Oxfam has urged global food and drinks firms such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo to adopt a zero tolerance policy on land grabs, most notably among their sugar suppliers.

Coillte needs to be reformed and developed further, according to Fianna Fáil spokesperson on agriculture Éamon Ó Cuív TD.

French consumer tastes in hamburgers have evolved in recent months, a Bord Bia advisory has informed Irish agri-food exporters.

Whiskey distilling is returning to Tullamore after a 60-year break, with the sod turned on a €35m distillery which will have the capacity to produce 1.5m cases per annum, reports Ray Ryan

Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy still lacks an effective mechanism to deliver the single farm payment to active farmers, Macra na Feirme has claimed.

Europe’s chief scientific adviser has claimed it is “unethical” not to use genetically modified crops in developing countries facing famine and malnutrition.

Over the next two months the minister for agriculture has key decisions to take on the CAP.

NUI Galway and Teagasc have been granted €400,000 for two joint research projects under the Department of Agriculture’s €6m Research Stimulus Fund.

Oyster exports rising 60% in two years should ensure keen interest in a BIM innovation conference for oyster growers in Galway today.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has challenged Italy’s attempts to ban a genetically modified maize product from biotech group Monsanto.

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association has said that good weaning standards adopted under the now-defunct suckler welfare scheme must not be allowed to slide, despite the abolition of financial supports.

Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper is seeking to break a deadlock in trade talks with the EU by stepping up his part in negotiations, people familiar with the strategy said.

Two candidates have been nominated to contest the ICSA presidential election on Dec 12.

MOST people attending the three-day ploughing championships, which begin in Ratheniska, Co Laois, tomorrow, will be interested primarily in the machinery.

Farmers in many parts of the world are proving adept at using social media to connect with consumers and promote their agri-business, a new book states.

Tomorrow morning, from just before dawn, the first of probably 200,000 people will set foot on the site of the 2013 National Ploughing Championships.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has launched a public consultation process on the draft report of the environmental analysis of Food Harvest 2020.

The IFA has called upon the Government to reverse the trend of disproportionate cuts to farm schemes relative to cutbacks in other departments.

Kepak Group is to acquire a majority shareholding in pork and bacon producer McCarren & in Co Cavan.

Up to 350 small food businesses will benefit from Food Academy Start, a new training programme launched by Bord Bia, SuperValu and the County Enterprise Boards.

THERE were smiles galore in Waterford over the past week, but they were not all about the county minor hurling team winning the All-Ireland championship for the first time in 65 years.

Mayo must pray for Dublin’s Ger Brennan to start this weekend’s final, according to Kevin McStay.

The impact of the new Common Agricultural Policy programme on young farmers will be the focus of Macra na Feirme’s annual conference in Tullow, Co Carlow, on Oct 26.

These coming weeks will see something of a battle playing out in the corridors of power, both at home and in Brussels.

Consumers are sticking to frugal shopping habits developed in the recession, even as developed economies show signs of recovery, suggesting some behaviour changes could be permanent, say industry executives.

Beef farmers can boost their profitability by predicting rather than reacting to demand, says Dr Pearse Lyons, president and founder of animal health and nutrition company Alltech.

IFA president John Bryan has challenged the Government’s stated desire to boost agri-food job creation while simultaneously cutting the sector’s funding.

Co-op mergers and maintaining family farm structures are vital to the future of European farming, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney told his EU farming ministers at a meeting yesterday in Lithuania.

Teagasc has named new agricultural colleges principals — Majella Moloney in Teagasc Agricultural College, Clonakilty, Co Cork; and John Kelly in Teagasc Agricultural College, Ballyhaise, Co Cavan.

The Irish Dairy Board has predicted record sales exceeding €280m in 2013 for Kerrygold butter in Germany, where it celebrated 40 years of trading yesterday.

The new CAP rural development plan needs to be fully funded, with 50% co-financing and national top-ups, IFA president John Bryan has urged Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.

Global food companies and livestock feeders hoping for an abundance of low-price US grain may be in for a disappointment as it looks like American farmers may opt to delay additional sales of corn and soybeans.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has approved a dairy sector proposal to lower the price of priority pool milk quota, which is primarily targeted at young farmers and smaller producers, to 3c per litre.

THE culinary choices facing US President Richard Nixon that October night in Kilfrush House, Co Limerick, were not confined to whether he wished to have his Waterville potatoes boiled or baked.

Following the increase in the Irish Dairy Board Price Index to 130.3 — a record high — and based on the continuing improvement in the marketplace for Irish dairy products, an increase in the milk price to at least 40 cents per litre for August milk is easily justified.

Merck & Co’s decision to suspend sales of its Zilmax cattle feed additive has caused such a surge in demand for rival Eli Lilly & Co’s Optaflexx that Lilly is telling some new customers it cannot immediately supply them, some US-based customers have told Reuters.

The last number of months has been extremely busy from an IFA perspective, with CAP reform dominating the work agenda.

Food and support services company, Compass Group Ireland, has signed a deal with Hodgins Foods in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, to provide sausages and black pudding products to its units countrywide.

THE craft beer industry in Ireland is thriving in a time of national recession.

Family farming is the backbone of rural economies, according to Copa-Cogeca.

A detailed study of the liquid milk industry is being sought by Fianna Fáil.

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association has criticised a recent cut in lamb prices, and urged sheep farmers to be alert to differing upper weight limits.

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it, according to the legendary investor Warren Buffet.