31/01/13: Japan resumes Vietnamese rice imports; changes at NAMA; UK flood areas mapped

Vietnamese rice producers have resumed exports to Japan after a five-year ban. An Giang Import Export Co (Angimex) has won a bid to supply 30,000 tons of white rice to Japan. The rice passed stringent tests and the whole process has been supervised by the importers.

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NAMA Chairman Jim Meyer named the committee chairmen for the 2013-2014 term. The committee chairmen were selected based on their experience and expertise in the subject matter of the committee. 

“The strength of an association can be measured by the commitment of the members that volunteer their time and expertise. The leadership provided by the committee chairmen is a valuable component of NAMA. I am looking forward to working with them over the next two years on the issues important to our industry,” said Meyer.

Visit the NAMA website to find out who's on the committee...

Grain growers in the UK has been dealing with some very wet weather recently. According to the Met Office, the last 12 months have been the second wettest since records began. This flood map shows which areas have been most affected by the downpours.
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Uncooked, polished, white long-grain rice grains (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

15/01/13: Canada invests in crop research; changing rice preferences in Singapore; new NAMA chairman

• Canadian governments are to invest C$6.5 million in crop-related research projects. The Federal Agriculture Minister, Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister, Lyle Stewart hope the funding will keep Canadian agriculture growing. The 38 projects are aimed at improving disease control and weather tolerance. Read more...

• Last week we reported on Thailand being toppled as the world's top fragrant rice exporter and today we learn that consumers in Singapore are losing their loyalty to Thai rice. Figures from the Ministry of Trade and Industry show that from January to November 2012, 115,504 tonnes of Thai rice were consumed in Singapore. This figure accounts for 35.4 percent of total imports. In 2011, Thai rice accounted for 50.6 per cent of total imports. Read more... 

• Jim Meyer has taken over as chairman of The North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) has promoted vice chairman Jim Meyer to chairman. Meyer was elected NAMA vice chairman and to a three-year term on the executive committee in October 2012. He has been on the NAMA board since 2005, served on numerous NAMA committees, and is currently the Finance/Budget Committee chairman. He will serve as chairman for a two-year term, 2013-2014. Meyer will replace Greg Schlafer who has left the milling industry for a role in the potato business at ConAgra Foods. More information...

Jim Meyer, the newly appointed chairman of NAMA.