Free Farming, Not Freebies
In the 1946 novel, Zorba the Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis writes: ‘Look, one day I had gone to a little village. An old grandfather of ninety was busy planting an almond tree. ‘What, grandfather!’ I exclaimed. ‘Planting an almond tree?’ And he, bent as he was, turned around and said: ‘My son, I carry on as…
India’s RCEP Exit Sheds Light on US Trade Deadlock
India’s last-minute decision in November 2019 to withdraw from joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a mega-regional pact and the most expansive regional trade agreement that India had ever negotiated, was triggered by a belated rethink in New Delhi policy circles. Coming amid a chorus of protests from stakeholders, the most potent catalyst that…
Record Butter Prices Highlight Export Demand Strain
A global surge in butter prices is creating new ripples across export markets. According to the UN FAO butter price index, global butter averages just over $7,200 per metric tonne at recent Global Dairy Trade auctions—a 54% rise from two years ago. This spike is driven by shrinking milk supplies amid drought and disease, especially…
Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons basics cost compared
Aldi and Lidl are my go-to supermarkets and have been for the best part of this year. Since buying my first house and car recently, I knew I had to make some serious financial changes, especially when it came to the weekly food shop. It’s safe to say the budget-friendly supermarkets have both been serving…
First sex sorted semen lab to begin operation in Rajasthan
Bassi, a small town in Rajasthan’s Jaipur district, is all set to make history. From August 11, it will be home to Rajasthan’s very first sex sorted semen lab — a facility that could change the way animal husbandry works in the state. “Sex sorted semen, basically, is a smart technology that increases the chances…
The FAO Dairy Price Index edged down by 0.1 % from June
The FAO Food Price Index, a benchmark for world food commodity prices, averaged 130.1 points in July 2025, up 1.6 percent from June, driven primarily by rising international prices of meat and vegetable oils. Despite this monthly increase, the index remains 18.8 percent below its peak in March 2022, although 7.6 percent higher than its level…
Breast-Milk Inspired Ice Cream Becomes Viral Sensation
A quirky culinary moment has captured wide attention: OddFellows Ice Cream in Brooklyn, in collaboration with parenting brand Frida, has launched a limited-edition breast-milk inspired ice cream. Despite its provocative name, the product contains no human breast milk. Instead, it utilizes liposomal bovine colostrum to replicate the nutrient-rich profile and flavor characteristics of early breast…
India Holds Firm on Dairy in US Trade Talks
In response to the U.S. hike of tariffs on Indian exports to 50%, New Delhi is firmly reiterating its protection of sensitive sectors, particularly agriculture and dairy, which remain non-negotiable. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to protect rural livelihoods even at significant political cost, standing strong against pressure to open the dairy sector…
Fermented Dairy Proteins Differ from Cow Whey, Study Finds
A new study conducted by the University of Nevada, Reno, has unveiled notable molecular and microbial differences between traditional cow’s milk whey and its precision‑fermented counterpart—the alternative often promoted as a one‑to‑one dairy substitute. Using mass spectrometry, researchers compared both forms of whey and found that while each is rich in β‑lactoglobulin, cow’s milk whey…
Weakening of the Plant-Based “Boom”: The End of the Threat to the Dairy Industry?
The recent announcement that the word Meat will be dropped from the Beyond Meat name reveals something that many in the dairy industry sensed: the plant-based phenomenon was not as invincible as it was made out to be. For years, the idea of a “plant-based future” without animals echoed strongly in global markets. Companies like…