CRANBERRY resistance to dodder parasitism: induced chemical defenses and consequences - Resistencia del ARÁNDANO ROJO al parasitismo de la cuscuta: defensas químicas inducidas y consecuencias

Photo from http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2010/11/01/258326/doddercranberryclose2.jpg

Parasitic plants are common in many ecosystems, where they can structure community interactions and cause major economic damage. For example, parasitic dodder (Cuscuta spp.) can cause up to 80–100 % yield loss in heavily infested cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) patches. Despite their ecological and economic importance, remarkably little is known about how parasitic plants affect, or are affected by, host chemistry. 

To examine chemically-mediated interactions between dodder and its cranberry host, a team of biologists from the US conducted a greenhouse experiment asking whether: (1) dodder performance varies with cranberry cultivar; (2) cultivars differ in levels of phytohormones, volatiles, or phenolics, and whether such variation correlates with dodder parasitism; (3) dodder parasitism induced changes in phytohormones, volatiles, or phenolics, and whether the level of inducible response varied among cultivars. Five cranberry cultivars were used to assess host attractiveness to dodder and dodder performance. 

Dodder performance did not differ across cultivars, but there were marginally significant differences in host attractiveness to dodder, with fewer dodder attaching to Early Black than to any other cultivar. Dodder parasitism induced higher levels of salicylic acid (SA) across cultivars. Cultivars differed in overall levels of flavonols and volatile profiles, but not phenolic acids or proanthocyanidins, and dodder attachment induced changes in several flavonols and volatiles. While cultivars differed slightly in resistance to dodder attachment, no evidence of chemical defenses that mediate these interactions wasfound. However, induction of several defenses indicates that parasitism alters traits that could influence subsequent interactions with other species, thus shaping community dynamics.

Source: Muvari Connie Tjiurutue , Hilary A. Sandler, Monica F. Kersch-Becker, Nina Theis, Lynn A. Adler. 2016. Journal of Chemical Ecology (http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10886-016-0671-5)

Brecha de precios en Argentina: alimentos caros y AGRICULTORES pobres - Price gap in Argentina: expensive food and poor GROWERS

GENTE COMPRANDO EN EL MERCADO CENTRAL POR LA SUBA DE LOS PRECIOS (FOTO: ORTIZ GUSTAVO)

El valor promedio entre lo que recibe quien produce y lo que se paga en los supermercados es de 7 veces promedio y llega hasta 19 veces

El viento duró más de una hora y media, se desató a las 8 de la mañana del viernes 19 de febrero, llegó acompañado de una lluvia torrencial, destruyó las media sombras que protegían a los cultivos y arrasó con la verdura lista para cosechar. “Se llevó todo”, recuerda Guillermo Beckmann a una semana de la tormenta. El presidente de la Sociedad de Quinteros de Santa Fe representa a unos 300 pequeños productores y cuenta que ese viernes tuvieron que traer lechuga de Mar del Plata y Mendoza para abastecer el mercado santafesino, entrerriano y una parte del chaqueño. El cajón de 8 kilos costaba entre 140 y 180 pesos. Al lunes siguiente, entre 200 y 280 pesos; el miércoles, 350 a 400 pesos, pero el cajón ya tenían 6 kilos y no 8”. El kilo de lechuga ya valía en Santa Fe en 100 pesos. Antes de la tormenta se lo conseguía a 25 pesos.

“Hay tres patas que se perjudican con esto: el productor que no tiene ingresos, y al que le va a ser difícil remontar la situación porque venimos de marzo de 2015 cuando perdimos toda la producción por la lluvia; el verdulero y el consumidor final”, enumera Beckmann.   La variación de precio se podría explicar como una circunstancia excepcional, la gran tormenta, que dejó sin infraestructura a 200 hectáreas clave para el suministro de tres provincias. También que los precios tiene la volatilidad de las estaciones y que el valor de determinados productos sube cuando “no es la época”. Pero un estudio hecho por la sección de Economías Regionales de la Confederación de la Mediana Empresa (CAME) muestra que la diferencia de precio entre lo que recibe el productor de alimentos y lo que paga el consumidor, en promedio, en enero fue de 7,1 veces más y que la brecha llegó a 15 y 19 veces en las manzanas y peras, donde el aumento representó 1.890%.  En esa brecha no hay valor agregado al producto que pueda explicar el aumento de precio. Lo que se cosechó sigue siendo lo mismo que se ofrece en la góndola. Alcanza con tomar el auto y recorrer alguna de las rutas de cualquier zona hortícola de país para comprobarlo. En las afueras de San Pedro, el cajón con 12 kilos de duraznos se ofrece a 35 pesos. En Palermo, a unos 170 kilómetros, está también 35 o 40 pesos, pero el kilo.  Qué sucede en el medio es una pregunta cuya respuesta varía según quien la responda. Pero en una ronda por los diferentes actores de la cadena de comercialización queda al descubierto que la debilidad de los pequeños productores frente a vendedores fuertes y concentrados y la fragilidad de la estructura productiva causan que cuando los precios bajan en la huerta, el descenso nunca se refleje en la góndola. “No es muy lindo estar pidiendo, pero acá hay una necesidad no sólo para nosotros sino también para el consumidor. Necesitamos reponer las media sombras y la mayoría de pequeños productores no están ni bancarizados”, explica Beckmann. “Pedimos ayuda al Estado Nacional, a través de CAME y estamos trabajando con el gobierno provincial. Es fundamental recomponer la situación no sólo para ayudarnos a nosotros sino también al que paga precios altos por la verdura”, dice. Asegura que cuando se cultiva con tecnología -aunque sea tan elemental como una media sombra- el precio final de las verduras puede evitar los saltos de estacionalidad.

“El zapallito en invierno antes venía de Salta y subía en invierno. Con las cubiertas en las tierras cercanas al agua, este año pudimos producirlos y el precio no subió”, cuenta el dirigente.  La distorsión de precios podría ser un tema de mercado, pero adquiere gravedad cuando la inflación es la principal preocupación a la hora de comprar algo tan básico y esencial como es la comida con la que se llena el plato. Y esta brecha se repite en zonas que no sufrieron fenónemos climatológicos. Tal es el caso de los productores de acelga que reciben 4 pesos por kilo cuando en las góndolas se venden a 52 pesos. La producción de leche, esencial en la dieta de los chicos, también tambalea por la baja rentabilidad de los tambos. Desde la Asociación de Productores Lácteos de Argentina describen al sector en emergencia. Aunque hubo mejoras en el precio (reciben 3,30 pesos), el precio final promedio es de 15 pesos (una vez industrializada se calcula que es de 5,70 pesos).  Desde Río Negro y Neuquén también califican la situación como dificilísima. Por kilo recolectado se paga 1,50 pesos, cuando el costo por hacerlo llega a 4 pesos. Pero el precio final es de 23 pesos. El brócoli es el protagonista de uno de los capítulos más misteriosos de la lista de un supermercado. El precio que recibió el productor en enero bajó un 50% con respecto al de diciembre, pero en la góndola subió un 14,1%. Pablo Vernengo, director ejecutivo de Economías Regionales de CAME desentraña el tema así: “Los hipermercados establecen que al sector verdulería le aplica determinado aumento sobre el valor lista automáticamente, aunque el costo haya bajado”.

Bermejo señala a la posición dominante del supermercadismo como formadores de precio, “ponen el valor y el minorista vecino baja un poco ese precio en su lista y lo vende”. También apunta a que las cadenas pagan por productos perecederos a 90 y 120 días. “Hay inflación, entonces es un negocio en su beneficio. Además muchas veces manejan la cadena de distribución y la logística se paga y mucho”.  Con la inflación avanzando y comiendo los presupuestos, entre los que tienen tiempo surgen alternativas para buscar precios. En estos días, el Mercado Central tiene más público que el habitual en sus galpones. Dos kilos de limones, para dar un ejemplo, ayer se ofertan a 25 pesos y en un hipermercado -a menos de 40 minutos de viaje- se paga a la misma hora 29,90 pesos el kilo. En una compra grande, el ahorro es mucho.   Desde los hipermercados apuntan a que el problema es la inflación más que la cadena de costos, y que ellos tienen gastos fijos de infraestructura que deben trasladar al precio. Desde uno de los grandes de ese sector coincidieron ante Clarín en que la debilidad de los productores es un problema y que el Estado debería actuar para ayudarlos a fortalecerse. Es el mismo Estado que el viernes no encontró las ofertas de Precios Cuidados en sus góndolas y los multó. Los pequeños productores de Santa Fe también le piden a ese Estado nacional ayuda para reponer las herramientas que podrían bajar los precios finales. El resto de los productores del país trabajan para lograr una ley que permita a las economías regionales producir competitivamente. 

Fuente: Silvina Heguy (www.clarin.com)

El OLLUCO, un tubérculo que forma parte de la dieta andina de América del Sur - OLLUCO, a tuber that is part of the Andean diet of South America

Foto de http://perudelights.com

El olluco (del quechua ulluku), melloco (en Ecuador), chugua (en Colombia), ruba (en Venezuela) y, en Perú, Bolivia, Argentina y unas pocas regiones de la zona sur andina de Ecuador, como olluco, papa lisa, o simplemente lisa, es una planta herbácea originaria de la región andina de Sudamérica. Su nombre científico es Ullucus tuberosus, perteneciente a la familia Basellaceae. Además de ser un alimento, el olluco tiene propiedades cicatrizantes y su uso constante puede mejorar las lesiones en la piel ocasionadas por el acné.

Distribución y hábitat

Es nativa del Altiplano, donde se cultiva por su tubérculo y hojas comestibles. Se cultiva a más de 2800 msnm en Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador y Perú, pudiéndose también encontrar en Argentina y Chile. 

Descripción

El olluco es una planta herbácea y compacta; las variedades silvestres son rastreras, pero para el cultivo se han seleccionado otras trepadoras o semierectas, que pueden alcanzar los 50 cm de altura formando matas densas. En los estolones subterráneos o superficiales se producen tubérculos de forma alargada o esférica, y de colores que van desde al blanco al naranja y púrpura. Normalmente su diámetro va de los 2 a los 15 cm, pero en condiciones favorables pueden asemejarse a los de la papa (Solanum tuberosum). La piel es claramente distinta del interior, firme y claro, de color blanco a amarillo limón y sin fibras perceptibles. 

Cultivo

El olluco crece desde el nivel del mar hasta los 4000 msnm. Prefiere los climas frescos, húmedos, y es resistente a las heladas; el clima cálido fomenta su desarrollo, pero minimiza la producción de tubérculos. Tolera bien suelos poco nutritivos, así como ácidos o arenosos, prefiriendo sin embargo el humus denso, bien drenado, con un pH entre 5.5 y 6.5. Soporta las sequías, pero en época de crecimiento requiere unos 800 a 1400 mm de precipitaciones. El sol abundante es imprescindible para las variedades más difundidas, con entre 10 y 14 horas de fotoperíodo, aunque las variedades más australes de Chile y Argentina parecen no tener los mismos requisitos.

El medio de difusión más frecuente es el replante de tubérculos; del mismo modo pueden utilizarse los esquejes de tallo o incluso el tubérculo fraccionado. Mientras la temperatura esté por encima de los 18ºC, los brotes aparecen rápidamente; al acortarse el período diurno, la planta produce más estolones y los engrosa, formando nuevos tubérculos. Los agricultores suelen elevar el nivel de la tierra alrededor del tallo a medida que aparecen tubérculos para fomentar el crecimiento de otros. Su madurez insume entre 5 y 9 meses, y es más lenta a mayores altitudes.

No se han desarrollado modelos modernos de plantación, pero las técnicas tradicionales combinadas con el uso de fertilizantes y cuidados para la prevención de pestes permiten producir hasta 50 t/ha, rivalizando con los mejores cultivares de papa de esa zona; normalmente, sin embargo, rara vez superan las 10. Se cifra en unas 60.000 t anuales la producción del Perú, el principal productor.

La extracción del tubérculo se realiza a mano; la mecanización parece factible, pero dificultosa, en vista de que es escasamente resistente a los cortes. Los tubérculos más pequeños son los más cotizados; pueden almacenarse en la oscuridad, en lugar fresco y seco, hasta un año. Expuestos al sol concentran clorofila con rapidez y se hacen inútiles para el consumo, pero pueden plantarse.

Se estima que el cultivo del olluco comenzó en los Andes, desde donde se difundió hacia el norte —alcanzando ubicaciones a 10 grados de latitud norte en Venezuela— y hacia el sur, hasta el norte de Chile y Argentina en la época precolombina. 

Consumo

Del olluco se emplean tanto los tubérculos como las hojas frescas, consumidas como verdura en ensalada, hervidas o en otras preparaciones; el sabor de sus hojas recuerda a la espinaca (Spinacia oleracea). Los tubérculos del olluco se consumen preferentemente hervidos, ya que su alto contenido de agua (un 85% cuando frescos) dificulta otras preparaciones. La piel es delgada y se quita con facilidad, pero puede consumirse junto con la pulpa, de color pálido, firme, lisa y suave, sin rastro de fibra; la textura ligeramente gomosa del tubérculo crudo desaparece con la cocción. 

La composición nutricional del tubérculo fresco es de un 85% de humedad, un 14% de almidón y azúcar, y un 1% de proteínas. Seco, el 72-75% es de carbohidratos, 10-16% proteínas, 4-6% fibra y alrededor de un 1% lípidos; aportan así unas 360 calorías por 100 g. Contiene además 23 mg de vitamina C. Las variaciones en el aporte nutricional son marcadas entre cultivares.

Gastronomía

Varios platos de Ecuador, Perú, Colombia y Bolivia incluyen al tubérculo del Ullucus tuberosus en su composición y es una importante fuente de carbohidratos en la dieta autóctona; el olluquito con charqui, el chupe de lisas y el ajiaco de ollucos en Perú, la sopa de melloco es popular en Ecuador; el ají de papa lisa y la sopa de papa lisa son tradicionales en el occidente y los valles de Bolivia.

Día del Olluquito

Cada 5 de octubre, se celebra en varios pueblos andinos del Perú, el día del olluquito. La fiesta más famosa se celebra en Ayamarca (Huancavelica). El pueblo entero prepara en sus calles el famoso plato con charqui que reúne a cientos de visitantes cada año. 

Problemas

El principal problema para su expansión, sin embargo, es la elevada presencia de infecciones virales en la mayoría de las plantas; puesto que no se reproduce de semilla, sino por esquejes, la difusión mecánica de los virus afecta hasta al 80% de los ejemplares, según los últimos estudios. Cuatro especies diferentes lo atacan: el virus del mosaico de Ullucus (Potyvirus sp.), una especie de Tobomavirus, el virus del mosaico de la papaya (Potexvirus sp.) y el virus C del olluco (Comovirus sp.). Estos causan perdida de vivacidad y deformaciones, y resultan sumamente difíciles de erradicar. La expansión del cultivo está sujeta al uso de técnicas de propagación que eviten la transmisión de virus o al uso de variedades resistentes.

Fuente: https://es.wikipedia.org

Winter pruning of cankers can help to reduce bacterial spot in PEACHES and NECTARINES - La poda invernal de cancros puede ayudar a reducir la mancha bacteriana en DURAZNOS y NECTARINAS

Bacterial spot symptoms typically appear about three weeks after petal fall. Early-season fruit lesions may extend all the way to the pit. After pit hardening, bacterial spot causes shallower lesions that may coalesce and cause the skin to crack. (Courtesy Sarah Bardsley Capasso)

The bane of peach and nectarine growers in the eastern United States, bacterial spot can lead to significant and sometimes total fruit loss, especially during the wet and warm conditions that the disease-causing bacteria favor. Growers can, however, fight back with a management program that incorporates the active winter pruning of twig cankers, which can harbor large concentrations of the bacteria, called Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (or Xap).

By removing the cankers, growers can significantly reduce the amount of bacteria — called the inoculum — that would otherwise thrive and spread throughout the tree and to adjacent trees during the following spring. To remove the cankers, orchard workers first have to be able to recognize them, and unfortunately that is no easy task, said Sarah Bardsley Capasso, who has been working on the disease as a graduate student in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Pennsylvania State University.

“People who have been growing trees for 25 to 30 years have issues with identifying cankers,” Capasso said. That’s why the Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Center has held workshops on distinguishing between healthy wood and cankers. Usually, she said, workers first notice cankers in the spring because, unlike healthy portions of branches, they don’t bear any leaves. Cankers will also look water-soaked, although they aren’t actually wet.

These darker, blacker sections, which are often at the tips of branches, enlarge as they age and, about three weeks after petal fall, may begin to cause the bark to crack and take on a slightly sunken appearance. “What we think happens is that the bacteria originally enter the tree through the leaves and move through the leaves and underneath the bark where cankers form and where the bacteria overwinter,” she said. “Come spring, we’ll often see a lot of bacterial spot symptoms on fruit and leaves right around the cankers.”

The symptoms of bacterial spot on fruit are similar to those of peach scab, which is a fungal disease. On leaves, both copper injury and nitrogen deficiency look similar to bacterial spot. Distinguishing features of bacterial spot on leaves include angular-shaped lesions (rather than round) that are often surrounded by a yellow halo. As the season progresses, bacterial spot lesions may fall out of the leaf, leaving behind holes. (Courtesy Sarah Bardsley Capasso)

Although pruning of cankers can occur any time of the year, winter is opportune because much of the bacteria are holed up in the cankers at the same time that orchard workers are available to take on the labor-intensive chore of scouting for cankers tree by tree. For removal, Capasso recommends cutting beyond the canker and a bit into the healthy wood. “A good rule of thumb would be about 6 inches beyond, if it can be spared, because the bacteria are going to be invading the healthy tissue without visible symptoms initially.”

Once severed, the cankers should be removed from the orchard. “Just take them to the burn pile and get rid of them that way,” she said. “If you put them in a dumpster or pile them up, you’re not really killing the bacteria.” Even the most diligent canker-removal program, however, will not completely eliminate Xap.

Cankers can be difficult to identify in the winter, but a telltale characteristic is their darker, cracked and sunken bark. Workers should snip off the cankers, plus another 6 inches of healthy wood, and then remove the trimmings from the orchard. (Courtesy Sarah Bardsley Capasso)

For the best results, Capasso recommended a comprehensive management program, which includes:

—Locating new orchards in well-draining soils and avoiding low spots to lessen the wet conditions Xap favors. “Even small amounts of standing water in an orchard will become a big issue with bacterial spot,” she said.

—Planting cultivars that are less susceptible to the disease. “Remember that no cultivar is completely resistant to bacterial spot, so when the weather is wet and warm, for instance, even the most resistant cultivars may get some symptoms,” she said.

—Reducing tree stress by removing weeds, especially high weeds.

—Pruning trees to increase airflow within the canopy. This will help to keep leaves dry. “The faster you can dry the leaves, the less time you are going to allow for the bacteria to get into the tree,” she said.

—Spraying with copper, which is a proven treatment for bacterial spot, but combining it with other chemicals.

Field tests at Penn State showed success with copper alternated either with the biofungicide Serenade Optimum or with the phosphorus acid Rampart, or with copper mixed with hydrated lime. These combinations reduced the phytotoxicity side effect that occurs with copper, and also helped to prevent the bacteria from developing resistance to copper.

Although rotations of copper and the antibiotic oxytetracycline are commonly used in orchards, the field tests showed oxytetracycline didn’t work as well as the copper programs under the strong disease pressure in southern Pennsylvania. She cautioned that such field tests are site- and weather-specific, so growers may have different results with copper combinations.

Growers may not be able to have totally Xap-free peach and nectarine orchards, but Capasso reiterated that they should be able to greatly reduce the impact of bacterial spot if they follow a management strategy that includes removal of cankers. “Overwintering cankers are large sources of inoculum. If you get rid of them, you will get rid of a lot of bacteria and will reduce the initial amount of inoculum in spring and the initial disease severity.”

Source: Leslie Mertz (http://www.goodfruit.com)

Desert beetle, cactus, and pitcher plant inspire scientists to extract WATER from thin air - Escarabajo del desierto, cactus y la planta de jarras inspiran a los científicos para extraer AGUA del aire

Photo credit: Harvard SEAS

Scientists have for long wondered how the desert beetle, cactus plant, and pitcher plants survive in hot deserts with no ready source of water – until they found the Namib desert beetle and desert plants have a way of extracting water from thin air according to a study published in the journal Nature. This study was carried out by researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University after drawing inspiration from the desert beetle and plants to pull water from the atmosphere, most especially since the Earth is becoming drier.

“Everybody is excited about bioinspired materials research,” said Joanna Aizenberg, the Amy Smith Berylson Professor of Materials Science at SEAS and core faculty member of the Wyss Institute. “However, so far, we tend to mimic one inspirational natural system at a time. Our research shows that a complex bio-inspired approach, in which we marry multiple biological species to come up with non-trivial designs for highly efficient materials with unprecedented properties, is a new, promising direction in biomimetics,” Aizenberg added.

The researchers found that desert beetles utilized their bumpy shell to harvest water droplets from the air, while cactus plant used its asymmetric structure to do the same, and the pitcher plant deployed its slippery surface to obtain water from the atmosphere when it is cool in the night. The researchers combined this knowledge with the Slippery Liquid-infused Porous Surfaces technology (SLIPS) that was developed in Aizenberg’s laboratory to collect water droplets from the air.

Philseok Kim, co-founder and vice president of technology at SLIPS Technologies, a spin-off of SEAS, noted that industrial heat exchangers would benefit greatly from the skill generated by this research. He stated that thermal power plants depend on condensers in order to speedily convert steam into liquid water, adding that this latest research speed up that process and improve overall energy efficiency when operated at a higher temperature.

For the desert beetle, the researchers analyzed the hybrid chemistry of its bumps which has a hydrophilic top with hydrophobic surrounding to determine how it attracted water, but then the convex bumps was found to play a role in harvesting water from the air. “We experimentally found that the geometry of bumps alone could facilitate condensation,” said Kyoo-Chul Park, a postdoctoral researcher and the first author of the paper.

The bump shape was optimized via modeling combined with the asymmetry of cactus spines and the smooth surface of pitcher plants, providing a basis to design a material that can collect and transport a greater volume of water in a short time compared to other surfaces. “This research is an exciting first step towards developing a passive system that can efficiently collect water and guide it to a reservoir,” said Kim.

Source:  Charles I. Omedo (http://www.i4u.com)

Planean plantar 1000 ha de ARÁNDANO en Perú en 2016 - They plan to plant 1000 ha of BLUBERRY in Peru in 2016

Foto de http://rpp.pe

A solo 14 meses de haberse iniciado la irrigación del ´Valle Nuevo de Olmos´, son un total de 9 mil hectáreas sembradas con diversos cultivos, entre los que destacan el arándano, caña de azúcar, uva y palto.

El reporte de la Concesionaria H2OLMOS refiere también que a la fecha son 9 empresas las que siembran productos exportables en estas tierras, que ahora, en un 64 por ciento, están listas para ser cultivadas. El caso más emblemático es del arándano, un fruto con alto potencial agro exportador, y se proyecta sembrar mil hectáreas de este producto en los próximos meses.

La consolidación del modelo de negocio que ha generado Olmos en la región Lambayeque para 2016 requiere que se realicen proyectos complementarios al de la infraestructura de riego, como la ´Nueva Ciudad de Olmos´ y la logística necesaria para el almacenamiento y el traslado de los productos al exterior. Continúan las gestiones para que el agua llegue a todo el Valle Viejo, donde las tres asociaciones existentes avanzan con la siembra de banano orgánico progresivamente.

Fuente: http://rpp.pe

Australians over-estimate their VEGETABLE consumption - Los australianos sobrestiman su consumo de VERDURAS

Photo source: http://australianmuseum.net.au

New research has found that Australians are over-estimating the healthiness of their diets, with many consumers thinking they’re getting their full daily dose of veggies while they actually fall short by more than a serve every day. According to the report, produced by market research agency Colmar Brunton, more than a third of consumers believe they “definitely” eat enough vegetables each day – but data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has shown that fewer than one in ten of us actually eat the 5 or more daily serves of vegetables recommended by the Australian dietary guidelines.

The report also indicates that 34 per cent of consumers believe they eat enough vegetables every day, but the average intake for these respondents is only 3.4 serves daily – significantly fewer than the 5 or more recommended for women and 5-6 or more recommended for men. “It’s concerning that such a high proportion of consumers think they’re getting enough vegetables in their diets when they’re actually missing out by more than one and a half serves every day,” said AUSVEG spokesperson Shaun Lindhe.

AUSVEG is the leading horticultural body representing more than 9,000 Australian vegetable and potato growers. A standard serve of vegetables is considered to be 75 grams, which equals roughly half a cup of cooked green or orange vegetables, a full cup of green leafy vegetables, or half a medium-sized potato. “These findings suggest that many Australians may not be aware of their actual recommended amount of daily servings of vegetables, and are basing their eating habits off an inaccurate understanding of dietary requirements,” said Mr Lindhe.

“Consumers should take a look at their daily vegetable intake, no matter how confident they are, and compare it to the five serves a day recommended by the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Every extra serving of vegetables can make a huge contribution to your health and wellbeing.” Meanwhile, 40 per cent of respondents say they “sometimes” eat enough vegetables each day, with these consumers averaging 2.6 serves of vegetables per day.

“It’s also worrying to see the low levels of vegetable consumption among other groups – for example, people who believe they definitely don’t eat enough vegetables only eat 1.5 serves per day on average, which is less than a third of the recommended daily intake,” said Mr Lindhe. Project Harvest is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

Source: http://www.ausveg.com.au

New method to sort JABOTICABA FRUIT by maturity stage - Nuevo método para clasificar FRUTOS de JABOTICABA según grado de madurez

Jaboticaba fruit (photo from http://jasmynetea.typepad.com)

This study proposes a rapid and non-destructive method of jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) fruit classification at three maturity stages based on skin colour (immature - fruit completely green, physiologically mature - fruit turning from green to purple and ripe - fruit completely purple) using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with principal component analysis–linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA), and variable selection techniques employing a successive projection algorithm (SPA-LDA) or genetic algorithm (GA-LDA). One hundred eighty jaboticaba fruit samples in three maturity stages were used and the multivariate classification accuracy results were tested based on sensitivity, specificity, positive (or precision) and negative predictive values, Youden index, positive and negative likelihood ratios. The immature stage the classification models PCA-LDA, GA-LDA and SPA-LDA achieved sensitivity of 100% in the validation set. The results obtained in this study suggest that the proposed method is a promising alternative for assessing jaboticaba fruit maturity, without the need for metabolite extraction/purification.

Source: R.C. Costa, L. Junior, T. Morgenstern, G. Teixeira and K.M.G. de Lima. Analytical Methods (http://pubs.rsc.org/).

A year in the lives of smallholder families: Insights from Mozambique, Tanzania, and Pakistan. Un día en la vida de pequeños agricultores familiares

Join CGAP for an event on February 25 to learn and discuss the results of a year-long financial diaries study with smallholder households.

How do the estimated 500 million smallholder households worldwide manage their money and what kind of financial services would better serve this important group?

Until now, very little was known about how financial services could effectively respond to the varied needs of smallholder families around the world. In CGAP's year-long financial diaries study, researchers tracked the financial lives of 270 total smallholder households in Mozambique, Pakistan and Tanzania and came away with unique insights into how these families manage their income, plan for expenses and cope with the unpredictable nature of lives rooted in agriculture.

It is the first time the financial diaries methodology has been used to research the financial lives of smallholders.

Join CGAP on February 25 for an event featuring a panel of experts who will highlight key findings from the Smallholder Diaries and discuss opportunities to design and improve financial solutions for smallholder households.

Speakers:

Jamie Anderson, Financial Sector Specialist, CGAP
Daryl Collins, Managing Director, Bankable Frontier Associates
Wajiha Ahmed, Senior Associate, Bankable Frontier Associates
Henriqueta Hunguana, CEO, ICC Mozambique
Mwombeki Baregu, Head of Agriculture and Rural Finance, Financial Sector Deepening Trust Tanzania
Raheel Rasool, Deputy Director, Development Finance Support Department, State Bank of Pakistan

Event Details:
Date: February 25, 2016
Time: 10 AM - 12 PM EST
Location: World Bank "J" Building
Address: 701 18th Street, NW
Room: 1-050
Washington, DC

For more information visit, http://www.cgap.org/events/year-lives-smallholder-families

- See more at: http://agriprofocus.com/post/56b6321ca93f2577bb3a886e#sthash.19hyYBqf.dpuf

Los supermercados en Francia obligados a donar los ALIMENTOS que no vendan - Supermarkets in France obliged to donate the FOOD they do not sell

Foto de http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2015/05/French-supermarket.jpg

Francia se ha convertido en el primer país del mundo que prohíbe a los supermercados tirar o destruir los alimentos que no vendan. En lugar de eso, serán obligados por ley a donarlos a organizaciones benéficas y bancos de alimentos, que serán las encargadas de distribuirlos entre los necesitados.

La ley es la respuesta del Gobierno francés a una campaña puesta en marcha en los últimos meses por Arash Derambarsh, de 35 años, un concejal del municipio de Courbevoie, suburbio al noroeste de París, quién calificó de “escandaloso y absurdo” el desperdicio de comida por parte de los suoermercados.

A la iniciativa del joven político le sucedieron protestas de consumidores y activistas contra la pobreza. Según sus cálculos, en Francia se echan a perder 7 millones de toneladas de alimentos al año. Los activistas esperan ahora persuadir a la UE a adoptar una legislación similar en todos los estados miembros

La normativa ha sido aprobada por unanimidad por el Senado francés y entrará en vigor el próximo miércoles. A partir de entonces, los supermercados no podrán almacenar comida de buena calidad que se acerque a su fecha de caducidad. En su lugar, firmarán convenios de colaboración con organizaciones benéficas, que podrán multiplicar el número de comidas gratuitas que distribuyen cada día.

Se prevén multas de hasta 75.000 euros para los supermercados que destruyan deliberadamente los alimentos con el fin de evitar que sean recuperados por las personas que los recogen de los contenedores próximos a las tiendas. En los últimos años ha crecido en Francia el número de familias, estudiantes, desempleados y personas sin hogar que se alimentan de los productos que recogen de la basura.

Según algunos informes, ciertos supermercados rocían con lejía los alimentos que tiran a la basura para evitar para impedir que sean aprovechados por otras personas. Otros establecimientos almacenan la comida sobrante en depósitos cerrados para su recogida directa por parte camiones de basura.

Jacques Bailet, jefe de Banques Alimentaires (bancos de alimentos), una red nacional de bancos de alimentos, describe la ley como “positiva y muy importante simbólicamente”. “Lo más importante es que los supermercados estarán obligados a firmar un acuerdo de donación con organizaciones benéficas, y así seremos capaces de aumentar la calidad y la diversidad de la comida que distribuimos”, dijo. Estas entidades y las organizaciones de caridad también tendrán obligaciones que cumplir: recoger y almacenar los alimentos en condiciones higiénicas y distribuirlos adecuadamente.

Fuentes: http://www.lavanguardia.com and http://www.portalfruticola.com

Improving vitamin C content in RASPBERRY - Mejorando el contenido de vitamina C en FRAMBUESA

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Raspberries05.jpg

Reaserchers Javier A. Miret and Sergi Munné-Bosch from the Departament de Biologia Vegetal, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain found a practical way to increase  vitamin C content in raspberries (Rubus idaeus). Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant growth regulator with roles in senescence, fruit ripening and environmental stress responses. ABA and pyrabactin (a non-photosensitive ABA agonist) effects on red raspberry  fruit development (including ripening) were studied, with a focus on vitamin and antioxidant composition. Application of ABA and/or pyrabactin just after fruit set did not affect the temporal pattern of fruit development and ripening; neither provitamin A (carotenoids) nor vitamin E contents were modified. In contrast, ABA and pyrabactin altered the vitamin C redox state at early stages of fruit development and more than doubled vitamin C contents at the end of fruit ripening. These were partially explained by changes in ascorbate oxidation and recycling. Therefore, ABA and pyrabactin applications may be used to increase vitamin C content of ripe fruits, increasing fruit quality and value. However, treatments containing pyrabactin—combined with ABA or alone—diminished protein content, thus partially limiting its potential applicability.

Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814616302059

Consider the salt-tolerant POTATO - Considere la PAPA (PATATA) tolerante a las sales

Photo from http://images.askmen.com

Salt water has long been viewed as poison to farming systems, particularly when it comes to the crops we value most. “None of the top five plants eaten by people — wheat, corn, rice, potatoes and soybeans — can tolerate salt,” agricultural experts Edward P. Glenn, J. Jed Brown and James W. O’Leary wrote 16 years ago, in a definitive Scientific American article. “Expose them to seawater, and they droop, shrivel and die within days.”

Now that scientific principle has been cracked — by a Dutch potato that drinks in salt and doesn’t break a sweat. A researcher and a farmer in the Netherlands teamed up to experiment with crops that could thrive in seawater. They set up shop on the island of Texel, a land rich with salt marshes. Along the way, they met an elderly Dutch farmer with an encyclopedic knowledge of thousands of potato varieties. Together, they created the salt-tolerant potato.

If you’re thinking this means a future of pre-salted veggies, hold it right there. “What we find is that, if you tease a plant with salt, it compensates with more sugar,” says Dr. Argen de Vos, the researching half of the duo. “You’d have to eat many many kilos of potatoes before you’d exceed your recommended salt intake.”

De Vos and farmer Marc van Rijsselberghe partnered with MetaMeta, a Dutch development consultant, and laid out a game plan for bringing their potatoes to Pakistan’s salt-ridden lands. They were awarded USAid’s Securing Water for Food Grand Challenge in September, which gave them funding to go forth and spread their seed — $100,000 for the first year, and up to $400,000 over the following two years, provided they reach their technical and financial milestones, Amy C. Garrett, deputy press director for USAid, wrote in an email.

The Guardian positions the spud as “poised to launch a world food revolution,” but Glenn advises you take the news with a healthy grain of salt. The Guardian article says the potato is grown on ‘dilutions of seawater,’ not pure seawater,” he wrote in an email. “So I would say the breakthrough claimed in the article is unsubstantiated.”

It’s a cruel irony that 97.5 percent of the Earth’s water is saltwater, and less than one percent of the leftover freshwater is usable. Meanwhile, 70 percent of that freshwater is used for agricultural purposes. Over the years, the idea has been cautiously floated: What if we could feed crops with salt water? Glenn, Brown and O’Leary were something of pioneers in this corner of the agriculture market. Their 1998 Scientific American article presented their experiments with halophytes, plants that grow in highly saline water. They singled out Salicornia bigelovii, a plant that contains an oil similar to safflower oil, and showed promise as a source of both food and fuel.

The researchers ended their research on a wistful note: “Our goal in the late 1970s was to establish the feasibility of seawater; we expected to see commercial farming within 10 years. Twenty years later seawater agriculture is still at the prototype stage of commercial development.” Since then, more contenders have been floated: Remember this healthier version of a tomato, also grown in diluted salt water? You don’t? That’s because we’re still a long ways from any of these developments translating into money.

“We do have crops that can grow on seawater and demonstration farms have shown the feasibility, but it is still not economically feasible to replace conventional crops with seawater crops,” Glenn told us. As for de Vos and Rijsselberghe’s potatoes, they’re on their way to Pakistan, where they’ll be planted on land that has been unproductive for years. May they cling to the soil and never let go.

Source:  Monica Nicks (http://modernfarmer.com)

Glyphosate most widely and heavily used HERBICIDE ever - Glifosato el HERBICIDA más difundido y utilizado en el mundo en toda la historia

Photo source: http://i.dailymail.co.uk

This was according to the recently published research paper, ‘Trends in glyphosate herbicide use in the United States and Globally’ by Dr Charles Benbrook, a research professor at Washington State University. US-based non-profit environmental research organisation Environmental Working Group (EWG) said that 8,6 billion kilograms of glyphosate had been used globally to date following its introduction by Monsanto in 1974.

Global glyphosate use increased almost 15-fold after genetically modified and glyphosate-tolerant maize, soybean and cotton, also developed by Monsanto, were introduced in 1996. “The dramatic and rapid growth in overall use of glyphosate will likely contribute to a host of adverse environmental and public health consequences,” said Benbrook. The EWG said that in 2015 “17 of the world’s top cancer researchers voted unanimously to elevate glyphosate’s cancer profile on behalf of the World Health Organisation”.

“After the panel of experts reviewed all of the publicly available research, the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified the weed-killer as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’,” the EWG said. On its company blog, Monsanto responded to Benbrook’s paper by writing that he “omits important context and significantly misrepresents the safety of glyphosate-based herbicides”.

Monsanto also responded that glyphosate safety was supported by one of the most extensive worldwide human health, crop residue and environmental databases ever compiled on an agricultural chemical product. “In evaluations spanning four decades, the overwhelming conclusion of experts worldwide has been that glyphosate, when used according to label directions, does not present an unreasonable risk of adverse effects to humans, wildlife or the environment. Indeed, the overall safety profile has contributed to the increased adoption of glyphosate-based herbicides around the world,” Monsanto said.

Source: Lloyd Phillips (http://farmersweekly.co.za)

Full paper:  http://oscar.caxtonmagsapps.co.za/img/fwf201629121224Trends_in_glyphosate_herbicide_use_in_the_United_States_and_Globally.pdf

Growing CITRUS and GRAPES at the same farm - Produciendo CITRUS y UVAS en la misma finca

Photo source: http://www.freshfruitportal.com

The farm Matroozefontein has the most westerly citrus orchards and table grape vineyards in Southern Africa. In this arid area, farming under nets has proved a success. Italian consortium Unifrutti has been farming in Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape since 1998. In 2004, after considering whether to produce citrus for export to the US, it bought the 2200 ha farm a short distance inland from Elands Bay. Here, the company grows citrus and table grapes on 151 ha. The area under cultivation is limited by the availability of irrigation water.

Sandveld citrus production cycle

Simon Baty, farm manager and in charge of the citrus operation, recalls that the navels which were planted initially were unsuccessful in the arid Sandveld. “But we found that lemons, Clementines, mandarins, Midnight Valencias and Late Valencias did well. So we are in the process of topping many of the citrus orchards to some of these varieties. Ultimately, we plan to have 170ha of citrus – we’re now at 104 ha.” Citrus blooms later on the West Coast – in four to six weeks in September and October – than further north. The first fruit set is in mid-October, depending on the cultivar and its age. The second drop is in late November, continuing into early December. Fruit picking starts at the end of April, depending on the cultivar. “We start picking Clementines from the end of April until mid-June,” explains Simon. “Then we pick our early navels and move across to lemons from the last week of June until mid-July. After this we start picking late navels until mid-August. We also pick mandarins from the end of July until late August. As soon as we finish picking mandarins we start on our Midnight Valencias followed by the Late Valencia varieties. By mid-September, picking has been completed.”

Soil quality and fertilisation

The Sandveld has poor sandy soil that is low in nutrients and almost no carbon or humus. On Matroozefontein, they grow citrus mainly on the poorer and grapes on the better soil. “Oak leaf is one of our better soils, but the citrus is on the poorer-quality sand,” says Simon. “We feed these crops hydroponically and provide liquid fertiliser through the drip daily from August to the end of January.” All micro-sprinkler and drip-irrigated blocks receive a carbon-based product, Carbotech from Patensie, through the irrigation system. Composed of humic acid, fulvic acid and amino acids, it stimulates root growth and enhances bacterial and fungal soil micro-organisms in the soil. In addition, chemical fertiliser such as 2:3:4, LAN and potassium sulphate are applied monthly from August to January in the micro-irrigated blocks.

“Because nothing in the soil holds the fertiliser, we’re careful not to over-irrigate and leach it from the soil,” explains Simon. He stopped applying compost and pre-enriched chicken litter fertiliser to the older micro-irrigated citrus orchards a few years ago as this enhanced boron toxicity. He corrected the problem by changing the fertiliser programme. “Farming in sand is tricky. We can quickly correct a mistake, but sand has very low buffering capacity. So, if we make a mistake, the results are immediately evident, enabling us to manage fertiliser and irrigation precisely.

“The climate here is good for citrus but table grapes do even better. For this reason, we’re phasing out unproductive navel citrus varieties and expanding table grape production,” he explains. During picking season, approximately 120 workers are active in the citrus orchards. The yield depends on variables including the cultivar, age of the block and whether or not it is under netting.

Table grapes production cycle

Hein Koegelenberg, in charge of the table grape production, says that the vineyards cover 47 ha, all under shade netting. This will eventually be expanded to 80 ha. Currently, Red Globe covers 17 ha, Sugra One (white seedless) 8 ha, Crimson Seedless 5,2 ha, Autumn Royal 2,6 ha and Dan Ben Hannah (black-seeded) 2,6 ha. Young vines – Tawny Seedless, Sweet Celebration and Arra 15 – together contribute another 11 ha. Pruning starts early in July and is completed by mid-August. The grapes then grow until unwanted shoots are removed from the first week of September. Later in September and into October, surplus bunches are removed to leave 28 bunches per vine. Bunch preparation starts in early November and the grapes are picked from a week before Christmas until mid-February. Favourable conditions under shade netting enable a short growing season. About 120 workers are employed for bunch preparation and 165 for packing.

Climate for colour

This area of the semi-desert Sandveld is ideal for grapes due to its Mediterranean climate. It has a temperature range of 45°C during the day and 13°C at night in summer. In the evenings, the cooler air moves in from the sea, giving the grapes a good and uniform colour without enhancement. “In fact, our red varieties are sometimes almost too dark. Red Globe is ready for harvest for market from week one in January,” he explains.

In the Sandveld, areas with better soil ironically have poorer-quality water. On Matroozefontein, the poor-quality white sand has good-quality irrigation water, which is used to irrigate the vineyards. During hot spells, they are irrigated daily, while fertiliser is applied monthly from August to February.

Shade net success

In 2002, Simon attended a conference in Spain where he was inspired by a Moroccan delegate who successfully grew citrus under shade net and obtaining a higher yield while using 40% less water. “Our conditions here are similar: very dry and arid semi-desert, with an average annual rainfall of 200 mm to 250 mm, and this year just 130 mm,” he says. “When I arrived here in 2005, the first table grape crop was a disaster. We’re situated in a bird conservancy and the only large table grape grower within a 40km radius of the farm, so it was a shock to see half of our grapes destroyed by birds. “One of our former directors, Francesco de Nadia, has experience in using nets in Chile, so he suggested that we experimentally enclose a few blocks under shade netting. We netted a block of table grapes next to an unnetted control block of the same age, rootstock and growing conditions. Our production under the net was double that of the control block. The payback period on the netting was just over a year at the time. We immediately started expanding the area of table grapes under netting,” Simon explains.

Net advantages – grapes

Vines grow vigorously under the nets, while using less fertiliser and water. “Nets reduce the pest problem and wastage as the vines suffer little or no damage from sun, birds or wind. We get larger and more uniformly coloured berries. We need far less labour because the bunches need less preparation. When grapes get to the packhouse, they can be packed more quickly. As we produce more cartons with the same number of people, productivity is 20% to 50% higher than that of other growers in the area,” he explains.

Nets change the micro-climate beneath them

“The higher humidity leads to better shoot elongation, reducing the fertiliser need by 10% to 15%. Annual water use is reduced to about 5000 m³/ha on a mature block. The norm in the Berg River area is 6000 m³/ha to 6500 m³/ha, so a 20% to 30% saving on water is realistic under nets.” Grapes under nets also suffer fewer pest problems, he says. Snails, however, can become a factor, as birds cannot get in to eat them. Celebrex and monoxide are used as bait to kill them. “The main advantages are the saving on labour, growth beyond expectation due to reduced climatic stress, and reduced damage to the bunches. Within 18 months of planting grapes, depending on the variety, we pick and pack 1000 to 2000 export cartons per hectare (4,5 kg/carton) and the following year, 3000 to 4000 cartons. Under nets, we achieve at 30 months, the production that normally takes four years.”

Simon says that netting table grapes is profitable, whatever the cultivar. “We couldn’t produce table grapes here without nets. It took us three or four years to cover all the vineyards and we’ll recover our costs within four to five years.” Grapes do best under Crystal 20% net, which provides 8% shade. Netting also extends the productive life of a block of grapes. They come with an eight-year guarantee but, if well-maintained and properly tensioned for wind, will last for 15 years. Wind causes rubbing against the poles and wires, leading to premature wear.

Matroozefontein’s annual yield of grapes under netting (export cartons at 4,5kg and bunches 600g to 800g as packed) is 6000 cartons/ha for Red Globe, 6500 cartons/ha for Dan Ben Hannah, 5000 cartons/ha for Crimson Seedless, 4200 cartons/ha for Sugra One and 4500 cartons/ha for Autumn Royal. The rest of the vineyards are under still young vines. The farm exports grapes to the Middle East, UK, Europe and Russia.

Net advantages – citrus

In citrus, nets also reduce the leaf and fruit temperatures. “Because of our success with grapes, we cover a 2ha block of Lane Late navels on Carrizo rootstock with different colours of net,” Simon says. “Each colour transmits a unique wavelength of light which affects plant growth differently. After four to five months, the trees under netting were already larger and more luxuriant than those under the control block outside. When we analysed leaf samples after seven months, all the elements were in balance whereas the trees outside were low in nitrogen, calcium and some trace elements,” he explains. Measuring the leaf and fruit temperatures with an infrared thermometer showed an 8°C lower temperature under the nets on hot days (over 35°C). “This lower temperature enables leaves to transpire naturally and the tree to take up the necessary nutrients over a longer period during the day. The nets significantly reduced climatic stress.”

The ambient air temperature may be 35°C but the sand temperature can be 55°C or higher in summer, with heat also being radiated up from the sand. Under nets, sunburn on fruit was reduced from 10% to less than 1%. Additionally, fruit size is larger under nets, and yield up to 50% higher. The fruit count – number in a carton – peaked at 72 outside and 64 under the nets. Wind damage was also lower under the nets. The pest pressure under the net is higher as it excludes natural parasitoids. Some pests are more prolific than others – mealybug and thrips are more of a problem but bollworm and false codling moth are not a problem. Citrus in the Sandveld does best under 18% to 20% shade netting. Citrus is exported to the Middle East, Europe, US, Canada and Russia.

Costs (1 US dollar = R 15,87)

Simon admits that the cost of netting is significant. “When we started, it was R120000/ha for table grapes. Now it’s R150000/ha to R170000/ha for grapes and about R200000/ha for citrus. As for citrus in the Sandveld, the latter is only economically justifiable in the case of high-paying cultivars.” Citrus costs about R150000/ha to establish and netting costs a further R200000/ha. Simon adds that nets seem to work better in a Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers and mild wet winters. So, while they work well in the Sandveld, he advises citrus growers in other areas to conduct their own trials first.

Source: Jay Ferreira (http://farmersweekly.co.za)

Los europeos comen el doble de AGUACATES (PALTAS) que hace seis años - European consumers eat twice AVOCADOS than six years ago

(Photo source: https://i.guim.co.uk)

El aguacate o palta es un alimento ritual en la Super Bowl para muchos estadounidenses, siendo este un acontecimiento importante para la industria del aguacate. La Hass Avocado Board (Junta del Aguacate Hass) predijo que los estadounidenses consumirían 278 millones de aguacates durante la semana de la Super Bowl, una gran porción importada de México. 

En Europa no hay tradición de consumo de aguacates pero su consumo en los últimos 6 años se ha duplicado en la UE, estimándose en 0,75 kg per cápita y por año. Los consumidores estadounidenses comen cuatro veces más. Pese a que España produce cerca de 70.000 t de aguacates, la mayoría de los consumidos en la UE son importados, principalmente de Perú, Chile y Sudáfrica, según datos de la ONU. Los Países Bajos actúan como centro de distribución aguacates para el mercado europeo, siendo el mayor país importador y exportador de aguacate de la UE.

El notable aumento del aguacate en Europa se debe a varios factores. En primer lugar, el aumento de la disponibilidad de aguacates sabrosos y listos para consumir ha estimulado el crecimiento del mercado. En segundo lugar, los consumidores cada vez son más conscientes del valor nutricional y versatilidad del aguacate. El aumento de la promoción y de la información al consumidor acerca del uso de aguacates podría, al final, hacer que el aguacate se convirtiera en el aperitivo principal de la Eurocopa de la UEFA.

Fuente: far.rabobank.com y www.freshplaza.es

BANANA and other ingredients of vegetal origin in the Vietnamise street food - BANANA y otros ingredientes de origen vegetal en la comida callejera vietnamita

Vietnam in the heights, in the area of Dalat, northeast of Ho Chi Minh City. Here too, the tradition of street food is expressed by each local ingredient. In this video, a woman frying banana in soy oil, battered in a rice flour together with soy milk and black sesame seeds. Extraordinary afternoon snack!

Malta efforts to guarantee healthy AGRICULTURAL products - Esfuerzos de Malta para garantizar productos AGRÍCOLAS saludables

Photo source: http://iip.gov.mt/

According to latest figures presented by the European Commission it was informed that only 6% of the agricultural products in Malta had high levels of pesticides. In 2014, the Maltese Authority tested samples of more than 170 food products. Only 10 were found to contain high levels of pesticides and immediately action was taken against those responsible for their production. There were cases where they intervened at a field filled with vines preventing it to be sold in the market, or greenhouses with tomatoes that were stopped its distribution in the market.
Source: Maria Muscat (http://www.tvm.com.mt)

Azerbaijani FRUIT production doubles over past 10 years - Producción de FRUTAS en Azerbaijan se duplica en los últimos 10 años

Azerbaijani fruits (Photo from http://photos.uncorneredmarket.com/)

Azerbaijani fresh fruit and berry production totals about 1 million tons now, twice as high as in 2005, and analysts see high potential in the fruit and vegetable sector in Azerbaijan, which will be unlocked in the nearest few years. The stonefruit segment shows the largest development rate with an increase of 250% in apricot production over the past decade, and a rise of 300% in production of peaches and nectarines over the same period. Production of pome fruits has been growing less rapidly, but the past decade's results are also impressive: production of apples and pears has grown by 100% and 50%, respectively. Similar situation is observed in the segment of berries, which production has almost doubled over the past 10 years.

This positive production trend will only intensify in the nearest years thanks to the factor of intensively developing sector, which is shown by evolution of yields in Azerbaijani orchards. According to official statistics, orchards' productivity has grown by 50-100% in the country in the past decade. The market experts see an increase in exports as the main driver for the sector development. In addition, Azerbaijan exports about a half of annually produced volumes of stonefruits. Moreover, the demand for Azerbaijani produce will only be growing in the external market thanks to significant changes in the market environment in countries near and far abroad.

Source: http://www.fruit-inform.com

La FRUTICULTURA tropical con buenas perspectivas en Argentina - Tropical FRUIT production with good prospects in Argentina

Foto: http://noticias.iruya.com/

El referente de la Asociación de Productores de Frutas y Hortalizas de la provincia argentina de Salta, José Luis Checa, consideró que la fruticultura tropical se presenta como una actividad muy prometedora para la economía regional. "En el noroeste argentino (NOA) contamos con 3.500 hectáreas de banano, 350 de mango, 200 de palta (aguacate), 70 de papaya y 25 de maracuyá, todos cultivos en expansión realizados a pulmón por los casi 200 productores de la zona", sintetizó.

Además señaló que hay un conglomerado (cluster) de frutas tropicales en el que se involucran distintos sectores de la sociedad y que colaboran con el desarrollo.

También destacó el respaldo del Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, INTA Yuto, como principal impulsor de los cultivos tropicales, mediante el asesoramiento, proveedor de plantas a través de su cooperadora, y artífice de varios planes de promoción de mango, papaya y palta, entre otros.

"Resulta de importancia la colaboración de consorcios de riego, asociaciones de productores y del Programa de Servicios Agrícolas Provinciales (PROSAP)", dijo Checa. Explicó que "las frutas tropicales son generadoras de mucho empleo en la zona, ya que las operaciones que demandan las plantaciones se realizan artesanalmente, con la particularidad de que el obrero rural tiene trabajo y vivienda todo el año en el mismo establecimiento".

"Así se torna una herramienta importantísima para el desarrollo de las economías regionales", precisó al señalar que "otra gran ventaja de estos cultivos es la sustitución de importaciones". Es un "dato que se presenta como una alternativa sólida para evitar fuga de divisas, debido a que el mercado interno existe para este tipo de productos: sólo tenemos que hacerlo nuestro". Lo más sobresaliente que resaltó "son las cualidades de la fruta que se producen en nuestro subtrópico: en cuanto a sabor, no nos gana nadie", se animó a decir Checa.

"La fruta que producimos tiene mayor concentración de sólidos solubles. Con respecto a la sanidad, tenemos zonas libres de las principales plagas y enfermedades de las regiones con las que competimos", expresó. Ejemplificó que en bananas no realizan ninguna pulverización aérea de fungicidas, mientras en el trópico hacen 40 aplicaciones anuales. "Esto requiere que, tanto el sector público como el privado, cuidemos este estatus sanitario, que brinda ventajas comparativas a nuestra zona", añadió. Pidió que se valore "la gran importancia que actualmente tienen y, fundamentalmente, tendrán los frutos tropicales para las economías regionales del NOA y NEA".

Fuente: http://noticias.terra.com.ar/

Una sola región exporta el 90% de los ARÁNDANOS peruanos - One region exports 90% of the Peruvian BLUBERRIES

Cosechera peruana de arándano (Fuente: http://ww2.kqed.org)

Las exportaciones de arándano de La Libertad entre enero y noviembre del 2015 registraron una facturación de unos US$ 76.950.417, lo cual significó un crecimiento del 236 % comparado con el mismo periodo del 2014, según informó el Área de Inteligencia Comercial de la Asociación de Exportadores (Adex).

En tanto, los envíos de este producto a nivel nacional alcanzaron US$ 81.921.547. En relación a los mercados que más consumen esta fruta, el primer puesto lo ocupó E.E.U.U. con US$ 43.938.221, seguido por los Países Bajos con US$ 21.328.638, Reino Unido con US$ 9.163.186, Hong Kong con US$ 1.231.158, Singapur con US$ 308.938 y España con US$ 239.106, entre otros.

Sin duda, uno de los incrementos más notorios en la exportación de productos agrícolas del departamento de La Libertad fue el arándano, logrando actualmente ser líderes indiscutibles dentro del país al representar más del 90 % de la exportación nacional. Le siguen en participación Áncash con 3 %, Lima 2 % e Ica 1 %.
Fuente: http://www.laindustria.pe