【Science for Kids】 Happy World Milk Day! – All the tidbits about milk cows – (June 1, 2013)

The World Milk Day was set on June 1 by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization to draw attention to the benefits of drinking milk and to the whole dairy industry. Let’s make this day an opportunity to learn about milk cows! Cow Quiz 1: How are black and white spotted markings of Holstein cattle laid out? Dr. Popoloo: The best-known dairy cattle breed in the world is Holstein with distinctive black and white color patterns. Did you know that there are rules to how the patterns are laid out on a cow’s body? Popolee: Don’t the patterns just pop up randomly? Dr. Popoloo: No, you can’t classify cows … Continue reading

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【News】 Akiba maids plant “moe” rice and vegetables, hoping for a bountiful harvest (May 31, 2013)

14 women, including “maids,” or waitresses working at costume play restaurants and cafes in Akihabara, Tokyo, and animation voice actors, experienced farming on the roof of The Japan Agriucltural News building in Akihabara on Thursday, May 30. The event, the fifth of its kind, is named Akihabara Vegetable Garden Project and was held by an environmental NPO group Licolita under the theme of Zero Food Miles to encourage people to grow what they eat. The participants planted rice which will be sold as “moe rice” in bags with cute anime characters printed on them. “Moe,” popularly used by anime freaks in Akihabara, is a slang word with many shifting definitions, … Continue reading

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【News】 Non-approved GM wheat found in Oregon; USDA takes the situation “very seriously” (May 31, 2013)

  The United States Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday, May 29 (Thursday, May 30 Japan time), that unapproved genetically modified wheat was discovered in a farm in Oregon, a northwestern state of the U.S. The wheat found in Oregon is resistant to herbicides. “We are taking this situation very seriously,” said Michael Firko of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, adding that they have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances, such as the range of its growth, in detail. 90% of wheat grown in Oregon is exported to other countries including Japan. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which imports wheat through government-controlled trade, decided to suspend … Continue reading

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【News】 Japan recognized as having lowest BSE risk, a move to pave the way for expanding beef exports (May 30, 2013)

  The World Organization for Animal Health on Tuesday, May 28 (Wednesday, May 29, Japan time), recognized Japan as having “negligible risk” of BSE, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, which means Japanese beef is classified into the safest category with regard to the disease. The organization’s decision came as the Japanese government and industry made thoroughgoing efforts in implementing safety measures and regulating cattle feed. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries plans to appeal the safety of Japanese beef at home and abroad, and the recognition will give Japan a rationale to ask the countries which have banned imports of Japanese-raised beef to drop their embargo. Agricultural minister Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed … Continue reading

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【Editorial】 Listen to the citizens’ voices against the TPP (May 25, 2013)

  Campaign against the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks is spreading beyond the agricultural sector to include university professors, lawyers and other citizens. Citizens’ groups and the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives plan to hold a protest rally with some 2,000 participants in Tokyo on Saturday, May 25. People from various different groups are now voicing opposition to the TPP which they say will lead to the devastation of the country. In July, Japan is expected to join the TPP negotiations and the Upper House elections will be held. It is time for us to raise a cry of protest and go out on the streets to let the voices of farmers and … Continue reading

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