The Cristal Union Group has stopped production of bioethanol at its Arcis plant in Aube, France, to focus on ethyl alcohol for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Biofuels Digest reported on 17 March.

The share of rapeseed meal in compound feeds has increased over the last four years while the use of oilseed meals from rapeseed and soyabeans has declined, Germany’s Union for the Promotion of Oil and Crops (UFOP) reported on 17 March.

Thai energy company PTG is investing US$15.5M in its PPP Green Complex joint venture with Thachang Green Energy and RD Kasetpattana, the Bangkok Post reported on 17 March.

Biofuel production in the USA will see slow growth through to 2050, according to a report from the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Annual Energy Outlook 2020.

The Italian government is proposing a new law aimed at fighting fraud in the agricultural production chain, Olive Oil Times reported on 3 March.

Grains, oilseeds and food representatives are calling on the European Union (EU) to take steps to avoid disruption to the food and feed supply during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

A soyabean export tax based on farm size is being proposed in Argentina to increase revenue and reduce competition between commercial and small-scale producers, according to a report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Soyabean imports to China increased 14.2% year-on-year in the first two months of 2020 as cargoes from the USA cleared customs following the two countries’ trade truce, Reuters reported on 3 March 2020.

A rise in demand for edible oils has been accompanied by increasing consumer awareness about healthier options, according to global speciality oil supplier Kerfoot.

The conclusion of the European Union’s tendering scheme to rebalance its olive oil sector resulted in the withdrawal of another 41,600 tonnes of olive oil from the European market, Olive Oil Times reported on 28 February.

German chemical company BASF is planning to launch more than 30 key projects, including novel seeds and traits, by 2029.

Leading Asian agribusiness group Wilmar International has bought a remaining 50% stake in Australia-based Wilmar Gavilon Pty Ltd (WG) that it does not already hold, making it the sole owner of WG.

The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) has requested federal intervention to resolve the country’s ongoing trade dispute with China over canola exports, World Grain reported on 28 February.