November 2009
What We’re Reading
Job prospects drawing students to ag schools
Associated Press, November 17, 2009
According to agriculture industry officials, demand for science graduates outstrips supply. Schools have seen record enrollment this past year as students flock to these programs, which present promising job prospects to recent graduates. At Texas A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, spokesman Bill Gibbs said that last year each graduate received about five job offers after leaving their poultry science program. With the number of farms continuing to decline, students are studying sciences that can land them jobs at companies producing seeds and chemicals for farmers or in still-forming industries like biofuels.
Dow Corning establishes new Middle East headquarters
Alibaba News Channel, November 19, 2009
Dow Corning will provide silicon-based materials to the Middle East with a new headquarter established in Manama, Bahrain, according to a report from Alibaba News Channel. Dow Corning is currently providing construction materials to build the world’s tallest building in Dubai. Through their expanded operations, Dow Corning will “provide the region’s vibrant construction, textiles, petrochemical and oil and gas industries with silicon-based materials and solutions.”
What We’re Reading
Each week, I highlight important industry news stories and trends. Here is some interesting industry news for this week:
EU and US join forces to boost energy cooperation
Energy Efficiency News, November 5, 2009
Energy Efficiency News reports that the E.U. and U.S. are collaborating on a new energy council to meet common goals on energy issues including new technologies, low-carbon sources and security of supply. The creation of the new council was decided on November 4th during the inaugural meeting of the EU-US Energy Council. Sweden’s Enterprise and Energy Minister Maud Olofsson led the meeting, with EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, his research counterpart Janez Potonik and US Energy Secretary Steven Chu acting as participants.
According to EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, “the Energy Council is a timely initiative in the context of growing global concerns on energy security and the important role that the energy sector has in climate change.”
Although there are currently very few details on specific goals, we’ll continue to watch for further developments and its impact on low-carbon alternatives.
Monsanto Opens First Biotechnology Research Center in China
Reuters, November 4, 2009
According to Reuters, the Monsanto Company is opening its first research center in Beijing, China. The agricultural biotech company will use the facility to research crop sustainability and productivity. Vice president of biotechnology for Monsanto Stephen Padgette said, “Monsanto has made a commitment to develop advanced biotech and breeding technology to China. The establishment of the center will give Chinese researchers access to our global research network and to our industry-leading product development pipeline.”
By expanding to China, the Missouri-based company will have the opportunity to take advantage of the resources in the country, including the research already being conducted in China. With a growing worldwide population and multiple obstacles, including energy sources and climate change, hindering crop supply, it’s important that biotech companies thoughtfully explore every possible resource to improve sustainability.
What We’re Reading
Each week, I highlight important industry news stories and trends. Here is some industry news that has caught my eye for this week:
Introducing … the Green Confidence Index
Reuters, October 27, 2009
An interesting and informative new index was reported in Reuters on October 27. The Green Confidence Index was launched to track “Americans’ attitudes about and confidence in their leaders and institutions, nationally and locally, on the subject of environmental responsibility, as well as in their own understanding of issues and their willingness to make green purchasing choices.” GreenBiz.com created the index in conjunction with Earthsense and Survey Sampling International.
While the monthly survey that included 2,500 adults had some good results, I was specifically intrigued by the number of adults who chose to buy green in the past year. Half of the surveyed said they’ve bought a green product before, with 19 percent answering that they’ve increased their green purchasing in the last year. I look forward to the seeing the development of the Green Confidence Index in the future and the results of the way Americans feel toward green products.
Cargill charitable giving tops $58 million in 2009
Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, October 28, 2009
Our partner Cargill Inc. should be celebrated for donating $58.2 million to charitable causes this year. Despite the economic downturn, the company increased its giving by 24 percent.
According to the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, the company “focused its 2009 giving on nutrition and health, education, and environmental stewardship — targeting programs that provide long-term solutions, engage employees and leverage their expertise, and provide opportunities to collaborate with others.”
The donations were made to various causes and organizations, including $5.5 million for emergency hunger relief and $1 million to The Nature Conservancy for programs in China, Brazil and the United States.
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