Reader’s Digest November 2020

In November 2020, we published the following articles:

• Architecture of the global tomato trade 2019/2020, part 2.
• A new method has been developed to detect Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) in infected plant and seeds. This test uses a new antiserum developed by Prime Diagnostics, which specifically reacts with ToBRFV.
• The "100% Italian tomatoes" label is performing well but does not satisfy growers, who want to redefine the rules with their industrial partners.
• The review of the 2020 season in Italy by ANICAV shows 3 important factors, which will be addressed in more details during the online Tomato News Conference on Tuesday 17 November.
• In California, expectations are that the La Niña climate pattern will worsen existing drought conditions in the coming months.
• The University of Florida developed new breeds, which were used to process into tomato juice and were given a warm welcome during the testing. This could shift the state's farming trends.
• Japan is one of the smallest tomato processing countries, and one of the biggest importers of pastes and canned tomatoes, with an annual expenditure of JPY 30 billion.
• In Spain, the acreage was slightly up while the subsidies were slightly down, compared to last year.
• In Italy, the I.D.RA project, launched in October 2019, recently presented the first major measures in the fight against the red spider mite. It features experimental field-tests, guide lines and training for farmers. The focus group had to be postponed due to the pandemic.
• In Spain, Alimentos Españoles ALSAT will install a new production line for tomato pulp/crushed tomatoes. It is scheduled to be operational before the 2021 season.
• The European Union announced retaliatory tariffs on US products, including the tomato ketchup, over the Boeing-Airbus spat. It remains to be seen if a settlement could be agreed with the new president-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.
• Paste Prices: USA, Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, Chile.
• Global Trade of Tomato Paste, updated 16 November 2020.
• Kraft Heinz announced that the production of ketchup for the Canadian market will be moved back to Canada, to an existing plant in Montreal.
• EU health claims are not working for manufacturers nor for consumers. The application process is complex, costly and time-consuming, and very few applications have received the green light so far. On the consumer side, most believe health claims are "just marketing".
• NRGene and Philoseed announced their collaboration to create ToBRFV resistant varieties, combining NRGene's genomic AI solutions and Philoseed's advanced tomato varieties.
• In Japan, Kagome transitioned into a fully integrated vegetable company helping people live healthy lives. They established a consulting business unit to promote balanced diet, and they want to export this culture to the world.
• In Malta, due to the new EU farm strategy, the agriculture sector is losing an annual Euro 3 million in state aid. This could mean a collapse of the industry and Malta would need a special status and/or a derogation in order to survive.
• An Israeli research team has found a new way to combat the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV): they found a rootstock that can resist the fungi.
• In Italy, a new research project was launched by Italia Ortofrutta – Unione Nazionale. Its aim is to increase the quality and profitability of industrial tomatoes.
• Presentation from Martin Stilwell on How the Covid pandemic will affect supply and demand in 2021/22, from the Tomato News online conference on 17 November 2020.

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