Sao Paulo | Reuters — U.S. biotech company Monsanto and U.S. software and tech firm Microsoft announced on Monday a partnership to invest in agricultural technology startups in Brazil. Monsanto will join a Brazilian investment fund with up to 300 million reais (C$118 million), managed by Microsoft, evaluating ideas for new digital tools to be […] Read more
Monsanto, Microsoft to invest in ag technology in Brazil
Saputo eyes Brazil for acquisitions
Reuters — Saputo Inc., one of Canada’s largest dairy producers, has an eye on Brazil for possible acquisitions, and could make deals worth as much as $3.5 billion, its CEO said Thursday. The struggling global dairy industry is fragmented, potentially yielding opportunities, Lino Saputo Jr. said. The company would like to buy cheesemaking plants in […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Surprise demand propping up prices
CNS Canada — Unexpected demand for corn and soybeans is supporting markets in Chicago, according to one U.S. trader, a trend he expects to continue. Soybeans — “It’s just not over yet,” said Sean Lusk, director of commercial hedging with Walsh Trading in Chicago. Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) soybeans rallied in late April after […] Read more
Global GMO area dips in 2015 in first-ever decline
Reuters — The world scaled back biotech crop planting for the first time ever in 2015, led by a decline in the U.S., which has fuelled rapid expansion of genetically modified crops since their commercial launch two decades ago, according to an annual report released Wednesday. The decline was blamed largely on lower crop plantings […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans set eight-month highs in comeback rally
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain futures jumped on short-covering and technical buying on Tuesday, with soybeans closing at eight-month highs after a see-saw session. Heavy buying by commodity investors helped drive the gains, with funds snapping up an estimated 15,000 soybean contracts and 20,000 corn contracts at the Chicago Board of Trade, traders said. […] Read more
U.S. grains: Prices jump on short-covering, oil rise
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Board of Trade corn futures gained for the second straight day on Wednesday, as the grain market enjoyed a price bump from investors continuing to cover short positions and as crude oil prices rose. Front-month CBOT March corn cracked through several moving averages during the day — including the 50-day […] Read more
U.S. grains: Prices rise on short-covering, slow loadings in Brazil
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. soybean futures climbed to a 1-1/2-week high on Tuesday while wheat and corn each gained about one per cent, boosted by investor short-covering and a backlog of export loadings at Brazilian ports. Prices rose as trade resumed following a three-day weekend due to Monday’s U.S. Presidents Day holiday. They were […] Read more
Major investment to build Farmers Edge’s data power
Canadian precision agronomy and farm data management firm Farmers Edge plans to keep taking its services to previously underserved acres around the world, with a major cash infusion from a group of its backers. Japanese commodities trading and investment firm Mitsui, Toronto commercial real estate company Osmington and the Green Growth Fund operated by investment […] Read more
Brazil prosecutors charge JBS board chairman
Sao Paulo | Reuters –– Prosecutors charged Joesley Batista, chairman of Brazilian meatpacker JBS’s board and president of its controlling shareholder J+F Investimentos, and eight others with crimes against the financial system, sending shares of JBS SA down more than eight per cent on Tuesday. The statement from prosecutors said J+F Investimentos and another subsidiary […] Read more
Brazil soy growers seek WTO complaint against U.S.
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazilian soybean growers have asked their country to file a complaint against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization, alleging U.S. farm subsidies give an unfair advantage to the world’s top soybean producer. Brasilia-based farm group Aprosoja says those subsidies might be costing Brazilian farmers $1 billion a year in […] Read more
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