Ask the right questions- ensure the organisations you ...
PMAC weekly update 2nd to 9th November Government agencies: ICPR Changes New Zealand News: No major changes for agriculture with new Cabinet line-up; Airlines say NZ government air freight funding needs to continue beyond border opening; New Zealand orange season relatively stable; Lawyer-turned lettuce farmer expanding hydroponics business; Zespri considers partnership with Chinese kiwi growers; Potatoes NZ relieved that MBIE is investigating frozen fries import threat; The Envy new campaign for Spanish fruit; European Jazz crop hits shelves International news: GAIN reports; Freshfel pushes EC on marketing; FDA Enhanced Food Traceability Recordkeeping Rules Proposed; UK food system mapped and quantified in new report; Challenging third quarter for Bayer; Air cargo capacity shrinks; Serbia: Impact of COVID-19 on the agro sectors; Compliance During COVID-19: Assessing Risk in the Supply Chain; The Australian vegetable grower capitalising on blockchain technology to boost business practices; Mastercard Uses Blockchain To Innovate AgTech; FDA Announces Investigations of Two Outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 Illnesses; Australia: The impact of pesticides on beneficial species; Netherlands: Sustainability with an impact loan from Rabobank; New post-harvest solution extends vase life by up to 25 percent; New GlobalGAP add-on offers more choice to floriculture producers; Supply closely monitored due to increasing measures abroad; Royal FloraHolland reintroduces coronavirus liveblog; Covid-19 lockdown in France deals a blow to Kenya's flower sub-sector; Flowers have same healing effect as Valium"Comments All the areas I would like to draw your attention to this week originate from overseas sources. So, saying the first deals with New Zealand bred apples. There are in fact three articles at the end of the New Zealand section between them look at Jazz and Envy promotions in the EU. These note the apples available in shops will soon change from this seasons New Zealand grown fruit to fruit grown in the EU. Between them the articles mention the importance of year round supply (and the fact that despite the travel miles NZ fruit may have the same or less environmental impact as EU grown fruit), the superior nature of the apples and that the apples grown in New Zealand have been grown according to the Kaitiakitanga sustainability project requirements.There are then three articles in the international section worth a special mention. The first is a Gain report that documents lessons learnt about virtual trade shows and how to get the best out of them (as a “stall holder”). The second reports on moves by the FDA to place end to end ( rather than one step up and one step down) traceability requirements on a limited range of produce in the USA. The article notes that over time this requirement is likely to be put in place for a wider range of products. And the third article is from Rabobank and provides its the rationale for having a 1 billion Euro “Impact “ fund where it provides loans under “favourable conditions such as an interest rates discount” for those businesses who are funding new technologies that will enhance sustainability e.g. glasshouses built with the latest technologies. Interesting to see this approach being taken by a bank to truly support the move to more sustainable practices.Agency news ICPR changesThe ICPR for Kenya has been updated with requirements for Capsicum (Capsicum annuum) and Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) See Plant ICPR for Kenya4888230-15557500New Zealand News Commentary No major changes for agriculture with new Cabinet line-upIt's business as usual for the primary sector with ministerial portfolios remaining relatively unchanged but from a few tweaks.Damien O'Connor has kept his job as Minister of Agriculture, one he held last term, and picks up Trade and Export Growth from David Parker and Land Information from Eugenie Sage. He also keeps the responsibility for Biosecurity and Rural Communities.Newcomer into the Cabinet Kiri Allan picked up Conservation and Associate Minister for the Environment. Phil Twyford also picked up Associate Minister for the Environment.."In other portfolios, Ayesha Verall has been given Food Safety, Twyford picked up State for Trade and Export Growth. Kris Faafoi held onto Immigration and Megan Woods has held onto Housing, Energy and Resources and Research, Science and Innovation. Full article available here Airlines say NZ government air freight funding needs to continue beyond border openingNew Zealand airlines have praised a government decision to extend a subsidy scheme designed to keep air cargo moving. However, they say ongoing financial support will be needed beyond New Zealand’s borders reopening.Within the $600 million governmental scheme to support the aviation industry through Covid-19, $320 million was allocated towards an international air freight capacity scheme. The scheme, started in May and administered by the Ministry of Transport, provides financial support to carriers to guarantee flights on key international routes continue, allowing goods to continue moving in and out of the country.With New Zealand’s borders closed and little passenger demand for air travel, cargo capacity (historically provided by passenger aircraft) has plummeted and freight rates have gone through the roof. Freightways, one of the freight companies participating in the scheme, said when the flow of international passengers stopped the price per kilogram to move freight increased by more than 300 per cent. Full article available hereNew Zealand orange season relatively stableFirst Fresh NZ managing director Ian Albers said that this orange season, growers have had their fair share of trials and tribulations due to Covid. Only the late navels and the summer citrus varieties remain to be harvested between now and late January.From a marketing perspective the 2020 season had by all accounts been relatively stable despite the uncertainty of what impact Covid-19 might have on both supply and demand. “On the demand side we saw positive impacts from consumers wanting fruit that was high in Vitamin C, the trend to buying more but shopping less often and increased demand for prepacked fruit where consumers wanted convenience and a ‘one-touch' pick- up. On the negative side the fact that many independent fruit and veg shops weren't able to open during the first lockdown did have an impact on demand for some specific sizes and grades of fruit”.Sales of navels to Japan were up over 40 percent compared to last year. “The demand for satsuma mandarins through May, June and July was also very good and in fact the demand was so good the season finished two to three weeks earlier than expected and this, combined with a slow start to the Australian imported mandarin programme created good demand for other New Zealand mandarin varieties such as Richard Special, Gold Nugget and Afourer. Full article available here Lawyer-turned lettuce farmer expanding hydroponics businessA Southland lawyer-turned lettuce farmer is looking forward to devoting all her time to expanding her hydroponics business, Aviation lawyer Angela Beazer, who has been working for the Civil Aviation Authority part-time, was a recent recipient of a $2.5 million Provincial Growth Fund loan.While flying high, the 45-year-old has her feet firmly on the ground. With plans afoot to triple the lettuce farm's production, it had become clear to her she could no longer do both jobs and would have to quit one. Full article available here Zespri considers partnership with Chinese kiwi growersWhile New Zealand growers pay hundreds of thousands of dollars per hectare to grow the Sun Gold, or G3 kiwifruit variety and Zespri is continuously looking at legal ways to protect its plant variety rights, unlawful plantings of the variety in China have almost doubled to 4000 hectares since 2019.Earlier this year, the company said it was considering legal action against the growers but now there is a chance it may work together with the growers. Zespri chief grower and alliances officer Dave Courtney said Zespri might trial working with the small growers in China, in the hope this would prevent more plantings. The trial will take fruit from 50 hectares, which is equivalent to about 200,000 trays. " He described the trial as a pragmatic solution because there are different pathways and Zespri will look at all of them. "We've got out and about and spoken to a number of companies, including some pretty big international brands that are producing or procuring food up there, and some have failed and others have skinned their knees and been successful. The trials may run over two seasons and Zespri chief executive Dan Mathieson is in China at present meeting officials and others to promote Zespri's ideas. Full article available herePotatoes NZ relieved that MBIE is investigating frozen fries import threatThe New Zealand potato industry are relieved that the Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) trade remedies team has now launched an investigation into the proven threat of surplus frozen fries being imported into New Zealand. The application was in response to the threat of increased dumped imports of surplus European frozen fries, to the NZ potato processing sector. The dumping and threat, combined with the effects of supply chain disruption caused by Covid-19, created an extraordinary situation that required investigation.At the time of the application the surplus in Europe was 1.5M tonnes, today it is estimated at 2.6M tonnes and growing by the minute due to the impacts of further lockdowns in parts of Europe.This situation is not unique to the NZ potato industry. In recent months the US and Australia have also called for duties or actions to limit what they see as under-priced EU fry imports. The South African Vegetable Processors Forum, which includes Potato South Africa, McCain Foods South Africa andLamberts Bay Foods, wants to see the South African Government take anti-dumping measures against EU exports, echoing calls coming from Australia and New Zealand.Other NZ industries may also be facing trade threats as a consequence of Covid-19 and PNZ has led the way in New Zealand, by quickly utilising the toolbox available through the World Trade Organisation and MBIE. The PNZ tariff application is available as a public file and contains non-confidential copies of the application, MBIE initiation report, copies of letters to notifiable parties and non-confidential copies of all future documents. The Gazette Notice notifying the initiation of the investigation is available here. The non-confidential application along with MBIE’s Initiation Report is available here.?Next steps:It may take up to 6 months for MBIE to investigateA 3 month public interest test to determine if the duties required are in the public interest post the investigationBelgian and Dutch embassies have been notifiedForeign exporters have been notifiedNZ importers have been notifiedFull article available here Bits and piecesThe Envy new campaign for Spanish fruitThe club apple variety Envy is produced exclusively in Spain by Grupo Nufri in a unique place in the province of Soria; . the article provides details of how this New Zealand bred apples will be supported with marketing in Spain HYPERLINK "" \t "_blank" Full article available here European Jazz crop hits shelvesThe new Jazz apple crop from European growing regions including France, South Tyrol, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the UK is now available in stores. This year, a total volume of about 40,000 tonnes of Jazz apples is forecast from Europe's production areas, with good weather conditions contributing to "above-average quality and a particularly aromatic taste". Again, a lot of detail about the advertising that will support the varieties sales interestingly it also makes reference to its production in New Zealand under the roof of the Kaitiakitanga sustainability project, an initiative that focuses on the respectful and careful treatment of the environment, resources, people and the products produced.This includes further ambitious goals for the year 2025, such as CO2-neutral growth, 100 per cent recyclable packaging, low resource consumption and the protection and preservation of the environment. Full article available here Enzafruit New Zealand Continent is currently selling their last Jazz apples from New Zealand. They're getting ready to switch to the new European harvest. "“Another pronounced market trend is to buy locally. There's an increasing focus on local production. I won't deny that local production is important. But we must remember that imports remain vital to meet year-round demand. To guarantee Jazz apples with their quality, crunchiness, and taste experience, we need the Southern Hemisphere as well. We won't, however, rule out offering European apples for a little longer in the future.""That could be a logical evolution. Studies show that imported products don't necessarily have as large an ecological footprint as some sources suggest. Not if you consider all the factors involved. For example, the environmental balance of apples from New Zealand might even be better than European apples that have been in cold storage for eight months. People can, therefore, enjoy their Jazz apples, guilt-free," concluded Didier. Full article available here 3940810-63500 International news Comment GAIN reportsGain reports are from the “Global Agricultural Information Network” and are produced by the USDA. They are designed to provide timely information on the economy, products and issues in foreign countries that are likely to have an impact on United States agricultural production and trade. The information in them is written for USA exporters but the majority is equally relevant to New Zealand. With regard to import regulations for a particular market New Zealand exporters should first check the countries ICPR on MPI’s web site. These are collated specifically for New Zealand product. However, the Gain reports often provide additional information that is useful e.g. on grading and labelling, economic profiles. To see the full report, click on the link in each notification This week see:Virtual Agricultural Marketing and Business Meetings - Lessons Learned Virtual Agricultural Marketing and Business Meetings - Lessons Learned_Beijing ATO_China - Peoples Republic of_10-21-2020 Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual ( Apples, pears and grapes) forArgentina Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual_Buenos Aires_Argentina_11-01-2020 Chile Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual_Santiago_Chile_11-01-2020 China - Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual_Beijing_China - Peoples Republic of_11-01-2020 European Union Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual_Berlin_European Union_11-01-2020 Korea - Republic of Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual_Seoul_Korea - Republic of_11-01-2020 New Zealand Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual_Wellington_New Zealand_11-01-2020 Peru Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual_Lima_Peru_11-01-2020 Russian Federation Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual_Moscow ATO_Russian Federation_11-01-2020 Taiwan Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual_Taipei_Taiwan_11-01-2020 EU Parliament and Council Move Forward on Landmark EU Climate Law EU Parliament and Council Move Forward on Landmark EU Climate Law _Brussels USEU_European Union_10-27-2020 Brazil Introduces Additional Import Requirements for Apples and Pears Brazil Introduces Additional Import Requirements for Apples and Pears_Brasilia_Brazil_10-28-2020 The Netherlands Food Service Establishments Largely Remain Closed Until December 2020 Food Service Establishments Largely Remain Closed Until December 2020_The Hague_Netherlands_10-28-2020 Thai FDA Announced Ban of Paraquat and Chlorpyrifos on Imported Food Products establishing zero MRLs for paraquat and chlorpyrifos on imported food products with an effective date of June 1, 2021. Thai FDA Announced Ban of Paraquat and Chlorpyrifos on Imported Food Products_Bangkok_Thailand_11-03-2020 RegulatoryFreshfel pushes EC on marketingFreshfel Europe is urging the European Commission to retain the €200m promotion budget in its 2021 Annual Work Programme (AWP) and double the fruit and vegetable sector’s previous allocation of €8m to €16m for activities stimulating European consumption.Freshfel Europe expressed its "strong concern" about the European Commission’s initial budget allocation breakdown to the various topics under simple and multi programmes on the internal and third country markets, which showed a "highly disproportionate allocation of budget for organic and other EU quality schemes compared to their market shares". The allocation breakdown would dangerously limit the capacity of general promotion activities to stimulate the consumption of fruit and vegetables, Freshfel warned, irrespective of their production method or quality mark.Promoting overall fruit and vegetable consumption is described as "the sector’s greatest challenge", according to Freshfel, with EU consumption stagnating at around 345g per capita per day, which is below the WHO recommendation of at least 400g per day.““This higher budget would allow more EU promotion activities in the coming years to build on the momentum that the upcoming 2021 UN International Year of Fruit and Vegetables will bring for the sector, and reinforce promotion activities promoting healthy sustainable diets," Full article available here FDA Enhanced Food Traceability Recordkeeping Rules ProposedBefore Frank Yiannis became the Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response at FDA, he was Vice President of Food Safety at Walmart. There he championed the concept of end-to-end traceability of food and produce to enable rapid identification of the sources of foodborne pathogen outbreaks.Advertisement In September, the FDA announced a new traceability initiative that will include some specialty crop sectors. Existing FDA regulations require much of the food industry to establish and maintain records that document one step forward to where food has gone and one step back to its immediate, previous source. These requirements establish baseline traceability record keeping throughout much of the food system, but these records often prove insufficient to link shipments of food effectively and rapidly through each point in the supply chain. The FDA has published a list of foods on its food traceability list (FTL) that will require additional traceability record-keeping. Cucumbers, tomatoes, leafy greens, melons, peppers, and all types of fresh-cut fruit and vegetables are among the crops impacted. The new requirements will be to establish and maintain records containing Key Data Elements (KDEs) associated with different Critical Tracking Events (CTEs). The proposed rule identifies growing, receiving, transforming, creating, and shipping as the CTEs for which records containing KDEs would be required. The required KDEs would vary depending on the CTE that is being performed. The records required for each CTE would need to contain and link the traceability lot code of the food to the relevant KDE. Growers of crops on the list would be required to create and maintain records containing and linking the food’s traceability lot code to the growing area coordinates. The traceability lot code allows a food to be uniquely identified throughout the supply chain. As part of a firm’s traceability records program, it would be required to describe how they establish and assign traceability lot codes. Because of the crucial role that traceability lot codes play in the proposed rule, it is important that regulators know how a firm created and assigned these codes so they can better understand the scope of the records they are reviewing. The proposed rule also would require that: ? records be maintained as either original paper records, electronic records, or true copies; they all must be legible and stored to prevent deterioration or loss. ? traceability records be provided to FDA as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours after a request is made. ? an electronic, sortable spreadsheet containing relevant traceability information be provided to FDA within 24 hours of a request, when necessary, to assist FDA during an outbreak, recall, or other threat to public health. The FDA proposes that any final rule on additional traceability record-keeping requirements for foods on the FTL would become effective 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. The rule’s comment period will expire on Jan. 21, 2021. For more information, visit . Because an effective traceability system requires all entities along a supply chain to maintain traceability records, FDA suggests that everyone subject to the rule should come into compliance by the same date. The agency proposes that the compliance date for all persons subject to the record-keeping requirements would be two years after the effective date of the final regulation. While the proposed requirements would only apply to those foods on the FTL, they were designed to be suitable for all FDA-regulated food products. FDA encourages voluntary, industry-wide adoption of these practices. Full article available here UK food system mapped and quantified in new reportThe expansive UK food system has been mapped and quantified in a new report that reveals both the value of the agri-food sector and the multiple challenges it faces. Mapping the UK Food System – A Report for the UKRI Transforming UK Food Systems Programme?is the inaugural report published by the??47.5M programme,?‘Transforming the UK Food System for Healthy People and a Healthy Environment’, led by the Global Food Security programme.The report also presents a range of existing food systems frameworks developed by projects and organisations engaged in food systems research. An accompanying interactive tool allows users to access some of the key data regarding employment, number of enterprises and economic value. The report offers findings in two key areas. First, it reveals the often-surprisingly large numbers related to the food sector, from the ?121 billon the sector contributes annually to the economy to the 20 million slices of bread thrown away every single day. Second, it highlights negative outcomes of the current food system; these include food insecurity, malnutrition and environmental damage”.While the findings make clear the economic value of the UK food industry, they also reveal a number of negative consequences in the current system. These include a heavy reliance on imports, skills shortages, poor working conditions, unsustainable production methods and diet-related disease. Full article available here Business/ IndustryChallenging third quarter for BayerBayer has confirmed its targets for full-year 2020 following a challenging third quarter due to seasonal factors. “Despite the weak quarter and the substantial impact of the pandemic, our currency- and portfolio-adjusted sales and core earnings per share in the first nine months of the year were level with the prior-year period, thanks to stringent cost management and the acceleration of our structural measures. We can therefore confirm our currency-adjusted Group outlook for 2020”, said Werner The article provides more detail about income and expenditure and also mentions there are approximately 88,500 claims in the litigation involving glyphosate-based Roundup products. Full article available here Air cargo capacity shrinksThe International Air Transport Association (IATA) released September data for global air freight markets showing that air cargo demand, while strengthening, remains depressed compared to 2019 levels.Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs*), was 8 per cent below previous-year levels in September (-9.9 per cent for international operations). Global capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTKs), shrank by 25.2 per cent in September ( 28 per cent for international operations) compared to the previous year. That is nearly three times larger than the contraction in demand, indicating a severe lack of capacity in the market.For air cargo, 92 per cent of the business is still there, whereas about 90 per cent of international passenger traffic has disappeared. "Favourable indicators for the peak year-end season will support the continued recovery in demand. Already North American and African carriers are reporting demand gains on 2019. The challenge continues to be on capacity. As carriers adjust schedules to reflect falling passenger demand amid the resurgence of Covid-19, valuable belly capacity will be lost when it is needed the most." Full article available hereSerbia: Impact of COVID-19 on the agro sectorsIn the first half of this year agricultural exports recorded an increase of 10.3% compared to the same period in 2019. Serbian companies whose core business is sales of fresh fruits and vegetables agree that Covid-19 positively impacted consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables and they recorded an increase in their business operations by 20%. The main export markets for these fresh items are the Russian Federation, the Czech Republic; Poland; Croatia and Italy. Full Compliance During COVID-19: Assessing Risk in the Supply ChainTo safeguard the integrity of their supply chains during the pandemic and navigate the increasingly complex regulatory landscape, organizations must take the necessary precautions. The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has pushed global supply chains to the limit, with tremendous implications for international trade. Businesses that have experienced a sudden surge in demand have been forced to quickly restructure their supply chain network and onboard new third parties into their production process - all remotely. This has opened the door to a flood of new risks, including potential regulatory exposure and severe reputational damage.Previous crises have highlighted the need for smart and agile logistics operations: the ability to move assets between carriers, modify routes, and change capacity with ease, in order to respond to unexpected events efficiently and effectively. However, the disruption caused by COVID-19 has crippled logistics operations, with suppliers unable to meet soaring demand. The pandemic has also heightened international trade tensions, with new sanctions and regulations creating further complications for risk and compliance professionals. The U.S., for example, recently introduced new laws to combat the export of goods to military end users in certain markets.Ask the right questions- ensure the organisations you purchase from / supply too have integrity .The best third-party risk management programs have introduced more robust questioning and checks, such as requesting to see new suppliers’ business continuity and infectious disease management plans, as well as local safety certifications.Double down on data The organizations that appear to be weathering the COVID-19 storm are those that have committed to enterprise-wide risk visibility, insight and collaboration of data . This has always, and should remain, a top priority for all risk and compliance professionals.Scrutinize ownership structure While frictions between these countries have been long documented, the Coronavirus appears to have exacerbated tensions. And, as new sanctions and regulations come into play, it has never been more crucial for organizations to keep a close eye on their customers’ ownership structures to ensure they remain compliant with the importing countries changing requirements .Prepare and pre-empt To mitigate risk in this volatile environment, it has never been more important for businesses to have the data, tools and processes in place to respond appropriately, and proactively. Full article available hereThe Australian vegetable grower capitalising on blockchain technology to boost business practicesA Western Australian farmer is utilising blockchain technology to help promote his business and hopefully grow markets into the future. In partnership with DiMuto, Morning Glory Farms has started using a special label and QR Code, which is placed on its Spaghetti Squash, that included details such as recipes and company details. The QR Code is a way to digitalise the product, and when it the code is scanned, it takes you to a landing page, which gives the ability to engage with the end consumer, it also enable traceability in whereby clients can access purchase orders, which includes photographs and consignment numbers in an "open and transparent way". Full article available hereMastercard Uses Blockchain To Innovate AgTechTrust in supply chains can be a tricky thing to achieve. It’s absolutely necessary to make them work, but they can be hard to establish because so much of how things actually move from Point A to Point B can be frustratingly opaque. The question “where’s my stuff?” has been recurring at various levels of intensity throughout the pandemic period — putting pressure on brands to bring visibility to supply chains. In response a new partnership has been formed between Mastercard and GrainChain ( an agricultural supply chain technology solution) enabling Mastercard’s proprietary blockchain technology to build a more inclusive and productive agricultural supply chain worldwide.The agricultural supply chain is incredibly opaque, particularly in the developing world where demand for GrainChain’s services is highest. That opacity is not entirely accidental. The reality is a lot of middlemen and other players have taken advantage that the supply chain is incredibly confusing. What GrainChain has done and can now do more effectively, having plugged into Mastercard’s Provenance technology, is to implement technology and tools to make it easier to systematically grade the products, such that all the information about where they came from and what they’ve been through is easily accessible.“We're now allowing for machines and not humans to be able to add this data. And what that's doing is it's giving extreme legitimacy to the information that's being put in,” The world has progressed to pulling people out of the equation, putting systems into the equation, transferring money digitally, moving records and doing things in a way where there's less human interaction and more efficiency. This is being felt in supply chains across verticals — not just agriculture. Full article available here Freshfel Europe's Headlines The Freshfel Europe Headlines give an overview of the most recent Freshfel Europe activities. Freshfel Europe's Headlines Edition 5 of 2020 is available to read here. In this edition, you can find the following initiatives: Editor’s Note: Autumn is upon us Spain: Welcome to the Lemon Age Italy: Marlene turns 25 France: Aprifel's new skin France: Open orchards UK: British Leeks Spain: Say hello to watermelon UK: Veg Power Activity Book New Zealand: Zespri Virtual Adventure France: BananaManiacs US: Pink October Global: World Fruit & Veg Day Food safetyFDA Announces Investigations of Two Outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 IllnessesThe FDA is working to investigate two outbreaks of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli?O157:H7 (STEC) illnesses. The FDA is closely working with its partners at the CDC and the states to pinpoint the sources of the E. coli O157:H7 illness outbreaks and will share information as it becomes available.One of the outbreaks is being caused by a strain of E. coli that is genetically related to a strain that caused the 2019 STEC outbreak linked to romaine grown in the California Central Coast Salinas growing region. To date, 23 cases and no deaths have been reported.The second outbreak is being caused by an E. coli strain?that is genetically related to a larger, diverse genetic cluster including the strain that caused the 2018 STEC outbreak linked to romaine and environmental isolates from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. To date, 21 cases and one death have been reported.While there have been no specific foods definitively linked to these outbreaks, FDA has taken a number of actions to prevent foodborne illness outbreaks and strengthen safeguards for consumers as part of its New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative, including the issuance of the Leafy Greens STEC Action Plan, which outlined actions that the FDA plans to take in 2020 to advance work in three areas: prevention, response, and addressing knowledge gaps. Actions completed this year include:Published a report following the investigation into three 2019 outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 in leafy greens grown in the Salinas Valley, Prioritized inspections and other surveillance activities, Initiated a longitudinal research study. HYPERLINK "" Full article available here Australia: The impact of pesticides on beneficial speciesA strategic levy investment has been gathering information on the impact of pesticides on insects and mites that play a beneficial role in the Australian vegetable industry. To help improve pest management with minimal and appropriate use of insecticides, user-friendly management guides have been developed for vegetable growers and their advisors. These include guides for Brassica, Cucurbits and fruiting vegetables, Leafy vegetables and head lettuce, Legume, Root and tuber, Stalk and Stem, Sweetcorn Click here for more information.Full article available here Netherlands: Sustainability with an impact loan from RabobankSustainable leaders in Dutch greenhouse horticulture who are, for example, MPS-A+ or MPS-ProductProof certified, can qualify for an impact loan from Rabobank. This is evident from the Vision for Agriculture and Horticulture 2030? that was published at the end of October. These frontrunners can apply for a loan with favourable conditions, such as an interest discount. “In this way, we hope that companies will still make that sustainable investment, because they will earn back the investment more easily because of the interest rate advantage”, says Arne Bac, sector specialist horticulture at Rabobank.With the Vision for Agriculture and Horticulture 2030, Rabobank wants to help entrepreneurs with the transition to a sustainable business policy. In the coming years, six transitions will give direction to sustainable changes in Dutch agriculture and horticulture: demand-driven chains, circular agriculture, an area-oriented approach, climate transition, precision agriculture and horticulture and enhanced entrepreneurship. “This year, Rabobank is offering one billion euros in impact loans to help make the Dutch floriculture sector, among other things, more sustainable. “By making the impact loan available to frontrunners, we hope to encourage the middle group to take the next step”, says Bac. But why not make the impact loan also available to the large middle group? “Ultimately, it is the front runners who come up with innovations. These innovations require a significant investment and that’s where the impact loan comes in. The past five years that the impact loan was available show that companies are investing more quickly in innovations with the help of this loan. Ultimately, the large middle group takes over the innovations. In this way we stimulate the middle group to adopt these innovations, which also improves their sustainability performance”.The Dutch horticultural sector is economically and socio-culturally important, but at the same time the sector is under pressure due to the use of environmental space. Not every sector is equally entitled to this space. Greenhouse horticulture is not soil-bound and has more options than, for example, arable farming to become more sustainable; after all, the cultivation of greenhouse horticulture does not take place in the open air, but in the greenhouse. Bac: “We hope that growers who are entitled to the impact loan, for example, build a new, sustainable greenhouse or that they reduce energy consumption via a dehumidification installation.” Full article available here -3619515494000 Floral newsNew post-harvest solution extends vase life by up to 25 percent"It depends on the floral type, but overall, we see an up to 25 percent increase in the life of cut flowers and potted plants. “Through the use of flexographic printing, the 1-MCP based technology is applied to a sheet of film. 1-MCP works by blocking ethylene, which causes the natural ripening in produce and withering in florals. Growers apply a sheet of HarvestHold to product packaging and as flowers begin to respire, 1-MCP begins to release, slowing the respiration process and preserving their quality and beauty”. The ease of application is a big benefit, with growers and packers able to easily integrate HarvestHold into normal packing operations. “Most recent floral trials include several varieties of cut flowers and potted orchids. “Depending on the floral type, growing environment and transportation circumstances we’ve seen results of up to 15 days extended life for cut flowers and even longer results for potted plants. The product is being released in Holland and will then be rolled out to other flower producing countries Full article available hereNew GlobalGAP add-on offers more choice to floriculture producersAs announced last month, GlobalGAP has been designing an add-on for flower and ornamental plant producers who need to meet new environmental requirements from the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI). ? By the end of 2021, the FSI will require floriculture producers to keep standardized digital records on key agricultural inputs (such as fertilizers and associated water and energy consumption) and provide proof via a certification scheme. This is called environmental registration. Producers of the Dutch cooperative Royal FloraHolland, however, have to register to such a scheme by the end of 2020. In order to ensure that producers have a choice of environmental registration schemes, GlobalGAP has created the Impact-Driven Approach to Sustainability(IDA)?.??Full article available hereSupply closely monitored due to increasing measures abroadThe second wave of the corona virus has also led to stricter measures in the Netherlands neighbouring countries. As a result, Royal FloraHolland have noticed that in some product groups, demand is dropping and supply on the clocks is increasing. For some product groups there has even been an increase in the rate of unsold product. The Crisis Management Team (CMT) of Royal FloraHolland has been keeping a close eye on the situation and will act when necessary. Full article available here Royal FloraHolland reintroduces coronavirus liveblogVia a live blog, Royal FloraHolland will keep you informed about the latest developments regarding the coronavirus. In the market updates they inform you about the impact of the corona virus on the Dutch and international floriculture market.?The second wave of the corona virus has also led to stricter measures in neighbouring countries. As a result, Royal FloraHolland have noticed that in some product groups, demand is dropping and supply on the clocks is increasing. For some product groups there has even been an increase in the rate of unsold product. The Crisis Management Team (CMT) of Royal FloraHolland has been keeping a close eye on the situation and will act when necessary. Read more at Royal FloraHollandFull article available hereCovid-19 lockdown in France deals a blow to Kenya's flower sub-sectorThousands of farm workers are on the verge of losing their jobs due to closure on sell of 'non-essential' items by supermarkets and florists during the lockdown in France, Kenya Flower Council reports.?This article talks about the impact of this second lockdown in France. It reviews the effect of the first lockdown and the erosion of recent gains with the increase in Covid cases across the EU Full article available hereFlowers have same healing effect as Valium"In folk medicine, it has long been believed that compounds derived from plant extracts that have a particular smell can have medicinal effects. Turns out lavender is one of those?magical elixirs.?After all, flowering plants are the basis of chemical combinations that create medicines in laboratories around the world.Linalool, one of the terpene alcohols in lavender extracts, turns out to have anti-anxiety effects, what scientists call “anxiolytic”, a term they made up in 1963, the same year Valium was launched. Full article available here Subscribe/ Unsubscribe If you no longer wish to receive this email please send a note to info@pmac.co.nz asking to be added/ removed and providing the nominated email address Disclaimer Please note this information has been accessed from emails that have been forwarded to info@PMAC.co.nz and are distributed as a weekly update. If you intend using this information please sight the original document to ensure you are aware of the context within which any changes have been made and to guard against any transcription changes ................
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