Foods Can Talk

Laura McNamara

Gourmet ImpressionsNow, when I say foods can talk, I don’t mean that an exquisitely prepared lobster is going to suddenly speak up and ask to be spared from a rumbling stomach. I’m talking about food with messages. Think of the corn fields in that sci-fi movie Signs… except, well, it’s not signs but words. And not fields of crops but food on your dinner plate.

If foods could talk, what would they say? What would you want them to say? The birth of talking foods is only a few months away. Gourmet Impressions, Inc. has officially awarded Practical Enterprises, Inc. the exclusive worldwide Licensing rights to bring their food embossing and impressing tools to life.

These babies called The Roller and The Stamper are the only gadgets in the world that can enable anyone, anywhere to make foods talk. Just about any message, saying, logo or picture of one’s desire can be personalized instantaneously as an embossment onto. or an impression into a vast variety of 40+ foods. Pizzas, ice creams, baked goods, deserts, fruits, vegetables, cookies, cheeses, and breads will be speaking, whispering, shouting, cooing, or even communicating in braille, depending upon one’s moods , desires and passions.

Eat my words! You will soon experience tasty smiles from edible messages, the likes of which you’ve never consumed. The Culinary and Food Advertising Industries are about to be revolutionized with a new excitement and vigor, creating a fun, memorable experience for all. Every child, adult; rich or poor, every restaurant, kitchen; every country, town, hamlet and in every language will soon have much food for thought. Signature dishes will be just that, and on everyone’s lips…literally.

Food

The State of ACE and Ethanol

Chuck Zimmerman

Brian JenningsThings are winding down here at the ACE Convention. Looking very relaxed this morning was the executive vice president of the American Coalition for Ethanol, Brian Jennings. He gave the state of the industry and organization speech yesterday.

I interviewed Brian this morning to find out what he thinks about how things are going in the ethanol industry and especially from the ACE perspective. He says the industry has reached a “pivotal point” in its development. He says that although significant growth has been achieved there are still some road blocks out there that have to be recognized and dealt with. One of those involves getting the truth about ethanol out to the public and combating the naysayers. He says the industry is about to launch a major public relations offensive and that ACE will be involved in that effort.

You can listen to my interview with Brian here: ace-07-jennings.mp3

2007 ACE Convention Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol

Zimfo Bites

Laura McNamara

  • The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association will sponsor the College Student Career Program at the 2008 International Poultry Expo and International Feed Expo in the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta from Jan. 23-25. The College Student Career Program provides a mutually beneficial experience for students and industry recruiters. The program gives employers the opportunity to interview qualified college students for employment or internship openings in one location over a three-day period. This program allows students to experience the largest annual gathering of poultry people, technology, and services. It affords them the opportunity, through exhibits and educational programs, to get the tools they need to successfully transition from academics to industry. The students eligible to participate are seniors or graduate students from a four-year program with various majors. Underclassmen seeking internships are also eligible to interview.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the American Angus Association held a signing ceremony this week to mark the awarding of a cooperative agreement to provide educational outreach and register premises as part of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Bruce Knight and President of the American Angus Association Jot Hartley signed the agreement Wednesday at the American Angus Association in St. Joseph, Mo.
  • The 5th annual National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Academy, held recently at DuPont Chesapeake Farms in Chestertown, Md., was sponsored by DuPont and supported by Lab-Aids as a special project of the national Future Farmers of America (FFA) Foundation. The Academy is a professional development program where agriculture teachers learn new inquiry-based teaching techniques to improve science learning which is reflected by improved performance in standardized science test scores of the students. Some 26 specially selected agricscience teachers from 21 states – including Alaska and Puerto Rico – learned how to further incorporate science into their existing curriculums and make learning fun and challenging for their students. Biofuels, alternative energy sources, water as a resource and toxicology issues were reviewed during the week-long session. Field trips to the DuPont Stine Haskell Laboratory, the Delaware Biotechnology Institute in Newark, Del., and bioresearch tours at the DuPont Experimental Station were included in the training.
Zimfo Bytes

$100,000 Global Warming Challenge

Laura McNamara

JunkScience.com Ultimate Global Warming ChallengeThe stakes? 100 K. The challenge? Provide solid evidence of catastrophic, manmade climate change. JunkScience.com is putting the heat on global warming alarmists to lay out all the evidence behind their claims to man-made global warming. It’ll be interesting to see if there are any serious takers to the challenge.

‘Can you save Al Gore?’ is the title of a YouTube video announcing the $100,000 Ultimate Global Warming Challenge.
According to the Ultimate Global Warming Challenge rules, the first person to prove — in a scientific manner and according to contest rules — that man-made emissions of greenhouse gases are causing catastrophic climate change will win $100,000 — and, perhaps most importantly, save Al Gore from his self-made, inconvenient iceberg — as depicted on the YouTube video.

“Here’s the opportunity for global warming alarmists to flaunt all the conclusive evidence that they say exists,” said Steve Milloy, founder and publisher of JunkScience.com, the sponsor of the Ultimate Global Warming Challenge.

Find out complete contest rules and deadlines at UltimateGlobaalWarmingChallenge.com

Video

Pfizer Animal Health’s R&D Investment

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Bill BakerThe executive director for Pfizer Animal Health’s Global Clinical Development is Dr. Bill Baker. He’s responsible for managing the staff and budgets for this group of 120 individuals.

At the media event this week he gave us an overview of Pfizer’s Veterinary Medicine Research and Development which is the research organization that has 700 staff in total. He says that Pfizer Animal Health is unique in the industry due to the level of investment the company puts annually into R&D. He says they invest 50% more than their closest competitor.

You can listen to my interview with Dr. Baker here: pfizer-vmrd-07-baker.mp3

Or if you’d like you can download it here: Download MP3 FileDr. Bill Baker Interview

Animal Health, Audio

Pawlenty and Peterson At ACE

Chuck Zimmerman

MN Governor Tim PawlentyWe had a couple of politicians with us here today at the ACE Convention. The first one on stage was Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.

When I asked him about his vision for the future of ethanol in Minnesota he said he wants to be the benchmark state for the rest of the country on the development, use and availability of ethanol. . You can listen to my interview with him here (1 min): ace-07-pawlenty.mp3

Congressman Collin PetersonNext up was the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Collin Peterson who represents Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District. After his speech I asked him about why his farm bill contained less money for renewable fuels research than USDA asked for. Peterson says that they didn’t want to overdo it and that he feels that there is adequate funding in his bill. I also asked him about the whole food vs. fuel issue. He thinks that has died down and as he put it was “ginned up” by people who had other interests.

You can listen to my interview with Congressman Peterson here: ace-07-peterson.mp3

2007 ACE Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Ethanol

Looking Down on AgriTalk

Chuck Zimmerman

AgriTalk at ACEI don’t mean that the way it sounds. I was actually looking down on AgriTalk just a few minutes ago when they were doing their show live here at the ACE Convention. In the picture Mike Adams is interviewing ACE executive vice president, Brian Jennings.

This takes care of the AgriTalk road picture portion on my ACE Convention coverage. It’s a tradition you know.

AgriTalk ACE AwardAgriTalk was presented with an award by the American Coalition for Ethanol here today.

It’s their 2007 Media Excellence Award.

Congratulations to Mike Adams, John Herath and Mike Perrine.

I didn’t get to listen to the show but they had a good audience here and I heard the applause when they were done even here in the media room. They’re set up just outside the trade show.

2007 ACE Convention Photo Album

Ag Groups, Ethanol, Media

American Coalition for Ethanol Convention Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

Corn BalloonThe American Coalition for Ethanol convention got kicked off yesterday. I might have made it to the opening trade show reception except for United Airlines problems again. But I’m here now enjoying a very large media room.

This morning the trade show was the first order of business before breakout sessions. We’ll have an opening general session this afternoon featuring Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. I’ll be recording that and doing most of my posts on Domestic Fuel.

If you’d like to see what’s going on there is a photo album online that you’re welcome to visit.

Ag Groups, Ethanol

Jay Leno Talks Biodiesel With Joe Jobe

Chuck Zimmerman

Jay Leno's Garage VideoHello from the American Coalition for Ethanol convention in St. Paul, MN. Before I get into some ethanol coverage though I’ve got a biodiesel story for you.

You might remember that I went out to Burbank earlier this year with Joe Jobe, National Biodiesel Board and Gene Hemphill, New Holland to visit Jay Leno’s Garage. While we were there Jay shot one of his website videos with Joe and they talked a lot about biodiesel. That video is now online for your viewing pleasure.

I think you’ll find that Jay is a very big fan of renewable fuels.

Ag Groups, Biodiesel, Ethanol, New Holland

Farm Aid To Host Star-Studded Concert

Laura McNamara

Farm Aid 2007It will be a concert for all music fans with a myriad of tastes… to help promote the farm fresh tastes of produce from American family farms. Farm Aid 2007: A HOMEGROWN Festival is the organization’s first-ever concert in New York.

Artists representing a variety of genres are slated to join Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews on Sunday, September 9 at Randall’s Island in New York City for the day-long festival. The show will promote food from family farmers and raise funds for Farm Aid’s work throughout the year to strengthen family farm agriculture.

Among the artists who will perform at Farm Aid 2007: A HOMEGROWN Festival are Tim Reynolds, who will join Dave Matthews, The Allman Brothers Band, Counting Crows, Matisyahu, Guster, The Derek Trucks Band, Warren Haynes, Supersuckers, The Ditty Bops and Montgomery Gentry. Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds and The Allman Brothers Band are scheduled to play full sets.

Farm Aid 2007“Thanks to a warm welcome from Mayor Bloomberg and New Yorkers, Farm Aid is bringing the annual concert to New York for the first time in 22 years,” said Carolyn Mugar, Farm Aid’s executive director. “With inspiring music from generous artists and a menu of family farm food, Randall’s Island will be transformed into a music festival to be remembered.”

Farm Aid 2007: A HOMEGROWN Festival will feature a full day of music, an abundance of family farm food vendors, and hands-on, interactive exhibits with farmers and activists that inspire living a homegrown life. For the first time at a major concert event, the goal is to serve 100 percent local, organic, humanely-raised and family-farmed food.
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Farming, Food