PHL in the News 
February 20, 2012 Update

The following items have appeared recently in newspapers, blogs, on websites and other media regarding PHL and might be of interest to affiliates of the ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss.

Ghana

  • The President of Ghana inaugurated the Tetteh Quashie Interchange-Mallam Junction Motorway extension to enhance transportation in and around the Accra Metropolis. This development was made with assistance from the US Ambassador to Ghana, and marks the last of US support under the Millenium Challenge Account, which is an initiative to tackle poverty in developing countries. The road will aid in transportation of agricultural goods and comes as a further step in [farmer-focused development, which has included training, irrigation projects, post harvest infrastructure, agriculture credit, and more.

Bangladesh and India

  • The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in India has developed new technology and acquired a patent for a 'ready-to-cook Cumbu mix and food'. This technology allows millet to be processed and packaged without preservatives and also allows millet to re-enter diets, as more easily processed foods such as rice have taken over. 
  • The Bangladesh government is permitting India to ferry necessary food grains to its northern regions via its territory. The roads and port Ashuganj are crucial for connecting the southern and northern parts of the country and soon about 5,000 metric tons of rice, wheat and sugar will be ferried.The northern regions are particularly hard to transport food to, especially during monsoon season, when roads are covered in water and landslides become prevalent. 

Philippines

  • The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) is looking to build 63 village-type grain processing centers throughout 2012. These centers will be used by farmers to mill and store their rice, cutting PHL. In addition, there is a push to update existing rice mills to increase grain recovery.Such mills and processing centers could cut PHL in rice from 15-20% to 5-10%. Qualified farmers associations will also be mobilized to operate and maintain the facilities. 

South America

  • Despite the severe drought in South America, world wheat stocks have grown to record amounts this year, corn stocks are larger than expected, and India will also have a record rice crop. Brazil and Argentina both have lowered soybean harvest forecasts, both 2 million tonnes lower than the January estimate, thus bolstering US sales.

  Conferences and Symposiums

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Video

ABCNet in Australia produced a video on harvest storage, detailing the processes and problems for Australian farmers.

Jobs

UC Davis is calling for a Postharvest Biology and Physiology CE Specialist (PDF) (75% CE, 25% AES) in the Department of Plant Sciences.

UC Davis is calling for a CE Specialist in PH Systems Engineering (PDF) (100% CE FTE) in the Department of Bio and Ag Engineering.

Project Workshop

Meeting minutes were published from the 'Sustainable Intensification of cereal-based farming systems in Eastern and Southern Africa Project Inception Workshop' held from 6-9 February in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The minutes include crucial questions, magnitudes, and possible strategies to achieve better sustainable agriculture.

  
  ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 		    807 S. Wright Street, Champaign, IL 61820
t: 217-333-5115 e:postharvestinstitute@illinois.edu