BASF Survey Reveals Sustainability Attitudes

Cindy Zimmerman

BASF Crop Protection had great news to talk about with farm broadcasters at the NAFB meeting in Kansas City this week. According to a new BASF survey, a majority of consumers and growers agree that modern agriculture can achieve two critical goals simultaneously: Feed the world’s growing population while demonstrating responsible stewardship. More than 80 percent of the growers and …

Audio, BASF, NAFB, Seed, Sustainability

Flavor Infused Cottonseed Oil From Alcala Farms

Chuck Zimmerman

Pure cottonseed oil from Alcala Farms. It’s what I’ll be cooking with. Here’s why: “Silky-clear, lightweight body and flavor-neutral palate. Pure Cottonseed Oil is the perfect base for salad oils, marinades, sauces, frying, stir-frying, searing and sauteing.” It’s the original vegetable oil. Bet you didn’t know that CRISCO stands for Crystallized Cottonseed Oil. I didn’t either until I got to …

Ag Groups, Cotton, Food, Sustainability

BASF Stresses Doing More With Less

Cindy Zimmerman

Sustainability is an overused term, according to Nevin McDougall, Senior VP for BASF Crop Protection, North America. “Getting more productivity, more efficiency, with less impact on our resources and our environment – that’s what it’s all about,” Nevin told me at the conclusion of the 2012 BASF Agricultural Solutions Media Summit in Chicago last week. Nevin was very pleased with …

Audio, BASF, Sustainability

Novus Commitment to Sustainability

Chuck Zimmerman

During the Animal Ag Sustainability Summit 2012 held in conjunction with International Poultry Expo, Scott Hine, Vice President – Product Management and Operations, Novus, spoke about the company commitment to sustainability. Scott says the Summit was an opportunity for Novus and his message was that “if you want to be engaged in sustainability, which Novus believes is core to the …

Agribusiness, Audio, Novus International, Poultry Expo, Sustainability

The Novus IPE Week Program

Chuck Zimmerman

The Global Poultry Market Manager for Novus International is Scott Carter (on right). I got an overview from him of all the activities Novus is involved in during IPE Week. To start with Scott says they participated in the International Poultry Scientific Forum with a sponsored lunch featuring David Armano who spoke about social media. David was my interview in …

Agribusiness, Audio, Novus International, Poultry Expo, Sustainability

Novus Launches New Sustainability Website

Cindy Zimmerman

Novus International has launched a new interactive sustainability website to promote the company’s global sustainability initiatives. The website includes the 2010 Novus Sustainability Report which documents and measures the company’s comprehensive social, environmental and economic sustainability program at a global level following the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework, the most widely used guidelines for sustainability reporting standards. “This website outlines …

Novus International, Sustainability

His Royal Highness, Prince of Sustainability

Cindy Zimmerman

In addition to meeting with President Obama, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales gave the keynote address at “The Future of Food” conference at Georgetown University, sponsored by the Washington Post. Since the prince has “tried to farm as sustainably as possible for some twenty-six years” he was about the closest to an actual farmer that the conference had …

Environment, Sustainability, Wackos

FFA Leaders Join Novus Science Day

Cindy Zimmerman

Two National FFA officers and a regional director for the National FFA Foundation were among those who participated in the third annual “Science in Action: A Foundation for Dynamic Careers” Day sponsored by Novus International. Christopher Bell with the FFA Foundation said it was a good opportunity for the officers to visit an agricultural company that is making a difference …

Audio, Education, FFA, Novus International, Sustainability

Apply for Green Mountain College’s Summer Farm & Food Program

Joanna Schroeder

For those interested in becoming involved in exploring traditional techniques and cutting edge research in sustainable agriculture should consider applying for Green Mountain College’s summer program. In its third year, the 12-credit summer intensive program Farm Life Ecology: A Field and Table Intensive, runs for 13 weeks from May 23-August 19. For the first time the College is also offering …

Agribusiness, Education, Sustainability

Using Alge to Improve Ag Sustainability

Joanna Schroeder

Agriculture often gets a bad wrap on the sustainability scale but growers know that they aren’t going to jeopardize their livehoods and they are great stewards of the land. But for those growers who are still looking for some unique ways to be a little “greener” with their operations, they should consider algae. Kent Bioenergy has its roots in aquaculture. …

Aquaculture, Audio, Biodiesel, Livestock, Sustainability