ACADEMICSNATIONAL NEWSUNIVERSITY NEWS

Amity Scientists Conduct Rootonic Tests On Paddy And

Sugarcane; Fungus Rootonic- Piriformospora Indica, Likely To
Increase Productivity And Reduce Infestation Of Insects

By India Education Diary Bureau Admin On Sep 13, 2021

New Delhi: Amity University Scientists have always worked in laboratories and conducted field
experiments to help farmers increase the productivity of crops and reduce the costs. In the same
context, Dr. Ajit Varma, Distinguished Scientist & Professor of Eminence , Amity Institute of
Microbial Technology, Amity University along with his team of researchers have discovered the
Fungus Rootonic – Piriformospora Indica. This unique fungus was discovered in labs and then shared
with farmers of Aurangabad Ahir Village, Bulandshahr, UP, for the paddy and sugarcane crops.
Under the leadership of Dr Amit Kharakwal, Deputy Director, Amity Institute of Microbial
Technology, a team of 10 faculties and 19 PhD research scholars conducted Paddy Field Trial in 2.5
Acres land in a farmer’s field with and without Rootonic. and obtained positive and better growth
results of crops.
Mr. Sudhir Kumar and Mr. Nakul, Agriculturists, used the Rootonic – Piriformospora indica as a trial
on Paddy 1509 and Sharbati. It was found that after using this fungus, they saved the cost of spraying
insecticide, reduced application of chemical fertilizer and other medicines on the crop . They also
observed that along with the better growth of the crop, the development of paddy buds were visible
with better quality.

Surendra Yadav, a farmer who used Rootonic in his Sugarcane field, said that he has used it in two
types of sugarcane. And found that where the rootonic was used, the crop shows increased length and
thickness of sugarcane, and insects were not visible, which destroyed the crop by almost 30%, due to
which the expenditure on chemicals and pesticides has come down and it is expected that every year
more production will be obtained after harvesting.

On this occasion, a Kisan Symposium involving 78 progressive farmers from neighboring areas of
Krishi Vigyan Kendriya participated to look at the positive result on Paddy & Sugarcane.
Discussions were held with these farmers and Dr . Amit Kharakwal, Deputy Director, Amity Institute
of Microbial Technology; Dr. Naveen Joshi from Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Dr. Aarti
Mishra, and other faculty members who provided information to the farmers, alongwith Mr. Rohtash
Yadav (Pradhan), Head of Aurangabad Ahir village.

Dr. Amit Kharakwal, Deputy Director, Amity Institute of Microbial Technology said Use of the
fungus Rootonic – Piriformospora increases the productivity of food grains and reduces the
infestation of insects in the paddy, thereby improving the yield. The quality of the soil keeps on
increasing and improving continuously. He added, that after its use, the need for pesticide is greatly
reduced, thereby reducing the cost. He said that this unique fungus can also be used in the next
cultivation of mustard and wheat. If the yield of mustard is good, then the oil will also be good.
Amity’s objective is to increase the production of food grains of the farmers and reduce the cost so
that their income is high and always works to solve the problems of the farmers, averred Dr
Kharakwal. Amity Scientists also distributed Rootonic packets free of cost to 15 farmers of the
village. The rice crop was tested using Amity Biofertilizer HNB9.

Mr. Rohtash Yadav, Pradhan of the Village said today very important information has been provided
by the scientists of Amity University and we will definitely get benefit by using this information and
Rootonic. Many farmers have used Rootonic in paddy and sugarcane crops and have received
excellent positive results which have impressed all of us and its major outcome will be evaluated
when the final crop is harvested. He thanked Amity University for its cooperation and urged
scientists to work more closely with farmers to yield better crops.

 
https://indiaeducationdiary.in/amity-scientists-conduct-rootonic-tests-on-paddy-and-sugarcane-fungus-
rootonic-piriformospora-indica-likely-to-increase-productivity-and-reduce-infestation-of-insects/

Laureates of 'Nobel Prize of China' announced,

recognized for coronavirus studies and impact on
COVID-19 fight
By 
Liu Caiyu
, Fan Anqi and Lu YamengPublished: Sep 12, 2021 08:48 PM
   
2021 Future Science Prize laureates

Hong Kong-based scientists Kwok-Yung Yuen and Joseph Sriyal Malik Peiris won the prize in

life sciences in the 2021 Future Science Prize, dubbed "China's Nobel Prize," for their major

discoveries of SARS-CoV-1 as the causative agent of the global SARS outbreak in 2003 with

impact on combating COVID-19 and emerging infectious diseases, the award organizer

announced on Sunday.

The Future Science Prize is a privately funded science honor established by a group of renowned

scientists and entrepreneurs in 2016, aiming at recognizing scientific breakthroughs and

innovations in China with long-term significance to the world. The prize is given in three

categories with $1 million for each award, namely the Life Science Prize, Physical Science Prize

and Mathematics and Computer Science Prize.

Yuen, from the University of Hong Kong, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on

Sunday that "this is one of the most important prizes not just in China but also internationally. I

am really honored and grateful to get the recognition of the very eminent scientists of the

selection committee for the prize." 

Wang Xiaodong, one of the reviewers of the award, said at Sunday's press conference that

"Chinese scientists were able to quickly identify the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to

their contributions." 

When asked how their discoveries affect people's understanding of the cause of COVID-19,

Yuen explained that since he and his team discovered in 2005 that the horseshoe bat was the

natural animal reservoir for the ancestral SARS-CoV-1, they believe that SARS-CoV-2 "also

went from bats to another mammal(s) before jumping into humans." 

Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 replicates very well in both bat and human intestinal organs, which

further supports the bat origin of SARS-CoV-2, he said. 

But there are also major differences between the two diseases, Yuen noted, in terms of "disease

severity, asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic rates and the ability of the virus to suppress

interferon and inflammatory responses."

As world scientists call for the second phase of the coronavirus origins study, experts from the

Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention have suggested that investigations should be

carried out in countries where horseshoe bats and pangolins reside, those with virus-positive
animal data and which supplied Wuhan Huanan seafood market through cold-chain logistics, as

more tests and molecular viral research suggest it is possible that the early outbreak in the

Huanan market may have been sparked by cold-chain imports.

Jin Dongyan, a professor at the School of Biomedical Sciences at HKU, told the Global Times

on Sunday that Yuen and his research team where a group of world-leading researcher are

gathered are very valuable to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. "From SARS to

COVID-19, the team has been engaged in coronavirus-related basic studies while combing

through clinical studies. That working mode contributes the outstanding work of the university to

the study of infectious diseases," Jin said. 

Photo: A screenshot from http://www.futureprize.org

Yuen and his research team are devoting their efforts to find out how to prevent potential re-

emergence of a SARS and COVID-19-like public health crisis. Studies on the types of

coronaviruses that exist in bats, the potential hosts of the cross-species transmission, as well as

how human transmitted the virus to animals are part of their research, Jin said.

Yuen also told the Global Times that he is working on many areas from the pathogenesis of the

coronavirus to antivirals and vaccines. "My part of the awarded prize will go back to the HKU

for teaching and research purposes," he added.

Apart from Kwok-Yung Yuen and Joseph Sriyal Malik Peiris, Zhang Jie, a professor at Shanghai

Jiao Tong University, won the Physical Science Prize for his development of laser-based fast

electron beam technologies. Simon Sze from the "National Chiao Tung University" in the island

of Taiwan won the prize in mathematics and computer science. 

The science committee of the prizes, composed of 23 outstanding scientists, is at the core of the

award selection. Mau-Chung Frank Chang, chairman of the committee, said that the nomination

and selection of the prize was established in accordance with the Nobel Prize system, in which

the committee invites international experts as nominators and then solicits evaluation letters from

experts in relevant fields of the nominated work. Based on the evaluations, the committee then

votes to select the final award winners.

In the previous five years, 20 winners were awarded the Future Science Prize, all of whom have

been widely recognized both in scientific circle and the society. The late Yuan Longping, known

as "the father of hybrid rice," was awarded the Life Science Prize in 2018 "for pioneering the use

of hybrid vigor to achieve higher yield and increased stress resistance in rice."
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202109/1234039.shtml

Scientists Just Revealed How High The Emissions

From Animal Farming Really Are

NATALIE HANDEL, AFP

14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Animal farming accounts for twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as plants grown for
consumption, according to a study published Monday that mapped agricultural activities
worldwide.

What humans eat accounts for a major chunk of the emissions behind climate-change –
transportation, deforestation, cold-storage. and the digestive systems of cattle all send polluting
gases into the atmosphere.

Researchers looked at carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide released by food production
and consumption from farming on land. And they found that, from 2007 to 2013, the emissions
amounted to 17.318 billion metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases per year – or 35
percent of all human-caused emissions.

The study, which modelled net emissions for over 170 plant and 16 animal products in nearly
200 countries, calculated that 57 percent of food-related emissions were from animal-based
foods – including crops grown to feed livestock.

Plants grown for human consumption generated 29 percent of food emissions, the study
published in Nature Food found, and the rest was attributed to other commodities like cotton and
rubber. It did not include emissions from fisheries.

Plant-based diets are widely thought to be better for the planet – but lead researcher Atul Jain, of
the University of Illinois, said he wanted to know exactly how much, admitting he had a personal
reason for wanting to dig deeper into the issue.

"I've been a vegetarian since my childhood," he told AFP. "I wanted to estimate what my carbon
footprint was."
To come up with a consistent model for so many different products, Jain's team set to work from
the ground up, breaking down the globe's farmland into some 60,000 grid squares.

"Once we identify the crop area in a grid cell, we determine what percentage of the area is
allocated to the crop, to the forest, and to the grasses, and so on," he said.

This allowed the researchers to model location-specific emissions data for dozens of major crops
and animal products.

They also included country-specific data related to food consumption, including importing and
exporting related emissions.

Beef is the worst offender

Beef was the largest-contributing commodity, responsible for some 25 percent of food emissions,
and rice was the worst plant offender, accounting for 12 percent.

This helped place cattle-farming South America and rice-growing Southeast Asia as the biggest
emitters of greenhouse gasses related to food production.

The study measured the impact of crops grown for human consumption and those grown for
animal feed separately, and factored in things like transportation and trade.

To calculate net emissions, they also accounted for the presence of plants that absorb carbon.

"You have to account for everything because there are so many feedbacks and interactions," Jain
said.

The study noted the growing demand for food worldwide and the industry's potential to
exacerbate global warming.

Jain said his next research challenge was to include more granular data on consumption trends
across the world to build a tool to allow people to calculate their own food-based carbon
footprint.

"You can go to your location, identify what you eat, how much you eat, and calculate your own
carbon footprint," he said.
https://www.sciencealert.com/animal-farming-causes-twice-as-many-emissions-as-plants-finds-
new-study
Traditional Staple Crop May Help Manage Diabetes,
Study Shows

Over 462 million people across the world are affected by Type II diabetes, a metabolic disease
that results in 1.6 million deaths per year. Nutrient-poor diets can result in chronically elevated
blood glucose levels, but a recent study from the International Crop Research Institute for the
Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) finds that millet consumption can help people with diabetes
return their blood sugar to pre-diabetic levels.

Millets are a category of cereal grasses with small, edible seeds. According to The Millet
Foundation, millet grains require little water to grow and have a shorter cultivation time than
rice.  On average, the glycemic index (GI)—a system that ranks foods based on their effects on
blood sugar levels—of millets is 36 percent lower than milled rice.

Scientists from seven organizations in India, Japan, Malawi, and the United Kingdom recently
participated in a systematic review and meta-analyses to understand the effects of different
carbohydrate sources on diabetes risk. Results show that individuals who consumed millets
instead of refined control samples returned their blood glucose to normal, non-risk levels.

“Eating a diet with lowered GI reduces scope for drastic fluctuations of blood glucose levels,
which in turn has a host of other metabolic and physiological benefits in both the short- and
long-term,” Joanna Kane-Potaka, an author on the study and Assistant Director General –
External Relations at ICRISAT tells Food Tank.

Study authors hope the results will encourage staple crop diversification across Asia and Africa,
where roughly 70 percent of daily calories currently come from refined rice, wheat, or maize.
Nutrition experts expect diabetes rates in sub-Saharan Africa to increase by 143 percent in the
next 25 years, but increasing dietary diversity can help curtail the rise.

Kane-Potaka explains that millet production has suffered due to poorly developed value
chains and low popularity. But she remains optimistic about their role in modern diets due to
their health benefits and gentle environmental impact.

“Millets can be cooked just like rice,” Kane-Potaka tells Food Tank. “They can be used as a
gluten free flour and in porridge, salads and desserts.” Millets are also being featured by climate-
conscious chefs, used to brew gluten-free beer, and included in pancake mix.

While millet consumption may be part of a comprehensive diabetes management plan, it is not a
cure-all solution. “Preventing and managing diabetes requires a whole lifestyle approach,” Kane-
Potaka tells Food Tank. “Diet is a critical part of this but should be designed along with
considerations of physical activity and overall lifestyle.”

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has declared 2023 the International Year of
Millets, promising increased global awareness of health benefits, and a higher minimum support
price of millets like jowar, bajra, maize, and ragi. According to Kane-Potaka, “this is expected to
be the turning point for global attention to millets.”

https://foodtank.com/news/2021/09/traditional-staple-crop-may-help-manage-diabetes-study-
shows/
Kerala Farmer Sets a Model by Conserving 71
Traditional Rice Varieties

Chintu Das Updated 12 September, 2021 5:48 PM IST Published on 12 September, 2021 2:22

PM IST

Rice Varieties

Sunil Kallinkara, 45, a progressive farmer in Cheeral on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, has set a
model by conserving 71 traditional rice varieties from across the country on 38 acres of rented
land, at a time when most farmers in the State have chosen to keep paddy fields fallow or
cultivate cash crops like ginger, plantain, arecanut, and coconut owing to poor income from rice
cultivation.

For many years, Kallinkara has been conserving rice seeds and propagating them in a
participatory way with the help of farmer organizations from all across the nation. To maintain
his crops healthy and disease-free, the farmer practices organic farming and employs self-made
inputs such as Jeevamrutha, Beejamrutha, and a curd-jaggery mixture.

He began cultivating five traditional rice types, including fragrant kinds like Gandhakassala and
Jeerakassala, on an acre of ancestral property about 30 years ago.

The farmer has preserved 71 types and increased his acreage from one to 48 acres, including 10
acres of his own property. He told, "Of the 71 varieties, the double-seeded Jugal of West Bengal
is the most important for me." He stated that a single grain carries two to three seeds, and the
variety produces 15 to 16 quintals per acre.

Organic farming has always been successful for him, with an average annual revenue of
Rs 25,000 per acre. “After value-adding, I sell rice at a premium price and receive Rs 50
to Rs 150 per kilogram, depending on the variety,” he added. He also offers exotic seeds
like Jugal for Rs 1,000 per kilogram.

Kallinkara was able to save the seeds thanks to a wide network of farmers and farmer
consortiums across the country, as well as timely support from scientists from the M.S.
Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF).
Farmers share several uncommon rice species such as Kalabhat, Black Jasmin, Malli
Kuruva, and Saraswathy, according to Joseph John, MSSRF scientist.

Farmers openly trade and share seeds to make conservation efforts simpler, according to
Joseph, and the network has set a precedent for the whole agricultural community in the
country.

https://krishijagran.com/agriculture-world/kerala-farmer-sets-a-model-by-conserving-71-traditional-rice-
varieties/

Researchers design sensors to rapidly detect plant

hormones
by Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nanosensors developed at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) can
detect synthetic auxin plant hormones NAA and 2,4-D. Credit: Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and
Technology

Researchers from the Disruptive and Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision
(DiSTAP) interdisciplinary research group of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and
Technology (SMART), MIT's research enterprise in Singapore, and their local collaborators
from Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU),
have developed the first-ever nanosensor to enable rapid testing of synthetic auxin plant
hormones. The novel nanosensors are safer and less tedious than existing techniques for testing
plants' response to compounds such as herbicide, and can be transformative in improving
agricultural production and our understanding of plant growth.

The scientists designed sensors for two plant hormones—1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and
2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4D)—which are used extensively in the farming industry for
regulating plant growth and as herbicides, respectively. Current methods to detect NAA and
2,4D cause damage to plants, and are unable to provide real-time in vivo monitoring and
information.

Based on the concept of corona phase molecular recognition (CoPhMoRe) pioneered by the
Strano Lab at SMART DiSTAP and MIT, the new sensors are able to detect the presence of
NAA and 2,4D in living plants at a swift pace, providing plant information in real-time, without
causing any harm. The team has successfully tested both sensors on a number of
everyday crops including pak choi, spinach, and rice across various planting mediums such as
soil, hydroponic, and plant tissue culture.

Explained in a paper titled "Nanosensor Detection of Synthetic Auxins In Planta using Corona
Phase Molecular Recognition" published in the journal ACS Sensors, the research can facilitate
more efficient use of synthetic auxins in agriculture and hold tremendous potential to advance
plant biology study.

"Our CoPhMoRe technique has previously been used to detect compounds such as hydrogen
peroxide and heavy-metal pollutants like arsenic—but this is the first successful case of
CoPhMoRe sensors developed for detecting plant phytohormones that regulate plant growth and
physiology, such as sprays to prevent premature flowering and dropping of fruits," says DiSTAP
co-lead principal investigator Michael Strano, the Carbon P. Dubbs Professor of Chemical
Engineering at MIT. "This technology can replace current state-of-the-art sensing methods which
are laborious, destructive, and unsafe."

Of the two sensors developed by the research team, the 2,4D nanosensor also showed the ability
to detect herbicide susceptibility, enabling farmers and agricultural scientists to quickly find out
how vulnerable or resistant different plants are to herbicides without the need to monitor crop or
weed growth over days. "This could be incredibly beneficial in revealing the mechanism behind
how 2,4D works within plants and why crops develop herbicide resistance," says DiSTAP and
TLL Principal Investigator Rajani Sarojam.

"Our research can help the industry gain a better understanding of plant growth dynamics and
has the potential to completely change how the industry screens for herbicide resistance,
eliminating the need to monitor crop or weed growth over days," says Mervin Chun-Yi Ang, a
research scientist at DiSTAP. "It can be applied across a variety of plant species and planting
mediums, and could easily be used in commercial setups for rapid herbicide susceptibility
testing, such as urban farms."

NTU Professor Mary Chan-Park Bee Eng says, "Using nanosensors for in planta detection
eliminates the need for extensive extraction and purification processes, which saves time and
money. They also use very low-cost electronics, which makes them easily adaptable for
commercial setups."

The team says their research can lead to future development of real-time nanosensors for other
dynamic plant hormones and metabolites in living plants as well.

The development of the nanosensor, optical detection system, and image processing algorithms
for this study was done by SMART, NTU, and MIT, while TLL validated the nanosensors and
provided knowledge of plant biology and plant signaling mechanisms. The research is carried out
by SMART and supported by NRF under its Campus for Research Excellence And
Technological Enterprise (CREATE) program.

https://phys.org/news/2021-09-sensors-rapidly-hormones.html

Animal-based food generates nearly twice the emissions

as plant: study

AFPPublished September 14, 2021 - Updated about 7 hours ago

PARIS: Animal farming accounts for twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as plants
grown for consumption, according to a study published on Monday that mapped
agricultural activities worldwide.

What humans eat accounts for a major chunk of the emissions behind climate-change —
transportation, deforestation, cold-storage and the digestive systems of cattle all send polluting
gases into the atmosphere.

Researchers looked at carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide released by food production
and consumption from farming on land. And they found that, from 2007 to 2013, the emissions
amounted to 17.318 billion metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases per year — or 35
percent of all human-caused emissions.

The study, which modelled net emissions for over 170 plant and 16 animal products in nearly
200 countries, calculated that 57 percent of food-related emissions were from animal-based
foods — including crops grown to feed livestock.

Plants grown for human consumption generated 29 percent of food emissions, the study
published in Nature Food found, and the rest was attributed to other commodities like cotton and
rubber. It did not include emissions from fisheries.

Plant-based diets are widely thought to be better for the planet — but lead researcher Atul Jain,
of the University of Illinois, said he wanted to know exactly how much, admitting he had a
personal reason for wanting to dig deeper into the issue.

“I’ve been a vegetarian since my childhood,” he said. “I wanted to estimate what my carbon
footprint was.” To come up with a consistent model for so many different products, Jain’s team
set to work from the ground up, breaking down the globe’s farmland into some 60,000 grid
squares.

“Once we identify the crop area in a grid cell, we determine what percentage of the area is
allocated to the crop, to the forest, and to the grasses, and so on,” he said.

This allowed the researchers to model location-specific emissions data for dozens of major crops
and animal products.

They also included country-specific data related to food consumption, including importing and
exporting related emissions. Beef was the largest-contributing commodity, responsible for some
25 percent of food emissions, and rice was the worst plant offender, accounting for 12 percent.

This helped place cattle-farming South America and rice-growing Southeast Asia as the biggest
emitters of greenhouse gasses related to food production.

The study measured the impact of crops grown for human consumption and those grown for
animal feed separately, and factored in things like transportation and trade.
To calculate net emissions, they also accounted for the presence of plants that absorb carbon.

“You have to account for everything because there are so many feedbacks and interactions,” Jain
said.

The study noted the growing demand for food worldwide and the industry’s potential to
exacerbate global warming.

Jain said his next research challenge was to include more granular data on consumption trends
across the world to build a tool to allow people to calculate their own food-based carbon
footprint.

“You can go to your location, identify what you eat, how much you eat, and calculate your own
carbon footprint,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2021

https://www.dawn.com/news/1646291/animal-based-food-generates-nearly-twice-the-emissions-as-plant-
study

Traditional Staple Crop May Help Manage Diabetes,

Study Shows
Over 462 million people across the world are affected by Type II diabetes, a metabolic disease
that results in 1.6 million deaths per year. Nutrient-poor diets can result in chronically elevated
blood glucose levels, but a recent study from the International Crop Research Institute for the
Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) finds that millet consumption can help people with diabetes
return their blood sugar to pre-diabetic levels.

Millets are a category of cereal grasses with small, edible seeds. According to The Millet
Foundation, millet grains require little water to grow and have a shorter cultivation time than
rice.  On average, the glycemic index (GI)—a system that ranks foods based on their effects on
blood sugar levels—of millets is 36 percent lower than milled rice.

Scientists from seven organizations in India, Japan, Malawi, and the United Kingdom recently
participated in a systematic review and meta-analyses to understand the effects of different
carbohydrate sources on diabetes risk. Results show that individuals who consumed millets
instead of refined control samples returned their blood glucose to normal, non-risk levels.

“Eating a diet with lowered GI reduces scope for drastic fluctuations of blood glucose levels,
which in turn has a host of other metabolic and physiological benefits in both the short- and
long-term,” Joanna Kane-Potaka, an author on the study and Assistant Director General –
External Relations at ICRISAT tells Food Tank.

Study authors hope the results will encourage staple crop diversification across Asia and Africa,
where roughly 70 percent of daily calories currently come from refined rice, wheat, or maize.
Nutrition experts expect diabetes rates in sub-Saharan Africa to increase by 143 percent in the
next 25 years, but increasing dietary diversity can help curtail the rise.

Kane-Potaka explains that millet production has suffered due to poorly developed value
chains and low popularity. But she remains optimistic about their role in modern diets due to
their health benefits and gentle environmental impact.

“Millets can be cooked just like rice,” Kane-Potaka tells Food Tank. “They can be used as a
gluten free flour and in porridge, salads and desserts.” Millets are also being featured by climate-
conscious chefs, used to brew gluten-free beer, and included in pancake mix.

While millet consumption may be part of a comprehensive diabetes management plan, it is not a
cure-all solution. “Preventing and managing diabetes requires a whole lifestyle approach,” Kane-
Potaka tells Food Tank. “Diet is a critical part of this but should be designed along with
considerations of physical activity and overall lifestyle.”

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has declared 2023 the International Year of
Millets, promising increased global awareness of health benefits, and a higher minimum support
price of millets like jowar, bajra, maize, and ragi. According to Kane-Potaka, “this is expected to
be the turning point for global attention to millets.”

https://foodtank.com/news/2021/09/traditional-staple-crop-may-help-manage-diabetes-study-shows/
One Major Side Effect of Eating Brown
Rice, Says Science
Brown rice comes with tons of added benefits, but there's one tricky downside to look out for.

BYSAMANTHA BOESCH

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

FACT CHECKED BYOLIVIA TARANTINO

Rice can serve as an affordable, nutrient-dense addition to any meal. And because it comes in so
many different varieties, like white, brown, black, bamboo green, and even pink rice, it can be
difficult to know which is the healthiest for us to choose.
But it's safe to say that for American consumers, the two most common choices would be
between white or brown rice, and they aren't that different from one another.

Brown rice is the whole grain, and white rice is the result of simply removing the outer bran
layer. The bran layer that is removed for white rice contains many different types of nutrients,
which is why some people choose to eat brown rice instead of white.

And although there are some great health benefits to brown rice, like potentially lowering
cholesterol and reducing the risk of diabetes and certain cancers, you may be curious about the
downsides. One major negative side effect of eating brown rice is that it contains higher
levels of an anti-nutrient called phytic acid.
An anti-nutrient is a compound that can be found in many different plant products and can
actually inhibit our body from absorbing certain nutrients. Phytate, or phytic acid, is a common
anti-nutrient that can be found in legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains like brown rice.

RELATED: Sign up for our newsletter to get daily recipes and food news in your inbox!
How does it affect your health?
According to a report published in The International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition,
phytic acid in food is known to limit the body's absorption of minerals, specifically iron, zinc,
magnesium, and calcium. In other words, even if you're eating foods with these minerals, phytic
acid might rob your body of actually benefiting from the nutrients you're consuming.
Many scientists use the term digestibility to calculate how much of a nutrient is being absorbed
by a consumer. This number is found by comparing the levels of nutrients consumed to the levels
of the same nutrient found in the person's feces.
A report from Comprehensive Reviews of Food Science and Safety states that although the
overall digestibility of brown rice is lower than that of white rice, there are certain ways to lower
the effects of its phytic acid content.

How to lower the effects of phytic acid

The Harvard School of Public Health believes that although the phytates found in rice can
lead to some negative effects on your absorption of minerals, the pros of eating brown rice
still outweigh the cons.
And in order to keep eating brown rice and avoid higher levels of phytic acid, Foods
Journal suggests soaking brown rice at higher temperatures before cooking to remove some of
the natural phytates.
Harvard Health also suggests brown rice that is soaked or sprouted before its cooked is going to
contain lower levels of phytic acid.

One last thing that Harvard Health mentions is that phytic acid inhibits most of its mineral
absorption with the foods that are being eaten at the same time.

So if you're eating something high in iron with your brown rice for lunch, your brown rice will
limit the minerals from that particular meal the most.

This is why Harvard suggests not eating a ton of the same phytate-heavy food in one meal, and
instead, spreading it out when you can.

https://www.eatthis.com/side-effect-of-eating-brown-rice/
nfluencer Program Wraps Up Third Year With Strong
I

Results
By Cameron Jacobs

ARLINGTON, VA -- Last month, USA Rice reported another year of impressive returns as a
result of the organization’s partnership with thefeedfeed, the food community influencer and
recipe production program. Throughout the three-year program, thefeedfeed curators kept U.S.-
grown rice at the forefront of the digital culinary and food space with a combination of recipe
development, influencer messaging, and content creation.

Four food influencers were selected to promote U.S.-grown rice and engage their communities in
a way that inspires consumption through the creation of sixteen rice recipes accompanied by
photography, a blog post, and Instagram post. These new recipes were then amplified across
thefeedfeed’s social ecosystem to maximize reach and will be featured on their site in perpetuity.
Two of the recipes, Mediterranean Rice Bowls and Brown Rice Breakfast Burritos, were also
produced into Instagram reel recipe videos and distributed across relevant platforms.

In addition to traditional social media programming, USA Rice and thefeedfeed hosted a month-
long recipe contest to encourage their online community to share their favorite ways to enjoy
U.S.-grown rice in honor of National Rice Month. The contest boosted user-generated content
from across the country.

“To date, the combined digital tactics of the 2020-2021 thefeedfeed program has generated more
than 26 million impressions and more than 1 million consumer engagements, educating
consumers in the domestic market, and keeping U.S. rice relevant throughout the year in our
largest market,” said Michael Klein, USA Rice vice president of communications and domestic
promotion. “This strong digital presence and engaging content as a result of this partnership not
only connects us with key demographics, but also works to enhance and strengthen USA Rice’s
investment into the digital space.”

The 2020-2021 collection of recipes is available on the thinkrice.com recipe database.

“Year over year, USA Rice increases its engagement in the social conversation, reaching new
and key audiences and exposing them to USA Rice messaging,” said Klein. “This year’s
influencer content yielded an astounding 69 percent engagement rate and really demonstrates
how well our messaging is resonating with consumers and how important it is to keep building
on this success.”

In addition to the immediate impact of the campaign, USA Rice retains the right to use and
access all created recipes, videos, and photos.

USA Rice Daily

Fall for Curry

By Priya Hutner

September 13, 2021

Co
conut Fish Curry.

Curry, a stew prepared with a mix of different spices, is perfect for fall. They can range from super
spicy hot to mild in flavor. Curries can be prepared vegetarian and most often are served with rice.
The origin of curry dates to 2,600 BC in the Pakistan region.
Curries are generally equated with Indian cuisine, but many cultures around the globe prepare a

version of curry dishes including Thailand, Japan, China, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Jamaica,

Indonesia and Vietnam.

Curries are generally equated with Indian cuisine, but many cultures around the globe prepare a
version of curry dishes including Thailand, Japan, China, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Jamaica,
Indonesia and Vietnam. Britain and South Africa are also homes to curry cuisine.

Basic store-bought curry powder is made with turmeric, cumin, coriander and red chili pepper.
Other versions can also include ginger, fenugreek seeds, cinnamon, black pepper, mustard seeds
and a host of other spices.

Indian curries
Korma, madras, vindaloo, masala makhani, Rogan Josh, Jalfrezi, tikka, tandoor and saag are
some of the many types of Indian curry. Korma is lusciously creamy, using yogurt and spices,
including garam masala. Madras is a tomato-based curry that leans heavily on cayenne, cloves,
fenugreek and chili. Vindaloo is prepared with cardamom, black pepper, chilies, ginger, cumin,
mustard seeds, cinnamon, cloves, turmeric and tamarind. Vindaloo tends to be spicy hot. Masala
and makhani are also tomato-based dishes. Both incorporate a host of spices and include yogurt
and cream. Makhani uses cashews in most recipes. The most popular makhani dish is butter
chicken.

Rogan Josh invites meats and proteins to dance with the warm flavors of cardamom, cloves and
cumin, cardamom and bay leaf. Jalfrezi is made with meat, fish or veggies marinated in cumin,
coriander and turmeric and fried in oil with chilies, onions, cabbage and tomatoes. The dish is
cooked down and boasts a thick, dry sauce. Tikka curry coats the meats with yogurt and spices
and is grilled on a kebab skewer. Tandoori curry marinates the meat in a mixture of oil, lemon
juice and spices, which is cooked in an Indian clay pot.

Saag paneer, one of my favorite side dishes, is made with spinach. It incorporates red chilies,
garam masala, coriander, ginger, garlic and green onions. Indian curries are served with basmati
rice, assorted chutneys and naan bread.

Thai curries
Thai curries are lighter than their Indian counterparts and more like a soup. The three main
curries are green curry prepared with green chili, lemongrass, lime leaves, coriander and basil. It
can be extremely hot. I had it in a small storefront in Queens, N.Y., years ago. My date ordered
the green curry and sweated profusely throughout the entire meal. These days most Thai
restaurants will ask you how hot you want this dish.
Red curry is made with red chilis. Red curry paste is made with red chilies, coriander, cumin,
garlic, shallots, kaffir lime rind, white peppercorn, lemongrass, shrimp paste, sea salt and
galangal. Yellow curry recipes are made with garlic, turmeric, galangal, coriander, lemongrass,
lime leaves and coconut milk. Massaman curry is a sweeter curry made with cardamom, cloves,
cinnamon, coriander, cumin, peppercorn and dried Thai chiles and roasted peanuts. Panang curry
is s a type of red curry that incorporates peanuts into the sauce.

Japanese curry
While hiking Mount Fuji, I was served a Japanese curry, which was made with a brown sauce
with meats and vegetables served over rice. It is milder than most curries and made with a roux
that uses spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander, fenugreek, fennel, cinnamon and ginger.
Japanese curry is commonly served in three ways: curry rice, curry udon and curry bread.

Jamaican curry
Jamaican curry is made with Scotch bonnet peppers and spices like cumin, anise and mustard
seeds, too. The soupier curry also uses vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. It’s a tangier flavor.

Trinidadian curry
Trinidadians make a curry using chicken, curry leaves, hot peppers and spices. Both offer a taste
of the islands.

Many curry dishes temper the spices in oil before cooking them. This brings out the intense
richness of the spices. Curries are the perfect meal for the fall season.

Easy Thai Fish and Vegetable Coconut Curry

From the kitchen of Priya Hutner · Serves 4-6

1 lb. halibut or mild white fish

1 T vegetable oil or coconut oil
1 medium onion, diced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 t fresh ginger, grated
1 T lemongrass, chopped
1 small red pepper, deseeded & sliced
2 carrots, cut into ¼-inch rounds
1 zucchini, sliced into rounds
2 t turmeric curry powder, Thai yellow curry or 1 T red or green curry paste
1 can coconut milk
1½ t salt
1 t pepper
½ C fresh Thai basil leaves
Red chili pepper, optional
Optional: Celery, snow pea pods, bok choy, diced potatoes or chili peppers. (Personally, I would
add them all.)

In a large pot on medium heat, sauté onions in oil for 5 minutes. Add garlic, lemongrass and red
pepper. Simmer for another 3 minutes. Add carrots and stir in coconut milk. If you want to add
celery, bok choy or potatoes do so now; simmer for 5 minutes. Add fish, curry powder or paste,
salt and pepper; simmer for 5 minutes or until fish is almost cooked. Add zucchini and snow pea
pods (if using) and turn off the heat. Let zucchini and snow peas steam in heat.

Serve with jasmine rice or rice noodles and Thai basil leaves.

https://thetahoeweekly.com/2021/09/fall-for-curry/

Five easy dinner recipes ready in under 25 minutes

With these delicious dinner recipes that can be prepared in under 25
minutes, you can create a different one for each day of the week.

tomatoes, black olives, capers, anchovies and basi

Making dinner does not have to feel like a long, difficult or time consuming task. These five
dinner recipes can be prepared in under 25 minutes, and not only are they quick to make, but
they are also easy to prepare and super delicious.

Choose a single yummy recipe to make for each day of the midweek.

5-ingredient beef stir fry

5-ingredients beef stir fry. Picture: iStock

Ingredients
 500g of beef strips
 300g of stir fry vegetables
 2 tablespoon of Thai chilli jam or sweet chilli sauce
 2 tablespoon of oyster sauce
 450g of microwavable jasmine rice
Instructions
1. Spray a wok or large frying pan with olive oil and heat over high heat. Add half the beef. Stir-fry
for 2-3 mins or until browned. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining beef.
2. Spray wok or pan with more olive oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add vegetables. Stir-fry
for 2-3 mins or until just tender. Return beef to wok or pan with chilli jam or sweet chilli sauce,
oyster sauce and 2 tbs water. Stir-fry for 1-2 mins or until heated through.
3. Heat the rice in microwave following packet directions. Divide evenly among serving bowls. Top
with the stir-fry

This recipe was found on taste.com

Tomato and chili pasta with ricotta

Tomato and chili pasta with ricotta. Picture: iStock

Ingredients
 700g of mixed tomatoes, thinly sliced
 1 teaspoon of dried chilli flakes
 2 tablespoon of red wine vinegar
 1 garlic clove, crushed
 2 tablespoon of drained baby capers
 1 tablespoon of honey
  1 teaspoon of finely grated orange rind
 1 tablespoon of orange juice
 400g of spaghetti
 40g of unsalted butter
 1 cup of finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
 80g of baby rocket leaves
 200g of reduced-fat ricotta

Instructions
1. Combine tomato, chilli flakes, vinegar, garlic, capers, honey, orange rind and orange juice in a
medium bowl. Season.
2. Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling water following packet directions or until al dente.
Drain, reserving 1/2 cup (125ml) of the cooking liquid.
3. Return the pasta to the pan with the butter, reserved cooking liquid and half the tomato mixture.
Gently toss to combine. Add parsley. Toss to combine.
4. Divide the pasta mixture evenly among serving plates with the rocket. Top with the ricotta and
remaining tomato mixture. Season with pepper.

Creamy vegan sausage and spinach pasta

Creamy vegan sausage and spinach pasta. Picture: iStock

Ingredients
 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil or olive oil
 2 red onions, thinly sliced
 8 vegan sausages, thawed if frozen (we like Tesco Plant Chef or Birds Eye Green Cuisine)
 2 garlic cloves, crushed
 2 teaspoon of fennel seeds, crushed in a pestle and mortar
 300g of dried pasta shapes such as rigatoni or fusilli
 200g of baby leaf spinach (see tip)
 300ml of single soya cream
 Handful freshly chopped flatleaf parsley (optional)

Instructions
1. Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add the onions and fry over a medium heat for 3-4
minutes. Cut the sausages into small chunks, then add to the onions along with the garlic and
crushed fennel seeds. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring, until golden. Add a splash of water if the
sausages start to stick to the pan.
2. Meanwhile, boil the pasta according to the pack instructions. Drain the pasta, reserving about a
cupful of the cooking water.
3. Add the spinach and soya cream to the frying pan. Season with a little salt and ground black
pepper, then cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes until the spinach has wilted. Mix in the cooked pasta
and enough reserved cooking water to make a creamy sauce.
4. Serve straightaway, garnished with parsley if you like.

This recipe was found on deliciousmagazine.co.uk

Prawn red Thai curry with coconut rice

Prawn red Thai curry with coconut rice. Picture: iStock

Ingredients
 200g of basmati rice
 1 tablespoon of groundnut oil
 2cm of fresh ginger, cut into matchsticks
 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
 1 red chilli, finely sliced
 2-3 tablespoons of Thai red curry paste
 400ml of tin coconut milk
 1 tablespoon of Thai fish sauce
 100ml of vegetable stock
 6 baby Chinese cabbage, halved or quartered
 450g raw, peeled king prawns
 Juice of 1 lime, plus wedges to serve
 Handful of fresh coriander, chopped
Instructions
1. Put the rice in a pan and rinse well in cold water. Drain, then add more water to 1cm above the
level of the rice. Bring to a simmer over a gentle heat, cook for 1 minute, then cover tightly, turn
off the heat and leave to cook undisturbed.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in another saucepan, add the ginger, garlic and chilli and soften for a
couple of minutes. Add the red curry paste and cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes, then add two thirds
of the coconut milk along with the fish sauce and vegetable stock. Bring to a gentle simmer and
cook for 5-6 minutes. Add the Chinese cabbage and the prawns, then cook for 4-5 minutes more.
3. Ensure the rice is cooked and all the liquid has been absorbed, then stir through the remaining
coconut milk until well combined. Serve the curry scattered with coriander.

This recipe was found on deliciousmagazine.co.uk

Healthy shredded chicken tacos

Healthy shredded chicken tacos. Picture: iStock

Ingredients
 2 thinly sliced chicken breasts
 2 tablespoon of Sriracha
  6 corn tortillas
 1 cup of chopped red cabbage
 1/2 cup of chopped peppers
 1/4 cup of feta cheese
 1 lime

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet and top with Sriracha. Bake for 30 minutes (or until
they’re fully cooked).
3. While the chicken is baking, heat the tortillas up (optional).
4. Top each tortilla with chopped red cabbage and chopped peppers.
5. When the chicken has finished baking, shred it and place in the tortillas.
6. Top each taco with feta cheese and a drizzle of lime. Enjoy!

This recipe was found on jaroflemons.com

https://www.citizen.co.za/lifestyle/food-and-drink/recipes/2623473/five-easy-dinner-recipes-ready-in-
under-25-minutes/

Rains threaten kharif crops, onion prices

A monsoon going into hyperactive mode in a month when it should begin tapering off could bring misery
to the farm sector, which supports half of India’s population.
By Zia Haq

UPDATED ON SEP 11, 2021 05:38 PM IST

Moisture-propelling weather patterns across India have re-activated the monsoon system again,
flooding several states and risking key summer-sown or kharif crops, including onion, a widely
consumed price-sensitive food item.
A cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal, dumping heavy rainfall in West Bengal, moisture
drafts due to a low-pressure formation over northern states and a rainy trail across Gujarat,
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha has flooded large parts of several states,
endangering crops.
Rice fields in many districts of the food bowl states of Punjab, Haryana and parts of Uttar
Pradesh have gone under water, growers said, while Delhi witnessed historic rains on Saturday.
A monsoon going into hyperactive mode in a month when it should begin tapering off could
bring misery to the farm sector, which supports half of India’s population.
The India Meteorological Department, the national weather agency, in an alert on Saturday said
there could be “damage to horticulture and standing crops in some areas due to inundation”.
After hampering planting of summer-sown crops such as soybean, rice, cotton and vegetables
due to a long dry spell from mid-June to mid-July, flooding has now affected crops in states such
as Uttarakhand, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.
Lower yields or output can stoke food prices, as job cuts post Covid-19 has impacted nearly one
million Indians, according to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, a private
data firm.
“Onions, a staple in most Indian households, are likely to make consumers cry again with erratic
monsoon leading to an eventual delay in harvest,” Crisil Ltd, a ratings firm, said in a research
note Saturday.
Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are major onion-producing states, accounting for
over 75% of total summer onion output.
Although harvest time is a month away, Crisil Ltd’s “on-ground report” said onion seed
transplantation suffered critical lags due to on-off rains, potentially delaying the time onion crop
takes to mature.
Summer onions account for no more than 30% of India’s annual supply, but they are critical to
prices stability because they replenish supplies during the lean September-November, period.
Experts hold that longer dry spells followed by short periods of heavy rainfall are tell-tale signs
of a changing climate’s impact on the monsoon, which waters 60% of the country’s net-sown
area.
“If heavy rainfall persists, yields may be affected, although mild rainfall in September is
beneficial,” said Ashok Renjen, a former agronomist with Punjab agriculture department.
The IMD on Saturday forecast “fairly widespread” rainfall with “isolated heavy to very heavy
falls”, which correlates to hazardous rainfall, in many states until September 14, especially in
parts of Konkan and Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Odisha.
While rice planting stood at normal levels for the current week, at 106 million hectares, farmers
have sown oilseeds over 17 million hectares, which is also considered normal, according to
official data. Pulses, another essential basket of legumes, have been sown over 13.9 million
hectares, marginally higher than normal.
“Standing water could cause crops to wilt,” said Gambhir Singh, a farmer from Haryana’s
Babbain region, speaking in Hindi.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rains-threaten-kharif-crops-onion-prices-
101631361846891.html

Why is there a food emergency in Sri Lanka?

By Shruti Menon and Ranga Sirilal
BBC Reality Check and BBC Sinhala

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES

image captionA woman carries food bags in Colombo while people behind her queue outside a state-run
supermarket
Sri Lanka has experienced long queues to buy essential items amid tight lockdown
measures to control the spread of Covid-19.
Shelves at government-run supermarkets have been running low - some even empty - with very
little stock remaining of imported goods like milk powder, cereal and rice.
The government denies there are shortages and blames the media for stoking fears.
It follows the government declaring a state of emergency and Sri Lanka's Central Bank chief
stepping down amid a foreign exchange crisis.
What has the government done?
On 30 August, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced strict controls on the supply of essential
goods.
The government said this was needed to prevent traders hoarding food items and control
inflation.
Sri Lanka is grappling with a depreciating currency, inflation and a crippling foreign debt
burden.
The economic slowdown is of particular concern as until recently, Sri Lanka had one of the
strongest economies in South Asia.
In 2019, it was upgraded to an upper middle-income country by the World Bank.
But at the same time, the country's debt burden has also been growing - from 39% of Gross
National Income (GNI) in 2010 to 69% in 2019, according to the World Bank.
What's happened to food prices and supplies?
As a result of the economic crisis, the prices of some essential food items have been rising.
In recent months, items such as sugar, onions and lentils have been rising in cost.
Meanwhile, after rising in May, the price of rice has been falling and continued to drop following
the imposition of a retail price cap from the start of September.
The emergency regulations allow the government to provide food items and other essentials at
fixed prices by buying up stock from traders.
In regard to shortages, the country's finance ministry told the BBC in a statement that these were
"artificial".
"The creation of an artificial shortage by unscrupulous elements will obviously lead to increases
in prices of those items."
The government has strongly denied that shortages are imminent.
"We can give a categorical and firm assurance that all essential items would be readily available
at all times," the finance ministry said in its response to the BBC.
State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal has blamed the opposition for "false reports" about food
shortages.
However, long queues have been observed for items such as sugar, rice, lentils and milk powder.
"I was here in the queue for about 45 minutes and I got only one kilogram of sugar," said
Kumaradasa, a senior citizen.
Another person who did not want to be identified told the BBC that government-owned
supermarkets which sell sugar at fixed prices had closed in the neighbourhood of Gampaha town,
near the capital, Colombo.

image captionDespite strict lockdown conditions, long food queues have been reported

Members of parliament critical of the government's policy have said other laws to monitor
hoarding and price rises were already available and the decision to declare an emergency was
made in "bad faith".
"[The crisis] is merely a manifestation of a power struggle where the president and government
are callously risking lives of citizens, with the hope of consolidating power," Eran
Wickramaratne, from the opposition SJB party, said in the Sri Lankan parliament.
Could organic farming be to blame?
In April, the government banned imports of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides, to
encourage organic farming.
But the move and its implementation have been criticised.
"We are not against organic farming, but against sub-standard chemical fertilisers which were
being imported," said Namal Karunaratne, national organiser of All Ceylon Farms Federation.
However, he added that "the answer to that is not banning imports overnight."
Some farmers say the rapid switch could significantly cut production.
"The productivity of the organic fertiliser is less than chemical fertilisers, it would decrease our
production and make our survival more difficult," said HC Hemakumara, President of Ampara
district joint farmers association.
About 90% of Sri Lanka's farmers use chemicals, according to a survey in July.
And the highest dependence on chemical fertilisers was among those growing rice, rubber and
tea.
Tea accounts for 10% of export income, and some producers have said they may lose up to 50%
of their crop production.

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES

image captionGoing organic poses threats to Sri Lanka's tea industry

Prof Sabine Zikeli, of the Centre for Organic Farming at the University of Hohenheim in
Germany, says a rapid transition to organic could threaten a country's food security.
"You can't simply change these conventional cropping systems, you need transition periods," she
says.
"In organic farming, the normal transition period to adapt....about three years or even longer,
depending on the country."
In 2008, Bhutan introduced a policy of going 100% organic by 2020.
But it fell a long way short of achieving this target and a recent study shows yields from the
organic farming it has introduced have been substantially lower, leading to a rise in
dependence on imports.
Sri Lanka could now face a similar situation, Prof Zikeli, who co-authored this study, says.
And its current economic crisis could add to the threats to its food security.

Sri Lanka is running low on foreign exchange - and the money it has is going towards debt
settlement.
Its foreign reserves stood at $2.8bn (£2bn) at the end of July, down from $7.5bn in November
2019, when the government took office.
And it has outstanding foreign debts of about $4bn, on which it has to pay interest.
And that could affect essential imported items - such as sugar, wheat, dairy products and medical
supplies - which might all face growing supply problems.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-58485674
Presidential spokesman issues statement clarifying
misconceptions on rice supply
September 11, 2021   07:33 pm

President’s Media Spokesman Kingsly Rathnayaka’s has issued a statement today (Sep. 11),
dispelling the misconceptions about rice mill owners, rice traders and the rice shortage.

He says that large-scale rice mill owners have reduced their daily rice production and distribution
by more than 50%, in the last few days.

“It is a well acknowledged fact by everyone that this is an unbearable injustice to the consumer,
who is suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

During the raids carried out by the Commissioner-General of Essential Services on September
08, 2021 alone, a total of 807,375 kilograms of rice were recovered from warehouses owned by
the large-scale mill owners, it read further.
“You can easily understand the political agendas behind all these actions, as the people who have
once accused the large-scale rice mill owners of creating a rice mafia, are now coming forward
to protect them,” the presidential spokesman pointed out.

He added that the President is of the view that a people-centric economy and a prosperous
country will be built by making decisions in accordance with the powers vested in him for the
welfare of the people, affirming the mandate and trust given by the people to build a secure
country.

The full statement issued by the Presidential Spokesman is as follows:

Ayubowan!

Given the current situation in the country and in line with the decision taken by the President, I
would like to take this opportunity to inform the country of the views of President Gotabaya
Rajapaksa and the Government dispelling the misconceptions about rice mill owners, rice traders
and the rice shortage.

You are aware that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa issued a Gazette Notification on August 30
containing the emergency regulations under the Public Security Ordinance in accordance with
the powers vested in him, regarding essential commodities including rice, flour and sugar. This
decision was taken by the President with the primary objective of protecting the consumers,
discharging responsibility of a people-friendly government. At the same time, a Commissioner
General of Essential Services was appointed to coordinate and oversee the distribution of
consumer goods, including paddy, rice and sugar, in order to maintain the livelihood of the
people.

The proposal made by the President to enforce the emergency regulations was also tabled in
Parliament recently. The entire country witnessed that it was passed by a majority of 81 votes of
people’s representatives. The government has taken up a gigantic challenge to control the current
Covid-19 situation. An amount of over Rs. 500 billion has already been spent for this purpose.

All this shows that the government led by the President is committed to the people in the face of
the current situation, in order to ensure that the livelihood of the people is not disrupted.  The
President will never take any action to aggrieve any party when making the necessary decisions
in this regard.

From the very beginning, the government took measures to resolve the issue of rice by reaching
an agreement with all stakeholders. The government expected a fair system that would protect
the farmer, the businessman as well as the consumer. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa held lengthy
discussions with leading rice mill owners. Agreements were reached. The Ministers in charge of
the subject as well as Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa held discussions with the business
community.
The government set a guaranteed price for paddy, which was between Rs. 30 to 32 per kilo, with
the aim of strengthening the farmer community. Accordingly, approval has been granted to
purchase a kilo of Nadu and Kekulu paddy for Rs. 50, Samba at Rs.52 and Keeri Samba at
Rs.55.

However, despite the guaranteed price for paddy, the market price of rice rose and a kilo of Nadu
rice sold at Rs. 125.00, a kilo of Samba rice at Rs. 150.00 and a kilo of Keeri Samba at
Rs.225.00, leaving consumers stranded.

It was then that the Commissioner-General of Essential Services, who was appointed vesting full
powers under the ‘Public Security Ordinance’, took measures to ensure maximum justice to the
affected people. Accordingly, guaranteed prices were gazetted and the maximum price of a kilo
of Samba rice is 103 rupees, while for Nadu it is 98 rupees, a kilo of Kiri Samba rice is 125
rupees and a kilo of Kekulu rice is 95 rupees.  

You may recall that the business community then acknowledged the crisis facing the country at
this time and issued public statements that they will not take actions to put pressure on the
government and would act in accordance to overcome this calamity period. But unfortunately,
the agreements they entered with the government were neglected. At the same time, in the last
few days, large-scale rice mill owners have reduced their daily rice production and distribution
by more than 50%.

It is a well acknowledged fact by everyone that this is an unbearable injustice to the consumer,
who is suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. During the raids carried out by the
Commissioner-General of Essential Services on September 08, 2021 alone, 807,375 kilograms of
rice were obtained from the rice warehouses owned by the large-scale mill owners at the
government-controlled price and handed over to the Sathosa.

You can easily understand the political agendas behind all these actions, as the people who have
once accused the large-scale rice mill owners of creating a rice mafia, are now coming forward
to protect them.

However, the President is of the view that a people-centric economy and a prosperous country
will be built by making decisions in accordance with the powers vested in the President for the
welfare of the people, affirming the mandate and trust given by the people to build a secure
country.

http://www.adaderana.lk/news/76841/presidential-spokesman-issues-statement-clarifying-
misconceptions-on-rice-supply

Presidential spokesman issues statement clarifying

misconceptions on rice supply
  President’s Media Spokesman Kingsly Rathnayaka’s has issued a statement today (Sep. 11), dispelling
the misconceptions about rice mill owners, rice traders and the rice shortage.
He says that large-scale rice mill owners have reduced their daily rice production and distribution
by more than 50%, in the last few days.

“It is a well acknowledged fact by everyone that this is an unbearable injustice to the consumer,
who is suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

During the raids carried out by the Commissioner-General of Essential Services on September
08, 2021 alone, a total of 807,375 kilograms of rice were recovered from warehouses owned by
the large-scale mill owners, it read further.

“You can easily understand the political agendas behind all these actions, as the people who have
once accused the large-scale rice mill owners of creating a rice mafia, are now coming forward
to protect them,” the presidential spokesman pointed out.

He added that the President is of the view that a people-centric economy and a prosperous
country will be built by making decisions in accordance with the powers vested in him for the
welfare of the people, affirming the mandate and trust given by the people to build a secure
country.

The full statement issued by the Presidential Spokesman is as follows:

Ayubowan!

Given the current situation in the country and in line with the decision taken by the President, I
would like to take this opportunity to inform the country of the views of President Gotabaya
Rajapaksa and the Government dispelling the misconceptions about rice mill owners, rice traders
and the rice shortage.

You are aware that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa issued a Gazette Notification on August 30
containing the emergency regulations under the Public Security Ordinance in accordance with
the powers vested in him, regarding essential commodities including rice, flour and sugar. This
decision was taken by the President with the primary objective of protecting the consumers,
discharging responsibility of a people-friendly government. At the same time, a Commissioner
General of Essential Services was appointed to coordinate and oversee the distribution of
consumer goods, including paddy, rice and sugar, in order to maintain the livelihood of the
people.

The proposal made by the President to enforce the emergency regulations was also tabled in
Parliament recently. The entire country witnessed that it was passed by a majority of 81 votes of
people’s representatives. The government has taken up a gigantic challenge to control the current
Covid-19 situation. An amount of over Rs. 500 billion has already been spent for this purpose.

All this shows that the government led by the President is committed to the people in the face of
the current situation, in order to ensure that the livelihood of the people is not disrupted.  The
President will never take any action to aggrieve any party when making the necessary decisions
in this regard.

From the very beginning, the government took measures to resolve the issue of rice by reaching
an agreement with all stakeholders. The government expected a fair system that would protect
the farmer, the businessman as well as the consumer. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa held lengthy
discussions with leading rice mill owners. Agreements were reached. The Ministers in charge of
the subject as well as Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa held discussions with the business
community.

The government set a guaranteed price for paddy, which was between Rs. 30 to 32 per kilo, with
the aim of strengthening the farmer community. Accordingly, approval has been granted to
purchase a kilo of Nadu and Kekulu paddy for Rs. 50, Samba at Rs.52 and Keeri Samba at
Rs.55.

However, despite the guaranteed price for paddy, the market price of rice rose and a kilo of Nadu
rice sold at Rs. 125.00, a kilo of Samba rice at Rs. 150.00 and a kilo of Keeri Samba at
Rs.225.00, leaving consumers stranded.

It was then that the Commissioner-General of Essential Services, who was appointed vesting full
powers under the ‘Public Security Ordinance’, took measures to ensure maximum justice to the
affected people. Accordingly, guaranteed prices were gazetted and the maximum price of a kilo
of Samba rice is 103 rupees, while for Nadu it is 98 rupees, a kilo of Kiri Samba rice is 125
rupees and a kilo of Kekulu rice is 95 rupees.  

You may recall that the business community then acknowledged the crisis facing the country at
this time and issued public statements that they will not take actions to put pressure on the
government and would act in accordance to overcome this calamity period. But unfortunately,
the agreements they entered with the government were neglected. At the same time, in the last
few days, large-scale rice mill owners have reduced their daily rice production and distribution
by more than 50%.

It is a well acknowledged fact by everyone that this is an unbearable injustice to the consumer,
who is suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. During the raids carried out by the
Commissioner-General of Essential Services on September 08, 2021 alone, 807,375 kilograms of
rice were obtained from the rice warehouses owned by the large-scale mill owners at the
government-controlled price and handed over to the Sathosa.

You can easily understand the political agendas behind all these actions, as the people who have
once accused the large-scale rice mill owners of creating a rice mafia, are now coming forward
to protect them.

However, the President is of the view that a people-centric economy and a prosperous country
will be built by making decisions in accordance with the powers vested in the President for the
welfare of the people, affirming the mandate and trust given by the people to build a secure
country.
https://www.nation.lk/online/presidential-spokesman-issues-statement-clarifying-misconceptions-on-rice-
supply-119617.html

Better prepare now: Joey Salceda warns of rising rice

prices over low Vietnam exports
September 12, 2021 5:53 pm

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Citing data from the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), Salceda said Vietnam’s rice
exports in the first seven months of 2021 only reached about 3.5 million tonnes, down
12.7% over the same period in 2020.

Vietnam is the country’s main source of imported rice.

Salceda said Vietnamese farmers are continuously shifting to more expensive
varieties.

“We should never depend on Vietnam’s rice exports for our supply in the first place.
Vietnam is a society that is becoming more affluent. The result of higher purchasing
power is greater food consumption. That means fewer volumes available for export,”
Salceda said.

Salceda recommended the fast rollout of the mechanization component of the Rice
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) under the rice tariffication program to
improve farm yields and reduce wastage.

“Last quarter, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization
(PHilMech) completed the implementation of the mechanization component, which is
50% of RCEF, just for 2019 and 2020. So, they were actually catching up on a
backlog early this year,” Salceda added. “If we can complete the 2021 program before
2021 ends, it would make a difference.”

Salceda also called for the passage of his measure for land consolidation with land
condonation as a complementary policy to mechanization.

“Farm mechanization works best when you are dealing with big-enough tracts of land.
It’s cost efficient that way,” he added.

https://politics.com.ph/better-prepare-now-joey-salceda-warns-of-rising-rice-prices-over-low-vietnam-
exports/

Rice on boil in southern NSW

With the rice season set for a superlative start following impressive rains, researchers
predict growers will, for the first time this season, sow large areas to the new rice variety,
V071.

Bred by the Australian Rice Partnership, a NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI),
SunRice and AgriFutures Australia joint venture, V071 is a semi-dwarf, bold medium-grain
rice variety with high yield potential.

DPI research agronomist, Brian Dunn, said V071 offers superior grain yield and cold
tolerance compared with Reiziq, a popular semi-dwarf medium grain variety that has
elongated grain length.

“Our research shows V071 has strong emergence and establishment vigour with reduced
shattering, which will be of interest to growers,” Mr Dunn said.

“Another feature of V071 is that its development continues and does not slow during
periods of low temperatures like Reiziq, which is beneficial in cool seasons.”

The latest information to support rice management decisions this season is now available to
growers and agronomists with the release of the DPI Rice variety guide 2021-
2022 and V071 growing guide.
The DPI rice research team compiled data from several years of agronomy and phenology
research experiments to deliver new information on critical sowing times for current
varieties, including V071.

Mr Dunn said each field and growing situation has specific characteristics, making some
varieties more suitable to their requirements than others.

“It is important to consider all the agronomic characteristics of each variety when selecting
those best suited to your field and situation,” he said.

“To minimise the risk of cold conditions reducing grain yield across all crops, we advise
growers to grow a mix of varieties, over a range of sowing dates, using a variety of sowing
methods.”

DPI, SunRice and Rice Extension continue to work with rice growers and advisers to
deliver up-to-date advice.

DPI growing guides for all current NSW rice varieties and supporting rice production
Primefacts are available from DPI, Rice Extension and SunRice grower services offices and
on the DPI website, https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/summer-
crops.
/Public Release. This material comes from the originating organization and may be of a
point-in-time nature, edited for clarity, style and length. View in full  here.

Tags:Australia, Australian, crops, Government, industry, New South Wales, NSW, NSW

Department of Primary Industries, production, research, season, website
https://www.miragenews.com/rice-on-boil-in-southern-nsw-630673/

CoA tells NFA to set policy on good quality rice donations 

September 13, 2021 | 8:22 pm

STATE AUDITORS has recommended that the National Food Authority (NFA) draw up a clear
policy and corresponding guidelines on the release of good quality rice as donation. 

The recommendation arose from a questioned P72.475 million worth of good quality rice
donated by NFA to calamity-affected local governments.  

In its 2020 audit report, the Commission on Audit (CoA) said while “NFA is authorized to

donate rice during calamity, verification of the database of NFA policies shows that there was no
Standard Operating Procedure in the disposition through donation of good quality rice.”  

CoA noted that current procedures only apply to the disposition of damaged grain stocks.    

The state auditors, nonetheless, commended the NFA for its intent to give out only good quality
rice.  

“It is worth noting that in the issuance of the Authority to Issue to branch offices concerned, it
was emphasized that only good quality NFA rice stocks shall be released to LGU (local
government unit) beneficiaries to avoid negative publicity,” CoA said. 

The NFA said a technical working group will review operating procedures on marketing

operations. — Russell Louis C. Ku 

https://www.bworldonline.com/coa-tells-nfa-to-set-policy-on-good-quality-rice-donations/

Vietnam rice supply woes may impact PHL

BYJOVEE MARIE DE LA CRUZ

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

THE chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means has warned against possible rice
price increases over the coming months as Vietnam, the country’s main source of imported rice,
suffers rice supply pressures.

With this, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda recommended
that the mechanization component of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)
under the rice tariffication program be rolled out faster to improve farm yields and reduce
wastage.

According to Salceda, Vietnamese farmers shift to more high-value varieties of rice while

accepting a decline in export volumes.

“The implications of these developments in Vietnam are certain. If we don’t do anything with
domestic supply and source diversification, we could see higher rice price inflation,” said the
lawmaker in a statement.
Citing the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), Salceda said Vietnam’s rice exports in the first
seven months only reached about 3.5 million tonnes, down 12.7 percent over the same period in
2020.

“We should never depend on Vietnam’s rice exports for our supply in the first place. Vietnam is
a society that is becoming more affluent. The result of higher purchasing power is greater food
consumption. That means fewer volumes available for export,” Salceda said.

Salceda noted that Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) also
showed rice prices rising in the first seven months of 2021, although with limited supplies due to
the ongoing health crisis.

“Part of what keeps inflation tame despite higher meat and transport prices is because rice
inflation is actually negative in some cases. Average rice prices in August declined by 0.4
percent year-on-year. Imagine what happens to inflation when that ticks up even just a bit. The
poor spend around 20 percent of their income on rice,” Salceda said.

Salceda said the government should fast-track the RCEF programs to respond to these

developments.

“Last quarter, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech)
completed the implementation of the mechanization component, which is 50 percent of RCEF,
just for 2019 and 2020. So, they were actually catching up on a backlog early this year,” Salceda
said.

“[Agriculture] Secretary [William] Dar is responding very proactively to the rice situation. With
faster implementation of RCEF, we are poised to see the largest harvest of rice next year. We are
also diversifying our imports to include Pakistan and India. But we can definitely push harder,”
he added.

Meanwhile, Salceda said he will continue to push for land consolidation with land condonation
as a complementary policy to mechanization.“Farm mechanization works best when you are
dealing with big-enough tracts of land. It’s cost efficient that way. I filed House Bill No. 9955
which would  increase the landholding limit to 24 hectares; promote investments in the
agriculture sector by condoning the loans of agrarian reform beneficiaries [ARBs], which will
allow more productive use of agrarian reform land to sale, lease, or joint venture with farmers;
and open a low-interest loan facility to help farmers repurchase mortgaged agrarian reform land,”
Salceda said.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/09/13/vietnam-rice-supply-woes-may-impact-phl/
PHL rice inventory falls 11.6% to 1.58 million MT 

September 13, 2021 | 12:03 am

THE RICE inventory as of Aug. 1 fell 11.6% year on year to 1.58 million metric tons (MT), the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA) said. 

According to its rice and corn stocks report, the PSA said the rice inventory as of Aug. 1 is also down 27.5%
from the previous month.

Rice held by households fell 11.9% year on year to 751,070 MT while commercial warehouse holdings fell
11.2% year on year to 648,400 MT.

National Food Authority (NFA) stocks fell 12.3% year on year to 178,840 MT.
Month on month, the PSA said rice held by households, commercial warehouses, and the NFA fell 23.8%,
34.3%, and 13.1%, respectively.  

The PSA said the corn inventory as of Aug. 1 declined 3.4% year on year to 707,650 MT. The month-on-
month decline was 23.4%.  

Corn held by households rose 12% year on year to 108,130 MT while inventory in commercial warehouses fell
5.7% to 599,530 MT.  

Month on month, the PSA said corn held by households rose 9.8% while stocks in commercial warehouses fell
27.4%. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave