed this TFA acid with vegetables such as spinach, rice, etc., and then poured this mixture
into pretri dishes. They discovered that after some time, films had formed, which featured a varying amount of
physical traits. Some were brittle and rigid, while others were soft and stretchable. Most interesting though, was
that they were very similar to commercially available plastics.
Waste husks from rice (in the small vial) can be transformed into bioplastic.
(Credit: A. Abrusci – Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia)
“This opens up possibilities for replacing some of the non-degrading polymers with the present bioplastics
obtained from agro-waste,” the researchers wrote.With the increasing use of 3D printing, both on a consumer
level and industrial level, the potential for more product waste will only grow larger. Even though 3D printing
reduces waste that is seen in typical manufacturing, these products that are created with the technology
ultimately will end up in a landfill. If researchers can find a way to derive plastics from renewable resources

such as vegetables, and then implement them into 3D printing processes such as selective laser sintering or
fused deposition modeling, the future may not be all doom and gloom after all.What do you think? Will we one
day have a greater variety of 3D printing materials to choose from which are completely biodegradable?
Discuss in the Vegetable derived plastic forum thread on 3DPB.com.
[Source: ACS Publications]
Vietnam experts pinpoint risks when selling rice to China
TUOI TRE NEWS
UPDATED : 08/26/2014 12:32 GMT + 7
While China remains Vietnam’s largest rice buyer, industry insiders say it is a highly precarious market,
especially when it comes to payment and market stability.
Vietnam exported only 250,000 metric tons of rice to China in
2011, but the figure jumped to more than three million metric
tons in the following two years, according to the Vietnam Food
Association (VFA).In the year to July, China also accounted for
40 percent of the total rice exports of the Southeast Asian
country, most of which were exported through cross-border rice
shipments, the VFA said.
Cross-border trading is a legal international economic activity among people of two neighboring states. The
products are usually traded in small volumes and values, and require less paperwork than the official trading
activities. While China is not a demanding importer, as it is willing to accept even the lowest-quality rice,
experts said this could turn into a dangerous disadvantage for Vietnamese rice businesses.―As China does not
ask to buy high-quality rice, Vietnamese businesses are not pressured to increase the quality of their products or
build up their reputation,‖ Dr. Ho Cao Viet, with the Southern Fruit Research Institute, said.―Therefore, when

China ceases imports, Vietnam could not sell such poor-quality rice to any other markets.‖Another risk lies in
the payment method, industry insiders have warned.
The director of a rice exporting firm in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang said most Chinese importers
only pay 20 percent of the contract value in advance, and the rest is cleared only after they have received
shipments.―The Chinese traders will be unable to complete payment if they fall into trouble,‖ the Vietnamese
businessman, who asked to be named only as T., said.Cross-border rice exports could be seized by Chinese
customs and market watchdog agencies at any time, and Chinese partners ―would have no money to pay for
Vietnamese businesspeople,‖ T. warned.It was reported in mid-August that China would prohibit rice imports
via the border with Vietnam, but T. said cross-border rice imports are only tightened, not completely
banned.―So business is still going on, though it has become tougher than before,‖ he said.T. said Chinese traders
still prefer importing rice across the border to doing so via the official channel, pointing the finger at a huge
price disparity.
Vietnamese five-percent broken rice currently sells at US$460 a metric ton, and under the official import
method, Chinese traders will have to pay $620 a metric ton, with all taxes and fees included, he elaborated.Dr.
Viet, the pundit from the Southern Fruit Research Institute, said cross-border trade with China is messing up the
Vietnamese rice market, as well as other agricultural products.―Chinese traders are willing to buy at high prices
when they badly need rice, but prices will fall sharply when they stop purchasing,‖ he said.The researcher
suggested that Vietnam ban cross-border rice exports to China to spare time for the rice sector to ―focus on
increasing rice quality, diversifying markets, and building reputation.‖
Govt to export 50,000 MT rice to Sri Lanka
Hasan Jahid Tusher
Encouraged by a bumper yield and good stocks at home, the government has decided to export at least 50,000
tonnes of rice, first of its kind since the independence, to Sri Lanka in the current fiscal year. The decision
came at the cabinet meeting yesterday, two months after the government extended the ban on non-fragrant rice
export until June 2015 in order to ensure good supply and control price hikes in the local market.Notifying the
cabinet about this year's rice production, Food Minister Qamrul Islam said the Sri Lankan government had
sought one lakh tonnes of rice from Bangladesh. In response, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who chaired the
meeting suggested that he should better export 50,000 tonnes now considering the flood situation, cabinet
sources said.

If there is a good Aman harvest, another 50,000 tonnes of rice will be exported under government to
government arrangement, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury told The Daily Star.Bangladesh has so far
exported only aromatic rice in small quantities. In the last two fiscal years, export of aromatic rice amounted to
Tk 77 crore, according to government statistics.
On the other hand, the government imported 3,000 tonnes of non-fragrant rice in the last fiscal year. This year
the rice production has been satisfactory fulfilling the demand of the local market. The Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) projected a slight increase in the rice production this year.
Speedy Power and Energy Act
The cabinet yesterday also approved a proposal to extend the Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special
Provision) (Amendment) Act-2014 for another four years till October 11, 2018.The law aims at ―quick
disposal‖ of contracts in the power and energy sectors to meet the demand for power and energy in a short
time.Amidst criticism, the government enacted the Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provision) Act
in October 2010 for two years. In September 2012, the government extended the timeframe for two years,
which will expire on October 11.Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain
Bhuiyan said the law had been fruitful. It would not have been possible for the government to meet the growing
demand for power and energy had it followed the traditional procurement laws and rules, he added.Speaking
about the power generation in the country, Hasina told the cabinet that her government wanted to set up a
second nuclear power plant in the southern part to meet the growing needs of power.
PM ORDERS TO SAVE DHAKA
The prime minister directed the water resources ministry to take immediate steps to free the Balu river from
land grabbers and connect it with Hatir Jheel lake so that flood water can be drained to prevent water-logging in
the capital, sources in the cabinet said.She also asked the authorities concerned to construct and repair roads in
Dhaka city immediately to ease traffic jam. She advised the Ministry of Housing and Public Works to build a
planned city in Purbanchal with modern facilities and broadened roads.
Published: 12:03 am Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Last modified: 10:06 pm Tuesday, August 26, 2014
TAGS: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Export Independence cabinet meeting Bumper yield good
stockscurrent fiscal year Food Minister Qamrul Islam

Prices of essentials jump on taxes, import costs
KATHMANDU, AUG 26 - Prices of essential commodities like rice and pulses have jumped up to 15 percent
over the past one month due to a hike in the agriculture development service tax and higher prices in India, said
traders.With major festivals like Dashain and Tihar arriving, further price increases due to swelling demand are
feared.Jeera Masino rice now costs Rs 1,400 per 25 kg sack retail against Rs 1,300 a month ago. Mansuli rice is
being sold at Rs 53 per kg compared to Rs 46 per kg previously. Indian Basmati rice presently costs Rs 115 per
kg, up from Rs 110. Likewise, beaten rice has become dearer by up to Rs 15 per kg. Taichin beaten rice now
costs Rs 70 per kg against Rs 55 a month ago. Meanwhile, pulses have become dearer by up to Rs 10 per kg.
Rahar pulse has risen to Rs 140 per kg from Rs 130. Masuro and Mas pulses increased to Rs 125 and Rs 130
respectively against Rs 110 and Rs 120 per kg before.
Pabitra Bajracharya, president of the Retailers Association of Nepal, said that the government’s decision to raise
the tax on imported rice affected prices in the market.―Large amounts of rice and pulses are being imported
from India and third countries, so an increase in the agriculture development service charge affected prices in
the market,‖ he said. Bajracharya added that a price rise in India also led to higher prices in Nepal.The
government has upped the agriculture development tax on imported rice, pulses and wheat flour to 8 percent
from 5 percent in a bid to protect domestic producers from highly subsidized Indian grain.Surya Prasad
Acharya, director general of the Department of Customs, said that the government had hiked the agriculture
development service fee with the aim of discouraging imports and promoting the local rice industry. ―I don’t
think that a 3 percent hike in the agriculture development fee should affect prices in the local market
much.‖According to the annual macro economic report published by Nepal Rastra Bank, rice worth Rs 12.37
billion was imported from India in the last fiscal year. Imports amounted to Rs 8.45 in the fiscal year 2012-
13.Prem Lal Maharjan, president of the National Consumer Rights Forum, said that traders might have hiked
prices of essential goods to take undue benefit during the festival season when demand soars.
Posted on: 2014-08-26 08:59
More Basmati rice under cultivation this Kharif, farmers expect
better returns
Last Updated : 26 Aug 2014 04:12:34 PM IST
Total area under basmati rice is likely to jump by 40 per cent in the
ongoing kharif season.
Farmers sow more Basmatia rice this Kharif
season. (File Photo)

An estimate says that farmers have sown the premium rice variety in an area
of 3.5 million hectarein anticipation of better returns."Basmati rice acreage
can go up to 3.5 million hectare this season from 2.5 million hectare in the
year-ago," Agriculture Commissioner J S Sandhu said on Tuesday, Aug 26.
Acreage under the crop is not only expected to increase in traditional states --
Punjab, Haryana, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh and some parts of Jammu and
Kashmir, but also in non-traditional states especially Madhya Pradesh
andRajasthan, he said."More farmers are growing basmati rice varieties -- Pusa
1501 and Pusa 1121 -- encouraged by fellow farmers, who got better price last
year," Sandhu said. Farmers had earned three times higher than the support price of Rs 1310 per quintal for
common variety paddy during last year, he added.
If such increase in acreage is achieved, the country's total production of basmati rice would touch 8.75 million
tonnes this year considering the average yield of 2.5 tonnes per hectare, Sandhu said.Last year, basmati rice
output stood at 6.25 million tonnes and exports at 7 million tonnes, he said.The expected jump in basmati rice
sowing is likely to increase the overall rice acreage in the ongoing kharif (summer) season that began from June
with the onset of southwest monsoon.So far in the kharif season, rice including basmati rice has been sown 33.5
million hectare, slighly higher than 33.37 million hectare in the year-ago period, as per the official data.Rice is
the key kharif crop. The country's 90 per cent of the rice production comes from kharif crop.
Vietnam experts pinpoint risks when selling rice to China
TUOI TRE NEWS
UPDATED : 08/26/2014 12:32 GMT + 7
While China remains Vietnam’s largest rice buyer, industry insiders say it is a highly precarious market,
especially when it comes to payment and market stability.
Vietnam exported only 250,000 metric tons of rice to China
in 2011, but the figure jumped to more than three million
metric tons in the following two years, according to the
Vietnam Food Association (VFA).In the year to July, China
also accounted for 40 percent of the total rice exports of the
Southeast Asian country, most of which were exported
through cross-border rice shipments, the VFA said.Cross-
border trading is a legal international economic activity

among people of two neighboring states. The products are usually traded in small volumes and values, and
require less paperwork than the official trading activities. While China is not a demanding importer, as it is
willing to accept even the lowest-quality rice, experts said this could turn into a dangerous disadvantage for
Vietnamese rice businesses.
―As China does not ask to buy high-quality rice, Vietnamese businesses are not pressured to increase the quality
of their products or build up their reputation,‖ Dr. Ho Cao Viet, with the Southern Fruit Research Institute,
said.―Therefore, when China ceases imports, Vietnam could not sell such poor-quality rice to any other
markets.‖Another risk lies in the payment method, industry insiders have warned.The director of a rice
exporting firm in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang said most Chinese importers only pay 20 percent of
the contract value in advance, and the rest is cleared only after they have received shipments.―The Chinese
traders will be unable to complete payment if they fall into trouble,‖ the Vietnamese businessman, who asked to
be named only as T., said.Cross-border rice exports could be seized by Chinese customs and market watchdog
agencies at any time, and Chinese partners ―would have no money to pay for Vietnamese businesspeople,‖ T.
warned.It was reported in mid-August that China would prohibit rice imports via the border with Vietnam, but
T. said cross-border rice imports are only tightened, not completely banned.―So business is still going on,
though it has become tougher than before,‖ he said.T. said Chinese traders still prefer importing rice across the
border to doing so via the official channel, pointing the finger at a huge price disparity.Vietnamese five-percent
broken rice currently sells at US$460 a metric ton, and under the official import method, Chinese traders will
have to pay $620 a metric ton, with all taxes and fees included, he elaborated.Dr. Viet, the pundit from the
Southern Fruit Research Institute, said cross-border trade with China is messing up the Vietnamese rice market,
as well as other agricultural products.―Chinese traders are willing to buy at high prices when they badly need
rice, but prices will fall sharply when they stop purchasing,‖ he said.The researcher suggested that Vietnam ban
cross-border rice exports to China to spare time for the rice sector to ―focus on increasing rice quality,
diversifying markets, and building reputation.‖
Rice planting campaign and contest held in Buriram
Tuesday, 26 August 2014By NNT
BURIRAM, 25 August 2014 - Buriram province, in collaboration with local administrative organization, has
organized a rice planting campaign and competition to conserve the traditional farming method as well as
helping farmers reduce their costs.Buriram Deputy Governor Chalermpol Pollawan this morning led more than
1,200 people from government offices, local administrative organizations, students and residents in Paisan sub
district, Prakonchai district, Buriram, to a rice field of 50 rais in Baan Nongsaeng, Moo 4, Prakonchai district in
order to grow rice under the ―Rice Planting for Reconciliation and Returning Happiness‖ campaign.A rice
growing competition was also held, with contestants from 16 villages in the province joining the event. The
campaign is aimed at promoting reconciliation in the community in line with the NCPO’s policy, cooperation
between government sector and public, and traditional rice growing conservation as well as helping farmers reducing their costs on
wage. The seeds of rice of this lot will be given to farmers for use in the following agricultural season.

26th august,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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26th august,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine