Water Level at Panama Canal Lake Reaches Historic Low for Start of Dry Season

Daily traffic at the canal is down by nearly 40% compared to last year Gatún Lake, the reservoir that enables the operation of the Panama Canal, is at its lowest water level ever for the start of a dry season, as reported by the New York Times. The extreme drought affecting the region appears likely […]

Agri-Food Associations Navigate the “Jungle” of EU Sustainability Reporting Regulations

Industry webinar explores key features of the CSRD and ESRS On January 24, 2024, the INC attended a webinar on EU corporate sustainability reporting regulations organized by the Agri-Food Chain Sustainability Roundtable, a group of European agri-food industry associations established in March 2022 to exchange information on sustainability-related legislation. The purpose of the meeting was […]

January 2024 News Brief

Enroll Now for the On-Site Technical Visit! A unique experience with unparalleled industry insights! Join us from May 2-5, 2024, for an immersive 4-day On-site Technical Visit, providing an unparalleled experience that unveils the intricacies of orchards and processing plants in California’s Central Valley. This program offers a comprehensive understanding of the entire supply chain, […]

High-Nut Diet Associated with Large Gains in Life Expectancy

Sustained shift toward a healthier diet can increase lifespan by up to 10 years A recent study published in Nature Food used prospective population-based cohort data to show the effects on life expectancy of switching from an unhealthy diet to a longevity-associated dietary pattern over the long term. Using data from the UK Biobank database […]

Walnut-Enriched Diet Changes Serum Oxylipin Profile in Healthy Older Adults

Oxylipins play a role in cardiovascular disease and aging A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition investigated the long-term effects of walnut consumption on the generation and metabolism of serum oxylipins, which play a role in cardiovascular disease and aging. Oxylipins are derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Walnuts are a source of […]

Prune Supplementation May Mitigate Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women

Eating prunes improved immune, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers A study published in The Journal of Nutrition sheds new light on the effect of prune consumption on bone loss in postmenopausal women. Specifically, given that an elevated inflammatory profile may be linked to accelerated postmenopausal bone loss, the researchers investigated the impact of prune supplementation […]

Shipping Disruptions Continue in Red Sea

Commercial vessels transiting the region remain under threat Disruptions in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes continued this week as Houthi rebels defiantly continued their attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea despite strikes by US-led forces against targets in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen. The latest alert issued by the U.S. Department […]

Marketing Orders: January 2024

USA: Temporary Relaxation of Requirements for California Raisins The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an interim rule that temporarily changes the requirements for raisins covered under the Federal marketing order for raisins produced from grapes grown in California. For the 2023/24 crop year, the minimum requirements for substandard and maturity dockage in the marketing […]

Food Safety Update: January 2024

California: Private Applicator Certificate (“Brown Card”) Changes Under new regulations effective as of January 1, 2024, individuals currently certified as private pesticide applicators are required to take and pass the revised initial Private Applicator Certificate (PAC) Examination to demonstrate competency with the revised private applicator standards in 40 CFR Part 171. For more information, see […]