Electric power from potatoes Monday, February 28, 2011 Slices of freshly cooked potatoes can provide electricity for remote, off-grid communities, says a research team at the University of Jerusalem. A slice of potato can generate light for 20 hours, and several slices could power simple medical equipment, or even a low-powered computer.The work was described last year in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy and hinges on a recent discovery that electricity flows from membranes disrupted by boiling. Potato batteries are estimated to generate electricity at a cost of about US$9 per kilowatt hour, about the same cost as AA alkaline batteries. D cells generate electricity for about $50/kWh.Expect to see another debate about "food or energy" to develop. The "antis" argue that these "food batteries" would be grown and used in areas of Africa where food may already be in short supply. Proponents, on the other hand, say many potatoes can't be moved to city markets in time to prevent them from rotting. BF ALUS and EG&S: The tangled world of ecological services Key Asian meat market in turmoil
Canadian Ethanol Industry Pushes Ottawa to Act as U.S. Imports Gain Market Share Saturday, October 10, 2026 Canada's ethanol industry is renewing pressure on the federal government to finalize long-promised changes to the Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR), arguing that delays are allowing imported U.S. ethanol to capture a growing share of Canada's expanding market. The call comes from the Farms... Read this article online
Farmland Demand Strong in Alberta, Not so for the Rest of Canada Friday, October 9, 2026 Canadian farmland values continued their upward trend during the first half of 2026, although growth has moderated compared to the rapid gains seen in recent years. According to Farm Credit Canada's (FCC) mid-year farmland values review, cultivated farmland increased by an average of... Read this article online
Small Plane Crashes Near Fergus Into a Corn Field Friday, October 9, 2026 A small aircraft crashed into a corn field north of Fergus on Friday morning, sparking a fire and prompting a major emergency response in rural Wellington County. Witnesses reported hearing unusual noises from the aircraft before the collision, while police and aviation authorities... Read this article online
Meat industry leaders honoured at MPO awards gala Friday, October 9, 2026 Leaders from Ontario’s meat and poultry sector were recognized during the 2026 Meat & Poultry Ontario Awards Gala, which brought together industry members to celebrate achievements, community involvement and long-term commitment to the sector. Held October 3, 2026, at The Westin Toronto... Read this article online
Crack a Canadian egg and celebrate farmers on World Egg Day Friday, October 9, 2026 Egg Farmers of Canada is celebrating—October 9—by recognizing the 1,290 egg farmers and farm families who produce eggs across the country. Observed annually on the second Friday of October, World Egg Day shines a spotlight on the nutritional value of eggs and the farmers responsible for... Read this article online