Agricultural groups in the USA have appeared before the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals to challenge a ban imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the use of chlorpyrifos, World Grain reported.

After more than a decade of legal proceedings – including a rejected US$8M settlement – a federal judge has given preliminary approval for consumers to file claims against Wesson Oil’s vegetable oil containing genetically-modified (GM) soyabean or corn, CNET reported.

A new joint venture between China’s largest food and agricultural company COFCO International and state grain reserves stockpiler Sinograin was due to begin operations in January, Reuters reported from a COFCO statement.

A series of soyabean futures and options opened for trading on China’s Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) to foreign traders on 26 December, China Daily reported.

The recently inaugurated Brazilian government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is known as Lula, has announced the extension of tax exemptions for fuels, including biodiesel and ethanol, AgriCensus reported.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has loaned US$10.6M (€10M) to Ukrainian grain producer Grain Alliance Group to expand overland export capacity, World Grain reports.

Global food and agribusiness company Olam Group has completed the US$1.24bn sale of a substantial minority stake in Olam Agri Holdings to Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co (SALIC).

Indonesia’s energy ministry has delayed the introduction of its new mandatory 35% palm oil biodiesel (B35) blending programme until 1 February to allow time to prepare supply and infrastructure, Reuters reported.

The United Nations (UN) has named retired vice admiral Abdullah Abdul Samad Dashti of Kuwait as its new Black Sea grain initiative coordinator, World Grain reported.

Leading charterers say they will refuse to use a new regulatory contract clause within a new shipping regulation to combat global warming, Freight Waves writes.

US shippers of grain, food and other products expect logistics to improve this year, following legislative action that averted a nationwide strike by railway workers and the easing of some COVID-induced restrictions, World Grain wrote.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has extended its suspension on derivatives trading of seven commodities for another year, the Indian Express wrote.

An increase in renewable diesel production over the next five years is expected to boost demand for canola, the Alberta Farmer Express reports the Canadian Oilseeds Processors Association as saying.