Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance’s Post

Adopted last week, Bill C-280 gives fresh-produce growers a measure of financial protection under Canada's bankruptcy laws. My association, Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada - Producteurs de fruits et légumes du Canada and our members, rightly applauded. But perhaps more importantly, coming after almost 40 years of advocacy by growers and sector representatives, its adoption might signal that our political class is starting to take food security seriously. As we head into an election year, and with three quarters of Canadians saying groceries are their biggest source of financial anxiety -- according to an online survey of 1,915 adults conducted this fall by Abacus Data and The Logic -- we can only hope that adoption of Bill C-280 is the harbinger of real political progress on food security and affordability in 2025. On that, we'll just have to hold our applause a little longer. #Foodsecurity

If you think food pricing is high now, be prepared for items to become higher and in some cases harder to find. Anything from Rebecca Patterson is worth reading. But for the #Agro industry this is undoubtedly important. #AgroTech #Import #Farming #Greenhouse #WhereDoesYourFoodComeFrom? #TheCostOfGrowing

We’re still waiting on Coles and Woolworths to adequately respond to receiving the World’s largest votes for a nature-based shareholder resolution. Surely only the least responsive company would ignore 2 out of 5 of their shareholders? While the supermarkets and government drag their heels, The Australia Institute cuts through the BS behind the excuses being used to stop action on an extinction event. TL/DR the potential extinction of the Maugean skate comes at the cost of "Free pollution, few jobs, no tax" From Roderick Campbell and Eloise Carr: “There are 109 salmon farming workers on the West Coast, some of which are drive in-drive out. State-wide there are around 1,500 jobs in the salmon industry. Excuse the maths, but the salmon jobs in Macquarie Harbour make up just 7% of the industry. The salmon industry itself makes up less than 1% of Tasmanian jobs. Such a small change can be easily managed by the salmon industry and governments. Ending salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour would make zero financial difference to Tasmanian or Australian Governments, because the salmon industry pays no tax. According to Australian Tax Office data, no company tax has been paid by Tasmanian salmon farms since 2019, despite selling over $4 billion worth of fish in that time. Free pollution, few jobs, no tax." https://lnkd.in/gbJYqrKf SIX (Sustainable Investment Exchange)

NO FARMER, NO FOOD! So I will be taking to the streets this week to stand alongside the British Farmers. But I wont be protesting about the abolition of Agricultural Property Relief and the imposition of Inheritance Tax on farmers, which I believe to be necessary and appropriate. Everyone in society needs adequately funded public services including the farming community and so we all have to pay our dues. Lets face it this is income tax in all but name, had Labour been able to raise direct taxation whilst still winning an election we could have avoided all this jiggery pokery, but with a Tory party peddling the absurd myth that decent public services could be maintained whilst holding or even cutting taxes, enough of the electorate would have believed their lies to keep them in power for yet 5 more years, heaven forbid. I will stand with the farmers because there were major pressures facing farming long before the Budget of Doom was announced. The only reason the farmers were ever offered the tax breaks in the first place was because for the last 50 years we haven't been paying farmers what they need to keep us fed. A farmer's livelihood has very little to do with how much we pay for our food, for the best part of 70 years farmers survived largely on subsidies. Who pays for the subsidies, we do, through our taxes. Whilst we were in the EU this process of paying subsidies went on unnoticed, the farmers were happy getting their hand outs, we were happy with our cheap food, so long as the supermarket shelves were stocked no one questioned how the food was paid for. Post Brexit the old certainties are unravelling, the farmer no longer get their subsidies and so some are having to find alterative sources of income, food production is no longer the only and, for some the primary source' of keeping the farm afloat. Whilst subsidies existed unrealistically cheap food and ridiculously overly aggressive procurement practice by supermarket chains affected the farmers bottom line but didn't put them out of business, with the comfort cushion of subsidies gone there is only one inevitable consequence for a farming industry that is technically broke. Over the coming days and weeks you will see this slogan many times, No Farmer, No Food! Don't forget it. So the next time you drive your Chelsea Tractor into the Kensington and Chelsea outlet of Lidl or Aldi, so you can save £1 on your weekly shop and afford the basement conversion on your £2M mansion, remember there is no free meal, every penny you save makes someone else a penny poorer, if you paid the proper price for your food the farmers could easily cover the extra tax!

Alberta is home to world-class food manufacturing facilities, and beef processing is at the heart of it. To support economic diversification and growth in Alberta’s agriculture industry, Alberta’s government introduced its Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit in spring 2023. JBS Food Canada ULC (JBS Canada) has qualified for Alberta’s Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit program by investing $89.7 million to expand its beef patty processing line at its facility in Brooks. With the expansion, JBS Canada will double its beef processing capacity and automate its warehouse, producing almost 7 million more kilograms of beef patties every year for restaurants in western Canada. Through incentives like this tax credit, Alberta’s government is supporting rural communities and primary producers, and building on Alberta’s competitive advantages for agri-food companies.

💧The New Water Charges are having a huge impact within the commercial sector !!!!!!!! One hotel owner recently had their water charges jump from €100,000/year to over €130,000/year, with the new hike. 👉 It's now essential to identify all hidden issues in your assets. Water wastage will go unnoticed and will cost businesses 1000's in lost revenue and expenses. 🚨 Let’s put this into perspective: If your business wastes just 2 liters of hot water per minute, annually it costs your business: €15,000 in energy charges 💡 €4,000 in water charges 💧 💸 Total avoidable cost: €19,000! That’s for just 2 liters per minute, some sectors such as Hotels are wasting 10 times this amount. 😳 📉 The result? €150,000 spent on heating wasted hot water 🔥 €40,000 on wasted water charges 💦 💸 Total avoidable Cost : €190,000 🛑 If you are a multiple property owner within the Commercial Real Estate or Hospitality Sector, these uncontrolled water costs become a financial money pit !!!!!!!! It’s essential for every business owner to monitor their water usage in real-time to prevent this ! #watercharges #savewater #watermonitoring #waterwaste

📈 EUDR Blamed for Surge of Cheap Hardwoods Now Entering the UK 🪵 The European Union's new deforestation regulation (EUDR) has unintended consequences, leading to a surge of cheap, uncertified hardwood timbers entering the UK supply chain. According to James Latham, one of the UK's leading timber merchants, this influx of uncertified products is significantly impacting the market dynamics. 🔎 Key Highlights: 1️⃣ Impact on Timber Trade: James Latham reported a 2.3% revenue decline for the six months ending September 30, 2024, largely due to the prevalence of lower-priced, uncertified hardwoods, especially from African Sapele markets. This trend puts pressure on profit margins and alters the product mix towards cheaper alternatives. 2️⃣ Legislative Delays: The UK's unique exposure to illegal timber in its supply chains is exacerbated by the lack of a clear legislative framework. Major retailers like Tesco and Marks & Spencer have urged the government to expedite alignment with the EUDR, warning that efforts to eliminate products linked to deforestation could be compromised due to delays in implementing the necessary regulations. 3️⃣ Market Challenges: Despite stable timber costs, James Latham noted challenges in the marketplace, including competitors going into administration and a shift in inventory management strategies. These factors affect short-term margins and create opportunities to capture a more significant market share. 🗣️ #questionforgroup: How can the UK timber industry navigate the challenges posed by the EUDR while ensuring compliance and sustainability? What strategies can be implemented to enhance transparency and accountability in the supply chain? 🔗 To learn more about the implications of the EUDR on the UK timber market and the push for legislative alignment, click here: https://lnkd.in/geEuUU2v #TimberIndustry #EUDR #Sustainability #UKTimberMarket #Deforestation #SupplyChainTransparency #JamesLatham #EnvironmentalRegulations #Retailers #MarketTrends

Northern Corridor: The High Court has barred the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) from taxing transport services for unprocessed agricultural produce. The decision follows a suit in which KRA demanded 20 million Khs in VAT from Logistics Firm Kuehne + Nagel Ltd for consignments of cut flowers ferried from its customers farms to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from 2010 to 2012.

Great news! On Tuesday, December 10th, Bill C-280, the Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Act, was passed at Third Reading in the Senate. The passing of Bill C-280 will establish a critical financial protection mechanism -- through a deemed trust -- for fresh produce sellers in Canada that will help secure payment in the case of a buyer bankruptcy. The OPMA - through its Government Relations Committee and support from members - as well as other associations and interest groups in the produce industry have been working together for many years to bring attention to this Bill and to support its passing.  #BillC280 #farmers #Senate #legislation #produceindustry #producesector #Ontariogrowers

Notice the failure of the so-called “market” system to defend our constitutionally reserved water rights from traditional "non residents" who are excluded from being able to own our water. This is a modern day slavery issue affecting young Australians, but not old Australians. Makes me wonder, what would Tadeusz Kościuszko do in a situation like this? How would he warn young Australians about the modern-day slavery threat they face to their freedom, from corruption in politics, including from elite capture by global capital markets of both sides of Australian politics? ==> In addition, the corporate agribusiness and foreign institutional investor model of controlling Australian water rights is not protecting our environment, as was promised by both sides of Australian politics. Instead, we ended up with a state-sponsored human trafficking and real estate money laundering operation that stripped all Australians of our rights to freedom from slavery (top quality, affordable food security, independent from The Crown). See also: - https://lnkd.in/gSuGv96u .