European Union
Scratch that: WHO and UN say glyphosate not carcinogenic after all
Two days before the EU is set to vote on whether to relicense the pesticide glyphosate, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization have decided that the chemical is “unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans from exposure through the diet,” reports The Guardian.
Record wheat crop in Europe cements role as world’s top exporter
Thanks to a generally favorable growing season, wheat growers in the European Union reaped a record 160 million tonnes of the grain in 2015, part of a record-setting harvest worldwide.
Record ag imports from EU and record U.S. trade deficit, too
For nearly two decades, the United States has imported more agricultural products from Europe than it exports to the continent.
EU administrators delay decision on plant-breeding techniques
The administrative arm of the European Union "has again delayed a much-awaited legal analysis of whether new plant breeding techniques should be considered GMOs," said Euractiv.com, which covers EU policy.
France advances bill to ban neonicotinoids
France’s National Assembly narrowly passed a total ban on neonicotinoids, a class of pesticides that has been implicated in the Colony Collapse Disorder that has devastated honeybee populations, says Reuters.
EU Parliament says no to opt-out power on GE imports
Members of the European Parliament rejected a proposal to let EU countries ban imports of genetically engineered food and livestock feed, potentially killing “an initiative that was greeted with widespread criticism," reports Bloomberg.
Despite opt-outs, Europe may grow more GMO crops
EU easily tops US as world’s largest wheat exporter
The United States, traditionally the No 1 wheat exporter, will take a back seat to the European Union for the second year in a row, says the Grains: World Markets and Trade report. The EU is forecast to export a record 33.5 million tonnes of wheat this year, some 9.5 million tonnes more than the United States, which would tie for second-place with Canada. Last year, the EU edged the United States by half-a-million tonnes for the top spot. For Canada, this would be the first time its wheat exports match the U.S. volume, says USDA.
U.S., EU have significant disagreements on trade pact
The United States and European Union have serious disagreements still to resolve in negotiations for a trans-Atlantic free trade agreement, say the agriculture ministers from each side of the ocean.