MAX FACTS
growing tips, news and trivia
Heat-tolerant Lima Beans
Emmalea Ernest, extension agent in the University of Delaware’s Department of Plant and Soil
Sciences, has received federal funding from the USDA for a project aimed at developing
heat-tolerant lima bean varieties. “Lima beans are Delaware’s largest acreage vegetable
crop and anchor the state’s processing vegetable industry,” says Emmalea. “The
varieties that are currently available to growers suffer yield loss or delayed
yield when they are exposed to high temperatures during flowering.” With her
funding, Emmalea aims to develop procedures for heat-tolerance screening
in the existing lima bean breeding program, examine the physiological mechanisms for heat-stress
tolerance or susceptibility in lima beans and investigate the underlying genetic basis for heat stress
tolerance in lima beans. Her findings could greatly impact Delaware vegetable farmers’ yields.
(Source: udel.edu)
GMO Food Labels Have Long Way to Go
Food production transparency policies are revving up in the United States as Maine joins Connecticut
in enacting legislation requiring food labels that will let grocery shoppers know how many food
products they buy have been genetically altered. But, it may be a long road ahead. Monsanto is
lobbying to block US initiatives that are working to install federal legal mandates to require the
labelling all genetically modified foods. “We oppose current initiatives to
mandate labelling of ingredients developed from GM seeds in the
absence of any demonstrated risks. Such mandatory labelling
could imply that food products containing these ingredients
are somehow inferior to their conventional or orga nic
counterparts,” said Monsanto in a public online statement.
In the past couple of decades, US labelling requirements
to inform food buyers have fallen
behind other countries.
(Source: womennewsnetwork.net)
Economics of Hydroponics
The hydroponic food production industry is expanding
at a rate that is set to outpace the 2014 International
Monetary Fund estimate of global growth by 80%. Hydroponic
systems are being deployed to grow key vegetable and fruit crops
at scale, driving the transition to safe and sustainable food production
worldwide. Agriculture is traditionally a conservative market sector, but
the benefits of higher yields with lower inputs, improved soil and water quality,
and food safety are compelling forces for change. The worldwide market value of
hydroponically produced food will show sustained strength with a 6.5% compound annual
growth rate between now and 2018. Producer value will increase from $17.7 billion to
$24.3 billion. “Hydroponic growing advances food safety and traceability that customers,
retailers and even food regulators are demanding,” says Carol L. Stimmel, founder of Manifest Mind.
(Source: manifestmind.com)
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Maximum Yield USA | March 2014