By 2040, the world’s population might reach 9,1 billion people, and this is 34% higher than today. It is obvious that the population will mostly increase in the developing countries. We should also understand that the tendency for urbanization will continue and almost 70% of global population will be urban. Income levels will also increase. All above mentioned factors mean that people will have much higher demands on food, feed, fuel and fiber. People will face a number of problems, such as land competition, high demands on water, climate changes and lack of natural resources. The land, which is available for food production, will not be able to meet the demands, which means that people will have to develop and use new agricultural engineering technologies. This paper explores the main demands of people for food, fiber, feed and fuel in the next 30 years. It also researches different environmental impacts that might happen if all of the demands of growing population will be fulfilled. Furthermore, the last point highlights about different shifts in crops production area, the pests control and about different diseases prevalence.
Keywords: food, fiber, fuel, feed, environmental impacts, shifts, pest control, disease prevalence.
The Future of Food. Next 30 years
The needs for food, fiber and fuel are directly proportional to the number of people who live on planet Earth. Everyone became very concerned when the world’s population reached the seven billion mark. It was a crucial moment, because people started bothering how it had happen so fast. The world’s population hit the tree billion score in 1960s and since then the number of people was adding a billion every 13 years. It is obvious that people are concerned about the future of population (Corkhill, 2012). The world’s needs for food, fuel, fiber, and feed (meaning fresh water) are now the subject of high political concern. Almost all of the programs that are related to forestry, types of energy, all environmental issues and agriculture can be found in the agenda of every United Nations body and all research institutes. The most popular agriculture projections are the International Food Policy Research Institute and Food Agriculture Organization (Nyheter, 2011). According to the numbers provided by UN food and Agriculture Organization, the world’s population might reach 9,1 billion by 2040. Generally speaking, the demand for food might grow twice as rapidly as the number of earthlings (Corkhill, 2012). Moreover, the urbanization will continue to grow on rapidly what means that its number will grow to 70%, so we can compare that to the current number of 49%. This will also influence the income levels. Everything must provoke the food and feed demands to become 70% higher than they are now. The food that is produced for the biofuel production is already included here. The current number of cereal production is 2,1 billion tones and it will have to rise to almost 3 billion in 30 years. If we discuss the meat production, the current number is 270 million tones and it will have to increase to 470 million tones till 2040. In addition to, we should not forget that according to the figures provided by executive summary, 72% will be produced for the developing countries (FAO, 2009). The UN report says that gaining this aim will demand major rises in saturated, high-efficiency cattle production for meat and dairy production. According to FAO the current number of cattle is 1,5 billion, the number of pigs is 1 billion and the number of chickens is even higher as it makes 6 billion. Now we should imagine that this number is to be doubled (Palacio, 2012). The most demanded food products will be oilseeds and animal protein for sure. The needs for the oilseeds and vegetable oils might even triple, so this will make 25 million tones. The production of cereal will have to increase by 1 billion tones. It is quite obvious that the most demand will take place in the developing countries. The researchers are sure that the number of sub-Saharan population in Africa might rise at the most accelerated pace, it will be 114% of all world’s increase, however, the East and Southeast Asia will have the lowest percentage, and it will be 3%. Concluding from all above mentioned, the market might need both food and animal feed to go to the mark of 3 billion tones by 2050, and we can compare the figure with today’s 2,1 billion tones. The international trade will also expand dramatically. The number of cereal imports will rise mostly in the developing countries, and they will grow tree-fold, what will mean that they will reach ‘300 billion’ point in 30 years. Therefore, this will also show that the technology of cereal would not be improved in the countries that are depending on the imports. This can lead to a tendency for small farm production to decrease; the researchers are concerned that probably it can go down from the point of 59% to 54% (FAO, 2009). Generally speaking, according to the figures given by FAO in Global agriculture towards 2050, China and India will make a crucial change in the global food needs. It is suggested by a new study Food 2040 that in China, the number of family members that have the income more than $20,000 is to increase to 335 million even in 2020; we can compare this with current number which is only 100 million. The number of population in India will be greater than in China, but there will definitely be much more people of middle class, however, the number of Indian households who earn more than $20,000 will be 85 million of people in 2020; in comparison to current number of 25 million (FAO, 2009). Long-term food security can easily face some risks, and here we can name the raised biofuel production that leads to climate changes. Generally speaking, we should understand that nowadays the food and fiber are used to be converted into the fuel on a really large scale. It is generally estimated that the biofuel production, which is based on agricultural goods production, has increased more than one third during eight years since 2000. The number of coarse grains that are used for the production of ethanol has reached the figure of 110 million tones and this is practically 10% of the entire world’s production. The usage of biofuel makes the global demand for food to be much higher; moreover, it also depends on the prices on energy and the politics that is lead in the country. According to FAO projections, the global biofuel production might raise to as much as 192 billion liters in as soon as 2018, but the need for agricultural feed stocks, such as oilseeds, maize and sugar for biofuel will only continue to increase over the next ten years, what will definitely make the prices on food only higher (FAO, 2009). There is a general tendency of becoming more and more interested in bioenergy, and here we can include biofuel production, much higher oil prices, some general instability in oil-producing regions. Bioenergy sector is very unstable. It is already estimated by IEA that the usage of biofuel will raise really fast due to the increasing of oil prices and the support of this idea by the government. It is obvious that the increasing usage of bioenergy might result in severe competition for the land. The production of biofuel has also its drawbacks, it definitely gives the biofuel waste, we can include in the waste the recycled plant oil and different kinds of bio-waste. The need in fiber can also poses a lot of problems. The researchers are sure that the Europe might face the deficit in wood in already 2030; it will be 200-300 million m3 per every year. We can compare that the demand for the industrial forest was 1,60 billion m3/ year, and it will grow to almost 2,0 billion in 2030. It is obvious that for the production of such huge number of fiber, it will be required to increase the number of fiber plantations. That is the reason why the highly productive land will be used not to produce the food, but to produce even additional 400 million m3 of food every year (Nilsson et al., 2007). Moreover, wood will be used for the biofuel sector; however, in this case, people are using the wood of much lower quality. Although, the use of wood in this sector has the drawback as it is of more expensive processing cost in comparison to sugar or maize (Roberts, White, & Nilsson, 2008). The water should be used more efficiently, people need to think about basin-wide scales and then to divide the water among quality and quantity demands for energy, agriculture, urban consumption or fishery use. It is obvious that climate change in several years will definitely make it much harder to manage the global water and it means that the entire water cycle might be affected. People should understand that we have to use the water, forests, fisheries and land more efficiently if we want to receive all of the products without damaging these resources through overuse or pollution. The increase of aquaculture will have to develop from species, which are not depending on feed that comes from the fishmeal, as the current situation is such that 40% of aquaculture is dependent on industrial feed, which includes coastal ecosystems and marine systems that are already stressed. ¾ of fish spices are already exhausted and if people continue to use fisheries in such a way, there will be almost no fish species left till 2050 (World Bank, 2010). Nevertheless, the demand for fish will definitely increase, especially in China and Eastern Asia. Fish is the most internationally imported food for various commodities. European countries, North America and other nations are importing fish from different developing countries too. This tendency will only grow and demand for the fish import will only rise.
What will happen with the environment if the needs for food, feed, fuel and fiber will be fulfilled?
Environmental impacts are unwished byproducts of economic and agricultural activities. Large number of environmental impacts includes such categories, as land use competition, acidification, global warming, and climate change. Agriculture and food usage might provoke the strongest environmental pressure; it can result in habitat changes and toxic emissions (UNEP, 2010, p.30-31). One of the environmental pressures that should be mentioned is a climate change. It affects not only natural, but also managed systems, and here the researchers include the forest systems, different fisheries, coral reefs, wetlands and the agriculture itself. These systems are used by people for production of food, fuel and fiber. It is obvious that the climate change might affect the yields in a very negative way, which will create a huge problem in food production for the constantly increasing global population (Nyheter, 2011). Generally speaking, the climate change will affect the agriculture though much higher temperatures and that will influence the amount of water that the crops will need to be produced. The agriculture will definitely suffer from the acid rain falls and will be pressed by a number of floods and droughts. Consequently, the global average yields will be much lowered. It is obvious that population of the world will decline. People will suffer from more failures with crops (UNEP, 2010). The climate change is very much influenced by CO2 emissions. According to the analysis, the current agriculture sphere produces from 20 to 40% of all domestic emissions. In 2050, this number might grow by 15% (UNEP, 2010, p.22). The production of food requires a lot of water. There is enough of water globally, but some of the areas are suffering from water shortage. The water should be used more efficiently. 70% of global water resources are used for the farming (Nyheter, 2011). It is widely hailed that most of natural resources, which are globally used, are already on the verge of degradation and exhaustion. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment states that 15 out of 24 ecosystems have already degraded. Moreove, we can include the capture of fisheries and definitely, the problems, which concern water supplies (Nyheter, 2011). Food production exhausts the land to a huge extends. The land is suffering from erosion, the lack of freshwater reserves and soil nutrient depletion. This will lead to the fact that the potential of land to produce the food will continue to decrease with alarming pace. It is hard to imagine that our natural global resources will be ready to adequately meet the global demands (FAO, 2009). Also, the amount of land that is hoped to feed people in 2050 will greatly depend on the amount of meat that people are eating. It is so, because the production of meat requires a lot of land. The competition for the land is severe, as there is less and less amount of land that can be suitable for numerous kinds of cultivations (Nyheter, 2011). According to the ISRIC assessment, about 23% of world’s agricultural land is already exhausted. It is estimated that East and Southeast Asia might have different environmental problems, because of the availability, quantity and quality for land and water used. The stress on Asia natural resources will only increase. The world’s demand for water might rise to 60% as soon as 2025, but it will definitely double before 2050 (USDA, 2011, p.135). According to one research of multiple studies, the general agricultural productivity might decrease 3%, because of high numbers of carbon emissions if there will be carbon fertilization before 2080. However if there will be no carbon fertilization, the global numbers might rise to 16%. The developing countries might suffer even more, because the numbers might grow to 9% with fertilization and 21% without it. One analysis already shows that Asia and Africa will definitely suffer from severe drops in yields as soon as 2030. Moreover, Africa will suffer from less and less suitable land for the agriculture, it is estimated that the amount of land with highly severe climate and soil constrains will increase from 26 million hectares to almost 61 million hectares. That is more than 20% of arable land in Africa (World Bank, 2010, p.146).
What will be the shifts in crop production area, pest control and agricultural disease prevalence?
Agricultural biotechnology will change to a large extend. The number of consumers will grow, they will need to eat more, but the competition for agricultural land and water will still remain, that is why there will appear a need for agricultural leapfrogging. If we take China, they will shift to GMOs in crops and imports, what will help them to persuade the producer countries to use even more firmly the new agricultural biotechnology (USDA, 2011, p.36). The world will face the new era of agriculture. The crops production will be much more developed than the meat production, because people will consume more grains. The crop production will be characterized by higher value, by nutrient enhancement and also by organic nature. The idea of bioengineering of crops will be already applied to the millions of acres and not only in theory (USDA, 2011, p.22). It is predicted that China will pay a lot of attention to different water issues and by using biotechnology they will create plants that will demand much less water. It means that these crops might make use of saline, polluted or other low quality water. They are also interested in creating an urban agriculture, which means that they will again use biotechnology to turn to vertical farming. This farming will be based on hydroponics, aeroponics and aquaponics, and it will cut the needs for energy and transport costs. The most important issue will be to create some special various types of crops that will be planted on previously unusable land (USDA, 2011, p.27). It is obvious that changing climate conditions might even shift the crop production to the north and more altitude regions. It will provide more potential impacts, because there will be no depending on growing seasons and the winters will be warmer and milder, the frost will be not so severe in autumn and winter, it will also be less frequent. Accordingly, it means that the yield in the regions of Northern Europe might rise up to 70%; however, they will fall by more than 22% in some southern regions. The plant protection, which is used now, is highly targeted; however, because of changing climate conditions, it will be important to use new practical applications that will be efficient in fighting emerging pests and plant diseases (Copa – Cogeca, 2008). Elevated carbon dioxide concentration will definitely lead to pests and disease pressure. According to the data provided by Food 2040, China will use gene stacking technologies; they will allow inserting multiple transgenic traits into crops. It will help crops to be absolutely herbicide resistant, pest resistant and increase their functional characteristics (USDA, 2011, p.72). However, it is obvious that people will not forget the usage of pesticides; that is why the idea will be to shift to green agriculture, which means that farmers will use much safer pesticides and biotech seeds (USDA, 2011, p.137). The farmers will deal with diseases by closing yield gaps. This helps to make the plants more resilient to different biotic stress, such as different insects, diseases and viruses (FAO, 2009, p.22). However, the strongest assistance in controlling diseases in crops might be provided only by genetic engineering. According to Dunley, the future of pest management will be bright. He is sure that pests will have much narrower spectrum; people are already using more specific pests that have less effect on the natural enemies and are of much better environmental-friendly nature. It is also quite possible that natural enemies might be genetically modified to be resistant to some pests; it means that they will be able to survive and even provide biological control that will help to fight toxic strategies. Dunley is sure that genetically modifies plant would not be something strange anymore and they will be already resistant to different pests and diseases. The computer will play very important role, since it will be much easier to monitor different insects and to receive alerts if any problems will be spotted anywhere (Wagner, 2008).
A lot may change in 30 years, because it is a very long period of time. If we consider how much changed during the last 30 years, we will understand that the changes that are only waiting for us are really great. However, I hope that the usage of genetic engineering will not be as popular as it is predicted. It would be much better if organic production increase. Hopefully, the food produced will be of high quality and it will be done in efficient and definitely in environmentally-friendly way. I do believe that the population will increase rapidly and to very high numbers. It will be hard to produce food, fiber, fuel in enough amounts preserving the environment, what is a pity for me personally. We will have to face changes in different spheres, because of environmental impacts. I believe that the market might move to the developing countries, because we can observe this tendency even now. We need to adopt more efficient and sustainable production methods and it is obvious that a lot will depend on the climate changes and natural resources. All it might present us with both, different opportunities and risks. However, I hope that people will manage to meet the growing demands. People will definitely have to use the alternative energy resources more, because it will help to reduce the CO2 emissions, which will prevent the fast pace of climate changes. Renewable sources of energy will play crucial role in the changing world, because they will provide the possibility to have more secure and sustainable energy way. All of the natural resources, especially water and fossil fuels should be used efficiently from now on, because the demands will only grow and the nature would be absolutely unable to satisfy them. I know that it is almost impossible, but to my mind, the only possible way to dramatically reduce the negative agricultural impacts on environment is to change the overall world’s diet. It means that people should cut on meat products. It is estimated that too much grain and water is wasted to grow animals that will later become somebody’s dinner. The only possible way to do this is to develop the aquaculture more, because it might help to compensate. Finally, I believe it is wise to settle these problems on the international level, leading one and the same policy, because the changes in one country might affect the rest of the world.


In the mid-1970’s, when public support of agricultural research declined, the University of Wisconsin began seeking new sources of funding to continue the practical, applied research that directly benefits Wisconsin farmers. Soil fertility, plant nutrition and soil management were important research areas that needed additional funding.
With the cooperation of fertilizer dealers and manufacturers, farmers, and the Wisconsin legislature, a law was passed in 1978 that created the Wisconsin Fertilizer Research Fund. The law has since been amended to include a focus on environmental issues. The current law states that the fund is
“to be used for research on soil management, soil fertility, plant nutrition problems and for research on surface water and ground water problems which may be related to fertilizer usage; for dissemination of the results of the research; and for other designated activities tending to promote the correct usage of fertilizer materials.”
As state and federal research money continues to decline, private sector funds from fertilizer sales will become even more important in terms of helping farmers make wise decisions regarding fertilizer use in Wisconsin. The benefits of this research are shared with the same members of the private sector that provided the investment, Wisconsin farmers.
The Wisconsin Fertilizer Research Fund
For every ton of fertilizer sold in the state, the Wisconsin Fertilizer Research Fund currently receives 17 cents (10 cents from 1978-2013) for fertilizer research. This money is part of a larger tonnage fee created to cover other programs, such as nutrient and pest management and agricultural chemical clean-ups. The fee is collected by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and, by law, forwarded to the University of Wisconsin system at the end of each fiscal year.
The research dollars are used to fund applied research projects within the University of Wisconsin system. Typically, the projects have small budgets, with average an annual requests of $15,000-$45,000. These projects produce research that directly benefits Wisconsin farmers. Results make their way to their intended audience through area meetings, field days, and industry conferences. Other results are incorporated into the fertilizer recommendations provided with soil samples submitted to Wisconsin laboratories. Finally, many of the results are included in UW-Extension Factsheets, commodity group proceedings, and technical papers that are shared between scientists.


A peek around my back yard would tell you two things:
One, the weeds are mounting a vicious attack and two, I garden anyway. One of these days I’ll have more than enough time to tend the flowers properly and pull every last weed up by the root, but until then, I’ll enjoy my kids and my business and smile at the healthy plants that don’t mind a bit of competition.
Although a few flowers have become a staple in our yard for the past 7 years, such as impatiens, hostas and geraniums, I was pleasantly surprised to discover new herbs for our expanding container garden. A visit to my friend’s new garden center yielded 4 new delightful herbs for us to enjoy: Lemon Balm, Italian Parsley, Eucalyptus and Rue. The Rue (pictured above) is the most unique due to its strong aroma and woody stem. I’ve found reading about Rue comical as it is almost always described as having a disagreeable odor, yet I think it’s wonderful! The smell is powerful and earthy, yet pungent, reminding me of evergreens at Christmastime; a stimulating aroma. The leaves are delicate looking, but when I clipped a few stems for drying, I found this little herb has another pleasing quality. The leaves curl inward and the stem is strong making it a great accessory for dried flower arrangements. In addition, the aroma clings to it even when dried, unlike the Kentucky Spearmint and Lemon Balm that I’ve attempted to air dry.
The Kentucky Spearmint is not doing so well. I’m not sure why. I’ve watered and snipped the large shoots, aerated the soil and it’s just barely hanging on. I hope to figure it out because it’s quite nice to steep the leaves in a cup of tea.
I bought the Italian Parsley (pictured below) because I delighted in the fresh, uplifting aroma found in the leaves. My husband thinks it would be nice to try a little in the spaghetti sauce, but I’d like to figure out a way to use the wonderfully crisp citrus scent with lemon balm to make a nice lotion.
The Eucalyptus air dries very well, although the leaves must be crushed to enjoy the familiar clean and medicinal aroma. It seems to be a slow grower, or maybe I need to investigate and improve the soil/sunshine it’s in.
The sage came back well this summer and seems to enjoy partial sun better than the full sun I set it in for the first part of the growing season. It also likes to stay well watered...
I wrote about the lavender earlier and am still enjoying the flowers. This is probably my favorite plant to air dry because it retains the lovely purple color, the stems are stong, the pleasant aroma lingers and the flowers hold together for ages. Lavender “wands” are a popular item ingarden/spa type boutiques and I’ve had fun this summer making my own and placing them in various arrangements about the house. With luck, this large plant will make it through another mild WV winter.
After using marigolds for years with only moderate success, I’ve finally found a winning combination for the shallow flower box on the patio. “Luscious Grape” Lantana (pictured right) planted with various colors of Verbena created just the look I wanted - kind of wild and unruly, but bursting with color =-) These hardy plants just ask for full sun and water now and then...thankfully, they seem to be quite drought tolerant.
My daughter & I planted “Blue Moon” in the fairy garden and we’ve learned that it fares better in pots rather than the ground. It likes shade with some evening sunshine. The kids each have a little plot of earth to call their own and hone their green thumb. This year our daughter was particularly fond of the Lamb’s Ear that has grown in abundance in her shade garden with very moist soil. I’ve enjoyed watching her pluck the long velvety leaves to make a ‘bed’ for the turtles that frequently visit.
Another type of Lantana, pictured left, (although I don’t remember the specific name) I experimented with this summer did very well in the ground, but not so well in the containers. The bright yellow flowers have been blooming since May and I’m hopeful that this one will come back next year. I’ve been disappointed in the Coreopsis we planted out front. One of the two plants appeared to die early on, but is now making a comeback and the other is still hanging on, but looks nearly defeated. The first one is coming back in a big container with lots of good soil and full sun, the other is in the ground, also with full sun. Even though these are native to WV, I haven’t figured out their secret yet...
The “Cup Flower” came back again, much to the grower’s surprise. When I bought this little flower, I understood it to be an annual, but this is the second summer it has returned and draped it’s small purple flowers over our fish pond.
The False Heather is becoming a staple around here too...it does so well in containers and looks the same from the time I bring it home in early May until a heavy frost, usually in November. Along with the impatiens, it’s our longest blooming flower.
Last but not least, I want to remember to plant more “Fan Flowers”, (pictured below) or Scaevola Aemula (I think) in several containers; the purple burst of flowers is gorgeous! And, once I realized that this flower needed more shade from midday sun, it has prospered and not stopped blooming. It must be hardy though, because even after leaving it out in the sun without water for several days, it perked up overnight with shade and lots of water.
I’m thankful for the joy these little plants bring...especially walking outside and plucking a few herbs to smell; it’s very therapeutic on a gloomy day!


Unique experiential journey
into the heart of the island
Holidays in Sicily
The tour is marked by the rhythm of the seasons
Sciala B&B will take you on a unique experiential journey into the heart of the island, where it’s still possible to fully experience the authentic spirit of the Sicilian people.
The tour is marked by the rhythm of the seasons, in touch with the land and its products, enriched by a collection of experiences in Sicily to be savored: authentic, engaging and transversal activities, be they culinary, gastronomic, sporting, historical, artistic, adventurous or naturalistic, excite even the most demanding traveler.
Plan your holidays in Sicily with us and choose among 6 periods of the year based on 6 different fruit seasons: the flowering of the almond tree, the first harvest of spring, the wheat harvest, the grape harvest, the olive harvest and the citrus harvest; and enrich the itinerary with the Junta Experience to make your trip truly UNIQUE.
In Sicilian dialect the word “junta” means “something more”, an “addition” that increases quantity and quality of something. Junta Experiences are exactly this, have a good time constellating your stay in Sicily listening to a storyteller music show, or learning a little bit of Sicilian tongue participating to our lessons or exploring street markets.
There are many new features compared to a more conventional circuit. First of all, the opportunity of participating in typical Patron-Saint Day Festivals(all important and very well known in Sicily),of visiting the few wheelwrights still in business in order to become familiar with the history of Sicilian carts and their creation. And more: themed cooking classes, strolls in the fields, visits to the most renowned wineries, to the best-known mills, to the cheese-making farms, and the opportunity of cooking in the homes where our grandmothers still today preserve the secrets of the traditional cuisine. It’s an itinerary that goes straight to the heart, enduring Sicily as a unique and unforgettable experience.
The owner of Sciala B&B is a licensed Tourist Guide (qualified by the Sicilian Region) and will be happy to take you to the Sicilian experiential tours you like to discover.


A few simple processes and assistive products will help you enjoy getting outside and into the garden. You can see some suggestions to help you outside your house below.
When deciding what to plant in your garden, choose low maintenance native plants. Consider installing a watering system to keep them happy. Hydroponic gardens reduce the need for watering or heavy digging. Plan to install a pulley system to adjust the height of hanging baskets.
Prepare your body. Before working in the garden do some gentle warm up exercises and simple stretches. Make sure you can see your way around by installing a high wattage bulb to maximise light in dark spaces.
Set your reticulation on a timer to reduce the need to drag a hose or lift a heavy watering can. Consider turning your garden into a ‘no dig garden’. These low maintenance gardens are made from organic material, compost, newspaper, and lucerne hay.
Stepping backwards and forwards when using a weeder or hoe is safer than reaching and pushing using your arms and back. Set up your garden storage areas so that everything is within easy reach (waist to shoulder height), so you don’t have to bend down or stand on tip toes. Potted plants can be low maintenance and if you put the pots on wheels, they can be easily moved.
Replace handles and latches
Replacing small latches or handles on cupboards, drawers, and doors. Installing a lever or D-shape handle makes them easier to use. Try putting a magnetic door latch on your front and back door to hold them open while you’re going in and out.
Use assistive productsUse garden tools with ergonomic long handles, like pruners, cutters, and trowels. Installing raised garden beds reduces the strain on your joints, the need to bend, or having to get down low.
Make gardening easier
Try using a gardening trolley and stool with a kneeling board. These products help you can keep the tools you need with you while you sit or kneel comfortably to garden.
Try maintenance tricks
Try simple tricks like installing gutter protection to stop leaves collecting. Use this great trick if you have stripped a screw or your screwdriver is too small! Place a rubber band over the tip of the screwdriver to provide the extra traction you need to turn the screw.
This long handle hoe has a thick timber handle for greater grip and control and an extra...
This foldable trolley lets you carry essentials to avoid multiple trips back to your...
This long handle grass shears is ideal for hedge trimming and cutting and has extremely...


Starkey's Corner Farm & Garden, LLC
In 2018 Starkey's Corner was the Silver winner for Hillsboro's Best Garden/Nursery.
Thank you to all that had voted!
If your woodland garden is looking empty, or your sunny front yard needs some love, we have just what you're looking for.
We have a beautiful assortment of edibles that can go in any dish or be eaten fresh. There is a wide variety of herbs, vegetables, fruits, and uncommon eats that are sure to fit your needs.
Our racks are stocked full of seeds. If you're looking for a basic garden vegetable or an unusual variety we are bound to have it.
Fertilizer & Soil
Are you looking for something to boost your gardens overall health? If so, you're in luck! We carry a wide variety of fertilizers and soil that will provide essential nutrients to enhance your plants well-being.


Harvesting Season for Sakamai
October 01, 2019
It was so hot in Niigata this summer that a certain area in this prefecture recorded one of the highest temperatures in Japan. After such intense heat of summer, a rich harvesting season has come without notice. Echigo’s rich rice fields, having turned their color into through golden yellow, are waiting to be harvested.
Raw material rice for sake is called sakamai, different from that we eat at table. Various kinds of sakamai suitable to the local soil are cultivated in each prefecture. Here in Niigata, aside from widely cultivated “Gohyakumangoku”, newly developed sakamai “Koshitanrei” is also cultivated. In order to produce a new kind of sakamai which is more suitable for Daiginjo, Niigata prefecture developed “Koshitanrei” by crossbreeding “Gohyakumangoku” and “Yamadanishiki”. This new breed is the outcome of strong insistence of Niigata brewing industry on good sakamai and thus it is cultivated only in Niigata prefecture.
When it comes to strong insistence on high quality sakamai, you might think of a TV drama “Natsuko’s Sake” based on a manga written by Akira Oze.
Mr. Norimichi Kusumi, the 6th generation head of KUSUMI SHUZO, a model for “Natsuko’s Sake” consumed his strong passion for the revival of legendary sakamai, “Kamenoo(亀の尾)”, which had been used to produce sake until early Showa period as a top quality sakamai next to none but disappeared due to its little resistance to diseases and pests. Starting with a search for its seeds, he went through a mountain of difficulties to attain his goal. Three years after, in 1983 he finally succeeded in giving birth to his long-dreamed Junmai-Daiginjo, “Kamenoo(亀の翁)” with revived sakanmai, “Kamenoo(亀の尾)”.
This factual incident turned out to be the basis of the story of “Natsuko’s Sake”.
Sakamai harvested this autumn will be brewed to start to appear as sake generally in December. You would feel refreshed and calm if you enjoy tasting local sake watching glittering ears of rice in the autumn breeze. It should also be interesting to think over the background of the sakamai used for the sake you are tasting.
If you are interested in watching how to produce sake, please refer to ‘Kura(breweries)’ on our website.


Favor local purchases for all our supplies
by local suppliers
with Grands Moulins de Mauritanie
For CNA Mauritania, encouraging the local sector is a necessity. We are committed to maximizing local purchases in the vicinity of the Tasiast mine.
In 2020, 85% of purchases were made with our local suppliers. CNA Mauritania mainly sources local flour from the Grands Moulins de Mauritanie, and most of its meat from Mauritanian livestock (sheep, camel).
CNA Mauritania worked closely with the French Development Agency (AFD) for a rice cultivation project in the south of the country.
Support the local market gardening sector
CNA Mauritania wishes to promote market gardening agricultural production, and to help and support women market gardeners, the majority of whom work on Mauritanian farmland.
Since 2019, CNA Mauritania has been working on a collaborative project with local farmers to supply its site with Mauritanian fruit and vegetables.


Hydroponic Cannabis Cultivation
All you Need to Know
When growing marijuana, the acidity (pH) and electrical conductivity (EC) of the medium play an important role. Health and the yield of the crop directly depend on these characteristics. You can simply plant the bushes, periodically apply fertilizers, and hope for a good result. However, in the absence of pH and EC control, cannabis can suffer from an excess of some nutrients and therefore block the absorption of others. At the same time, the grower will think that there is simply not enough fertilizer for the plant, but the next portion will only aggravate the situation.


Benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables are very well known to everyone. It has been said a lot about their impact on our immune system and metabolism. Fruits and veggies are a great source of many essential nutrients so necessary for our bodies to stay healthy and active. We all agree that a healthy diet is impossible without veggies, but it is equally important that our vegetables are natural and not stuffed with chemicals and pesticides.
Benefits of Organic Vegetables
Though vegetables are easily available, not all of them are good for our diet. An organic vegetable garden is the best place to provide you with natural and pure vegetables for your needs – vegetables that are going to do only good to your body. An organic vegetable garden is a much better choice than a regular supermarket, unless you know for a fact that the food grown and sold to the supermarket has been grown completely organically. Buying foods that were grown in an organic vegetable garden, you are not only doing a great thing for your own health, but for the environment as well.
If you are still unaware what exactly an organic vegetable garden is, here are some fast facts. When something is grown organically, that is with no chemicals or other preservatives that have been used in the growing process, it is considered to be organic, or natural. This means that there was nothing used either to get rid of bugs, or to fertilize the soil, or for any other reason, that was not completely natural.
Reasons to Opt For Organic Vegetables
Even if you are not worried about chemicals used to treat non-organic vegetables, considering them of no harm for you, think about the environment that does suffer. Buying food grown in an organic vegetable you can contribute to keeping the environment clean and healthy, at least in one small way.
Whenever possible, you should try to consume foods that were grown in an organic vegetable garden because you know that they were not treated with any harmful chemicals. In this way only you can ensure that those chemicals and toxins will not end up in your body. You can’t get rid of all the chemicals by simply washing the vegetable – only using organic foods you can be sure that you are not digesting anything that might be harmful to you.


One Dozen Spring Bulbs
One dozen Spring bulbs. They are ready to be planted as soon as the ground is workable. They will bloom this Spring (End of April- May).
Each order includes instructions on how to plant your bulbs.
A percentage of each purchase will be donated to Primary Children’s Hospital.
Bulbs will come nicely packaged in a carton.
The dozens available are
-One dozen yellow tulips
-One dozen red tulips
-One dozen red/yellow tulip mix
-One dozen daffodils (we recommend planting these with tulips to discourage the deer from eating your newly grown tulips) daffodils are toxic to deer and will keep them away.
Shipping from United States
1-3 business days
Customs and import taxes
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Returns & Exchanges
I gladly accept cancellations


For nearly 25 years A.J. Teeter Farm has been crowing vegetable seedlings for transplant, the first 10 years for our Community Supported Agriculture fields and the last 14 years for the fabulous Ithaca Plant Sale and Garden Fair. We grow a wide selection of vegetable seedlings for the Plant Sale, specializing in mixed variety paks for the home gardener. However, even with our extensive list of varieties and types, each year we encounter people looking for something we don't have, or something we have but not in the way they'd like it - like a six-pak of a tomato variety or herb we have available only in a mixed-variety pak).
So, new for 2013 we will be custom-growing vegetable transplants for customers. In early January we will send an e-mail to interested community members outlining our program and the vegetable types and varieties we plan to grow and ask for additional suggestions. We will then finalize our selection and start taking orders for delivery in late spring and early summer.
Intrigued? Send us an e-mail and ask to be added to the notification list.


In recent years, the food industry has witnessed a transformative wave of technological advancements, and one of the most prominent players in this evolution is robotics. From farm to fork, robotics is revolutionizing the way food is produced, processed, and delivered. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the top 20 applications of robotics in the food industry, exploring how these technological innovations are reshaping the landscape of food production and consumption.
Table of Contents
applications of robotics in food industry
1. Automated Harvesting in Agriculture
One of the primary applications of robotics in the food industry is automated harvesting in agriculture. Agricultural robots equipped with advanced sensors and precision tools can efficiently pick fruits and vegetables, reducing the reliance on manual labor and increasing overall productivity.
2. Precision Farming for Enhanced Crop Management
Precision farming involves the use of robotics to monitor and manage crops with unprecedented accuracy. Drones and automated tractors equipped with sensors collect data on soil health, crop growth, and weather conditions, enabling farmers to make informed decisions and optimize their yield.
3. Sorting and Grading in Food Processing
In food processing, robotics plays a crucial role in sorting and grading products. Robots with computer vision systems can rapidly and accurately identify and separate items based on size, color, and quality, streamlining the processing line and ensuring consistent product quality.
4. Automated Packing and Packaging
Robotic arms and grippers are increasingly used for automated packing and packaging in the food industry. These robots are capable of handling delicate food items with precision, ensuring that products are packaged efficiently while minimizing the risk of damage during transportation.
5. Intelligent Warehousing and Logistics
Robotics is transforming warehouse and logistics operations in the food supply chain. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and robotic palletizers enhance efficiency and reduce the time it takes to move products from the manufacturing facility to distribution centers and eventually to retailers.
6. Autonomous Delivery robots
The advent of autonomous delivery robots is changing the way food reaches consumers. From self-driving trucks to drones, these robotic robots offer a faster and more cost-effective means of delivering perishable goods to various locations, ensuring timely and efficient distribution. Also robots like BellaBot and KettyBot used as delivery robots in restaurants
7. Quality Control and Inspection
Ensuring the quality and safety of food products is paramount. Robotics, equipped with advanced imaging systems and sensors, can perform precise quality control and inspection tasks, identifying defects or contaminants that may compromise the integrity of the final product.
8. Robotics in Commercial Kitchens
Commercial kitchens are adopting robotic solutions to streamline food preparation processes. From chopping vegetables to flipping burgers, robots can handle repetitive and time-consuming tasks, allowing kitchen staff to focus on more intricate aspects of cooking and customer service.
9. Automated Cleaning and Sanitization
Maintaining hygiene standards in food processing facilities is critical. Robotic systems designed for automated cleaning and sanitization can efficiently sanitize production lines and equipment, reducing the risk of contamination and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
10. Smart Vending Machines
Robotics is enhancing the capabilities of vending machines in the food industry. Smart vending machines equipped with robotic arms can dispense freshly prepared meals, snacks, and beverages, providing consumers with convenient and high-quality options on the go.
The Future of Food Industry: Robotics at Its Core
11. Robotics in Aquaculture
The use of robotics in aquaculture is gaining momentum. Underwater robots equipped with cameras and sensors monitor fish health, feeding patterns, and water quality, enabling fish farmers to optimize conditions and improve the sustainability of aquaculture practices.
12. Precision Meat Cutting
In meat processing, robotics is employed for precision cutting and butchering. Automated systems with advanced imaging technology can precisely cut meat to desired specifications, reducing waste and ensuring consistent product quality.
13. Robotic Baristas
The rise of robotic baristas is reshaping the coffee industry. Automated coffee machines and robotic arms can prepare customized coffee drinks with precision, offering a consistent taste and quality that meets the preferences of individual consumers.
14. Robotics in Food Testing Laboratories
Food testing laboratories utilize robotic systems for tasks such as sample handling, preparation, and analysis. These robots enhance the efficiency and accuracy of testing procedures, ensuring that food products meet regulatory standards for safety and quality.
15. Sustainable Agriculture with Robotic Farming
Robotics is playing a pivotal role in promoting sustainable agriculture practices. Precision farming techniques, enabled by robotics, allow farmers to optimize resource usage, minimize environmental impact, and cultivate crops more efficiently.
16. Robotics in Food Research and Development
The food industry is leveraging robotics in research and development processes. Robots assist in experimenting with new recipes, conducting taste tests, and analyzing consumer preferences, accelerating the pace of innovation in the creation of new food products.
17. Personalized Nutrition with Robotic Meal Preparation
Robotic meal preparation systems are evolving to cater to personalized nutrition needs. These robots can take into account individual dietary requirements and preferences, creating customized meals that align with specific health goals and restrictions.
18. Food Traceability and Blockchain Integration
To address concerns related to food safety and traceability, robotics is integrated with blockchain technology. Automated systems track the journey of food products from farm to table, providing consumers with transparent information about the origin and handling of the items they purchase.
19. Robotics in Urban Farming
Urban farming is benefiting from the integration of robotics. Vertical farms equipped with robotic systems for planting, monitoring, and harvesting crops are becoming more prevalent, allowing for efficient food production in limited urban spaces.
20. Robotics in Food Waste Reduction
Addressing the global issue of food waste, robotics is being employed to optimize supply chain processes and reduce inefficiencies. Automated systems help in monitoring inventory, predicting demand, and managing expiration dates, ultimately minimizing the amount of food that goes to waste.
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Opportunities
While the integration of robotics in the food industry brings forth numerous benefits, it also presents challenges. Concerns about job displacement, initial investment costs, and the need for robust cybersecurity measures must be addressed. However, the potential for increased productivity, enhanced food safety, and sustainable practices far outweigh these challenges.
A Collaborative Future: Humans and Robots Working in Harmony
The future of the food industry lies in a collaborative ecosystem where humans and robots work in harmony. By automating repetitive and mundane tasks, robotics allows human workers to focus on creativity, innovation, and more complex aspects of food production and service. This collaboration has the potential to redefine the industry, making it more resilient, adaptive, and responsive to the evolving needs of consumers and the planet.
Looking Ahead: Continuous Evolution of Robotics in Food
As technology continues to advance, the applications of robotics in the food industry will undoubtedly evolve. The integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced sensing technologies will further enhance the capabilities of robotic systems, making them more intelligent, adaptable, and efficient.
As we navigate the intricate landscape of the modern food industry, it is evident that robotics is a driving force behind efficiency, sustainability, and innovation. From the fields of agriculture to the kitchens of restaurants, robotic applications are transforming every aspect of the food supply chain. The food industry is on the brink of a transformative era, driven by the widespread adoption of robotics. Embracing this change and leveraging the power of robotics will not only lead to increased efficiency and sustainability but also pave the way for a future where food production is more secure, transparent, and responsive to the ever-changing needs of a growing global population. The journey towards a robotic future in the food industry is underway, and the possibilities are as vast and diverse as the array of foods that grace our tables.
Elevate Your Food Industry with Proven Robotics Solutions!
At Proven Robotics, we are at the forefront of this revolution, offering cutting-edge delivery robots like BellaBot and KettyBot that are reshaping the way food is delivered and consumed. Contact us for a personalized consultation. Let’s explore how our delivery robots can revolutionize your food industry operations and set you on the path to sustained success. Embrace innovation, enhance efficiency, and redefine your business with Proven Robotics. Your future starts here.


Introduction: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of an experimental irrigation solution, containing two different concentrations of papain, Tween 80, 2% chlorhexidine and EDTA, on removal of the smear layer. Methods and Materials: Thirty-six single-rooted teeth were divided into two experimental groups (n=12) and two positive and negative control groups of six. The canals were prepared with BioRaCe instruments up to BR7 (60/0.02). In group 1, canals were irrigated with a combination of 1% papain, 17% EDTA, Tween 80 and 2% CHX; in group 2, canals were irrigated with a combination of 0.1% papain, 17% EDTA, Tween 80 and 2% CHX. In group 3 (the negative control), the canal was irrigated with 2.5% NaOCl during instrumentation and at the end of preparation with 1 mL of 17% EDTA was used; in group 4 (positive control), normal saline was used for irrigation. The amount of the remaining smear layer was quantified according to Hulsmann method using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data was analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: Two-by-two comparisons of the groups revealed no significant differences in terms of smear layer removal at different canal sections between the negative control group (standard regiment for smear layer removal) and 1% papain groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: Under the limitations of the present study, combination of 1% papain, EDTA, 2% chlorhexidine and Tween 80 can effectively remove smear layer from canal walls.


- The Search for Peat Alternatives 1 March 2021
- Tissue Culture From Existing Varieties 27 February 2021
- 'Exporting to the EU since the Trade Deal’ 25 February 2021
- 20 Year Anniversary for Plants@work 24 February 2021
- New Season Starts at Groen-Direkt! 24 February 2021
- Research on Digital Marketing Usage 22 February 2021
Global Specialist in Tissue Culture
Global Specialist in Tissue Culture
Vitro Westland is a global specialist in producing tissue culture from existing varieties and custom production.
From their offices in the Netherlands, Poland and Turkey, they serve the worldwide market with hundreds of various tissue culture products, such as perennials, pot plants, cut flowers and bulbous plants.
Tissue culture is a method of rapidly propagating plants under sterile conditions. It is very important for the quality of the end product that the entire process takes place in a sterile environment.
This technique is used to quickly produce a large number of plants from new or existing varieties.
Tissue Culture Process
Basically, tissue culture is a form of 'cuttings', but all factors in tissue culture are manually promoted. For example, only the growth point of the plant is placed and the conditions under which the plants are placed are artificially optimized.
In the laboratory, the plants are placed in trays with a prepared nutrient medium and are then stored in an optimal environment.
Through this artificial influence, growth is stimulated and new 'cuttings' are created that can be split every 4-8 weeks and placed as a new growing point.
Nursery in Poland
In addition to our laboratories, we have our own nursery in Poland. Thus, we can provide you with the tissue culture product in different stages.
For example, it is possible to purchase tissue culture plants from Vitro Westland at stage 3 (which comes directly from the laboratory) or hardened plugs can be supplied. On request, the company can custom grow pot or big size plugs.
Free Sale and Contract Basis
Their tissue culture focuses on the free sale of crops, but they also produce according to specific customer requirements. For example, Vitro Westland offer a wide range of crops for which they are licensees or which are not (anymore) protected by plant breeders' rights.
They can also initiate tissue culture based on, for example, one unique plant and propagate, root and cultivate it on specific request.
Globally Valued Production
Their tissue culture products are shipped worldwide, from Europe to South America and from North America to Asia. Vitro Westland distinguishes itself with the end product through a good price / quality ratio, a high service level and the presence of its own research laboratories.
'Free to Access' News!
Welcome to the exciting news platform for the Professional Plant sector. Now into our 8th year, we are very much regarded as THE trade website for all the latest news from Growers, Nurseries, Breeders and trade events around the globe (plus product manufacturers). We are publishing a record number of exclusive news reports and interviews.
Flormart 2021 will be held in Padova, Italy (Sept 22-24). www.flormart.it
Our news is FREE to access! We invite the industry to submit their plant news to us on a regular basis.
- Chartered Institute of Horticulture Webinars3 March 2021
- 'Virtual' Trade Mission Spring 20219 March 2021 10 March 2021 11 March 2021
- Flora Bratislava 202129 April 2021 30 April 2021 1 May 2021 2 May 2021
- Spoga+Gafa 202130 May 2021 31 May 2021 1 June 2021
- European Flower Trials 202115 June 2021 16 June 2021 17 June 2021 18 June 2021
- GreenTech Trade Show 202115 June 2021 16 June 2021 17 June 2021
- HTA National Plant Show 202122 June 2021 23 June 2021
- Plantarium Expo 20211 September 2021 2 September 2021 3 September 2021
- PotatoEurope 20211 September 2021 2 September 2021
- Green is Life 20212 September 2021 3 September 2021 4 September 2021
POTTING SHED COLUMN
Colour in Springtime
The first spring bulbs at the Floriade 2022 site are starting to bloom. Crocuses are among the first to appear when the last period of frost ends, followed by ornamental onions (allium) and tulips.
With the end of this planting season in sight, Floriade are looking forward to see how all trees, flowers and plants will bloom in the coming months. www.floriade.com
Increasing Online Sales
Garden Centres are seeking to increase their online sales in the 'new normal'.
In 2020, Online Marketing provider Garden Connect, and Retail management and EPoS provider, Davidson Richards developed a comprehensive integration between the OpSuite EPoS solution and the Garden Connect platform.
Magnolias Ready for the Flowering Season!
Tuscany Growers are now gearing up for the Spring and have top quality Magnolia, in full bud and available to order.
As 'Greening the Home & Garden' gathers pace, privacy becomes more important in the 'new normal'. Leylandii have become very popular after years of low interest levels, now leylandii is again a good idea for hedges!
Flormart Aims for 71st Edition!
The 71st edition of Flormart, the International Exhibition of Horticulture Green and Landscape, is scheduled for 22nd - 24th September 2021 in the Fiera di Padova exhibition fairgrounds.
The brand 'Flormart' is a unique experience in Italy, a starting point towards International markets, especially in the Mediterranean basin and of Eastern Europe. A meeting point of the world of green to update and enhance business. www.flormart.it
GreenTech Americas Re-Schedules to August 2021
Mariska Dreschler, Director of Horticulture - GreenTech, RAI Amsterdam, said “Unfortunately the conditions are not in place yet to organize the event that we are aiming for, we need to have more patience.”
“The horticulture industry in Mexico and surroundings is still increasing and we are excited to connect this industry and share top-notch knowledge via the GreenTech platform in August (15-17th).
Brexit 'Soils' Future Plant Sales!
The full effects of the 'soft' Brexit agreement with Northern Ireland has produced shock waves at one of the U.K.'s major nurseries.
Johnsons of Whixley, who celebrate their 100th Anniversary this year, have previously sold around £500,000 worth of plants each year to customers in Northern Ireland. This has now been halted, because it grows those plants in British soil.
Big Year Ahead for Gardenex and its Members!
With the Covid-19 vaccination rollout gathering pace, there is genuine optimism that the business world can soon start planning its recovery, including a return of International Trade Exhibitions that are so important to growth.
We talk with Amanda Sizer-Barrett, Director General of Gardenex on our Garden Retail Focus page.
RHS Chelsea Switches to September 2021
The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) have been forced to switch their prestigious Chelsea Flower Show from May to September. This was confirmed last month..
The 2021 Show has been moved to run from 21 September to 26 September.
Myplant & Garden Re-scheduled
The VI edition of Myplant & Garden has been re-scheduled for February 2022. The decision follows the latest updated regulations taken by the Italian government.
Plant Variety Rights in Jeopardy
With the end of the Brexit transition period, UK title holders and UK applicants that have not yet appointed a procedural representative in the territory of the EU, jeopardize their Community Plant Variety rights or applications.
Boosting Stress Tolerance in Ornamentals
Hicure, a powerful, natural and flexible biostimulant, has been launched by Syngenta and will be distributed by ICL.
This liquid formulation contains a blend of easily absorbed amino acids and peptides proven to improve plant quality and boost tolerance to environmental stresses such as drought and high temperatures.
50 Years of Four Oaks....in 2021!'
The U.K.'s leading Ornamental Plant Trade Fair will aim to celebrate its 50th Anniversary on September 7/8, 2021. Their 2021 banner campaign has now commenced across the media..
At the request of the industry, Koelnmesse is permanently moving the date for spoga+gafa to the first half of the year. n future, this means


List of African mobile agriculture services and applications
Nowadays, it is almost common knowledge that smartphones and apps have the potential to help farmers increase their yields and revenue. Mobile services (voice, SMS, simple data) are perfect for areas where infrastructure and financial limitations prevent broadband Internet. They are already playing a valuable role in African agricultural markets, in many cases only two years after introduction.
Of course, many farmers still lack access to these relatively new mobile opportunities. Expect that to rapidly change in the next few years as mobile costs are driven down, as governments create agricultural frameworks, and as private business realizes the tremendous opportunity at hand.
In honor of World Food Day, we’ve put together a list of how African developers, governments, and organizations operating in Africa are harnessing mobile technology to improve agricultural practices. Private companies, budding IT entrepreneurs, NGOs, as well as governments are all involved in a variety of mobile phone-based products, services, and applications aimed at boosting small-scale agriculture. Perhaps the apps out of Kenya (iCow and M-Farm) earn the most global recognition, but dozens of other projects are serving a similar need.
- iCow, the winning application in the Apps for Africa Competition 2010 allows small-scale dairy farmers to manage and trade livestock. The platform has allowed users to increase milk production by over 50% and income by 42%.
- M-Farm, a real-time group buying and selling market for farmers launched in 2010.
- Kilimo Salama enables smallholder farmers to insure their agricultural inputs against adverse weather conditions.
- KUZA Doctor, ‘a farmer’s mobile toolkit from farm to fork’, provides knowledge to farmers using SMS.
- SALI (Sustainable Agricultural Livelihood Innovation) done in Mbeere, Embu by Christian Aid, uses mobile phone technology to notify farmers of weather updates.
- The 2012 ‘Week of the Internet‘ focused on the theme of “ICT and rural areas”. The Minister of Agriculture highlighted the benefits of ICT for agriculture, but implementation is still lacking.
- Agro-Hub uses mobile technology to drive demand for farmers’ products, attract better prices, and increase farmers’ income.
- SANGONeT is involved with an application that allows small-scale dairy farmers in East Africa to record the lactation history of their cows.
- The Esoko service allows farmers access to market prices and allows them to place buy/sell orders.
- CocoaLink, launched by the Ghana Cocoa Board, Hershey, and World Cocoa Foundation, connects cocoa farmers with information about good farming practices. The free service uses SMS and voice.
- Farmers in the in the Eastern Corridor of the Northern Region are able to get better prices for their crops by using text messages thanks to the ECAMIC project.
- Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) launched a website in Accra to serve as a reference source for agricultural data and information.
Indian Ocean Islands:
- The launch of the online Indian Ocean Biodiversity & Agriculture portal hopes to improve environmental practices by agricultural communities.
- Through an ICT program, the government will issue e-vouchers to smallholder farmers in the hope of improving efficiency and effectiveness in the distribution of farm input. The vouchers will be electronically linked to a beneficiary and can only be used after verifying through Airtel network by an agro-dealer.
- Grain traders with mobile application usage report 29% income growth. Demand for mobile grain price information has grown mostly organically. (World Bank ‘Maximising Mobile 2012’)
- Ministry of Agriculture recently presented new mobile technology which informs Rwandans about price statuses.
- Manobi has a suite of mobile applications focused on agricultural market information.
- Humanitarian organization World Concern is piloting a new mobile phone app in the Horn of Africa, aiming to streamline the process of tracking food distributed to hungry families and payment to local merchants.
- SEACOM has provided funding towards the development and piloting of a new Swahili and English language application for farmers in Tanzania.
- IBM, in a presentation to the government, has detailed a more automated and instantaneous framework in which farmers could use mobile phones to request and receive critical information via voice calls or text messages whenever needed
- Tanzanian farmers have started using smartphones to improve farming techniques through visual learning. (World Bank ‘Maximising Mobile 2012’)
- The micro-finance organization Grameen Foundation leases smartphones to local farmers so they can receive agricultural information. The information, in turn, is provided by Grameen to various organizations and food programs.
- Infotrade is a platform built to integrate collection, analysis and dissemination of agricultural and other market information.
- Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) aims at promoting and supporting the use of ICTs by women in Uganda. One of their projects known as “Enhancing Access to Agricultural Information (EAAI)” targets rural women farmers in Northern Uganda.
- The Mayuge Farmers Exchange provides farmers with access to email communication and information for learning best practice farming.
- In Senegal and Mali, the E-TIC portal and a series of training sessions destined for young people, women, and community radio journalists aims at sharing knowledge relevant for effective farm management.
- The Southern Africa Telecentre Network (SATNET) aims to give rural communities access to and training in how to use communication and information services. More than 30 telecentres are currently operational in the country.
- Zambia National Farmers Union promotes and protects the interest of members as farmers. Their website is very robust.
- LimaLinks is a market linkages system that links market agents and smallholder horticultural farmers across the Zambian Copper Belt. The program is operated by IDE Zambia and developed by SangoNet.
- Zimbabweans can buy and sell cattle online thanks to the Remote Livestock Marketing System.
- CountrySTAT, a web-based information technology system for food and agriculture statistics at the national and subnational levels has launched in at least 16 African nations.
- Coders4Africa, a non-profit, is developing partnerships with universities and organizations to develop SMS tools to address agriculture, among other needs.
Feel free to add to this list in the comments, as it is far from complete!


In the charming landscape of Dittisham, where rolling hills and steep farmlands are the norm, farmers face a prickly predicament – steep fields overrun with stubborn bramble, bracken, and scrub. The tried-and-tested tractors and mulchers couldn’t handle this rugged terrain. So, what’s a farmer to do when conventional vegetation clearance tools just won’t cut it?
This is where Landmarc steps in, right in the heart of Dittisham, with our newest team member – the Robocut T800, affectionately known as Mini-Robo!This ingenious remote-controlled machine is more than a lifesaver; it’s the perfect answer to conquering those steep terrains. It makes quick work of even the most stubborn vegetation and enables steep farms like this to be secure havens for livestock. And for us, it means we can easily simplify scrub clearance services and vegetation management for our customers. Mini-Robo isn’t your average machine, it’s great for safely enhancing the quality of life of livestock through comprehensive vegetation clearance and vegetation management.


Seeds are great food. They are great additives to salads and other food items. They are not only a great source of nutrition; they also add a great flavour and crunchy texture to the food they are added to. But seeds are difficult to process from supply chain point of view. They are live. They are the source of life of new plant and contain the essentials for growth and nutrition of seedlings. They are designed by nature to sustain harsh conditions and yet grow into a plant when conditions are right. However, this very advantage of theirs is the reason that they are favourite of bacteria (such as salmonella) and fungus as well. Seeds can develop pathogens at any time during their transportation and storage. The long duration of storage before they are consumed, makes them susceptible to develop pathogens at any time during their journey from the plant to the table. Not only that, during their journey there is a risk that the seed may die, losing essential enzymes and proteins and thus changing its taste. Because of these reasons seed processing and packaging requires a special setup for their supply chain management. An experienced 3PL would have a separate processing for seeds and grains to ensure high yield and high viability of the seeds, when it reaches to the table of the end consumer.
Seeds are grown and transported across thousands of kilometres. They move from the places where nature intended them to reproduce to places where human intend to consume them. The transportation to the place of consumption and place of consumption itself are harsh for the seeds and full of pathogens that seeds are not designed to sustain. Not only that, seeds collect waste, stones and sometimes metal pieces while being processed by machines. The net effect is that the yield of useful, edible, high quality seed is very low. There are numerous incidents when the whole batch of seeds has been rejected due to health considerations. The sterilization process controls the pathogens in the seed and enables the batch to meet the health and safety standards by following the below mentioned steps.
Large screening: The heavy contamination particles (stones, metal, droppings) are easier to remove. Filtering the seed through right mesh size and passing through a metal screen usual does a great work of removing these. However, for finer contamination, such as bird droppings, feathers, light weed seeds etc. the process is little tricky. The blow air technique is used to filter these. The seeds are passed through of flow of air. The air pressure is just right so that everything except the seed is blown away and just the seeds drop in the collection bin or for very light seeds, just the seeds are blown and collected and everything else drops in the waste collection.
Sterilization: There are various processes that reduce the bacteria, mould and general infectious substances in the seed. For example, fumigation is passing antibacterial fumes through the seed. While it kills the bacteria, it leaves small amount of chemical on the seed. These can be cleaned with water, but that brings its own challenges. Dry heat processing kills the germs very effectively. Process the seed through very high heat for little time. However, this process is known to alter the taste of the seed. The seeds tend to retain the heat and get cooked (even if by a very small amount). Some seeds even die and change the texture completely due to heat. Dry steam processing is another technique that claims to give good results, but suffers from drawback of exposing the seed to very high temperatures and it also leaves some residual water on the seed. Though all the techniques are excellent, none of them offer high yield assurance with little or no change to the flavour and texture of the seed. Pasteurization, fumigation, irradiation etc. have not really met the expectation that customers have from a sterilization process.
A newer technique of organic micro reduction which involves using oxygen to kill bacteria like salmonella has much higher yield. The seed is coated with a liquid solution. The solution harnesses the power of oxygen to neutralize the pathogens and provides total coverage. The liquid then biodegrades leaving the seed unaltered. The seed is completely safe, sterilized, organic, raw and viable, just as nature intended it to be. The validated intervention system ensures application to every individual seed. The complete commercial system such as NEO PURE also includes the option of a dryer, where the seeds are coated with solutions that dry off faster to ensure completely dry consistent seeds, leaving a completely dry and viable seed. The process is used by many suppliers for almost any kind of non-sprouted grain and non-sprouted seed.
Repackaging and screening: The processed seeds are then packed into small quantity packing as required for retail. The care must be taken that the packing material is itself sterilized and free of all micro bacterial culture, and does not allow any water or air to pass into the packing, to the seeds during shipping and storage. The retail packs are then passed through a final metal screening to ensure that there is no metal piece that has escaped into the final outgoing product. This screening is usually done using x-ray technique which is harmless to the seeds.
So, as we see that seeds and grains are gaining popularity as food toppings, right from breads to salads; it is imperative that vendors adapt to newer sterilization techniques for better business results. With newer techniques of sterilization, the vendor can ensure that his seeds are safe, healthy and nutritious, when they reach the consumer and we all know that Happy Customers mean Happy Business!


Cornmeal, Corn Flour and Grits
Have you ever seen fields upon fields of
corn growning in the countryside? If you have, more than likely it was dent
corn, and not the sweet corn you would see at a farm stand or market. Sweet corn
plants are much shorter, and they account for about a quarter of the corn
grown in the U.S.
First you should know about corn types---
|Dent corn (a/k/a. farmer's
corn, field corn and/or cow corn) Dent corn has hard sides composed of
horny starch*, with soft starchy tops and cores that allow the ends to collapse
or "dent" when the corn dries. Varieties of dent corn are the most widely
grown types in the United States and used for oils (corn oil), syrups (corn
syrup), grits, meals (cornmeal),
flours, bio-fuel and silage. About 90% of what is grown in the USA is used for livestock feed.
* Horny starch is found on
the back and sides of the grain lying below the horny gluten. It does not
consist of pure starch but contains considerable amounts of other substances,
|Flint corn, many colorful "Indian corns" are of the
flint corn type. Flint corn hasn’t been grown widely as a crop in the United
States since the early 1800's. However its been grown in South America,
Latin America and southern Europe. Because each kernel has a hard outer
layer to protect the soft endosperm, it is likened to being hard as
flint; hence the name!
It is milled a certain way and retains a distinct texture and flavor
when cooked and looks very similar to regular cornmeal. In fact Italian
polenta is made from flint corn as are many artisan producers, like Aniston Mills.
This corn also looks great after it's dried and the
kernels are exposed. It's the type of dried corn that usually appears at
markets in the fall.
|Flour corn is soft grinding corn and is composed almost completely of
soft starch with thin seed coats. Kernels are round and smooth like flint corns.
Flour corn is soft throughout the kernel. There isn’t a hard endosperm
like other corn types.
In these modern times, they are primarily used for making corn flour.
Historically, flour corn was also raised and used for parching*. Parching is a
process whereby the kernels are gently roasted until they slightly expand, the
seed coat splits and the kernels become soft. Parched corn was used as a snack
or trail provision and could last several months if stored properly.
Parching to make completely dry, as heat, sun, and wind do, dried. A staple of
the Indian diet was parched (dried) corn. Think---my throat is parched (dry)!
||What is Cornmeal? Cornmeal is milled from corn by special stainless steel rollers crushing it and
giving it a uniform texture. It’s also degerminated; the oily germ and bran are
removed in processing. Degerminating makes it shelf stable and able to stay fresh
longer. No matter what type of dry corn product you buy, whether cornmeal,
grits, or cornflour, it’s most likely made from dent corn and processed at a
mill into the final product.
Stone-ground cornmeal is coarser because of
how it’s milled and the germ and bran are left in. Look for whole grain on the
label. It’s more perishable than regular cornmeal and should be used within a
few weeks after opening or kept refrigerated or even frozen after opening. Check
the best by date when you buy it.
||What is Corn Flour? Corn flour is a finely ground to be very
fine like white flour, from whole flour or dent corn kernels. Don't confuse it
with cornstarch, it's a fine powder too, but made only from the starchy
part of flourcorn. Top quality Portuguese
cornflour is milled superfine to a powder and they are the best on the market.
Next time you make cornbread use 1/3 of it in place of cornmeal and you
will get a less crumbly cake texture.
Cornflour of this type is not Masa
Harina because it is not treated with lime water.
||What are Grits? Grits are always made from dent corn that has been treated with an alkali in
a process called nixtamalization with the outer hull removed. The dried white
inner portion (Hominy) is then ground. It's coarser than coarse cornmeal. It is
boiled and also is served as side like rice or mashed potatoes and popular at
breakfast in the southern USA instead of homefries. Grits are popular in
southern states but not as much in northern states.
is the white inner portion of the corn kernel and can be either dried as you see here or canned.
Grind it to a coarse meal and you'll have grits. Popular in Mexican Posole: hominy, green chiles, garlic, onions, oregano and with cubed pork
simmered together to become a soup or stew.
||What is Polenta? Polenta is an Italian dish that is a preparation with
a style of cornmeal made from flint corn. It's cooked in
liquid for a period of time and served as a side like rice or mashed potatoes.
It becomes firm when cold and can be pan fried to a crisp or grilled.
If you buy from an Italian or artisan producer you’re getting polenta
made from flint corn.
So what's Masa Harina?
this is flour milled from dried
hominy of dent corn, which are corn kernels that have been soaked in a limewater
solution to remove the hull. Masa harina, which means dough flour, is used to
make the dough, masa, for tortillas, pupusa and tamales.
brand is milled and packaged in Italy. NDF Azteca Milling Europe S.r.l.
- Ceggia - Venice - Italy


If you own a Facebook account, very likely you may have grown intrigued by the several applications offered by this website for the purpose of entertaining. Among the many interactive games available on Facebook, Farmville deserves a place of honor because of its fun graphics and originality. Very likely, you will discover the inner farmer hiding in yourself by playing this addicting and entertaining game.
It is important to note first of all, that the farming profession requires lots of patience and tender loving care. Neglect your crops for a couple of days and you may come back to a dry miserable field. Of course, this will affect your earnings as well. In order to be a rich farmer on Farmville, you will need to be a bit savvy about your crops and think well before deciding what to plant. Following are some helpful tips that should allow you to expand your fields and make a decent living.
Plan Your Crops Carefully
Farmville is a great game, but requires a little commitment. While in nature, it may take months or years to harvest, in the virtual world of Farmville you can see your crops grow within a few hours. If you work full-time therefore, you want to make sure you have time to cater to your crops. Leave the strawberries for your week-end as these mature in as little as 4 hours. Opt instead for trees which take days to yield fruits or better, put some farm animals that will not require much maintenance.
Go with the Strawberries
If on the other hand, you have plenty of time on hand put lots of strawberries. These fruits will mature in as little as four hours allowing you to gain the beauty of 35 coins. As the game progresses start investing in raspberries, these will mature in as little as two hours yielding 46 coins. Blueberries on the other hand, may take a little longer but they are certainly worth the wait because they will produce 91 coins!
Build Plenty of Stables
While farm animals will not make you much rich they are fun to add. After all, what is a farm without no animals to run the show! The biggest advantage about farm animals is that unlike crops they do not require much attention. They just stay there and produce for you eggs, milk, truffles and more. Horses are one of the best choices because of the value of their hair.
Lend a Hand to Your Neighbors
Farmers like to help each other when they are busy harvesting. If you visit your Farmville neighbors they may have a task or two for you in exchange for some coins. So, pull up your sleeves, be generous and go rake up some leaves, clean the weeds or simply scare some pesky crows away. You will be rewarded with money and experience.
Expand Greatly Your Horizon
Bigger fields of course translate into bigger earnings. You may have noticed that some of your neighbors have bigger lots. How is this done? You simply need to know people. For instance, you can expand your farm to a 14×14 lot if you have at least eight neighbors. Have higher expectations? Then find 10 neighbors and you will be rewarded with a nice 16×16 lot.
Look For the Ribbons
Every now and then when you have the opportunity, try to visit your Facebook homepage and look if any of your friends have recently won any ribbons. You may be lucky to have the option of getting a bonus from them.
As seen, there are a lot of things you can do to turn your farming hobby into a serious business. Work hard and diligently, and with time, you will be rewarded with the very cream of the crop! Happy farming!


Trip to Pannonhalma
Autumn has arrived along with the new students from all around the world in the frame of
Erasmus and Stipendium Hungaricum to Győr to study at Széchenyi István University.
After the initial difficulties which caused by the never-ending administration process and the assimilation to their new environment, there was the time for the first trip.
40 international students participated in our cultural program in the Monastery of Pannonhalma.
After the arrival our way led to the Abbey’s Museum and Gallery. Here we visited the exhibition called “Pannónia’s vineyards”. Its topic was the way of growing the grapes and the method of wine producing in the last centuries in that area. The next exhibition which we attended was a modern art exhibition. Later we checked the Abbey’s paintings and other art treasures, that took back us in the time. After these finally we arrived to the Abbey. Firstly, we descended to the Herbal Garden where the lavenders bloom during spring (unfortunately we did not see). Next, we entered to the Abbey’s building, within it the Basilica and the crypt which were built in the 13th century and while today the monks are accommodated there.
Stepping out through the Porta Speciosa we reached the cloister. The most breath-taking place was the Library, where books from 1100 were stored. Also, the copy of the Tihanyi Abbey’s articles of incorporation is placed here which includes the first Hungarian sentence. At the end of the cultural program we ascended to the Archabbey Winery where we could get to know how they produce the wine among those old walls. For closing, we climbed up to the nearby look-out tower, where - despite the bad weather - the view was amazing.
At the end of the day we travelled back to Győr packed with lots of experiences and memories.


What is Air Spading?
This tool is used to safely remove soil from the base of the tree, as well as, from around the roots. Once we have a clear view of the roots of the tree we can identify any problems associated with the root soil interface, as well as any girdling roots. Think of a tourniquet. Girdling roots will wrap around the base of the tree trunk underground. Once the tree grows, it will actually push into the cambium layer cutting off the vital flow of water and nutrients to the tree. If not taken care of in time these girdling roots can kill the trees.
Problems in the root zone
Compacted soil – this is caused by foot, vehicular traffic, as well as construction impacts. Water runs off of compacted soil and does not readily seep down into the soil to get to the root zone of the plant or tree and even if it does there is now a reduced pore space for it to occupy. It is also harder for roots to grow in compacted soil, as well as a reduced exchange with oxygen in the root zone to the plant. So a compacted soil can hold less water and air than a non-compacted soil which ultimately leads to the demise of the tree.
Root collar excavation
Finding the root flare and setting the tree at proper planting depth after it has already been installed. The build up around the trunk of the tree can be from multiple reasons. The tree was most likely planted too deep or the constant addition of mulch around the base of the tree breaks down and builds a soil layer up around the base. The problem with this is twofold. First thing is that the tree roots will start growing up through the easier to grow in soil, rather than down in the arching fashion they should. Problem number two is that the trunk tissue cannot handle being wet for extended periods of time and this mulch soil mixture that is breaking down holds moisture against the trunk.
The air spade tool will safely excavate the soil from the root zone without damaging the roots. Once the soil is removed, our team will assess the roots and prune out girdling roots where possible, as well as reset the root flare at the proper height. The soil in this zone will now be un-compacted, as it was broken up with the air spade and necessary soil amendments can be made.
Examples of Air Spading:
A tree planted too deep.
After air spading. This is called a root collar excavation.
After removing adventutious roots from being planted to deep and girdling roots this tree is now planted at the right depth. It was planted about 6 inches to deep as can be seen by the dirt markings on the trunk.
Before: Root collar excavation reveals girdling root.
After: Girdling root has been removed.
Radial trenching to help with compacted soil problems organic material wll be filled into trenches to promote growth.
Air spade tool.


My late mother Bernice Ethelyn Crittenden on the family’s West Brome farm
Farming Can be a Sticky Situation Linda Knight Seccaspina
Maple syrup was just more than a sappy incident in Canada. It marks one of the most distinct eras in seasonable cuisine, and it was the first of the new and home-grown Canadian products. It has a tang of the woods and the open country, and somehow makes you think of spring flowers and the soft rain which rejuvenates the earth. It also paves the way for the rhubarb pie era which follows soon after. The rhubarb season in turn is succeeded by strawberries and cream, but that is another story altogether.
Early settlers in Canada learned about sugar maples from our First Nations. Various legends have existed through the ages to explain how maple syrup was discovered. One is that the head of a tribe threw a tomahawk at a tree, sap ran out and his wife boiled venison in the liquid. Another version holds that our First Nations stumbled on sap running from a broken maple branch.
Those from the past have been known to declare that the best syrup was made in the “old days”. It was when the sap was boiled in iron kettles, over open fires, the product retained a furtive flavour of sugary bliss and charred wood. Today the syrup is made in patent contraptions with syphons and spigots, often boiled over coal fires, and protected from smoke in the process. The business may be less romantic than in the past, but the quality of the syrup is even higher.
My great grandfather Arthur Crittenden had some fine maples on his West Brome farm and being told about the value of the maple for the making of sugar, he decided to try sugar making. Unfortunately, he had never studied the effects of evaporation and thought the boiling process would be helped by keeping the kettles closely covered.
Day after day he boiled away and expected the sugar to boil at the bottom of the kettles. Evaporation was partially secured by the steam raising the covers of the kettles and then the contents grew gradually sweeter. Fresh sap was constantly supplied and though the sugar was hoped for – none ever appeared. As they say ”sugar makers don’t die- they just evaporate”. It never dawned on him that to get the sugary results he must stop putting in sap and boil it all down to a certain consistency. He was about to give up until someone saved the day. Some business brought a member of the family forty miles to visit from home. When he witnessed the operation he solved my great grandfather’s mystery almost immediately. Maple sugar was soon produced and my ancestors finally feasted on the delicious product. He told anyone who would listen that he was thankful for a tree so useful in the wilderness.
However, this giant crop of maple trees became a sticky situation and grew where he intended to clear the land for his crops. All other kinds of trees were removed and the corn and potatoes were planted beneath the sturdy sugar maples. However, the ample foliage of their borad limbs was so shaded and it actually dwarfed the growing crops beneath. My great grandfather became convinced the the same ground could not yield at the same time two such crops. With feelings lacerated in a two fold sense his beloved maples were cut down and in their falling so smashed the corn and potatoes. In the end little of either was harvested and thus his first season was almost a loss.
The next season Arthur did well with a new crop on the fully cleared land, but once again he did not have much luck. At the far side of the newly planted field was a thick bush. He looked at that bush for protection for his crop and did not put any fence on that side. He failed to realize that a bush will keep out much of the sun but won’t keep out wandering animals.
In the heat of the summer a large flock of neighbours’ cattle charged through the bush and invaded the unfenced clearing. The final result was painful. As he viewed the damage to his crops he wondered if he should still be a farmer. That summer a fence was built and the following year a crop was grown with success without interference from maple trees or cattle.
I had no idea that forty gallons of sap are needed to make one gallon of syrup, and one barrel of maple syrup is worth more than 30 times of a barrel of crude oil. I often wonder if my great grandfather ever grew back those maple trees. You have to admit the early farmers were outstanding in their field, and I have always been proud to have had farmers in my lineage. I would smile each time my father told me to close the door properly as I wasn’t raised in a barn. I always told him he had had it wrong, as I’ve never judged anyone by their relatives, and what goes on in the barn stays in the barn!
See you next week!
Oh Dear, William Penfold and my AB Positive Blood
When the Skeletons Finally Come Out of the Closet “D-I-V-O-R-C-E”
Is it all Relative? Linda Knight Seccaspina


Organic foods have become increasingly famous over the years, and it’s not difficult to see why. With more and more people becoming health-conscious and environmentally conscious, organic foods have become a top choice for those looking to improve their overall well-being.
Organic Foods are Chemicals Free
One of the biggest benefits of organic foods is that they are free from harmful chemicals and pesticides. Conventionally grown foods are often treated with pesticides and other chemicals that can harm the environment and our health.
On the other hand, organic farming uses natural methods to control pests and diseases, which means that the food produced is free from harmful chemicals.
Organic Foods are More Nutritious
Another benefit of organic foods is that they are often more nutritious than conventionally grown foods. Organic farming practices focus on building healthy soil, which leads to nutrient-rich crops.
In addition, organic foods are often fresher than conventionally grown foods, meaning they retain more nutritional value.
Organic Foods and Environment
Organic farming techniques are much better for the environment than traditional farming practices. Organic farming methods focus on building healthy soil, which helps to reduce soil erosion and improve soil fertility.
In addition, organic farming practices help reduce the number of harmful chemicals and pesticides released into the environment.
Organic Foods Taste Better
Organic foods often taste better than conventionally grown foods. Organic farming practices focus on building healthy soil, leading to more flavorful and nutritious crops.
Organic foods are often fresher than conventionally grown foods, retaining more flavour.
Organic Foods Support Local Farmers
When you buy organic foods, you are often supporting local farmers. Organic farming practices are often smaller and more sustainable than conventional ones, so they rely on local support to succeed.
By buying organic foods, you are helping to support your local farmers and their communities. The benefits of organic foods are clear.
They are free from harmful chemicals and pesticides, more nutritious, better for the environment, taste better, and support local farmers.
So if you want to improve your overall well-being and support a more sustainable food system, going organic is the way to go.