Africa: Land of Opportunity

Chuck Zimmerman

Africa: Land of Opportunity was a very popular session during the Alltech International Symposium. The session was chaired by Aidan Connolly, Alltech, who opened the session with some remarks about the African marketplace. Following that opening the session included multiple panel discussions like this one featuring, Fu Wenge, Chinese Ministry of Agriculture; Mark Lyons, Alltech; Julie Borlaug Larson, Texas A&M …

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio, International, Uncategorized

USDA Chinese Trade Mission

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse led a mission to promote U.S. biofuels and agricultural product exports in northeast China May 5-13. The mission was part of President Obama’s “Made in Rural America” export and investment initiative, designed to help rural businesses and leaders take advantage of new investment opportunities and …

Audio, Biofuels, Ethanol, Exports, International, USDA

Canadian Farm Writers to Dig Deep

Chuck Zimmerman

I’m going. Going on the bicycling farm tour again too! Although there is a brew tour at the same time. I talked with Kim Waalderbos who serves on this year’s committee for the annual conference of the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation. She provides a preview of what this year’s conference will be like. We can’t wait to welcome you to …

Audio, International, Media

African Seed Industry Dominated by Local Start-Ups

Jamie Johansen

Locally-owned African seed companies participating in a program to offer high-yield crop varieties to smallholder farmers across the continent have collectively become the largest seed producers in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new report released today at the Grow Africa Investment Forum alongside the World Economic Forum on Africa. The analysis by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa …

Ag Groups, International, Seed

Let’s #FeedThe9 Enough

Chuck Zimmerman

Everyone should have a Sensible Table. We should make sure we have the facts when it comes to food and food security. We’ve got a couple billion more mouths to feed in coming years. So have you joined the movement? Congratulations and welcome to the ENOUGH movement! You’ve said “enough is enough.” Together, we can make a difference and solve …

Agribusiness, Elanco, Food, International

Canadian Farm Writers Going to the Island

Chuck Zimmerman

This year the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation Annual Conference is going to be hosted by the Atlantic Canada Farm Writers’ Association. That means we’ll be on Prince Edward Island, known as “the Island.” The conference will take place October 2-5. In addition to having a great conference we’ll be helping celebrate the Prince Edward Island Sesquicentennial. Plans include a long …

International, Media

More on IFAJ and the FAO Agreement

Chuck Zimmerman

As announced earlier this week, the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists has signed an agreement with the FAO. Signing for IFAJ was current President, Marcus Rediger. This morning I spoke with Marcus via Skype and we talked about the agreement and what it means to IFAJ members (AAEA members here in the U.S.). Information from the FAO will be featured …

Audio, IFAJ, International, Media, ZimmCast

IFAJ Signs Agreement with FAO

Chuck Zimmerman

Hey AAEA members. What do you think about this new agreement between the IFAJ and FAO? Interested to hear your thoughts. Including from any NAFB, NAAJ or LPC members. Many people know that I’m not a big fan of the FAO but I do believe that agreements like this are worthwhile so that the main goal of IFAJ on behalf …

ACN, IFAJ, International, Media

Philippine Agricultural Journalists Elects New Leaders

Chuck Zimmerman

Thanks to IFAJ for sharing the fact that the Philippine Agricultural Journalists, Inc. or PAJ recently elected a new set of officers. This followed its recent general assembly, held at the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Auditorium, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. Elected president for the sixth time is Roman Floresca, business editor of The Philippine Star. Other elected officers include Noel …

International, Media

Queen Bee of Germany Bayer Bee Care Center

Cindy Zimmerman

We already met the queen bee of the new Bayer CropScience North American Bee Care Center, now meet her counterpart at the first Bayer Bee Care Center in Monheim, Germany – Annette Schürmann. The German center opened at the global headquarters for Bayer CropScience in 2012. “We built it upon the research work that had been over the last 30 …

Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, International, pollinators