1.   

No-pesticide condition vexes guar gum exporters

Indian food-grade guar gum export to the European Union is set to take a hit as the commerce ministry has directed exporters that there should be absolutely no pesticide content in the product. Till now, the commerce ministry had allowed a 0.01 milligram of pentacholorophenols (PCP), a pesticide, in a kg of food-grade guar gum.

2.   

Soon, govt may allow wheat, rice expo

With its godowns overflowing with foodgrains on the back of a bumper crop in 2010-11, the government may finally allow wheat and rice exports, sources said.The decision in this regard is expected to be taken by an empowered group of ministers headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the next two weeks, they said.

3.   

Imports raise food security flag in UAE

It is a box of chicken nuggets; enough for a delicious family meal once removed from the freezer and placed in a pan of hot cooking oil for the recommended four minutes.The box reassures Muslim customers that its contents are "the real halal". In Arabic and English, it lists the expiration date, nutritional facts (fibre 0.1 per 100 gm, calories from fat 29.2 per 100g) and the ingredients: 14 in all.

4.   

India needs latest crop technology to address food security

With a rising population, depleting land and water resources and rapidly increasing food prices, India needs cutting edge crop technologies to enhance farm output and achieve overall food security, a senior agriculture scientist said.