Summary of newspapers of the previous days – 13. 2. – 15.2. 2009

Cattle breeders prepare protests against low milk prices

Owing to low milk buy-out prices, cattle breeders prepare protests possibly organized in more places of the Czech Republic. A chairman of the Český Strakatý Skot Breeders Union Roman Šustáček said it to ČTK today (Český strakatý skot = Fleckvieh, Pezzata Rosa, Montbeliarde...). In his opinion, the demonstration should take place in coming weeks. Buy-out prices of milk are now by third lower in the Czech Republic than year ago and breeders would lose in incomes seven billion crowns. Therefore, they asked the government for help, for example in form of a subsidies or cancellation of social and health insurance.

Parliament approved amendment of act on circulation of seed and seedlings

The Chamber of Deputies passed in a final reading an amendment of act on circulation of seed and seedling today. It is dealt mainly with a technical novel which partially introduces some EU regulations, specifies rules for treatment with seed and seedlings, and partially it also liberalizes trade with seed and seedling, explained the chairman of the Parliamentary Agricultural Committee Jiří Papež (ODS) to ČTK. The law should simplify introduction of seed and seedling on Czech market. Nevertheless, representatives did not approve the Agricultural Committee´s proposal to register in Czech list the varieties which are allowed in other EU member states without obligatory attests.

Starch addition in processed cheese production

Researches from the Institute for Foods, Nutrition and Human Health at Massey University in New Zealand examined a possibility of addition of various starches in cheese production on purpose to improve viscosity. Three types of starch were used (in amount 1 to 2 % of the total dry matter) with various share of amylase and amylopectin. In all cases, the final viscosity of cheese matter increased in comparison with a control sample. The highest viscosity was found out in hot cheese melts containing starch with high share of amylose.

GM crops growing spreads globally

The company ISAAA states in its report that 13,3 million farmers grew GM crops on a total area 125 million hectares in 2008 . In 2008 other 1,3 million farmers arrived who started to used seed of genetically modified plant-crops. Generally 10,7 million hectares were sown with this seed. It was published by the ISAAA organization lobbying for use of gene technologies in its newest report. Globally, already 13,3 million farmers in 25 countries on area 125 million hectares dealt with growing of GM crop-plants in 2008.