Valero Energy’s ethanol plant at Aurora, S.D., about 90 km north of Sioux Falls. (Valero.com)

U.S. EPA lifts 2019 biofuels mandate

Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday lifted its annual blending mandate for advanced biofuels, drawing praise from the U.S. biofuels industry, but disappointment that the government had not done more to protect the agricultural market. Under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard, oil refiners must blend increasing amounts of biofuels into […] Read more






(Barilla.com)

Barilla to buy second-largest Italian pasta plant

Milan | Reuters — Food group Barilla said on Wednesday it had presented an offer to buy the second-largest pasta plant in Italy from domestic rival Pasta Zara to boost its production capacity. Family-owned Pasta Zara has started court proceedings to get creditor protection after its debt spiralled out of control. The factory, which is […] Read more


(Keebler.com)

Kellogg explores sale of cookie, fruit snack businesses

Reuters — Kellogg Co. said Monday it would reorganize its North American division and explore a sale of its cookies and fruit snacks units, which include brands such as Keebler and Stretch Island, as it sharpens focus on its core businesses. Like other packaged food makers, Kellogg has struggled to boost sales as consumers shift […] Read more



A Western blot analysis, used to detect specific proteins in tissue samples, is used to confirm BSE in cattle. (Peggy Greb photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Scotland identifies ‘classical’ BSE case

London | Reuters — Scotland’s government said on Thursday that a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) had been discovered on a farm in Aberdeenshire, the first in Britain since 2015. A quarantine area has been put in place around the farm while inspectors try to identify the origin of the disease. “I have activated […] Read more