Geneva | Reuters — Swiss inspections group SGS plans to trim its workforce by 2,000 across about 120 countries in a process of natural attrition rather than sudden cuts or corporate restructuring, company spokesman Daniel Rufenacht said on Thursday. CEO Frankie Ng was earlier quoted by Swiss newspapers Handelszeitung and Tribune de Geneve as saying […] Read more
Inspections group SGS to slim workforce
Grain equipment firm AGI takes stake in Farmobile
Canadian grain handling and storage equipment maker Ag Growth International plans to dial up its collaboration with ag tech firm Farmobile and has taken a minority stake in the U.S. company to that end. Winnipeg-based AGI announced Tuesday it had agreed to make a “minority equity investment” of US$15 million (C$19.57 million) in Farmobile, effective […] Read more
The fake meat trend is just getting started, food exec says
Half of all meat eaters say they want to cut back and eat more plant-based foods
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s not going to stop with the Beyond Meat burger. Expect to see more plant-based foods in your grocery store as more and more consumers reduce their consumption of meat, says the CEO of a leading organic and natural food company. “You can see tremendous acceleration in the refrigerated meat alternatives in Canada,” Beena Goldenberg […] Read more
Protein supercluster backs Calgary oilseed processor
Industry will match PIC's $4 million
Reading Time: 2 minutes A Calgary company that has developed a unique way to process oil from canola, hemp, sunflower, and safflower seeds is the first recipient of funding from a protein ‘supercluster.’ Protein Industries Canada, one of five federally backed research and innovation superclusters, is putting in $4 million to commercialize plant protein processing technology developed by Botaneco […] Read more
Ocean freight index hits five-and-a-half year highs
MarketsFarm — The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) has steadily increased over the past few months, hitting its highest levels in five-and-a-half years. The BDI settled Tuesday at 2,011 points, the highest level for the ocean freight rate indicator since January 2014. The BDI has been on a steady uptrend since hitting a two-and-a-half year low […] Read more
Trade missions more valuable than ever, say Alberta producers
You have to show appreciation for customers and ask face to face how you can improve, says canola director
Reading Time: 3 minutes In times like these, friendship is more valuable than ever. “The mission was a direct result of the China (canola) ban,” said Alberta Canola director Andre Harpe, “When you lose part of your market, you have to make sure your other markets are OK.” Harpe was one of two Alberta producers who recently travelled to […] Read more
Reporter plays foodie and samples oat-based cheeses
“The more I work with Alberta crops, the more I get excited about them,” says local culinary arts instructor
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s not every day that I go into a laboratory to try food. But today, I walk into a room with steel containers and refrigerators, where researchers are wearing lab coats. I’m about to taste some new oat ‘cheese,’ and I’m excited. Before I get to taste the oat cheese, research chef, Maynard Kolskog has […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Weather threatens India’s crops
MarketsFarm — India is experiencing abnormal rain and weather patterns that have resulted in almost half of the country receiving drastically less rain than usual. In total, the entire country is experiencing about 12 per cent less precipitation than is normally expected. Particularly, provinces in India’s key pulse-growing region are experiencing significant droughts during a […] Read more
Grain Commission suspends ILTA Grain’s licenses
Farmers owed money for grain delivered to ILTA Grain Inc. should call the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC). The CGC on Thursday suspended the Surrey, B.C.-based company’s grain dealer’s license and its primary grain elevator licenses for elevators at Belle Plaine and Saskatoon, Sask., Remi Gosselin, the CGC’s manager of corporate information services, said in an […] Read more
Churchill shipping resumes but grain still on back burner
MarketsFarm — The first cargo ship in two years left the northern Manitoba port of Churchill on Wednesday, moving supplies to communities in Nunavut. Rehabilitation efforts at North America’s only deep-water Arctic port are still underway, but there are expectations business through the facility will eventually include grain as well. OmniTrax, the previous owner of […] Read more
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