Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 14, 2025/APO Group/ —
The African Development Bank www.AfDB.org has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to collaborating with African civil society to advance the continent’s development agenda. This was a key message of the 2025 Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Forum, which was successfully held on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Abidjan.
The forum, organized under the theme: “Celebrating the Contribution of Civil Society to Africa’s Development,” brought together over 150 participants at the Bank’s headquarters, with thousands more connected online across Africa and the diaspora.
A Novel Action Plan to Deepen Engagement
This edition of the CSO Forum marked a pivotal step in reinforcing a solid, transformative, and trust-based partnership between the African Development Bank and civil society organizations. This enduring alliance is essential for collectively serving African populations and achieving impactful development across the continent.
The forum provided an opportunity for the Bank to present its Civil Society Engagement Action Plan (2024–2028), reaffirming its commitment to an inclusive and participatory development process.
Zeneb Touré, Manager of the Civil Society and Community Engagement Division, presented the strategic framework to Beth Dunford, the African Development Bank Group’s Vice-President for Agriculture, Human, and Social Development, who accepted it on behalf of the institution’s President, Akinwumi Adesina.
Demonstrating the Bank’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive partnership, Dunford shared the Action Plan with representatives of key civil society components: the Bank-Civil Society Committee, the Climate and Energy Coalition, and a continental network of women entrepreneurs’ associations.
Augustine Njamnshi, a prominent voice in the civil society climate and energy movement, welcomed its adoption: “The approval of this Action Plan marks a historic turning point in our collaboration with the African Development Bank Group. Born from a shared vision, this document becomes our collective legacy. We express our sincere gratitude to the Bank for this profound act of trust.”
Highlighting the essential role of civil society as an integral part of Africa’s progress, Kolyang Palebele, representative of the Platform of Farmers’ Organizations of Africa, expressed the spirit of collaboration, praising “the Bank’s unique power to unite the continent’s driving forces around a common vision of improving the lives of African people.” “Civil society is not on the margins of development dynamics; it is the very essence, its living memory and its engine for change,” Mr. Palebele stated.
“Over the years, civil society engagement has become a cornerstone of the African Development Bank’s work. What was once an aspiration has become evolved into a structured, institutionalized, and results-oriented collaboration partnership.” Ms. Dunford emphasized.
Empowering Communities Through Decentralized Engagement
During the forum, an important session highlighted the progress made in decentralizing the Bank’s engagement with civil society. Successful experiences from the five regions of Africa were presented. This localized approach was strongly commended by the Vice-President for Regional Development, Integration and Service Delivery, Nnenna Nwabufo, who appreciated a transformative cross-border initiative between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project has provided over 2.4 million people with access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, while strengthening community resilience and fostering cooperation.
Fostering Mutual Accountability Through Open Dialogue
The forum culminated in an unprecedented and frank dialogue between senior representatives from seven strategic departments of the Bank and leaders of civil society organizations. Discussions focused on crucial areas such as access to information, environmental and social safeguards, climate action, agriculture, gender equality, youth empowerment, and grievance mechanisms. This essential interaction highlighted a shared commitment to transparency, responsiveness, and mutual accountability in the pursuit of sustainable development outcomes.
Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)
During a disaster management subcommittee hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) highlighted victims of recent natural disasters and the insurance companies that defrauded them.
“This isn’t charity that we’re talking about. [Americans] turn to their insurance companies because they pay premiums to those insurance companies. It’s a contract,” said Senator Hawley. “And unfortunately, time after time they find when disaster strikes–in their moment of utmost need–the insurance companies come back to them and they delay, and they deny, and they offer excuses, and they send out two adjusters and three adjusters and 15 adjusters and 25 adjusters, and they constantly change the estimates. And at the end of the day, they just won’t pay what is due. What is required. What is just.”
The hearing featured homeowners whose property was severely damaged by recent storms, insurance adjuster whistleblowers who were pressured by companies to doctor reports to cut payouts, and the executive director of the American Policyholder Association, a consumer advocacy group that investigates fraud by insurance companies.
“When we needed Allstate the most, they failed us,” one disaster victim noted.
“This is no longer about just a roof,” said another. “It’s about the failure of a system that leaves families vulnerable after catastrophic events.”
Senator Hawley concurred.
“It’s not like it’s happened to just one family,” he said. “It is a deliberate strategy to maximize profits.”
Senator Hawley also called out Allstate and State Farm for defrauding their policyholders and intimidating whistleblowers.
“We’ve just heard testimony here–sworn testimony from multiple adjusters–that your company ordered them to delete or alter damage estimates to reduce payouts and to make you profits,” Senator Hawley said. “It sounds to me like you’re running a system of institutionalized fraud.”
Senator Hawley has been drawing attention to insurance company victims since President Trump shed light on the issue during his January visit to North Carolina where he met with those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Watch the full subcommittee hearing here.
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today skewered the Trump Administration’s misguided trade policy, which has slowed economic growth, interrupted supply chains, and threatened access to markets for Vermont businesses, farms, and manufacturers.
“We’re getting hammered. Dairy is our big product, but we have a lot of vegetable growers. Our farmers get a lot of fertilizer from Canada and it’s going to go up like 25%. And I don’t care what the politics are of the farmer, whether they voted for Trump or voted for Harris—that’s a real hit, right?” asked Senator Welch. “Some of the issues, or the justification for tariffs, is to get the supply chain back here and I have some appreciation for that. But it’s not like, ‘the more we grow here, the better,’ right? We’re already doing that. We get higher costs, and that will make the markets more vulnerable. More farms will go out of business.”
Watch more here:
The Senate Finance Committee’s hearing featured testimony from representatives of the American Soybean Association, the Center for Strategic International Studies, the Semiconductor Industry Association, and AdvaMed.
This week, President Trump announced a new trade agreement with China that will temporarily reduce tariffs from 145% to 30%, while retaining several other newly imposed tariff categories. Even with this temporary reprieve, Americans still face an overall effective tariff rate of 17.8% —the highest since 1934.
Senator Welch has blasted Trump’s tariffs and trade war and shared stories from constituents about how President Trump’s economic policies have impacted their businesses, farms, and communities. Senator Welch has hosted roundtables in Stowe, Newport, St. Albans, and virtually, where he heard concerns and first-hand stories from Vermont and Canadian business leaders impacted by the trade war.
European Commission Press release Brussels, 14 May 2025 To simplify the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and boost farmers’ competitiveness, the European Commission is presenting today a large package of measures targeting the administrative burden, controls, implementation, crisis response and investment needs of the sector.
ADVISORY – PHILADELPHIA – Shapiro Administration to Announce $3.4 Million Investment to Support Farms, Expand Fresh, Affordable Food Availability Across Pennsylvania
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding will announce recipients of Pennsylvania’s Fresh Food Financing Initiative grants, a $3.4 million investment in connecting low-income communities with fresh, healthy, affordable food produced by local farms.
Sec. Redding will be joined at Weaver’s Way Co-op by farmers and food business leaders to share insights from a roundtable discussion held just prior to the announcement. The discussion will explore the challenges farmers face in getting fresh food to those who need it, as well as solutions provided in Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget. The Governor’s budget includes $8 million in food assistance funding increases, plus initiatives to tackle root causes of food insecurity during a time when federal funding cuts are magnifying regional food supply challenges for farmers and families, and when proposed cuts to core food programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) threaten to shift billions in costs onto states like Pennsylvania and leave more children at risk of going hungry.
In late March, Governor Shapiro called on Sec. Redding to appeal USDA’s abrupt cancellation of $13 million in Local Food Purchasing Program funds that would benefit 189 Pennsylvania farms over the next three years. To date, the USDA has not acknowledged or responded to the appeal.
WHO: Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding Senator Vincent J. Hughes Representative Andre D. Carroll Weaver’s Way Co-op General Manager Jon Roesser The Food Trust President and CEO Mark Edwards
WHEN: Thursday, May 15 at 11:15 a.m.
WHERE: Weavers Way Co-Op Germantown Outreach Office 326b West Chelten Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19144
RSVP: Press attending should RSVP with news outlet and photographer and reporter names to aginfo@pa.gov.
Since the start of the new United States (US) administration, the Commission has been engaging with its US counterparts to avert unnecessary tensions by seeking negotiated solutions with the US but has also been ready to act to safeguard the EU’s interests, where necessary, for instance through the adoption of countermeasures. These measures are suspended in view of the US decision to suspend for 90-days its reciprocal tariffs, for the same length of time to allow space for negotiations.
When it comes to sanitary and phytosanitary standards, the EU has a robust system in place to ensure that all food placed on the market satisfies the requirement of a high level of human health protection and to prevent the spread of pests or diseases among plants and animals.
All goods imported into the EU must comply with EU health and product safety requirements. The definition of such EU standards is not negotiable.
In the Vision for Agriculture and Food[1], the Commission has set out the approach to a fairer global level playing field. This includes using bilateral free trade negotiations and Agreements to their full extent. The Commission will also pursue, in line with international rules, a stronger alignment of production standards applied to imported products, notably on pesticides and animal welfare.
[1] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, A Vision for Agriculture and Food Shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations, COM/2025/75 final; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0075 .
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
May 14, 2025
Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act modernizes USDA’s process for updating conservation standards
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, joined U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to introduce bipartisan legislation, the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act, that would remove bureaucratic barriers and better support farmers in implementing conservation practices that improve soil health and water quality.
“Illinois ranks fourth in the nation in planted cropland, but for years, has ranked as low as 37th in farm conservation funds that USDA distributes to help farmers adopt cover crops, conservation tillage, and other critical environmental practices. USDA’s statewide one-size-fits-all conservation practice rules do not always match the unique needs of each farm,” said Durbin. “This bill creates a process to add more flexibility to these standards, provide routine updates to keep up with the latest innovations, and ensure more academic and farmer input into developing the conservation practices.”
“Traveling across Iowa, I regularly hear from farmers who are eager to implement conservation practices that improve soil health, water quality, and long-term productivity — but they face real barriers when rigid USDA standards slow things down,” said Ernst. “I’m leading the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act to modernize how USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service updates its technical standards. Ultimately, the goal is simple: let’s cut the red tape, let’s keep standards science-based and flexible, and help farmers get conservation tools in use faster.
The Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act would update the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) process to:
Require a regular review of existing conservation practice standards,
Create a public process for submitting and adopting new practices, and
Prioritize the integration of innovative tools like nutrient efficiency technologies — biological fertilizer being one example that’s proven to improve plant growth.
The introduction of the legislation follows yesterday’s hearing in the Senate Agriculture Committee, where Durbin spoke about improving USDA conservation programs.
Durbin has long-advocated for Illinois to receive USDA conservation funding that is proportionate to Illinois’ ranking as a top agricultural state. Last August, Durbin led members of the Illinois delegation in writing to USDA, urging the agency to allocate additional conservation funds to Illinois. In her opening statement, Mrs. Dwyer shared that Illinois received an additional $15 million in EQIP funds last year due to outreach by Durbin and others members of the Illinois delegation to USDA.
Durbin has also written about the importance of providing farmers with conservation funding, which allows farmers to plant cover crops to mitigate dangerous, and sometimes deadly, dust storms in Central Illinois.
Headline: Empowering teen students to achieve more with Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot
Learn about Microsoft 365 Copilot availability for students aged 13 and older. Enhance learning with AI, enterprise protection, and IT controls.
We’re excited to announce Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot availability for students aged 13 and older is coming this summer with enterprise data protection and IT controls. AI provides new and unique learning opportunities when integrated thoughtfully as a complement to established practices with input from educators. A study from Microsoft Research found that most students demonstrated remarkable curiosity when using AI, asking sophisticated questions that extended beyond their task at hand and led to deeper understanding. Further, the latest report from LinkedIn calls for action to equip the future workforce with AI and uniquely human skills as demand is rapidly increasing.
We’re optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead to help students advance their learning and build skills to prepare for success in their future. We’ll share impact and insights from our private preview for students aged 13 and older, product details, and resources to help you get started.
Try Copilot Chat today
Increasing student agency with Copilot Chat
Throughout our preview, we heard feedback from K-12 institutions that reinforced the importance of providing training and support for educators and students, setting appropriate guidelines, and granting permission to experiment and learn together. They also demonstrated what’s possible when these needs are met. Read on for testimonials from Fulton County Schools and Brisbane Catholic Education, with more insights from our preview and resources later in the blog.
Fulton County Schools first set a foundation with an AI task force, evaluation of over 200 use cases, and alignment on critical goals such as preparing students for their future and giving every student the opportunity to learn in a way that works best for them. After initial training, educators introduced Copilot Chat as a thought partner, provided coaching on topics like prompting, and quickly saw student confidence and curiosity increase. Students used it to ideate, receive immediate feedback without judgment, design multimedia projects, identify and fix code errors, adjust content based on their preferences or pace, and manage their time. Educators are also now able to challenge them more than ever, and students are using Copilot Chat as a force multiplier to bring their ideas and passions to life in ways they couldn’t previously imagine or access.
Hear Johns Creek High School educators and students share their experience with Copilot Chat in their own words in the following video and read the full story.
Read the Johns Creek High School story
For Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE), the journey began with a plan to use AI to support their mission to teach, challenge, and transform in a time where there are increasing needs for reduction of administrative workload and evolution of learning models for digital-native students. Educators in an early trial reported saving an average of 9.3 hours per week which contributed to BCE’s interest and confidence to expand access more broadly. Copilot Chat increased student agency, enabled more project-based work, and accelerated a shift they’ve been trying to make for years to help students truly become learners, not just receivers of knowledge. Shane Tooley, Assistant Principal, noted, “The real promise of Copilot Chat isn’t efficiency—it’s cognition. It’s helping us push students beyond knowledge recall into evaluation, synthesis, and justification.”
BCE’s success was built on strong leadership buy-in, aligning AI with broader strategic goals, ongoing measurement, and transparent engagement with opportunities for co-design. It sparked new ways of thinking, a culture of sharing, and thoughtful reflection on the future of education. Learn more about how BCE boosts agency and efficiency with Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot.
My role has shifted from lesson planner to facilitator and mentor. One of the most powerful moments was watching a student ask Copilot Chat to reformat their assignment for dyslexia accessibility. That’s agency. That’s personalization. And it happened without pulling the teacher away from the rest of the class.
Michael Parker, Student Academic Performance and Growth Leader, Trinity College
Get started with Copilot Chat, learn more about Microsoft 365 Copilot
Copilot Chat offers free, secure AI chat powered by GPT-4o and the ability to maintain IT control with enterprise data protection and management and is included with Microsoft 365. It also includes features like file upload, image generation, Copilot Pages, and agents. Learn more by reviewing our Copilot Chat documentation. Copilot Chat will be generally available for students aged 13 and older this summer and administrators will need to take additional steps to grant access based on their institution’s plans and preferences. We recommend administrators review the details on managing Copilot Chat access for students and begin taking the next steps to prepare today.
Manage Copilot Chat access for students
When you add a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Copilot Chat becomes more powerful by drawing on the Microsoft Graph for access and understanding of your institutional data, working directly in productivity apps like Outlook, Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel, and using advanced measurement and management tools. Microsoft 365 Copilot will be eligible to purchase as an add-on for students aged 13 and older with a Microsoft 365 subscription later in May 2025. Higher education institutions like Indiana University and Miami Dade College are already seeing the impact of Microsoft 365 Copilot to enhance career readiness and increase student engagement.
Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot offer enterprise data protection, the same enterprise terms available in our Microsoft 365 offerings. This means we secure your data, your data is private, your existing Microsoft 365 access controls and policies apply, you’re guarded against AI security and copyright risks, and your data isn’t used to train foundation models. Keeping your institutional data protected is important, and Copilot Chat has built-in safeguards to help ensure it stays that way. Additionally, IT administrators and security professionals can further secure, manage, and analyze the use of Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, and agents across their institution with the Copilot Control System.
We look forward to hearing how Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot bring new opportunities to life for your students and institutions. A National 4-H Council survey with young people found that many kids (72%) are seeking support from adults in learning how to use these tools correctly and with confidence. The importance of helping students, educators, and staff adapt to an evolving future will increase and we’ll continue to provide access to the latest technology and relevant resources.
Explore Microsoft Copilot for personal use
Many students are not only starting to use AI tools in the classroom, but also at home and for purposes outside of schoolwork. Microsoft Copilot for individuals is designed to inform, entertain, and inspire and can be accessed for free with a Microsoft personal account. Learn more about default settings and policies to protect those aged 13 and older using Microsoft Copilot. Microsoft 365 Personal or Family is also available for use of productivity apps and credits for new AI features. Eligible students can receive a 50% discount on Microsoft 365 Personal and starting today—students in the United States can sign up for a free three-month trial.
Additional insights from our preview
We want to thank the inspiring educators, students, and institutional leaders who have shared their insights with us and agreed to share them more broadly with you. Participants emphasized the importance of professional development, guidelines, prompting practice, and creating space for transparency and sharing of successes and failures. Educators noticed Copilot Chat helped keep students engaged, immediately receive and act on feedback, improve their research and analysis process, explore counterarguments, and build AI skills that they’ve already begun using to their advantage in the hiring process and even teaching to their employers in part-time jobs. Students also appreciated time savings, providing relief from the stress of deadlines, through the ability to easily brainstorm, troubleshoot issues, ask unlimited questions, and learn at their own pace.
Shane Tooley, Assistant Principal Curriculum at St. Peter Claver College says, “If you’re on the fence about AI, it comes down to this: Your students will surprise you. Given the chance, they’ll use AI ethically and meaningfully. The key is to guide them—not restrict them. Show them what good use looks like.”
Students in Onslow County enjoyed interacting with Copilot Chat to learn more about historical figures, create questions geared towards their specific needs, and receive assistance while away from school. One educator reflected, “Using AI was an eye-opening experience, all I had ever heard or thought about were the negatives, but actually using it allowed me to see many of the wonderful benefits it can bring to our students’ educational experience.”
Jorge Ledezma, Director of Educational Technology, Santa Margarita Catholic High School advises, “It’s crucial to provide AI literacy courses and resources so that students can learn how to use AI responsibly. Furthermore, emphasizing the importance of privacy and security when using AI tools is vital. This not only helps students understand the ethical implications but also ensures they are well-prepared to navigate the digital world safely.”
In Saga Prefecture, instructors helped students use Copilot Chat to learn how to prompt AI tools, program 3D games in Python, resolve issues on their own, and take initiative to further explore their interests. They used Copilot Chat side by side with Microsoft MakeCode for easy access to troubleshooting support and the ability to ask deeper questions about the task at hand. Educators and leaders emphasized the importance of data protection when providing AI tools to their students.
Dr. Faisal Al Busaidi, Director General of Information Technology, Ministry of Education Oman urges, “Successful adoption of Copilot Chat hinges on the preparedness of educators. I strongly encourage institutions to invest in structured training programs that empower teachers to guide students in using AI tools effectively and thoughtfully.”
Educators at Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, Dalby noted that Copilot Chat fostered further independence and critical thinking for their students as they reflected on how to use AI effectively and responsibly in and outside of school. They also expressed the importance of providing training for students and staff, and that like any new technology in education—the experience will only be as good as the guidelines and learning sequence that accompany it.
Lisvette Flores Quiñones, Department of Education, Puerto Rico shared “Copilot Chat’s use in education and document management has been incredibly beneficial in all teaching and learning processes, I look forward to continuing learning and exploring the potential of AI. I encourage my students to start with Copilot Chat, adjust information to their learning style, and to be specific in their prompts to achieve great results.”
Resources to begin your AI journey
Educators in our preview program consistently highlighted the need for training in AI rollout and we have several resources and tools to help you and your students get started:
AI Classroom Toolkit – Try this creative resource to introduce AI to teen students that blends engaging narrative stories with instructional information for an immersive and informative learning experience.
Copilot Chat Adoption Kit – Review the collection of resources for IT, educators, and guardians to get started with Copilot Chat.
Family Safety Toolkit – Learn more about online safety guidance for all ages, tools and tips, and resources we have developed over time through engagement with young people and digital safety partnerships.
Minecraft Education AI Foundations – Discover a set of accessible, interactive materials for building AI literacy such as curriculum, short videos, Minecraft lessons, and more.
Additional free AI tools – Explore the AI-enhanced Learning Accelerators to help students build foundational skills, GitHub Copilot to empower the next generation of developers, and Khan Academy Writing Coach.
FarmBeats for Students program expansion – Access a free, comprehensive course providing training on precision agriculture, data science, and AI designed for classrooms of all kinds.
Discover even more resources for educators, leaders, and administrators:
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chee Meng Tan, Assistant Professor of Business Economics, University of Nottingham
Washington and Beijing have finally agreed a pause in their escalating trade war. US and Chinese officials announced in Geneva this week that US tariffs on Chinese goods would fall to 30%, while Chinese tariffs on US products would drop back to 10%.
But the real battle to determine the fate of future US-Sino relations will be in negotiations that take place in the next 90 days. As both sides jostle to protect respective national interests, a win is possible for China. But that probably hinges on whether Donald Trump sees what’s on offer as a win for him as well.
The 90-day deal to deescalate tariffs, which begins on May 14, includes significant concessions, and shows a willingness from both sides to negotiate.
In early April, US tariffs on Chinese products had soared to 145%, while Beijing imposed a 125% tariff on US imports. US supermarkets had begun to warn of imminent stock shortages.
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Was this really a win for either side? So far the only progress is the roll back of tariffs to levels before the trade war intensified in April 2025.
But for China, the latest tariff reduction has provided much needed, if short term, economic relief, even if no one knows what will happen after 90 days. The Chinese stock market rallied immediately after the announcement. China is attempting to repair its ailing economy fuelled by a real estate crisis that began in 2021. So, Beijing needs more triumphs of this sort, as it realises that fiscal stimulus may be ineffective in the face of overwhelming tariffs.
So, what measures should Beijing take to ensure that US tariffs remain low, if not lower?
Before the trade war between the US and China began in July 2018, tariffs imposed by Washington on Beijing and vice versa were relatively low. In January 2018, US tariffs on Chinese exports stood at 3.1%, while Chinese tariffs on US exports were at 8%. While the current 10% Chinese tariffs on US goods isn’t far from the pre-trade war level, the same cannot be said of US tariffs on Chinese goods, which stand at 30%.
What’s a big win for China?
For Beijing, a big win would be a return of the pre-trade war tariffs or the absence of tariffs entirely. But either outcome is highly unlikely.
A major obstacle is Trump’s need for a political win. In early April this year, the US president has harshly criticised foreign nations for having “looted, pillaged, raped, and plundered” the US. To address this problem, the US has imposed a minimum tariff of 10% on all nations sending exports to the US. And if Washington were to reduce tariffs on Chinese products to under 10%, then he would be expected to do the same with the rest of the world.
Even this 90-day deal with China could be seen as capitulation by Trump, who was already under pressure from the US stock market and business leaders to roll back the high tariffs on Chinese goods. But revising baseline tariffs downwards to below 10% for the rest of the world would be seen as an even greater cop out.
This could eat into Trump’s political capital and harm the Republican party’s chances at midterm elections scheduled for 2026. All of which seems unlikely.
Details of the US and China trade war pause start to be revealed.
What China hopes is for future US tariffs to get back to around 10%. This represents a massive improvement from the previous 145% imposed by the White House in April this year. But for Washington to save face and claim a believable victory of its own to reduce tariffs, Beijing needs to offer something in return.
Sticking points
One significant issue affecting US-Sino relations is the drug fentanyl. According to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), fentanyl, which is responsible for tens of thousands of US deaths each year, comes primarily from China and Mexico.
Washington expects Beijing to do more to stem the flow of the drug and chemicals used to make the drug from flowing into the US. To push China to take action on this, the US imposed a 30% tariff on China instead of the baseline 10% it has put on all other nations.
Beijing sees things differently and claimed that Washington is engaging in a “smear campaign” and aims to “shift blame” on China for not doing enough when the country has some of the strictest drug laws in the world.
Trump sees the fentanyl problem as a national security issue, and says China needs to provide sufficient concessions in stemming the outflow of the drug so that the White House can justify the lowering of tariffs below the existing 30%.
But China can do more to secure lower tariffs. As part of the present trade deal, China has agreed to lift its export ban of critical minerals to the US. This is a crucial for the US as these items are essential in manufacturing advanced weaponry.
If Beijing can guarantee the flow of critical minerals to the US, and assure its support for US agriculture, an important political support base for Trump, then it is likely that a Trump administration would lower, and more importantly, maintain these tariffs in the foreseeable future.
China probably will want to hedge its bets. It needs to engage with the US and lower US tariffs as much as possible, but will want to look at other options, rather than relying on an unpredictable Trump. It will look to increase its trade with other significant regional players such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an economic bloc that promotes economic growth among its member nations.
Ultimately, China needs policy continuity from Washington. Without it, any plans that it has in recovering its sluggish economy won’t work.
But like any good trader, Trump will likely find it difficult to pass up a good deal, especially when the US has to deal with its own economic problems. So if Beijing can find a way to make a deal that works and brings a symbolic win for both sides, it is likely to get Trump’s attention.
Chee Meng Tan 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.
April showers bring May flowers according to an old English saying.
This phrase, which might have originated in a verse written by poet Thomas Tusser in 1557, harks back to a time when most people depended on rough rules that were borne of practical experience to know when to plant crops. “Such weather lore was the only forecast available”, says meteorologist Rob Thompson at the University of Reading.
UK farmers waited in vain for showers this April. The unusually dry month gave lie to the centuries-old expression, which hints at a climate that was generally more obedient to familiar rhythms. The heating of Earth’s atmosphere and ocean, predominantly caused by the mass burning of fossil fuels, has changed that. What we can expect in each season is no longer so assured.
So, how do we keep our bearings on a warming planet?
Forecasters have an enormous challenge in predicting how the weather in each season will change, and in communicating the role of climate change.
“Overall, we can be confident that climate change is bringing warmer conditions in all seasons,” say atmospheric scientists Simon H. Lee and Matthew Patterson at the University of St Andrews. Europe in particular has been a hotspot for warming, with temperatures rising at roughly double the global average.
Patterson suspects that this has already warped our perceptions of what a “normal” season feels like. When a month arrives with temperatures closer to the long-term average for instance, like June 2024, people tend to experience it as unusually cold.
“Scientists also have strong evidence to suggest that drought conditions will become more common,” Lee and Patterson continue.
The UK has had roughly half the rainfall it would usually expect for March and April, and spring 2025 is on track to be the country’s driest on record. Some of the latest research on Earth’s water cycle predicts that these dry bouts will get drier, while wet ones will get wetter, and that the switch from drought to deluge will be more sudden (“weather whiplash”, as some have called it).
This doesn’t fully explain the UK’s record-warm and dry spring, however. There are also “weather blocks” to factor in.
“A blocking event is a disruption to the usual weather patterns of Earth’s middle latitudes,” explains Tim Woollings, a professor in physical climate science at the University of Oxford. In this part of the world it’s the jet stream, a river of air high in the atmosphere, that typically sets the agenda by driving transient weather over the British Isles from the Atlantic.
Since the beginning of March, a zone of high pressure has rested above the UK and blocked the jet stream like a boulder in a river, Lee and Patterson say. The weather has effectively remained “stuck”. This phenomenon is responsible for a lot of extreme weather in the middle latitudes, as blocks prevent relief from heatwaves or cold snaps, Woollings adds.
There isn’t conclusive evidence to suggest these blocks are becoming more common as the climate warms according to Lee and Patterson. But one thing is clear: the climate is incredibly complex – and our continuing intervention in it is reckless.
High-temperature haiku
Seasons are our living world’s accommodation of the variation in day length, temperature and weather during the year.
What we perceive as seasonal features, like the shedding of leaves, the arrival and departure of migratory animals, are the adaptations species have made to the average set of conditions that have remained within a particular range for several thousands of years.
Changes in Earth’s orbit and spin axis gradually influenced the climate and seasons over millennia. More recently, fossil fuel burning has been the dominant influence.
“As such, humanity is currently on the path to compressing millions of years of temperature change into just a couple of centuries,” say ancient climate experts Dan Lunt (University of Bristol) and Darrell Kaufman (Northern Arizona University).
The seasonal signals we once thought of as immutable are changing to match these changing conditions. It’s too much, too fast for most species to deal with – including our own.
To reorient around a rapidly changing climate, we could do as Tusser did six centuries ago, and write poetry.
Haiku is perhaps our most useful cultural barometer of climate change. These poems, which originated in 17th-century Japan, comprise three short lines and usually include a reference to the season in which they were composed.
“A successful haiku could be described as a half-finished poem,” say lecturer in publishing Jasmin Kirkbride (University of East Anglia) and creative writing PhD candidate Paul Chambers (University of Bristol). The listener must complete the scene in their head by linking it with an intense moment of perception from their own life, in which “the vast is perceived in one thing”.
As seasons have shifted, so have their markers in haiku. Snowdrops, once a feature of February haiku, now appear close to Christmas. The language used to describe certain species has altered too, the pair say, to become “soaked in grief”. Butterflies that once formed “clouds” in earlier haiku, for example, are now “lone survivors… pushing against time”.
Kirkbride and Chambers urge a new generation of poets to continue recording these changes in haiku: “The vast climate crisis is upon us, and we should write about it.”
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing yesterday, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) questioned witnesses on how staff reductions at USDA, led by Elon Musk’s DOGE, are hurting farms and farming communities in Vermont and across the United States.
“We are so—in Vermont—appreciative of the work that the USDA has done, and we’re really concerned, as I think a lot of people are, about the staffing cuts because we had a staff aspirational level, and our actual numbers were a good deal below that. And now, since the buyouts and the DOGE cuts, it’s really been significantly compromised. My experience with the USDA and Vermont is it’s really efficient,” said Senator Welch. “What’s so wonderful about it is farmers trust [NRCS] and that trust is in short supply. I join my colleagues who are concerned about it and express my appreciation and admiration for the work that has been done.”
“At a certain point you’ve got to get concrete. If we’ve lost 10%, or 15%, or 20% of the staff and still have the same job or more, how are we going to proceed?” Senator Welch concluded.
Watch the Senator’s full remarks below:
Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is pushing to remove bureaucratic barriers and better support farmers in implementing conservation practices that improve soil health and water quality.
At an Agriculture Committee hearing, she announced her new bipartisan Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act, which would update the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) process to:
Require a regular review of existing conservation practice standards,
Create a public process for submitting and adopting new practices, and
Prioritize the integration of innovative tools like nutrient efficiency technologies — biological fertilizer being one example that’s proven to improve plant growth.
Watch Senator Ernst’s remarks here.
“Traveling across Iowa, I regularly hear from farmers who are eager to implement conservation practices that improve soil health, water quality, and long-term productivity — but they face real barriers when rigid USDA standards slow things down,” said Senator Ernst. “I’m leading the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act to modernize how USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service updates its technical standards. Ultimately, the goal is simple: let’s cut the red tape, let’s keep standards science-based and flexible, and help farmers get conservation tools in use faster.”
“Iowa continues to lead and set records in conservation, but there’s still significant work to be done in the years and decades to come. The USDA is an important federal partner in these efforts, and it is essential that we streamline the review and approval of new technologies and practices that are proven to help farmers and landowners improve soil health and water quality,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.“Improving efficiency, transparency, and predictability within federal programs will help us strengthen our partnerships, accelerate the adoption of conservation practices and make progress on Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals.”
“By leveraging innovations in regenerative agriculture and soil health practices, we can help farmers and producers make their working lands more resilient,” said Senator Heinrich. “Our bipartisan legislation accomplishes this by updating and streamlining the process for developing new conservation practice standards at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service. This will allow producers to build more resilience into their operations.”
“Streamlining updates to conservation practice standards helps cut the bureaucratic red tape that our farmers have been wrongly forced to navigate. Our producers work hard to find new, innovative ways to work the land while conserving its resources, and the federal government should be a partner in doing so — not a roadblock,” said Senator Marshall. “I’m proud to work on this bipartisan solution with Senator Ernst to ensure farmers have the tools necessary to support conservation efforts and help producers leave their land better than they found it.”
“Illinois ranks fourth in the nation in planted cropland, but for years, has ranked as low as 37th in farm conservation funds that USDA distributes to help farmers adopt cover crops, conservation tillage, and other critical environmental practices. USDA’s statewide one-size-fits-all conservation practice rules do not always match the unique needs of each farm,” said Senator Durbin. “This bill creates a process to add more flexibility to these standards, provide routine updates to keep up with the latest innovations, and ensure more academic and farmer input into developing the conservation practices.”
Background:Ernst has long held that farmers are the original conservationists and pushed to remove red tape from USDA conservation programs to make these tools more accessible.
Home Newsroom AG Labrador Announces 12 Arrests in Statewide Crackdown on Child Exploitation
BOISE — Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced the completion of Operation Unhinged, a statewide initiative led by the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force in April 2025. The operation resulted in 12 arrests for internet crimes against children, doubling the 6 arrests made last April. Additional arrests may follow pending forensic reviews of seized devices. Operation Unhinged involved the execution of 17 residential search warrants. Three cases were accepted for federal prosecution and the rest will be prosecuted in state court. “Because of the structural changes we’ve made within the Attorney General’s Office—along with the dedication of our investigators and strong partnerships with law enforcement across the state—the ICAC Task Force is achieving results like never before,” stated Attorney General Labrador. “We are identifying more offenders, rescuing more victims, and sending a clear message: anyone who targets children in Idaho online will be found, and our office will use every tool available to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.” The following individuals were arrested during Operation Unhinged:
Joseph Bingham, 25, Ada County Alexander Buttle, 30, Ada County William Strength, 43, Bannock County Zachary Gilbert, 39, Bannock County Connor Robinson, 28, Bonneville County Luke Hughes, 38, Bonneville County Alfred Brown, 61, Canyon County Hector Martinez- Cabrerra, 34, Jerome County Adam Tyler,34, Kootenai County Shandon Singer, 33, Kootenai County Dustin Angele, 21, Kootenai County Jake Baptista, 25, Madison County
“We’re seeing incredible results with the number of arrests we are making across the state,” stated Nicholas Edwards, Chief Investigator in the Attorney General’s Office. “We are going to keep arresting those who commit these crimes, but we also need to focus on outreach, training, and education to protect Idaho’s children.” Operation Unhinged resulted in a spike in public presentations and education. The Task Force conducted 53 community outreach events with approximately 1,390 attendees. The Task Force also had an opportunity to showcase its newest weapon in the fight against online sexual exploitation: Badger the ESD K9. “It’s a privilege to serve as the first K9 officer in the Attorney General’s Office, and Badger has already proven himself an incredible asset to the Task Force,” stated Investigator Lauren Lane. “Badger is a triple threat: he helps us find electronic devices on search warrants, the public—especially kids—love seeing him at our presentations, and he supports the mental wellness of our officers and other staff who have to view terrible images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.” Badger attended 7 public presentations and helped investigators find electronic storage devices on 8 search warrants during April’s Operation Unhinged. The Task Force also trained 106 law enforcement professionals in April and will continue to direct substantial resources to training law enforcement throughout the state. Operation Unhinged was Idaho’s contribution to the national Operation Safe Online Summer, a joint effort of all 61 ICAC Task Forces throughout the country to arrest those engaged in the online sexual exploitation of children. The operation was supported by a coalition of agencies, including the Idaho State Police, Boise Police Department, Coeur d’Alene Police Department, Idaho Falls Police Department, Meridian Police Department, Post Falls Police Department, Pocatello Police Department, Nampa Police Department, Chubbuck Police Department, Rexburg Police Department, Bonners Ferry Police Department, Moscow Police Department, Fruitland Police Department, Spirit Lake Police Department, Homedale Police Department, Twin Falls Police Department, Sun Valley Police Department, Jerome Police Department, Wilder Police Department, Middleton Police Department, Rupert Police Department, Heyburn Police Department, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Minidoka County Sheriff’s Office, Benewah County Sheriff’s Office, Cassia County Sheriff’s Office, Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office, Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office, Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office, Idaho Probation and Parole, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The Idaho ICAC Task Force urges the public to report suspected online exploitation to local law enforcement, the ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or www.cybertipline.com. For more information or to access resources, visit ICACIdaho.org. To learn more about ESD K9 Badger or to request a demonstration, visit the Idaho ICAC Task Force’s website: https://www.icacidaho.org/esd-k9-badger/. About the Idaho ICAC Task Force: The Idaho ICAC Task Force, led by the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, is a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies dedicated to investigating and prosecuting internet crimes against children while promoting community education to prevent exploitation. The charges listed above are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Foot and Mouth disease controls eased for Germany
Personal imports for travellers from the EU remain banned
Following rigorous technical assessment, Great Britain has officially recognised Germany as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) free without vaccination as of 14 May 2025.
As a result, restrictions previously applied to imports of affected commodities from the containment zone in Germany have now been lifted. This means that exports of FMD-susceptible animals, such as cattle, pigs, sheep, deer and buffaloes, and their products, such as meat and dairy, can resume from the containment zone, provided that all other import conditions are met. This decision follows rigorous technical assessment of the measures applied in Germany and the current disease situation. If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity.
Personal import restrictions remain in place that prevent travellers from bringing cattle, sheep, goat, and pig meat, as well as dairy products, from EU countries into Great Britain for personal use, to protect the health of British livestock, the security of farmers, and the UK’s food security. This includes bringing items like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk into Great Britain – regardless of whether it is packed or packaged or whether it has been bought at duty free.
FMD poses no risk to human or food safety, but is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals. Livestock keepers should therefore be absolutely rigorous about their biosecurity.
FMD is a notifiable disease and must be reported. If you suspect foot and mouth disease in your animals, you must report it immediately by calling:
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Nutrition and Specialty Crops, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and nutrition advocates hosted a press call on Republicans’ efforts to gut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a critical anti-hunger program that helps more than 41.6 million Americans.
Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the House Agriculture Committee held a markup on the Republican tax bill, which will cut $290 billion in SNAP benefits.
“Something that we all know to be true is everyone deserves to have access to affordable, healthy, nutritious food, and make sure it’s on the table. In my state, 1 in 4 people rely on SNAP, many of whom are children. If this program is cut at that level, it devastates it,” said Senator Luján. “Republicans are not looking out for their constituents who depend on federal programs—they’re looking out for the wealthiest Americans and corporate interests, plain and simple.”
“We’re at the moment of truth—it’s the time for action and no longer just talk. Here’s the truth: Republicans’ plan is about taking things away from people who need them and depend on them. In Vermont, about 1 in 10 Vermonters are receiving SNAP benefits. And that is our poorest Vermonters, low-income folks, kids—it makes a huge difference in their life that they can have access to SNAP,” said Senator Welch. “Now, our Republican colleagues are talking about taking about $290 billion out of the SNAP program. This is really about taking away basic nutritional security that is so absolutely essential to the wellbeing of our families and our kids in Vermont and in every single state across the nation.”
“Instead of working with Democrats to lower costs from President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs, House Republicans have decided to pull the rug out from under families by cutting the SNAP benefits that 42 million Americans rely on to put food on the table – all to fund a tax cut for billionaires. That’s shameful,” said Ranking Member Klobuchar.
“The combination of less food assistance for seniors and kids and Republican cuts in Medicaid is a prescription for a sicker America. This is health care 101: you need access to food to be healthy, and you need access to timely health care when you’re ill. Under the Republican program, more people are going to get sicker,” said Senator Wyden. “We are all in on this battle—we’ll be damned if we’re going to see access to nutrition and health care lost in order to give tax breaks to people at the top.”
“This Republican reconciliation bill is clear: families lose, billionaires win,” said Senator Merkley. “Millions of children will lose health care and go hungry—there’s a good chance that lots of kids won’t even be able to study in school. Nobody learns anything when they’re hungry. It’s pretty outrageous—we need to say, ‘hell no’ to this.”
“SNAP is one of the most effective anti-poverty and pro-health programs we have in America. It helps over 700,000 Oregonians, more than half of them children, seniors, or people with disabilities, put food on the table. When you cut SNAP, you’re not cutting bureaucracy—you’re cutting a child’s breakfast, their dinner, and their family’s dignity,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “These changes are not just unsustainable cost shift to states – they are an attack on the food security of millions of hard-working Americans. They make it harder for states like mine to do our jobs, to meet urgent needs, and to plan responsibly. Instead of this shortsighted plan, we need to invest in American families and the food security that we know strengthens communities, supports our economies, and reflects the basic decency we owe one another.”
In Congress, Senator Luján has long fought to protect and improve SNAP, leading legislation to protect local grocers from transaction fees that would make it harder for them to accept SNAP benefits, championing legislation that would support merit staff and protect SNAP integrity, and fighting to protect access to SNAP in the Farm Bill.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roy M. Farman, Adjunct Associate Lecturer, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney
Australian tree frogs today make up over one third of all known frog species on the continent. Among this group, iconic species such as the green tree frog (Litoria caerulea) and the green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea), are both beloved for their vivid colours and distinctive calls.
In the Early Eocene epoch, 55 million years ago, Australia’s tree frogs were hopping across the Australian continent from one billabong to the next through a forested corridor that also extended back across Antarctica to South America. These were the last remnants of ancient supercontinent Gondwana.
In new research published today in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, we identify Australia’s earliest known species of tree frog – one that once hopped and croaked around an ancient lake near the town of Murgon in south-eastern Queensland.
This research demonstrates tree frogs were present in Australia 30 million years earlier than previously thought, living alongside Australia’s earliest known snakes, songbirds and marsupials.
A common ancestor
Tree frogs (Pelodryadidae) have expanded discs on their fingers and toes enabling them to climb trees. Despite their name, however, they are known to occupy a wide range of habitats, from fast-flowing streams to ephemeral ponds.
Australia’s previously earliest tree frogs were recovered from Late Oligocene (about 26 million years old) and Early Miocene (23 million years old) fossil deposits. Late Oligocene frog fossils were found at Kangaroo Well in the Northern Territory and Lake Palankarinna in South Australia. They were also recently found in many deposits from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area in Queensland.
Artist’s reconstruction of the new species Litoria tylerantiqua (right) and previously described species Platyplectrum casca (left). Samantha Yabsley
It has long been known that South American tree frogs and Australian tree frogs shared a common Gondwanan ancestor. What is unknown is when this common ancestor lived.
Based on some molecular data, it has been estimated that the two groups separated from this common ancestor as recent as 32.9 million years ago.
A diverse fossil deposit
Our new study was based on frog fossils from a deposit near the town of Murgon, located on the traditional lands of the Waka Waka people of south-eastern Queensland. These fossils accumulated some 55 million years ago. This was between the time when a colossal meteorite took out the non-flying dinosaurs and the time when Australia broke free from the rest of Gondwana to become an isolated continent.
CT scans of preserved frogs were used to compare the three-dimensional shape of the fossil bones with those of living species. Roy Farman/UNSW Sydney
We used CT scans of frogs preserved in ethanol from Australian museum collections to compare the three-dimensional shape of the fossil bones with those of living species. This method is called three-dimensional geometric morphometrics. It has only been used on fossil frogs once before.
Using these new methods, we can unravel the relationships of these fossils to all other groups of frogs – both living and extinct.
Pushing back the evolutionary tree
From its diagnostic ilium (one of three paired pelvic bones), we identified a new species of Litoria from the family Pelodryadidae. We named this species Litoria tylerantiqua in honour of the late Michael Tyler, a renowned Australian herpetologist globally celebrated for his research on frogs and toads.
Litoria tylerantiqua joins the only other Murgon frog discovered so far, the ground-dwelling Platyplectrum casca, as the oldest frogs known from Australia. Both species have living relatives in Australia and New Guinea. This demonstrates the remarkable resilience over time of some of Australia’s most fragile creatures.
Our new research provides crucial new understanding that helps to calibrate molecular clock studies. This is a method scientists use to estimate when different species split from a common ancestor based on the calculated rate of genetic change over time.
Our research indicates the separation of Australian tree frogs and South American tree frogs is at minimum 55 million years ago. This pushes back the estimated molecular separation time for these groups by 22 million years.
Three left sided ilia (pelvic fossil bones) which collectively provided the diagnostic information needed to identify the new species. UNSW Sydney/Roy Farman
New insights to help endangered species
Unravelling the deep-time changes in the diversity and evolution of the ancestors of today’s living animals can provide important new insights into the way these groups have responded in the past to previous challenges. These challenges include former natural cycles of climate change.
The more we know about the fossil record, the more likely we will better anticipate future responses to similar challenges, including human-induced climate change.
This is especially important for critically endangered species such as the Southern Corroboree Frog and Baw Baw Frog. Now restricted to alpine habitats in New South Wales and Victoria, they are at serious risk of extinction due to global warming.
Roy M. Farman received funding from the Research Training Program through the University of New South Wales.
Mike Archer has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Geographic Society, the National Geographic Society, the Riversleigh Society Inc and private funding from Phil Creaser (the CREATE Fund in UNSW), K. and M. Pettit, D. and A. Jeanes and other benefactors.
Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing entitled, “Critical Supply Chains.”
As prepared for delivery:
“Trade has the ability to increase productivity, incomes and the availability of goods. While we talk often about how the increased supply and choice of goods that come from international trade benefit our consumers, we sometimes forget that this also benefits our producers.
“In fact, a majority of what we import each year is reinvested into more manufacturing, processing and farming activity. Efficient and reliable supply chains help American businesses, farmers and workers expand their production and focus their resources on the high-value aspects of an industry.
“The issue we must be wary about is when supply chains turn unreliable, in particular because they are controlled by countries that refuse to follow free-market rules, such as China. As we are all aware, China continues its march toward expanding control over key resources and goods, and thus over the world’s supply chains.
“For example, advanced semiconductors increasingly rely on the rare earths mineral dysprosium. Ninety-nine percent of dysprosium comes from China.
“This is not an isolated case where China has dominance over a strategic resource. China controls over ninety percent of global processing for rare earths minerals and seventy percent for cobalt, which is used in batteries for electric cars, smartphones and other components.
“The way China uses trade and investment to expand its control over resources outside its own borders is particularly concerning. Indonesia has 40 percent of the world’s reserves for nickel, the largest of any single country. Yet, Chinese firms control about 75 percent of Indonesia’s nickel refining capacity.
“We need to take a hard look at the reality of our situation and develop an aggressive strategy to counter China.
“Our domestic policies are at fault in some instances. There are things we can produce efficiently here, but burdensome and unnecessary regulation stalls development of many important projects.
“We should not have to learn from another economic shock, like the oil embargo of the 1970s—to realize that where we have resources or potential for investment, it must be unleashed.
“Both sides of the aisle agree that we need a strong semiconductor industry. In Asia, new semiconductor fabs are being built and deployed in under three years.
“In the United States, the semiconductor industry—one of the safest manufacturing sectors for workers—must contend with a myriad of permitting measures that provide only marginal, if any, benefit. These permits, however, guarantee increased delays and costs, often adding years to projects.
“As part of its economic policy, the Trump Administration has prioritized deregulation as a means to drive economic growth, and I look forward to working with them to rationalize our regulatory system.
“In many other cases, geography and geology do not provide the United States with all the natural resources that we require. Here, the fault rests mainly with the failure to develop an affirmative trade policy. An affirmative trade policy ensures our consumers and manufacturers have access to the resources that our nation needs to be secure and independent.
“Here, for example, the Trump Administration was correct to exempt Canadian potash—a key nutrient for our corn and soy farmers, from recent tariffs.
“Another key to the Administration’s economic approach is to renegotiate global trade deals, including deals that reclaim America’s lead over China.
“Critically, these deals will be particularly useful in strengthening supply chains, if they improve market access opportunities. Our trading partners must respect American investment and afford it the same treatment given to their own companies.
“Our partners must also realize that it bolsters their security when they do not inhibit access to cutting-edge American technology, like our state-of-the-art medical devices.
“Unfortunately, a number of trading partners use price controls, technology theft, weak intellectual property protections or unreasonable government procurement policies to keep these devices out of their markets. Such actions only undermine the health of their own citizens, while leaving a strategic opening for China.
“Today, we have an opportunity to consider these issues carefully. Our four witnesses are experts on industries critical to America’s economic security. We should encourage thoughtful debate on how to advance a trade policy that strengthens the security of our supply chains and creates opportunities for all Americans.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) issued a forceful rebuke of Republican efforts to slash the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as part of their proposed reconciliation framework, warning that the cuts would devastate working families, small businesses, and rural communities in New Mexico. The reconciliation bill would cut billions of dollars from SNAP, as well as critical health care programs, in order to give tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy.
“This committee has historically come together across party lines to support farmers and families. But today, I’m ashamed that we are throwing that legacy aside to gut SNAP, one of the most effective anti-hunger programs in our country,” Vasquez said during his opening remarks. “And I’m not just ashamed—I’m angry. Angry because some members of this committee are taking food off the table from the families I represent in southern New Mexico.”
WATCH: VASQUEZ OPENING REMARKS
This afternoon, Vasquez reached out to his constituents to hear how SNAP cuts could impact them:
“My son and his partner depend on SNAP to get nutritious food. My son is a disabled veteran with medically based nutritional deficiencies. We have paid taxes all of our lives, and believe the most important priority is to provide for our veterans.” – Miriam, Quemado
“I’m 63, disabled, and on food stamps because my $900 a month Social Security check barely covers my bills. Last month, my rent increased by 35%, and my auto insurance increased by 11%. If I lose food stamps, I won’t be able to afford to buy food. I live in a rural area where our food bank depends on the federal government. Their shelves are empty right now, and the government has cut out assistance to food banks.” – Michelle, Deming
“Cuts to SNAP would have a devastating impact on my family by making it harder to afford basic groceries and forcing us to choose between food, rent, and other essentials. Reducing these benefits threatens our health, our children’s ability to focus and succeed in school, and our overall stability. It also harms local economies by pulling money out of grocery stores and small businesses. SNAP isn’t a handout, it’s a lifeline that allows families to survive with dignity, and cutting it will only increase hunger, poverty, and long-term hardship.” – Bernadine, Zuni
Vasquez also warned that the partisan attack on SNAP threatens to derail progress on a bipartisan Farm Bill, jeopardizing key programs for New Mexico’s farmers, ranchers, and conservation efforts.
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PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA
13 de mayo de 2025
Vásquez Destaca Cómo los Recortes a SNAP Devastarán a Nuevo México
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hoy, el Congresista Gabe Vásquez (NM-02) condenó los esfuerzos republicanos de recortar el Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP) como parte de su propuesta de proyecto de reconciliación, advirtiendo que estos recortes devastarían a las familias trabajadoras, los pequeños negocios y las comunidades rurales de Nuevo México. El proyecto de reconciliación recortaría miles de millones de dólares de SNAP, así como programas críticos de atención médica, con el propósito de otorgar recortes fiscales a los ultra-ricos.
“Este comité, históricamente, ha trabajado de forma bipartidista para apoyar a nuestros agricultores y familias. Pero hoy, me avergüenza que estemos dejando de lado ese legado para desmantelar SNAP, uno de los programas contra el hambre más efectivos en nuestro país,” dijo Vásquez durante sus declaraciones iniciales. “Y no solo me siento avergonzado—estoy indignado. Indignado porque algunos miembros de este comité están quitándole la comida de la mesa a las familias que represento en el sur de Nuevo México.”
VEA: COMENTARIOS INICIALES DEL CONGRESISTA VÁSQUEZ
Esta tarde, el Congresista Vásquez se comunicó con sus constituyentes para escuchar cómo los recortes a SNAP podrían afectarlos:
“Mi hijo y su pareja dependen de SNAP para obtener alimentos nutritivos. Mi hijo es un veterano discapacitado con deficiencias nutricionales médicas. Hemos pagado impuestos toda nuestra vida y creemos que la prioridad más importante es cuidar a nuestros veteranos.” – Miriam, Quemado
“Tengo 63 años, estoy discapacitada y dependo de los cupones de alimentos porque mi cheque del Seguro Social de $900 al mes apenas cubre mis cuentas. El mes pasado, mi renta aumentó un 35 % y mi seguro de auto subió un 11 %. Si pierdo los cupones de alimentos, no podré comprar comida. Vivo en una zona rural donde el banco de alimentos depende del gobierno federal. Sus despensas están vacías en este momento, y el gobierno ha eliminado la asistencia para los bancos de alimentos.” – Michelle, Deming
“Los recortes al Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP) tendrán un impacto devastador en mi familia al dificultar la compra de comestibles básicos y obligarnos a elegir entre comida, renta y otras necesidades esenciales. Reducir estos beneficios pone en riesgo nuestra salud, la capacidad de nuestros hijos para concentrarse y tener éxito en la escuela, y nuestra estabilidad general. También daña las economías locales al quitar dinero de los supermercados y pequeños negocios. SNAP no es una limosna, es una línea de vida que permite a las familias sobrevivir con dignidad, y recortarlo solo aumentará el hambre, la pobreza y las dificultades a largo plazo.” – Bernadine, Zuni
Vásquez también advirtió que este ataque partidista contra SNAP amenaza con descarrilar el progreso hacia una Ley Agrícola bipartidista, poniendo en riesgo programas clave para los agricultores, ganaderos y esfuerzos de conservación en Nuevo México.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24)today released the following statement on the passage of “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill” from the House Ways and Means Committee Markup.
“Today, the House Ways and Means Committee voted to advance our portion of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill to deliver on President Trump’s America First agenda. This landmark legislation makes several aspects of the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts permanent, including reduced tax rates for individuals and families, the doubled standard deduction, and the doubled child tax credit. Not only did we extend this tax relief for families and prevent a 25% tax hike on taxpayers in NY-24, but we also made permanent the 199A Small Business Deduction that was set to expire at the end of 2025, protecting 40,720 small businesses in NY-24 from being hit with a 43.4% tax rate. While this legislation did not include all of my initiatives, including the New Markets Tax Credit, Technology for Energy Security, BASIC Act, Susan Muffley Act, the High-Quality Charter Schools Act and various other legislative priorities, I understand that individual priorities do not take precedence over ensuring that American families, workers, and businesses do not face the largest tax hike in the history of our country. House Republicans are moving ahead with President Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill, working to solidify the promises we made to the American people by strengthening our economy and providing direct tax relief to families, farmers, and small businesses in rural America,”said Congresswoman Tenney.
Highlights of this portion of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill include language to:
Make the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts permanent, preventing a 25% tax hike on taxpayers in NY-24.
Renew and make permanent the 199A small business deduction critical for the success of Main Street.
Save the average American family $1,700, the equivalent of 9 weeks of groceries.
Establish Savings Accounts for newborns.
Increase the university endowment tax.
Repeal the 1099-K gig worker reporting threshold, which would require Venmo, PayPal, and gig transactions over $600 to be reported to the IRS.
Enhance the Opportunity Zone program to create over $100 billion in new investments in 10 years.
Deliver on President Trump’s no tax on tips priority.
Create 6 million jobs for American workers.
Extend and expand the doubled Death Tax Exemption for 2 million family-owned farms.
Modernize and enhance the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, a critical tool to help address our nation’s ongoing housing shortage.
Terminate the tax-exempt status of terrorist-supporting organizations.
More than 100 Indigenous-led projects are underway in communities throughout B.C., helping to strengthen local food security and food sovereignty with another round of funding set to open.
“Working alongside Indigenous partners is crucial to growing and maintaining our province’s food systems and part of our government’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation,” said Harwinder Sandhu, parliamentary secretary for agriculture. “These Indigenous-led projects highlight how Indigenous knowledge supports increasing local food supply and food security, especially in rural and remote communities.”
In 2023, the New Relationship Trust (NRT) launched the $30-milllion Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Program and is supporting both on-reserve and off-reserve projects, such as revitalizing food harvesting and Indigenous agro-ecosystems, expanding production capacity, boosting local food processing and distribution, and growing commercial value-added enterprises.
On Vancouver Island, Jared “Qwustenuxun” Williams, a Salish educator and traditional-foods chef who previously managed the Elders Kitchen in Cowichan Tribes, is upgrading a smokehouse into a commercial-quality kitchen that blends ancient preservation methods with modern food-safety standards.
“Building the smokehouse has taken more time than I first expected, but that time has allowed me to really think about how to bring together traditional methods and new ideas,” said Williams. “I’m creating a modern version of the smokehouse that’s still rooted in our teachings, something that reflects both where we come from and where we’re going. I’m grateful for the support that came with patience and trust, because meaningful work doesn’t always follow a set timeline.”
On Haida Gwaii, Indigenous-owned food supplier Haida Wild is upgrading its packaging facility with a new state-of-the-art vacuum-sealing machine that allows it to preserve its high-quality seafood longer, reduce waste and enhance distribution.
“Haida Wild is proud to share the seafood traditions of Xaayda Gwaay | XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay | Haida Gwaii with the world in a way that honours our people, our values and our environment,” said Leticia Hill, CEO, Haida Wild. “With support from the Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty grant, we’ve been able to grow our operations in a sustainable way that supports our Haida fishers, creates jobs here at home and strengthens food security for the long term.”
Another project is helping the Sts’ailes First Nation near Agassiz undertake a series of workshops, conversations, shared meals and other community events, centred around a community greenhouse, to promote traditional-food usage and ancestral practices for local use.
“We’ve been implementing a lot of the new vegetables into our daily cafe and our catering services,” said Kandice Krista-Anne Charlie, executive officer, Sts’ailes development corporation. “It’s just the beginning. We want to evolve to rely less on ordering bulk food from commercial stores and producing that food in-house and serving it out to our people.”
The New Relationship Trust, an independent, Indigenous-led non-profit organization, administers the program and works with Indigenous entrepreneurs, communities and businesses to identify and respond to their needs and empower them.
“At New Relationship Trust, we recognize that strengthening sustainable food production in B.C. starts with honouring Indigenous leadership and vision for food systems rooted in both land and water,” said Walter Schneider, chief executive officer, NRT. “We’re proud to support Indigenous food producers who are driving community well-being, economic growth and food sovereignty, all while upholding their values and deep connection to the land.”
The Province’s commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples has led to increased participation in Indigenous agriculture and food systems, which is a key part of implementing B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
Quick Facts:
Applications opened on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, for the third and final round of $10-million funding.
Total funding for the Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Program is $30 million over three years.
Learn More:
Applications and more details about the program are available here: https://newrelationshiptrust.ca/apply-for-funding/sustainability-development-goals-sdg-initiatives/food-security-grants/
To see the full list of Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Program funding recipients, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/IFSS_Approved_Grants_2025.pdf
A selection of videos highlighting Indigenous food security and sovereignty projects is available here: https://newrelationshiptrust.ca/indigenous-food-security-and-sovereignty-program-highlights/
A July 2023 news release announcing the Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Program is available here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023AF0047-001230
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)
Last night in the House Agriculture Committee markup of the partisan reconciliation bill, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) spoke out against Republicans’ proposal to slash $300 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In her opening remarks, Pingree questioned how leaving Americans with fewer tools to feed their families affordably and healthily, further straining our health care system and driving up costs for everyone, will “Make America Healthy Again.”
[embedded content] Pingree’s full opening remarks are availablehereand copied below.
The Committee will reconvene today to debate amendments. Tune in live here.
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Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I’m fortunate to have served on this committee for more than a decade. During that time, I’ve had the opportunity and the great privilege to work on bipartisan Farm Bills that are designed to strengthen our agricultural sector, to support our farmers, and to help hungry people access food. So, I am deeply disappointed that we’re sitting here tonight not doing that but debating a bill that will gut the single largest anti-hunger program in America.
Frankly, I can’t believe we are trying to shove the Farm Bill into the reconciliation process, stripping this committee of the chance of a truly bipartisan Farm Bill.
And let’s not sugarcoat what this bill is. It’s a $300 billion assault on struggling families, seniors, children, and veterans, all to fund tax breaks for billionaires and corporations.
The average SNAP benefit is $6 a day, $6 a day. That is barely enough to buy a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk. And if this bill passes, some of the most vulnerable people in America will be denied even that. Make no mistake, this will lead to more kids going to bed hungry, more seniors skipping meals to afford their medicine, and more parents forced to sacrifice their own nutrition so their kids can eat.
In my state, 175,000 people rely on SNAP to put food on the table, including over 36,000 children and 6,300 veterans. That’s tens of thousands of Mainers who stand to lose their benefits under this proposal. 1 in 5 children in Maine struggles with food insecurity. That’s 1 in 5. And it’s not just individuals who will suffer. The bill threatens the very businesses that keep our rural communities alive.
More than 1,500 retailers in Maine – grocery stores, corner markets, and mom and pop shops – rely on SNAP sales to stay open. When you cut SNAP, you don’t just take food off the table, you rip the economic rug out from under those businesses in the communities they support.
And then there’s the unfunded mandate that this bill dumps on Maine. My Republican colleagues call this “cost shifting,” but they are forcing states to pay at least 5% – and in many cases, much more of the cost – of supporting SNAP. So, let’s just call that what it really is: a backdoor way of sending this program into a death spiral, pushing the blame for the inevitable wave of hunger and hardship under governors and state legislatures.
It cuts programs like the National Education, Obesity and Prevention Grant program, commonly known as Snap Ed. Snap ed helps families make their SNAP dollars stretch further. It teaches people how to make nutritious meals using SNAP funds. In Maine, this program has reached nearly 20,000 people with free classes and cooking, budgeting, and healthy eating. Eliminating these services will leave families with fewer tools to feed their families affordably and healthily, further straining our health care system and driving up costs for everyone.
Tell me, is this really making America healthy again?
This … bill is not about reducing “waste” or fixing “fraud” or finding errors. It’s all about sacrificing the health and well-being of the most vulnerable, most vulnerable amongst us, so that billionaires like Elon Musk can get even richer. It’s about taking food out of the hands of hungry children, cutting off lifelines to families in need, and shattering the basic safety net that millions of Americans rely on.
We should be writing a Farm Bill that supports our local farmers, strengthens rural economies, and ensures that no one in this country goes hungry. Instead, this proposal sacrifices families and communities for short term political win.
So, for me tonight, I’m a no. Tomorrow I’m a no. Every day from now until whenever my Republican colleagues come to their senses and do what right is right for America and for the people who are their constituents, I will stay a no on this bill.
SYDNEY, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XenDex, the first all-in-one decentralized exchange on the XRP Ledger, is proud to announce that its full platform is actively in development, and a first-look mockup design is set to be revealed in a few hours.
With all core features being built into a sleek, user-friendly interface, XenDex is delivering what no other XRPL-based project has offered to date: a unified DeFi experience that combines AI-powered copy trading, non-custodial lending and borrowing, staking, cross-chain trading, and DAO governance, all within a single platform.
To demonstrate the depth of development underway, XenDex will release visual mockups of the upcoming platform, giving investors and community members an exclusive preview of how the platform will look, feel, and function.
From live trading interfaces to lending dashboards, staking portals, and AI copy trading modules, this upcoming design reveal will provide a clear glimpse into the future of decentralized finance on XRP.
Disclaimer: This is a paid post provided by XenDex. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.
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Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kevin Kirkman, Professor of Grassland Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa’s rangelands have always had great value for the country. These areas offer more than just grazing for livestock. They provide services like purifying water, storing carbon and conserving biodiversity.
The grassland biome (28%), along with the savanna (32.5%) and the Nama-Karoo (19.5%), are collectively referred to as rangelands. They make up almost 80% of the land area of South Africa.
Their ecological services haven’t always been fully appreciated. Research into rangelands has evolved in response to environmental changes, human needs and scientific discoveries.
Commercial livestock production was the main concern when academics, researchers and practitioners met for the first congress of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa in 1966. Less than 15% of South Africa’s land surface area is arable. The only agricultural production possible on the balance of the land is livestock production from natural rangeland. Livestock production is thus a cornerstone of agriculture and food production in South Africa.
Six decades on, the Grassland Society has reflected – through a special issue of its journal, the African Journal of Range and Forage Science – on how it has tackled research challenges and adapted to shifting perceptions of rangelands.
Research has explored aspects of global change, bush encroachment and other changes in rangeland composition and function. Land transformation is another research area. Peri-urban sprawl, open-cast mining, timber plantations and other developments reduce and fragment rangeland. The result is increased pressure on the remaining, intact rangelands.
Widening scope
A review of research over the 60 years shows that early efforts focused mainly on forage production to support livestock industries. Research topics included rotational grazing and burning, as well as reinforcing rangelands by adding nutrients, forage grasses and legumes.
By the 1980s, it became clear that rangelands offered more than just grazing – they were vital ecosystems.
Rangelands in southern Africa span diverse climates and landscapes, from arid deserts to moist mountains.Kevin Kirkman, Author provided (no reuse)
In the early 1990s, around the onset of democracy in South Africa, local researchers became part of global conversations around rangeland ecology. In doing so, they started to use the international terminology, instead of the old Dutch-derived word “veld”.
This shift was not just about geography, but about scope. Rangelands were increasingly seen as multifaceted ecosystems critical in the fight against climate change. Increasing temperatures, increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and changing rainfall patterns pose a threat to all ecosystems. Understanding the response of rangelands is increasingly important in devising management strategies to adapt to these changes.
Scientists expanded their attention to preserving soil health, restoring degraded landscapes, and maintaining biodiversity. Issues like overgrazing, soil erosion and invasive species gained recognition in southern Africa. Degradation of rangelands in South Africa was first highlighted in the mid 1700s, and became a “mainstream” issue in the 1930s. Replacing a diverse group of wild animals with a single species of grazer, such as cattle, is the reason generally given for degradation. Fire has also been linked to it (often unfairly).
The Grassland Society responded by promoting ideas like adaptive grazing management (making decisions in response to conditions, rather than following a recipe approach). It also encouraged integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific research to create more sustainable and resilient land-use systems. This has helped shape land management practices across the region.
Rangelands are dynamic, especially in the Karoo, where vegetation cover can shift dramatically in response to rainfall and grazing.Justin du Toit, Author provided (no reuse)
Many southern African rangelands face the challenge of balancing grazing with biodiversity conservation. Research on conservation agriculture and integrating livestock and wildlife systems is helping farmers and conservationists to find common ground. Wildlife, both in the conservation and the game production contexts, plays a critical role in South Africa’s economy. Tourism is one of the major contributors.
Land management is particularly important in the Mediterranean-climate regions of South Africa, where poor crop farming practices have damaged soil health. The research is guiding the development of more sustainable farming systems focused on soil regeneration and biodiversity.
A key indicator of ecosystem degradation is a decline in grassland forbs (herbaceous plants that are not grasses). They are highly sensitive to grazing pressure. So the role of wildflowers in ecosystem health and animal wellbeing has also become an important research area.
Climate change, fire suppression and overgrazing drive woody plant encroachment, where grasslands are turning into shrublands. This calls for integrated management approaches that consider fire, grazing and even controlled rewilding.
Fire is a natural element in many grassland ecosystems, and research has helped advance understanding of how it can be monitored and controlled to reduce risks while promoting healthy rangelands.
People and grasslands
Grazing contrast.Justin du Toit
Rangeland management has important social dimensions. Research is addressing issues such as land tenure, governance, community management systems on communal rangelands and indigenous knowledge in management decisions. These topics are essential for creating sustainable solutions that account for people’s livelihoods and needs.
In addition to these ecological, social and management advances, the Grassland Society of Southern Africa has worked to develop the next generation of rangeland scientists and practitioners. Through its congresses, workshops and journal publications, the society continues to foster dialogue across disciplines and communities. Its 60th congress will be held in July 2025.
– Southern Africa’s rangelands do many jobs, from feeding cattle to storing carbon: a review of 60 years of research – https://theconversation.com/southern-africas-rangelands-do-many-jobs-from-feeding-cattle-to-storing-carbon-a-review-of-60-years-of-research-254736
South Africa’s rangelands have always had great value for the country. These areas offer more than just grazing for livestock. They provide services like purifying water, storing carbon and conserving biodiversity.
The grassland biome (28%), along with the savanna (32.5%) and the Nama-Karoo (19.5%), are collectively referred to as rangelands. They make up almost 80% of the land area of South Africa.
Their ecological services haven’t always been fully appreciated. Research into rangelands has evolved in response to environmental changes, human needs and scientific discoveries.
Commercial livestock production was the main concern when academics, researchers and practitioners met for the first congress of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa in 1966. Less than 15% of South Africa’s land surface area is arable. The only agricultural production possible on the balance of the land is livestock production from natural rangeland. Livestock production is thus a cornerstone of agriculture and food production in South Africa.
Six decades on, the Grassland Society has reflected – through a special issue of its journal, the African Journal of Range and Forage Science – on how it has tackled research challenges and adapted to shifting perceptions of rangelands.
Research has explored aspects of global change, bush encroachment and other changes in rangeland composition and function. Land transformation is another research area. Peri-urban sprawl, open-cast mining, timber plantations and other developments reduce and fragment rangeland. The result is increased pressure on the remaining, intact rangelands.
Widening scope
A review of research over the 60 years shows that early efforts focused mainly on forage production to support livestock industries. Research topics included rotational grazing and burning, as well as reinforcing rangelands by adding nutrients, forage grasses and legumes.
By the 1980s, it became clear that rangelands offered more than just grazing – they were vital ecosystems.
In the early 1990s, around the onset of democracy in South Africa, local researchers became part of global conversations around rangeland ecology. In doing so, they started to use the international terminology, instead of the old Dutch-derived word “veld”.
This shift was not just about geography, but about scope. Rangelands were increasingly seen as multifaceted ecosystems critical in the fight against climate change. Increasing temperatures, increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and changing rainfall patterns pose a threat to all ecosystems. Understanding the response of rangelands is increasingly important in devising management strategies to adapt to these changes.
Scientists expanded their attention to preserving soil health, restoring degraded landscapes, and maintaining biodiversity. Issues like overgrazing, soil erosion and invasive species gained recognition in southern Africa. Degradation of rangelands in South Africa was first highlighted in the mid 1700s, and became a “mainstream” issue in the 1930s. Replacing a diverse group of wild animals with a single species of grazer, such as cattle, is the reason generally given for degradation. Fire has also been linked to it (often unfairly).
The Grassland Society responded by promoting ideas like adaptive grazing management (making decisions in response to conditions, rather than following a recipe approach). It also encouraged integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific research to create more sustainable and resilient land-use systems. This has helped shape land management practices across the region.
Many southern African rangelands face the challenge of balancing grazing with biodiversity conservation. Research on conservation agriculture and integrating livestock and wildlife systems is helping farmers and conservationists to find common ground. Wildlife, both in the conservation and the game production contexts, plays a critical role in South Africa’s economy. Tourism is one of the major contributors.
Land management is particularly important in the Mediterranean-climate regions of South Africa, where poor crop farming practices have damaged soil health. The research is guiding the development of more sustainable farming systems focused on soil regeneration and biodiversity.
A key indicator of ecosystem degradation is a decline in grassland forbs (herbaceous plants that are not grasses). They are highly sensitive to grazing pressure. So the role of wildflowers in ecosystem health and animal wellbeing has also become an important research area.
Climate change, fire suppression and overgrazing drive woody plant encroachment, where grasslands are turning into shrublands. This calls for integrated management approaches that consider fire, grazing and even controlled rewilding.
Fire is a natural element in many grassland ecosystems, and research has helped advance understanding of how it can be monitored and controlled to reduce risks while promoting healthy rangelands.
People and grasslands
Rangeland management has important social dimensions. Research is addressing issues such as land tenure, governance, community management systems on communal rangelands and indigenous knowledge in management decisions. These topics are essential for creating sustainable solutions that account for people’s livelihoods and needs.
In addition to these ecological, social and management advances, the Grassland Society of Southern Africa has worked to develop the next generation of rangeland scientists and practitioners. Through its congresses, workshops and journal publications, the society continues to foster dialogue across disciplines and communities. Its 60th congress will be held in July 2025.
Kevin Kirkman receives funding from the National Research Foundation.
Helga van der Merwe receives funding from the National Research Foundation.
Craig Morris 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.
It is time consuming and costly for farmers to deal with the EU’s heavy administrative obligations on top of their actual work. The Commission has therefore proposed a set of changes to common agricultural policy rules that will relieve farmers from this regulatory burden and boost competitiveness.
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Nutrition and Specialty Crops, Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and Hunger Free Vermont this week hosted a press call on Republicans’ efforts to gut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a critical anti-hunger program that helps more than 41.6 million Americans.
Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the House Agriculture Committee held a markup on the Republican tax bill, which will cut $290 billion in SNAP benefits
“We’re at the moment of truth—it’s the time for action and no longer just talk. Here’s the truth: Republicans’ plan is about taking things away from people who need them and depend on them. In Vermont, about 1 in 10 Vermonters are receiving SNAP benefits. And that is our poorest Vermonters, low-income folks, kids—it makes a huge difference in their life that they can have access to SNAP,” said Senator Welch. “Now, our Republican colleagues are talking about taking about $290 billion out of the SNAP program. This is really about taking away basic nutritional security that is so absolutely essential to the wellbeing of our families and our kids in Vermont and in every single state across the nation.”
Watch a livestream of the press call here.
“Instead of working with Democrats to lower costs from President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs, House Republicans have decided to pull the rug out from under families by cutting the SNAP benefits that 42 million Americans rely on to put food on the table – all to fund a tax cut for billionaires. That’s shameful,” said Ranking Member Klobuchar.
“Something that we all know to be true is everyone deserves to have access to affordable, healthy, nutritious food, and make sure it’s on the table. In my state, 1 in 4 people rely on SNAP, many of whom are children. If this program is cut at that $230 billion level, it devastates it,” said Senator Luján. “Republicans are not looking out for their constituents who depend on federal programs—they’re looking out for the wealthiest Americans and corporate interests, plain and simple.”
“The combination of less food assistance for seniors and kids and Republican cuts in Medicaid is a prescription for a sicker America. This is health care 101: you need access to food to be healthy, and you need access to timely health care when you’re ill. Under the Republican program, more people are going to get sicker,” said Senator Wyden. “We are all in on this battle—we’ll be damned if we’re going to see access to nutrition and health care lost in order to give tax breaks to people at the top.”
“This Republican reconciliation bill is clear: families lose, billionaires win,” said Senator Merkley. “Millions of children will lose health care and go hungry—there’s a good chance that lots of kids won’t even be able to study in school. Nobody learns anything when they’re hungry. It’s pretty outrageous—we need to say, ‘hell no’ to this.”
“SNAP is one of the most effective anti-poverty and pro-health programs we have in America. It helps over 700,000 Oregonians, more than half of them children, seniors, or people with disabilities, put food on the table. When you cut SNAP, you’re not cutting bureaucracy—you’re cutting a child’s breakfast, their dinner, and their family’s dignity,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “These changes are not just unsustainable cost shift to states – they are an attack on the food security of millions of hard-working Americans. They make it harder for states like mine to do our jobs, to meet urgent needs, and to plan responsibly. Instead of this shortsighted plan, we need to invest in American families and the food security that we know strengthens communities, supports our economies, and reflects the basic decency we owe one another.”
“Every day, one in ten Vermonters—85% of which are children, older adults, or people with disabilities—rely on SNAP not only to afford groceries but to build better lives. Even the possibility of SNAP cuts is creating real harm, and we’re hearing worries from Vermonters who are already budgeting every dollar about losing this vital support. Proposals to make deep, devastating cuts to SNAP can’t be justified ever, and even less so now, when food prices are rising and families are already stretched thin. SNAP is a lifeline that must be protected, not slashed,” said Ivy Enoch, SNAP Policy & Training Lead, Hunger Free Vermont.
Senator Welch has been a leading advocate for protecting and expanding access to nutrition programs in the Senate. Last week, Senator Welch joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in introducing the Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025, legislation to help more Americans access SNAP by lifting Republicans’ punitive time limits on SNAP eligibility requirements. Learn more about the bill here.
LODI, Calif., May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (OTCQX:FMCB) (the “Company” or “FMCB”), the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California (the “Bank” or “F&M Bank”), the Board of Directors declared a mid-year cash dividend of $9.30 per share, an increase of 5.7% over the $8.80 per share paid in July of 2024. The cash dividend is payable on July 1, 2025, to shareholders of record on June 10, 2025. Net income over the trailing twelve months was $88.7 million compared with $87.5 million for the same trailing period a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share over the trailing twelve months totaled $123.32, up 5.97% compared with $116.37 for the same trailing period a year ago.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2025, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp reported net income of $23.0 million, or $32.86 per diluted common share, compared with $22.7 million, or $30.56 per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2024. Annualized return on average assets for the first quarter of 2025 was 1.70% and return on average equity was 15.65%. Total assets at quarter-end were $5.7 billion. The Company’s credit quality remained solid with only $193,000 in non-accrual loans and leases as of March 31, 2025 and a negligible delinquency ratio of 0.01% of total loans and leases. At quarter-end, the Company’s allowance for credit losses was $75.4 million, or 2.10% of total loans and leases. The Company’s common equity tier 1 ratio was 13.75% at March 31, 2025, and the total risk-based capital ratio was 15.23%. All F&M Bank capital ratios exceeded the regulatory requirements to be classified as “well-capitalized”. For further details on our first quarter results please see our press release dated April 16, 2025.
Kent A. Steinwert, Chairman, President and CEO noted, “The Board is very pleased with the Company’s strong first quarter 2025 and record full-year 2024 financial results and unanimously approved the cash dividend. This year marks the 90th consecutive year that Farmers & Merchants Bancorp has paid cash dividends and the 60th consecutive year we have increased dividends. As a result of the reliability of our cash dividends over many decades, we remain a member of a select group of only 55 publicly traded companies designated as “Dividend Kings” by Sure Dividend where Farmers & Merchants Bancorp is currently ranked 17th.”
About Farmers & Merchants Bancorp
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, trades on the OTCQX under the symbol FMCB, and is the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California, also known as F&M Bank. Founded in 1916, F&M Bank is a locally owned and operated community bank, which proudly serves California through 33 convenient locations. F&M Bank is financially strong, with $5.7 billion in assets, and is consistently recognized as one of the nation’s safest banks by national bank rating firms. The Bank has maintained a 5-Star rating from BauerFinancial for 35 consecutive years, longer than any other commercial bank in the State of California.
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp has paid dividends for 90 consecutive years and has increased dividends for 60 consecutive years. As a result, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp is a member of a select group of only 55 publicly traded companies referred to as “Dividend Kings,” and is ranked 17th in that group based on consecutive years of dividend increases. A “Dividend King” is a stock with 50 or more consecutive years of dividend increase.
In August 2024, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp was named by Bank Director’s Magazine as the #2 best performing bank in the nation across all asset categories in their annual “Ranking Banking” study of the top performing banks for 2023. In August 2023, the Bank was named by Bank Director’s Magazine as the #1 best performing bank in the nation across all asset categories in their annual “Ranking Banking” study of the top performing banks for 2022.
In April 2024, F&M Bank was ranked 6th on Forbes Magazine’s list of “America’s Best Banks” in 2023. Forbes’ annual “America’s Best Banks” list looks at ten metrics measuring growth, credit quality, profitability, and capital for the 2023 calendar year, as well as stock performance in the 12 months through March 18, 2024.
In December 2023, F&M Bank was ranked 4th on S&P Global Market Intelligence’s “Top 50 List of Best-Performing Community Banks” in the US with assets between $3.0 billion and $10.0 billion for 2023. S&P Global Market Intelligence ranks financial institutions based on several key factors including financial returns, growth, and balance sheet risk profile.
In October 2021, F&M Bank was named the “Best Community Bank in California” by Newsweek magazine. Newsweek’s ranking recognizes those financial institutions that best serve their customers’ needs in each state. This recognition speaks to the superior customer service the F&M Bank team members provide to its clients.
F&M Bank is the 15th largest bank lender to agriculture in the United States. F&M Bank operates in the mid-Central Valley of California, including Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, and Merced counties and the east region of the San Francisco Bay Area, including Napa, Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
F&M Bank was inducted into the National Agriculture Science Center’s “Ag Hall of Fame” at the end of 2021 for providing resources, financial advice, guidance, and support to the agribusiness communities as well as to students in the next generation of agribusiness workforce. F&M Bank is dedicated to helping California remain the premier agricultural region in the world and will continue to work with the next generation of farmers, ranchers, and processors. F&M Bank remains committed to servicing the needs of agribusiness in California as has been the case since its founding over 109 years ago.
F&M Bank offers a full complement of loan, deposit, equipment leasing and treasury management products to businesses, as well as a full suite of consumer banking products. The FDIC awarded F&M Bank the highest possible rating of “Outstanding” in their last Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) evaluation.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations regarding the Company’s financial performance. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate” or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could” or “may.” Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding loan and deposit production levels of net interest margin, the ability to control costs and expenses, the competitive environment, financial and regulatory policies of the United States government, general economic conditions, inflation, recessions, tariffs, economic uncertainty in the United States, and changes in interest rates. Forward-looking statements in this press release include matters that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, among others: the effects of and changes in monetary and fiscal policies, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board and their effects on inflation risk; political and economic uncertainty, including any decline in global, domestic or local economic conditions or the stability of credit and financial markets; and other relevant risks detailed in the Company’s Form 10-K, Form 10-Qs, and various other securities law filings made periodically by the Company, copies of which are available from the Company’s website. All such factors are difficult to predict and are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. There also may be additional risks that the Company does not presently know, or that the Company currently believes to be immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those contained in these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances after the date of this press release or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.
For more information about Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and F&M Bank, visit fmbonline.com.
Investor Relations Contact
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp Bart R. Olson Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
WARSAW, Ind., May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lakeland Financial Corporation (Nasdaq Global Select/LKFN) and Lake City Bank announced today that Dan Starr and Mindy Creighton Truex have been appointed to their respective Boards of Directors.
“Our boards represent the foundational building blocks of stable corporate governance, leadership and engagement in our Indiana communities and provide balanced and thoughtful feedback to our leadership team. The addition of Dan and Mindy brings two proven business and community leaders to the table,” said David M. Findlay, Chairman and CEO. “Our boards are an extension of the bank in our Indiana markets and are active partners in the focus to drive long-term shareholder value. Both Dan and Mindy share a strong commitment to building long-term relationships within their industries and communities, which fits perfectly with Lake City Bank’s community banking philosophy.”
Starr is CEO of Do it Best Corp., a Fort Wayne-based member-owned hardware, lumber and building materials buying cooperative in the home improvement industry with thousands of member-owned locations across the United States and in more than 60 countries. He has been with Do it Best Corp. for two decades and held several leadership roles prior to becoming President and CEO in 2016. Before joining Do it Best Corp., Starr was a partner with Barnes & Thornburg LLP and served as the firm’s Business, Tax & Real Estate departmental administrator in Fort Wayne.
“Lake City Bank plays a vital role in many communities across our state and joining the board is an exciting opportunity,” said Starr. “I look forward to contributing to the continued growth and momentum of the bank.”
Starr has a juris doctor degree magna cum laude from the Indiana University School of Law. He has served in numerous board leadership roles within the greater Fort Wayne community, including the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, St. Francis Family Business Center and Fort Wayne Ballet. He currently serves as chairman of the Parkview Health Board of Directors, as well as on the Manchester University Board of Trustees Outreach Committee and the Do it Best Foundation.
Mindy Creighton Truex is President of Creighton Brothers Farms LLC, a Warsaw-based family-owned farm founded in 1925. With extensive experience in the agricultural sector, she has been instrumental in developing innovative initiatives with Creighton Brothers Farms, including educational and farm-to-table experiences. She has served in leadership roles with national and local agricultural advocacy organizations, including the American Egg Board, United Egg Producers, Indiana State Poultry Association and Purdue University Animal Science Department Dean’s Advisory Committee.
“As a sixth generation Kosciusko County farmer, I’m honored to join the Lake City Bank and Lakeland Financial Corporation boards,” said Creighton Truex. “Lake City Bank has been a part of the fabric of our community since 1872 and I’m excited to help the bank continue to grow.”
Creighton Truex has a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness management from Purdue University. She has served on the boards of many nonprofit organizations that impact her local community, including the Kosciusko County Visitor’s Bureau, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Kosciusko County Leadership Academy, Purdue University’s Kosciusko County Agricultural Extension, Kosciusko County Farm Bureau, and United Way of Kosciusko County.
Lakeland Financial Corporation (Nasdaq Global Select/LKFN) is a $6.9 billion bank holding company headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana. Lake City Bank, its single bank subsidiary, was founded in 1872 and serves Central and Northern Indiana communities with 54 branch offices and a robust digital banking platform. Lake City Bank’s community banking model prioritizes building in‐market long‐term customer relationships while delivering technology‐forward solutions for retail and commercial clients. For more information visit www.lakecitybank.com.
Contact Luke Weick Marketing Manager 574 267-9198, x47279 office 260 431-7061 mobile luke.weick@lakecitybank.com
With the extensive overlap between the themes of Agriculture and Food Systems, as well as Waste and Circularity, these two series are being strategically combined into a single event which will take place on the above mentioned date. The synergistic agenda shall drive comprehensive discussions along the entire spectrum of the supply chain right from agtech, farm to table, packaging innovations, and waste management policy.
Bringing together renowned experts with decades of combined agriculture, waste management and sustainable circularity experience, this event promises to be a can’t-miss gathering for those interested in ensuring abundant food security, maintaining enviro-human health securing the farming future of the Southern California region, and waste management innovations.
Recognized pioneers and policy experts from Southern California and surrounding regions will converge to share their invaluable perspectives, practical insights, and vision with attendees across a broad spectrum of areas.
Speaker sessions and panel discussions shall be primarily explore the following thematic areas:
1. Urban Agriculture
Key experts shall discuss fundamental issues such as encouraging locally-sourced food ecosystems including farm-to-table initiatives; developing incentive structures to enable businesses to switch to affordable, eco-packaging; and exploration of ‘beyond the green bin’ end-of-life strategies in the secondary markets.
Speakers shall delve into Case Study A on AgTech and Soil Health, weaving together issues related to regenerative practices, soil health and agtech advancements.
2. Combating the “Ick” Factor Associated with SB1383
One of the key challenges in sustainable waste management is the separation of green waste at the household and business levels. Some of the foremost minds at the intersection of behaviour change and sustainability shall enlighten attendees on designing educational and infrastructure systems that encourage a high-level of compliance to strenghten SB1383 (“California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy”).
Moreover, innovations on managing kitchen and bin odors that present a challenge to our cities shall be discussed.
In a special session, experts from Sustain SoCal and OC Waste and Recycling shall review their findings in the Multifamily Roundtable series.
Case Study B on SB54 and Regulatory Burdens (“Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act”) shall also be presented, including issues of extended producer responsibility (EPR) and encouraging the streamlining of waste management efforts.
3. Hazardous Waste Management
In the third section of the event, invited speakers shall unpack efforts to improve the waste management of dangerous items such as paint and batteries; and share their perspectives on business opportunities in secondary life systems.
The event also offers attendees a unique opportunity to directly engage with thought leaders and leverage their expertise to better understand cutting-edge concepts, technologies, future market opportunities, products, services, and the regulatory landscape.
C. Scott Kitcher, President, and CEO of Sustain SoCal, emphasized the importance of the event, stating,
“We are pleased to offer a new initiative – Agriculture, Food Systems and Waste Stream Innovations which shall provide a new-age forum for industry experts, businesspersons and agricultural enterprises, policymakers and academics. To drive progress on sustainability, it is more important than ever to take a multi-pronged strategy integrating our knowledge of farmers’ challenges, restaurant business practices, technology-enabled sustainability practices, end-of-life strategies, wider educational initiatives and public innovations, and sharpen the design, adoption and implementation of supportive regulatory regimes and outreach activities. At the May event, invited experts will also share their perspectives and practical opportunities on agricultural science, business, behavorial and policy innovation, and sustainable circularity in the farm-to-restaurant supply chain and other secondary waste markets. We would like to extend special thanks to UCI Beall Applied Innovation that have remained incredibly steadfast in their support for our mission for over a decade. Their profound expertise would be a great asset to anyone in the industry making this a must-attend event for farmers, local food service workers and waste management professionals, both in Southern California and beyond.”
Sustain SoCal, a non-profit organization, accelerates sustainability and economic growth through innovation, collaboration and education in Southern California. The organization has a ten-year history of exploring and implementing pragmatic, real-world solutions to the challenges created by growth, change and inefficiency. It conducts conferences, workshops and networking events that lead to initiatives that positively impact our region’s economic progress and sustainability. For more information, please visit www.sustainsocal.org.
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Scientists comment on reports of an EU ‘reset’ which could mean the precision breeding act is dropped from UK legislation.
Dr Penny Hundleby, Senior Scientist at the John Innes Centre, said:
“As a scientist with over thirty years in genetic technologies, I’ve seen how innovation can transform agriculture. The UK now has a rare opportunity to lead globally in precision breeding — with the legislation passed and the science ready.
“To delay this progress in order to align with slower EU processes would undermine our ability to deliver resilient, sustainable crops at a time when food security and climate resilience are more urgent than ever. We risk forfeiting a clear post-Brexit advantage grounded in science, safety, and evidence.”
Prof Huw Jones, Chair in Translational Genomics for Plant Breeding, Aberystwyth University, said:
“Closer ties with the EU are a good thing but let’s not lose the logical regulatory progress we have made this side of the Channel. Simple gene editing is a speedier and more reliable breeding method to develop the crops we need in a changing world. It’s illogical to regulate these crops as GMOs and it is the EU that has been slow to follow the broad consensus on this. If there are no foreign genes, and the changes could have been generated by conventional breeding, they need regulation – but not as GMOs.”
Prof Neil Hall, Director of the Earlham Institute, said:
“Given the pressures on global food security, driven by climate change, the growing population and new diseases, it’s important that we harness all of the technical innovations at our disposal to ensure the sustainability of our agricultural systems.
“Over the past three years, including these last few months, Parliament has demonstrated important and legitimate leadership by passing the primary and secondary legislation to enable precision breeding in plants. It’s time to enable science research to help farmers adapt to our changing world.”
Prof Jonathan Jones FRS, Group Leader at The Sainsbury Laboratory, said:
“The Precision Breeding Act (PBA) provides an opportunity to protect our crops from pests and disease with biology rather than chemistry, and also enables new routes to more nutritious food, and I applaud this government and its predecessor for taking the legislation through to final approval and implementation. It is to my mind the sole Brexit dividend.
“However, it takes a long time between producing an improved plant in a lab and creating and obtaining approval for a variety that farmers can plant. I think it’s highly likely that by the time any precision bred varieties in the UK are ready to plant (likely at least 5 years from now) the EU will have approved its own version of the PBA.
“So, the government should stick to its guns on the PBA but quietly point out to the EU that, although there are no scientifically credible safety concerns with using these methods, the timelines in this industry are such that it will be a long time before any products are authorized in the UK and thus before any potential problems might arise.”
Prof Sarah Gurr, Chair in Food Security at Exeter University, said:
“It is sad to realise that whilst we embraced the need for GM vaccines during the recent COVID epidemic and we seem reticent to embrace gene edited crops. The need for climate proofed and disease resilient gene edited crops is paramount in our quest for sustainable agriculture.”
Jonathan Jones “is a senior investigator at The Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich, and uses molecular and genetic approaches to study disease resistance in plants. Jones co-founded Norfolk Plant Sciences in 2007 with Prof Cathie Martin of JIC, with the goal of bringing flavonoid-enriched tomatoes to market (www.norfolkplantsciences.com). Jones is on the board of www.isaaa.org, the science advisory board of the 2Blades foundation (www.2blades.org) and the board of NIAB Cambridge University Farm. Jones has isolated and is deploying new resistance genes against potato late blight from wild relatives of potato, and conducting field trials to evaluate how well they work to protect the crop in the field and to generate improved varieties of potato (see http://www.tsl.ac.uk/news/blight-resistant-maris-piper/). See also http://www.tsl.ac.uk/groups/jones-group/.”
Penny Hundleby “is part of the Crop Transformation Group at the John Innes Centre and using genetic technologies to better understand the role of plant genes. The group provides gene editing resources to the UK and international research community and have been working with gene editing technologies in crops since 2014.”
Huw Jones: “I am speaking as a researcher at Aberystwyth University and not representing other organisations that I am affiliated with. I am a member of the FSA ACNFP and Defra ACRE. My declarations of interest are listed on the websites of those Depts.”
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
