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Category: Agriculture

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) released the 33rd Monthly Report on Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) of Central Ministries/ Departments performance for the month of January, 2025

    Source: Government of India

    The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) released the 33rd Monthly Report on Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) of Central Ministries/ Departments performance for the month of January, 2025

    A total of 1,25,789 Grievances were Redressed by Central Ministries/Departments in January, 2025

    For the 31st month in a row, the monthly disposal crossed 1 lakh cases in the Central Secretariat

    Department of Posts, Department of Telecommunications, andDepartment of Revenuetopped in Group A category in the rankings released for the month of January, 2025

    Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Department of Heavy Industry topped in Group B category in the rankings released for the month of January, 2025

    Posted On: 25 FEB 2025 4:19PM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) released the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) monthly report for January 2025, which provides a detailed analysis of types and categories of public grievances and the nature of disposal. This is the 33rdreport on Central Ministries/Departments published by DARPG.

    The progress for January 2025 indicates 1,25,789 Grievances Redressed by Central Ministries/Departments. The Average Grievance Disposal Time in the Central Ministries/Departments from 1st January to 31stJanuary 2025 is 15 days. These reports are part of the 10-step CPGRAMS reform process which was adopted by DARPG to improve the quality of disposal and reduce the timelines.

    The report provides the data for new users registered through the CPGRAMS Portal in the month of January 2025. A total of 56,214new users registered in the month of January 2025, with maximum registrations from Uttar Pradesh (8,843) registrations.

    The said report also provides the Ministry/Department-wise analysis on the grievances registered through Common Service Centres in January 2025. CPGRAMS has been integrated with the Common Service Centre (CSC) portal and is available at more than 5 lakh CSCs, associating with 2.5 lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs). 5,863 grievances were registered through CSCs in the month of January 2025. It also highlights the major issues/categories for which the maximum grievances were registered through CSCs.

    In January 2025, the Feedback Call Centre collected 53,821feedbacks. 33,028 feedbacks (61%) were collected for Central Ministries/Departments by the Feedback Call Centre.

    The following are the Key Highlights of the DARPG’s monthly CPGRAMS report for January 2025 for Central Ministries/ Departments:

    1. PG Cases:
    • In January 2025, 1,25,442 PG cases were received on the CPGRAMS portal, 1,25,789 PG cases were redressed and there exists a pendency of 58,425PG cases, as of 31stJanuary 2025.
    1. PG Appeals:
    • In January 2025, 21,175appeals were received and 20,086 appeals were disposed.
    • The Central Secretariat has a pendency of 25,160 PG Appeals at the end of January 2025.
    1. Grievance Redressal Assessment and Index (GRAI) – January 2025
    • Department of Posts, Department of Telecommunications, and Department of Revenue are amongst the top performers in the Grievance Redressal Assessment & Index within the Group A (more than equal to 500 grievances) for January 2025.
    • Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Department of Heavy Industry are amongst the top performers in the Grievance Redressal Assessment & Index within the Group B (less than 500 grievances) for January 2025.

    The report also features 4 success stories of effective grievance resolution from Central Ministries/Departments:

    1. Grievance of Shri Selva Kumar – HDFC Account under debit freeze

    Shri Selva Kumar received a notification from HDFC Bank stating that a Debit/Withdrawal Block had been placed on his account due to non-compliance with account guidelines. Following this, he visited the branch, completed the e-KYC process, and submitted the required documents as instructed. Despite repeating this process three times at the bank’s request, his debit account remained frozen. Upon further inquiry, the bank informed Shri Kumar that the freeze was due to excessive UPI P2P transactions. The branch manager suggested converting his Farmer’s Savings Account into a regular Savings Account as an alternative solution. However, this conversion was not processed, and the account’s debit freeze remained unresolved. Frustrated by the delays and lack of resolution, Shri Kumar escalated the matter by filing a grievance on the CPGRAMS Portal, seeking immediate action. In response, HDFC Bank provided a written confirmation stating that the debit freeze on his account had been successfully removed. The grievance was resolved within a week to complainant’s satisfaction.

    1. Grievance of Shri Ram Prasad Dhakar – Transfer of balance to new HDFC Smart Hub Vypaar Prepaid Card

    Shri Ram Prasad Dhakar reported that his HDFC Smart Hub Vypaar Prepaid Card, which had a balance of Rs. 10,500, was accidentally lost. He promptly lodged a complaint with the customer care center and received a new card. However, the balance of Rs. 10,500 from the lost card was not credited to the new card. Despite filing multiple complaints with the HDFC Branch Manager over the past two years, the issue remained unresolved. Frustrated by the lack of action, Shri Dhakar raised a grievance on the CPGRAMS Portal, seeking a prompt resolution. In response, HDFC Bank provided a written confirmation that the balance of Rs. 10,500 had been successfully transferred from the lost card to the new one. The issue was resolved within two weeks, and Shri Dhakar praised the CPGRAMS platform for its efficient and effective grievance redressal mechanism.

    1. Grievance of Shri Rama Shankar Singh – Non-receipt of gratuity payment

    Shri Rama Shankar Singh, who retired as Chief Travelling Ticket Inspector (CCTT) from Northeast Frontier Railways on 30th June 2024, faced delays in receiving his gratuity amount of approximately Rs. 16 lakhs, despite having submitted all the required No Dues certificates. Seeking intervention for the prompt release of his gratuity along with applicable interest, he filed a grievance on the CPGRAMS Portal. In response, the gratuity amount of Rs. 16,33,500 was transferred to Shri Singh, resolving the grievance within 10 days to his utmost satisfaction.

    1. Grievance of Smt. Swati – Removal of EMI lock from device

    Smt. Swati purchased a mobile phone on EMI, financed by Bajaj Finance. Despite completing all the EMI payments, her phone was locked by the financier. Seeking immediate resolution, she filed a grievance on the CPGRAMS portal. In response, Bajaj Finance confirmed in a written reply that the loan had been successfully closed and the EMI lock has been removed from her device. The grievance was successfully resolved to complainant’s satisfaction.

    ***

    NKR/PSM

    (Release ID: 2106128) Visitor Counter : 58

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government committed to fostering business climate, enhance Ease of Doing Business: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Government committed to fostering business climate, enhance Ease of Doing Business: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal

    PM’s visit to USA, France paved the way for greater investment and collaboration: Shri Goyal

    Small & Medium enterprises have a transformative role in driving Viksit Bharat: Shri Goyal

    Posted On: 25 FEB 2025 5:02PM by PIB Delhi

    The Centre is committed to creating a favourable investment climate, ensuring regulatory stability, and enhancing the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in the country. This was stated by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal during his virtual address at the Pune International Business Summit 2025, which was organised by Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries, and Agriculture (MCCIA) on January 24, 2025.

    The Minister stressed that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s recent visits to the USA and France have paved the way for greater investment and enhanced collaborations. Emphasising that the 2-day summit will delve into emerging trade trends, build robust alliances and highlight the transformative role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in driving Viksit Bharat, Shri Goyal pointed out that representatives from over 20 countries will participate at the event, reflecting global confidence in India’s resilience.

    Minister Goyal emphasised that the Union Budget reinforces its commitments with a ₹10k Cr Fund of Funds for Startups and a Deep Tech Fund empowering entrepreneurs. He further stressed that a significant investment committed towards R&D with an initial estimation of Rs 20,000 crore for Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) along with a high-level committee, an investment-friendly index & Jan Vishwas 2.0 further bolster trust-based governance.

    Noting that Pune known as the ‘Detroit of the East’ is the hub of innovation, the Minister stressed that the city is setting benchmarks across industries, making it the ideal venue to host events that foster collaborations and drive India’s growth story.

    Shri Goyal praised MCCIA for bringing together an inspiring confluence of industry leaders and visionaries and said that the 90-year old Association has played a transformative role in fueling progress, empowering entrepreneurs and driving growth across Maharashtra and India.

    ***

    Abhijith Narayanan/Asmitabha Manna

    (Release ID: 2106145) Visitor Counter : 26

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Castellum, Inc. Announces Its GTMR Subsidiary Has Been Selected as a SCI MAC Vendor

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VIENNA, Va., Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Castellum, Inc. (NYSE-American: CTM) (“Castellum” or “CTM”), a cybersecurity, electronic warfare, and software engineering services company focused on the federal government, announces that its Global Technology and Management Resources, Inc. (“GTMR”) subsidiary has been selected as a Special Compartmented Information Multiple Award Contract (“SCI MAC”) vendor, supporting the Intelligence Division of Naval Air Warfare Center – Aircraft Division (“NAWCAD”). This single pool unrestricted Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (“IDIQ”) contract, which was effective as of February 21, 2025, has a ceiling of $249 Million that will be shared among the selected awardees on the SCI MAC.

    Castellum/GTMR will engage with a wide range of customers across the U.S. Department of Defense, providing analytical, technical, and managerial efforts in the areas of acquisition, analysis, research and engineering, test and evaluation, logistics, training, and program management, as well as IT and Software Development Support. Castellum/GTMR will support Naval Air Systems Command (“NAVAIR”) across all aspects of the Acquisition Life Cycle of various platforms and systems, as well as intelligence and threat support to numerous research, development, test, and evaluation activities. This contract vehicle is intended to provide general contractor support services requiring access to intelligence and threat information at various classification levels to enable NAVAIR, subordinate Commands, Program Executive Offices, and subordinate Programs to execute their mission.

    “Another important strategic win for our CTM Team as we continue our strong momentum to posture CTM, through our subsidiary companies of GTMR, SSI and Corvus, for vigorous and enduring organic growth. The federal government has increasingly shaped its acquisition strategy over the past few years to leverage IDIQ MAC’s and on follow Task Orders as their primary acquisition strategy, and Government Contracting companies must win an ‘invitation to a seat at the ‘table’ to be able to compete for new opportunities. This win is especially significant as we will have that all-important ‘seat at the table’ to help support one of our primary and strategic mission customers and their vital classified programs that directly impact our warfighters and their ability to ensure our national security. This is precisely where we want to be as CTM: helping to build as many essential and strategically enduring opportunities as we can to support mission-critical programs with our world-class CTM team and bring our unmatched technology services and solutions to our warfighters,” said Glen Ives, President and Chief Executive Officer of Castellum.

    About Castellum, Inc.:

    Castellum, Inc. (NYSE-American: CTM) is a cybersecurity, electronic warfare, and software engineering services company focused on the federal government – https://castellumus.com/.

    Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements:

    This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements represent the Company’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events and can generally be identified by the use of statements that include words such as “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “shooting to,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “likely,” “will,” “would,” “appears,” “goal,” “target” or similar words or phrases. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s expectations for revenue growth and new customer opportunities, improvements to cost structure, and profitability. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s expectations for revenue growth and new customer opportunities including opportunities arising from its contracts with SCI MAC and NAVAIR and other customers, improvements to cost structure, and profitability. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, among others: the Company’s ability to compete against new and existing competitors; its ability to effectively integrate and grow its acquired companies; its ability to identify additional acquisition targets and close additional acquisitions; the impact on the Company’s revenue due to a delay in the U.S. Congress approving a federal budget, operating under a prolonged continuing resolution, government shutdown, or breach of the debt ceiling, as well as the imposition by the U.S. government of sequestration in the absence of an approved budget; the ability of the U.S. federal government to unilaterally cancel a contract with or without cause, and more specifically, the potential impact of the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization on government spending and terminating contracts for convenience. For a more detailed description of these and other risk factors, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) which can be viewed at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. The Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements made in this release or in any of its SEC filings except as may be otherwise stated by the Company.

    Contact:

    Glen Ives, President and Chief Executive Officer
    Phone: (703) 752-6157
    info@castellumus.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e355a09-de05-4150-b0bf-af06a2535f06

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Environment Secretary Steve Reed – NFU Conference speech

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Environment Secretary Steve Reed – NFU Conference speech

    Speech by Environment Secretary Steve Reed at the NFU Conference

    Thank you very much Tom for inviting me to speak today.  

    I’ve been to the NFU Conference before of course – but this is my first time attending as the Secretary of State for Defra. I want to personally thank Tom for our work together since I took up this role last July.  

    You were the first visitor to my office after the election and you’ve been back more since then than anyone else since. That conversation between us is invaluable as we navigate the farming transition together. 

    And I’m grateful for your views Tom – even where we’ve disagreed.  

    You set that out in your speech and I was listening to it, plain speaking as you always do. And I know it’s reflected here today, and the protests in Westminster and around the country. But even if the conversation gets difficult – I will always show up to have it. Because I respect this union and I respect British farming.

    Now, I can’t give the answer I know many of you want on inheritance tax. But I want you to know that I understand the strength of feeling in the room and in the sector, we can see and example of that right in front of me right now. And I am sorry it’s a decision that we’ve had to take.   

    Like I said I am always going to turn up to have the conversation with you, there’s an opportunity to ask questions afterwards and it might be better to ask them in that way because I have an awful lot that I think will be of interest to other people who are here in the room today that might want to hear what I have to say about that.

    Now I’ve heard many farmers describing that decision as ‘the final straw’ – and the truth is those straws have been piling up for many years. Tom you were outlining many of them in your speech.

    This sector is facing high input costs, tight margins, and unfairness in the supply chain. You’ve struggled to get enough workers to pick your fruit and veg. Frankly, you’ve been sold out in past trade deals. Farmland is increasingly at risk from severe flooding and drought.  

    And this all comes as we face the biggest transition for farming in generations, moving away from the Basic Payment Scheme to more sustainable methods of farming. 

    The underlying problem in this sector is that farmers do not make enough money for the hard work and commitment that they put in.   

    I will consider my time as Secretary of State a failure if I do not improve profitability for farmers up and down this country. 

    Today I can announce I will set up a new farming profitability unit within the department to drive that goal. I want to outline what the Government is doing to tackle the deep-rooted problems holding the sector back. Because time and again, I hear farmers say that they do not make a fair profit for the food they produce. And it is only by overcoming these long-standing challenges that we can create the conditions for your farming businesses to succeed. Achieving this starts by treating farms as the businesses they are. That’s something, in my view, the previous government forgot.  

    Farmers have repeatedly told me they want to stand on their own two feet. They are proud people and rightly so. But it is paternalistic and patronising for government to treat farmers as if they are not operating in a marketplace in which they need to turn a decent profit. 

    I worked in business for 16 years, with responsibility every year for driving up profit and driving down cost. British farming has some of the hardest working, most creative people anywhere in the British workforce. But a sector that isn’t profitable doesn’t have a future. I know that from my own long experience in business.   

    My focus is on ensuring farming becomes more profitable – because that is the best way to make your businesses viable for the future. And that’s how we ensure the long-term food security this country needs.   

    This approach will underpin our 25 Year Farming Roadmap and our Food Strategy, where we will work in partnership with farmers to make farming and food production sustainable and profitable. We will work with farmers and stakeholders to build the roadmap together, covering every part of the sector, and the first workshops will start next week. 

    The roadmap stands on three principles. 

    First, a sector that has food production at its core. The role of farming will always be to produce the food that feeds our nation. The instability we see across the world shows us why it’s so important we help farmers to get this right.  

    Second, a sector where farm businesses are more resilient in withstanding the shocks that periodically disrupt farming – severe flooding, drought, animal disease. We will help farmers who want to diversify their income to put more money into their business so they can survive these more difficult times when they come.   

    Third, a sector that recognises restoring nature is not in competition with sustainable food production, but is essential to it. 

    It is only by pursuing all three of these principles – and recognising that farms are businesses that need to be profitable, that we can guarantee national food security and a thriving food production and farming sector.  

    Our New Deal for Farmers is supporting farmers to produce food sustainably and profitably.  

    It won’t all happen overnight, but we are already making changes. 

    Tom has repeatedly told me farmers need certainty about seasonal workers. I’ve listened Tom, and I’m pleased to announce that we’re extending the Seasonal Worker visas for five years. That on it’s own is not the long-term solution. We will reduce the number of seasonal workers coming to the UK in the future.  

    But I recognise your business needs stability over the coming years as we work at pace to embrace innovation, develop the agri-tech and invest in farming practices so you can reduce your reliance on seasonal workers as quickly as possible. 

    We are making the Supply Chain fairer, with new regulations for the pig sector coming in by the end of next month in March to make sure contracts clearly set out expectations and only allow changes if they’ve agreed by all parties. We are engaging with industry on similar proposals for eggs and fresh produce. 

    For the first time ever, we are measuring where the public sector buys food from so we can use the Government’s own purchasing power to back British produce wherever we can. I have worked with my colleague Pat McFadden in the Cabinet Office to create new requirements for government catering contracts to favour high-quality, high-welfare products that British producers are well placed to meet.  

    This means British farmers and producers can compete for a fairer share of the £5 billion pounds a year the public sector spends on food. That’s money straight into farmers’ bank accounts to boost turnover and boost profits.  

    Ours is an outward-facing trading nation. But I want to be clear, we will never lower our food standards in trade agreements. We will promote robust standards nationally and internationally and will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. British farming deserves a level playing field where you can compete and win and that is what you’ll get. We will use the full range of powers at our disposal to protect our most sensitive sectors. 

    Innovation and technology will help farmers produce more food more sustainably and more profitably. I’m delighted to announce the legislation to implement the Precision Breeding Act for plants in England has been laid in Parliament today. This offers huge potential to transform the plant breeding sector in England by enabling innovative products to be commercialised in years instead of in decades, and we are reinstating the Precision Breeding Industry Working Group so the whole food supply chain can work together to bring new food and feed products to market faster. 

    We are investing in the UK Agri-Technology sector with a further £110 million pounds in farming grants being announced today. In Spring we will launch new competitions under our Farming Innovation Programme for groundbreaking research that will help the sector transition towards net zero, and unlock opportunities from the Precision Breeding Act.  

    This is not just for the biggest farms. We will help farms of any size access technology that makes a real difference to the bottom-line over the years ahead. Like the chemical-free cleaning for integrated milking equipment by Oxi-Tech – funded through FIP, which boosts profits by lowering energy costs and chemical use. Our new ADOPT programme will fund farmer-led trials that bridge the gap between these new technologies and their use in the real world,  showing farmers that their investments in technology will deliver financial returns and boost profits. And once technologies and equipment hit the market, we are making them available through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund. Products like the electric weeder developed by Rootwave to reduce chemical use. We will launch another opportunity this Spring to bring more products to the farmgate. 

    Farms must be resilient to future challenges if they are to remain financially viable and strengthen food security. That includes severe flooding and droughts through to animal disease, and geopolitical tensions that increase demands on our land for energy generation. 

    I know new tech doesn’t bring the same benefits for every type of farm. We are investing to help farm businesses build resilience against animal diseases that can devastate livelihoods and threaten our entire economy. Like the Bluetongue Virus, Avian Flu, or the recent case of Foot and Mouth that we saw in Germany. 

    That’s why we’re investing £208 million pounds to set up a new National Biosecurity Centre, modernising the Animal and Plant Health Agency facilities at Weybridge, to protect farmers, food producers and exporters from disease outbreaks that can wipe out businesses in a moment. 

    We are helping keepers of cattle, sheep and pigs in England improve the health, welfare and productivity of their animals by expanding the fully funded farm visits offer. 

    Tom had raised with me, and he just did in his speech, the risk from illegal meat imports. More than 92,000 thousand kilograms of illegal meat products were seized at ports across the UK over the last year. They carry huge risk of diseases such as African Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth getting into the country. We can’t tolerate this.   

    I am working with the Home Office and Border Force on plans to seize the cars, vans, trucks and coaches used by criminal gangs to smuggle illegal meat into our country and crush them so they can’t be used again.   

    I’ve listened to your concerns about other forms of crime as well. Crime damages farm profitability as you are forced to wait for farm or construction machinery to be replaced, or clear rubbish that has been dumped in your gateways or on your land. The National Rural Crime Unit is already supporting forces to tackle rural crime around the country.   

    To strengthen our approach and protect your profits, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will lay the legislation this year to better protect agricultural equipment like all-terrain vehicles, by requiring immobilisers and forensic marking as standard.  

    At the Oxford Farming Conference earlier this year, I announced new ways to help farmers remain profitable and viable, even in a challenging harvest. We will consult on national planning reforms this Spring to make it quicker for farmers to build new buildings, barns and other infrastructure to boost food production.  And ensure permitted development rights work for farms to convert larger barns into a farm shop, holiday let, or a sports facility if that suits their business planning. We will get red tape out of the way so you can invest to become more profitable.   

    I’m working with Ed Miliband and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero so more farm businesses can connect their own electricity generation to the grid much faster, so you can sell surplus energy and diversify your income.   

    The third element of our vision is nature. Restoring nature is vital to food production, not in competition with it. It is healthy soils, abundant pollinators and clean water that are the foundations farm businesses that they rely on to produce high crop yields and turn over a profit. Without nature thriving, there can be no long-term food security. 

    I want to thank everyone – upland, tenant, grassland farmers and others – everyone who is involved in our farming schemes. Almost 50 thousand farm businesses are now in schemes and around half of farmed land in England is being managed to enhance nature while producing food. 

    I recognise the frustration when we had to pause the Capital Grants offer last year without proper warning because of unprecedented demand. I promised to update you as soon as I could. And I can confirm today that every application submitted for capital grants before the pause in November will be taken forward, and following this, we will reopen the ELM capital grants offer this summer. 

    I’m also pleased to announce that we’re investing £30 million pounds to increase payment rates in Higher Level Stewardship with immediate effect to bring them more closely in line with our other farming schemes. Something the NFU and others have long called for. You just called for it again, Tom. These farmers are the pioneers of nature-friendly farming, often based in upland areas. They deliver high-quality environmental outcomes; now, finally, they will get a fair price for their work.  

    There’s a lot to be done to make British farming profitable and viable for the long term. I know we can only get there if we build the future together.   

    We will work with Tom, the NFU and farmers around the country to support farmers to keep producing the food we love to eat. This requires a new approach that recognises farms are businesses, and businesses need to turn a fair profit.  

    I’ll play my part in creating the conditions for that to happen. I know you’ll play your part in building resilient businesses that will innovate and succeed. Together, we will overcome the challenges this sector faces and give British farming the bright future this country knows you deserve.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Historic road to World Heritage site transformed

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Historic road to World Heritage site transformed

    Published: 25 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

    The Minns and Albanese Labor Governments have partnered with Balranald Shire Council to deliver a major road upgrade which is improving safety and access to the World Heritage Mungo National Park and Willandra Lakes Region.

    Marma Box Creek Road is a critical link to the World Heritage listed sites in remote south-western New South Wales and historically, around 26 kilometres of the road was dirt.

    Now thanks to a $3.25 million investment from the NSW Government’s Fixing Local Roads program and $900,000 from Balranald Shire Council, a 23.1 kilometre stretch of the road has been sealed.

    Additionally, with investment from the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery program of over $1.35 million, council is working to seal the final 2.9 kilometres of Marma Box Creek Road before the end of 2025, weather permitting.

    These upgrades will significantly reduce road closures during wet weather and improve safety for local farmers, families and school students.

    Tourists who visit the site will also benefit from safer journeys in the world-famous region where Mungo Lady and Mungo Man were discovered.

    For the Mutthi Mutthi, Paakantji and Ngyimpaa people, the 40,000-year-old remains, and other evidence of their ancestors found in the area are an important part of their communal history.

    The remains of Mungo Lady were returned to Lake Mungo in 1992, while Mungo Man’s remains were repatriated in 2017, both via Marma Box Creek Road.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison:

    “The upgraded Marma Box Creek Road represents more than just improved tourism and freight infrastructure; it signifies a crucial link to the ancient cultural heritage of First Peoples.

    “This investment not only enhances access to the area but also supports the preservation and sharing of Indigenous history dating back over 40,000 years.

    “By facilitating safer and more accessible travel, this initiative promises to enrich tourism experiences and foster greater appreciation for the profound cultural significance of this unique landscape.”

    Quotes attributable to Deborah O’Neill, Senator for New South Wales:

    “This is a very special part of the world and a place that all Australians can be proud of.

    “The Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery program provides critical funding directly to local councils for maintenance and upgrades like these works for Marma Box Creek Road. Investments like this mean better local roads for residents, and for tourists – and less pressure on councils and ratepayers.”

    Quotes attributable to Member for Murray, Helen Dalton:

    “Government investment in maintaining and upgrading rural and remote transport infrastructure is vital to keeping our communities connected, and for their economic growth. It’s reassuring to see continued investment in rural and remote NSW.

    “Mungo National Park is a spectacular location in my electorate, a significant cultural site and hidden gem.

    “It’s fantastic that the government is making this incredible part of the world more accessible for us to improve our knowledge of the heritage, culture and history of our First Nations people.”

    Quotes attributable to Balranald Shire Council Mayor, Cr Louie Zaffina:

    “This road is ‘the gateway’ to major tourism attractions in the area and an integral freight route for the area’s mining interests and local farms.

    “Ensuring the road’s safety and resilience supports the longevity of the significant economic benefits and employment opportunities that are fed back into the nearby communities through these industries.”

    Quotes attributable to Tanya Charles, Discovery Ranger at Mungo National Park:

    “The improved all weather access to Mungo National Park and the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area brings added safety for visitors, tour operators, local and staff using the new road.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Barnwell Industries, Inc. Informs Ned Sherwood of Defective and Insufficient Director Nomination Notice and Investigation of Circumstances that May Have Triggered Shareholder Rights Plan

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Actions Continue Ned Sherwood’s Long History of Disruption, Breaches of Settlement Agreements and Blatant Disregard for Established Bylaws and Shareholder Protections

    Board Forms Executive Committee to Protect Shareholder Interests

    Executive Committee Believes Sherwood’s Nomination of Himself, His Friends and His Affiliates Underscores Desire to Take Control of Barnwell at Shareholders’ Expense and Without Paying a Premium for Control

    HONOLULU, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Barnwell Industries, Inc. (NYSE American: BRN) (“Barnwell” or the “Company”) today announced that it has informed Ned Sherwood, a shareholder who recently submitted a control slate of five nominees comprising friends and affiliates, that his nomination notice is defective and insufficient. Sherwood’s nomination notice fails to include material information required by the Company’s bylaws, and in light of these material deficiencies and omissions required both by the bylaws and federal securities regulations, the Executive Committee of the Barnwell Board of Directors is strongly inclined to reject the nomination notice as defective and insufficient and to disqualify Sherwood’s nominees.

    In light of the inherent conflicts of interest of Sherwood’s candidates, one of who is a current Board member, the Board has formed an Executive Committee comprising independent Vice Chairman, Kenneth Grossman, independent director Joshua Horowitz and Executive Chairman, Alexander Kinzler, to protect the interests of all other shareholders.

    The Executive Committee has requested that a Special Committee consisting of independent directors Grossman and Horowitz investigate, among other things, the facts and circumstances of the relationship between Sherwood and his board nominee, Ben Pierson, who has privately purchased shares of Barnwell while also currently serving as the Chief Investment Officer of Sherwood’s family office, to determine whether a distribution under the Company’s Shareholder Rights Plan has been triggered.

    Sherwood is Nominating Himself, His Friends and His Business Associates to
    Steal Control of the Company

    Notwithstanding the obvious conflicts, the Board remains open to considering new candidates and intends to vet the individuals proposed by Sherwood through its usual governance process. However, the Executive Committee cautions shareholders that a preliminary review shows clearly that two of the four nominees other than Sherwood cannot be expected to exercise judgement independent of Sherwood, and three of Sherwood’s five nominees have no public company Board experience.

    • Ben Pierson has been employed by the Sherwood Family Office as its Chief Investment Officer since 2021.
    • Doug Woodrum has been a Director at Barnwell since 2020 as Sherwood’s designee having joined the Board following an earlier proxy contest and then through a prior settlement with the Company. Woodrum has been the mouthpiece for all of Sherwood’s misguided policy proposals, including the sale of assets at fire sale prices and various attempts at co-opting day-to-day control, which have only resulted in damaging management morale and creating distrust of Sherwood’s motives, as well as incurring significant costs for the Company to address these matters.
    • Woodrum has been reprimanded on multiple occasions for leaking confidential board matters to Sherwood. Woodrum has also attempted to end-run the Board of Directors by directly interfering with management. Sherwood has stated many times he would elevate Woodrum to CEO or CFO, but no member of management or director not affiliated with Sherwood has endorsed or supports Woodrum as qualified for either position.

    The Company further notes that Sherwood’s nomination of a control slate continues his long history of disrupting the Company’s governance processes and interfering with the Company’s operations, while creating significant expense to the Company. Sherwood’s nomination of himself, his friends and business associates, without any credible plan for the Company and without paying a premium to shareholders for control, flies directly in the face of shareholder interests.

    Sherwood and His Director Appointees Have Hid Investments and
    Acted to Intentionally Undermine Management and the Board

    • Sherwood made a significant investment in a Canadian Oil and Gas venture founded and operated by one of his former director designees, which investment was only belatedly and incompletely disclosed. The Executive Committee believes this arrangement was undertaken as a quid pro quo so that Sherwood’s nominee would execute on Sherwood’s self-serving agenda.
    • From 2021-2022, Sherwood and Woodrum offered a then-new member of the Board, Colin O’Farrell, the Company’s CEO position. Sherwood and Woodrum did so without consulting the Board and seemingly to co-opt O’Farrell’s independence. This conduct was in breach of a then-valid standstill agreement, resulted in a costly investigation, severely damaged the morale of the Canadian-based management team, and resulted in O’Farrell’s resignation from the Board only seven months after his appointment.
    • In April 2024, without prior Board discussion or direction, Sherwood and his director appointee Woodrum demanded that management immediately begin a search for a Calgary-based CFO and that Woodrum would help lead the search.
    • Sherwood continues to interfere with the Company’s executive leadership transition. Ten months ago, Craig Hopkins succeeded Kinzler as CEO of the Company with the support of Sherwood’s nominees and as part of an overall succession plan for the retirement of the Company’s prior senior management and expense reduction efforts. Both Kinzler and Russell Gifford, the Company’s longtime CFO, have expressed their desire to retire from day-to-day operations of the Company by the end of the fiscal year and have indicated their willingness to support CEO Craig Hopkins during the transition to the extent desired by him and the Board. Multiple directors supported by Sherwood, including former director Laurance Narbut, have expressed the belief that the decades of experience and knowledge held by Kinzler and Gifford will enable the Company to undertake a smooth transition and maintain its excellent track record of accounting and legal compliance.

    Despite Repeated Requests, Sherwood Has Failed to Propose a Different Plan or
    Business Strategy

    Sherwood has NO PLAN for Barnwell Other than to Take Over the Company
    Without Paying a Control Premium

    The Company has repeatedly asked Sherwood to specify what Company plans and policies he opposes or would change. The only response has been incessant demands “to shut down Hawaii,” which lacks any semblance of thoughtful consideration. It has no backing from a single budget, spreadsheet or alternative strategy that would adequately support the back-office functions of a publicly listed company. Barnwell can only conclude that Sherwood’s current nomination notice is merely an attempt to take full control of a company where he holds a 30% stake and no articulated plan to change any personnel, policies or business practices. Sherwood and his designees on the Board have been engaged in a steady stream of actions interfering with management and compromising Board confidentiality and function, all in pursuit of full control of the Company and often in violation of the standstill agreement that the Company and Sherwood entered into in 2023.

    Sherwood has accused the Company of excessive expenditures for lawyers and other professionals when the vast majority of these expenditures were necessitated by the abusive, improper and often illegal actions of Sherwood and his designees on the Board. Sherwood’s group recently served the Company with a books and records request, which will require significant legal expense to address, ironically asking for shareholder records when Sherwood’s own group has played fast and loose with their own Section 16 and Section 13 SEC reporting obligations.

    The Barnwell Executive Committee Comprises Majority Independent and
    Highly Experienced Directors Acting on Behalf of All Shareholders

    The current Board was expressly approved by Sherwood under a 2023 settlement whereby the Company and Sherwood each designated two directors and a fifth director, Joshua Horowitz, was selected as a compromise board member who was vetted by Sherwood and expressly endorsed by both parties to the settlement agreement.

    The current Board is overseeing the transition out of the Company’s water well drilling activities and is currently completing its final well project. The water well subsidiary recently sold one of its rigs for approximately $585,000 and will shut down its operations and sell its remaining assets in the near term. This is part of a larger plan to transition out of the Company’s Hawaii main office and move those executives to transitional roles, to streamline the Company’s accounting operations and further reduce general and administrative expenses in order to increase funds available for investment.

    The Company’s Twining oil & gas property in Alberta continues to be the engine for the Company’s future growth. We are pleased that our newest development well is online and producing as expected. There are approximately 50 additional wells that can be drilled, which would enable the Company to grow its revenues and results organically, as a major portion of the costs of the operations are fixed.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    The information contained in this press release contains “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. A forward-looking statement is one which is based on current expectations of future events or conditions and does not relate to historical or current facts. These statements include various estimates, forecasts, projections of Barnwell’s future performance, statements of Barnwell’s plans and objectives, and other similar statements. Forward-looking statements include phrases such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “predicts,” “estimates,” “assumes,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” “will be,” “should,” or similar expressions. Although Barnwell believes that its current expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it cannot assure that the expectations contained in such forward-looking statements will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such statements. The risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause actual results to differ materially from Barnwell’s expectations are set forth in the “Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors” and other sections of Barnwell’s annual report on Form 10-K for the last fiscal year and Barnwell’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, as they speak only as of the date of this press release, and Barnwell expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein.

    Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

    Barnwell Industries, Inc. (the “Company”) plans to file proxy materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company’s 2025 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”). Prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting, the Company will file a definitive proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) together with a WHITE proxy card. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT THE COMPANY WILL FILE WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders will be able to obtain, free of charge, copies of the Proxy Statement, any amendments or supplements thereto and any other documents (including the WHITE proxy card) when filed by the Company with the SEC in connection with the 2025 Annual Meeting at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) or at the Company’s website at https://ir.brninc.com/ or by contacting Alexander Kinzler, Secretary and General Counsel of the Company, by phone at (808) 531-8400, by email at akinzler@brninc.com or by mail at Barnwell Industries, Inc., 1100 Alakea Street, Suite 500, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.

    Certain Information Regarding Participants

    The Company, its directors and certain of its executive officers and other employees may be deemed to be “participants” (as defined in Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders in connection with the 2025 Annual Meeting. Additional information regarding the identity of these potential participants and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the Proxy Statement and other materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the 2025 Annual Meeting. Information relating to the foregoing can also be found in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2024. To the extent holdings of such participants in the Company’s securities have changed since the amounts described in the Proxy Statement, such changes have been reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 3 and Form 4 filed with the SEC: Form 3, filed by Craig Hopkins, with the filings of the Company on May 16, 2024; Form 4, filed by Craig Hopkins, with the filings of the Company on May 20, 2024, August 29, 2024, January 13, 2025 and January 17, 2025; Form 4, filed by Joshua Horowitz, with the filings of the Company on August 23, 2024 and October 28, 2024; Form 4, filed by Kenneth Grossman, with the filings of the Company on October 28, 2024; and Form 4, filed by Douglas Woodrum, with the filings of the Company on October 28, 2024. These filings can be found at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. More detailed and updated information regarding the identity of potential participants, and their direct or indirect interests (by security holdings or otherwise), will be set forth in the proxy statement and other materials to be filed with the SEC. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

    CONTACT: Kenneth S. Grossman
      Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
      Email: kensgrossman@gmail.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government to increase Higher Level Stewardship payments and re-open Capital Grants Offer

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Government to increase Higher Level Stewardship payments and re-open Capital Grants Offer

    The government is increasing payment rates for those in existing Higher Level Stewardship and confirming the ELM standalone Capital Grants offer worth £45m in 2025/26 will re-open in the summer.

    Farmers and land managers who have been at the forefront of nature-friendly farming in England will see an uplift to Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) payment rates, the government has announced today (Monday 24 February).   

    The increased payment rates, which will apply for agreement holders across a range of HLS options will provide a boost for farmers – often living and working in upland areas – who have been the pioneers of nature-friendly farming.  

    It will bolster support for farmers delivering high-quality environmental outcomes to maintain species-rich grasslands, managing our most important habitats and delivering a range of high-quality environmental outcomes.  

    In a further boost for nature recovery and the environment, the popular standalone ELM Capital Grants scheme will re-open in the summer, worth around £45 million in 2025/26. 

    The Rural Payments Agency is now processing the remaining 4,000 applications held when the scheme paused. These agreements will be worth £120 million over their lifetime. 

    We are also supporting farmers to improve productivity and protect the environment with a £110 million investment in equipment and technology grants.  

    The newly designed grant competitions launching this spring will focus on helping the sector transition to net zero and unlock opportunities from the Precision Breeding Act. 

    Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said:   

    This government’s focus is on ensuring farming becomes more profitable and businesses are viable for the future – delivering the long-term food security this country needs. 

    Investing in innovation and technology will help farmers produce food more sustainably and profitably, and get the equipment they need to help their bottom line. 

    And with nature being so crucial to long-term food security, we’re rewarding the pioneers of nature-friendly farming – including many upland farmers.

    Our £110 million investment in innovation, equipment, technology includes:  

    • The launch of one round of the Farming Equipment and Technology (FETF) Fund in the spring, providing grants of between £1,000 and £25,000. 
    • New Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) grants worth more than £42.5 million, including competitions focussed on unlocking the benefits of precision breeding and supporting the net zero transition. 
    • Our new ADOPT fund will provide £20 million of additional funding for farmer-led trials that bridge the gap between new technologies and their real-world application, giving farmers the confidence investments in tech will deliver the returns they need. 

    Alongside these grants, we are also extending the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme to continue to support and improve England’s most precious areas of natural beauty, and improving animal health and welfare through government funded vet visits.  

    Through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway farmers will be able to apply for visits to cover every eligible species they have from this week, and from summer they will also be able to apply for a visit for every eligible herd or flock of the same species. 

    Additionally, the recruitment campaign for the Commissioner for Tenant Farming Sector role is now live. The Commissioner will encourage behaviour in the sector to meet standards set out in the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice for England.   

    As part of the government’s Plan for Change, we are delivering on the Government’s New Deal for Farmers, with the first steps set out by the Secretary of State at the Oxford Farming Conference.

    We will work with the sector to boost profitability through fair competition across the supply chain, use planning reforms to support food production and monitor food currently bought in the public sector and where it is bought from. 

    We will help farmers diversify income streams and make additional money from selling surplus energy from solar panels and wind turbines by accelerating connections to the grid.

    We are going further to develop a 25-year farming roadmap to make the sector more profitable in the decades to come.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Winter in Moscow sites invite city residents and tourists to celebrate Maslenitsa

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Maslenitsa festivities within the framework of the project “Winter in Moscow” will last until March 2 inclusive. Thematic programs have been prepared by the capital’s parks, museums, galleries, cultural centers, libraries and the Moskino cinema park. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Culture Alexey Fursin.

    “Traditional folk games, performances by folk groups, theatrical performances and themed master classes await the townspeople. We have decided to abandon the traditional ritual of burning the Maslenitsa effigy this year for environmental and safety reasons,” said Alexey Fursin.

    Ditties, dances and old games

    On February 26 at 19:00, a concert of students of the Department of Folk Performing Arts and the Department of Folk Singing of the Moscow State Institute of Music named after A.G. Schnittke will take place in the Gogol House. Maslenitsa songs, folk melodies in modern arrangements, ditties and jokes will be performed, including “Along the Wide Street”, “Oh, Pancakes, My Pancakes”, “And We Seen Off Maslenitsa” and other compositions. Need pre-registration.

    On March 2 at 13:00, the Vnukovo Cultural Center will host the festive festivities “Wide Maslenitsa”. Russian folk games have been prepared for guests, including the stream and gorelki, as well as relay races and round dances. You can listen to Russian folk songs performed by the Sing Pro pop vocal studio and the Steppe vocal ensemble, watch choreographic numbers with the participation of the Zhemchuzhina ensemble. In addition, visitors will be offered to paint a Maslenitsa figurine, play board games, and make a doll-amulet. Admission is free.

    On February 27, the Rostokino Gallery will host a master class called “Maslenitsa Costume.” Participants will learn more about the tradition of creating straw dolls for the holiday and learn how they were decorated. An experienced craftsman will explain what the different colors in the doll’s costume mean, what signs and symbols our ancestors used. Everyone will be able to create a unique author’s image for the figurine. Admission is free, no registration required.

    On February 28 at 18:30, the cultural center “Creative Lyceum” will organize the program “Maslenitsa Culture”. Visitors will be presented with a concert program of the Russian music ethnostudio “Posolon”. Dance songs “Maslenka Shiroka”, “And we are waiting for Maslenitsa”, “Vesennaya Lyricheskaya” and “Solnyshko” will be performed to the accompaniment of folk instruments – gusli and balalaika. Admission is free, no registration required.

    Maslenitsa festivities in film scenery

    Maslenitsa festivities will also take place in the Moskino cinema park. Admission is free, but to participate you must buy a ticket to the territory of the cinema park.

    On March 1 from 13:00 to 16:45, the Gonzaga Theater will show the performances “Wide Maslenitsa” about the merry buffoons Marfusha, Mityusha and Vesnushka, which will introduce the audience to folklore traditions. And from 17:00 to 18:00, there will be a master class on crafts from Old Believer Artem Chernyshev.

    In the “Center of Moscow” set, guests will be treated to the relay races “Stove-Nurse” and “Cockfights”, and at the chromakey, the old Russian game of gorodki, which develops accuracy, coordination and strategic thinking.

    In the “Cowboy Town” decorations, from 11:00 to 17:10, an immersive quest “The Strange Case of the Missing Cows” will be held for children. And in the fairy tale park, guests will be treated to themed games – felt boot throwing and “Zakrutikha”.

    “Solar Wind” and festive processions in parks

    On March 1 at 13:00 a thematic program will begin in the Kuskovo forest park. Visitors will enjoy a performance by the children’s ensemble “Krutukha”, a mini-performance about Maslenitsa, an interactive lecture by the artist-painter Ilya Lysenkov, creative master classes led by the staff of the library No. 90 named after A.S. Neverov. And fans of active recreation will be invited to a running tour of the forest park. Admission is free.

    Free Maslenitsa performances will be shown on March 1 and 2 at 12:00 in the Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve, and on March 2 at 12:00 — in the Izmailovo Estate. An interactive musical program, active games-competitions, master classes in baking pancakes, songs, ditties and Maslenitsa fun have been prepared for visitors. Admission is free.

    The big Maslenitsa program will be held on March 2 from 13:00 on the Palace Square and other sites of the natural and historical park “Tsaritsyno”. The symbol of the arrival of spring will be the art object “Solar Wind” with scarlet and gold pinwheels and canvases, created by Marina Zvyagintseva, one of the founders of public art in Russia. On the Palace Square, visitors will see a performance by the group “Skazki”, take part in the theatrical program of the youth ensemble “Veretenets”, a festive procession and a round dance. Entrance to the main entertainment events of the program is free.

    A holiday for the little ones

    On March 2, from 12:00 to 15:00, the children’s center of the Museum of Moscow will hold a festive program called “Frying Pan Miracle” in the museum courtyard. Children will learn about Maslenitsa traditions, create bright outfits, and dance. Musical accompaniment performed by DJ Elma will be played on the radio station “Shum”. In the “Dress-up” workshop, children will create festive images, and help with makeup in the “Rumyantsy” workshop. At 14:30, a pancake disco will begin – a Maslenitsa procession, the culmination of which will be a large spring round dance. Admission is free.

    Project “Winter in Moscow”— the main event of the season, which until February 28 brings together various events in the capital. Citizens and tourists are invited to remember traditions and history, warm up with tea and hot buns, go ice skating, watch ice shows, give gifts to people who find themselves in a difficult life situation, and show concern for those who need it.

    Muscovites and guests of the capital are offered a huge selection of events in the open air and in cultural and sports institutions. The atmosphere of winter traditions has engulfed the entire city – more than 1.9 thousand sites are open. The largest festivals of the capital “Moscow Estates”, “Moscow Tea Party”, “City of Light” and many others are organically woven into the project. All information about the project and winter season events can be found in a special section of mos.ru.

    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.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/150516073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China expands subsidy program for replacing old agricultural machinery

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China will expand the scope of subsidies for replacing old and worn-out agricultural machinery and raise subsidy levels in 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said Tuesday.

    The existing nine types of agricultural machinery will be joined by six new categories in the subsidy program, namely, rice seedling-throwing machines, farmland monitoring terminals, plant protection drones, grain dryers (drying machines), color sorters and flour mills, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

    China will continue to increase the subsidy standards for certain agricultural machinery this year. For example, the maximum subsidy for replacing a cotton picker will be raised from 60,000 yuan (about 8,365 U.S. dollars) to 80,000 yuan per unit, according to the statement jointly issued by the ministry and three other central government authorities.

    The statement also emphasized that provinces must effectively utilize ultra-long special treasury bonds allocated to support the scrapping and updating of agricultural machinery, and be vigilant of fraudulent activities related to subsidy claims.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: World-class research centers ensure rapid entry of technologies to the market

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    A meeting on the results of the activities of world-class scientific centers was held under the chairmanship of Dmitry Chernyshenko

    February 24, 2025

    A meeting on the results of the activities of world-class scientific centers was held under the chairmanship of Dmitry Chernyshenko

    February 24, 2025

    A meeting on the results of the activities of world-class scientific centers was held under the chairmanship of Dmitry Chernyshenko

    February 24, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    A meeting on the results of the activities of world-class scientific centers was held under the chairmanship of Dmitry Chernyshenko

    A meeting on the results of the activities of world-class scientific centers (WCSC) was held at the Government Coordination Center under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko. The meeting presented the results of the WCSC’s work over the five years of the program’s implementation – from 2020 to 2024.

    “World-class research centers were created in 2020 as part of the national project “Science and Universities”, the implementation of which was completed last year. On the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, a new stage of the centers’ development will be implemented as part of the state program “Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation”. Over time, they were reoriented from fundamental centers to applied tasks, while showing high results. NCMUs ensure the rapid entry of in-demand technologies into the market. Today, we see good indicators of their extra-budgetary financing – 34% of the budget part, which indicates their demand in the market,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

    Last year, President Vladimir Putin clarified the strategic goal-setting in the field of science. Dmitry Chernyshenko noted that it is especially important to concentrate efforts on the tasks set by the head of state. In accordance with current challenges, the country’s strategic priorities in the field of science and technology have been updated. State support measures will be focused on them.

    The competition for support of world-class scientific centers will be announced this week.

    “This year’s competition will be aimed at creating centers of the same format as the existing ones, but with an eye on the development and implementation of the most important science-intensive technologies up to and including the sixth level of technological readiness. The Ministry of Education and Science has carried out work to take into account the areas of the humanitarian and social profile,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov, paid special attention to attracting young specialists to world-class scientific centers. According to him, the NCMU creates opportunities for young researchers to manage scientific projects, thereby motivating talented young people to engage in science and increasing the prestige of the scientific profession. Thus, 38% of the research conducted by the centers was carried out under the supervision of young (under 39 years of age) promising researchers.

    The NCMU employees have been awarded the highest level of prizes and awards for the results they have created. In particular, Irek Mukhamatdinov, a senior researcher at the NCMU “Rational Development of Liquid Hydrocarbon Reserves of the Planet”, became a laureate of the Russian Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists for 2022.

    Representatives of world-class scientific centers also spoke about developments that have practical significance.

    Rector of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University Andrey Rudskoy reported that the National Center for Advanced Digital Technologies has created a platform for the development and application of digital twins CML-Bench®. Compared to traditional approaches, the development of products and goods based on digital twin technology can reduce time, financial and other resource costs by 10 times or more. The prototype of the digital platform has been demonstrated and tested in operational conditions.

    In addition, technologies have been developed for producing metal-matrix composite materials using additive manufacturing. This is a reserve for the production of lithium-ion batteries with controlled three-dimensional micro- and macrostructure, improved energy capacity characteristics.

    Rector of the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy Vladimir Trukhachev reported that the NCMU “Agrotechnologies of the Future” created 11 new varieties of peas using genetic technologies that accelerated the ripening process twice as much as traditional selection. Several large Russian producers have already begun to purchase peas of the new varieties.

    Vice-Rector of Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University Danis Nurgaliev noted that the National Center for Mining and Metallurgical Research “Rational Development of Liquid Hydrocarbon Reserves of the Planet” has implemented industrial scaling of in-situ oil refining technology using catalysts that can increase well flow rates by 20–100% and reduce the content of toxic metals in oil within the formation.

    A number of effective technologies of the NCMU are currently being replicated not only in Russian but also in foreign companies and act as import substitutes for products of such companies as Shell and Schlumberger.

    More than 20 low-tonnage chemical products developed by the center to improve the efficiency of oil field development are already being successfully used in practice.

    Efim Khazanov, chief researcher at the Gaponov-Grekhov Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, reported that the Center for Photonics has developed a fractional rejuvenation device based on a powerful ytterbium fiber laser used in medical cosmetology for skin rejuvenation by laser exposure. In 2024, serial production of a cosmetology device based on a laser developed at the center was launched.

    Kirill Sypalo, Director General of the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute named after Professor N.E. Zhukovsky, said that the NCMU “Supersonic” has created a unique infrastructure to support work on the layout of a supersonic passenger aircraft. The use of such optimal layouts will reduce operating costs per flight by three to four times (in relation to first-generation supersonic passenger aircraft).

    Intelligent systems for monitoring and ensuring cybersecurity of onboard equipment and systems of supersonic passenger aircraft have also been developed.

    Leonid Gokhberg, First Vice-Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, noted that the Center for Interdisciplinary Research of Human Potential has created 40 unique databases on human potential development, half of which are international. The total number of users is more than 20 thousand people worldwide. The databases are used to evaluate family, demographic and economic policies and international research.

    In conclusion, Dmitry Chernyshenko instructed world-class scientific centers, together with the Ministry of Education and Science, federal authorities – curators and industrial partners, to present plans for the further use of the results obtained within the framework of the centers’ programs.

    The meeting was also attended by Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Stepan Kalmykov, representatives of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Digital Development, the Ministry of Energy, the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use and others.

    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 USA: Tuberville, Moran Bolster Rural Broadband, Prevent Taxation of Broadband Deployment Grants

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) in reintroducing legislation to amend the Internal Revenue Code to make certain that federal broadband deployment funding will not be considered taxable income.

    Grants awarded to broadband providers for the purposes of broadband deployment are currently factored into a company’s income and taxed as income. This bipartisan legislation moves to exclude broadband deployment grants awarded through certain federal programs from an organization’s income, ensuring the entirety of federal dollars are awarded to companies for the purpose of deploying broadband around the country can be used for that purpose, rather than making their way back to the government through taxes. 

    “Rural communities are the backbone of our nation, and we want to ensure that Americans living in these communities have access to high-speed internet,” said Sen. Tuberville. “Taxing broadband grants would undermine state efforts to prioritize rural broadband expansion. I am proud to support this legislation so that those living in rural America have internet needed to run their businesses, access health care, and pursue educational opportunities.”

    “Reliable, high-speed internet is more crucial than ever for Kansans to run their businesses, access telehealth or pursue and education,” said Sen. Moran. “This commonsense legislation would make certain federal grants provided for broadband deployment are not counted as taxable income to maximize the impact and success of these resources.”

    U.S. Sens. Tuberville and Moran are joined by U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) in cosponsoring the legislation.

    Sen. Tuberville cosponsored this legislation in the 118th Congress. 

    Read full text of the legislation here.

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Calling 000 for help in an emergency doesn’t work in parts of Australia – but a new plan could change that

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark A Gregory, Associate Professor, School of Engineering, RMIT University

    robert paul van beets/Shutterstock

    People could soon make mobile calls and send SMS text messages from the remotest parts of Australia, under a new election promise from the federal Albanese government to overhaul the country’s mobile phone network.

    The proposal would create a new universal outdoor mobile obligation for Australian mobile carriers such as Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. This obligation would require carriers to work with companies operating low Earth orbit satellites to provide access to mobile voice, SMS and the Triple Zero (000) service almost everywhere across Australia.

    This world-first reform would be a major step forward for public safety – especially in regional and remote areas, where mobile coverage is currently poor to nonexistent. The Albanese government says that if it wins the upcoming election, it would implement the reform by late 2027.

    However, implementing it will come with some technical challenges.

    Satellites boost mobile access

    Low Earth orbit satellites operate at an altitude of between 160km and 2,000km above the Earth’s surface. Examples include the roughly 7,000 Starlink satellites owned and operated by tech billionaire Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, that are currently in orbit.

    The new generation of these satellites incorporates a technology known as “direct to device”. This means they can directly connect with mobile phones. And it is this feature the Labor government’s new proposal seeks to utilise.

    Specifically, the proposal aims to:

    • expand Triple Zero (000) access for Australians across the nation
    • expand outdoor voice and SMS coverage into existing mobile black spots
    • improve the availability of mobile signals during disasters and power outages.

    The proposal adds to carriers’ existing obligations to provide fixed phone and internet services across Australia.

    In a few years, low Earth orbit satellites should also be able to provide data using an enhanced direct to device technology. The government has said it will consider including data in the obligation when the opportunity arises.

    Staying safer and better connected in the bush

    The telecommunications industry has long worked towards a goal of providing universal outdoor mobile coverage in Australia. Labor’s new proposal provides the impetus for the industry to take this major step forward.

    It would also provide the guidance necessary to ensure a consumer safety focus remains the fundamental rationale for telecommunications.

    This policy would ensure everyone can connect to emergency services, friends and family during emergencies or natural disasters.

    The benefits for people living and working in regional and remote areas would be considerable.

    For example, truck drivers experiencing a breakdown in the outback would be able to call for assistance. And farmers working in the remote wheat belt regions of Western Australia could stay connected with other workers and their families.

    Technical problems to solve

    However, there are some technical problems the telecommunications industry will need to overcome to achieve universal outdoor mobile coverage.

    Across the world, nations are rolling out mobile networks that use different radio frequencies. For the universal outdoor mobile obligation to be successful, the mobile carriers will need to work with satellite providers to ensure the spectrum bands used in Australia for the 4G, and in the future 5G, mobile networks will also work with satellites.

    Mobile devices connect with the network when the user makes a phone call, sends an SMS text message or browses the internet.

    When the mobile is connected to a low Earth orbit satellite, it’s important that it can tell apps to “shut up” and stop trying to connect to the network to transmit data. Otherwise the connected mobiles could cause congestion and limit service reliability and resilience.

    There are mobile handsets that have this capability today. But the vast majority of older mobile handsets do not. A list of compatible mobile handsets would need to be compiled and made available, so that consumers can consider this information when purchasing a mobile.

    To connect to a low Earth orbit satellite, it is anticipated a mobile will need to be used in a location where the sky can be seen directly. And initially at least, using a satellite-connected mobile inside a vehicle will require an external antenna.

    The universal outdoor mobile obligation would enable drivers experiencing a breakdown in the outback to call for help.
    DedovStock/Shutterstock

    A timely step forward

    The government says the introduction of a universal outdoor mobile obligation would provide an opportunity to modernise and expand existing service obligations for mobile carriers. For both to be successful, there is also a need for minimum performance standards.

    Providing mobile voice call and SMS text access across Australia is of little value if the service quality is poor, and fails during an emergency or natural disaster.

    That being said, Labor’s proposal should gain bipartisan support. It is a timely step forward that will bring positive outcomes for all Australians, especially those living and working in regional and remote areas.

    Mark A Gregory has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network grants program and the auDA Foundation. Life member of the Telecommunications Association.

    – ref. Calling 000 for help in an emergency doesn’t work in parts of Australia – but a new plan could change that – https://theconversation.com/calling-000-for-help-in-an-emergency-doesnt-work-in-parts-of-australia-but-a-new-plan-could-change-that-250762

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Samoan Prime Minister Fiame survives in resounding no-confidence vote

    By Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor

    Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has survived a vote of no confidence after weeks of political turmoil.

    In a vote today, she defeated the motion by 34 votes in favour and 15 against.

    The motion was prompted by a split in the ruling FAST Party, which saw Fiame leading a minority government.

    But in a shock move today, FAST members voted alongside Fiame’s faction to register a resounding defeat against Opposition Leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi’s motion.

    The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Papalii Lio Masipua, had granted the opposition’s formal request for a vote of no confidence against Fiame on Friday.

    Tuilaepa, who is also the head of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), confirmed that the Speaker approved the motion in writing and allowed five members from the opposition bench to speak on it.

    According to Samoa’s constitutional requirements, the MP who commands the majority of MPs should be elected as Prime Minister or continue as Prime Minister.

    ‘Another desperate attempt’
    However, the Samoan government stated Tuilaepa’s move was “another desperate attempt to stir political drama” ahead of the no-confidence vote.

    Political upheaval hit Samoa just three days into 2025 when the chair of the ruling FAST party and Samoa’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries La’auli Leuatea Schmidt confirmed he was facing criminal charges.

    FAST Party chair Laauli Leuatea Schmidt (left to right), Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, and Opposition Leader Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi. Image: RNZ Pacific/123RF/Samoa Government/FAST Party

    On January 10, Mata’afa removed La’auli’s ministerial portfolio and subsequently removed three of her Cabinet ministers.

    But La’auli remained chair of the FAST Party, and went on to announce the removal of the prime minister and five Cabinet ministers from the ruling party.

    This decision was reportedly challenged by the removed members.

    Fiame then removed 13 of her associate ministers.

    Laauli acknowledged the challenge of holding a vote of no confidence, but refrained from disclosing the party’s position, stating they would wait until Tuesday.

    First female prime minister
    Fiame is Samoa’s first female prime minister. She had heritage — her father, Fiame Mata’afa Faumuina Mulinu’u, was the country’s first prime minister.

    She took office following the April 2021 election, but that devolved into political crisis.

    The caretaker HRPP government locked the doors to Parliament in an attempt to stop the then prime minister-elect from being sworn into office following her FAST Party’s one-seat election win.

    Two governments claimed a mandate to rule, and the United Nations urged the party leaders to find a solution through discussion.

    The Court of Appeal ruled that the country had a new government after it judged the impromptu swearing-in by the newcomer FAST party on May 24 was legitimate under the doctrine of necessity.

    It took until July for the incumbent, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, to concede.

    Fiame went to school and university in Wellington, New Zealand, but her studies were interrupted in 1977 when she returned to Samoa to help with court cases around the succession of her father’s titles following his death in 1975.

    In 1985, she was elected as MP for Lotofaga, the same seat held by her father and then her mother after his death.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Want a side of CO₂ with that? Better food labels help us choose more climate-friendly foods

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yi Li, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, Macquarie University

    udra11, Shutterstock

    When you’re deciding what to eat for lunch or dinner, do you consider the meal’s greenhouse gas emissions? How do you compare the carbon footprint of a beef sandwich with that of a falafel wrap?

    Most people can’t tell what’s better for the climate. Even those who care deeply about making sustainable food choices can struggle.

    In Australia, meat products are responsible for almost half (49%) the greenhouse gas emissions of products consumed at home. Switching from these high-emission foods to lower-emission foods, such as plant-based meals, can significantly reduce household emissions. But a lack of knowledge may be stopping people doing the right thing.

    The good news is my colleagues and I have a simple solution. Highlighting the source of the food as animal- or plant-based on carbon labels makes a big difference to consumer choices. In our latest research, we show this new carbon label encourages switching from animal-based to plant-based foods.

    Closing the knowledge gap

    Previous research has shown consumers consistently underestimate the vast difference in greenhouse gas emissions between animal- and plant-based foods. For instance, producing one kilogram of beef emits 60kg of greenhouse gases, whereas producing the same quantity of peas emits just 1kg of greenhouse gases. However, most people think the gap between the two is much smaller.

    This matters because collectively, our food choices have a big impact on climate change. Agriculture generates almost a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, with animal products the biggest contributors.

    Making carbon labels more informative

    A “carbon footprint” refers to the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product.

    Globally, there is increasing interest in carbon food labelling, given its potential to nudge consumers towards more sustainable food choices. In Australia, such labelling is voluntary and not yet widespread.

    Most carbon labels follow a similar approach. They typically display a number representing greenhouse gas emissions, and a traffic-light system indicating the level of environmental impact from green (low) to red (high). But such labels do not indicate whether the food is animal- or plant-based. So a high carbon score does not help people identify the source of the emissions.

    Our label maps the carbon footprint to the source of the food, whether plant or animal, along with information about the greenhouse gas emissions.
    Romain Cadario, Yi Li, Anne-Kathrin Klesse, (2025) Appetite., CC BY

    We designed a new type of label. It clearly displays whether the food is sourced mainly from animals or plants, along with the standard emissions score and traffic-light colour code. This approach is especially useful for the growing segment of pre-prepared and packaged foods such as soups and other ready-to-eat meals, which often contain a mix of meat and plant-based food.

    Our label creates a mental link between a food source and its carbon impact. When a consumer sees high carbon scores and red traffic lights appearing more frequently on meat and other animal products, they begin to make the connection between those products and higher emissions. This is key to addressing a lack of knowledge around food carbon emissions.

    We tested our label against the existing labels in a series of experiments with 1,817 everyday consumers from Australia, the United States and the Netherlands.

    One experiment involved soup. Compared with the group exposed to the standard carbon label, the group exposed to our label learned to associate animal-based soups with higher greenhouse gas emissions more effectively. They were more accurate at estimating the greenhouse gas emissions of a second batch of soups without labels.

    This improved knowledge also translates to more climate-friendly food choices. In another experiment with Australian consumers, we encouraged participants to choose five meals from ten options. Five were animal-based and five were plant-based.

    Half the participants saw the meal options with our carbon labels, and the other half did not see the carbon labels. The group exposed to our carbon labels chose fewer animal-based options in their weekly meal plan. In this case, we don’t know whether a third group exposed to the standard label would also make more climate-friendly choices, but our earlier experiments suggested our label was more effective.

    In the final experiment conducted in the Netherlands, displaying our carbon label made university students more likely to choose the plant-based snack option rather than the animal-based option.

    Providing information about the source of the food, whether plant or animal, influenced choices of meal plans.
    Romain Cadario, Yi Li, Anne-Kathrin Klesse, (2025) Appetite., CC BY

    When knowledge isn’t enough

    While people who care most about sustainable eating may think they know better than others, we found that is not the case. These people were not better able than other participants to tell the difference in greenhouse gas emissions between animal- and plant-based foods without seeing our carbon label.

    But they were better learners. When confronted with the facts about the differences between animal and plant-based foods on our labels, they were more likely to change their choices and switch to plant-based foods.

    What this means for consumers and businesses

    A simple change to food labels could help consumers make more informed environmental choices. For businesses and policymakers, it shows displaying only carbon numbers isn’t enough – the food source is crucial.

    Some forward-thinking restaurants and food companies are already experimenting with adding carbon labels to the menu to encourage diners to choose climate-friendly dishes. Our research suggests this approach could be more effective when combined with the new carbon labels we designed.

    Meat products make a significant contribution to climate change.
    Valmedia, Shutterstock

    Implications for climate action

    As Australia grapples with meeting its climate commitments, helping consumers understand the environmental impact of their food choices will become increasingly important.

    The challenge for businesses, policymakers and researchers isn’t convincing people to care about sustainability – they already do. Almost half of Australian shoppers (46%) say sustainability is important to them and influences their purchases, despite cost-of-living pressures.

    But most sustainable actions in retail involve recyclable packaging, products and materials, and local produce. The carbon emission implications of these actions, sadly, are far less than reducing animal-based food consumption.

    Instead, we need to focus on giving people the tools to make their environmental concerns count. Our carbon labels could be the key to helping consumers turn their sustainable intentions into meaningful climate action.

    Yi Li 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. Want a side of CO₂ with that? Better food labels help us choose more climate-friendly foods – https://theconversation.com/want-a-side-of-co-with-that-better-food-labels-help-us-choose-more-climate-friendly-foods-250513

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China outlines key tasks to deepen rural reforms, advance rural revitalization

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Agricultural machines work in fields at a farm of Beidahuang Group in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Oct. 12, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    China unveiled its “No. 1 central document” for 2025 on Sunday, outlining priorities to deepen rural reforms further and solid steps to advance all-around rural revitalization.
    As the first policy statement released by China’s central authorities each year, the document is seen as an indicator of policy priorities.
    The document consists of six parts covering six areas: ensuring the supply of grain and other important agricultural products, consolidating the achievements of poverty elimination, developing local industries, advancing rural construction, improving the rural governance system, and optimizing the rural resource allocation system.
    The document calls for enhanced efforts in work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers in 2025 and beyond, and sets the goals of advancing all-around rural revitalization and consolidating the country’s agricultural foundations further.
    With reform, opening-up, and scientific and technological innovation as driving forces, the country will safeguard its grain security and ensure that no large-scale lapse or relapse into poverty occurs, the document says.
    The country will make every effort to enhance agricultural efficiency, invigorate rural areas and increase farming incomes, thereby laying a solid foundation for the advancement of Chinese modernization, the document stresses.
    It emphasizes the importance of developing new quality productive forces in agriculture in light of local conditions. It also calls for the cultivation of leading high-tech agricultural enterprises, and the acceleration of breakthroughs in crop varieties.
    China will support the development of smart agriculture and expand the application scenarios of technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and low-altitude systems, according to the document.
    It outlines plans to expand cold-chain logistics and instant retail services to townships, and encourages regions with suitable conditions to establish public charging and battery-swap facilities for electric vehicles.
    To promote the effective management and utilization of rural resources and assets, the document calls for the exploration of feasible ways to make good use of legally owned rural housing through methods such as leasing, equity participation and cooperation.
    The document urges innovation efforts related to the financing mechanisms for rural revitalization. Steps will be taken to strengthen support from central budget investments, ultra-long special government bonds, and special local government bonds for major projects in agriculture and rural areas. Monetary policy tools will be utilized to encourage financial institutions to increase funding for rural revitalization.
    Reforms related to forestry, state farms, and supply and marketing cooperatives will be advanced in a coordinated manner. The document stresses the importance of deepening the reform of the collective forest tenure, of enhancing comprehensive reforms of water pricing and water rights in the agricultural sector, of strengthening water usage management, and of promoting water-saving irrigation technologies.
    Eligible cities are encouraged to include their agricultural migrant populations with stable employment into the scope of local urban housing security policies gradually, the document notes.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government announces raft of new policies and major investment to boost profits for farmers

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Government announces raft of new policies and major investment to boost profits for farmers

    Environment Secretary to announce reform package to boost farmers’ profitability as part of the Plan for Change

    New reforms to make farming more profitable will be announced today by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed.

    Speaking to farmers at the NFU conference in Westminster, Steve Reed will reveal new plans to deliver a profitable farming sector, while reaffirming Government’s cast iron commitment to food production, and unlocking rural growth.

    The speech will announce a raft of new policies to put money into the pockets of British farmers including:

    • Extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years giving farms a pipeline of workers and certainty to grow their businesses. Annual quota reviews will ensure we strike the right balance – supporting farms while gradually reducing visa numbers as we develop alternative solutions.
    • Back British produce: British farmers handed a major boost under new requirements for government catering contracts to favour high-quality, high-welfare products that local farms and producers are well placed to serve. The move marks a major leap in achieving the government’s ambition for at least 50% of food supplied into the £5 billion public sector catering contracts to be from British producers or those certified to higher environmental standards.
    • £110 million investment in technology: The Farming Innovation Programme which supports research and development of agri-technology for farmers, for example the chemical free cleaning for integrated milking equipment, which lowers energy costs and chemical use. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund provides grants of up to £25,000 to buy new equipment such as electric weeders to reduce chemical use.
    • Protecting farmers in trade deals: The government will uphold and protect our high environmental and animal welfare standards in future trade deals.
    • Strengthening Britain’s biosecurity: Setting up a new National Biosecurity Centre to transform the Animal and Plant Health Agency animal health facility at Weybridge, investing £200 million to improve our resilience against animal disease to protect farmers and food producers.

    Speaking about profitability, Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is expected to say:

    The underlying problem is that farmers do not make enough money for the hard work and commitment they put in. 

    I will consider my time as Secretary of State a failure if I do not improve profitability for farmers across the country.

    My focus is on ensuring farming becomes more profitable because that’s how we make your businesses viable for the future. And that’s how we ensure the long-term food security this country needs.

    This builds on the commitments made at the Oxford Farming Conference, where the Environment Secretary set out the government’s vision for farming including:

    • Using planning reforms to support food production: Ensuring our reforms make it quicker for farmers to build the buildings, barns and other infrastructure they need on their farms to boost food production.
    • Diversifying income streams: Helping farmers make additional money from selling surplus energy from solar panels and wind turbines by accelerating connections to the grid, supporting them during difficult harvests and supply shocks. 
    • A fair supply chain: Boosting profitability through fair competition across the supply chain. New rules for the pig sector will come this spring, ensuring contracts clearly set out expectations and changes can only be made if agreed by all parties. Similar regulations for eggs and fresh produce sectors will follow with the government ready to intervene with other sectors if needed.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senate Appropriators Murray, Shaheen Sound Alarm on Public Health Effects of Mass Firings at the Food and Drug Administration; Urge Secretary Kennedy to End Indiscriminate Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: Murray Blasts Trump and Musk Decimating HHS, Risking Americans’ Health and Livelihoods
    ***FACT SHEET: WA State Impacts of Trump and Musk’s Reckless Mass Layoffs***
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, sent a letter Friday to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to express their grave concerns about the recent mass firings of hundreds of federal workers at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Murray and Shaheen’s counterparts in the U.S. House of Representatives—House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D, CT-03) and Congressman Sanford Bishop (D, GA-02)—also signed the letter. 
    The lawmakers wrote, “The FDA’s mission is to protect public health by assuring the safety, efficacy and security of our human and veterinary drugs, food and cosmetics products and the regulation of tobacco products. We are concerned that the mass firings of probationary staff at the FDA, many of whom with scientific backgrounds, will prevent us from staying on the cutting edge of drug and device approvals, maintaining food safety and responding to new threats, like avian flu.” 
    “This decision will only hurt the American people by preventing advancements in patient care and is directly in conflict with President Trump’s stated health care goal of, ‘providing more choice, better care, and lower costs,’” they continued.
    The full text of the letter can be found here. 
    Last week, Senator Murray responded at length to the Trump administration’s mass firings of dedicated workers across HHS and its many subagencies—and earlier this month she released a fact sheet detailing how reckless mass layoffs across the federal government will jeopardize essential services Americans rely on. Senator Murray was a leading voice in opposition to the confirmation of RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary. Earlier this month on the Senate floor, she warned of the dangers of confirming RFK, Jr.—given his lack of health care experience and deadly rhetoric—and encouraged her colleagues to “show some courage” by rejecting his nomination. A longtime congressional leader on health care and former HELP Committee Chair, she called her meeting with him the “most troubling” she’s ever had with a cabinet nominee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Paul Introduce Legislation to Overhaul NIAID

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    Legislation would make national research institute directors Senate-confirmed positions
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) to introduce the NIH Reform Act to increase congressional oversight on leadership at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The NIH Reform Act would separate the NIAID into three national research institutes: the National Institute of Allergic Diseases, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases. Each new institute would be led by directors subject to Senate confirmation and limited to no more than two five-year-terms to prevent the unchecked authority that led to disastrous mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    “Anthony Fauci single-handedly shut down small businesses, forced our children out of classrooms, and took away the opportunity for many Americans to say goodbye to loved ones during the COVID pandemic,” said Senator Tuberville. “It’s scary to think that someone who was never elected – or even confirmed by the Senate – had so much power over health care decisions that impacted millions of Americans.  We need greater transparency in our government’s institutions to ensure this never happens again. I’m proud to join Senator Paul in this legislation to increase oversight of the NIH and give the American people greater transparency surrounding our government institutions.”
    “For nearly four decades, Dr. Anthony Fauci sat atop a bureaucratic empire, wielding unchecked power over public health policy—despite never being confirmed by the Senate once,” said Dr. Paul. “He dictated mandates that shut down businesses, kept kids out of school, and trampled individual liberties—all while being the highest-paid official in the federal government. That kind of power without oversight is dangerous, and my legislation will ensure it never happens again. This legislation will bring accountability and oversight into a taxpayer-funded position that has largely abused its power and has been responsible for many failures and misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
    U.S. Representative Chip Roy (R-TX-21) introduced the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    Complete text of the bill can be found here.
    BACKGROUND:
    Dr. Anthony Fauci was Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for over 38 years—longer than J. Edgar Hoover was Director of the FBI. By the time he retired, he was the highest paid official in the entire federal government. Yet the Senate never voted to confirm him once. Current law does not require Senate confirmation of the NIAID Director.
    The NIAID’s stated mission is “to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.” This sweeping mandate covers everything from asthma to Ebola, from peanut allergies to the plague. As the head of that institute, Dr. Fauci installed himself as a de facto pandemic czar, advocating for misguided policies like mandatory vaccinations for school-aged children (one of the populations least at risk from COVID-19).
    To improve accountability of the NIH, the NIH Reform Act will restructure the NIAID to better align with its mission as follows:
    Abolish the NIAID and replace it with the following three new institutes:
    National Institute of Allergic Diseases
    National Institute of Infectious Diseases
    National Institute of Immunologic Diseases
    The directors of each new institute would be:
    Appointed by the president
    Subject to Senate confirmation
    Limited to no more than two 5-year terms
    This type of reorganization is nothing new. In the aftermath of J. Edgar Hoover’s decades-long tenure as head of the FBI, Congress passed a law in 1976 limiting the FBI Director to a single 10-year term, and as recently as 2012, Congress eliminated one center within the NIH and replaced it with a new one. In the aftermath of the damage done by pandemic-era mandates and restrictions, Congress must enact the NIH Reform Act to ensure that one official cannot claim the unquestioned authority to dictate the federal response to public health emergencies.
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Funding for regional groups for stocking native fish in local waters now available

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Funding for regional groups for stocking native fish in local waters now available

    Published: 25 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional NSW

    The Minns Labor Government has announced that funding for fishing clubs and native fish stocking groups is now available for restocking regional rivers and dams with iconic native fish such as Australian Bass, Golden Perch and Murray Cod.

    These fish are also appreciated as highly sought after angling fish that support recreational fishing and local tourism.

    The NSW Government is committed to delivering for recreational fishers and the NSW regional environment to preserve the many locations and lifestyles that are special for families and locals.

    Two dollars in funding is provided from for every dollar raised by the community to purchase Australian Bass, Golden Perch and Murray Cod from accredited commercial fish hatcheries for stocking into public waterways.

    This program is part of the Government’s commitment to recreational fishers and helps boost native fish stocks to deliver enhanced fishing opportunities into regional waterways where factors such as carp and drought may have hindered native fish stock levels.

    The program also supports the regional aquaculture ventures which produce the high-quality fish stock that are released release into public waters to benefit recreational fishers. These ventures provide local jobs in the regions at hatcheries and breeding sites.

    Last year 70 grants were approved under the program and delivered fish stocks for local fishing clubs to restock waterways in places like Lake Cargelligo, Leeton, Walgett, Bermagui, Nowra, Goulburn, Tumut and Yass.

    Australian bass live in coastal rivers along the east coast and downstream for breeding from may to August. Golden Perch occur throughout the Murray-darling river system and are migratory species following increases in water flow up stream during spring and summer.

    Murray Cod encompass most of the Murray Darling Rivers and mature adults will travel long distances to spawn during spring and summer.

    Fish stocking in NSW is carefully managed under a fish stocking fishery management strategy to ensure sustainability to ensure the activity is conducted with appropriate environmental controls and generates quality recreational fishing outcomes.

    Groups interested in applying for the grants, can apply online before the closing dates for the Community Native Fish Stocking (CNFS) 2025/26 grants program. Fish stocking is expected to take place between November 2025 and April 2026.

    A minimum of $2,000 and a maximum of $6,000 per application per group is required.  Only one application per group may be submitted.

    Applications to stock Australian Bass close on 28 March 2025. 

    Applications to stock Golden Perch or Murray Cod close on 9 May 2025.

    To apply https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/stocking/CNFS

    Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

    “Our Government is focused on delivering great recreational fishing and environmental outcomes. This program delivers in every way for fishers by populating highly popular native sportfish in regional waterways.

    “These fish stocking events will help diversify and enhance our valuable native fishery, increase fishing amenity and support local businesses.

    “Millions of fish are produced and stocked by government and private sector hatcheries each year into rivers, streams and dams across the State to improve recreational fishing opportunities in NSW that create jobs for regional people.

    “Native fish stocking provides many economic and social benefits, as well as positive environmental outcomes due to the importance of native fish in the landscape.

    “This is another great example of your fishing licence fees at work. More information on fish stocking can be found online.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Combat Wildfires, Drought Across the West

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
    Protect the West Act would invest $60 billion to reduce wildfire risks, restore watersheds, and protect communities
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, Ron Wyden, Ruben Gallego, and Jacky Rosen reintroduced the Protect the West Act, which invests $60 billion in forests across the West to reduce wildfire risk, restore watersheds, protect communities, and decrease the cost of fighting wildfires.
    “Colorado’s forests, grasslands, and waterways are the bedrock of our outdoor economy,” said Hickenlooper. “Every effort we make to prevent wildfires and mitigate the impact of climate change is an investment in Colorado’s future.”
    “In the West, our forests, grasslands, and watersheds are essential to our economy and way of life. But they are under threat from the worsening effects of climate change and consistent underinvestment from the federal government,” said Bennet. “As we face a 1,200-year megadrought and wildfire season that never seems to end, we need to break from the status quo and invest in the restoration of our forests and public lands to meet this challenge. We have no time to waste.”
    “Climate change is threatening our way of life in Colorado. We must act,” said Crow. “The Protect the West Act would help combat intensifying wildfires and help better protect Colorado communities.”
    “With summers getting dryer and hotter, the West and Oregon’s treasured lands are a tinderbox waiting to light ablaze,” said Wyden. “In my town halls, I’ve heard countless Oregonians fearing for their health and safety while struggling to maintain their economic livelihood as severe drought and wildfires wreak more havoc on their communities every year. More investments are needed to protect our forests and watersheds so local communities across the West are healthy and can have the opportunity to explore its beautiful natural treasures for generations.”
    “In Arizona and across the West, we face a rapidly growing backlog of projects for wildfire mitigation, drought resilience, and land restoration,” said Gallego. “I’m proud to help introduce the Protect the West Act which will finally give states and tribes the tools they need to take on these projects, all while creating good-paying jobs and boosting rural economies.”
    “Nevada’s forests and public lands are increasingly susceptible to wildfires, drought, and other extreme weather events. We need to do everything we can to protect our communities from the damage caused by these disasters and bolster our ability to recover,” said Rosen. “This critical legislation will support Nevada’s wildfire mitigation and restoration efforts, helping to keep Nevadans safe. I’ll always work to ensure Nevada has the resources it needs to fight wildfires and other weather-related events.”
    In the West, our strong outdoor rec industry and our agricultural communities depend on healthy lands, forests, and waterways. Increasingly frequent wildfires threaten those communities and our economy.
    Currently, the federal government spends approximately $2.9 billion to fight wildfires every year, with costs expected to increase by a billion by 2050. Already, the U.S. spent nearly $48 billion fighting wildfires over the last five years.
    Preventing wildfires before they even start is thirty times more cost-effective. Investing in fire mitigation and making our communities more resilient will save taxpayers money by reducing response and recovery costs.
    Specifically, the Protect the West Act would:
    Establish an Outdoor Restoration & Watershed Fund to better support local efforts to restore forests and watersheds, reduce wildfire risk, clean up public lands, enhance wildlife habitat, remove invasive species, and expand outdoor access
    Establish an advisory council of local, industry, conservation, Tribal, and national experts to advise funding priorities, coordinate with existing regional efforts, and provide oversight
    Empower local leaders by making $20 billion directly available to state and local governments, Tribes, special districts, and nonprofits to support restoration, drought resilience, and fire mitigation projects
    Partner with states and Tribes to invest $40 billion to tackle the backlog of restoration, fire mitigation, and resilience projects
    Create or sustain over two million good-paying jobs, primarily in rural areas, to support existing industries like forest product, agriculture, and outdoor recreation
    Save landowners and local governments money by investing in wildfire prevention and natural hazard mitigation.
    “The Protect the West Act is a significant investment in Colorado’s natural resources and Colorado is proud to support its reintroduction in the US Senate,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado State Department of Natural Resources. “As Colorado experiences drought and continued threats from devastating wildfires, now is the time to invest in Colorado’s forests, watersheds, and landscapes that drive economic activity across the west, employ thousands of Americans, and provide environmental and ecological benefits to our communities and wildlife.”
    “One of the greatest threats to our Tribal lands are the devastating wildfires caused by the extreme drought conditions in the western United States,”said the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. “Sen. Bennet’s Protect the West Act will provide much needed investment in conservation, restoration and wildfire mitigation. A key component of this legislation is Sen. Bennet’s recognition of the importance that Tribes have in land use and regulation, assuring that funds will be made available directly to Tribes for maintenance of our forests, watersheds and rangeland. Moreover, he assures that Tribes will have a seat at the table in determining the distribution of funds, ensuring that there will be a tribal representative working alongside our state and federal partners on the Restoration Fund Advisory Council. We thank Sen. Bennet for introduction of this important legislation and look forward to its swift passage in Congress.”
    “Healthy watersheds face numerous challenges, including increasing drought, longer and hotter fire seasons, disconnected watersheds and degraded streams that no longer support healthy fisheries. The most effective way to tackle this challenge is through partnerships and collaborative conservation at the landscape scale,” said Chris Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. “The Protect the West Act would foster collaboration and provide resources for public-private partnerships to restore lands and waters across multiple jurisdictions, creating jobs and better fishing along the way. We thank Senator Bennet for his leadership and vision to restore our lands and waters at the scope and scale that will make a difference for future generations.”
    “The Colorado River District’s highest priority is to protect the water security of Western Colorado. Water security starts with our forests,” said Andy Mueller, General Manager, Colorado River District. “Our largest source of water is the snowpack that develops in our forests above 9,000 feet in elevation, mostly on federal lands. Sen. Michael Bennet’s $60 billion Protect the West Act proposal is a direct water security initiative through the funding of proactive watershed protection actions. These actions would help prevent catastrophic fires and start restoration work where warming temperatures and fires have already done harm. It’s noteworthy that $20 billion will be available to fund projects generated at the state and local levels. We applaud Senator Bennet for advocating for important western priorities in the Senate.”
     “I support the Senator’s Protect the West Act. This is a great first step in recognizing and acknowledging the problem that was created over 30 years ago,” said Merrit Linke, Grand County Commissioner. “The lack of proactive management and the ‘hands-off’ approach is now clearly having devastating effects on our communities, forest health and sustainable watersheds. This bill addresses this problem, provides much needed funding, and hopefully is the beginning of a new era in resource management. Now it is time to get to work.”
     “As Western communities continue to face the threats and the impacts of the climate crisis, now is the time to pursue initiatives that will help us become more resilient,” said Jon Goldin-Dubois, President of Western Resource Advocates. “The Protect the West Act will provide critical resources to help Western states mitigate wildfire, restore forests, improve air and water quality, and advance equity, all while pumping billions of dollars into local economies and supporting millions of good-paying jobs; it’s a true win-win. We applaud Senator Bennet for his leadership and look forward to supporting this legislation to build a more resilient West.”
    “Healthy forests support fish and wildlife habitat and outdoor access important to hunters, anglers, and recreationists in Colorado and across the nation,” said Joel Pedersen, CEO, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “However, decades of inadequate funding for forest management have placed a strain on the National Forest System that will require active management and sustained funding to increase workforce capacity. Further, these investments will help to ensure we’re better prepared to address the growing risks associated with wildfire.  The TRCP applauds the proactive investments in our forests and watersheds and the additional resources for growing the forest management workforce provided through the Protect the West Act.”
    The bill is supported by: The National Wildlife Federation, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, National Association of State Foresters, The Freshwater Trust, American Forests, National Wild Turkey Federation, National Audubon Society, Family Farm Alliance, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Western Landowners Alliance, Western Resource Advocates, Trout Unlimited, and Conservation Legacy.
    U.S. Representative Jason Crow introduced companion legislation in the House.
    The full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hartford Man Admits Fraudulently Collecting Social Security, Unemployment, and Food Stamp Benefits

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc. H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RICARDO SANTIAGO, 59, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to a fraud offense related to a scheme to fraudulently obtain Social Security, unemployment, and Food Stamp benefits.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2002 and 2024, Santiago held jobs with more than 20 employers and earned income totaling more than $580,000.  Santiago concealed his income from federal and state government agencies by providing to employers false identification, including a Social Security number and card belonging to another individual, and, in at least one instance, a false Social Security card.

    In 2002, Santiago applied for Retirement Survivors Disability Insurance (RSDI) benefits, representing to the Social Security Administration that he was unable to work due to disability.  As a result, he began receiving RSDI payments in September 2002.  In 2017, Santiago completed paperwork to maintain his benefits in which he asserted that he remained disabled and had not worked for the past two years.  Santiago ultimately collected more than $316,000 in RSDI payments to which he was not entitled.

    In February 2017, Santiago submitted to the Connecticut Department of Social Services (CT-DSS) an application for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (“Food Stamps”), representing to the CT-DSS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture that he earned no income from employment.  He began receiving SNAP benefits in March 2017 and subsequently completed forms to renew his SNAP benefits on which he again represented that he had no change in his income and that he earned no money from employment.  Santiago made more than $18,000 in purchases with SNAP benefits to which he was not entitled.

    In April 2020, Santiago applied to the Connecticut Department of Labor (CT-DOL) for Unemployment Insurance benefits.  On the application, Santiago used a Social Security number belonging to another individual, and he represented to the CT-DOL and U.S. Department of Labor that he was unemployed but available for work and physically able to work.  He subsequently completed weekly certifications making the same representations.  From April 2020 through February 2021, Santiago received more than $36,000 in payments to which he was not entitled.

    Santiago has agreed to pay restitution of $371,686.

    Santiago pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  He is released on a $25,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for May 22.

    Santiago was arrested on May 7, 2024.

    This matter is being investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Guevremont.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Spartan Capital Securities Names Brian Duddy as Head of Capital Markets

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, NY, Feb. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Spartan Capital Securities, LLC is pleased to announce that Brian Duddy has been promoted from Director of Equities to Head of Capital Markets. With over 30 years of experience in Capital Markets, Equity Sales, and Trading, Brian has played a key role in driving institutional engagement and executing complex transactions.

    Prior to joining Spartan Capital, Mr. Duddy held senior positions at leading financial institutions, including William Blair, where he opened the firm’s first New York office and became a partner in the Equity Sales & Trading Group. His extensive background includes roles at DLJ, Cowen, and Soleil Securities, where he worked closely with major hedge funds and institutional investors, facilitating large block trades, overnight transactions, and placing IPOs and Secondary Offerings with his clients.

    Spartan Capital Securities’ Founder and CEO, John Lowry, commented: “Brian Duddy’s expertise and leadership continue to strengthen Spartan’s presence in Capital Markets. His deep institutional relationships and ability to execute complex transactions make him a tremendous asset to our firm and clients. We look forward to his continued contributions.”

    About Spartan Capital Securities, LLC (SCS):

    Spartan Capital Securities, LLC is a full-service, integrated financial services firm that provides sound investment guidance for high-net-worth individuals and institutions. Their in-depth market knowledge, calculated risk management strategy, and investment acumen have earned them a strong reputation as trusted financial advisors. Spartan Capital’s experienced investment professionals provide highly customized personal service, tailoring an asset allocation program to enable each client to meet their financial goals. Spartan Capital also offers advisory and insurance services through its affiliates, Spartan Capital Private Wealth Management, LLC, and Spartan Capital Insurance Services, LLC.

    For inquiries, contact: info@spartancapital.com

    John D. Lowry
    Spartan Capital Securities
    +1 (212) 293-0123

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Merkley, Wyden: Trump Devastates Oregon’s Rural Communities with Federal Funding Cuts and Mass Firings

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    February 24, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley, the former top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Ron Wyden demanded recently confirmed U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins immediately reverse disastrous actions at the USDA that have harmed Oregon farmers and families.

    Their letter follows President Donald Trump’s illegal executive orders cutting federal funds which support farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners and mass firings across the federal government, impacting researchers at units in Burns, Newport, Hood River, and Pendleton.

    “These funding freezes and mass firings are cutting jobs, stopping essential investments for our farmers and rural communities, and making our communities less resilient to market volatility from climate, supply chain disruptions, tariffs, and natural disasters,” wrote the Senators. “These agency actions must be immediately reversed.”

    The Senators stressed the effects on Oregon by saying, “Many of our constituents have already started much-needed infrastructure projects – such as irrigation modernization under the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program to help farmers in drought-prone areas upgrade their irrigation practices to increase efficiency and conserve water – under the assurance that they would receive their grant money. Halting these payments means that a project in Hood River County will not only be delayed for over 100 days but will put the irrigation district at risk of insolvency. Even if funds are restored immediately, the current delay will ultimately increase the overall costs of this and other urgent projects while also costing hardworking Americans their jobs. Preventing grant recipients from finishing their projects is not a cost-effective or efficient approach to governance and is irresponsible stewardship of Congressionally appropriated taxpayer dollars.”

    “While there are reports that some funds have been released, in accordance with the Constitution and federal law, we direct you to immediately release all funds under these grants to ensure these projects stay on schedule, on budget, and preserve jobs. Further, we direct you to stop these senseless firings and restore these dedicated public servants to their jobs to enhance our agriculture industry, protect food safety, and bolster jobs in rural communities and throughout Oregon,” the Senators directed.

    Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

    Dear Secretary Rollins,

    On the same day he was sworn in, President Trump signed an Executive Order effectively halting all investments under the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Inflation Reduction Act, jeopardizing vital programs that support Oregon farmers and families. Despite court intervention at other agencies pausing these harmful cuts, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to freeze critical funding, which continues to cause severe disruption to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who are implementing projects under these landmark pieces of legislation. Since then, the Trump Administration has also fired an estimated 4,200 dedicated public servants in Oregon and across the country, grinding critical work and research to a halt across the agency.

    These funding freezes and mass firings are cutting jobs, stopping essential investments for our farmers and rural communities, and making our communities less resilient to market volatility from climate, supply chain disruptions, tariffs, and natural disasters. These agency actions must be immediately reversed.

    Critical research partnerships with universities and local farmers and ranchers through the USDA Agricultural Research Service are devastated with uncertain futures after public servants at research stations in Pendleton, Burns, Hood River, Corvallis, and Newport were fired. This vital work helps Oregon’s leading agricultural sectors find solutions toward improving soil health, dealing with wildfire smoke exposure in wine grapes, protecting the rangeland for both ranchers and ecosystems, and navigating threats like disease and pests to reliably bring global-class products to market.

    Many of our constituents have already started much-needed infrastructure projects – such as irrigation modernization under the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program to help farmers in drought-prone areas upgrade their irrigation practices to increase efficiency and conserve water – under the assurance that they would receive their grant money. Halting these payments means that a project in Hood River County will not only be delayed for over 100 days but will put the irrigation district at risk of insolvency. Even if funds are restored immediately, the current delay will ultimately increase the overall costs of this and other urgent projects while also costing hardworking Americans their jobs. Preventing grant recipients from finishing their projects is not a cost-effective or efficient approach to governance and is irresponsible stewardship of Congressionally appropriated taxpayer dollars.

    Other projects, such as programs that partner with farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in over half of Oregon’s 36 counties – including in Baker, Coos, Crook, Douglas, Grant, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Polk, Umatilla, Union, and Wheeler counties – to confront the challenges of drought and other extreme weather events have had the rug pulled out from under them. These landowners have already started projects amounting to tens of millions in investments to build operational and environmental resiliency into our food systems by implementing innovative production practices, increasing market competitiveness, and supporting local manufacturing.

    Other longer-term grants for wildfire resiliency through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, such as a $22.25 million investment for work in Jackson County, has also been frozen. This has paused vital work to help ensure local landowners can not only recover from past devastating wildfires but are able to protect their neighbors and communities from future wildfires.

    Grant recipients are expecting reimbursement or payment for projects already underway and instead have been met with the message that their projects were either being paused or completely stopped. Many of these recipients are now scared to come forward for fear of further retribution and loss of vital federal support.

    While there are reports that some funds have been released, in accordance with the Constitution and federal law, we direct you to immediately release all funds under these grants to ensure these projects stay on schedule, on budget, and preserve jobs. Further, we direct you to stop these senseless firings and restore these dedicated public servants to their jobs to enhance our agriculture industry, protect food safety, and bolster jobs in rural communities and throughout Oregon.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Legislature assembles for start of spring session

    [.  

    This session will see Alberta’s government take action to support the implementation of measures announced in Budget 2025, modernizing existing legislation and reducing red tape, ensuring the province’s laws remain relevant, easy to understand and attractive to investors.

    “Alberta’s government is heading back to the legislature to continue to work for Albertans. In the face of the shifting geopolitical landscape and a federal government preoccupied with its own internal bickering rather than guiding the country through these uncertain waters, our government will be taking decisive action to ensure Alberta is best positioned to meet challenges as they come.”

    Joseph Schow, Government House Leader and Minister of Tourism and Sport

    Among the proposed legislation for the spring session is an act that would provide a uniform governance framework for professional regulatory organizations, so they can continue the important work of protecting the public interest of Albertans. Additional legislation would support Albertans’ understanding of addiction treatment services, providing confidence that providers are aligned with the standards set out by the Alberta Recovery Model.

    Alberta’s government will also be introducing several pieces of legislation to help Albertans face the rising cost of living. Legislation would ensure Albertans have access to the utilities they need when they need them, at a price they can afford, and would enable better, faster, cheaper auto insurance for Alberta drivers.

    The work in the assembly will be in addition to the government’s ongoing efforts to de-escalate border and trade tensions with the U.S. amid uncertainty in global geopolitical and energy markets, reduce barriers to interprovincial trade, and maintain Alberta’s status as the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

    Alberta’s government will table approximately 20 pieces of legislation this session, including*:

    • Agriculture and Irrigation Statutes Amendment Act
    • Automobile Insurance Act 
    • Financial Statutes Amendment Act
    • Mental Health Services Protection Amendment Act
    • Professional Governance Act
    • Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act
    • Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act
    • Utilities Statutes Amendment Act
    • Wildlife Amendment Act

    *Names of legislation are subject to change.              

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ready Capital Corporation Announces Closing of $220.0 Million of Senior Secured Notes

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE: RC) (“Ready Capital” or the “Company”) today announced that on February 21, 2025, ReadyCap Holdings, LLC (“ReadyCap”), an indirect subsidiary of the Company closed a private placement of $220.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 9.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”). The Notes are senior secured obligations of ReadyCap. Payments of the amounts due on the Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantees”), at issuance, by the Company, Ready Capital Partners I, LLC, Ready Capital Subsidiary REIT II, LLC (“SubREIT II”), RCSR I Investments, LLC (“RCSR I”), RCSR II Investments, LLC (“RCSR II”) and RCSR I Intermediate Holdings, LLC (collectively, the “Guarantors”). ReadyCap’s and the Guarantors’ respective obligations under the Notes and the Guarantees are secured by a first-priority lien on the assets of RCSR I and RCSR II and the capital stock of RCSR I, RCSR II, SubREIT II and certain other subsidiaries of the Company.

    The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the private placement to repay its indebtedness and for general corporate purposes.

    Piper Sandler & Co. acted as the placement agent for the offering. Alston & Bird LLP served as counsel for the Company, and Ropes & Gray LLP served as counsel for the placement agent.

    The Notes and the Guarantees will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company’s securities, nor shall there be any sale of the Company’s securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

    About Ready Capital Corporation

    Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE: RC) is a multi-strategy real estate finance company that originates, acquires, finances and services lower-to-middle-market investor and owner occupied commercial real estate loans. The Company specializes in loans backed by commercial real estate, including agency multifamily, investor, construction, and bridge as well as U.S. Small Business Administration loans under its Section 7(a) program and government guaranteed loans focused on the United States Department of Agriculture. Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company employs approximately 500 professionals nationwide. The Company is externally managed and advised by Waterfall Asset Management, LLC.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “continue,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “potential” or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to, among other things, the expected use of the net proceeds from the private placement. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, without limitation, the risk factors and other matters set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10–K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC and in its other filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Contacts:
    Investor Relations
    Ready Capital Corporation
    212-257-4666
    InvestorRelations@readycapital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Eric Kruger Named as UConn’s New VP of Facility Services and University Planning

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A seasoned facilities operations professional with extensive experience at UConn and in the private sector has been selected as the University’s new vice president of facility services and University planning.

    Eric Kruger, currently UConn Health’s vice president for facilities development and operations, will oversee the comprehensive planning and management of all facilities operations and the physical infrastructure of all UConn campuses.

    He starts in his new role on March 21, leading a team that provides a wide range of essential services that touch the daily lives of all who work, learn, and visit UConn.

    They include the design and operations of campus buildings, infrastructure maintenance, space planning, sustainability and energy management, landscape design and grounds maintenance, logistics management, parking and transportation operations, custodial services, and skilled trades services.

    “Eric’s extensive knowledge of the University and its myriad operations will enable him to quickly and smoothly transition into his new role, which will greatly benefit our campus communities,” says Jeffrey Geoghegan, UConn’s executive vice president for finance and chief financial officer.

    “We are fortunate to have someone in this position with Eric’s expertise, vision, and proven track record of dedication to UConn,” he says.

    Eric Kruger, UConn Health vice president of facilities, development, and operations speaks about the innovative pilot project to be deployed on the Farmington campus to bolster the state’s efforts for delivering energy cost savings on August 28, 2024. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health Photo)

    Kruger came to UConn in 2014 as executive director of facilities and operations and was promoted in 2022 to his current role at UConn Health. He previously was as an operations and engineering manager at Eversource and had a 20-year career with the U.S. Naval Submarine Force, from which he retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer / Submarine Senior Chief Electrician’s Mate.

    His wide range of experience gives him insight into all aspects of UConn’s operations, including the financial management and strategic vision required for his new position and the synergistic operations of the teams in facilities management and university planning.

    “I am thrilled to be selected to lead the Facilities Services and University Planning team,” Kruger says. “This exciting opportunity to combine the experience and knowledge shared by the dedicated staff on these two teams will improve our ability to provide consistent, customer-focused support to the UConn community.”

    He also has demonstrated his commitment to responsiveness, transparency, and communications in his roles at UConn since he joined the University, and has established strong and trusting relationships with fellow employees, administrators, and other stakeholders.

    Kruger holds an MBA from UConn with a management concentration; a master’s degree in history from Southern New Hampshire University; a B.S.A.S.T in nuclear engineering technology from Thomas Edison State University; and an associate’s degree in general studies from Columbia College.

    He also holds a transmission system operator certification from the North American Electrical Reliability Corp. (NERC), a credential signifying an advanced skill set in running power systems connected to the national electrical grid.

    Those skills were key to his previous roles that included overseeing the safe and reliable operation of UConn’s on-campus power generation at Storrs, which distributes electrical service and additional utilities such as steam, chilled water, domestic water, fire main, storm water, and sewage throughout campus.

    He also oversaw facilities operations at the regional campuses in Hartford, Avery Point, Stamford, Waterbury, and the School of Law, giving him a holistic view of the full scope of services at each location and establishing connections with those campus and community leaders.

    “I look forward to identifying opportunities to control costs and leveraging shared services to improve efficiency while still providing high quality services to our world-class faculty, staff, and students,” Kruger says.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cowboy Guard and the California Air National Guard conduct MAFFS training in Arizona

    Source: US State of Wyoming

    Wyoming National Guard

    By Staff Sgt. Cesar Rivas

    FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. – Airmen from the Wyoming Air National Guard, alongside the California Air National Guard, participated in Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS) training at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, from Feb. 13-15, 2025. 

    The annual training exercise is designed to ensure aircrews remain proficient in aerial wildfire suppression techniques before peak fire season.

    The Cowboy Guard is one of four units nationwide as part of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves equipped with MAFFS, a system that allows C-130 aircraft to drop fire retardant over wildfires in support of the U.S. Forest Service and other state and local agencies. The training aligns with two key lines of effort of the Cowboy Guard: responsiveness and partnership. By enhancing interoperability with other military and civilian agencies, the training ensures aircrews are prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to wildfire emergencies.

    “MAFFS training is essential because our crews need to be fully prepared in case we are called upon to assist in wildfire suppression,” said Staff Sgt. Justin Carson, 153rd Airlift Wing aerospace ground equipment mechanic. “These exercises help us become more proficient at working in remote locations with minimal tools and supplies.”

    During the training, pilots, loadmasters and ground crews worked closely with the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies to simulate real-world wildfire response conditions. The exercise included flight operations at low altitudes, simulated retardant drops and coordination with lead planes and ground teams.

    “This mission operates at the extreme limits of our aircraft’s capabilities,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Valine, a MAFFS instructor pilot with the Cowboy  Guard. “We take off at maximum gross weight, fly at very low altitudes and slow speeds, and operate in high-density altitude environments, often in mountainous terrain. This training ensures that our crews are ready for those challenges.”

    The MAFFS program enhances national firefighting capabilities by providing additional surge capacity when commercial firefighting resources are fully engaged. The Cowboy Guard has played a key role in the MAFFS mission since its inception in the 1970s.

    “The Cowboy Guard takes great pride in this mission,” Valine said. “When fire season begins, seeing our aircraft on the flight line means we’re ready to assist wherever needed.”

    This training also serves as preparation for real-world wildfire incidents, such as the Los Angeles fires, where the Cowboy Guard played a critical role in aerial firefighting efforts. The experience gained from training exercises like this directly translates to more effective and coordinated responses during actual emergencies, helping to contain wildfires and protect communities.

    The training exercise, which involved multiple MAFFS-equipped aircraft and personnel from various agencies, marks the beginning of preparations for the 2025 wildfire season.

    (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Cesar Rivas)

    (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Cesar Rivas)

    (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Cesar Rivas)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Agritech projects, training will strengthen B.C. agriculture

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Rahul Singh, director, B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation –

    “BCCAI proudly supports B.C.’s agriculture and agrifood sectors by advancing agritech innovation and its adoption. The launch of 19 new projects and nine training programs underscores the strong demand for innovation and training among farmers, growers, and small and medium-sized businesses. With support from the government and industry partners, BCCAI is committed to meeting this need.”

    Dugan O’Neil, vice-president, research and innovation, Simon Fraser University –

    “Simon Fraser University is proud to support British Columbia’s leadership in agritech through BCCAI. By fostering a thriving, sustainable agritech ecosystem, we’re supporting local agri-producers, empowering small and medium-sized businesses, and delivering benefits to consumers, all while driving economic growth. We greatly appreciate the government’s support for innovation and the partnerships that are advancing B.C.’s agriculture and food sector.”

    Gavin Schneider, CEO and co-founder, Maia Farms –

    “Maia Farms provides a smarter, climate-conscious way to nourish people and the planet. Our team has developed a process that transforms agricultural side streams into sustainable, high-protein and versatile food ingredients through mushroom biomass fermentation. With the generous support of BCCAI, Maia Farms was able to open the foundation Fungal Intelligence Lab in Vancouver, creating 10 full time jobs and paving the way for a new fungal food economy.”

    Gaby Wickstrom, chief operating officer, ‘Na̲mg̲is Business Development Corporation –

    “The ‘Na̲mg̲is Hydroponic Greenhouse Initiative is a vital step toward food security and sustainability for the ‘Na̲mg̲is First Nation and surrounding region. With BCCAI’s support, we’re enhancing local food production and creating new economic opportunities by providing communities and businesses with fresh, locally grown food year round.”

    Michael Williamson, CEO and founder, Cascadia Seaweed –

    “Institutional partnerships and government funding give Canadian companies a competitive edge, but more support is needed to drive innovation at scale. We look forward to continuing our work with BCCAI and partner universities to validate that our B.C.-grown, ocean-cultivated kelp can help Canadian farmers increase yields and reduce emissions.”

    Chi Ta, CEO, C&T Mushroom Farm Ltd. –

    “We are excited to partner with BCCAI on our automated worm farm technology. This initiative transforms organic waste into high-quality fertilizer, promoting sustainability and creating a circular ecosystem for local agriculture. By reusing organic waste, we minimize environmental impact and enhance soil quality. We are proud to contribute to a more resilient and sustainable future for British Columbians.”

    Raj Jampala, manager operations, AgriForest Bio-Technologies Ltd. –

    “Food security and agricultural innovation are critical for B.C. and Canada. With BCCAI’s support, AgriForest Bio-Technologies is developing advanced vertical growing systems using tissue culture and photoautotrophic micropropagation to meet market demands for high-quality berry and winegrape planting stock. This project will enhance local food production, strengthen the economy, and position B.C. as a leader in sustainable agri-tech.”

    Rodrigo Santana, CEO, BeriTech Inc. –

    “During the off-season, British Columbians are dependent on lower quality imported berries that are subject to substantial price fluctuations, are mostly produced using unsustainable farming practices and rely on high-carbon transport from distant production regions. Our BCCAI-funded project will provide B.C. consumers with local, premium off-season berries and help local farmers to extend their season, better utilizing labour and infrastructure.”

    Annett Rozek, chief scientific officer, Catalera BioSolutions –

    “Catalera BioSolutions and Terramera are extremely grateful to be recipients of support from BCCAI in pursuit of innovative agricultural technologies that benefit B.C., Canada and beyond. Together with BCCAI, Catalera is helping to make safe and effective biocontrol solutions the first choice for the future of agriculture.”

    Ravi Cheema, chief executive officer, Fresh4Sunset Farms Ltd. –

    “The funding from BCCAI will help our farm incorporate advanced technologies, sustainable practices and data-driven strategies for breeding good bugs to fight pests. I am excited to share our data with other greenhouse growers, enabling new entrants to make informed decisions, optimizing treatment plans and reducing pesticide use. By fostering collaboration between universities and private companies, we will facilitate the sharing of knowledge and resources throughout B.C. and beyond.”

    Joachim Knauf, CEO/president, ChamberTrust Management International Inc. (CTMI) –

    “ChamberTrust Management International Inc. appreciates its partnership with BCCAI for the CeV project that is focused on controlled environment agriculture, artificial intelligence and intellectual property protection. This includes the additional sector knowledge and industry contacts BCCAI brought to the table. CTMI has years of background with international business associations and it was a pleasure and very fruitful to partner with BCCAI.”

    Sukh Kahlon, director, Kahlon farms –

    “It has been great working with BCCAI. They were a great support in helping with our project to reduce the planting to harvest timeline for early season field strawberry production.”

    Ajay Potluri, president and CEO, GreenSmart Technologies –

    “GreenSmart is proud to announce the successful demonstration of Liquidseal, a pioneering edible solution that extends the shelf life of cranberries produced in British Columbia. Facilitated by the BCCAI in collaboration with BCIT and Oceanspray Ltd., this partnership advances innovative agritech solutions that extend the shelf life of fresh produce, reduce food waste, provides locally grown high‑quality food and greater access to distant export market opportunities – strengthening food security for British Columbians.”

    Mohamed Imam, senior researcher, Perkins and Will Canada Architects Co. –

    “Through our partnership with BCCAI, we are creating new ways of integrating urban agriculture into the built environment. This will benefit British Columbians by supporting local food production systems that strengthen food security and reduce environmental impact. This collaboration reflects our firm’s commitment to leveraging innovation and evidence-based design to create resilient cities and achieve our clients’ sustainability goals.”

    Rick Cox, president, Ocion Water Sciences Inc. –

    “As a leader in reducing environmentally stressful chemicals for use in agriculture, we are excited and grateful for the support from BCCAI and UBC. As a leader in water treatment, Ocion embraced the opportunity to work with industry experts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to improve productivity and efficiency in the agritech sector. With these projects, we hope to position Canada as a leader, raising the bar for what can be accomplished in collaborative funded projects.”

    Kevin Kung, CTO, Takachar Limited –

    “This support made possible a first-of-a-kind pilot in the Okanagan area, turning hazardous, wildfire-prone residues into agricultural amendments. By operating this alongside our local community partner, we pushed the technology to its limits and learned tremendous lessons along the way.”

    Sean O’Connor, CEO, 4AG Robotics –

    “We are super excited to be partnering with BCCAI on this  project. As an ecosystem, we can build global leading companies here in British Columbia, while helping increase the quality and quantity of fresh cultivated food in the province. We are excited to be one of the projects selected to harness AI and robotics to improve the profitability and stability of B.C.-based mushrooms businesses.”

    Gary Jones, program manager, Industry Development, BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association –

    “Funding from BCCAI helped our grower members explore techniques for reducing waste and improving workplace efficiencies as they continue to provide fresh, nutritious and local greenhouse vegetables for our expanding population. Training opportunities like Lean 101 are important for our industry professionals to keep developing their skills and empowering their workforce.”

    Renee Prasad, department head, agriculture department, University of the Fraser Valley – 

    “Biological control is an important tool in the sustainable production of fruits and vegetables. This funding from BCCAI helps the UFV agriculture department connect with growers and answer their pressing questions in implementing sustainable production practices.”

    Eric Gerbrandt, research director, BC Blueberry Council, and the Raspberry Industry Development Council, and BC Strawberry Grower’s Association –

    “The B.C. berry sector’s sustainability will rely on adoption of superior berry varieties, with improved yield, quality, pest resistance and local climatic adaptation being developed by the BC Berry Breeding Program. A recent BCCAI workshop trained our stakeholders in testing, commercializing and marketing novel plant genetics, paving the way to a brighter future with better blueberry, raspberry and strawberry varieties.”

    Shannon Wagner, vice-president, research, Thompson Rivers University –

    “Thompson Rivers University is proud to be a contributor to increasing B.C.’s agricultural innovation with the support of BCCAI funding. Sharing innovative precision ranching methods will help improve outcomes for B.C.’s ranching communities and strengthen regional food security.”

    Jerry DuBovis, president, Pacific Regional Society for Soil Science (PRSSS) –

    “Through our collaboration with BCCAI, we have expanded our capacity to teach soil science skills to early-career professionals in B.C. The skills imparted through our workshops and seminars will greatly bolster B.C.’s ability to sustainably manage soil, an important resource for many sectors.”

    Stefania Pizzirani, associate director, Food and Agriculture Institute, and associate professor, department of planning, geography, and environmental studies, University of the Fraser Valley –

    “Across B.C., the agritechnology sector is progressing at an exciting and rapid rate. Our recent BCCAI-funded project focuses on developing four micro-credentials in collaboration with the University of the Fraser Valley, Royal Roads and BCCAI. These micro-credentials will help build up the skills needed to meet the emerging and expanding employment needs of B.C.’s dynamic agritechnology sector.”

    Paul Adams, Sherman Jen research chair in applied genomics, director of Applied Genomics Centre, Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) –

    “The molecular biology workshop for agriculture, presented in partnership with BCCAI and KPU’s Applied Genomics Centre, offers a unique opportunity for industry professionals, government personnel, and university students to gain hands-on experience with qPCR and DNA extraction. This workshop equips participants with the knowledge and skills to apply molecular tools to real-world agricultural challenges.”

    Fred Popowich, scientific director, SFU’s Big Data Hub and professor of computing science, Simon Fraser University (SFU) –

    “We are proud to have partnered with the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation. In November, our collaboration provided essential training, equipping agritech professionals with the knowledge and skills to leverage AI and data science tools and techniques effectively. This partnership highlights our commitment to fostering innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector.”

    Jason Ho, academic director, undergraduate programs, Beedie school of business, SFU at SFU’s Big Data Hub –

    “Collaboration with BCCAI and QuantoTech exemplifies the innovative spirit we strive to instill in our students – blending cutting-edge technology with a decentralized business model to ensure urban food stability. Their work highlights the vital intersection of innovation, social responsibility and global perspective, the three pillars of our program.”

    Jacob Beaton, owner, Tea Creek Training –

    “Tea Creek Training supports Indigenous Peoples and communities to revitalize their food sovereignty systems while utilizing Indigenous technologies. Tea Creek provides introductory skills training for Indigenous participants to enter meaningful employment and apprenticeships. BCCAI’s support is allowing us to build the necessary capacity required to support our Indigenous Foodland Employment Apprenticeship Skills Training (I-FEAST) that is being delivered to Indigenous communities across B.C.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Farmers are the backbone of our economy, caretakers of our land and custodians of our food security”: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, at program for Release of 19th installment of PM Kisan Scheme

    Source: Government of India

    “Farmers are the backbone of our economy, caretakers of our land and custodians of our food security”: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, at program for Release of 19th installment of PM Kisan Scheme

    Government is trying to increase ethanol blending across the country, this will benefit farmers: Union Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister

    Posted On: 24 FEB 2025 5:12PM by PIB Chandigarh

    Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri attended a programme at which the Prime Minister released the 19th installment of PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi at Bhagalpur, Bihar. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister joined the programme virtually from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, along with several farmers and dignitaries.

    Addressing the farmers and other members of the audience at Guru Nanak Dev University, the Union Minister said that farmers’ welfare is the top priority of the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Farmers are the backbone of our economy. They are the caretakers of our land and the custodians of our food security.” 

    The Minister said that farmers have now become energy producers and that the government is striving to increase ethanol blending across the country for their benefit. “Our farmers have now become Energy Producers. The total ethanol blending earlier was 1.5%, but now it has reached 19.6%, following which the farmers have been paid more than 90,000 crore rupees. The Union Government is continuously striving to increase ethanol blending across the country, which will ultimately benefit the farmers.” He added that in the last three years, prices of petrol and diesel have come down.

    After his address, the Union Minister also felicitated farmers, while acknowledging their contribution to the economy.

     

     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Cultivating the Future

    Source: Government of India

    Cultivating the Future

    Innovative Biotech Solutions for Farming, Livestock, and Aquaculture

    Posted On: 24 FEB 2025 5:51PM by PIB Delhi

    Biotechnology has emerged as a transformative force in agriculture, aquaculture, and animal sciences, driving innovation in crop improvement, disease management, and sustainable farming practices. Recent advancements in genome editing, molecular breeding, and biocontrol solutions are enhancing productivity and resilience in these sectors positioning India as a global force!

    Agricultural biotechnology is breaking new ground with advanced research in genomics, proteomics, transgenics, and gene editing. The Department of Biotechnology’s Agriculture Biotechnology programme supports innovative biotechnological research for achieving sustainable agriculture by leveraging the latest advances in technologies. The main achievements include:

    Climate-Smart Crops: A New Superior Climate Smart Drought Tolerant High-Yielding Chickpea Variety “SAATVIK (NC 9)” with enhanced yield under drought stress is notified recently. SAATVIK (NC9) is now approved by the Central Sub-committee on Crop Standards.

    Genome-Edited Crops: Genome editing was employed to generate loss of function mutations in several rice genes that negatively regulate crop productivity. These lines have been developed in the genetic background of the popular Indian rice variety, MTU-1010, and exhibit higher yield (in greenhouse conditions) over the parent line. In particular, similarly, the DEP1 (DENSE ERECT PANICLE; a G protein subunit) genome-edited rice lines produced larger spikes with increased grain numbers and yield.

    Genotyping Arrays: The first-ever 90K Pan-genome SNP genotyping array IndRA developed for rice has been commercialized for public use. Similarly, the first-ever 90K Pan-genome SNP genotyping array IndCA for chickpea has been developed. The arrays will help DNA fingerprinting, variety identification, testing genetic purity of rice and chickpea varieties.

    Amaranth Genetic Resources: The department of biotechnology has developed an Amaranth Genomic Resource Database, Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) techniques for screening nutritional qualities of amaranth grain, and a 64K SNP chip. Amaranth accessions screened using the above resources have been shown to counteract high fat diet induced obesity. This is a significant enabler for rapid screening of amaranth accessions for cultivation as well as varietal development.

    Fungal Biocontrol: A stable fungal enzyme nano-formulation from Myrothecium verrucaria has been developed for eco-friendly biocontrol of powdery mildew in tomato and grape.

    Kisan-Kavach: An anti-pesticide suit designed to combat the pervasive threat of pesticide-induced toxicity in agricultural settings. Developed with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by farmers, Kisan Kavach  stands as a beacon of safety and innovation in the field.

    India is the largest animal husbandry sector in the world with largest livestock population to supports the livelihoods of more than two-thirds of the rural population, mainly small and marginal farmers. Innovations in animal biotechnology are driving breakthroughs in veterinary medicine and livestock management like:

     

    The Aquaculture and Marine Biotechnology program has been implemented with the goal of enhancing both aquaculture production and productivity, while also harnessing marine resources for valuable products and processes. This program plays a vital role in the agricultural economy by ensuring food production for nutritional security. The Department has undertaken various initiatives to benefit the aquatic and marine sectors like. 

    Shrimp Diet: Fish meal is the important ingredient in shrimp feeds. Due to its high cost and sustainability issues, replacement of fish meal is an important area of research in aquaculture nutrition. Scientists working in this area at ICAR-Central Institute of Brackish water Aquaculture, Chennai have shown in their studies that yeast fermentation of soybean meal significantly improves inclusion level in shrimp diet by increasing the nutrient digestibility and growth. The growth trial results indicated that soybean meal can be included up to 35% in the grow-out feed of P. vannamei and fermentation improved the growth by approx. 8.5%

    CIFA-Brood-Vac: A novel vaccine has been developed to prevent mortality in fish spawn, securing aquaculture stock health. A user-friendly software, Interactive Fish Feed Designer (IFFD) version 2, has been developed for the formulation of cost-effective fish feed with non-conventional ingredients.

    The integration of biotechnology into agriculture, aquaculture, and animal sciences is fostering sustainable food production, disease resistance, and enhanced productivity. These innovations, backed by research and commercialization efforts, are paving the way for a resilient and efficient agricultural ecosystem. As biotechnology continues to evolve, its role in ensuring food security and environmental sustainability will only strengthen in the years to come.

    References

    https://dbtindia.gov.in/sites/default/files/uploadfiles/NBM%20WEBSITE-Dr.%20Madhavi_FV.pdf

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2081506

    https://dbtindia.gov.in/publications

    See in PDF

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    Santosh Kumar/Sheetal Angral/ Madiha Iqbal

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –