The federal agency also generally doesn't track where such crops are grown, only where farmers conduct initial tests of such crops in their fields. Today, federal authorities estimate, about 100 million acres of biologically altered crops are grown each year in this country. But as it is worded now, she fears, it might force farmers to reveal competitive business information and spend too much time filling out forms. Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, has introduced a bill, AB 541,...

Vincent and the Grenadines to explain the non-submission of data on their individual rice imports. However several regional countries routinely ignore submitting information on activities of their rice sector or provide only partial data. Guyana has always argued that it can supply rice for regional consumption but this would required member states provide timely data on production, imports and exports to the CARICOM Secretariat twice yearly. Guyana offended by Rice Monitoring Mechanism...

China also plans to announce an accord to resume imports of Japanese rice, the Sankei Shimbun daily reported. Japan actively promotes its own rice industry, imposing high tariffs on foreign imports. China is the world's largest rice consumer, although it says it is self-sufficient. China banned Japanese rice in 2003, saying insects were found in a shipment. Japanese officials had earlier hoped for an agreement during Wen's visit. Japan's former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi enraged...

Last week, in a non-digitally imposed action, and after retiring the actor some time back, Maytag selected a new repairman from thousands of applicants clamoring to wear the hat. But why do consumers get so attached? My theory is that we first come into contact with these icons in childhood kitchens, and when we hold the boxes in our hands they loom large. Can the corporation (unfortunately named Masterfoods) proudly reclaim the Uncle Ben character, and change and defuse the negative...

NOTES: World greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, mainly burning fossil fuels, totalled about 40 billion tonnes in 2000. The table assumes that prices for emitting carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, stay below $100 a tonne. CURBS FROM EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES-- ENERGY SUPPLY: more efficient supply and distribution, combined heat and power, switching from high-polluting coal to cleaner gas, nuclear power and renewable energies such as hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal and...