NewzIntel.com

Category: Agriculture

  • MIL-OSI USA: Feenstra Thanks Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for Coming to Iowa

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)

    HULL, IOWA — Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) issued the following statement thanking U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for coming to Iowa:

    “I thank Secretary Rollins for making the trip to Iowa today and meeting with our farmers and energy producers. Homegrown Iowa biofuels support the Trump administration’s energy dominance strategy while lowering gas prices for families, strengthening agriculture, and reducing our dependence on foreign energy. I will continue to work with Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration to pass the Farm Bill, secure year-round E-15 nationwide, and open new export markets for our producers.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla Announce Bill to Establish the César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Park

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raul Ruiz (36th District of California)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.  — On César Chávez Day, Representative Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25) and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) introduced bicameral legislation to create the César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park. This bill would preserve the nationally significant sites associated with César E. Chávez and the farm worker movement across California and Arizona. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is cosponsoring the legislation.

    César Chávez is a Latino icon and civil rights leader, labor leader, and community organizer whose legacy is deeply embedded in the story of California, the farm worker movement, and the push for worker and civil rights. Chávez empowered Latinos and farm workers to fight for fair wages, health care coverage, pension benefits, housing improvements, and countless other protections. His commitment to social justice has inspired generations, and fuels ongoing efforts to improve the lives of all people, regardless of their ethnicity or the color of their skin. 

    “Having grown up as the son of farmworkers in the Coachella Valley, I remember the profound hope César Chávez instilled in our communities and farmworkers across the nation. His legacy continues to inspire me to this day,” said Representative Ruiz. “It’s vital that we amplify the voices of communities whose stories are too often left unheard. The César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park Act, aims to empower the National Park Service to honor and share these important stories, celebrating the diverse and vibrant history of our country.”

    “On César Chávez Day, we commemorate the work and legacy of an iconic Latino civil rights leader. His example of defending workers’ rights across the country serves as a blueprint for overcoming some of our nation’s biggest challenges, demonstrating the immense power behind organized movements fighting against injustice,” said Senator Padilla. “Establishing the César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park would pay proper homage to César Chávez’s tireless work for the dignity, respect, and equal treatment of workers — priorities facing immense threats under the Trump Administration. Our National Park system should memorialize the diverse legacy and culture of all Americans and give farm workers the recognition they deserve.”

    “Today, we honor the profound legacy and sacrifices of César Chávez — a civil rights activist who expanded and defended the rights of farm workers through the power of organizing. The designation of the César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park recognizes the countless contributions he made which paved the way for better wages and working conditions for millions of farm workers,” said Senator Schiff. 

    The hundreds of sites that are part of the National Park system preserve our natural, historical, and cultural heritage while offering vital spaces for teaching, learning, and outdoor recreation. While the National Park Service (NPS) embraces their role as “America’s storytellers,” too few national park units primarily focus on women, communities of color, or other historically marginalized groups. The sites preserved by this bill would ensure that the National Park system better represents the diverse history of our nation. As a farm worker himself, César Chávez maintained a strong connection to the natural environment, and this bill uplifts his story and those of others whose contributions helped build the farm worker and civil rights movements that are pillars of American history.

    Specifically, this legislation would:

    • Create the César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park, which would include the existing the César E. Chávez National Monument, which includes La Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz in Keene, California.
    • Upon written agreement from the site owners, the National Historical Park would include the following sites: Forty Acres in Delano, California; the Santa Rita Center in Phoenix, Arizona; and McDonnell Hall in San Jose, California.
    • Conduct a National Historic Trail Study for the “Farmworker Peregrinación National Historic Trail,” the 300-mile march route taken by farm workers between Delano and Sacramento in 1966.

    In 2008, Congress enacted bipartisan legislation from former Arizona Senator John McCain and former California Representative Hilda Solis to direct the NPS to conduct a special resource study of sites that are significant to the life of César Chávez and the farm labor movement in the western United States. In 2012, President Obama established the César E. Chávez National Monument in Keene, California. In 2013, the NPS transmitted the Special Resource Study to Congress. The study team evaluated over 100 sites significant to César Chávez and the farm labor movement in the western United States, finding that several were nationally significant and depicted a distinct and important aspect of American history associated with civil rights and labor movements that is not adequately represented or protected elsewhere. While the NPS included five potential management alternatives to protect these sites, they ultimately recommended that Congress establish a National Historical Park that would incorporate nationally significant sites in California and Arizona related to the life of César Chávez and the farm labor movement.

    A map of the proposed park can be found here.

    A list of endorsing organizations can be found here. 

    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Work begins on new affordable homes at former Cowan’s Close depot site

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Construction has begun on a new residential development in Newington which will provide 19 modern, fully wheelchair-accessible homes available for social rent.

    Work commenced today (Monday 31 March), with the project expected to be completed by summer 2026.

    Upon completion, the homes will provide much-needed wheelchair accommodation in a city centre location whilst incorporating innovative, energy efficient design features. A fabric first approach with high levels of insulation will ensure that the homes stay warm, reducing the level of heating needed and helping to prevent fuel poverty.

    The development will also include renewable heating and energy generation with the use of Air Source Heat Pumps and Photovoltaic (solar) panels which will produce low-cost, sustainable energy and significantly reduce carbon emission from the development.

    Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Lezley Marion Cameron said:

    Edinburgh is in urgent need of new affordable and accessible homes to address the shortage of suitable accommodation options for residents who have disabilities and residents who are wheelchair users.

    I am therefore delighted that the new Cowan’s Close development in Newington is now underway to provide 19 new, modern, fully wheelchair accessible homes for social rent.

    CCG Managing Director, David Wylie, said:

    We are delighted to have commenced construction at Cowan’s Close. The project is another great example of how The City of Edinburgh Council and CCG are working collaboratively to address the demand for new, affordable homes in the city, and it will be a much welcome addition to the Newington community upon completion next year.

    Published: March 31st 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: OEM Encourages Caution Today as Severe Weather Moves into Western Oregon

    Source: US State of Oregon

    alem, Ore. — The National Weather Service says severe thunderstorms are expected across parts of the Pacific Northwest this afternoon and evening, with supercells possible west of the Cascades across Oregon into Washington. These storms may produce large hail, perhaps a tornado or two, and strong wind gusts. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management is encouraging people to take caution when travelling in Western Oregon today.

    Even if the chance of a tornado or severe storm appears slight, preparing ahead of time can make a significant difference.

    Lightning Safety

    • When thunder roars, go indoors. If you see lightning or hear thunder, seek shelter inside a sturdy, enclosed building. Do NOT take shelter under trees or open-sided shelters like picnic areas.
    • If shelter isn’t available, a vehicle with a metal roof, turned off, with the windows closed is safer than remaining outside. Vehicles act as a Faraday cage and will disperse electrical strikes away from you into the ground.

    Heavy Rain, Hail & Flooding

    • Slow down while driving to avoid hydroplaning or sliding on hail-covered streets.
    • Avoid driving through flooded roadways. Even a few inches can be deadly.
    • Watch for water accumulation in low-lying areas.

    Tornado Preparedness

    • The safest place during a tornado is a basement. If that’s not available, go to the lowest floor of your home in a small interior room—like a closet or bathroom—away from windows.
    • Cover yourself with a mattress or sturdy object to protect against debris.
    • If caught outside without shelter, lie in a ditch or culvert and cover your head.

    Damaging Winds

    • Remain indoors and away from windows.
    • Don’t park under trees due to falling limb risk.
    • Be aware that falling trees may impact power lines, buildings, and roadways.

    Power Outage Preparedness

    Severe weather can lead to power outages. Take these steps now to prepare:

    • Charge mobile devices and backup battery packs.
    • Assemble an emergency kit with flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food, drinking water, and necessary medications.
    • Have a plan for medical devices that require electricity.
    • Store extra blankets or cooling supplies, depending on the season.
    • Have books, games, or activities on hand to help pass the time without electricity.

    Farm & Livestock Safety

    • Secure loose outdoor items like garbage cans, patio furniture, and tools.
    • If possible, bring livestock indoors to barn or shelter. Animals often seek shelter under trees or along fences, both of which can be hazardous in thunderstorms.

    For More Information

    Visit the National Weather Service Thunderstorm Safety website: https://www.weather.gov/safety/thunderstorm

    For travel conditions make sure to visit: TripCheck.com
    Sign up for emergency alerts at: ORalert.gov

    Stay informed by monitoring local weather reports and signing up for OR-Alert to receive emergency notifications directly to your phone. Preparedness today can protect lives tomorrow. Stay alert, stay safe, and be ready.

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    It is the mission of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to proactively develop emergency response, risk reduction and disaster recovery programs to better serve Oregonians during times of disaster. OEM prioritizes an equitable and inclusive culture of preparedness that empowers all Oregonians to thrive in times in crisis. The agency leads collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters. For more information about the OEM, visit oregon.gov/oem.

    You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille, or a format you prefer. For assistance, email OEM_publicinfo@oem.oregon.gov or dial 711.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wildlife Oral Rabies Vaccination Program Begins to Help Protect North Carolinians and Their Pets

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Wildlife Oral Rabies Vaccination Program Begins to Help Protect North Carolinians and Their Pets

    Wildlife Oral Rabies Vaccination Program Begins to Help Protect North Carolinians and Their Pets
    jwerner

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to prevent and eliminate the spread of rabies. Starting this week, Wildlife Services will be distributing the annual oral rabies vaccine for raccoons in Western North Carolina. This oral rabies distribution program typically takes place annually each fall but was delayed in 2024 due to Hurricane Helene.

    “Rabies is a deadly but preventable disease, and this program plays a critical role in protecting both public health and animal populations across North Carolina,” said Carl Williams, DVM, State Public Health Veterinarian. “By vaccinating wildlife like raccoons, we create a barrier that helps stop the spread of the virus — keeping people, pets and communities safer.”

    Beginning April 2, 2025 , baits containing the oral rabies vaccine will be aerially distributed in the following counties: Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey. Additional hand baiting will take place in Buncombe County April 3-9, weather depending.

    The baits consist of a sachet, or plastic packet, containing the oral rabies vaccine. To make the baits attractive to raccoons, the packets are sprinkled with a fishmeal coating or encased inside hard fishmeal–polymer blocks about the size of a matchbox. When a raccoon bites into a bait, the vaccine packet is punctured, and the animal is exposed to the vaccine. This activates the animal’s immune system to produce antibodies that provide protection against rabies infection. 

    Anyone who comes in contact with the liquid vaccine should wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and call the phone number listed on the bait for further instructions and referral. While the oral rabies vaccine will not harm  domestic dogs and cats, it is only approved for use in raccoons and coyotes. Rabies vaccinations for your pets should be administered by a veterinarian. In North Carolina, domestic pets must be vaccinated against rabies by four months of age and routinely thereafter in accordance with state law. 

    In North Carolina, rabies is most commonly found in wild animals. People and their domestic animals may be exposed when they encounter infected wildlife. If you or your pet are bitten by a wild animal, please seek medical attention for a rabies risk assessment. If you are exposed to rabies, prompt administration of post exposure prophylaxis will prevent infection and disease. This disease is almost always fatal in mammals, including people, once symptoms develop. Increasing the number of vaccinated animals in the population helps establish a buffer to stop the spread of the disease to other wildlife, pets and people.

    The NC Wildlife Resources Commission appreciates the assistance of the public in reporting sick or dead wild animals to the NC Wildlife Helpline at 1-866-318-2401 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) or anytime via email at HWI@ncwildlife.org.  

    Baiting should be completed by the end of April 2025. The USDA’s Oral Rabies Vaccination program, originally implemented in the 1990s, helps prevent the raccoon rabies epizootic from moving west of the Appalachian Mountains, where raccoon rabies does not exist. The program has been successful in that regard and the vision is to gradually move the vaccine barrier east until raccoon rabies is eliminated.

    For more information, please visit the National Rabies Management Program webpage. To learn more about rabies, visit the NCDHHS Division of Public Health website.

    El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte está trabajando en colaboración con los Servicios de Vida Silvestre del Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU.  para prevenir y eliminar la propagación de la rabia. A partir de esta semana, los Servicios de Vida Silvestre distribuirá la vacuna oral anual contra la rabia para mapaches en el oeste de Carolina del Norte. Este programa de distribución oral de la rabia generalmente se lleva a cabo anualmente cada otoño, pero se retrasó en 2024 debido al huracán Helene.

    “La rabia es una enfermedad mortal pero prevenible, y este programa desempeña un papel fundamental en la protección tanto de la salud pública como de las poblaciones de animales en Carolina del Norte”, dijo Carl Williams, DVM, veterinario de salud pública estatal. “Al vacunar a la vida silvestre como los mapaches, creamos una barrera que ayuda a detener la propagación del virus, manteniendo a las personas, las mascotas y las comunidades más seguras”.

    A partir de abril 2 de 2025, los cebos que contengan la vacuna oral contra la rabia se distribuirán por vía aérea en los siguientes condados: Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga y Yancey. El cebo de manos adicional se llevará a cabo en el condado de Buncombe del 3 al 9 de abril, dependiendo del clima.

    Los cebos consisten en un sobre, o paquete de plástico, que contiene la vacuna oral contra la rabia. Para que los cebos sean atractivos para los mapaches, los paquetes se espolvorean con un recubrimiento de harina de pescado o se encierran dentro de bloques duros de polímero de harina de pescado del tamaño de una caja de fósforos. Cuando un mapache muerde un cebo, el paquete de vacunas se perfora y el animal se expone a la vacuna. Esto activa el sistema inmunológico del animal para producir anticuerpos que proporcionan protección contra la infección por el virus de la rabia.

    Cualquier persona que entre en contacto con la vacuna líquida debe lavar bien el área afectada con  jabón y agua y llamar al número de teléfono que aparece en el cebo para obtener más instrucciones y remisión. Si bien la vacuna oral contra la rabia no lesionará a perros y gatos domésticos, solo está aprobada para su uso en mapaches y coyotes. Las vacunas contra la rabia para sus mascotas deben ser administradas por un veterinario. En Carolina del Norte, las mascotas domésticas deben vacunarse contra la rabia a los cuatro meses de edad y de forma rutinaria después de acuerdo con la ley estatal.

    En Carolina del Norte, la rabia se encuentra con mayor frecuencia en animales silvestres. Las personas y sus animales domésticos pueden estar expuestos cuando se encuentran con animales silvestres infectados. Si usted o su mascota son mordidos por un animal silvestre, busque atención médica para una evaluación del riesgo de rabia. Si está expuesto a la rabia, la pronta administración de la profilaxis posterior a la exposición evitará infecciones y enfermedades. Esta enfermedad casi siempre es mortal en los mamíferos, incluso para las personas, una vez que se desarrollan los síntomas. El aumento del número de animales vacunados en la población ayuda a establecer un amortiguador para detener la propagación de la enfermedad a otras especies silvestres, mascotas y personas.

    La Comisión de Recursos de Vida Silvestre de Carolina del Norte agradece la ayuda del público al reportar sobre los animales silvestres enfermos o muertos a la Línea de Ayuda de Vida Silvestre de Carolina del Norte al 1-866-318-2401 (de lunes a viernes, 8 a.m. a 5 p.m. o en cualquier momento por correo electrónico a HWI@ncwildlife.org.

    El cebado debería estar concluido a fines de abril de 2025. El programa de vacunación oral contra la rabia del USDA, implementado originalmente en la década de 1990, ayuda a evitar que la epizootia de la rabia de los mapaches se mueva al oeste de las Montañas Apalaches, donde no existe la rabia de los mapaches. El programa ha tenido éxito en ese sentido y la visión es mover gradualmente la barrera de la vacuna hacia el este hasta que se elimine la rabia del mapache.

    Para obtener más información, visite la página web del Programa Nacional de Manejo de la Rabia. Para obtener más información sobre la rabia, visite el sitio web de la División de Salud Pública del NCDHHS.

    Mar 31, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The government will allocate over 4 billion rubles for the purchase of agricultural machinery for leasing

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Documents

    Order dated March 27, 2025 No. 737-r

    Order dated March 27, 2025 No. 738-r

    The government continues to work on updating the agricultural machinery fleet and reducing the financial burden on farmers. More than 4 billion rubles will be allocated from the federal budget for the purchase of agricultural machinery, which will then be leased. The orders to this effect were signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

    The funds reserved in the federal budget are intended for Rosagroleasing. The decisions will allow for the purchase of various agricultural machinery. It will be transferred to farmers, including under preferential leasing agreements.

    In total, 4.5 billion rubles of budget investments are planned to be allocated for these purposes in 2025. This will allow purchasing at least 300 units of domestic agricultural machinery.

    Commenting on the decision taken at a meeting with deputy prime ministers on March 31, Mikhail Mishustin noted that this issue was discussed during the Government’s recent annual report to the State Duma.

    “It is important that farmers receive new machines as soon as possible. The demand for agricultural machinery is growing now, which means that the industry should not have a shortage of the necessary components for harvesting,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

    The work is being carried out within the framework of the state program “Development of industry and increasing its competitiveness.”

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The government is launching new programs in the field of creating agricultural machinery and producing veterinary drugs

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Document

    Resolution of March 27, 2025 No. 395

    The Government, on the instructions of the President, continues to work to achieve technological sovereignty in the field of agricultural engineering and to form a sustainable system of national biological security. A resolution has been signed supplementing the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Agriculture with two new subprograms: “Agricultural Machinery and Equipment” and “Development of Technologies for the Production of Veterinary Medicines.”

    The total funding for the first subprogram, which will be implemented in 2025–2030, will amount to approximately 15.8 billion rubles. Federal budget funds will amount to over 13.1 billion rubles, and attracted investments will amount to over 2.7 billion rubles. The implementation of the subprogram activities, in particular, involves the development and creation of modern tractors, self-propelled combines for harvesting grain, potatoes, beets and other agricultural crops. It is also planned to create domestic equipment for the maintenance and harvesting of fruit and berry plantations and vineyards, modern sprayers, fertilizer spreading machines, seeders, milking systems, and egg sorting machines. It is expected that at least 27 new types of agricultural machinery will be developed by 2030.

    The implementation of the second subprogram, dedicated to the development of veterinary drug production, is also planned for 2025–2030. The volume of funding from the state will amount to more than 4.4 billion rubles. Another 12 billion rubles are planned to be raised from extra-budgetary sources. The main goal of the subprogram is to create new, competitive domestic veterinary drugs and meet the domestic needs of the livestock industry for such drugs. For this purpose, it is planned to develop and clinically test new vaccines and veterinary drugs for pigs, poultry, cattle, and farmed fish, and then launch them into industrial production.

    Successful implementation of the subprogram will allow achieving a 70% level of provision of livestock with domestic veterinary drugs by 2030. By the same date, the level of provision with Russian vaccines should be 61%.

    During a meeting with deputy prime ministers on March 31, Mikhail Mishustin instructed Dmitry Patrushev to monitor the progress of the subprograms. “We need to ensure that all these projects go into production as soon as possible and become available to consumers,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

    The signed document introduces changes toGovernment Resolution of August 25, 2017 No. 996.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Romanian National Sentenced To 24 Months’ Imprisonment For Wire Fraud Conspiracy And Aggravated Identity Theft

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Stefan-Alin Doleanu, age 29, of Romania, was sentenced on March 27, 2025, to 24 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, between November 2022 and March 2023, Doleanu and multiple co-conspirators, including co-defendant Eliza Doleanu, conspired to use stolen SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (“EBT”) card information at Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club stores in Camp Hill, Chambersburg, Mechanicsburg, and York. During this period, the Doleanus illegally purchased several thousand dollars in goods. 

    Judge Wilson further ordered Doleanu to pay restitution in the amount of $14,255.97. 

    Doleanu will be removed from the United States upon the completion of his sentence.

    The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Williams prosecuted the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Australian Oilseeds Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COOTAMUNDRA, Australia, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: COOT) today announced financial results for its second quarter fiscal 2025 ended December 31, 2024.

    Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Highlights Compared to Prior Year

    • Sales revenue increased 4.5% to A$10.4 million reflecting increased demand for the Company’s chemical free canola oil due to expanded customer contracts.
    • Retail oil revenue increased 47.6% to A$5.2 million due to expanded distribution in leading retailers in Australia along with the addition of several new SKUs.
    • Net loss of A$0.3 million compared to net income of A$1.0 million, reflecting changes to sales mix along with the timing of planned investments in brand and marketing to support our GEO products as well as higher professional fees, insurance cost and increased listing compliance costs.

    “Our retail oils business continued to deliver exceptional growth in the second quarter, reflecting robust demand across our portfolio as well as expanding distribution,” said Gary Seaton, Chief Executive Officer. “Our momentum is strong, including a significant increase in demand from China recently, and we continue to benefit from our commitment to eliminating chemicals from the edible oil production and manufacturing systems to supply quality products such as non-GMO oilseeds and organic and non-organic food-grade oils. We remain comfortable with our direction and trajectory and continue to expect to deliver improving returns over the long term as our business scales.”

    About Australian Oilseeds Investments Pty Ltd. Australian Oilseeds Investments Pty Ltd. is an Australian proprietary company that, directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries, is focused on the manufacture and sale of sustainable oilseeds (e.g., seeds grown primarily for the production of edible oils) and is committed to working with all suppliers in the food supply chain to eliminate chemicals from the production and manufacturing systems to supply quality products to customers globally. The Company engages in the business of processing, manufacture and sale of non-GMO oilseeds and organic and non-organic food-grade oils, for the rapidly growing oilseeds market, through sourcing materials from suppliers focused on reducing the use of chemicals in consumables in order to supply healthier food ingredients, vegetable oils, proteins and other products to customers globally. Over the past 20 years, the Company’s cold pressing oil plant has grown to become the largest in Australia, pressing strictly GMO-free conventional and organic oilseeds.

    Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding our financial outlook, business strategy and plans, market trends and market size, opportunities and positioning. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “believe,” “hope,” “target,” “project,” “goals,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “intend,” “shall” and variations of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. For example, global economic conditions could in the future reduce demand for our products; we could in the future experience cybersecurity incidents; we may be unable to manage or sustain the level of growth that our business has experienced in prior periods; our financial resources may not be sufficient to maintain or improve our competitive position; we may be unable to attract new customers, or retain or sell additional products to existing customers; we may experience challenges successfully expanding our marketing and sales capabilities, including further specializing our sales force; customer growth could decelerate in the future; we may not achieve expected synergies and efficiencies of operations from recent acquisitions or business combinations, and we may not be able to pay off our convertible notes when due. Further information on potential factors that could affect our financial results is included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for June 30, 2024 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views only as of the date of this press release and we assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

    Contact
    Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited
    126-142 Cowcumbla Street
    Cootamundra New South Wales 2590
    Attn: Amarjeet Singh, CFO
    Email: amarjeet.s@energreennutrition.com.au

    Investor Relations Contact
    Reed Anderson
    (646) 277-1260
    reed.anderson@icrinc.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Panama Canal’s other conflict: Water security for the population and the global economy

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Karina Garcia, Researcher and Lecturer in Climate, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá

    The Panama Canal carries cargo ships between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, cutting weeks off shipping time. Danny Lehman/The Image Bank via Getty Images

    The Panama Canal is one of the most important waterways in the world, with about 7% of global trade passing through. It also relies heavily on rainfall. Without enough freshwater flowing in, the canal’s locks can’t raise and lower ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Droughts mean fewer ships per day, and that can quickly affect Panama’s finances and economies around the world.

    But the same freshwater is also essential for Panama’s many other needs, including drinking water for about 2 million Panamanians, use by Indigenous people and farmers in the watershed, as well as hydropower.

    When the region experiences droughts, as it did in 2023-2024, the resulting water shortages can lead to increasing water conflicts.

    One of those conflicts involves a new dam the Panama Canal Authority plans to begin building in 2027. It would be designed to secure enough water to keep the canal, which contributes about 4.2% to the country’s gross domestic product,, operating into the future, but it would also submerge farming communities and displace over 2,000 people from their homes.

    The Panama Canal Authority plans to build a new dam and reservoir that would submerge the village of Limon and hundreds of homes in the region.
    AP Photo/Matias Delacroix

    This recent drought wasn’t an anomaly. As an academic who studies the effects of rising temperatures on water availability and sea level rise, I’m aware that as the climate warms, Panama will likely face more extremes, both long dry spells and also periods of too much rain. That will force more trade-offs between residential needs and the canal over water use.

    Complex engineering remade the landscape

    The Panama Canal was built over a century ago at the narrowest point of the country and in the heart of its population center. The route was historically used by the Spanish colonies and later for a rail line between the oceans.

    The idea of a canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans began as a French endeavor, led by architect Ferdinand D. Lesseps, designer of the Suez Canal in Egypt. After the French effort failed, the U.S. government signed a treaty with newly independent Panama in 1903 to take over the project.

    The U.S. acquired the rights to build and operate the Panama Canal in exchange for US$10 million and annual payments of $250,000. Later, the Torrijos-Carter Treaty in 1977 committed the U.S. to transfer the control of operations to Panama at the end of 1999.

    One week of shipping on the Panama Canal. Source: Maps.com using World Economic Forum data.

    The canal project was designed to take advantage of the region’s tropical climate and abundant average rainfall.

    It harnessed the water of the Chagres River basin to run three sets of locks – chambers that, filled with fresh water, act like elevators, lifting or lowering ships to compensate for the difference in water levels between the two oceans.

    To ensure enough water would be available for the locks, the canal’s designers changed the shapes of the region’s mountains and rivers to create a large watershed – over 1,325 square miles (3,435 square kilometers) – that drains toward the canal’s human-made lakes, Gatun and Alajuela.

    About 65% of the water that flows from the watershed today goes to operate the locks. The majority of that water is quickly lost to the oceans.

    Even the two newest locks, built in 2016, only reuse about 60% of water on each transit – 40% is flushed to avoid saltwater from the oceans intruding into the watershed.

    Threats to water security

    Panama’s wet tropical weather is predominantly influenced by its location near the equator, the trade winds and the oceans. Most of its rain falls during the wet season, from May to November. However, weather records show a drop in average precipitation starting around 1950.

    The driest years resulted in dangerously low water levels in Gatun Lake that made canal operations difficult, including in 1998, 2016 and most recently 2023-2024. El Niño weather patterns can mean particularly low rainfall.

    Water levels at Gatun Lake since 1965 show how low 2023 and 2024 were.
    EIA

    In December 2023, the Panama Canal Authority was forced to limit the number of daily transits to 22, compared with 36 to 38 usual crossings, because too little freshwater was available.

    To avoid steep financial losses, the Panama Canal Authority raised prices and auctioned transit opportunities to the highest bidders. Without those measures, the authority estimated it would lose $100 million a month from reduced ship traffic because of the water shortage.

    Ecosystems also need enough water, and changes in forest tree composition have become evident on Barro Colorado Island in Gatun Lake in response to rising temperatures and more frequent droughts.

    Climate change is also creating greater variability in rainfall. Too much rain can also be a problem for canal operations. In December 2010, the biggest storm on record caused landslides and $150 million in damage that interrupted transits on the canal.

    Sustaining Panama’s canal and its people

    Temporary measures for saving water have been already implemented. The Panama Canal Authority shortened the chamber size in some of its locks to use less water for smaller vessels and minimized direction changes.

    In January 2025, the authority approved plans to build the new dam on the Indio River to increase water available for the canal. The dam could solve some water concerns during drier periods for the canal.

    However, it also illustrates the country’s water conflicts. Once filled, the dam’s reservoir will submerge over 1,200 homes by some counts, and more people in the region will lose access to land and travel routes. The Panama Canal Authority promises that residents will be relocated, but some of those living in the region fear they will lose their livelihoods, along with the communities their families have lived in for generations.

    Panama Canal representatives explain to community members in El Jobo in 2024 how a planned dam on the Indio River would affect the future of their community.
    AP Photo/Matias Delacroix

    Residents across Panama, meanwhile, regularly hear media campaigns that encourage them to save water. An Environmental Economic Incentives Program promotes forest conservation and sustainable family agriculture to conserve water resources.

    The Panama Canal is a crucial part of international trade, and it will face more periods of water stress. I believe responding to those future changes, as well as market and societal demands, will require innovative solutions that respect ecosystem limits and the needs of the population.

    Karina Garcia does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The Panama Canal’s other conflict: Water security for the population and the global economy – https://theconversation.com/the-panama-canals-other-conflict-water-security-for-the-population-and-the-global-economy-253100

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sowing the Seeds of a New Community Resource

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A senior at UConn is making strides to combat food insecurity in Storrs with a free seed library.

    “Food insecurity is kind of crazy high in all college student populations,” says Iris Armstrong ’25 (CAHNR), who goes by Iris. “At UConn, as well as in our surrounding community, it’s pretty significant. My first goal was to combat food insecurity through connecting people with the resources they need to grow their own food.”

    Iris, a landscape architecture major, started the seed library during the fall 2024 semester thanks to an Environmental and Social Sustainability Grant (ESSG) from the Office of Sustainability. It is located in the lobby of the Floriculture Building.

    The seed library is open to anyone in the UConn community whenever the building is open, typically 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It remains open during the summer months.

    There are a variety of seeds available, primarily for edible plants, mostly vegetables. “We also have some flowers. I’m trying to get a good selection of native flowers because that’s really important as far as the role of seed libraries in promoting biodiversity,” says Iris. She secured donations from seed companies and is working with local farms to source more.

    Along with seeds, Iris collected supplemental resources. There is literature with information on seed saving, food justice, gardening, agricultural policy and food assistance programs including UConn Swipes and The Husky Harvest Food Pantries. “I used some of the grant funding to buy some great books,” says Iris. “They’re kind of like the Bibles of seed saving.”

    Seed saving is the practice of saving seeds from plants you grow, so you can grow a new plant the following year. “It saves you money, it keeps you from becoming dependent on seed corporations and it helps you grow better plants,” Iris says.

    (George Velky / UConn Photo)

    She is hoping that the seed library can continue to grow after graduation. “I really want to see it grow as an educational space,” says Iris. “I’d like to tie it more into the food justice and food sovereignty side of things, I want it to be more political.” She says she also wants to make the space multi-lingual to increase accessibility.

    Iris has been working on setting up workshops at the Spring Valley Student Farm so people can learn how to save seeds with a hands-on approach. Another idea is to implement seed saving walks around campus. “I’ve taken a lot of seeds from perennial plants around campus. It’s like an infinite plant hack,” says Iris.

    When it comes to information on how to start a garden, Iris says, “Don’t come to me for advice, go to the UConn Home and Garden Center, and UConn Extension. They’re amazing, everyone should go talk to them.” These programs can help community members with any questions once they get started at the seed library. “They’ll get you connected with soil testing, guides to growing and tons of cool information,” she said.

    “I’m hoping that having a place on campus where you’re able to get the seeds you need, the pots you need, and also connect with the other resources you need to grow your own food will help people become more familiar with the process of growing food, and raise awareness for food insecurity on campus,” says Iris.

    Keep up with the work of the seed library on Instagram: @UConnSeedLibrary

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Diginex Limited and Forvis Mazars Announce Strategic Alliance to Enhance Supply Chain Risk Assessment with diginexLUMEN

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diginex Limited (“Diginex Limited” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DGNX), a leading impact technology company focused on solving pressing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges, today announced a strategic alliance with Forvis Mazars (“Forvis Mazars”), a leading global professional services firm, to bring its innovative supply chain due diligence platform, diginexLUMEN, to Forvis Mazars’ extensive client base. This collaboration aims to empower businesses to assess and manage supply chain risks related to climate and social issues, enhancing transparency and resilience in an increasingly complex global landscape.

    The alliance combines Diginex’s cutting-edge technology with Forvis Mazars’ deep expertise in ESG advisory, climate risk management, and business strategy, offering clients a powerful tool to navigate the evolving demands of sustainability and regulatory compliance. diginexLUMEN, a scalable and affordable Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, provides unparalleled insight into supply chain risks by leveraging robust governance processes, multilingual worker voice surveys, and algorithm-based risk scoring. This enables companies to identify, prioritize, and address issues such as forced labor, climate impacts, and other social vulnerabilities across their global operations.

    “We are excited to work with Forvis Mazars to introduce diginexLUMEN to their clients, helping businesses of all sizes tackle the critical challenges within their supply chains,” said Mark Blick, CEO of Diginex. “This alliance underscores our mission to help enable easy access to advanced ESG tools, enabling organizations to drive meaningful change while meeting stakeholder expectations and regulatory requirements.”

    Forvis Mazars, known for its tailored solutions in ESG and climate risk management, sees this alliance as a key step in supporting clients to build sustainable and resilient business models. “Our clients are increasingly focused on understanding and mitigating supply chain risks tied to climate change and social issues,” said William Hughes, Sustainability Director at Forvis Mazars. “By integrating diginexLUMEN into our service offerings, we can provide actionable insights and innovative technology to help them achieve their sustainability goals and thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

    This strategic relationship comes at a pivotal time as global supply chains face heightened scrutiny from regulators, investors, and consumers demanding greater accountability on climate and social impacts. diginexLUMEN’s proven track record—developed in collaboration with industry leaders like The Coca-Cola Company, Unilever and Reckitt—positions it as a transformative tool for companies seeking to move beyond traditional audit models toward continuous, data-driven risk management.

    Through this alliance, Forvis Mazars clients will gain access to diginexLUMEN’s comprehensive features, including supplier performance monitoring, ESG reporting capabilities, and actionable improvement tracking, all designed to foster transparency and accountability. Together, Diginex and Forvis Mazars aim to set a new standard for supply chain due diligence, helping businesses align profitability with purpose.

    For more information about diginexLUMEN or to schedule a demo, visit www.diginex.com. For inquiries about Forvis Mazars’ ESG and climate risk services, visit www.forvismazars.us.

    About Diginex Limited
    Diginex Limited is a Cayman Islands exempted company, with subsidiaries located in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Diginex Limited commenced operations in 2020 and is a software company that empowers businesses and governments to streamline ESG, climate, and supply chain data collection and reporting. Diginex Limited is an impact technology business that helps organizations address the some of the most pressing ESG, climate and sustainability issues, utilizing blockchain, machine learning and data analysis technology to lead change and increase transparency in corporate social responsibility and climate action.

    Diginex’s products and services solutions enable companies to collect, evaluate and share sustainability data through easy-to-use software. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: https://www.diginex.com/.

     About Forvis Mazars  

    Forvis Mazars is the brand name for the Forvis Mazars Global network (Forvis Mazars Global Limited) and its two independent members: Forvis Mazars, LLP in the United States and Forvis Mazars Group SC, an internationally integrated partnership operating in over 100 countries and territories. Forvis Mazars Global Limited is a UK private company limited by guarantee and does not provide any services to clients. Forvis Mazars LLP is the UK firm of Forvis Mazars Group. 

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    Diginex
    Investor Relations
    Email: ir@diginex.com  

    IR Contact – Europe
    Anna Höffken
    Phone: +49.40.609186.0
    Email: diginex@kirchhoff.de

    IR Contact – US
    Jackson Lin
    Lambert by LLYC
    Phone: +1 (646) 717-4593
    Email: jian.lin@llyc.global  

    IR Contact – Asia
    Shelly Cheng
    Strategic Public Relations Group Ltd.
    Phone: +852 2864 4857
    Email: sprg_diginex@sprg.com.hk

    Forvis Mazars
    Josh Voulters
    Communications and Brand Director
    Email : josh.voulters@mazars.co.uk

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Army solar project generates green energy for Larkhill Garrison

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Army solar project generates green energy for Larkhill Garrison

    Construction works have completed on the installation of over 1,370 roof-mounted solar panels at Larkhill Garrison.

    Maj Gen Richard Clements CBE, Director Basing & Infrastructure and representatives from Army, DIO and Aspire Defence beside new roof mounted PV at Larkhill Garrison. Aspire Defence Ltd.

    The Photovoltaic (PV) panels will generate electricity to run buildings at Larkhill, with any surplus being fed through the private wire network for reuse across Bulford, Tidworth and Perham Down. The works have been completed under the army’s Project Prometheus, which is delivering both ground and roof mounted solar arrays at a number of sites across the army estate in the coming years.

    The solar panels support the army’s commitment to operate more sustainably and reach net zero by 2050.

    At the official switch-on of the PV panels at Larkhill Garrison on Wednesday 26 March, Major General Richard Clements CBE, Director of Basing & Infrastructure and the army’s sustainability champion, said:

    I am delighted to see the successful completion of our latest solar installation project. By increasing green energy supply, we are building a more sustainable, cost-effective army estate that protects both our future capability and the environments in which soldiers live, work and train.

    Almost 11,000 PV panels have been installed in recent years on vehicle garaging, offices, stores and training assets at Salisbury Plain Training Area garrisons, covering over 18,000m2 of roof space. This saves 600 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, equivalent to the annual absorption of 27,000 trees.

    All the construction has been carried out by Aspire Defence Services Ltd, contracting to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) under Project Allenby/Connaught.

    Barry Ray, DIO Regional Delivery Lead, said:

    It’s fantastic to see the completion of the latest solar panel installation under Project Prometheus, through the Aspire Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and the tireless efforts of the whole team. We’re happy to be playing our part in the MOD’s efforts to meet the government’s net zero targets and make the Defence estate as sustainable as we can. The energy generated will help to power the buildings at Larkhill and any extra can be used to meet demand elsewhere on the PFI estate, so the benefit will be widely felt.

    Richard Tindal, Capital Projects Director, Aspire Defence Services Ltd, said:

    We are very pleased to support the army and DIO in this latest stage of the journey towards decarbonising their estate. Our long-term collaborative relationship has enabled us to work together, identifying the opportunities to support sustainability ambitions as funding becomes available. I look forward to continuing this into the future.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £1bn gift transfer to British Museum given green light

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    £1bn gift transfer to British Museum given green light

    The Charity Commission has given its formal permission for the most valuable object donation in British museum history to go ahead.

    In November 2024, the Trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation announced they were to make a permanent donation of their collection of Chinese ceramics to the British Museum.

    The collection numbers around 1,700 pieces estimated at around £1bn.

    The gift was subject to regulatory authority from the Commission, which has the power to authorise payments or transfers of assets from charities where this is not explicitly allowed for in the charity’s governing document.

    The Commission has now provided written authority under the Charities Act to change the Foundation’s governing document to enable the permanent transfer of the collection.

    In such cases, the relevant trustees need to think about how best to further the charity’s purpose before making the gift.

    In this case, the Sir Percival David Foundation was keen to fulfil its founder’s determination to use his collection to inform and inspire people, by keeping it on public view and enabling academic study of the pieces, while managing the charity’s resources effectively by transferring the costs of maintaining the collection.

    Sir Percival David (1892–1964) was a British businessman who collected ceramics in Europe, Japan, Hong Kong and China. Sir Percival’s collection has been on loan to the British Museum since 2009 in the specially designed bilingual Room 95, where it has been studied and enjoyed by millions of visitors.

    Head of Regulatory Authority at the Charity Commission, Christine Barker, said:

    We are pleased to have given authority for this remarkable transfer to go ahead. The Foundation’s trustees are clear that ensuring the safe and accessible display of their founder’s collection is fully aligned with their charitable objects.

    Our team are dedicated to considering such applications carefully, balancing the need to reflect changing circumstances against the importance of ensuring trustees safeguard their assets to pursue their charitable aims.

    Director of the British Museum, Dr Nicholas Cullinan said:

    I am humbled by the generosity of the Trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation in permanently entrusting their incomparable private collection to the British Museum and thank the Charity Commission for their support in now approving the transfer.

    These celebrated objects add a special dimension to our own collection and together offer scholars, researchers and visitors around the world the incredible opportunity to study and enjoy the very best examples of Chinese craftsmanship anywhere in existence.

    Chair of The Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art and The Sir Percival David Foundation Academic and Research Fund Colin Sheaf FSA said:

    Sir Percival was motivated by three principal concerns. These were to preserve the whole collection together for posterity, to display it publicly and safely in its entirety, and to ensure that his superb porcelain should not only be admired by connoisseurs for its beauty but should also educate the widest possible audience about China’s historic culture which he greatly admired.

    With the valued support of the Charity Commission, the Foundation Trustees have taken this major decision because they believe that this transfer entirely meets the philanthropic intentions and long-term wishes of the Founder almost a century ago.

    Highlights from the Sir Percival David collection include the ‘David vases’ from 1351. Their discovery revolutionised the dating for blue and white ceramics.

    The collection also includes a “Chicken cup” used to serve wine for the Chenghua emperor (1465–87) and Ru wares made for the Northern Song dynasty court around 1086.

    In the past year the Charity Commission considered 545 applications for the transfer of money or assets, often to enable trustees to switch these holdings to more modern charity structures.

    Ends

    Notes to editors

    1. The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive. This ambition will help to create and sustain an environment where charities further build public trust and ultimately fulfil their essential role in enhancing lives and strengthening society.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: AI is for the birds: How machine learning can help predict and manage avian flu outbreaks

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Rozita Dara, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, University of Guelph

    The active and ongoing global spread of avian influenza virus has impacted more than 14 million birds in Canada and 160 million in the USA.

    This recent outbreak has resulted in major economic losses, and a rise in egg prices in the past few years. This trend can cause disruptions in poultry supply chain and significant increases in the price of other poultry products.

    A virus like avian influenza is carried by birds, but it can “jump” species and infect livestock such as dairy or sheep or even pets like dogs and cats.



    Read more:
    Bird flu detected in Colorado dairy cattle − a vet explains the risks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus

    And most, if not all, human pandemic influenza viruses have had an avian origin in the past few decades. Experts warn it is only a matter of time before we face another pandemic threat.

    The good news is, we are better prepared than ever to meet that challenge. Not just because we have vaccines or treatments, although those are critical. But because we have something that can change the game entirely: artificial intelligence (AI).

    CBC News covers an outbreak of avian flu among Canadian geese in Prince Edward Island.

    Vast amounts of information

    AI can offer much in the way of advance pandemic information and planning. Remember the early days of COVID-19? What if we had more time to prepare? What if health officials had known weeks earlier where the virus was spreading, which neighbourhoods were most at risk, and what we needed to do to stop it?

    AI can analyze vast amounts of information, from wildlife health reports, geographical data, satellite images to social media trends, online content, farm data and even weather patterns to answer some questions about how, when and why pandemics happen. It spots patterns, anomalies and relationships humans cannot see in real-time.

    AI can alert monitors to where an avian influenza outbreak might occur before a region is impacted, how severe an outbreak might be and what type of intervention may be most effective. AI can help responders and governments act quickly, precisely and efficiently.

    Predicting outbreaks

    At the University of Guelph, my research team and I are working on AI solutions to help track and predict the avian influenza outbreaks. Our research — which is currently under review — has used AI to filter out misinformation about avian influenza from social media platforms and Reddit, as well as Google search data, and other online sources.

    This helps us understand public discussion about avian influenza. We have also combined these online activities with other data sources to monitor avian influenza online mentions and trends — we’ve found that AI can use this information to predict if an outbreak might occur in a specific area.

    With the availability of online and social media data, an outbreak surge can be predicted up to four weeks in advance in specific regions.

    Our research team has also created and tested decision support tools that use different types of information from wild bird reports, satellite images, climate change data and farm information. These tools help predict avian influenza outbreaks and how serious they might be in a certain area; through testing, we achieved an accuracy of 85 per cent.

    We’re currently in the process of building a Canadian tool to predict where bird flu might emerge, helping farmers and public health officials get ahead of outbreaks — this could mean the difference between a contained outbreak and a global crisis.

    More than a public health issue

    A sign warning hikers about an avian flu outbreak along the Skerwink Hiking Trail in Newfoundland.
    (Shutterstock)

    Avian influenza spreads through the food chain, wildlife and global trade. An outbreak in poultry can devastate agriculture and threaten our food security. Worse, it can jump to human populations with little warning.

    This issue is not just a public health issue. It is also an economic and social concern. But if we harness AI properly, we can give ourselves a better chance at combating these threats. We can predict where the next outbreak might come from and take action before it spreads.



    Read more:
    Soaring U.S. egg prices and millions of dead chickens signal the deep problems and risks in modern poultry production

    Using AI to predict avian flu outbreaks and spread can be applied to other situations, including other illnesses and the weather and environmental conditions that could contribute to disease spread.

    AI-based decision tools can also include augmented reality that enables the testing of thousands of hypothetical scenarios related to avian influenza. These include how outbreaks might spread, what the impacts of different intervention strategies could be, how changes in the economy and environment might occur, and how the supply chain could be impacted.

    We have the technology in our labs. But to make it work, we need strong partnerships between government, universities, farmers, industry and communities. We need to make sure that we generate high quality data, use the data ethically in a privacy-preserving manner, develop the AI tool responsibly and apply it fairly to ensure that no one is left behind.

    Rozita Dara receives funding from Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Alliance Tier I, funding and the University of Guelph’s Food from Thought.

    – ref. AI is for the birds: How machine learning can help predict and manage avian flu outbreaks – https://theconversation.com/ai-is-for-the-birds-how-machine-learning-can-help-predict-and-manage-avian-flu-outbreaks-252550

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: AFCD reminds public not to enter Sham Wan Restricted Area during restricted period

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) reminds members of the public today (March 31) not to enter the Sham Wan Restricted Area, Lamma Island, from tomorrow (April 1) to October 31 to protect nesting green turtles.
     
         The Sham Wan Restricted Area includes a beach of 0.5 hectare and a sea inlet of 98.2 hectares adjoining the beach at Sham Wan (see Annex). The restricted period lasts seven months, from April 1 to October 31.
     
         An AFCD spokesman said, “The green turtle is an endangered species protected by the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170) in Hong Kong. It is also the only sea turtle species that nests locally. The sandy beach at Sham Wan on Lamma Island is the only site in Hong Kong and one of the few sites in the South China Sea at which green turtles nest from time to time. Green turtles are known to stay in waters adjacent to their natal beaches before and in between their nesting. During the period, breeding green turtles are particularly sensitive to human disturbances, which may frighten them and cause them to abandon nesting. The designation of the Sham Wan Restricted Area helps protect endangered green turtles and their breeding ground. It can bring about a positive impact on the survival and breeding of green turtles in the long run.”
     
         The spokesman pointed out that AFCD staff will conduct patrols to prevent unauthorised entry to the area and monitor the occurrence and nesting activities of green turtles. Unauthorised entry to the restricted area is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 upon conviction.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: OFFICIAL HANDOVER OF AGRICULTURAL AID MATERIALS BY THE CHINA-SAMOA SCATAP PROJECT

    Source:

    Share this:

    KEYNOTE ADDRESS by Hon. Niuava Eti Leatiogie Malolo Funefeai, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (19 March 2025)

    Your Excellency Fei Mingxing, Ambassador of the Government of the People’s Republic of China in Samoa,

    Distinguished Representatives from the Government of the People’s Republic of China,

    Our SCATAP Chinese Expert Team,

    Our MAF colleagues,

    Our SCATAP Model Farmers,

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Talofa Lava and Warm Greetings to You All!

    It is with great pleasure that I stand before you today on this momentous occasion, the official handover of agricultural aid materials, provided through the Samoa-China Agricultural Technical Aid Project, SCATAP. The SCATAP initiative, which has been implemented by both Governments of Samoa and the People’s Republic of China for six consecutive phases now since 2010, is a testament to the strong and enduring partnership between our two Governments, in the area of agriculture and food security.

    On behalf of the Government of Samoa and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, I wish to extend our sincere gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, for their continued support in advancing agricultural development in our small island country.

    The generous assistance provided through SCATAP has played a crucial role in strengthening our local farming practices, improving productivity, and enhancing food security and nutrition for our people.

    Agriculture remains the backbone of Samoa’s economy, sustaining the livelihoods of many families in our rural communities. It is therefore important that we continue to introduce modern farming techniques, improve seed quality, and promote sustainable practices, to ensure long-term food security and nutrition, and economic resilience. Through SCATAP, we have seen remarkable progress in capacity building, technology transfer, and access to essential farming tools and resources.

    Today, as we officially receive these agricultural aid materials, we recognize the positive impact they will have on our farmers and our agricultural sector as a whole. These resources will help us increase production, improve efficiency, and create more opportunities for our farmers to thrive.

    To our farmers and stakeholders, I encourage you to use these materials in a way that maximizes its benefits, and the knowledge shared through this partnership. Let us work together to further develop Samoa’s agricultural sector, ensuring economic prosperity, and food security and nutrition for our future generations.

    In closing, I wish to again express my sincere appreciation to the Ambassador and Government Representatives of the People’s Republic of China, the dedicated SCATAP Chinese Expert Team, and all those involved in making this development partnership a success, and may it continue to grow for the desired benefits of both our countries.

    Soifua ma ia manuia!

    TUFATUFAINA ALOAIA O MEAFAIGALUEGA MO LE AU FAIFAATOAGA TAUALA MAI LE POLOKETI A LE SCATAP I LE FAIGAPA’AGA A SAMOA MA SAINA

    SAUNOAGA AUTU a le Minisita o Faatoaga ma Faigafaiva le afioga Niuava Eti Leatiogie Malolo Funefeai, (19 Mati 2025)

    Lau Afioga i le ali’i Amepasa o le Malo o Saina i Samoa nei, Your Excellency Fei Mingxing,

    Afifio sui mai le Malo o Saina,

    ‘Au faigaluega fa’apitoa a le tatou SCATAP mai Saina,

    Sui o paaga tumaoti mo atinae fa’atoaga ma faigafaiva,

    Le mamalu o le aufaifa’atoaga,

    Talofa, talofa lava.

    E muamua ona ou fa’atalofa atu i le suafa manumalo o Iesu Keriso, le Ao o le Ekalesia i lo outou paia , ma lo outou mamalu. Malo afua ailao ua maua, ua poto moli i futiafu e tasi i lo outou soifua maualuga ma le lagi e mama i lenei taeao matagofie, ina ua tatou feiloai i magafetau soifua. Vi’ia le Atua, ma ia fa’amanuina lona Suafa Paia.

    Ou te matautia fa’atulou i lenei aofia aemaise o le maimoa fa’afofoga mai a Samoa i lenei aso. E iai le manatu, o paia fa’ataotooto o Samoa ua potopoto, o le a le o’o iai se leo vaivai, aua e taliu ae popoe, ina ne’i le atoa li’o le masina, ona faitauina lea o le tautalaga. Nu’unu’u atu fa’atini o tausala. Ae tatou aumaia mamalu o le Atua e palelae’i ai lenei taeao ua tatou potopoto ai i Nu’u nei, i le Vaega o Laau Toto aua lenei fa’amoemoe taua.

    Ae o le a aga’i loa sina fa’amatalaga pu’upu’u i le auga o aute o lenei aso. Ou te tulai atu ai la ma le agaga fiafia tele i o outou luma i lenei taeao, ona o se fa’amoemoe sa fauao, faupo, sa talia lupe o maunu pe taunu’u nei fa’amanuiaga, ae fa’afetai i le Atua ua ia fa’ataunu’uina ma tu’uina mai le avanoa ma lenei laolao e fa’aleo ai ma le loto fa’afetai nei meaalofa ua foaina e le Malo tele o Saina, e tauala mai i le Poloketi o le SCATAP, lea o le a tauaaoina aloaia i lenei taeao mo le tatou Matagaluega o Fa’atoaga ma Faigafaiva, aemaise o ana paaga faifa’atoaga.

    O lenei fa’amoemoe na afua mai i taumafaiga a le tatou Malo e tauala mai i le tatou Matagaluega ina ia fa’amalosia le galulue fa’apaaga o Malo e lua (Samoa ma Saina) i le atina’e o fa’atoaga ma le si’itia o le tulaga o le mauaina pea o taumafa mo ona tagata.

    E ia te a’u le ava ma le fa’aaloalo e tatau ai e tu’uina atu ai se lagona o le agaga fa’afetai tele lava i le Malo o Saina e fai ma fofoga taumolimoli o le Malo o Samoa, ma le Matagaluega o Fa’atoaga ma Faigafaiva, e tusa ai o nei foa’i taua, e ala i mea faigaluega, atoa ma le lasi o mea ua taua’aoina i lenei aso.

    Fa’afetai tele mo le lagolago o lo’o fa’aauauina pea e ala i atina’e eseese ma metotia fou ua fa’asoa mai aua le si’itia o tomai ma agava’a o le mamalu o le aufaifa’atoaga ma le Matagaluega, ina ia si’itia ai le tamaoaiga o le tatou atunu’u e ala i atina’e o fa’atoaga.

    E tumau pea le avea o atinae o fa’atoaga ma ivitu malosi o le tamaoaiga o Samoa, lea o lo’o ola fa’alagolago iai aiga uma aua tupe maua ma le tausia o le ola manuia o tagata taitoatasi.

    O le fa’asoa mai o tomai ma agava’a fa’anei ona po i le faiga o fa’atoaga, o metotia eseese, ituaiga fatu laau eseese, seia o’o lava i ituaiga faiga o fa’atoaga e mautinoa le fa’aauauina pea ina ia maua pea taumafa, ma e mafai ona pulea gafataulimaina ma tali atu i suiga o le tau.

    O nisi o vaega taua o lenei poloketi ua afua ai nei foai e ala i mea faigaluega, ina ia fa’aoga tatau, e aofia ai le si’itia lea o tomai ma agava’a o le aufaigaluega ma le aufaifa’atoaga e pei o a’oa’oga ma polokalame fefa’asoaa’i, aemaise ai o le fa’aogaina o mea faigaluega talafeagai mo le fa’afaigofieina o le fa’atinoina o atinae o fa’atoaga.

    O le asō, ua tatou molimauina nei foai taua ma le aoga, o le a saga fa’amausali ai le aoga mo le atina’e o fa’atoaga a le mamalu o le aufaifa’atoaga, sosaiete, aemaise o pa’aga tumaoti. E talitonu o le a fesoasoaini tele nei meafaigaluega i le si’itia o fua o fa’atoaga ma atina’e, aemaise o le a tele avanoa mo le aufaifa’atoaga latou te agava’a ai i nei fa’amanuiaga.

    Mo le aufaifa’atoaga ma pa’aga uma a le tatou Matagaluega i lenei taeao, o le tu’ualalo ma le fa’amalosiau mo lo outou mamalu, ia fa’aoga lelei nei foai ma tomai ua fa’asoaina mai e nei sui o le Malo o Saina. Ia tatou galulue fa’atasi mo se Samoa manuia ina ia mau le atunu’u i taumafa aua fanau lalovaoa.

    O le a le fa’amatafauloaina se fa’amatalaga, e toe momoli atu le agaga fa’afetai tele lava i le aumalaga mai le Malo o Saina i lana Afioga i le ta’ita’i malaga, aemaise le amepasa o le Malo Saina o lo’o i’inei Samoa, fa’apea le aufaigaluega a le SCATAP, fa’atasi ai ma i latou uma sa tofu sao mo lenei taumafaiga. Ia tumau pea le galulue fa’atasi, ma ia fa’aauauina pea lenei faigapaaga i le va o Malo e lua aua le manuia o ona tagata.

    Soifua ma ia manuia.

    Ata Pueina – Malo o Samoa (Leaosa Faaifo Faaifo)

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: English rendering of PM’s speech at the launch of various development works in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 6:05PM by PIB Delhi

    Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

    Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

    Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

    Chhattisgarh Mahtari Ki Jai! (Hail Chhattisgarh!)

    Ratanpur Wali Mata Mahamaya Ki Jai!

    Karma Maya Ki Jai! Baba Guru Ghasidas Ki Jai!

    (Addressing the gathering in local language)

    Jai Johar from the bottom of my heart!

    Governor of Chhattisgarh, Shri Ramen Deka ji; the popular and dynamic Chief Minister of the state, Shri Vishnudeo Sai ji; my esteemed colleague in the Union Cabinet, Manohar Lal ji; the Member of Parliament from this region and Union Minister, Tokhan Sahu ji; Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly and my dear friend, Raman Singh ji; Deputy Chief Minister, Vijay Sharma ji; Arun Sahu ji; all the ministers, MPs, and MLAs of the Chhattisgarh Government; and my brothers and sisters who have gathered here from far and wide!

    Today marks the beginning of the New Year. It is also the first day of Navratri, and this land is blessed as the abode of Mata Mahamaya. Chhattisgarh is the paternal home of Mata Kaushalya. In this sacred context, these nine days, dedicated to divine feminine energy, hold special significance for Chhattisgarh. I consider myself truly fortunate to be here on the very first day of Navratri. Only a few days ago, a postage stamp was issued in honour of Bhakta Shiromani Mata Karma, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you on this occasion.

    Friends,

    The festival of Navratri will culminate with the grand celebration of Ram Navami, and Chhattisgarh’s devotion to Lord Ram is truly remarkable. Our Ramnami Samaj (a sect) has devoted itself entirely to the divine name of Lord Ram. I extend my warmest wishes to the people of Lord Ram’s maternal land and to all of you, my friends. Jai Shri Ram!

    Friends,

    On this auspicious day, with the blessings of Mohbhatta Swayambhu Shivling Mahadev, I have been given the opportunity to further accelerate the development of Chhattisgarh. Just a short while ago, we laid the foundation stone and inaugurated projects worth more than Rs 33,700 crore. These projects encompass housing for the underprivileged, schools, roads, railways, electricity, and gas pipelines—initiatives that will significantly enhance the quality of life for the people of Chhattisgarh. They will also generate new employment opportunities for the youth. My heartfelt congratulations to all of you on these important developmental projects.

    Friends,

    In our tradition, providing shelter to someone is considered a great virtue. But what could bring greater joy than the fulfilment of a person’s dream of owning a home? Today, on this auspicious occasion of Navratri and the New Year, three lakh underprivileged families in Chhattisgarh are moving into their new homes. A short while ago, I had the opportunity to meet three beneficiaries, and I could see the immense joy on their faces. One of the women was so overwhelmed with happiness that she could hardly contain her emotions. I extend my heartfelt best wishes to all these families—three lakh families—on this new chapter of their lives. The possibility of a secure roof over the heads of these poor families has become a reality only because of all of you. I say this because you placed your trust in Modi’s guarantee. Under the previous government, the dream of a pucca house for lakhs of families in Chhattisgarh remained buried in files. We had assured you that our government would turn this dream into reality. That is why, as soon as Vishnudeo ji’s government was formed, the very first cabinet decision was to construct 18 lakh houses. Today, three lakh of those homes have been completed. I am particularly pleased that many of these houses have been built in tribal regions. Numerous families from Bastar and Surguja now have pucca houses. One can truly appreciate the significance of this for families whose generations have endured hardship in makeshift huts. For those who may not fully grasp the magnitude of this change, let me put it into perspective. Imagine you are on a long journey by train or bus, standing the entire way because you cannot find a seat. The moment you secure a seat, the relief and joy you feel are immense, aren’t they? Now, imagine families who have spent their entire lives in slums or huts. Today, as they move into pucca houses, their joy knows no bounds. When I see this transformation, it fills me with new energy and strengthens my resolve to work tirelessly for my fellow countrymen.

    Friends,

    While the government has provided assistance in constructing these homes, the decision on how each house is built rests with the beneficiaries themselves—not the government. These are the homes of your dreams, and our government does not just build houses; it strives to enrich the lives of those who live in them. Efforts have been made to equip these homes with essential amenities, including toilets, electricity, Ujjwala gas connections, and tap water. I can see that a large number of mothers and sisters are present here today. Most of these pucca houses have been registered in the names of our women. Thousands of sisters have, for the first time, had a property legally registered in their name. My dear mothers and sisters, the happiness on your faces and your heartfelt blessings are my greatest asset.

    Friends,

    When such a vast number of houses are built—lakhs of them—it leads to another significant development. Consider this: who constructs these houses? Where do the materials used in their construction come from? These materials are not sourced from Delhi or Mumbai; rather, they come from local markets. The large-scale construction of houses provides employment to our masons, skilled workers such as Rani Mistris (queen/head masons), and labourers in villages. It also benefits local small shopkeepers who supply construction materials. Additionally, those who transport these goods in trucks and other vehicles gain employment opportunities. In this way, the construction of lakhs of homes has not only provided shelter but also generated widespread employment across Chhattisgarh.

    Friends,

    The BJP government is steadfastly fulfilling every promise made to the people of Chhattisgarh. The Chief Minister just mentioned that elections for local self-governance institutions were recently held—the three-tier elections—and the overwhelming support you have shown is truly commendable. As I stand before you today, I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for your trust and blessings.

    Friends,

    A large number of beneficiaries of various government schemes have gathered here today. You have personally witnessed how swiftly our government is honouring its commitments. We have fulfilled our promise to the women of Chhattisgarh. Paddy farmers have received the bonuses due for two years, and paddy has been procured at an increased Minimum Support Price (MSP). As a result, lakhs of farming families have collectively received thousands of crores of rupees. Under the previous Congress government, recruitment examinations were plagued by widespread corruption. The BJP government has ordered a thorough investigation into these examination scams. Moreover, we are now ensuring that recruitment exams are conducted with complete transparency. These honest efforts have strengthened public confidence in the BJP. Following the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has now triumphed in the civic elections as well, with its flag flying high across Chhattisgarh. The people of this state are wholeheartedly supporting the BJP government’s vision and initiatives.

    Friends,

    Chhattisgarh has now completed 25 years as a state, marking its silver jubilee year. Coincidentally, this year also commemorates the centenary of Atal Ji. In honour of his legacy, the Chhattisgarh government is celebrating 2025 as Atal Nirman Varsh. Our commitment is clear—we have built it, and we will make it even better. Every infrastructure project inaugurated or initiated today is a testament to this resolution.

    Friends,

    Chhattisgarh was created as a separate state to ensure that the benefits of development reached its people. However, under Congress rule, development remained stagnant, and wherever work was undertaken, corruption followed. The Congress party has never truly cared for your well-being. But we have. We have prioritised your lives, your comfort, and your children’s future. Our government is taking development initiatives to every village in Chhattisgarh. I have noticed a young girl here holding up a painting for quite some time. I request the security personnel to take note of her name and address. Daughter, I will send you a letter. Someone please collect it and ensure it reaches me. Thank you, dear child. Thank you very much. Today, you can see the transformation taking place—good roads are now reaching even the most remote tribal areas. For the first time, trains are connecting new regions, and I have just flagged off a new service here. Electricity is reaching these places for the first time, piped water supply is becoming a reality, and mobile towers are being installed in areas that never had connectivity before. New schools, colleges, and hospitals are being built. Chhattisgarh’s landscape is changing, and with it, its destiny is being rewritten.

    Friends,

    Chhattisgarh has now joined the ranks of states where 100% of the railway network operates on electricity—a remarkable achievement. Currently, railway projects worth approximately Rs 40,000 crore are underway in Chhattisgarh. Additionally, this year’s budget has allocated Rs 7,000 crore specifically for the state’s railway infrastructure. These developments will significantly enhance rail connectivity across various regions of Chhattisgarh while also improving links with neighbouring states.

    Friends,

    Along with financial resources, good intentions are essential for development. If there is dishonesty in both thought and action—like we witnessed under Congress rule—then even the largest treasury will be drained. We have seen this happen during Congress’s tenure, where corruption and mismanagement prevented development from reaching tribal areas. Take coal as an example—Chhattisgarh is rich in coal reserves, yet the state struggled to get enough electricity to meet its needs. Under Congress rule, the power sector remained neglected, and little effort was made to develop power plants. In contrast, our government is now actively setting up new power plants to ensure a reliable energy supply.

    Friends,

    We are also making significant efforts to generate electricity from solar energy. Let me introduce you to a remarkable scheme initiated by Modi—a scheme that will eliminate your electricity bill and even allow you to earn money by generating electricity at home. This initiative is called the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Under this scheme, our government is providing financial assistance of Rs 70,000–80,000 per household for installing solar panels. Here in Chhattisgarh, more than two lakh families have already registered for this scheme. I encourage you all to join as well and reap its benefits.

    Friends,

    Another example of good governance and vision is the development of gas pipelines. Chhattisgarh, being a landlocked state, is far from the sea, making gas supply a significant challenge. The previous government failed to invest adequately in gas infrastructure, leaving the state dependent on costly transportation methods. We are now addressing this issue head-on. Our government is actively laying gas pipelines in Chhattisgarh, reducing the reliance on transporting petroleum products by trucks. This will lead to lower prices for fuel and energy-related products. Additionally, the introduction of gas pipelines will enable vehicles to run on CNG, providing a cleaner and more affordable alternative. Moreover, this initiative will bring piped cooking gas directly to homes. Just as water flows to the kitchen through pipes, gas will now be supplied in the same way. We are currently working towards connecting over two lakh homes with direct piped gas supply. Beyond household benefits, the availability of gas will pave the way for new industries in Chhattisgarh. This, in turn, will create thousands of new job opportunities.

    Friends,

    In past decades, Congress’s policies fuelled the spread of Naxalism across several states, including Chhattisgarh. Wherever there was scarcity and lack of development, Naxalism took root and flourished. But what did the party that ruled for 60 years do? Instead of addressing the challenges, it simply declared such districts as backward and turned away from its responsibilities. As a result, entire generations of our youth were lost. Many mothers had to endure the heart-wrenching loss of their sons, and countless sisters were left grieving for their brothers.

    Friends,

    The indifference shown by those past governments only aggravated the crisis. You have witnessed first-hand how some of the most underprivileged tribal families were left struggling in various districts of Chhattisgarh. The Congress government never cared for them. We did. We ensured that poor tribal families had proper sanitation by launching the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. We prioritised their healthcare needs by introducing Ayushman Bharat Yojana, providing free treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh. We made essential medicines affordable through PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras, where medicines are available at an 80% discount.

    Friends,

    Those who claim to be the champions of social justice were the very ones who ignored the tribal community for decades. This is why I say: Modi stands for those whom no one else cares for. We are actively working towards the upliftment of the tribal society through special initiatives. One such programme is the Dharti Aaba Janjati Utkarsh Abhiyan, under which Rs 80,000 crore is being invested in tribal development. This initiative is benefiting nearly 7,000 tribal villages in Chhattisgarh alone. Additionally, we recognise that within the tribal community, there exist extremely backward groups that need special attention. For the first time ever, our government has introduced the PM Janman Yojana, specifically designed for these communities. Under this scheme, development work is underway in more than 2,000 settlements across 18 districts of Chhattisgarh. Nationwide, 5,000 kilometres of roads have been approved in tribal settlements—half of these, approximately 2,500 kilometres, will be constructed in Chhattisgarh itself under the PM Janman Yojana. Moreover, many families present here today have received pucca houses through this scheme. This is the transformation we are bringing—development that reaches every doorstep.

    Friends,

    Today, under the double-engine government, Chhattisgarh is witnessing rapid transformation. When a health centre in Sukma district receives a national quality certificate, it instils a sense of confidence. When a health centre in Dantewada resumes operations after years of inactivity, it brings renewed optimism. These efforts are paving the way for a new era of lasting peace in Naxal-affected areas. In December’s Mann Ki Baat broadcast, I spoke about the Bastar Olympics. You may have heard how thousands of young people enthusiastically took part in the event. Their participation is clear proof of the positive change unfolding in Chhattisgarh.

    Friends,

    I can see a bright future for the youth of Chhattisgarh. The state’s implementation of the New Education Policy is commendable. Across the country, more than 12,000 modern PM Shri Schools have been established, with approximately 350 located in Chhattisgarh. These institutions will serve as model schools, elevating the entire education system of the state. Additionally, Eklavya Model Schools are already making remarkable progress in Chhattisgarh. Many schools in Naxal-affected areas have also been reopened, providing children with new opportunities for learning. Today, the Vidya Samiksha Kendra has also been launched in Chhattisgarh, marking another significant milestone in the state’s education sector. This initiative will enhance the quality of education, enabling real-time assistance for both teachers and students in classrooms.

    Friends,

    We have honoured yet another promise made to you. Under the new National Education Policy, medical and engineering studies have now commenced

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Free and low-cost things to do in Leeds over the Easter school holidays

    Source: City of Leeds

    Looking for free and low-cost things to do with the family over the Easter school holidays? Check out our list of events and activities taking place in Leeds.

    Dragon Quest: The Search for the Lost Eggs at Lotherton
    Calling all adventure seekers! Take part in a brave quest across Lotherton this Easter to earn your stripes in the field of mythical beast exploration.
    Saturday 5 to Monday 21 April, cost: included in general admission, free for members
    Find out more: Dragon Quest at Lotherton

    Where’s Wooly? at Temple Newsam
    Help find the missing sheep from Home Farm – before the farmer finds out! Enjoy lots of family fun as you explore the house and learn about sheep and wool, including crafts, trails, and activities in the House and Farm.
    Saturday 5 to Monday 21 April, cost: included in general admission
    Find out more: Where’s Wooly? at Temple Newsam

    Medieval Easter at the Royal Armouries
    It’s going to be an action-packed Easter at the Royal Armouries with combat demonstrations and themed activities. Plus, you can explore their amazing national collection of arms and armour.
    Saturday 5 to Thursday 17 April, cost: free
    Find out more: Medieval Easter at the Royal Armouries

    Easter Fun with Crackle the Crocodile at Tropical World
    This Easter, join Tropical World’s entertaining and educational trail, where your Little Explorers can find out all about Crackle, Yorkshire’s only Morelet’s Crocodile! Take part in Crackle’s Easter egg hunt, listen to keeper talks, and take part in craft activities and story time.
    Saturday 5 to Monday 21 April, cost: included in general admission
    Find out more: Easter Fun with Crackle the Crocodile at Tropical World

    Bunny Fun at  Abbey House Museum
    Bunnies have taken over Abbey House Museum this Easter! There will be grocer bunnies weighing carrots, bunny barmaids pulling pints, and some famous faces like Peter Rabbit. There will be a bunny counting competition, their usual range of fun trails and scavenger hunts, plus a range of crafts in the Education Room.
    Saturday 5 to Sunday 20 April, cost: included in admission
    Find out more: Bunny Fun at Abbey House Museum

    Miffy collage crafts at Leeds City Museum
    Visit the museum every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the Easter school holidays for Miffy-themed crafts. You can design your own Miffy ears, make a Miffy finger puppet or create your own collaged Miffy scene.
    Tuesday 8 to Thursday 17 April, 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm, cost: free
    Find out more: Miffy crafts at Leeds City Museum

    Den building, crafts and colouring, and Lego and DUPLO building at Kirkgate Market
    Get creative this Easter and join the team at Kirkgate Market for some den building with Leeds-based artist Chris Harman. Chris specialises in den building activities and workshops. Other family friendly activities include crafts and colouring plus Lego and DUPLO building tables. All activities will take place in the Market Kitchen and are accessible for families with disabled children, with quieter times generally from 11am to 12pm.
    Tuesday 8 to Thursday 10 April, cost: free
    Find out more: Family activities at Kirkgate Market

    LEGO® Build the Change at Leeds Industrial Museum
    Leeds Industrial Museum are taking back their museum grounds, and they need your help! Bring your family along during the Easter school holidays and get creative using LEGO® bricks to design how they can make their grounds better for them and their environment.
    Tuesday 8 to Thursday 17 April, cost: included in admission
    Find out more: Lego at Leeds Industrial Museum

    Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is at Leeds Discovery Centre
    In a free family workshop during the school holidays, learn about ancient Roman coins and trade and have a go at minting your own chocolate coins in time for Easter.
    Wednesday 9 April, 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm, cost: free
    Find out more: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is at Leeds Discovery Centre

    Blue and Bingo Story Time at Merrion Centre
    Get ready for a day of fun as everyone’s favourite Heeler pups, Bluey & Bingo, arrive at the Merrion Centre for some free fun story time experiences, led by a narrator, in The Green area in the main mall.
    Wednesday 9 April, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm (sessions last 30 minutes), cost: free
    Find out more: Blue and Bingo Story Time at Merrion Centre

    Leeds Young Film Festival 2025: Movie Club at Carriageworks Theatre
    Movie Club, part of LYFF 2025, is all about hands-on fun for kids (no parents allowed!). Whether they love making TikToks, YouTube videos, or just getting creative, this is the perfect place to develop new skills and bring their ideas to life with real industry professionals.
    Tuesday 15 to Wednesday 16 April, cost: £7.50 per workshop
    Find out more: Movie Club at Carriageworks Theatre

    Looking for more information on other events and activities taking place over Easter? Check out Child Friendly Leeds’ Easter Guide.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Federated Farmers welcome health and safety reset

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers says health and safety changes announced by the Government today mark the start of a long overdue reform and are a step in the right direction.
    “Federated Farmers have been very clear that New Zealand’s current health and safety rules aren’t working,” says health and safety spokesperson David Birkett.
    “They’re too strict, ambiguous and seem to have added more cost, complexity and compliance onto farmers, without any better outcomes.”
    Birkett says today’s announcement from Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden outlines the first moves toward a more practical system.
    “We welcome this move to focus the legislation on critical risks, rather than managing every single risk possible.
    “We know many farmers, and other business owners, want to do the right thing but just don’t know where to start when it comes to health and safety – it’s currently too unclear.
    “This change will help make health and safety more accessible and pragmatic, reducing unnecessary costs and giving businesses more clarity about what they need to do to be compliant, while still leaving room to develop a health and safety mindset to tackle other harms.
    “The first set of changes out today show things are finally moving in the right direction and we look forward to seeing the detail of the changes announced.”
    Birkett says farm safety is crucial, but the system needs to be grounded in fairness, practicality, and common sense.
    “We need to reduce workplace incidents, but that hasn’t happened under the current rules – and all we’ve seen is a rise in clipboards, road cones, and fluorescent vests.”
    Federated Farmers is proud to have played a meaningful role in helping get this reform over the line, he says.
    “It was great to host the Minister at our Advocacy Hub at National Fieldays last year, where she announced these reforms would be taking place.
    “Since then, we’ve hosted a national webinar with the Minister for our members and hosted her in Gisborne to hear directly from farmers about what’s not working on the ground.
    “We’ve been fully involved throughout this process – making sure the real-world farming perspective is heard loud and clear.”
    Birkett says Federated Farmers will continue working constructively with the Government and WorkSafe to ensure these reforms land in a place that gets real results for farmers.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NITI Aayog organises National Workshop on “Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: Challenges, Best Practices, and Policy Interventions” at IIT Madras, Chennai on March 29, 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 7:16PM by PIB Delhi

    A one-day National Workshop on ‘Internationalisation of Higher Education in India’, was organised by the Education Division of NITI Aayog, as a part of the NITI–State workshop series, an initiative under the State Support Mission, and in collaboration with its knowledge partners, IIT Madras, Association of Indian Universities (AIU), and Acumen at the IIT Madras campus in Chennai on Saturday, 29th March 2025.

    The workshop brought together officers from the Centre, State and UT Governments, Institutions of National Importance, Central Universities, State Public Universities, Private Universities, Deemed Universities, International Universities, and representatives from several countries to deliberate on challenges, best practices and policy interventions for implementing internationalisation initiatives in Indian higher education at the systemic and institutional levels as envisioned in the National Education Policy 2020.

    Dr. Vinod Kumar Paul, Hon’ble Member (Education), NITI Aayog delivered the Keynote Address and the Concluding Address and chaired the entire workshop’s proceedings. Prof. Kamakoti Veezhinathan, Director, IIT Madras, delivered the Inaugural Address. Dr. Sonia Pant, Programme Director (Education), NITI Aayog welcomed the 140-strong audience. Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Dean – Global Engagement, IIT Madras, Dr. (Mrs.) Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities, and Shri Adrian Mutton, Executive Chairman, Acumen addressed the gathering on behalf of the knowledge partners’ consortium.

    The workshop featured 40 speakers across 4 technical sessions on: (i) Internationalisation of Higher Education in India (in retrospect and future prospects), (ii) Academic Mobility for Learning and Research, (iii) Internationalisation of Curricula & Programmes, and (iv) Expanding Global Presence of Indian universities through Offshore Campuses and beyond. Special case studies on successes of Indian and international universities were presented including Indian universities setting up overseas campuses and international universities establishing campuses in India including at the GIFT City. Several country case studies including those of Australia, France, New Zealand, UK, USA, among others were also presented at the workshop.

    As discussions proceeded, participants emphasized actionable strategies such as enhancing infrastructure, streamlining regulations, and promoting India as a destination for academic collaboration, research, and learning on a global scale.

    This workshop marked a significant milestone in India’s journey towards internationalisation of higher education. The insights generated will feed into the ongoing NITI policy research study that aims to position Indian higher education institutions at the forefront of global academic excellence, ensuring India-centric internationalisation, and creating world class and world ready talent to enable India to play an influential role as a knowledge economy and achieve its vision of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

    ***

    MJPS/SR

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone, inaugurates development works in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh worth over ₹33,700 crore

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone, inaugurates development works in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh worth over ₹33,700 crore

    Today, on the auspicious day of Navratri, on the New Year, three lakh poor families of Chhattisgarh are entering their new houses: PM

    Government is concerned about providing health facilities and medical treatment for poor tribals: PM

    Government is running a special campaign for the development of tribal society: PM

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 6:17PM by PIB Delhi

    In line with his commitment to enhance infrastructure development and sustainable livelihood, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone, initiated commencement of work and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 33,700 crore in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh today. Marking the auspicious beginning of the New Year today and the first day of Navratri, he emphasized the significance of Chhattisgarh as the land of Mata Mahamaya and the maternal home of Mata Kaushalya. He highlighted the special importance of these nine days dedicated to feminine divinity for the state. He expressed his privilege to be in Chhattisgarh on the first day of Navratri and congratulated everyone on the recent issuance of a postal stamp in honor of Bhakt Shiromani Mata Karma. He further remarked that the Navratri festival will conclude with the celebration of Ram Navami, highlighting the unique devotion to Lord Ram in Chhattisgarh, particularly the extraordinary dedication of the Ramnami Samaj, which has devoted their entire being to the name of Lord Ram. He extended his heartfelt wishes to the people of Chhattisgarh, referring to them as the maternal family of Lord Ram.

    With the blessings of Mohbhatta Swayambhu Shivling Mahadev on this auspicious occasion, Shri Modi highlighted the opportunity to accelerate development in Chhattisgarh. He noted the inauguration and foundation laying of projects worth over ₹33,700 crore, which include housing for the poor, schools, roads, railways, electricity, and gas pipelines. He stressed that these projects are aimed at enhancing convenience for Chhattisgarh’s citizens and creating new employment opportunities. He extended his congratulations to all for the progress achieved through these development initiatives.

    Emphasizing the cultural significance of providing shelter, calling it a great virtue, the Prime Minister said that it was an unparalleled joy of fulfilling someone’s dream of owning a home. On the auspicious occasion of Navratri and the New Year, he highlighted that three lakh poor families in Chhattisgarh are entering their new homes. He extended his heartfelt wishes to these families for a new beginning. He credited the realization of these homes to the trust placed in his leadership, noting that the dream of permanent housing for lakhs of families in Chhattisgarh was previously lost in bureaucratic files. He recalled the Government’s commitment to fulfilling this dream. He remarked that under Shri Vishnu Deo’s leadership, the first Cabinet decision was to construct 18 lakh houses, of which three lakh have been completed. He expressed happiness that many of these homes are in tribal areas, benefiting families in Bastar and Surguja, acknowledging the transformative impact of these homes for families who have endured generations of hardship in makeshift shelters, calling it a significant gift.

    “While the Government provided assistance in building these homes, the beneficiaries themselves decided how their dream homes would be designed”, said Shri Modi, emphasising that these homes are not just four walls but a transformation of lives. He highlighted the efforts to equip these homes with essential facilities such as toilets, electricity, Ujjwala gas connections, and piped water. He noted the significant presence of women at the event and remarked that most of these homes are owned by women. He acknowledged the milestone achieved by thousands of women who, for the first time, have property registered in their names. He expressed his gratitude for the joy and blessings reflected on the faces of these women, calling it his greatest asset.

    Highlighting the broader impact of constructing lakhs of homes which not only created the employment opportunities for local artisans, masons, and laborers in villages, the Prime Minister said that the materials used for these homes are sourced locally, benefiting small shopkeepers and transport operators. He noted that these housing projects have generated significant employment in Chhattisgarh, contributing to the livelihoods of many.

    Underlining that their Government is fulfilling every promise made to the people of Chhattisgarh, Shri Modi highlighted the presence of a large number of beneficiaries from various schemes, emphasizing the swift implementation of government guarantees. He noted that the promises made to the women of Chhattisgarh have been honored, including the disbursement of two years’ pending bonuses to paddy farmers and the procurement of paddy at increased MSP rates. These measures have provided thousands of crores of rupees to millions of farming families. The Prime Minister criticized the previous Government for recruitment exam scams and highlighted their Government’s transparent investigations and fair conduct of examinations. He emphasized that these honest efforts have strengthened public trust with growing support, evident from its victories in Assembly, Lok Sabha, and now municipal elections in Chhattisgarh. He expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support of the people for their Government’s initiatives.

    Shri Modi noted that this year was 25th anniversary of Chhattisgarh’s statehood, celebrating it as the state’s Silver Jubilee Year was coinciding as this year also marked the birth centenary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He said that the Chhattisgarh Government is observing 2025 as “Atal Nirman Varsh” and reaffirmed the commitment, “We built it, and we will nurture it.” He emphasized that the infrastructure projects inaugurated and launched today are part of this resolution. 

    Mentioning that Chhattisgarh had to be formed as a separate state because the benefits of development were not reaching the region, the PM criticized the previous Government for its failure to deliver development and for corruption in the projects that were undertaken. He underscored that their Government has prioritized the well-being of the people, focusing on improving their lives, facilities, and opportunities for their children. He highlighted the efforts to bring development schemes to every village in Chhattisgarh.

    Underlining the progress in remote tribal areas, where quality roads are now reaching for the first time, Shri Modi mentioned the introduction of train services to several regions, including the flagging off of a new train earlier in the event. He also highlighted the arrival of electricity, piped water, and mobile towers in previously underserved areas. He remarked on the construction of new schools, colleges, and hospitals, emphasizing that these initiatives are transforming the landscape of Chhattisgarh. 

    Highlighting Chhattisgarh’s achievement of becoming one of the states with a fully electrified rail network, calling it a significant milestone, the Prime Minister noted that approximately ₹40,000 crore worth of rail projects are currently underway in the state, with ₹7,000 crore allocated in this year’s budget to improve rail connectivity in various regions and neighboring states. Stressing that development requires both budgetary support and honest intentions, Shri Modi criticized the previous Government for its corruption and inefficiency, which hindered progress in tribal areas. He cited the example of coal, noting that despite Chhattisgarh’s abundant reserves, the state faced electricity shortages due to the neglect of power plants by previous dispensations. He remarked that under their Government, new power plants are being established to address these issues and ensure reliable electricity for the state.

    Highlighting the Government’s focus on solar energy and introduction of the ‘PM Suryagarh Muft Bijli Scheme,’ which aims to eliminate electricity bills and enable households to generate income by producing electricity, the Prime Minister noted that the Government is providing ₹78,000 assistance per household for installing solar panels. He added  that over two lakh families in Chhattisgarh have already registered for the scheme and encouraged others to join for significant benefits.

    Stressing on the Government’s efforts to address the challenge of delivering gas pipelines to Chhattisgarh, a landlocked state, Shri Modi criticized the previous Government for neglecting necessary investments in gas infrastructure and highlighted the ongoing work to lay gas pipelines in the region. He noted that these pipelines will reduce dependency on truck transportation for petroleum products, lower costs for consumers, and enable the use of CNG vehicles. He remarked that households will benefit from piped cooking gas, with a target of reaching over two lakh homes. He also emphasized that the availability of gas will facilitate the establishment of new industries in Chhattisgarh, creating significant employment opportunities.

    Criticizing the previous dispensation’s policies over the decades, stating that they contributed to the rise of Naxalism in Chhattisgarh and other states, the Prime Minister said that Naxalism thrived in areas lacking development and resources, and instead of addressing these issues, such districts were declared as backward, shirking their responsibility. He highlighted the neglect faced by the most underprivileged tribal families in many districts of Chhattisgarh under previous Government’s rule. In contrast, he emphasized their Government’s efforts to address the needs of poor tribal communities. He noted the initiatives undertaken, such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to provide toilets, the Ayushman Bharat scheme offering free treatment up to ₹5 lakh, and the establishment of PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras, which provide medicines at an 80% discount.

    The Prime Minister criticized those who falsely claim to champion social justice while neglecting the tribal community. He emphasized his Government’s commitment to the development of tribal societies, highlighting the launch of the “Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Utkarsh Abhiyan,” under which approximately ₹80,000 crore is being invested in tribal areas, benefiting nearly 7,000 tribal villages in Chhattisgarh. Noting the unique challenges faced by particularly vulnerable tribal groups, Shri Modi mentioned the introduction of the “PM Janman Yojana,” the first initiative of its kind for these communities. He remarked that under this scheme, over 2,000 settlements in 18 districts of Chhattisgarh are being developed. He highlighted the approval of 5,000 kilometers of roads for tribal settlements across the country, with nearly half—2,500 kilometers—being constructed in Chhattisgarh under the PM Janman Yojana. He also noted that many beneficiaries have received permanent homes under this initiative.

    Highlighting the rapid transformation of Chhattisgarh under the Union and State governments, Shri Modi remarked on the renewed confidence brought by achievements such as Sukma district’s health center receiving a national quality certificate and the reopening of a health center in Dantewada after several years. He emphasized that these efforts are ushering in a new era of lasting peace in Naxal-affected areas. Referring to the Bastar Olympics, discussed during his “Mann Ki Baat” program in December 2024, as evidence of the positive changes in Chhattisgarh, he noted the enthusiastic participation of thousands of youth in the event, reflecting the state’s progress. He expressed optimism about the bright future of Chhattisgarh’s youth and praised the state’s effective implementation of the New Education Policy. He highlighted the establishment of over 12,000 modern PM Shri Schools across the country, including approximately 350 in Chhattisgarh, which will serve as models for other schools and elevate the state’s education system.

    The Prime Minister acknowledged the excellent work being done by Eklavya Model Schools in Chhattisgarh and the reopening of schools in Naxal-affected areas. He also inaugurated the Vidya Samiksha Kendra in the state, calling it a significant step for the nation’s education system. He emphasized that this initiative will enhance the quality of education, providing real-time support to teachers and students in classrooms.

    Mentioning the fulfillment of another promise under the New National Education Policy, which enables medical and engineering studies

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurates and lays foundation stones for various projects worth over ₹800 crore of the central and state governments in Patna, Bihar

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation   Shri Amit Shah inaugurates and lays foundation stones for various projects worth over ₹800 crore of the central and state governments in Patna, Bihar

    Bihar, with its fertile land, water, and other natural resources, will benefit the most from the cooperative sector

    The opposition governments completely ruined the cooperative sector in Bihar during their tenure

    The government under the leadership of PM Modi will restart the 30 closed sugar mills in Bihar

    From 1990 to 2005, the opposition ran an industry of murder, kidnapping, extortion, robbery, and looting in Bihar, which completely destroyed the state

    Under the opposition’s rule in Bihar, there were caste massacres and government-sponsored corruption, and the fodder scam tarnished the state’s reputation both in the country and internationally

    The opposition’s tenure will forever be remembered in Bihar’s history as the “Jungle Raj,” and it ended with our government

    Between 2004 and 2014, the central government provided ₹2.8 lakh crore to Bihar, while the Modi government has allocated ₹9.23 lakh crore to Bihar in the past 10 years

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 4:20PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, today inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various Central and State Government projects worth over Rs 800 crore in Patna, Bihar. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Bihar Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai.

    In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that several schemes related to the cooperative sector and other departments were inaugurated and their foundation stones laid today. He highlighted that over the past 10 years, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has undertaken numerous initiatives for the welfare of crores of poor people across the country. Shri Shah criticized previous opposition governments for neglecting the poor, whereas Prime Minister Modi has provided for to meet the essential needs such as housing, electricity, gas, drinking water, toilets, medicines, and 5 kg of free food grains. He emphasized that under PM Modi’s leadership, 80 crore people receive 5 kg of free food grains per person per month, 4 crore people have been given houses, 11 crore gas connections have been distributed, over 12 crore toilets have been built, and free medical treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh has been made available.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi established the Ministry of Cooperation after 75 years of independence to boost the rural economy, benefiting farmers, women, dairy, fisheries, and agriculture-related activities. He pointed out that for decades, no government prioritized strengthening the cooperative sector. Shri Shah emphasized that Bihar, with its abundant land, water, and natural resources, stands to gain significantly from the cooperative sector in the coming years. He criticized previous opposition governments for neglecting cooperation in Bihar, leading to the decline of the sector and the closure of hundreds of sugar mills. He noted that Bihar once contributed over 30% of the country’s sugar production, but under opposition rule, this share dropped to less than 6%. He assured that the Modi government is committed to reviving the state’s closed sugar mills.

    Shri Amit Shah stated that the Modi government has undertaken significant efforts to strengthen Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). He highlighted that a Makhana Board has been established in Bihar and announced plans to revive the Maize Research Centre with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore, along with introducing various schemes to support maize farmers. He emphasized that the Government of India is now purchasing the entire maize, pulses, wheat, and rice from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Shri Shah also noted Bihar’s leading position in agricultural production, ranking first in litchi, mushroom, and makhana production; second in maize; third in lentil and honey; fifth in moong and sugarcane; and sixth in wheat and rice production. Shri Shah stressed that Bihar has immense potential for agricultural and cooperative sector development, which will be fully harnessed. He assured that the government is committed to reviving all 30 closed sugar mills in the state with full dedication and effort.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that PACS is now doing various types of work, they have been computerized, and through them, a plan is being implemented to strengthen district-level banks across Bihar. He mentioned that between 1990 and 2005, the opposition governments ran an industry of murder, kidnapping, extortion, robbery, and looting in Bihar, which completely ruined the state. Shri Shah said that during the rule of the opposition governments in Bihar, there were caste massacres, government-sponsored corruption, and the state was defamed in the country and the world due to the fodder scam. He said that the opposition government will always be remembered in Bihar’s history as the “Jungle Raj.”

    Shri Amit Shah said that during the 10-year tenure of the Nitish government in Bihar, roads, electricity, and tap water have reached every village. He mentioned that Prime Minister Modi has worked for the welfare of the poor in Bihar by providing homes, toilets, water, medicines, and ration. He said that during the 10-year tenure of the previous central government, Bihar was given Rs. 2.8 lakh crore, whereas during the 10 years of the Modi government, Bihar has been allocated Rs. 9.23 lakh crore. Shri Shah highlighted that Bihar has received projects worth Rs. 4 lakh crore for roads and bridges, Rs. 1 lakh crore for railway projects, and Rs. 2,000 crore for airport projects. He stated that with Rs. 8,000 crore, seven major bridges are being constructed in Bihar, and with Rs. 31,000 crore, a 5,000-kilometer-long railway line is being built, with the first-ever farmer’s train also starting from Bihar. He added that the Modi government has set up the Makhana Board in Bihar, and with the help of the central government, 766 other projects, including the Barauni fertilizer plant, have been initiated in the state. He emphasized that our government has a 20-year track record of development, and the era of ‘Jungle Raj’ has now ended here.

    The schemes inaugurated and laid the foundation stone by the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in Bihar today include the foundation stone laying of a project costing Rs. 83.16 crore to develop a storage capacity of sixty-two thousand five hundred metric tonnes in a total of twenty-five PACS under the world’s largest food storage scheme. Apart from this, the foundation stone was laid for the construction of a total of 133 police buildings of the Home Department, which cost Rs. 181.14 crores. The foundation stone was also laid today for three projects of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which cost Rs. 109.16 crores. Moreover, a hostel constructed at Deep Narayan Singh Regional Cooperative Management Institute, Patna at a cost of Rs. 27.29 crore was inaugurated. Makhana processing cum marketing center constructed at a cost of Rs. 46 lakh under the Integrated Cooperative Development Project and a total of 11 warehouses constructed at a cost of Rs. 2.27 crore were also inaugurated today. Along with this, a total of five drinking water supply schemes costing Rs. 421.41 crore were also inaugurated today under the AMRUT-1 project of the Urban Housing and Development Department.

    ****

    RK/VV/PR/PS

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  • MIL-Evening Report: These 3 arguments are part of the long game in Trump’s trade wars

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Markus Wagner, Professor of Law and Director of the UOW Transnational Law and Policy Centre, University of Wollongong

    Since returning to office in January, US President Donald Trump has doubled down on using trade measures – mostly tariffs – to reshape global trade. He plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on what he has labelled “Liberation Day”, April 2.

    The Trump administration claims US producers face higher tariffs and more restrictions abroad than foreign producers when they export to the US.

    The administration also examined tax systems such as Europe’s Value Added Tax and Australia’s GST, import regulations and other factors. It believes – mostly wrongly – these unfairly disadvantage American businesses and contribute to the US trade deficit.

    As with many Trump initiatives, actual tariffs often change significantly between announcement and implementation, if they are implemented at all.

    His reciprocal tariffs have been narrowed to imports from the US’ largest trading partners instead of imports from all countries. There may also be tariffs on specific sectors. Last week, Trump announced 25% tariffs on cars from overseas. At the weekend said he “couldn’t care less” if this made cars more expensive for US consumers.

    Coercive control, revenue and re-shoring

    President Trump has raised a myriad of puzzling arguments in favour of tariffs. They largely fall into three categories:

    The first is the use of tariffs as a coercion tool against other countries. In the first Trump presidency, trading partners were pressured to renegotiate trade agreements such as the renamed but largely identical US-Mexico-Canada agreement.

    Similarly, the Trump administration used the threat of tariffs to gain market access, elicit better trade terms or as a form of weaponised trade to achieve unrelated foreign policy goals.

    Last week, Trump suggested he would consider a reduction in tariffs on China in exchange for a sale of TikTok by its Chinese owner.

    The second category is the use of tariffs as a source of revenue. The Trump administration envisions tariffs to be collected by a yet-to-be-created External Revenue Service. This would form the flip side of the powerful and much-maligned Internal Revenue Service.

    Trump claims tariffs will be paid by the exporting country. This would be in theory to finance future tax cuts. In practice, tariffs are almost always paid by the importer of goods and usually get passed on to consumers.

    There is a potential contradiction between these two rationales. It appears the Trump administration wants to make at least some tariffs permanent. But doing so would almost nullify the use of tariffs as a bargaining chip and coercion tool.

    The final category is to encourage companies to “re-shore” production to the US to avoid tariffs and to support US jobs.

    This would signal a reversal of what 1994 presidential candidate Ross Perot, speaking of the North American Free Trade Agreement, called the “giant sucking sound going south”. Some manufacturing may return to the US. But the high costs of building new factories, re-routing supply chains and uncompetitive US labour costs will hinder large-scale re-shoring efforts.

    A long-term plan?

    The Trump administration’s trade moves can be seen as part of a larger strategy to reshape the US domestic and the global economic system.

    In a recent speech, US Vice-President JD Vance argued for a structural reshaping of the US economy, to increase domestic innovation capacity.

    Vance warned “deindustrialisation poses risks both to our national security and our workforce”. Vance himself sums up this approach by characterising tariffs as a “necessary tool to protect our jobs and our industries”.

    This line of argument overlooks a number of critical factors. Tariffs lead to higher prices for consumers. Unless currencies adjust, the inflationary impact could disadvantage the very people that can least afford it.

    The same is true if other countries respond to US trade measures by responding in kind, as Canada and the European Union already have.

    American farmers and other export-oriented industries will be hard hit. From a strategic perspective, the US position as global leader has suffered a severe blow. Some countries are openly pivoting to its geopolitical and economic rival, China.

    If this scenario comes to pass, the US pullback – an outright withdrawal is unlikely – from the highly integrated international trading system might end up a more chaotic version of the UK’s pursuit of Brexit.

    A step back in time

    The world of liberalised trade that followed the end of the Cold War in 1990 is ending. Countries will turn inwards, prioritising their economic security and resilience. The costs of this turn away from multilateralism and international institutions, however, are not just economic.

    The close economic integration we have witnessed post-1990 has led to reduced uncertainty in international economic relations, increased international security and greater prosperity.

    A return of the “beggar thy neighbour” policies of the 1930s would be a dangerous path, with the world inching closer to the abyss. “Liberation Day” might push the world over the edge.



    Read more:
    What are non-tariff barriers – and why is agriculture so exposed?

    Markus Wagner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. These 3 arguments are part of the long game in Trump’s trade wars – https://theconversation.com/these-3-arguments-are-part-of-the-long-game-in-trumps-trade-wars-252516

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Federated Farmers – Review of costly capital rules long overdue

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers welcomes today’s announcement that the Reserve Bank will be reviewing its capital requirements, which have been costing farmers a fortune.
    “The current rules are overly conservative and among the strictest in the world,” Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre says.
    “That’s why Federated Farmers have been so vocal on this issue and leading the charge in calling for the Reserve Bank to make significant changes.
    “Overly strict banking rules have done nothing but unnecessarily drive up the cost of rural lending and restrict our access to capital. To put it bluntly, they’ve been bleeding us dry.
    “We’re pleased the Reserve Bank has finally seen the light and taken the first steps towards easing some of the pressure farmers have been feeling by announcing this review.”
    McIntyre says he hopes the Reserve Bank will move quickly in carrying out the review and will put in place a system that is less conservative and more supportive of economic growth.
    The current rules – requiring banks to hold enough capital to withstand a one-in-200-year financial event – are costing farmers a fortune, he says.
    “We’re talking about $600 million of unnecessary extra interest payments each year in terms of the total cost to farmers.
    “That’s $44,000 of extra interest payments for your average Federated Farmers member that comes straight off their bottom line.
    “It’s an eye-watering sum of money being drained from our rural communities that could have otherwise been used to grow our agricultural sector.”
    McIntyre says the Reserve Bank must wake up to the damage its policies are doing to farmers, rural communities and the wider economy.
    “Under these rules, we’ve seen the cost of borrowing soar, and it’s become harder for farmers to get loans when they need them.”
    If there are savings to be made from reducing capital requirements, those savings must reach farmers directly, he says.
    “Any savings that result from an easing of the capital rules cannot go into padding out bank profits – we’ll be keeping an eye on that closely.
    “This review should also encourage a closer look at bank behaviour. We need transparency to ensure farmers are getting a fair deal.
    “Today’s announcement is a positive step in the right direction, but we need this review to result in an easing of the rules – and fast.”  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: ACT welcomes RBNZ’s review of banking red tape

    Source: ACT Party

    Welcoming the Reserve Bank’s review of banking capital requirements, Mark Cameron – who represents ACT on the select committee inquiry into banking practices – says:

    “ACT Party has been sounding the alarm about these rules since 2019, so we’re glad to see the Reserve Bank finally take notice.

    “These rules are driving up borrowing costs for firms, farms, and families.

    “Last week, as part of the Parliamentary banking inquiry, I asked Westpac CEO Catherine McGrath about the effect of the capital requirements. She told me that reversing the capital requirement introduced in 2019 would result in an additional $2 billion circulating in the economy – or about a 50 basis point cut in interest rates.

    “BNZ previously confirmed to me that costs are falling particularly hard on famers, with the rules driving up rural interest rates by one whole percentage point. It’s about time our farmers got a fair go to invest in their land so they can feed New Zealand and the world.

    “The irony is that by putting pressure on sectors such as farming, these rules risk putting people out of business and fuelling the instability the rules are meant to prevent. Hopefully the Reserve Bank will see sense and scrap these burdensome requirements.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Help shape the future of farm plastics recycling

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is encouraging New Zealanders, particularly in rural areas, to share their views on proposed regulations to improve the management of farm plastic waste, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says.

    “The proposal – an industry-led initiative – would bring the existing Agrecovery and Plasback programmes into a single national recycling system, making services simpler and more accessible for all users of regulated farm plastics,” Ms Simmonds says.

    The proposed regulations would support a nationally consistent product stewardship scheme for agrichemicals, their containers, and farm plastics, helping farmers and growers reduce their environmental impact while maintaining productivity.

    “Plastic products are vital to New Zealand’s world-leading agri-economy, but rural communities know that waste like agrichemical containers and bale wrap can quickly pile up,” Ms Simmonds says. 

    “These regulations will provide a unified system where producers, sellers, and users take responsibility for the entire product lifecycle, from design to disposal.”

    Public consultation, opening today, will focus on regulations supporting the new product stewardship scheme, provisionally named Green-farms. In addition to farmers and growers, industries such as forestry, manufacturing, hospitality, and tourism, as well as local authorities and households, would have access to national take-back services.

    “The scheme offers a practical solution for a wide range of consumers, including households needing proper disposal options for pest and weed control product containers,” Ms Simmonds says.

    The programme will ensure farmers have access to free-to-use drop-off sites and collection services while working alongside regulations for producers and importers.

    “Key industry stakeholders back the scheme, which offers a better alternative to burning or burying plastic waste on farms. Rural communities want a simple, effective system, and we welcome feedback to refine the proposed regulations,” Ms Simmonds says.

    Consultation on the new regulations will run until 1 June 2025.

    Information and submission forms are now available: Proposed product stewardship regulations: Agrichemicals, their containers, and farm plastics – Discussion document | Ministry for the Environment

    Further information:

    Agrichemicals and their containers, and farm plastics are one of six priority products for which stewardship schemes must be implemented under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008: Priority product stewardship | Ministry for the Environment

    Read more about the scheme: Agrecovery’s Green-farms Product Stewardship Scheme accredited to create more recycling opportunities for farmers – Agrecovery

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Business – Appointment of Chair-elect for Mainland Group – Fonterra

    Source: Fonterra Co-operative Group

    Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd today announces the appointment of Elizabeth (Liz) Coutts ONZM as Chair-elect of Mainland Group, the proposed divestment entity of Fonterra’s global Consumer business.  

    An internationally recognised director and executive, Liz is currently Chair of ASX and NZX-listed companies EBOS Group Ltd (ASX/NZX:EBO) and Oceania Healthcare Limited (ASX/NZX:OCA), as well as private telecommunications company 2degrees Group Limited.  

    In the event of an initial public offering (IPO) for Mainland Group, Liz would be the Non-Executive Chair of the Board, presiding over the go-forward growth strategy.

    Fonterra Chair Peter McBride says the Co-op is pleased to have appointed Liz to head the Mainland Group Board.  

    “Liz has a proven track record of over 20 years as a Board Director, Audit Committee Chair and Board Chair across sectors. She brings extensive governance experience from both large private and public companies, and her leadership will be invaluable should we pursue a public listing for Mainland Group,” says Mr McBride.

    This appointment follows Fonterra’s announcement in February of the selection of René Dedoncker as CEO-elect and Paul Victor as CFO-elect of Mainland Group.

    Fonterra continues to pursue both a trade sale and IPO as potential divestment options for its global Consumer and associated businesses.  

    Over the coming weeks, it will be assessing non-binding indicative offers from potential purchasers and has recently completed meetings with prospective investors as part of the IPO process.  

    “This divestment is firmly grounded in an understanding of how Fonterra best creates value for farmers and New Zealand, both today and for generations to come.”  

    “We are thoroughly testing which divestment option will return the best value to farmer shareholders, while providing an ownership structure that allows our Consumer brands to continue to grow. A divestment remains subject to approval from Fonterra’s farmer shareholders and we will be putting our chosen option to them for a vote in due course,” says Mr McBride.  

    Fonterra continues to target a significant capital return to be made to farmer shareholders and unit holders following the divestment.

    About Fonterra  

    Fonterra is a co-operative owned and supplied by thousands of farming families across Aotearoa New Zealand. Through the spirit of co-operation and a can-do attitude, Fonterra’s farmers and employees share the goodness of our milk through innovative consumer,foodservice and ingredients brands. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re committed to leaving things in a better way than we found them. We are passionate about supporting our communities by Doing Good Together.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Learn how to grow veggies at home in Canberra

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The gardening workshops in Whitlam are open to all Canberra residents.

    The Suburban Land Agency, in partnership with Fiona Buining of Ainslie Urban Farm, is delivering a series of gardening workshops called Growing Food Through the Seasons.

    The workshops cover range of gardening basics and focuses on getting the best from Canberra’s unique growing climate. They will teach participants when and what to plant for a bountiful supply of backyard produce year-round.

    You might think that you could pop out to a nursery, buy whatever vegetable is in season, plant them and enjoy your homegrown veggies soon.

    As it turns out, you’d be mistaken.

    “A big misconception is around when you plant things,” Fiona said.

    “And then the other misconception is how long things take to grow. Most things take a long time. If you’re planting a savoy cabbage in Canberra, you need to plant it in December to harvest it in winter.”

    These common misunderstandings about growing your own vegetables is one of the reasons that Fiona and the Suburban Land Agency are delivering these workshops at the Innovation Precinct at the Suburban Land Agency’s Display Village in Whitlam.

    In the meantime, here are some of Fiona’s top tips for beginner gardeners:

    Start with greens

    “The reason leafy greens are good is that they grow more or less year round,” Fiona said.

    Some of the leafy green vegetables that Fiona suggests for first time growers include:

    • lettuce
    • rocket
    • mizuna
    • mustard greens
    • kale (baby and regular)
    • English spinach
    • rainbow chard.

    If you’re looking for something nutritious that also looks nice in your garden, tat soi is a good option.

    “It’s a pretty Asian green that you can get in purple and green,” Fiona said.

    “It grows into this beautiful rosette that almost looks too good to pick.”

    Use your balcony

    Canberrans living in apartments and townhouses can also grow their own food. Instead of a backyard, Fiona suggests using the space on your balcony.

    “Grow bags are great for apartments and people with balconies. They’re absorbent, so when you water, the bag itself absorbs some of the water. You get a lot less of that dripping and running over that you would get with pots,” Fiona said.

    A budget-friendly alternative is a polystyrene box. Fiona says they’re an ideal depth for growing greens and tend to keep plants cooler than black plastic pots.

    “My tip for people with no balcony or outdoor growing space is to have a go at growing sprouts on your benchtop,” Fiona said.

    “Sprouts are great because they’re fresh, they’re full of minerals and vitamins and enzymes, and you can grow them in the dark.”

    Start today

    “People love starting a veggie garden in spring and summer,” Fiona said.

    “There’s something about the energy of spring and summer but actually, any time is ideal.”

    According to Fiona, there are things that you can plant in every month of the year in Canberra. Leafy greens, in particular, can be planted in any month.

    “Any time is good. When you’re inspired is the right time to do it. Don’t put it off,” Fiona said.

    Consider a verge garden

    If you have a verge (also known as a nature strip) out the front of your home, you could use it to plant vegetables. There are specific rules around what you can and can’t do with nature strips, so be sure to check out the City Services guide.

    “You can start a verge garden that can be a one-to-two-hour project,” Fiona said.

    “You don’t even have to dig. You can mow or cut the grass by hand, lay down newspaper, make sure it’s overlapping, put some compost or potting mix on top, plant the seedlings into the mounds, cover it with mulch, bingo.”

    The next Growing Food Through the Seasons Workshop is on Saturday 2 March. Workshops will be held on the first Saturday of every month (except for July) in 2024.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Patterson leads the running of the sheep at the Great NZ Muster

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Te Kūiti’s Great New Zealand Muster is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the sheep and the farmers, and the invaluable role they play in our communities and regional economies, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Mark Patterson.

    Mr Patterson, known as the ‘Minister for Wool’, joined the front of the Great NZ Muster running of the Sheep down the main street of Te Kūiti today. 

    “It’s a great honour to be part of this iconic event, which demonstrates the vibrant spirit of our rural communities.”

    The event is combined with NZ Shears, one of New Zealand’s premiere shearing events, where you can see world class shearers in action – and big contributors to the rural community.

    “For me, it’s also a chance to reflect on the state of the wool sector and the positive steps the government and industry are taking to turn it around – supporting the NZ wool industry is a key part in doubling the value of NZ exports.”

    “The recent bar that we have crossed is that wool prices now cover the shearing costs, which is something that we have been working hard at to change, but we know there is much more to be done. I am more confident than ever that we can turn around the fortunes of wool.”

    “There is a swing back to natural fibres – we’re seeing good gains, with strong wool price steadily increasing over the last 18 months to be now sitting around $4 per kg (clean), which is an eight-year high.”

    “Wool exports were worth NZD $549 million in the year to 30 June 2024, up from NZD $513 million in the previous year.”

    “New Zealand is the largest exporter of strong wool, accounting for 20 percent of the 500 million kilograms of strong wool produced globally – and we want to remain on top and deliver higher and more sustainable pricing for our farmers.”

    “Together with key players in the sector, we’re investing time, energy, and money into innovation and new uses to lift the demand for strong wool.”

    “To date, 20 strong wool projects from across the value-chain have been approved for funding, with $17.8 million of government investment via the Ministry for Primary Industries and co-funding of $22.9 million from industry partners, for a total of $40.7 million.”

    “These projects are focused on finding high-value opportunities for our strong wool, facilitating collaboration, and improving sector and supply chain capability.”

    “Projects that have received funding include Bremworth’s 100 percent, fully compostable wool carpets and rugs, and T&R Interior Systems’ Floc wool acoustic panel – both with huge potential to boost returns for our wool farmers significantly.” 

    Mr Patterson says he hopes that the Great New Zealand Muster will act as a springboard for thinking about the benefits of strong wool. 

    “New Zealand wool was once the backbone of New Zealand’s economy and I remain excited about the future of the wool industry as we tap into new high value opportunities.”

    “I will continue to work with farmers to rebuild the industry into a strong sector that recognises its exporting and sustainability potential” says Mr Patterson.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –