Pulses: Indian scientist calls for GM strategies to curb hunger

By Dave Sims, Commodity News Service Canada

Winnipeg, February 3 – Following are a few highlights in the Canadian and world pulse markets on Wednesday, February 3.

– Asian trade teams are expected to visit the Northern Crops Institute in North Dakota this year, to learn more about how crops grow in the northern US. Some of the crops grown in the area they’ll be studying include peas and lentils, according to a report in the brownfieldagnews.com.

– A biotechnologist with the National Bureau of Agricultural is calling on his home country of India to look more closely at adopting new technologies to remedy the food-shortage issue facing his country. Anurag Chaurasia told the magazine Nature the country’s microbial institute should aim to discover and manipulate relevant genes in crops like chickpeas. Up to now he argues India has mainly focused on product development over research.

– Fresh arrivals have helped lower the price of peas in Pakistan, according to a report in brecorder.com.

– Desi #1 chickpeas in Western Canada are currently priced at 25 to 27 cents per pound, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. Prices have risen over the past year, improving off their lows, which at one point were 15 cents per pound.