03/12/13: IFIF joins feed safey assurance scheme; food security in North Korea; robotic drone to monitor crops

The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) recently announced it is now a partner in the Feed Schemes Observatory (FSO), a global initiative between the feed industry which aims to create a benchmark system for feed safety assurance schemes.

 Dr. Reinder Sijtsma, IFIF board of directors member, said the benchmarking scheme will "improve the comparability of the main principles and requirements that concern feed safety assurance schemes and reduce technical barriers to trade in the feed chain."
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Stunting in children due to malnutrition remains high despite an increase in North Korean food production, according to the United Nations (UN). 

The UN has warned that despite improved harvests in North Korea, the food security situation in the country still remains unsatisfactory.
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The Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), a UK organisation recently provided Rothamsted Research - an agricultural research station also based in the UK- with a high performance radio remote-controlled 'octocopter' that can be used to help monitor crops.

The octocopter uses unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology to monitor crops and carry out crop experiments as part of several genetic improvement projects.

According to BBSRC, the custom-built equipment will enable high-throughput collection of data from experimental crop plots. 
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Centenary building at the Rothamsted experimental station in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England (Photo credit: Wikipedia)