Reader’s Digest – August 2021

In August 2021, we published the following articles:

• Part 2 of the Processing tomato industry in Iran
• California: Crop situation as of 31 July.
• When infested by caterpillar, the fruits of the tomato plant send electric signals to the rest of the plant. That has been shown in a recent study in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.
• In Nigeria, 6 years after starting, the Dangote factory is  only operating at 20% capacity, as farmers do not have enough tomatoes.
• The European Union agreed on a new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which will be effective between 2023 and 2027. The Portuguese Industry is worried about its consequences and the potential loss of competitiveness.
• Consorzio Casalasco Del Pomodoro and QuattroR, an independent private equity fund, finalized a strategic partnership, to support the development plan of Casalasco.
• Mr. Takashi Tsutsumi, Executive Director of the Japan Tomato Processors Association (JTPA) passed away in July. Ms. Mie Kogoma, until now Director of JTPA, will succeed him per 1^st August.
• The processing season started in Northern Italy, with a loss of 6% due to recent hailstorms, but with a good degree of brix.
• California: Crop situation as of 7 August.
• The European Union is committed to reducing greenhouse emissions to reach neutral levels by 2050. Following a 2-year study on carbon farming, if implemented, it could lead to farmers to obtain "carbon credits" which they could then sell on the market.
• The California Water Resources Control Board has voted an emergency water curtailment. This follows the declaration of a drought emergency for most counties in California in July.
• The 53^rd edition of Cibus Tec has been moved to October 2023. However the first edition of the Cibus Tec Forum will be organized in October 2022.
• California: Crop situation as of 14 August.
• Paste Prices, August 2021: USA, Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, Chile.
• California: Crop situation as of 21 August.
• In California, a decline in output was already expected, with a reviewed forecast down to 11,6 million tons, but it could fall down some more.
• The Serbian company BFV-Processing of Tomato and Fruits is investing in the construction of a factory in Kula.
• Global Exports of Tomato Paste, updated 19 august 2021.
• WPTC Crop Update as of 20 August 2021.
• More and more studies are showing evidence of the link between consumption of tomato products and a reduction of the risk of prostate cancer, thanks to the anti-cancer, anti-progressive and apoptotic effects of Lycopene.
• California: Crop situation as of 21 August.
• The European Commission adopted a proposal in July for a new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, with a view to reducing global emissions instead of pushing production outside Europe, resulting in "carbon leakage".
• Advantages of soil mulching in agriculture (part 1 & part 2)
• The 2021 production season is on full swing in Italy, after a complicated start due to hailstorm damage in the North and climatic hazards in the South.
• California: Crop situation as of 28 August.

You can find the individual articles in the NEWS list and/or search by keyword, date etc.