02/07/13: Strike at Australian grain handling cooperative; Egyptian wheat imports; India's seed saviour

Workers walked out of CBH's Kwinana operation, Australia over a pay dispute, marking the first stike at the cooperative since the 1990s.

Grain handlers are unhappy over a proposed 13 percent pay rise over the next three years. They claim this will mean Kwinana employees would be paid less than workers in other regions are are pushing for a 15 percent increase. 

However, bosses at the have told workers that the boom in Australian grain exports is over and workers need to realise economic times have changed since the last agreement was negotiated.
More information...

Egypt has officially requested help from France and Russian with grain imports and storage. After two years of political and economic upheaval, the world's top wheat importer is looking for overseas help to maintain its imports which support a subsidised bread programme.

France is still considering Egypt's request for help with grain imports and storage, the trade ministry said, but Market operators are sceptical about major French aid and the country is still considering the situation.

Read more...

My favourite headline of the day comes from the Guardian: India's seed saviour goes against the corporate grain.

Debal Deb is building a seed bank in India's Odisha state which has helped to preserve 920 varieties of indigenous rice using traditional methods. Deb hopes to help make farmers independent of large corporations and GM crops, and help secure their access to local seed varieties.  

View pictures...

Cereal (Photo credit: Bulsti)