Author Archives: Keith Good

Some Investors Stepping Up Due Diligence Regarding “Greenwashing” In Startups

Mimi Billing stated in an article this week at The Financial Times Online that, “Being seen to be green will benefit companies but a lack of scrutiny can encourage corporate greenwashing: bending the truth to appear environmentally friendly. “One of the most prominent examples of greenwashing is Volkswagen’s emissions-cheating scandal in which it rigged ‘clean… Continue Reading

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Bayer and BASF Pushing to Keep Dicamba on the Market

Jacob Bunge reported in today’s Wall Street Journal that, “Chemical makers Bayer and BASF are pushing to keep a controversial weedkiller on the market after a federal court in June blocked its use in U.S. soybean and cotton fields. “The companies are seeking approvals from the Environmental Protection Agency that would allow farmers to continue… Continue Reading

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Trump Administration Invests Up To $100 Million to Increase American Biofuel Sales

A news release this week from the U.S. Department of Agriculture stated that, “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the [USDA] has invested $22 million out of the up to $100 million in grants available to increase American ethanol and biodiesel sales. These funds were made available through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive… Continue Reading

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Conservation Stewardship Program- Rule Change Helps Producers Implement More Conservation Activities

A news release today from the USDA’s National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) stated that, “[USDA] today released the final rule for its Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The rule makes updates to the popular conservation program as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and integrates feedback from agricultural producers and others. “CSP is offered in all 50… Continue Reading

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Cell-Based Seafood Producer Shiok Meats Received $12.6 million in Funding

Last week, Bloomberg writer David Ramli reported that, “Cell-based seafood producer Shiok Meats of Singapore has received $12.6 million in Series A funding — the latest alternative protein company to raise money as the pandemic pressures global food-supply chains. “The new round of funding will sustain the startup for at least three years and help… Continue Reading

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SCOTUS Refused to Consider Takings Case Regarding Indiana’s Right to Farm Act

Reuters writer Sebastien Malo reported yesterday that, “”The U.S. Supreme Court Monday declined to review a lower court ruling challenging the constitutionality of a state law that has been shielding an industrial-scale 8,000-head hog farm from a nuisance lawsuit from neighbors who say the foul smell has ruined their property. “The high court refused to… Continue Reading

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Sustainability-Linked Loans Increase to Food and Ag Firms

Laurence Fletcher reported late last month at The Financial Times Online that, “A surge in interest by banks and companies in proving their ethical credentials is driving rapid growth in sustainability-linked loans (SLLs) to food and agriculture firms, but they are not for everyone. “SLLs — corporate lending whose interest rate can rise or fall… Continue Reading

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Bishop and Guest Lead Call for New Registrations for Dicamba Products

A news release yesterday from Congressman Sanford Bishop (D., Ga.) stated that, “[Rep. Bishop], Chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, and Congressman Michael Guest (R., Miss.) led a bipartisan letter encouraging the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Andrew Wheeler, to issue new… Continue Reading

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New Technologies May Make it Easier to Monitor Sustainable Farming

Anna Gross reported late last month at The Financial Times Online that, “In late July, Nordea Asset Management, which controls assets worth $230bn, excluded the Brazilian meat behemoth JBS from its portfolio following a flurry of scandals, ranging from corruption to allegations about deforestation and slavery in its supply chain. “But decisions like these are… Continue Reading

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EPA Facing Time Crunch on Dicamba Decisions

DTN writer Emily Unglesbee reported last week that, “As the fall seed-buying season advances, EPA is facing a major time crunch on its dicamba herbicide decisions. “The agency had originally vowed to have a re-registration decision for four dicamba herbicides — Tavium (Syngenta), Engenia (BASF), XtendiMax (Bayer) and FeXapan (Corteva) — settled by early fall… Continue Reading

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