Kenya: AAA Roses expands Bellissima rose production with 10 ha.

Kenya: AAA Roses expands Bellissima rose production with 10 ha. AAA Roses is expanding its one-year-old high altitude farm with 10 ha. By the end of this year, this Kenyan farm hopes to cultivate their Bellissima branded roses on 30 ha. The farm, named Chui farm, started the rose production in February 2016 and is focused on long stem and large headed new varieties that they mainly ship to the Netherlands. Due to the good reception of their brand and new varieties, they decided, already within 12 months of its first production, to expand the greenhouse. With this expansion, the total production area of AAA across all farms will increase to a total of 70ha. Owner Ariff and Farah Samji saw a good market for Kenyan roses with large stems and big head sizes in Europe and therefore decided to establish a 20 ha high altitude farm in 2015. This farm, named Chui Farm, is located on the Timau mountain on an altitude of 2,500 meters above sea level. Over the last months, Kenyan growers were hit by the drought and are therefore not able to expand the farm. Fortunately, Chui Farm is able to expand because they built a huge dam and have managed to collect good rainfall and so far have managed to irrigate from the 100% of the rain harvested water. The farm also has boreholes which are good yielding, and therefore we are even covered in case the drought persists.more

Kenya plans to revive pyrethrum cultivation.

Kenya plans to revive pyrethrum cultivation. Pyrethrum farming was once a major source of income generating billions of shillings in foreign revenue in the 1980s before the sub-sector sunk on its knees. Today, most of the 200,000 farmers who religiously smiled all the way to the bank every month have uprooted the crop due to non-payment of their arrears. According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, the number of farmers growing the crop has nose-dived to between 15,000 and 20,000 in 18 counties. During its hey days it was regarded as the 'black gold' and was the third largest foreign exchange earner with the government pocketing in excess of Sh18 billion annually during a good harvest.Today the cash crop is struggling to stay afloat even as demand for the Kenya pyrethrum still remains high in the international markets. more

South Africa: Global demand spurs sustainable fynbos harvesting.

South Africa: Global demand spurs sustainable fynbos harvesting.Silver brunia, a plant with perfectly shaped silver-green baubles that is endemic to the Cape Floral Kingdom, has been dubbed "white gold" because of escalating demand in the East. It is helping to focus attention on the more than 9,000 indigenous plant species in the Cape. Broadly known as fynbos, many species have been exported for decades but some of them, such as the king protea, protea compacta and silver brunia, are trending in Europe, Asia, Russia and other global markets. They have unusual aesthetic appeal and last longer than other flowers. more

Omega-3 and arthritis: Study finds link between fish consumption and joint disorder

Omega-3 and arthritis: Study finds link between fish consumption and joint disorder: Regular consumption of omega-3 rich fish could reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, new data suggests.

Waste chocolate helps Nestlé reach sustainability goal

Waste chocolate helps Nestlé reach sustainability goal: Nestlé UK & Ireland has reached its target of zero waste to landfill at its Fawdon factory after using excess Toffee Crisp and Rolo ingredients to help power the site.

Biogas from food waste can be low-carbon truck fuel

Biogas from food waste can be low-carbon truck fuel: Biogas generated from food and drink process waste offers a low-carbon commercial transport fuel for the future, a study for a leading British bioenergy company has shown.

US customs seizes two tons of marijuana disguised as lettuce.

US customs seizes two tons of marijuana disguised as lettuce. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to work at the Colombia-Solidarity International Bridge seized nearly two tons of alleged marijuana in one enforcement action valued over $740,000. “This is truly an example of our CBP officers’ hard work, experience and dedication to the CBP mission,” said Port Director Gregory Alvarez, Laredo Port of Entry. “I congratulate the officers in advancing the CBP mission and protecting the public from illegal narcotics.” .A canine, non-intrusive and physical inspection of the trailer resulted in the discovery of 5,754 packages containing a total of 3,707 pounds of alleged marijuana. more