Reading Time: 3 minutes A new analysis of 450 genomes from cultivated potatoes and 56 genomes of wild potato species has revealed that the potato lineage originated through natural interbreeding between a wild tomato plant and a potato-like species in South America about 9 million years ago.
Evolutionary origins of the potato revealed – and a tomato was involved
Study, which analyzed genomes from cultivated and wild potatoes, may improve future breeding
Farm goods holding up U.S.-India trade talks
Reading Time: 2 minutes U.S. and India trade negotiators were pushing on Wednesday to finalize a tariff-reducing deal ahead of President Donald Trump's July 9 negotiating deadline, but disagreements over U.S. dairy and agriculture remained unresolved.
In Chile’s Atacama, world’s driest desert, growing lettuces with fog
Reading Time: 2 minutes In Chile's arid Atacama, the driest desert in the world, growers and researchers are looking to harness water from the very air itself to grow lettuces and lemons, using a net to catch drops of moisture from fog.
Barren fields, dry wells: after war, drought ravages Syrian farms
Digging wells adds costs as harvests fail; many farmers have heavy debts, want assistance
Reading Time: 3 minutes Syrian farmers hoped for some reprieve after Islamist rebels ended Assad' 24 years of autocratic rule in December, but a devastating drought and continued water theft mean their crops are still dying, their pears and plums withering on the branch.
Six agriculture leaders named Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame
The six 2025 Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees range from long-serving farm policy makers to researchers and business leaders
Reading Time: 2 minutes The six 2025 Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees range from long-serving farm policy makers to researchers, agriculture advocates and food business leaders.
Expanding greenhouse sector means more home-grown veggies
Plenty of room to expand in controlled environment agriculture, but investment needed says FCC
Reading Time: 2 minutes Canada continues to rely heavily in imported fruits and vegetables, especially during its long winters but different types of controlled environment agriculture like greenhouses are expanding and changing the balance says Farm Credit Canada.
Carney’s mandate letter makes no mention of agriculture or food
Some industry members see opportunity in a drive for economic growth; others wish the government would make specific commitments
Reading Time: 3 minutes Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent mandate letter made no mention of agriculture or food, instead focusing on economic issues and Canadian sovereignty. Some in the Canadian agriculture industry see potential for action while others wish for explicit commitments.
Editor’s Note: Ten years in
Reading Time: 3 minutes Ten years into any career can be a satisfying milestone. It can also be frustrating. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, as it’s been 10 years since my first novel was published. Since then, I’ve written a second, which was also published, and had plans for writing a third. But after the second […] Read more
An experience to phone home about
Country Guide sat down with several 2024 Outstanding Young Farmers to learn about their experiences and plans for the future. In this first instalment, we speak with the Atlantic regional winner, Geena Luckett
Reading Time: 4 minutes Geena Luckett confesses she often feels she has imposter syndrome. At the age of 11 she transitioned from city girl to farm girl when her dad became a fruit and vegetable producer to supply his specialty grocery stores. Today, she is the co-owner and general manager of Luckett Vineyards in Wallbrook, N.S. Despite taking a […] Read more
What are the thorny farm issues in India-US trade negotiations?
Reading Time: 2 minutes India and the United States have finalized the terms of reference for the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement to be concluded late this year, with a view to reaching bilateral trade worth $500 billion by 2030.
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
