A study by Mintel, the market research company, has found that, despite the exclusion of potatoes from the Government s five-a-day campaign and the prevalence of low-carbohydrate diets, spending has grown by 20 per cent since 2001. We are not eating any more potatoes, but the rise in spending shows a developing taste for organic and more expensive varieties. Organic potatoes generated about 24 million in sales last year, continuing an increase of about 10 per cent each year, the research found.

With such a disproportionate focus on farming, does the Union have any moral authority to demand liberalisation of the food trade in poor countries, where often 70 percent of people rely on agriculture to make a living? Agriculture has become the most contentious issue in the Doha round of world trade talks, which were launched at a ministerial conference in the Qatar capital in 2001. With such a disproportionate focus on farming, does the Union have any moral authority to demand...

File picture shows an elementary schoolgirl harvesting rice with the help of a farmer at a rooftop rice paddy in central Tokyo. The 24-chapter pact covers extensive non-tariff measures as well as critical sectors such as intellectual property, investment and financial services. Tokyo uses tariffs, farm subsidies and production controls to block nearly all cheap foreign rice. Cutler said the free-trade agreement clearly put South Korean reformers in a "unique position" to push the Asian...

Although I have been planting rice in the past, the experience here has given me new technical skills to continue farming with rice in a more advanced manner. Kanyomeka explained that his efforts to produce rice subsequently passed on knowledge to the local community with regard to rice production. As a crop-scientist, I started pondering as to how such water could be utilised for the benefit of the local population. Still on training, two other Namibians have just completed seven months...

His parents operated a 55-cow beef herd, sold some forage crops to other farmers and owned and operated a bottled milk route to businesses and homes. They also raise an additional 60 head of young stock and replacement heifers, along with a few steers. The remaining bushels of corn and soybeans, along with acres of wheat and snap beans, are marketed by the Neesers. Much of the crops the Neesers raise are feed for the more than 130 head of livestock. Her touch is evident on cow ear tags,...