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
90 percent of agri-businesses are concerned about the future of Canadian agriculture Thursday, May 14, 2026 Canada’s agriculture sector is facing a prolonged period of low confidence and limited growth, raising concerns about its long-term resilience. According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), agri-business sentiment remains near the bottom across all industries, with... Read this article online
Grain Bin Emergencies Turn Deadly in Seconds, but Training Can Save Lives Wednesday, May 13, 2026 Would you know what to do if someone you loved was trapped in a grain bin? The reality is sobering. Compared to a flowing mass of grain, a person is only several bushels in volume. When grain begins moving, escape becomes nearly impossible. In most cases of full grain engulfment,... Read this article online
Free safety kits help Canadian farm families teach children safe farming habits Wednesday, May 13, 2026 BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada is celebrating five years of the BASF Safety Scouts program, an initiative designed to help farm families teach children about farm safety in a fun and engaging way. Since its launch in 2021, the program has supported safe learning by providing free... Read this article online
Tom Green bringing celebrities to his Ont. farm Tuesday, May 12, 2026 A Canadian known for his comedic chops in Hollywood is bringing some friends to his Ontario farm. THE TOM GREEN FARM, starring Tom Green, whose movie credits include Road Trip and Charlie’s Angels, begins airing on May 29 on Crave. The backdrop of the show is Green’s 150-acre farm in... Read this article online
Rising Waters on the Canadian Prairies and Beyond Monday, May 11, 2026 Spring flooding is intensifying across large portions of Canada, placing farms under growing pressure during one of the most important windows of the agricultural year. From the Prairies to Central Canada and into Atlantic regions, saturated soils, elevated rivers, and damaged rural... Read this article online