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
Wildfire Smoke Over Ontario--What Farmers Need to Know Thursday, July 16, 2026 Ontario farmers are becoming increasingly familiar with hazy skies as wildfire smoke drifts across the province. While much of the public focus remains on human health and visibility, the agricultural impacts are also drawing attention as smoke affects crop development, livestock... Read this article online
EMILI Celebrates 10 Years of Connecting Farmers, Innovators, and Industry Partners Thursday, July 16, 2026 The Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative (EMILI) has received $3.5 million in funding from the Government of Canada to strengthen agricultural innovation and technology adoption in Manitoba. The announcement was made earlier this week during EMILI’s Field Day event... Read this article online
Table Beet Harvest has Begun Wednesday, July 15, 2026 July marks the beginning of Ontario's fresh beet harvest season, with growers across the province supplying one of Canada's most popular root vegetables to grocery stores, farmers' markets, food processors, and wholesale distributors, and fellow farmers. Known for their versatility,... Read this article online
Massive Norfolk County Barn Fire Kills 20,000 Hogs, Shuts Down Highway 3 in Southwestern Ontario Wednesday, July 15, 2026 A devastating barn fire in Norfolk County has left one of Ontario's largest hog facilities destroyed and an estimated 20,000 hogs dead, drawing attention across the agricultural sector and raising new questions about emergency preparedness, livestock protection, and farm infrastructure... Read this article online
Canadian Grain Commission Updates Grain Grading Rules for 2026-27 Crop Year Tuesday, July 14, 2026 The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is introducing several important changes to grain grading procedures for the 2026-27 crop year, including updates affecting Canada Western Amber Durum, wheat and red lentils. The revisions, which take effect August 1, were developed following... Read this article online