Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
Black Bird Biotech - $BBBT is on track to tackle mold, mildew, and so much more with their reimagined biopesticide, MiteXstream. As a result, the stock is likely a strong buy!
https://marketsherald.com/gem-stocks-a-closer-look-at-black-bird-biotech/
$BBBT - Black Bird Biotech initiated efforts to establish international sales channels, including in China, Hong Kong, and neighboring countries which will ensure the growth of the company in the long run!
https://www.facebook.com/BlackBirdBiotech/photos/a.104745075121722/225784689684426/
HEMP REVENUE TO QBL threw it`s subsidiary on the way ! They have managed to get the SECOND LARGEST grocery store chain as a distributor to HUNDREDS of stores around the country !
This will be a major change for QBLs future progress - now hemp sales and within 3 months the MMJ Products are to be released on the market for sales
Today was maybe the biggest milestone reached;There MMJ LICENS is APPROVED.
On top of that, the timeframe for there mining is on track; by the end of the year they will start mine there shovel ready bauxite, with the markets possibly lowest Capex and Opex. This will make it clearly profitable - especially since yesterdays top price of aluminium/bauxite within 7 years.
More info;http://www.afr.com/brand/before-the-bell/asx-poised-to-lift-as-metals-and-miners-leap-20180418-h0yyja#ixzz5D4TQa6LD
Read about the sales and see the Pictures of this good news !
https://www.facebook.com/queenslandbauxitelimited/
CEO Richard Kamolvathin made a huge difference with a sustainable Ag company when he focused on high margin, proprietary products and jettisoned the low margin, "just a distributor" ones. But he left that company (Verity) right after booking a record revenue quarter. I got out when he left--and that company has not been current on filings since. Revenues went down. And all the media that Kamolvathin got for the company stopped. Pretty sad. Good CEO's in these dinky companies are hard to find.
GM Crops and Sterilization -
http://politicalvelcraft.org/?s=GM+Crops+monsanto
http://beforeitsnews.com/googlesearch/?cx=partner-pub-7268876088039072%3A3vmk3c-6lgg&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=monsanto+GM+crop&sa=
Monsanto’s RoundUp-Ready GMO Grass About to Be Approved and Fed to Cattle -
By Christina Sarich
Global Research, September 19, 2014
Natural Society
http://www.globalresearch.ca/monsantos-roundup-ready-gmo-grass-about-to-be-approved-and-fed-to-cattle/5403031
GLYPHOSATE: Monsanto's Magnificent Red Herring
http://preventdisease.com/news/14/091014_glyphosate-Monsantos-Red-Herring.shtml
Monsanto Sues Farmers for 16 Straight Years over GMOs, NEVER Loses -
Friday, August 29, 2014 6:43
http://naturalsociety.com/monsanto-sued-farmers-16-years-gmos-never-lost/
http://beforeitsnews.com/health/2014/08/monsanto-sues-farmers-for-16-straight-years-over-gmos-never-loses-2547972.html
Shocking Monsanto/Ebola Connection – Monsanto And DOD Invest In Ebola
Treatment Company As Ebola Outbreak May Already Be Uncontrollable!
Thursday, July 31, 2014 6:58
Truth Raider Warns of Ebola False Flag -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zDmuO4UrwE
http://beforeitsnews.com/health/2014/07/shocking-monsantoebola-connection-monsanto-and-dod-invest-in-ebola-treatment-company-as-ebola-outbreak-may-already-be-uncontrollable-2544464.html
GMO/Monsanto: US Governmental allowance of Mass Murder -
Plantable land must be more valuable now:
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304908304579566043904022508
Putting Profits Before Populations
Monsanto, the TPP and Global Food Dominance
by ELLEN BROWN
NOVEMBER 26, 2013
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/11/26/monsanto-the-tpp-and-global-food-dominance/
“Control oil and you control nations,” said US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in the 1970s. “Control food and you control the people.”
Global food control has nearly been achieved, by reducing seed diversity with GMO (genetically modified) seeds that are distributed by only a few transnational corporations. But this agenda has been implemented at grave cost to our health; and if the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) passes, control over not just our food but our health, our environment and our financial system will be in the hands of transnational corporations.
Profits Before Populations
Genetic engineering has made proprietary control possible over the seeds on which the world’s food supply depends. According to an Acres USA interview of plant pathologist Don Huber, Professor Emeritus at Purdue University, two modified traits account for practically all of the genetically modified crops grown in the world today. One involves insect resistance. The other, more disturbing modification involves insensitivity to glyphosate-based herbicides (plant-killing chemicals). Often known as Roundup after the best-selling Monsanto product of that name, glyphosate poisons everything in its path except plants genetically modified to resist it.
Glyphosate-based herbicides are now the most commonly used herbicides in the world. Glyphosate is an essential partner to the GMOs that are the principal business of the burgeoning biotech industry. Glyphosate is a “broad-spectrum” herbicide that destroys indiscriminately, not by killing unwanted plants directly but by tying up access to critical nutrients.
Because of the insidious way in which it works, it has been sold as a relatively benign replacement for the devastating earlier dioxin-based herbicides. But a barrage of experimental data has now shown glyphosate and the GMO foods incorporating it to pose serious dangers to health. Compounding the risk is the toxicity of “inert” ingredients used to make glyphosate more potent. Researchers have found, for example, that the surfactant POEA can kill human cells, particularly embryonic, placental and umbilical cord cells. But these risks have been conveniently ignored.
The widespread use of GMO foods and glyphosate herbicides helps explain the anomaly that the US spends over twice as much per capita on healthcare as the average developed country, yet it is rated far down the scale of the world’s healthiest populations. The World Health Organization has ranked the US LAST out of 17 developed nations for overall health.
Sixty to seventy percent of the foods in US supermarkets are now genetically modified. By contrast, in at least 26 other countries—including Switzerland, Australia, Austria, China, India, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, Mexico and Russia—GMOs are totally or partially banned; and significant restrictions on GMOs exist in about sixty other countries.
A ban on GMO and glyphosate use might go far toward improving the health of Americans. But the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a global trade agreement for which the Obama Administration has sought Fast Track status, would block that sort of cause-focused approach to the healthcare crisis.
Roundup’s Insidious Effects
Roundup-resistant crops escape being killed by glyphosate, but they do not avoid absorbing it into their tissues. Herbicide-tolerant crops have substantially higher levels of herbicide residues than other crops. In fact, many countries have had to increase their legally allowable levels—by up to 50 times—in order to accommodate the introduction of GM crops. In the European Union, residues in food are set to rise 100-150 times if a new proposal by Monsanto is approved. Meanwhile, herbicide-tolerant “super-weeds” have adapted to the chemical, requiring even more toxic doses and new toxic chemicals to kill the plant.
Human enzymes are affected by glyphosate just as plant enzymes are: the chemical blocks the uptake of manganese and other essential minerals. Without those minerals, we cannot properly metabolize our food. That helps explain the rampant epidemic of obesity in the United States. People eat and eat in an attempt to acquire the nutrients that are simply not available in their food.
According to researchers Samsell and Seneff in Biosemiotic Entropy: Disorder, Disease, and Mortality (April 2013):
Glyphosate’s inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes is an overlooked component of its toxicity to mammals. CYP enzymes play crucial roles in biology . . . . Negative impact on the body is insidious and manifests slowly over time as inflammation damages cellular systems throughout the body. Consequences are most of the diseases and conditions associated with a Western diet, which include gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, autism, infertility, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
More than 40 diseases have been linked to glyphosate use, and more keep appearing. In September 2013, the National University of Rio Cuarto, Argentina, published research finding that glyphosate enhances the growth of fungi that produce aflatoxin B1, one of the most carcinogenic of substances. A doctor from Chaco, Argentina, told Associated Press, “We’ve gone from a pretty healthy population to one with a high rate of cancer, birth defects and illnesses seldom seen before.” Fungi growths have increased significantly in US corn crops.
Glyphosate has also done serious damage to the environment. According to an October 2012 report by the Institute of Science in Society:
Agribusiness claims that glyphosate and glyphosate-tolerant crops will improve crop yields, increase farmers’ profits and benefit the environment by reducing pesticide use. Exactly the opposite is the case. . . . [T]he evidence indicates that glyphosate herbicides and glyphosate-tolerant crops have had wide-ranging detrimental effects, including glyphosate resistant super weeds, virulent plant (and new livestock) pathogens, reduced crop health and yield, harm to off-target species from insects to amphibians and livestock, as well as reduced soil fertility.
Politics Trumps Science
In light of these adverse findings, why have Washington and the European Commission continued to endorse glyphosate as safe? Critics point to lax regulations, heavy influence from corporate lobbyists, and a political agenda that has more to do with power and control than protecting the health of the people.
In the ground-breaking 2007 book Seeds of Destruction: The Hidden Agenda of Genetic Manipulation, William Engdahl states that global food control and depopulation became US strategic policy under Rockefeller protégé Henry Kissinger. Along with oil geopolitics, they were to be the new “solution” to the threats to US global power and continued US access to cheap raw materials from the developing world. In line with that agenda, the government has shown extreme partisanship in favor of the biotech agribusiness industry, opting for a system in which the industry “voluntarily” polices itself. Bio-engineered foods are treated as “natural food additives,” not needing any special testing.
Jeffrey M. Smith, Executive Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, confirms that US Food and Drug Administration policy allows biotech companies to determine if their own foods are safe. Submission of data is completely voluntary. He concludes:
In the critical arena of food safety research, the biotech industry is without accountability, standards, or peer-review. They’ve got bad science down to a science.
Whether or not depopulation is an intentional part of the agenda, widespread use of GMO and glyphosate is having that result. The endocrine-disrupting properties of glyphosate have been linked to infertility, miscarriage, birth defects and arrested sexual development. In Russian experiments, animals fed GM soy were sterile by the third generation. Vast amounts of farmland soil are also being systematically ruined by the killing of beneficial microorganisms that allow plant roots to uptake soil nutrients.
In Gary Null’s eye-opening documentary Seeds of Death: Unveiling the Lies of GMOs, Dr. Bruce Lipton warns, “We are leading the world into the sixth mass extinction of life on this planet. . . . Human behavior is undermining the web of life.”
The TPP and International Corporate Control
As the devastating conclusions of these and other researchers awaken people globally to the dangers of Roundup and GMO foods, transnational corporations are working feverishly with the Obama administration to fast-track the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement that would strip governments of the power to regulate transnational corporate activities. Negotiations have been kept secret from Congress but not from corporate advisors, 600 of whom have been consulted and know the details. According to Barbara Chicherio in Nation of Change:
The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) has the potential to become the biggest regional Free Trade Agreement in history. . . .
The chief agricultural negotiator for the US is the former Monsanto lobbyist, Islam Siddique. If ratified the TPP would impose punishing regulations that give multinational corporations unprecedented right to demand taxpayer compensation for policies that corporations deem a barrier to their profits.
. . . They are carefully crafting the TPP to insure that citizens of the involved countries have no control over food safety, what they will be eating, where it is grown, the conditions under which food is grown and the use of herbicides and pesticides.
Food safety is only one of many rights and protections liable to fall to this super-weapon of international corporate control. In an April 2013 interview on The Real News Network, Kevin Zeese called the TPP “NAFTA on steroids” and “a global corporate coup.” He warned:
No matter what issue you care about—whether its wages, jobs, protecting the environment . . . this issue is going to adversely affect it . . . .
If a country takes a step to try to regulate the financial industry or set up a public bank to represent the public interest, it can be sued . . . .
Return to Nature: Not Too Late
There is a safer, saner, more earth-friendly way to feed nations. While Monsanto and US regulators are forcing GM crops on American families, Russian families are showing what can be done with permaculture methods on simple garden plots. In 2011, 40% of Russia’s food was grown on dachas (cottage gardens or allotments). Dacha gardens produced over 80% of the country’s fruit and berries, over 66% of the vegetables, almost 80% of the potatoes and nearly 50% of the nation’s milk, much of it consumed raw. According to Vladimir Megre, author of the best-selling Ringing Cedars Series:
Essentially, what Russian gardeners do is demonstrate that gardeners can feed the world – and you do not need any GMOs, industrial farms, or any other technological gimmicks to guarantee everybody’s got enough food to eat. Bear in mind that Russia only has 110 days of growing season per year – so in the US, for example, gardeners’ output could be substantially greater. Today, however, the area taken up by lawns in the US is two times greater than that of Russia’s gardens – and it produces nothing but a multi-billion-dollar lawn care industry.
In the US, only about 0.6 percent of the total agricultural area is devoted to organic farming. This area needs to be vastly expanded if we are to avoid “the sixth mass extinction.” But first, we need to urge our representatives to stop Fast Track, vote no on the TPP, and pursue a global phase-out of glyphosate-based herbicides and GMO foods. Our health, our finances and our environment are at stake.
Ellen Brown is an attorney, president of the Public Banking Institute, and author of twelve books, including the best-selling Web of Debt. In The Public Bank Solution, her latest book, she explores successful public banking models historically and globally. Her blog articles are at EllenBrown.com.
hey,rogue! That VRTY has only about 7 million shares outstanding. Their non-GMO approach to farming is, imo, going to do well. I agree with you, Monsanto is a great short candidate. The markets expect more and more GMO revenues. Yet, the evidence is mounting that GMO is not healthy and not a cure-all for higher yields.
I believe that companies like Verity that help farmers go back to sustainable agriculture techniques with the emphasis on rebuilding soil health will do very well. The problem is that there are few publicly traded companies like Verity that focus on just this one area.
WIsh it had more volume right now, but with so few shares out it would not take many new investors to push this over $1.00 from the current .40.
But, hey, what do I know? lol
GLTU
Look at this Glyphosate vs. Autism chart:
http://www.higher-health.org/2013/06/monsantos-roundup-linked-to-autism.html
Your chart or link was missing (?? repost?) but GMO foods are certainly a disaster for human health as I've been diligently researching the last few years.
Former GMO Engineer Drops Biotech and Goes Organic
http://organicconnectmag.com/wp/former-gmo-engineer-drops-biotech-and-goes-organic/#.UcImt5y1tqh
"When I hear we need genetic engineering to feed the world, I cringe. It turns out that there is no increase in yield, no decrease use of pesticides, and the process is of highly questioned safety.
Even if genetic engineering was perfectly safe, I still question it because of genetic pollution. Organic crops and foods are becoming contaminated.
I’m also concerned about contamination of the environment with antibiotic resistant genes. Every GM crop has these genes. The preliminary evidence we have is that bacteria in the soil and in the human gut are capable of picking those genes up. Considering the alarm I hear from medical people about losing antibiotics, I think this should be a serious concern."
BTW This has been a good board over on SI for controversial subjects and various macro-economic themes...
http://www.siliconinvestor.com/subject.aspx?subjectid=54268
Look at this chart correlating autism to use of Glyphosate.
Not definitive proof, but certainly implicates Glyphosate.
Thanks I'll look into that one.
Monsanto is a long-term horizon short sale candidate. I have to believe that or give up all hope for the future of humanity.
roguedolphin, do you know about Verity (VRTY)? They are into soil health and non-GMO. Recently went public. Been a low volume stock until yesterday. They were in a NY Times article in May talking about the Whole Foods GMO-labeling and whether or not the US has enough non-GMO food production to satisfy just WHole Foods' demands.
Might be one to take a look at.
AMAZING this stock doesnt go up?
ALLRF (Allana Potach)
Afrexim Bank to approve 600 mln USD for Allana
By Muluken Yewondwossen
Tuesday, 25 June 2013 13:02
0 Comments
The Africa Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM BANK), which celebrated its 20th anniversary this week, announced that it is going to finance Allana Potash projects in Ethiopia.
The bank was established by African governments, private and institutional investors, and non-African investors in 1993 to finance and promote trade in Africa. AFREXIM BANK hasn’t financed large investments in Ethiopia during past years. According to the bank’s officials, present at the celebration and other side events held at the United Nations Conference Centre, the bank is in the process of approving USD 600 million for one of the mining companies investing in Ethiopia. The amount is close to one sixth of the total finance that the bank approved in 2012 for projects in Africa.
AFREXIM BANK approved a USD 3.71 billion credit line in the past year. Even though the officials declined to disclose which company will receive the credit, sources indicated that the Toronto-based firm, Allana Potash, is the company that will secure the loan for its potash project in the Danakil area, Afar Regional State. The officials said that the undertaking is early, but they are very positive about its outcome.
According to these sources, the company has approached the bank to obtain a loan for its investment in the country.
This amount would be the first huge loan that will be allocated for projects based in Ethiopia by the bank. Allana is planning to develop the mineral Potash to be used to produce a type of fertiliser.
Meanwhile, the Canadian company has done various studies that will enable it to commence mining operations. For instance, last month it received approval for its environmental, social and health impact assessment from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and Ministry of Mines (MoM). The approval is a milestone in the granting of a mining license for the project and to receive funding from international financiers.
According to Allana, the mineral resources are estimated to be around 1.3 billion tonnes.
Other international companies, like the Norwegian based Yara International, have also invested in the region to develop potash. At a press conference convened on Wednesday as part of the 20th Annual General Meeting of the bank, the bank stated that it was keen on financing electric projects in East Africa.
Jean-Louis Ekra, President of AFREXIM BANK said that his bank is very keen on financing projects in East Africa, especially power projects, to be at the forefront of growth in the region. The president also stated that agribusiness is AFREXIM BANK’s primary focus, because of its supply chains development for raising production efficiency and enhancing competitiveness for industries in global production.
The 10th Annual General Meeting of the bank was held from Wednesday June 19 to Saturday June 22. At the opening ceremony of the meeting, Ekra said Africa will benefit from its abundant natural resources only through processing, and eventually joining, the global value chain.
Sufian Ahmed, Minister of Finance and Development (MoFED) of Ethiopia, in his welcoming remarks stressed the important role of AFREXIM BANK in financing African trade and promoting integration within the African continent.
Allana receives green light for 11 bln birr loan
font size Print Email 1 Comment
By Asrat Seyoum and Dawit Taye
Allana Potash, a Vancouver-based mining company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, is set to acquire financing for its mammoth potash mining project in Danakil Depression in the Afar Regional State of Ethiopia in the order of 11.1 billion birr from the little-known-in-Ethiopia Africa Export/Import Bank-Afreximbank. It is the largest loan to be approved for a private entity in Ethiopia to date.
Officials of Afreximbank, who were in Addis Ababa last week celebrating the Bank's 20-year anniversary, told journalists that the Bank is reviewing a loan proposal for one of the two giant potash projects in the Danakil Depression while refraining from divulging the name of the company. However, The Reporter's sources close to the Vancouver company on the other hand revealed that Allana has received the green light to secure the loan from the stated institution. Dubbed Dallol Potash the project is comprised of four concessions stretching 312 square kilometers in the North-Eastern part of the Danakil Depression, an area known for small-scale mining activities.
From 2010 to 2012 Allana completed a comprehensive exploration program including camp construction, diamond drilling, a 2D seismic survey and water drilling, according to information posted on the company's website. Furthermore, citing preliminary results obtained so far, it has presented a feasibility study to the Ministry of Mines for which it is expecting a positive feedback. According to the study, in the initial stages the company would start with the production of the one million tonnes per year with planned expansion of additional one million tonnes every year. The study is also useful in terms of upgrading Allana's exploration license to a mining license.
The company should obtain the mining license in order to move forward with its activities. The company needs mining license before advancing into construction of the factory plant and other transportation infrastructures. Among the major railway projects that Ethiopia has in the pipeline the one that connects the potash region of the depression to the port in Djibouti is one. The construction of large warehouse facilities and the temporary road network that runs from Dallol to Afdera (the major salt producing area of Ethiopia) where it connects with another road which stretches to Djibouti will also be some of the major civil projects awaiting the company.
According to the tentative schedule, the first shipment is due to leave the country by 2014.
In a related news, Afreximbank has also extended a credit facility to Kenyan Airways to the tune of USD 1.96 billion for aircraft acquisition, officials of the Bank also announced. The facility is mainly slotted to finance the acquisition of nine Boeing 787-800 (Dreamliners), one 777-300ER and 10 Embraer-190 aircraft.
The officials added that the first remittance-backed loan facility in the continent was provided to the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia by Afreximbank in collaboration with Citibank a little while back.
Apart from Kenya and Ethiopia the Bank is also active in the Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania. The Bank also is actively engaged in West Africa, particularly with cocoa trade, the hospitality industry and providing a credit line to commercial banks.
http://www.thereporterethiopia.com/index.php/news-headlines/item/642-allana-receives-green-light-for-11-bln-birr-loan
Open Letter from World Scientists to All Governments
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/list.php
Summary
We, the undersigned scientists, call for the immediate suspension of all environmental releases of GM crops and products, both commercially and in open field trials, for at least 5 years; for patents on living processes, organisms, seeds, cell lines and genes to be revoked and banned; and for a comprehensive public enquiry into the future of agriculture and food security for all.
Patents on life-forms and living processes should be banned because they threaten food security, sanction biopiracy of indigenous knowledge and genetic resources, violate basic human rights and dignity, compromise healthcare, impede medical and scientific research and are against the welfare of animals.
GM crops offer no benefits to farmers or consumers. Instead, many problems have been identified, including yield drag, increased herbicide use, erratic performance, and poor economic returns to farmers. GM crops also intensify corporate monopoly on food, which is driving family farmers to destitution, and preventing the essential shift to sustainable agriculture that can guarantee food security and health around the world
The hazards of GMOs to biodiversity and human and animal health are now acknowledged by sources within the UK and US Governments. Particularly serious consequences are associated with the potential for horizontal gene transfer. These include the spread of antibiotic resistance marker genes that would render infectious diseases untreatable, the generation of new viruses and bacteria that cause diseases, and harmful mutations which may lead to cancer.
In the Cartegena Biosafety Protocol negotiated in Montreal in January 2000, more than 130 governments have pledged to implement the precautionary principle and to ensure that biosafety legislations at the national and international levels take precedence over trade and financial agreements at the World Trade Organization.
Successive studies have documented the productivity and the social and environmental benefits of sustainable, low-input and organic farming in both North and South. They offer the only practical way of restoring agricultural land degraded by conventional agronomic practices, and empower small family farmers to combat poverty and hunger.
We urge the US Congress to reject GM crops as both hazardous and contrary to the interest of family farmers; and to support research and development of sustainable agricultural methods that can truly benefit family farmers all over the world.
We, the undersigned scientists, call for the immediate suspension of all environmental releases of GM crops and products, both commercially and in open field trials, for at least 5 years; for patents on living processes, organisms, seeds, cell lines and genes to be revoked and banned; and for a comprehensive public enquiry into the future of agriculture and food security for all.
1 Patents on life-forms and living processes should be banned because they threaten food security, sanction biopiracy of indigenous knowledge and genetic resources, violate basic human rights and dignity, compromise healthcare, impede medical and scientific research and are against the welfare of animals(1). Life-forms such as organisms, seeds, cell lines and genes are discoveries and hence not patentable. Current GM techniques which exploit living processes are unreliable, uncontrollable and unpredictable, and do not qualify as inventions. Furthermore, those techniques are inherently unsafe, as are many GM organisms and products.
2. It is becoming increasingly clear that current GM crops are neither needed nor beneficial. They are a dangerous diversion preventing the essential shift to sustainable agricultural practices that can provide food security and health around the world.
3. Two simple characteristics account for the nearly 40 million hectares of GM crops planted in 1999(2). The majority (71%) are tolerant to broad-spectrum herbicides, with companies engineering plants to be tolerant to their own brand of herbicide, while most of the rest are engineered with bt-toxins to kill insect pests. A university-based survey of 8200 field trials of the most widely grown GM crops, herbicide-tolerant soya beans - revealed that they yield 6.7% less and required two to five times more herbicides than non-GM varieties(3). This has been confirmed by a more recent study in the University of Nebraska(4). Yet other problems have been identified: erratic performance, disease susceptibility(5), fruit abortion(6) and poor economic returns to farmers(7).
4. According to the UN food programme, there is enough food to feed the world one and a half times over. While world population has grown 90% in the past 40 years, the amount of food per capita has increased by 25%, yet one billion are hungry(8). A new FAO report confirms that there will be enough or more than enough food to meet global demands without taking into account any yield improvementsthat might result from GM crops well into 2030 (9). It is on account of increasing corporate monopoly operating under the globalised economy that the poor are getting poorer and hungrier(10). Family farmers around the world have been driven to destitution and suicide, and for the same reasons. Between 1993 and 1997 the number of mid-sized farms in the US dropped by 74,440(11), and farmers are now receiving below the average cost of production for their produce(12). The farming population in France and Germany fell by 50% since 1978(13). In the UK, 20 000 farming jobs were lost in the past year alone, and the Prime Minister has announced a £200m aid package(14). Four corporations control 85% of the world trade in cereals at the end of 1999(15). Mergers and acquisitions are continuing.
5. The new patents on seeds intensify corporate monopoly by preventing farmers from saving and replanting seeds, which is what most farmers still do in the Third World. In order to protect their patents, corporations are continuing to develop terminator technologies that genetic engineer harvested seeds not to germinate, despite worldwide opposition from farmers and civil society at large(16).
6. Christian Aid, a major charity working with the Third World, concluded that GM crops will cause unemployment, exacerbate Third World debt, threaten sustainable farming systems and damage the environment. It predicts famine for the poorest countries(17). African Governments condemned Monsanto's claim that GMOs are needed to feed the hungry of the world: "We..strongly object that the image of the poor and hungry from our countries is being used by giant multinational corporations to push a technology that is neither safe, environmentally friendly, nor economically beneficial to us… we believe it will destroy the diversity, the local knowledge and the sustainable agricultural systems that our farmers have developed for millennia and …undermine our capacity to feed ourselves.(18)" A message from the Peasant movement of the Philippines to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) of the industrialized countries stated, "The entry of GMOs will certainly intensify landlessness, hunger and injustice.(19)"
7. A coalition of family farming groups in the US have issued a comprehensive list of demands, including ban on ownership of all life-forms; suspension of sales, environmental releases and further approvals of all GM crops and products pending an independent, comprehensive assessment of the social, environmental, health and economic impacts; and for corporations to be made liable for all damages arising from GM crops and products to livestock, human beings and the environment(20). They also demand a moratorium on all corporate mergers and acquisitions, on farm closures, and an end to policies that serve big agribusiness interests at the expense of family farmers, taxpayers and the environment(21). They have mounted a lawsuit against Monsanto and nine other corporations for monopolistic practices and for foisting GM crops on farmers without adequate safety and environmental impact assessments(22).
8. Some of the hazards of GM crops are openly acknowledged by the UK and US Governments. UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) has admitted that the transfer of GM crops and pollen beyond the planted fields is unavoidable(23), and this has already resulted in herbicide-tolerant weeds(24). An interim report on UK Government-sponsored field trials confirmed hybridisation between adjacent plots of different herbicide tolerant GM oilseed rape varieties, which gave rise to hybrids tolerant to multiple herbicides. In addition, GM oilseed rape and their hybrids were found as volunteers in subsequent wheat and barley crops, which had to be controlled by standard herbicides(25). Bt-resistant insect pests have evolved in response to the continuous presence of the toxins in GM plants throughout the growing season, and the US Environment Protection Agency is recommending farmers to plant up to 40% non-GM crops in order to create refugia for non-resistant insect pests(26).
9. The threats to biodiversity from major GM crops already commercialized are becoming increasingly clear. The broad-spectrum herbicides used with herbicide-tolerant GM crops decimate wild plant species indiscriminately, they are also toxic to animals. Glufosinate causes birth defects in mammals(27), and glyphosate is linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma(28). GM crops with bt-toxins kill beneficial insects such as bees(29) and lacewings(30), and pollen from bt-corn is found to be lethal to monarch butterflies(31) as well as swallowtails(32). Bt-toxin is exuded from roots of bt-plants in the rhizosphere, where it rapidly binds to soil particles and become protected from degradation. As the toxin is present in an activated, non-selective form, both target and non-target species in the soil will be affected(33), with knock on effects on species above ground.
10. Products resulting from genetically modified organisms can also be hazardous. For example, a batch of tryptophan produced by GM microorganisms was associated with at least 37 deaths and 1500 serious illnesses(34). Genetically modified Bovine Growth Hormone, injected into cows in order to increase milk yield, not only causes excessive suffering and illnesses for the cows but increases IGF-1 in the milk, which is linked to breast and prostate cancers in humans(35). It is vital for the public to be protected from all GM products, and not only those containing transgenic DNA or protein. That is because the process of genetic modification itself, at least in the form currently practised, is inherently unsafe.
11. Secret memoranda of US Food and Drug Administration revealed that it ignored the warnings of its own scientists that genetic engineering is a new departure and introduces new risks. Furthermore, the first GM crop to be commercialized - the Flavr Savr tomato - did not pass the required toxicological tests(36). Since then, no comprehensive scientific safety testing had been done until Dr. Arpad Pusztai and his collaborators in the UK raised serious concerns over the safety of the GM potatoes they were testing. They conclude that a significant part of the toxic effect may be due to the "[gene] construct or the genetic transformation (or both)" used in making the GM plants(37).
12. The safety of GM foods was openly disputed by Professor Bevan Moseley, molecular geneticist and current Chair of the Working Group on Novel Foods in the European Union's Scientific Committee on Food(38). He drew attention to unforseen effects inherent to the technology, emphasizing that the next generation of GM foods - the so-called 'neutraceuticals' or 'functional foods', such as vitamin A 'enriched' rice - will pose even greater health risks because of the increased complexity of the gene constructs.
13. Genetic engineering introduces new genes and new combinations of genetic material constructed in the laboratory into crops, livestock and microorganisms(39). The artificial constructs are derived from the genetic material of pathogenic viruses and other genetic parasites, as well as bacteria and other organisms, and include genes coding for antibiotic resistance. The constructs are designed to break down species barriers and to overcome mechanisms that prevent foreign genetic material from inserting into genomes. Most of them have never existed in nature in the course of billions of years of evolution.
14. These constructs are introduced into cells by invasive methods that lead to random insertion of the foreign genes into the genomes (the totality of all the genetic material of a cell or organism). This gives rise to unpredictable, random effects, including gross abnormalities in animals and unexpected toxins and allergens in food crops.
15. One construct common to practically all GM crops already commercialized or undergoing field trials involves a gene-switch (promoter) from the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) spliced next to the foreign gene (transgene) to make it over-express continuously(40). This CaMV promoter is active in all plants, in yeast, algae and E. coli. We recently discovered that it is even active in amphibian egg(41) and human cell extract(42). It has a modular structure, and is interchangeable, in part, or in whole with promoters of other viruses to give infectious viruses. It also has a 'recombination hotspot' where it is prone to break and join up with other genetic material(43).
16. For these and other reasons, transgenic DNA - the totality of artificial constructs transferred into the GMO - may be more unstable and prone to transfer again to unrelated species; potentially to all species interacting with the GMO(44).
17. The instability of transgenic DNA in GM plants is well-known(45). GM genes are often silenced, but loss of part or all of the transgenic DNA also occurs, even during later generations of propagation(46). We are aware of no published evidence for the long term stability of GM inserts in terms of structure or location in the plant genome in any of the GM lines already commercialized or undergoing field trials.
18. The potential hazards of horizontal transfer of GM genes include the spread of antibiotic resistance genes to pathogens, the generation of new viruses and bacteria that cause disease and mutations due to the random insertion of foreign DNA, some of which may lead to cancer in mammalian cells(47). The ability of the CaMV promoter to function in all species including human beings is particularly relevant to the potential hazards of horizontal gene transfer.
19. The possibility for naked or free DNA to be taken up by mammalian cells is explicitly mentioned in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) draft guidance to industry on antibiotic resistance marker genes(48). In commenting on the FDA's document, the UK MAFF pointed out that transgenic DNA may be transferred not just by ingestion, but by contact with plant dust and air-borne pollen during farm work and food processing(49). This warning is all the more significant with the recent report from Jena University in Germany that field experiments indicated GM genes may have transferred via GM pollen to the bacteria and yeasts in the gut of bee larvae(50).
20. Plant DNA is not readily degraded during most commercial food processing(51). Procedures such as grinding and milling left grain DNA largely intact, as did heat-treatment at 90deg.C. Plants placed in silage showed little degradation of DNA, and a special UK MAFF report advises against using GM plants or plant waste in animal feed.
21. The human mouth contains bacteria that have been shown to take up and express naked DNA containing antibiotic resistance genes, and similar transformable bacteria are present in the respiratory tracts(52).
22. Antibiotic resistance marker genes from GM plants have been found to transfer horizontally to soil bacteria and fungi in the laboratory(53). Field monitoring revealed that GM sugar beet DNA persisted in the soil for up to two years after the GM crop was planted. And there is evidence suggesting that parts of the transgenic DNA have transferred horizontally to bacteria in the soil(54).
23. Recent research in gene therapy and nucleic acid (both DNA and RNA) vaccines leaves little doubt that naked/free nucleic acids can be taken up, and in some cases, incorporated into the genome of all mammalian cells including those of human beings. Adverse effects already observed include acute toxic shock, delayed immunological reactions and autoimmune reactions(55).
24. The British Medical Association, in their interim report (published May, 1999), called for an indefinite moratorium on the releases of GMOs pending further research on new allergies, the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and the effects of transgenic DNA.
25. In the Cartegena Biosafety Protocol successfully negotiated in Montreal in January, 2000, more than 130 governments have agreed to implement the precautionary principle, and to ensure that biosafety legislations at the national and international levels take precedence over trade and financial agreements at the WTO. Similarly, delegates to the Codex Alimentarius Commission Conference in Chiba Japan, March 2000, have agreed to prepare stringent regulatory procedures for GM foods that include pre-market evaluation, long-term monitoring for health impacts, tests for genetic stability, toxins, allergens and other unintended effects(56). The Cartegena Biosafety Protocol has now been signed by 68 Governments in Nairobi in May, 2000.
26. We urge all Governments to take proper account of the now substantial scientific evidence of actual and suspected hazards arising from GM technology and many of its products, and to impose an immediate moratorium on further environmental releases, including open field trials, in accordance with the precautionary principle as well as sound science.
27. Successive studies have documented the productivity and sustainability of family farming in the Third World as well as in the North(57). Evidence from both North and South indicates that small farms are more productive, more efficient and contribute more to economic development than large farms. Small farmers also tend to make better stewards of natural resources, conserving biodiversity and safeguarding the sustainability of agricultural production(58). Cuba responded to the economic crisis precipitated by the break up of the Soviet Bloc in 1989 by converting from conventional large scale, high input monoculture to small organic and semi-organic farming, thereby doubling food production with half the previous input(59).
28. Agroecological approaches hold great promise for sustainable agriculture in developing countries, in combining local farming knowledge and techniques adjusted to local conditions with contemporary western scientific knowledge(60). The yields have doubled and tripled and are still increasing. An estimated 12.5 million hectares worldwide are already successfully farmed in this way(61). It is environmentally sound and affordable for small farmers. It recovers farming land marginalized by conventional intensive agriculture. It offers the only practical way of restoring agricultural land degraded by conventional agronomic practices. Most of all, it empowers small family farmers to combat poverty and hunger.
29. We urge all Governments to reject GM crops on grounds that they are both hazardous and contrary to ecologically sustainable use of resources. Instead they should support research and development of sustainable agricultural methods that can truly benefit family farmers the world over.
rt.com
nydailynews.com
thinkprogress.org
<The woes of GMOs - Glyphosate and GMOs impact on crops, soils, animals and man
Dr. Don M. Huber, Emeritus Professor of Plant Pathology, Purdue University
September 2012
What we have in our fields, our farms, and our homes is not natural! The increased disease, pest pressure, and empty calories are NOT normal! Corn used to be the healthiest plant you could grow. Now, multiple diseases, pests, and weak plants are the common denominator of 'modern' hybrids.
Wheat, that staple grain for mankind, is now loaded with toxins, allergens, and chemicals. Sickness and disease are increasing in our crops, animals and people in spite of the broad array of fungicides and drugs administered. One can only ask, what has changed so drastically in this ecology we call farming?
Over three decades ago we started the shift to a monochemical glyphosate herbicide program that was soon accompanied by glyphosate- and insect-resistant genetically engineered crops. These two changes in agricultural practices - the excessive application of a strong essential mineral chelating, endocrine-disrupting chemical for weed control and the genetically engineered production of new toxins in our food crops - was accompanied by abandonment of years of scientific research based on the scientific precautionary principle. We substituted a philosophical "substantially equivalent," a new term coined to avoid accountability for the lack of understanding of consequences of our new activities, for science.
Glyphosate is a strong organic phosphate chelator that immobilizes positively charged minerals such as manganese, cobalt, iron, zinc, copper, etc. that are essential for normal physiological functions in soils, plants and animals. It is this ability to shut down physiological functions and predispose plants to killer diseases that make it such an effective broad-spectrum weed killer. Glyphosate is also a very powerful selective antibiotic that kills beneficial, but not pathogenic, microorganisms in the soil and intestine at very low residual levels in food. Residue levels permitted in food are 40 to 800 times the antibiotic threshold and concentrations shown in clinical studies to damage mammalian tissues.
By genetically engineering plants with the insertion of certain foreign bacterial genes, glyphosate can be applied directly to crop plants without killing them. There is nothing in the genetic engineering technology that does anything to the glyphosate that is applied to the plant - and that accumulates in it. Both the toxic proteins produced by the foreign bacterial genes and the glyphosate chemical now are present in the feed and food produced for animal and human consumption. Genetic engineering has introduced other genes for insect resistance where additional toxic proteins accumulate in plant tissues consumed by animals and man. These toxins are found in the blood and readily transferred across the placenta to developing babies in the womb.
Genetic engineering is more like a virus infection than a normal breeding process and results in a multitude of mutations and epigenetic effects as genetic integrity in the plant is disrupted. These 'foreign' bacterial genes are highly promiscuous and easily transferred by wind or insects to other plants; to soil microorganisms during plant residue decomposition, or to intestinal microflora during food digestion where they continue to direct the production of toxins and allergenic proteins. Epigenetic effects are manifest in GMO plants as a yield drag, poor nutrient efficiency, increased disease, and reduced stress tolerance.
Abandonment of the "Scientific Precautionary Principle" that had provided a level of protection in the past, means that we feed and eat at our own risk - as the genetic engineering companies stipulate emphatically on their technology agreement. Scientific studies and clinical responses show that the assumptions of benign effects and rapid degradation of glyphosate, allergenic proteins, and toxins are invalid. Consequently, we are witnessing the development of super weeds; super pathogens; the loss of natural biological controls of plant, animal, and human pathogens; and degradation of our soils and beneficial microorganisms that are required to produce an abundance of nutrient-dense, safe feed and food. The consequences are observed as lower yields, poor nutritional quality, increased disease, and rampant infertility and birth defects.
Future historians may well look back upon our time and write, not about how many pounds of pesticide we did or didn't apply, but by how willing we are to sacrifice our children and future generations for this massive genetic engineering experiment that is based on flawed science and failed promises just to benefit the bottom line of a commercial enterprise.>
gmwatch.org
VMC PSL 23 Contest Friday
Yes PSL is back and more improved than ever. Ridiculous low liquidity stocks are no long able to be picked (25k Minimum daily volume). Pick your usual 6 stocks, spread the imaginary 100k between 6 stocks (Max invested amount in 1 stock is an imaginary 30k). You have more choices VMC PSL contests have never been more realistic. Please make your picks before Friday’s deadline before Friday’s January 11th market close on the VMC PSL 23 Board. Below are the links to the VMC PSL 23 board and the new rules post which will go into more detail of the new rules of the new and hopefully improved PSL 23. Hope This Helps.
PSL 23 Board
http://investorshub.advfn.com/VMC-PSL-23-25981/
PSL 23 Rules Post
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=82938804
PCP.V Bobwins are you still holding your Plains Creek Phosphate? Curious what your thoughts are regarding their recent feasability study.
Not sure how successful they were but they also PR'd an equity raise a month or two ago at .05 with attached warrants at .10 which was (and still is) about 100% higher than market price.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/plains-creek-announces-positive-feasibility-211600969.html
MAX, r you still holding AAA? I am getting Maximum pain on this pos. It's like married and eating the same pankcake everyday.
SGGV...Production Started
http://www.sterlinggroupventures.com/Sterling_Summary_Report_-_Sep_2012.pdf
denial of all permit applications
TSX-V: PCT
VANCOUVER , Aug. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - Prima Colombia Hardwood Inc. (PCT.V) ("Prima" or the "Company") announces that the Company was notified that all of its pending forestry permit applications have been denied by the National Authority of Environmental Licenses ("ANLA"). Notification was made by Resolution 0689 issued on August 23, 2012 .
The Company is in the process of translating and analysing the Resolution, but it appears the reasons for denial include the steepness of the terrain, the timber allocation to the region and the consultation between the licensor, the Community of Los Delfines, and its community members.
On the completion of the detailed review of the Resolution, the Company will consult with the Community of Los Delfines and assess its options.
About Prima Colombia
Prima Colombia Hardwood Inc. is a TSX Venture Exchange-listed Canadian based forest products company focused on international tropical hardwood timber development, production and marketing. Prima's initial operations are located near Bahia Solano, Department of Choco on the west coast of the Republic of Colombia. All Prima forestry concessions are intended to be operated following the highest standards of sustainable forestry and environmental management. Prima brings over 30 years of forestry experience and dedication to best environmental operating practices and working with local communities and governmental agencies.
last PR said they had funds thru August, so they are releasing this information day to day. It would seem that Colombia won't get around to logging. Oil plays, yes. Mining, yes. But that's where this ends. And a shame too for all sides. Maybe the company will offer something on the back end that Colombia won't refuse. But Colombia looks like nothing more than rebels, politicians, and traditionalists. To that end, Colombia stays doomed to the problems of the past. And yes, legal harvest of timber would have done much for the maturation of a country trying to step forward into the 21st century. I also have v.PTA there. And that looks promising enough. Not everything is solved by oil. The timber play is a good deal. Colombia should have fast tracked this. Some things make no sense when it comes to how third world nations interpret the realities of global economics. Unless they find a way to sell resources and do it acknowledging that the landscape cannot stay the way it was a couple of centuries ago, they will lose them when they are over-leveraged, and beholden to creditors backed by big military might. Sorry to strong-arm you Colombia, but that also is part of the equation. Idiocy and ignorance.
PCT.v .015 well, we can't blame Canon Fung for the delays anymore. Mr. Fung is no longer employed by PCT. Wonder if the Colombian government will ever issue those logging permits?
VANCOUVER , July 27, 2012 /CNW/ - Prima Colombia Hardwood Inc. (PCT.V) ("Prima" or the "Company") announces that Harold Hayes , Chief Operating Officer, will assume the additional duties of Acting Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Harold Hayes replaces Mr. Canon Fung who left his position on July 10, 2012 pursuant to the ongoing effort to reduce monthly cash requirements in accordance with the press release issued on December 21, 2011 . Mr. Harold Hayes will continue to carry out the duties of Chief Operating Officer. The Board of Directors would like to thank Mr. Fung for his contribution to the Company.
Cash Requirements & Funding
As updated on June 26, 2012 , the Company continues to fund this ongoing delay in the issuance of permits through the sale of assets. Since June 26, 2012 , the Company has successfully completed the sale of a barge for net proceeds of $208,000 USD . The Company will continue to actively market its remaining fixed assets until such time as the permits are issued.
At the current time, the Company has sufficient funds to maintain the permitting process through September.
Allana Potash's Increasingly Positive Developments In 2012
July 9, 2012 | about: ALLRF.PK, includes: RJA, WPSHF.PK
Agriculture has been in a bear market since February 2011, as evidenced by the Rogers Commodity Index for Agriculture (RJA). But surprisingly, since June 2012, something interesting happened. We got a spike of 16% in the agriculture price due to supply concerns in the corn, soybean and wheat market (Chart 1). This spike is also felt in stocks like Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (POT) and Mosaic Company (MOS). As agriculture prices increase, so will the fertilizer prices increase.
Chart 1: Rogers Commodity Index Agriculture
Agriculture is one of the sectors I'm very bullish on, and it's not just me. Marc Faber's recent outlook for agriculture has been very positive. Marc Faber expects more weakness in industrial commodities, though he said agricultural commodities "look better".
In the past year, fertilizer developers have been decimated. One of these developers: Western Potash (WPSHF.PK), had additional problems due to development doubts in their project due to market speculation that a deal with a potential Chinese investor in the company fell through. Another company, Ethiopian Potash, has been on the brink of collapse due to its dire financial situation. And more recently, BHP has been exiting Ethiopia due to weak exploration results.
On the other hand, Allana Potash (ALLRF.PK), which I talked about in this article, had increasingly positive news over the past year. Though, the share price hasn't increased yet (Chart 2). Let's go over the recent developments.
Chart 2: Allana Potash
First, financing deals have made significant progress. On 5 March 2012, Allana Potash published that it received significant indicative interest from lenders to finance its Dallol potash project. Once the technical and commercial details of the project are finished in the feasibility study, it could start construction early 2013. As I noted before, the construction phase is the best period to buy mine developers, since the share price will typically increase the most here, in anticipation of production. The company estimates that work on the feasibility study will be completed by Q4 2012.
Second, unlike Western Potash, Chinese investors have been very active in Ethiopia recently. On 25 June 2012, China Communication Construction (CCCC) signed a $US 1.5 billion railway deal with Ethiopian Railways (ERC). This railway will be connecting the port of Djibouti to the potash mines in the northeastern part of Ethiopia. This railway is scheduled to be completed in July 2015, right on time for Allana Potash to bring its mine to full capacity. On top of that, the highway that's being constructed to the Allana Potash property is making significant progress. Thirty-five percent of this highway has been completed already, and the Ethiopian government estimates that this highway will be completed by the end of 2013.
Third, Allana Potash has already got a $US 20 billion financing deal in February 2012. This means it can complete the feasibility study without any problems. Allana Potash currently has approximately $US 58 million in cash on hand. By the time that project financing will be received, it is estimated that 35% of the project financing will be done by equity financing. The other 65% of project capital will be acquired by debt financing.
And finally, Allana Potash had a recent 90% surge in its measured and indicated resource estimates. This development will give a critical indication on where to start the project construction to improve the geological setting for sylvinite mining.
Farhad Abasov has been giving an update on Smallcap Power recently. You can watch the interview here.
Disclosure: I am long (ALLRF.PK).
http://seekingalpha.com/article/707701-allana-potash-s-increasingly-positive-developments-in-2012
What's Behind Illinois Stealing Local Hero's Bee Hives?
July 05 2012 |
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/07/05/monsanto-roundup-effects-on-honeybees.aspx?e_cid=20120705_DNL_artNew_1
By Dr. Mercola
An Illinois beekeeper whose bee hives were stolen and allegedly destroyed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture has stirred up a hornet's nest with his questions on why the state did this, and most importantly, what they did with his bees.
The state claims the bees were destroyed because they were infected with a disease called foulbrood.
But when the 58-year apiary keeper had his hearing—three weeks after the removal of his bees without his knowledge—the state's "evidence" had disappeared, leaving more questions than answers about the raid on the beekeeper's hives.
Some people, including the beekeeper, Terrence Ingram, suspect the raid has more to do with Ingram's 15 years of research on Monsanto's Roundup and his documented evidence that Roundup kills bees, than it does about any concerns about his hives.
Interestingly, the state's theft targeted the queen bee and hive he'd been using to conduct the research.
The Ingram CaseA recent article by Tom Kocal in the Prairie Advocate retells the full story of how Terrence Ingram's bees and hives wound up being taken by the Illinois State Department of Agriculture (IDofAG) i.
While the state claims the removal of the property was due to Ingram's failure to comply with the Department's notice instructing him to burn the affected hives, they have been less than open about why the inspectors came in and took the bees and hives without due process.
At a time when the Ingram's were absent from the property. Ingram claims the Department also conducted three out of four inspections on his private property while no one was home.
While Department inspectors claim his hives had foulbrood—an allegedly highly contagious disease—Mr. Ingram believes he could prove that this was not the case. As reported by the featured Prairie Advocate article:
"Ingram knew that the inspectors could not tell what they were seeing and had warned the Department that if any of them came back it would be considered a criminal trespass. Yet they came back when he was not home, stole his hives and ruined his 15 years of research."
Ingram initially reported the missing bees and hives as having been stolen on March 14, unaware that they'd been removed by the IDofAG. News of the theft was published in the Prairie Advocate on March 21.
As a result of that article, an area County Farm Bureau manager called the reporter, stating he knew the equipment hadn't been stolen, but that it had been "destroyed" by the Department of Agriculture because they were infected with foulbrood and Ingram hadn't disposed of them as instructed.
The most nonsensical part of this story is that Ingram didn't get a hearing to determine whether his hives were affected by the disease until three weeks after they were removed and destroyed.
Kocal quotes Mr. Ingram as saying:
"I own four businesses. I am here all the time. Yet they took our bees and hives when we were not home. What did they do, sit up on the hill and watch until we left? We had not yet had our day in court to prove that our hives did not have foulbrood!"
Making matters worse, during that April 4 hearing, the Department couldn't produce any evidence of what they'd done with the bees and the hives. Meanwhile, Ingram ended up being ordered to pay the $500 fine for violating Sections 2-1 of the Illinois Bees and Apiaries Act. According to Kocal:
"There are 2 questions that Ingram wants answered:
1) Did the IDofA, a state agency, have the right to enter Ingram's property and confiscate a suspected "nuisance," before Ingram had his day in court?
2) Where are his bees? The "evidence" has disappeared, and the IDofA refuses to tell Ingram where they are, before, during, and after the hearing.
"I have been keeping bees for 58 years," Ingram said during an interview at his home and apiary. "I am not a newcomer to beekeeping, and I definitely know what I am doing. I have been teaching beginning beekeeping classes for 40 years..." At the April 4 hearing, Ingram said he felt he was able to show the court that the inspector could not tell the difference between "chilled brood" and foulbrood. He also proved to the court that the inspectors did not know the symptoms of foulbrood."
15 Years of Research DestroyedIngram believes the destruction of his bees and hives is more likely to be related to his research into the effect of Roundup on honey bees. He claims some 250 of his colonies have been killed off over the years by Monsanto's broad-spectrum herbicide, used in large quantities on both conventional- and genetically engineered crops. Ingram's research shows that Roundup can lead to what's called chilled brood, which is an entirely different scenario.
According to Ingram, quoted from Kocal's article:
"When Round-Up kills the adult bees there are not enough bees left in the hive to keep the young bees (brood) warm, and the young bees die from the cold (chilled brood). I tried to prove that just because foulbrood can be detected once the hive has been disturbed, doesn't mean the hive has foulbrood.
Inside a honeybee hive is one of the cleanest places you can find. Anything that is a problem, if the bees can't remove it, they cover it with propolis, which is an antiseptic... When you go into the comb and cut it up, disturb it like the investigators did, then send it to a lab, it exposes foulbrood to the world. In the beehive, it's covered up. The bees aren't affected by it. But you can find it by sending it in to a lab."
Ingram has studied the effects of Roundup on honeybees for the past 15 years, and he believes he had built up sufficient amount of data to show that the herbicide causes not just bee die-offs, but also Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)—a mysterious phenomenon that has decimated an estimated one-third of all honey bees since 2006. While some bees inexplicably die, many simply vanish and never return to their hives. Ingram told Kocal that:
"CCD is a calamity that is affecting honeybee colonies across the nation. In fact, I had one queen, which had survived three summers of spraying and three winters. I was planning to raise daughters from that queen to see if she may have had some genetic resistance to Roundup. But she and her hive were taken during the theft. I don't even know where the bees and my equipment are. They ruined 15 years of my research."
... "I asked Rep. Sacia to take the teeth out of the current law, preventing untrained inspectors from doing sneak inspections without the beekeeper present, killing their bees and burning their equipment, or forcing organic beekeepers out of business, telling them that they have to use chemicals to keep bees in Illinois. Are the chemical companies really running our food supply?"
... "Is Illinois becoming a police state, where citizens do not have rights?" Ingram asked in desperation. "Knowing that Monsanto and the Dept. of Ag are in bed together, one has to wonder if Monsanto was behind the theft to ruin my research that may prove Roundup was, and is, killing honeybees. Beekeepers across the state are being threatened that the same thing may be done to their hives and livelihood. I was not treated properly, I don't want to see this happen to anyone else in this state, and I want this type of illegal action to end."
Monsanto is the New Owner of Leading Bee Research FirmIngram is quite correct about chemical companies like Monsanto—they are seeking to take nearly full control of the food supply by controlling virtually every aspect of crop production. So he has cause to be suspicious when it comes to the question of who ordered the theft and destruction of his bees. It wouldn't be the first time the biotech giant has used questionable tactics to get rid of its adversaries. And research implicating Monsanto as the cause of CCD could definitely cause some harm to the company's bottom line.
One of the forerunning theories of colony collapse disorder (CCD) is that it's being caused by genetically engineered crops—either as a result of the crops themselves or the pesticides and herbicides applied on them, such as Roundup. Ingram's research could potentially have strengthened this theory. Monsanto's Roundup herbicide is one of the most widely used herbicides there is. As a result, Monsanto has received increasing amounts of bad publicity over their potential role in the devastating demise of bees around the globe.
There's no doubt that CCD is a serious problem. To get an idea of the magnitude of the importance of bees, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) estimates that without bees to act as pollinators, the United States alone could lose $15 billion worth of crops. ii Research into the phenomenon is therefore absolutely crucial, to identify the sources of the problem.
Monsanto however, keeping true to form, appears to have taken measures to control the direction of the research into their products' effect on bees. As I recently reported, Monsanto has purchased one of the leading bee research firms – one that, conveniently, lists its primary goal as studying colony collapse disorder! Monsanto bought the company, called Beeologics, in September 2011, just months before Poland announced it would ban growing of Monsanto's genetically modified MON810 maize, noting, poignantly, that "pollen of this strain could have a harmful effect on bees." iii
The ongoing blight of genetically engineered crops has been implicated in CCD for years. In one German study, iv when bees were released in a genetically engineered rapeseed crop, then fed the pollen to younger bees, scientists discovered the bacteria in the guts of the young ones mirrored the same genetic traits as ones found in the GE crop, indicating that horizontal gene transfer had occurred.
But Roundup is not the only herbicide that has come under scrutiny. Newer systemic insecticides, known as neonicotinoids, two prominent examples of which include Imidacloprid and Clothianidin, are also frequently used on both conventional- and genetically engineered crops and have been implicated in CCD. In fact, bee colonies started disappearing in the U.S. shortly after the EPA allowed these new insecticides on the market. Even the EPA itself admits that "pesticide poisoning" is a likely cause of bee colony collapse as these pesticides weaken the bees' immune system.
What Can You do to Help the Honeybees?If you want to learn more about bees and CCD, I highly recommend watching the documentary film Vanishing of the Bees. The film recommends four actions you can take to help preserve honeybees everywhere:
Support organic farmers and shop at local farmer's markets as often as possible. You can "vote with your fork" three times a day. [When you buy organic, you are making a statement by saying "no" to genetically engineered foods]Cut the use of toxic chemicals in your house and on your lawn, and use organic pest control.Better yet, get rid of your lawn altogether and plant a garden. Lawns offer very little benefit for the environment. Both flower and vegetable gardens provide good honey bee habitats.Become an amateur beekeeper. Having a hive in your garden requires only about an hour of your time per week, benefits your local ecosystem, and you can enjoy your own honey!If you are interested in more information about bee preservation, the following organizations are a good place to start.
Pesticide Action Network Bee Campaign vThe Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees viAmerican Beekeeping Federation viiHelp the Honey Bees viii
still no permits but company seems determined to keep working towards that goal.
TSX-V: PCT
VANCOUVER , June 26, 2012 /CNW/ - Prima Colombia Hardwood Inc. (TSX Venture:PCT) ("Prima" or the "Company") provides an update on the following Company matters:
Permits
On December 21, 2011 , the Company advised that the cutting permits that it had hoped would be received by the end of 2011 had not yet been issued. These permits remain unissued.
Prima and the Ministry of Environment of Colombia ("Ministry") have continued to work constructively together and the permit process has progressed including successful completion of site technical visits by the Ministry on March 30, 2012 and issuance of certain technical reports from the Ministry to the independent Colombian Environmental Licensing Authority ("ANLA" or Autoridad Nacional de Licencias Ambientales).
The Company remains in contact with the Minister of the Environment and his senior staff and has not been advised of any issues which might prevent the issuance of the requested permits. The Ministry was reorganized in late 2011 and the Company continues to be advised that there is a significant back log of resource sector permit applications.
Although permits of this nature are routinely issued in Colombia and the above noted progress has been made, Prima remains unable to determine with any certainty the expected issuance date of the cutting permits required for the start up of its operations.
Cash Requirements & Funding
As advised on December 21, 2011 , given the uncertainty of timing with respect to the issuance of the permits, the Company has rationalized the operation to reduce its monthly cash requirements in an orderly fashion in order to preserve the timber opportunity until the permits are obtained. At the current time, monthly cash requirements are less than $100,000 per month.
In order to fund this ongoing delay, the Company continues to sell assets. The Company has successfully completed sales of a helicopter, tug boat and some minor assets for total proceeds of approximately $USD 1.0 million. The Company is also in advance negotiation to sell a barge with an expected closing date of middle of July 2012. The Company will continue to actively market its remaining fixed assets until such time as the permits are issued.
At the current time, the Company has sufficient funds to maintain the permitting process through August.
Director Change
The Company also announces the resignation of Harald Ludwig as a Director effective June 14 , 2012. The Board of Directors would like to thank Mr. Ludwig for his contribution to the Company.
About Prima Colombia
Prima Colombia Hardwood Inc. is a TSX Venture Exchange listed Canadian based forest products company focused on international tropical hardwood timber development, production and marketing. Prima's timber concessions and operations are located near Bahia Solano, Department of Choco on the west coast of the Republic of Colombia. All Prima forestry concessions are intended to be operated following the highest standards of sustainable forestry and environmental management. Prima brings over 30 years of forestry experience and dedication to best environmental operating practices and working with local communities and governmental agencies.
PCT.V
I too contacted Canon Fung, and he stated he saw no reason why they ultimately wouldn't get a go-ahead. Colombia is just too cautious or disorganized to address sustainable ethical legal timber harvest. However, Prima could lead the way as a first mover and then all of SA would be available to them for bidding.
FED has stunk up the Ethipoia potash junior sector- recent articles put it on the verge on bankruptcy, which means that a large chunk of probable potash reserves in the Ethiopian fairway are cheap and easy pickings. If FED secures some type of financing, it'll be good all around.
AAA has a great story- the news over the past few years has always been robust and positive. PPs have been done and oversubscribed at 1.55 and recently at .80
I will be adding more AAA until there's reason not too- lots of momentum in East Africa to get some of these projects into production. They have a lot of cash and have executed wisely.
AAA.v, wow this one is really taking it on the chin lately. Didn't they just do a financing at 80 cents some weeks ago? Geez.
AAA.v/ALLRF.pk has stunk lately.
52wk High
2.50 on 6/20/2011
52wk Low
0.56 on 4/5/2012 (That's TODAY)
Anyone understand why it has failed to live up to its optimistic expectations?
PCT.V - Prima Columbia Hardwood E-mailed the company and got a response from the CFO. Was the same person I spoke with in December so apparently was not part of the change in company leadership PR'd in Jan 2012.
The story is that there has been traction on the permits this year.
The Company and the Ministry of Environment are actively working to resolve the issues related to the permits though, until the beginning of this year, the process has been slower than we had hoped. The pace has since picked up when the Ministry accepted and published our permit applications in January 2012.
Please see below a link to the Ministry of Environment website. As you can see, five permit applications that were submitted by REM International CISA, Prima's Colombian subsidiary, entered the Ministry’s workflow and were published by the Ministry in Jan 2012.
www.minambiente.gov.co/contenido/contenido.aspx?catID=1174&conID=7893
For your reference, the five submitted applications have the following file numbers: 3794, 3889,3890, 3891, and 3892.
We are still going strong and are optimistic about the opportunities. Thank you for your patience. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.
Chen and eggs in the news at Barron
This is the article from Barron about the egg crisis in Europe. They of course talked to the world famous senior egg analyst Mr Chen.
As if the European Union weren't already in enough hot water, it has inadvertently cooked up another crisis, just in time for the Easter holiday.The compact's Jan. 1 directive on hen happiness, mandating that egg producers increase the size of hens' cages, has laid an enormous egg, reducing EU production by an estimated 10% to 15%. Indeed, the wholesale price of eggs there has more than doubled."The French have no croissants, the Italians have no pasta," says Chen Lin, an independent investor who pens a newsletter called What Is Chen Buying? What Is Chen Selling? "Instead of breaking the law, they are just slaughtering the chickens," he says.Enlarge ImageWilliam Waitzman for Barron'sJust Ducky: It's not clear how a recent directive in the EU on hen happiness will affect U.S. producers of shell eggs.Chen has been buying Avangard(ticker: AVGR.Ukraine), the world's second-largest egg producer, but he cautions that it is thinly traded. The EU isn't big on egg decorating, but Avangard, which complies with the new law, is selling to the Eastern Orthodox, who are.Because egg production is largely a domestic endeavor, it's unclear how the EU crisis will affect U.S. producers. Still, Chen is buying Cal-Maine Foods(CALM), the biggest producer in the U.S., where prices recently jumped more than 10 cents a dozen.
CALM.. $41.95.. I bought into your egg farm but because the premiumn was only $`1.30 on May 19' 12 I bought calls.. hank
03/14/12 10:55 AM EDT Buy 1 CALM May 19 '12 $40 Call Executed @ $3.29 Details | Edit
03/14/12 10:55 AM EDT Buy 10 CALM May 19 '12 $40 Call Executed @ $3.3 Details | Edit
03/14/12 10:55 AM EDT Buy 1 CALM May 19 '12 $40 Call Executed @ $3.29 Details | Edit
The current egg crisis in EU.
Egg prices are sky rocketing just before the traditional holiday of Easter. Thanks to the new Chicken Happiness Law effected Jan 1, 2012.
Bulgaria egg price "almost doubled in a few days" and EU egg whole sale price "nearly quadrupled over the past week". So far US egg price hasn't moved, but could start moving soon as EU changed from egg exporter to importer.
http://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/1118326-bulgarians-face-skyrocketing-egg-prices.html
http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/03/europes-woes-free-range-eggs/
My egg play is CALM. CALM produced 820 million dozen eggs in 2011. Every 10c/dozen price increase will translate into 82 million in pre-tax profits, about 3.4 dollar per share. If the egg price doubles like EU, we are looking at 40-50 dollar in pretax profits in a year(quadruple even better!) CALM will pay at least 1/3 of profit in dividends. CALM is heavily shorted, I don't know what the short will do, could generate more upside. Frankly, I think if US egg price rises about 10c CALM would more than double its earning, thus the dividend. The short case could be over.
In the last egg crisis of 2003, CALM 10 folded.
Liberty Metals & Mining and International Finance Corporation Exercise Participation Rights in Connection With $20 Million Bought Deal Financing for Further Proceeds of $4.7 Million
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 9, 2012) -
NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRES
Allana Potash Corp. (TSX:AAA) ("Allana" or "the Company"), is pleased to announce that it has completed its non-brokered private placement financing (the "Financing") with Liberty Metals & Mining Holdings, LLC ("LMM"), a subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Insurance and the Company's largest shareholder, and International Finance Corporation ("IFC"), a strategic partner of the Company. Having elected to exercise their participation rights in connection with the Company's previously completed bought deal financing for gross proceeds in the amount of $20,000,000 (See Allana news release dated January 10, 2012), LMM has acquired 4,618,835 common shares of Allana (the "Common Shares") and IFC has acquired 1,309,632 Common Shares at $0.80 per Common Share for aggregate gross proceeds in the amount of $4,742,774. The Financing remains subject to the receipt of final approval of the TSX and the Common Shares will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring on July 10, 2012.
Farhad Abasov, President and CEO of Allana, commented: "We are very pleased that both our strategic investors, LMM and IFC, are fully committed to supporting Allana's potash project in Ethiopia. Their continuous support will be critical in further development of our project as we are advancing the feasibility study."
This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the Common Shares or Warrants in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
About Allana Potash Corp.
Allana is a publicly traded corporation with a focus on the acquisition and development of potash assets internationally with its major focus on a previously explored potash property in Ethiopia. Allana has secured financial support from two significant strategic investors: IFC, a member of World Bank Group, and Liberty Metals and Mining, a member of Liberty Mutual Insurance. Allana has Measured and Indicated Sylvinite Resources of 97.8 Million Tonnes of 30.0% KCl; Inferred Sylvinite Resource of 108.3 Million tonnes grading 31.3% KCl; Measured + Indicated Kainitite Resources of 284.2 Million tonnes at 19.8% KCl, Inferred Kainitite Resource of 271.2 Million Tonnes of 20.3% KCl; Measured and Indicated Upper Carnallitite Resources of 78.5 Million Tonnes grading 18.4% KCl, Inferred Upper Carnallitite Resource of 85.6 Million Tonnes of 17.1% KCl; Measured+Indicated Lower Carnallitite Resources of 212.6 Million Tonnes of 12.0% KCl, Inferred Lower Carnallitite Resource of 130.7 Million Tonnes grading 11.7% KCl. Allana has approximately 197.6 million shares outstanding and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "AAA".
Peter J. MacLean, Ph.D., P. Geo., Allana's Senior VP Exploration, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information presented in this release.
Forward-Looking Statement
Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the terms and use of proceeds of the Financing, the ability of the Company to complete the Financing and the impact of the Financing on the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that is included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
PCP - Nice! $3 million vote of confidence is the way I choose to see that, plus at a premium to the market.
Hopefully that's all the $$ they'll need to put some shine on this turd.
Luckily Fidelity Active Trader Pro doesn't support showing cost basis on foreign exchange stocks so I can't see how much I'm in the red...
pcp.v C$.06 They raised some cash at a premium to stock price. Market still seems to doubt they will finish project.
VANCOUVER, March 8, 2012 /CNW/ - Further to its news releases dated December 20, 2011 and January 17, 2012, Plains Creek Phosphate Corporation ("Plains Creek", the "Company") (TSX-V: PCP) is pleased to announce the closing of the second tranche (the "Second Tranche") of its brokered private placement raising gross proceeds of $1,625,000, which is the final half of a larger offering (the "Offering") raising total gross proceeds of $3,250,000. BMO Capital Markets (the "Agent") acted as the agent for the Offering.
The full Offering consisted of 40,625,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.08 per Unit for gross proceeds of $3,250,000. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.11 for a period of 18 months from the date of issuance.
Under this Second Tranche, the Agent received a cash fee on the sale of the Units of $67,500 and 1,218,750 broker warrants ("Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant is exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.08 at any time up to 24 months after closing. Tabac Ventures Limited, a company affiliated with Aterra Capital, an investment fund which is currently being established by Alexey Mordashov, participated in the Offering.
The securities issued in connection with the Second Tranche are subject to a statutory four month hold period expiring July 9, 2012, during which time the securities may not be traded.
The proceeds from the Offering will be used to complete a Definitive Feasibility Study on the Farim Phosphate Project (the "Project"), fund additional working capital and for general and administrative corporate purposes.
NI 43-101 Compliant Technical Report:
The Company's current technical report (the "Technical Report") for its Farim Phosphate Project prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") is entitled, "Technical Report on the Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Farim Phosphate Project, Guinea-Bissau" dated effective February 10, 2010, and was filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com on February 22, 2011. The Technical Report was prepared for the Company by John S. Warwick, B.Sc. (Hons) PIMMM, C.Eng., Eur.Ing. (Mining) of IMC Group Consulting Limited; Andre Lambert, B.Sc., MIMMM, EurGeol of IMC Group Consulting Limited; Alex Mitchell, MIMMM, C.Eng. of GBM Minerals Engineering Consultants Limited; and Michael Short, FIMMM, C.Eng. of GBM Minerals Engineering Consultants Limited, all of whom are independent Qualified Persons as defined under NI 43-101.
About Plains Creek Phosphate Corporation:
Plains Creek Phosphate Corporation is a Canadian mining and exploration company focused on advancing its Farim Phosphate Project located in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. The Project consists of a high-quality development phosphate deposit containing a NI 43-101 compliant measured phosphate resource of 69 million tonnes ("Mt") grading 29.9% P2O5, an indicated resource of 15 Mt grading 30.1% P2O5, and an inferred resource of 44 Mt grading 29.6% P2O5. The Project has a 25 year mining plan of 68 Mt phosphate grading 29.9% P2O5, as disclosed in the Company's NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report. The Company is currently undertaking a Definitive Feasibility Study and has been granted a Production License from the Government of Guinea-Bissau to pursue a strategy towards phosphate rock production of 2 Mt per annum for a minimum of 25 years, starting in 2014. Based on the Technical Report, estimated costs before contingency include capital costs of US$288 million and operating costs of US$60 per tonne. The Company's shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "PCP". For additional information, please visit us at www.plainscreek.com.
Re: MERC, CFX.TO sorry for not responding earlier. Pulp stocks are performing better because pulp inventories (both at mills and at ports) have peaked and are now declining. China's pulp consumption has risen dramatically of late. The brokerage firms have been calling for this turnaround though it has happened a little faster than they expected. As a result of the above most pulp producers have announced modest price increases.
It started with the above press release.
http://business.financialpost.com/2012/02/17/bizarre-junior-mining-feud-confuses-investors/
Then the company, a junior miner called Ethiopian Potash Corp., responded with this one.
It is highly irregular for an individual to issue his own press release through Canada Newswire when departing a company, as Bruce Cumming did this week. Most ominously, he said that he is involved with a separate firm (G&B Central African Resources Ltd.) that owns potash permits in Ethiopia and gave Ethiopian Potash an option to acquire an interest in them. That raises questions about title on the company’s assets.
Ethiopian Potash referred to Mr. Cumming’s whole statement as a “non-material event,” but it has caused some obvious confusion for investors, who are left wondering about the miner’s relationship with G&B.
A quick check of G&B’s website reveals nothing — the site promises that it will go live in September 2008. It seems that deadline was missed.
So what is really going on here? Dundee Capital Markets analyst Richard Kelertas is not sure, but he said that it is indicative of Ethiopian Potash’s “highly disordered internal state.”
“The issuance of an unauthorized press release demonstrates a lack of control which we believe the company cannot afford at this stage in the game,” Mr. Kelertas wrote in a note.
“Furthermore, we are concerned about the sketchy details available regarding the company’s association with G&B. The lack of clarity and information on G&B and its obligations in terms of potash permits to [Ethiopian Potash] adds another negative dimension to the [company's] project and further supports our negative stance on the company.”
Mr. Kelertas maintained a sell rating on Ethiopian Potash shares. He recommends that investors move into Allana Potash Corp. instead, a rival potash play in Ethiopia that he believes has better prospects.
Political Risks in MENA Phosphate Markets
Email Print Reproduction
Thu, Feb 16, 2012 Feature Articles
Post by James Wellstead, Resource Reporter
By James Wellstead — Exclusive to Potash Investing News
inShare
Despite receiving less press than the oil and gas industry, the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region is a major player in the phosphate market, with more than 80 percent of the world’s phosphate reserves.
Controlled predominantly by state-run organizations, many of these countries could soon become game changers in world phosphate and fertilizer supply. However, many of these same countries must first adapt to the seismic political transitions and challenges miring mineral development in the region.
In a highly vertically-integrated industry where individual companies mine, beneficiate, process, and market phosphate ore and fertilizer products, the shake up of state-run phosphate firms as a result of 2011's Arab Spring has been most directly seen in labor and wage relations between workers and companies within impacted countries.
While Credit Suisse analysts recently projected that, phosphate rock prices will ease in 2012 as some of the Middle Eastern capacity returns as well as on the “price pullback in the downstream phosphate products.” Political uncertainties surrounding labor relations will require close attention in 2012 if the full impact of political change on MENA state-run phosphate operations is to be understood.
Morocco
With an estimated 50 billion tons of reserves, or 75 percent of world reserves, it is no surprise that phosphate represents the largest share of Morocco’s economy. State-run monopoly phosphate producer OCP intends to invest roughly US $8.8 billion in the next ten years to increase phosphate ore production by 20 million tonnes to 47 million tonnes per year by 2020. As a result, Morocco is set to become a major phosphate supplier to African and Asian economies facing rising fertilizer demand over the next decade.
While eluding most of the political turmoil experienced in other Arab Spring protests, Morocco is facing employment and wealth equity concerns. Over the past month, members of the National Union of Phosphate Labourers have undertaken strikes and protests over salaries and social benefits. The protesters have gone so far as to threaten collective suicides, but to date have not disrupted production. Representatives for the union have said that their actions represent “a warning” to OCP in hopes “to fix the problem.”
While tensions are not yet overheated, the desperation in many increasingly poor mining cities like Safi and Ben Guerir could lead to greater problems if not adequately handled by government officials.
Tunisia
The initial flash point for Arab Spring protests, Tunisia has suffered the biggest fallout from the 2011 protests and political transitions. State-run Gafsa Phosphate Company (CPG) recently reported significant losses due to political turmoil. Annual phosphate sales fell by more than half to below 3 million tons, while extracted phosphate fell by nearly 10 million tons to below 3 million in 2011.
The financial results were also severe. CPG recently announced that it was unable to honor its commitments with customers such as India, Poland, and Iran.
Thirteen months after initial protests, increased political freedom and the absence of government and military repression appear unlikely to offer Tunisia immediate post-revolt economic returns. Currently, political protests over the lack of sufficient political restructuring and increasing unemployment rates threaten to immobilize phosphate exports from the world’s seventh largest phosphate producing country well into 2012.
Jordan
A three day strike that disrupted operations at Jordan Phosphate Mines Company has reportedly been resolved as workers have accepted plans to improve working conditions offered by the Jordanian Ministry of Industry. While Jordan is one of the least significantly impacted of the MENA region phosphate producers, it is currently undergoing domestic criticisms, primarily from company employees, following the recent privatization of Jordan Phosphate.
Producing approximately 7 million tonnes of phosrock annually, Jordan Phosphate is the sixth largest phosrock producer and the third largest exporter of phosphate globally. Seen as one of the safest investment jurisdictions in the MENA region, foreign investment constitutes approximately 37 percent of Jordan Phosphate’s ownership.
Syria
In the grips of what has been described as a civil war, Syria and its phosphate industry are currently facing the most severe conditions in the region. With transportation and production disruptions from protests, Syria’s 1.8 billion ton phosphate reserves and sixth largest national industry is now also preparing for severe export sanctions internationally. Last week, European Union governments agreed, in principle, to ban trade of Syrian phosphate exports; Europe imports roughly 40 percent of Syria’s phosphate exports.
Until recently, Syria’s phosphate industry had been enjoying strong growth, with more than US $320 million a year in sales in 2010. Mining operations are dominated by the state-run General Company for Phosphate and Mines (GECOPHAM), but mineral processing is also controlled by the General Fertilizers Company (GFC), which produces phosphoric acid and triple superphosphate (TSP) fertilizer. However, underinvestment in its refining capacity means that the majority of Syrian phosrock production is exported.
Securities Disclosure: I, James Wellstead, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
AGU: Agrium beats by $0.34, beats on revs (81.20)
(posting this only because it sounds so positive for agriculture in general; implication is good growth for the whole agriculture sector; could be good for equipment and fertilizer companies)
Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $2.34 per share, excluding a $0.30 charge resulting from the impairment of Agrium's investment in Hanfeng Evergreen, $0.34 better than the Capital IQ Consensus Estimate of $2.00; revenues rose 32.5% year/year to $3.18 bln vs the $3.04 bln consensus. The effective tax rate was 23 percent in Q4 compared to 29 percent for the same period last year, primarily due to a one-time negative impact in 2010 of the cumulative effect of Canadian Tax Legislative changes relating to certain share based payment programs. "These impressive results were achieved despite global economic uncertainties that impacted commodity prices and led to buyer uncertainty in the later part of the year. We believe that the underlying fundamentals for the agriculture sector remain strong as crop inventory levels for most crops remain well below normal levels and in some cases are critically low. As the spring planting season approaches, farmers have a strong incentive to plant record acreage and optimize the use of Agrium's full array of crop input products and services to maximize crop production. Agrium is well positioned to continue to meet farmers' needs in 2012 and looks forward to delivering another year of value for its stakeholders."
AAA.to/ALLRF, .77 - Allana Potash drills 6.8 m of 20.51% KCl at Sylvinite
2012-02-06 12:38 ET - News Release
Mr. Neil Simon reports
ALLANA POTASH DRILLING INTERSECTS ROBUST POTASH AND PROVIDES FEASIBILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE
Allana Potash Corp. has intersected two zones of strong potash mineralization in both hole DK-11-29 and hole DK-11-31. Hole 29 is located in the western portion of the concession block and was targeted to test potash mineralization west of hole 9. Hole 29 intersected a strong sylvinite zone at a depth of 124.50 metres which yielded 20.51 per cent potassium chloride over 6.80 metres including a high-grade section of 2.5 metres of 33.84 per cent KCl from 124.50 metres to 127.00 metres. The Kainitite zone was also intersected deeper in the hole at a depth of 227.30 metres and returned 21.35 per cent KCl over 9.00 metres.
Hole 31 is located at the central-west portion of the project area approximately 1,200 metres north of hole 16 and was positioned to target the extension of the Musley deposit south of the historic drilling by Parsons. The Sylvinite zone returned 18 per cent KCl over 1.70 metres starting at a depth of 73.50 metres, and the Kainitite zone yielded 21.41 per cent KCl over 6.10 metres starting at a depth of 82.30 metres.
Farhad Abasov, president and chief executive officer, commented: "Allana continues to be encouraged by the continuity and strength of potash mineralization in the western portion of the property as exhibited by the results of holes 29 and 31. This area continues to yield high-grade potash in the Sylvinite and Kainitite zones which management believes will allow Allana to upgrade mineral resources from inferred to measured and indicated categories, as well as add to the inferred category. The relatively shallow and high-grade nature of the Sylvinite zone make this area ideal for solution mining with recovery through solar evaporation. Pilot studies for the feasibility study are well under way, and Allana has made significant progress on road, port and rail infrastructure planning."
Holes 29 and 31 are part of an infill drilling program in the west designed to test the extension of the potash mineralization associated with the historic Musley deposit and allow upgrading of the resource to the measured and indicated mineral resource estimate categories. The results for holes 29 and 31 are presented in the attached table. True widths of the potash zones are estimated to be very similar to drilled widths due to the flat-lying nature of the potash horizons. The zones of potash mineralization are outlined in the attached table.
Hole ID From To Width (i) KCl Zone
(m) (m) (m) %
DK-11-29 124.50 131.30 6.80 20.51 Sylvinite+UC
Including 124.50 127.00 2.50 33.84 Sylvinite
227.30 236.30 9.00 21.35 Kainitite
Including 227.30 233.50 6.20 23.14 Kainitite
DK-11-31 73.50 79.20 5.70 15.76 Sylvinite+UC
Including 73.50 75.20 1.70 18.06 Sylvinite
82.30 88.40 6.10 21.41 Kainitite
(i) Drilled width
Hole 29 was drilled vertically and was collared approximately 1,000 metres west of hole 9. Hole 29 is located in the western part of the concession block 10 and east of the historic Musley deposit, suggesting that potash mineralization at Musley continues and is consistent at least to hole 9. Previously released Allana drill holes in this region yielded high sylvinite grades, and the results of hole 29 further support the interpretation of the extension of potash throughout the region.
Hole 31 was drilled vertically and is located approximately 1,200 metres north of hole 16. The presence of sylvinite and kainitite in this region suggests the continuity of the potash mineralization extends south from the Musley deposit as defined by the Parsons work, and toward hole 16 and hole 8.
Exploration drilling has shifted to the far eastern part of the property (hole 44) as part of the resource expansion drilling program that management has designed to add mineral resources. Samples from holes 32 to 43 are undergoing analysis or are en route to the laboratory in Saskatoon, Canada.
Feasibility study update
In addition to exploration drilling, Allana has completed two geotechnical holes to provide large-diameter core for rock mechanic testwork. Two holes remain to be completed in the geotechnical drilling program. Pilot evaporation pond testwork, hydrogeological studies and solution mining testwork are under way as the company's feasibility study advances. Heavy machinery to construct the ponds is on site, and engineering work and earthworks are in progress.
Infrastructure progress
Highway construction by Ethiopian government contractors is actively proceeding to connect the project area with industrial-quality, paved roads both to the company's project development staging facilities in Mekele and to the southern highway access to ports in Djibouti. Discussions are progressing with government departments and private sector operators regarding expansions of existing port operations, and development of new port and rail facilities that would be available with sufficient capacity to serve the project. The company continues to expect that the infrastructure required to begin and ramp up operations will be in place concurrently with or in advance of the company's project construction period.
Operations expansions in the project area continue to be well served by immediately available water supplies and on-site electrical generators. Current geotechnical, hydrogeological and environmental survey work are defining locations and capacities for water sources, and results will be integrated with the feasibility study.
AMHPF.PK up 11% after 20% sell off yesterday
Verde Potash (NPK) has completed the Preliminary Economic Analysis
for its verdete slate to KCl (ie, Cambridge) process and has
published a press release this morning with key highlights.
- Based on the work of SRK, this process looks very attractive, with
an operating cost during the early years of production of US$274 per
tonne, ramping up to US$291 per tonne over the 30 year life of mine
as the stripping ratio increases.
- These opex numbers would appear to make Verde the lowest cost
producer on a delivered cost basis to the Cerrado region of Brazil.
Recall that Brazil was the largest importer of potash globally in
2011 at 7.5 million tonnes.
- These opex figures also compare favourably to the US$300 per tonne
figure we had used as a base case in our earlier work evaluating the
value of the Cambridge process to NPK shareholders.
- The scoping study proposes an initial plant with 600,000 tonnes per
year of KCl capacity coming online in 2015, which would ultimately
ramp up to 3.0 million tonnes of capacity per year.
- Capex for the initial 600k tonnes of capacity is estimated at $654
million (US$1,090 per tonne of capacity), while capex for the full
3.0 million tonne facility is estimated by SRK at US$2.4 billion (US
$800 per tonne). The US$800 per tonne figure is right in line with
our published assumptions and materially below the cost of greenfield
solution mining projects in Saskatchewan which tend to average closer
to US$1,081 per tonne (KRN: $928/t; Legacy:$1,136/t; WPX: $1,178/t;
Average = $1,081/t).
- SRK estimates an IRR for the project of 23.7% and an NAV at 10% of
US$2.3 billion for the full 3.0 million tonne facility. This works
out to an NAV of $64.76 per share. Note that this is an SRK figure -
we will need to update our own model with the data released today in
order to publish our own estimate (note that we have been using more
conservative assumptions Re: discount rate (12%) and potash price (US
$500 per tonne FOB Vancouver) than SRK seems to have employed.
- Recall that the company is hosting a demonstration of its verdete
slate to KCl process on Wednesday in Allentown, PA. We understand
there are 20 participants from the buy side and the sell side signed
up.
Bottom line: This PEA is a very positive event for NPK and implies
more value for NPK from the Cambridge process than we had been baking
into our $12.00 target previously. We need to update our model, but
at first glance, we expect the Street to begin valuing NPK on the
basis of its Cambridge process, as opposed to just the value of the
ThermoPotash process (which produces a low grade, slow-release potash
product). With a capex of $800 per tonne (ie, ~26% cheaper than a
greenfield solution mine), an opex at startup of US$263 per tonne
(and US$291 per tonne life of mine), and SRK's estimate of a $64,76
per share NAV, the shares are likely to react very positively today.
Its also worth noting that this PEA seems to focus on a slow ramp-up
schedule in order to fund expansion of the project from cash flow
generated by the intial phase of 600k toones of production. This
allows the company to minimize dilution. We expect that a
well-capitalized corporate buyer of this project though, couldemploy
a much quicker ramp-up, which delivers more cash flow sooner, thereby
having a material positive impact on the NAV
01/31/2012 Initial Capex of US$ 654.1 million and initial Opex of US$ 263.23 per tonne for 0.6 million tonnes per year
TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2012 /CNW/ - Verde Potash Plc (TSX-V: NPK) ("Verde" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the production of conventional potash: potassium chloride ("KCl"). The PEA was prepared by SRK Consulting ("SRK") on Verde's wholly-owned Cerrado Verde project ("Cerrado Verde" or the "Project") located in Minas Gerais State, Brazil.
The PEA evaluated the technical and financial aspects of two different scenarios. The first scenario has an initial production of 0.6 million tonnes per year ("mtpy") increasing to 3 mtpy of KCl, with production growth financed largely from anticipated internal cash flow. The second scenario has an initial production of 1 mtpy increasing to 4 mtpy, with production growth also financed largely from anticipated internal cash flow. Each scenario was scheduled into three phases, assuming significant cash accumulation and anticipated construction times. This announcement presents the results for the 3 mtpy scenario while results for the 4 mtpy scenario are expected to be available in the coming weeks.
"We believe that the estimated operating expenses ("Opex") presented in the PEA are competitive with the world's lowest cost potash producers for buyers in Brazil when importation and distribution costs are included. According to the PEA, estimated capital expenditures ("Capex") and expected time to production are lower and shorter than most KCl greenfield projects and many brownfield expansions in the pipeline. The proprietary production process we have developed relies entirely on existing proven commercial processes applied successfully to our potash rock, which we believe provides greater certainty in the capital costs and equipment efficiencies," said Cristiano Veloso, President & CEO.
Key Economic Highlights:
• Capex for the initial 0.6 mtpy phase is estimated at US$ 654.1 million.
• Capex for the 3 mtpy phase is estimated at US$ 2,369.3 million (including Capex for the initial 0.6 mtpy plant).
• Life of Mine sustaining capital is US$ 738.4 million.
• Opex for the initial 5 years of operation is estimated to be US$ 273.70 per tonne KCl, starting at US$ 263.23 per tonne in 2015. The weighted average OPEX for 3 mtpy operation is US$ 291.74 per tonne KCl.
• Estimated after tax Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of approximately 23.7%.
• Estimated after tax Net Present Value ("NPV"), using a 10% discount rate, of US$ 2,258.7 million for the 3 mtpy operation.
The PEA is based on the following assumptions:
• 100% equity
• Phase 1 production of 0.6 mtpy of KCl, start up 2015
• Phase 2 production of 1.6 mtpy of KCl, to be achieved in 2019
• Phase 3 production of 3.0 mtpy of KCl, to be achieved in 2024
• A total 30 years planned production life
• US Dollar-Brazilian Real exchange rate of $1USD=$1.8 BRL
• A 25% Contingency applied to the Capex
• The PEA assumes an average granular KCl price of US$ 539.97 per tonne free on board ("FOB") Vancouver, Canada, based on market research done by CRU International (2012). The net sales price per tonne realized by Verde has been adjusted for the final costs of delivered product in the Brazilian Cerrado, approximately US$ 120 to US$ 180 per tonne.
In 2008, the Company initiated KCl production studies and has since then undertaken over 300 tests in order to develop a simple production flow sheet relying on proven production technology. To such end, the Company established a partnership with Professor Dr. Derek Fray, at the University of Cambridge, and under the leadership of Verde's in house engineers and its now COO, Pedro Ladeira, assembled an Engineering Consortium focused on process scaling and economic optimization of the Project, details of which were disclosed in a news release on November 30, 2011.
"The PEA was focused on developing a construction and production schedule that Verde could finance and execute as a development company gearing towards production. As a consequence, while the PEA does not maximize its NPV or IRR, it takes full advantage of the project's scalability to minimize dilution and shorten timeline to cash flow," said Cristiano Veloso, President & CEO.
Next Steps
Verde will advance a definitive feasibility study for KCl production which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
ThermoPotash Feasibility Study
In view of the results of the PEA for KCl, Verde intends to focus its efforts on a KCl product and has therefore decided to temporarily suspend its ongoing feasibility study work on ThermoPotash. Verde currently expects that it would resume the feasibility study on ThermoPotash once it completed the proposed Phase 1 of KCl production, anticipated to be in 2015. ThermoPotash registration with the Ministry of Agriculture will continue and is expected to be achieved in the coming months.
Technical Report
A copy of the PEA will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com within a maximum of 45 days of this news release.
The scenarios presented in the PEA are preliminary in nature and make use of Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized.
Qualified Person
All scientific and technical disclosures in this press release have been prepared under the supervision of Neal Rigby and Robert Bowell of SRK Consulting who are Qualified Persons within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.
About SRK Consulting
SRK Consulting ("SRK") is an independent, global consulting practice that provides focused advice and solutions to clients, mainly from earth and water resource industries. For mining projects, SRK offers services from exploration through feasibility, mine planning, and production to mine closure. Formed in 1974, SRK now employs more than 1,000 professionals internationally in 38 permanent staffed offices on 6 continents.
Other Matters
Verde has issued a total of 45,000 stock options exercisable at $8.56 per share, expiring January 31, 2016 to consultants and staff.
About Verde Potash
Verde is a fertilizer exploration and development company; it was founded and is led by Brazilians. Verde is developing the Cerrado Verde project in Brazil, a source of potash-rich rock from which the Company plans to produce a potash fertilizer product. Founded as Amazon Mining Holding Plc in 2005, the Company changed its name to Verde Potash Plc in April 2011 to better reflect its core business.
About the Cerrado Verde Potash Project
Cerrado Verde is a unique project: 1) its high grade potash rock outcrops and is amenable to strip mining, allowing fast construction of a scalable operation; 2) it is located in the midst of the world's third largest and fastest growing fertilizer market; 3) it connects to Brazil's largest fertilizer distribution districts via existing and high quality infrastructure.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Verde Potash, Cristiano Veloso, President and CEO.
Started a position on AMHPF.PK (Verde Potash) at 6.8 today. I think it is even cheaper than ALLRF.PK.
Maybe a short term dip as it looks like the news was known but not the .80 amount.... not a bad floor to have installed this early in the year with feasibility study a little ways of....and an upside here: Dundee Securities Ltd., and including National Bank Financial Inc., Cormark Securities Inc., Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd., and Fraser Mackenzie Limited must believe that AAA is going to be slurped up or they wouldn't be buying.
And not a bad poker play by Farhad: the big companies (BHP) just saw AAA get a bit more expensive. I'm sure they want to buy out the leanest AAA they can.
.80 price will cause a big selloff in the morn.
January 10, 2012 16:28 ET
Allana Potash Announces $20 Million Bought Deal
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 10, 2012) -
NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRES
Allana Potash Corp. (TSX:AAA) ("Allana" or "the Company"), is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by Dundee Securities Ltd., and including National Bank Financial Inc., Cormark Securities Inc., Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd., and Fraser Mackenzie Limited (the "Underwriters"), to purchase 25,000,000 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a price of
.80 per Common Share for gross proceeds of $20,000,000 on a bought deal basis (the "Offering").
The Company has also granted the Underwriters an over-allotment option to increase the size of the Offering by up to an additional 3,750,000 Common Shares, such option being exercisable in whole or in part at any time prior to 30 days after the closing of the Offering. If the over-allotment option is exercised in full, the aggregate gross proceeds raised will be $23,000,000.
The net proceeds from the Offering will be used for completion of a definitive feasibility study on the Company's Dallol Potash Project and for working capital and general corporate purposes.
Closing of the Offering is anticipated to occur on or about February 2, 2012 (the "Closing Date") and is subject to the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals including approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The Common Shares will be offered in all provinces of Canada (except Quebec) by way of a short form prospectus.
About Allana Potash Corp.
Allana is a publicly traded corporation with a focus on the acquisition and development of potash assets internationally with its major focus on a previously explored potash property in Ethiopia. Allana has secured financial support from two significant strategic investors: IFC, a member of World Bank Group, and Liberty Metals and Mining, a member of Liberty Mutual Group. Allana has Measured and Indicated Sylvinite Resources of 97.8 Million Tonnes of 30.0% KCl; Inferred Sylvinite Resource of 108.3 Million tonnes grading 31.3% KCl; Measured+Indicated Kainitite Resources of 284.2 Million tonnes at 19.8% KCl, Inferred Kainitite Resource of 271.2 Million Tonnes of 20.3% KCl; Measured and Indicated Upper Carnallitite Resources of 78.5 Million Tonnes grading 18.4% KCl, Inferred Upper Carnallitite Resource of 85.6 Million Tonnes of 17.1% KCl; Measured+Indicated Lower Carnallitite Resources of 212.6 Million Tonnes of 12.0% KCl, Inferred Lower Carnallitite Resource of 130.7 Million Tonnes grading 11.7% KCl. Allana has approximately 197.6 million shares outstanding and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "AAA".
Peter J. MacLean, Ph.D., P. Geo., Allana's Senior VP Exploration, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information presented in this release
aaa.v/allrf.pk +.13 to C$.98 Halted after the close. Big day today with 3 million shares traded.
Followers
|
107
|
Posters
|
|
Posts (Today)
|
0
|
Posts (Total)
|
2300
|
Created
|
06/01/07
|
Type
|
Free
|
Moderator Bobwins | |||
Assistants cl001 MikeDDKing |
This board is for discussing Food including soft commodities as well as industries that support agriculture like fertilizer, machinery,etc.
The commodity boom has arrived and prices of many commodities are setting records. We are looking for value bargains as well as stocks with a developing story.
A good AG resource:
http://www.fertilizerworks.com
Favorite Potash play:
KCL.v/KCLOF.PK
http://www.potash1.com
Over 400 million ton of Indicated and inferred K2O according to 43-101
Paul Matysek, the founder and CEO of EMC.to, became the president and CEO of KCL after he sold EMC for 1.2 billion.
S.O. 24.7 million
Potash price history: http://www.potashcorp.com/investor_relations/markets_information/market_statistics/market_report/kcl_price/
Favorite sulfuric acid shortage play:
CHE.UN/CGIFF.PK
http://www.chemtradelogistics.com/
S.O. 33.6M
Annual dividend: $1.2 (14% at $8.5 share price)
Chemtrade is one of the world’s largest suppliers of sulphuric acid, liquid sulphur dioxide (SO2) and sodium hydrosulphite (SHS), and a leading processor of spent acid, particularly in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. Chemtrade is also a leading regional supplier of sulphur and sodium chlorate, one of only two North American producers of phosphorous pentasulphide and also produces zinc oxide at three North American locations. Chemtrade obtains these products from its own production facilities and through long-term marketing services agreements and distributes them to customers around the world.
Outlook (Q3 07 report)
Our portfolio of businesses is well positioned and forms an excellent foundation for future growth of size and scale, which continues to be a key element of our strategy. Stable demand for our products and particularly strong demand for sulphuric acid and associated price increases should more than offset foreseeable raw material cost increases.
Favorite Pulp play
CFX.UN.to/CFPUF.pk
Pulp resources,
http://www.paperage.com/foex/pulp.html
Posts Today
|
0
|
Posts (Total)
|
2300
|
Posters
|
|
Moderator
|
|
Assistants
|
Volume | |
Day Range: | |
Bid Price | |
Ask Price | |
Last Trade Time: |