Canada and China ink research deal

The National Research Council Canada (NRC) and the Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences have agreed to collaborate on genetic research to improve canola production. Over the next five years, the Chinese Oil Crops Institute will contribute $300,000, and the NRC Plant Biotech Institute in Saskatoon, SK will contribute $210,000 worth of facilities and analytical resources to complete the first project under the agreement.

The inaugural project will complete genomics work on canola to identify genes that affect yield and adaptation to various environmental stresses.

Improving canola varieties for Chinese growers will ultimately also help the Canadian canola industry, says Dave Hickling, vice president canola utilization at the Canola Council of Canada.

"They’re still growing rapeseed in many areas there," he explains. "Work on improving canola production will not only increase the value of their crop, but it will also increase the value of canola worldwide."

For more information on NRC/PBI and this agreement, go to: http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=125864&q=83988051&lm=11426940&r=107750&qz=967886c8e83cfc939844e3c29e730ae6

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New York county passes trans ban

Starting January 1, 2009 all fried foods served in restaurants in New York’s Albany County food service establishments must be cooked in oils free of trans fat, according to a resolution passed by the county legislature.

Restaurants have another year to phase out trans fat in desserts and baked goods. Ironically, the ban also applies to food prepared at correctional facilities in the county, for which the county Health Department issues a food service permit, but it does not apply to nursing homes and hospitals, which fall under the state Office of Health Services Management.

To read more, go to: http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=125865&q=83988051&lm=11426940&r=107750&qz=4bfbe7d68e4111afd25e317ac4fb3b67

Or to read about how health professionals in a neighboring county say using canola oil could help eliminate the necessity of such a ban, visit: http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=125866&q=83988051&lm=11426940&r=107750&qz=305331334499df13101e1526d30b68f1

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Cargill to open new canola facility

On August 19 in Fort Collins, CO, Cargill will cut the ribbon on its new Cargill Specialty Canola Oils Innovation Center. The centre houses an expanded greenhouse and technology lab, which the company says enables it to develop and improve yield, and develop new oil traits faster.

Cargill staff including Jenny Verner, president of Cargill Specialty Canola Oils, and Dr. Lorin DeBonte, assistant vice president research and development will join city, state and Colorado State University officials at the opening ceremony.

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Olympic diet could use injection of canola oil

It seems CanolaInfo spokesperson Janet Evans isn’t the only Olympic swimmer who could use a little canola oil in his or her diet. The health website WebMd.com is recommending US medal winner Michael Phelps use an oil high in monounsaturated fat, such as canola oil, to maintain his health.

The online article reveals that Phelps eats somewhere between 6,000 and 10,000 calories a day when he is competing – and these are not terribly nutrient-packed calories, either. For more on what the health experts recommend for Phelps, go to: http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=125867&q=83988051&lm=11426940&r=107750&qz=53ef765a3f5273ff09212a90dd65404b

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Racing trucks powered by canola

The "007" jet engine funny car, powered by canola biodiesel and sponsored by the Alberta Canola Producers Commission, the Manitoba Canola Growers Association, Bayer CropScience and Milligan Bio-Tech, is being joined in some of its racing appearances by drag trucks, also powered by canola.

The Diesel Performance Specialists Raminator and the Inland Auto Centre’s Bubba Bee Drag Truck will appear this weekend at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, AB, alongside the jet funny car, driven by Kevin Therres of Humboldt, SK. Each of these racing vehicles receives its fuel from Milligan, which produces biodiesel and other industrial oil products using non-food grade canola.

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Canola biodiesel works in garbage trucks, too

According to a news story out of Huntsville, Alabama, Madison County officials have decided to run part of their fleet of garbage trucks on B20 canola biodiesel. The fuel will come from nearby Alabama A&M University, which gets its supply of canola directly from a local farm.

Madison County Commissioner Bob Harrison says he expects the six-month project to prove that canola biodiesel can save taxpayers money while also producing fewer tailpipe emissions.

For more on Harrison’s description of the project, go to: http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Redirect.aspx?u=125868&q=83988051&lm=11426940&r=107750&qz=45c38312079451a426cc3a6ca583c894