Japan Autumn recovery expected by CEO of Ajinomoto

Ajinomoto food and ingredients maker CEO expects Japans economy to recover by the Autumn from the effects of the tsunami and earthquake that devastated the region in March. Masatoshi Ito told the Dow Jones "that the Japanese economy was just about to get over the Lehman Brothers shock of 2008 and getting into a mode of growth".

He also said "The fundamental infrastructure was [there] for the recovery mode and, although there were effects from the earthquake, the final impact will not be that great,” he went to to say. "Especially in consumer goods, sales for April and May have been very stable," he said. "Although there are certain sectors of the industry that have been heavily affected by the earthquake, we believe that by the autumn much of the economy will recover". Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers

State beef councils unite to support Japanese disaster relief

Japan continues to suffer aftershocks following the March earthquake and tsunami, which may go down in history as the world's most costly natural disaster. US beef producers are committing to relief efforts.

The US Meat Export Federation approached the beef checkoff about joining an industry relief campaign to buy and send beef to Japan to help feed homeless, injured and displaced citizens. When the executive committee of the Federation of State Beef Councils met in late March and discussed supporting this critical international need, Vice Chairman Craig Uden says the decision was unanimous. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers

Grains Council provides update on Earthquake Impact

US agriculture is watching the situation in Japan very closely in the wake of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that devastated areas of the country late last week. US Grains Council Senior Director of International Operations Mike Callahan reports staff at the Council's Tokyo office have checked in, are safe and have been able to return to the office.

"Obviously our staff can't get into the area that was impacted by the earthquake and tsunami," Callahan said. "So they pretty much have to rely upon information that's conveyed to them from our contacts in the feed industry and the grain trade." Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine from Perendale Publishers.