Reading Time: 2 minutes Brussels | Reuters –– Evidence is mounting that widely-used pesticides harm moths, butterflies and birds as well as bees, adding to concerns crop production could be hit by a shortage of pollinators, according to a report drawn up for EU policymakers. The European Commission, the EU executive, placed restrictions on three neonicotinoid pesticides from Dec. […] Read more
Pesticides could lead to ‘pollination deficit,’ EU report says
Russia may consider lifting food ban from Greece, Hungary, Cyprus
Reading Time: 2 minutes Moscow | Reuters — The Russian government could consider removing Greece, Hungary and Cyprus from its ban on most Western food imports, Russian Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fyodorov was quoted as saying Tuesday. Russia’s ban, which should run until early August, was imposed in retaliation to Western sanctions on Russia over Moscow’s role in the Ukraine […] Read more
Brazilian beef exporters weigh WTO case against EU
Reading Time: 2 minutes Brasilia | Reuters — Brazilian meat exporters are considering taking the European Union to the World Trade Organization to challenge restrictions on their beef shipments to one of the world’s top markets, the head of the country’s beef exporters association told Reuters. A new dispute could further harm trade ties frayed by an EU case […] Read more
EU farmers fear ‘roller coaster’ as milk market deregulated
Reading Time: 3 minutes Belview Port, Ireland | Reuters –– Billions of euros and thousands of jobs will flow from the historic deregulation of Europe’s dairy sector, a string of Irish ministers promised at the opening this week of a vast new plant to make dried milk for developing markets. But elsewhere in the European Union, many farmers are […] Read more
The olive groves and vineyards of Liguria
Italy’s tiny farms are clinging to life as tenaciously as they cling to their hillsides. Now it appears they may have found their road to success
Reading Time: 7 minutes The road to the farm called I Cianelli runs out of the seaside resort of Andora, Italy, through the basil fields behind it. Narrow at first, the road curves up the stony hillside to a ledge overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, for it is here, from an impressive limestone house surrounded by native brush and olive […] Read more
Global durum crops in good shape, for now
Reading Time: 2 minutes Winnipeg | CNS Canada — Since North America and Australia both produced poor-quality durum crops in 2014-15, all eyes are on Mexico, the U.S. desert, Europe and North Africa to come up with some higher-quality product. And so far, most crops in those areas look fairly good, Alan Hegemeier, a merchandiser with CHS Inc., said […] Read more
Refiners urge EU to rethink renewables policy after oil collapse
Reading Time: < 1 minute Antwerp | Reuters –– European oil refiners urged the European Union on Monday to review laws calling for increased biodiesel content in road fuel because the cost of such renewables will counter the recent plunge in crude prices and weigh on the refining sector. “Governments should not inflict extra burden on the public by increasing […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
