November 16, 2022

New government of St Kitts and Nevis ready to usher in new sense of cooperation and good governance, hints at changes to the country’s CBI programme

Basseterre, Nov. 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — St Kitts and Nevis welcomed a new government in August and the new administration, led by Dr Terrance Drew, is ready and determined to usher in a new sense of cooperation, good governance, and transparency – starting with steps to improve the country’s long-standing citizenship by investment (CBI) programme.

In his address on Tuesday, 15 November, marking his first 100 days in office, Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew provided insight into the focus areas for the CBI changes, which he gave to the citizens of St Kitts and Nevis at an event held earlier today in the country’s capital Basseterre.

Since winning the snap election on 5 August, Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew has been working tirelessly for the overall development of St Kitts and Nevis and has undertaken various initiatives including the formation of a committee to combat corruption.

The new administration has presented plans for the advancement of the twin-island nation, outlining steps that will pave the way to improving the lives of its people. A large part of these plans is funded by the CBI programme which has secured foreign direct investment into the nation for nearly 40 years since it is independence.

“Our government has been relentless in our pursuit to strengthen and improve our Citizenship by Investment programme, for enhanced sustainability within a framework of integrity. We have held productive discussions with local developers and international investors alike,” said Prime Minister Drew.

“There will be much stronger oversight and leadership in the CBI Unit by a new CBI Board and Technical Committee. I will announce the detailed changes at our upcoming press conference, but I want to be absolutely clear, that our evolved CBI programme will be run with the utmost transparency.”

To help progress the economy, Prime Minister Drew highlighted that more oversight would ensure that the people of St Kitts and Nevis would also benefit from the CBI programme as it was intended. Plans are in place to support women in sectors like construction, to provide more support to small businesses, and to review opportunities for the development of the renewable energy sector, the processing of fish, as well as packaging and exports.

With promises to improve health care, provide more affordable housing and access to better education – Prime Minister Drew understands that all this will be underpinned by a stronger economy.

Speaking at the event Prime Minister Drew said that while the nation has been the benchmark of citizenship by investment value proposition, the new administration understands that in order to remain one of the most sought-after economic citizenship programmes in the world, it needs to evolve and forge a new path for itself and the industry as it responds to a changing demographic.

Through ongoing consultations with all stakeholders during the exploratory phase, the new government aims to have regular engagement with local and international stakeholders in the programme to ensure it meets their salient needs.

Prime Minister Drew also emphasised how his government is on a journey to bring clarity to locals and international investors through constant transparency and integrity. “Our ongoing work to strengthen this programme and the system must result in prosperity for all.”

Consultations with stakeholders have led to the development of committees to supervise the process and implement strengthened legislative and administrative structures to prevent “underselling” and ensure that real estate projects funded by the CBI programme are completed.

The government’s plan is to maintain a progressive programme that cements St Kitts and Nevis’ place as a leader in the CBI Industry.

The government is also seeking out reliable and trustworthy developers who are ready to put capital behind creative and strong projects that will enhance St Kitts and Nevis’ CBI offering.

St Kitts and Nevis holds the oldest citizenship by investment programme in the world – established in 1984, the programme currently allows investors to gain second citizenship by donating to a government fund or by investing in real estate.

The government fund channels investment to projects that will uplift the country and has enabled, in part, sectors such as health, education, tourism, business, and agriculture to flourish.

PR St Kitts and Nevis
Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
mildred.thabane@csglobalpartners.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8698419

November 16, 2022

New High-Yielding Perennial Rice Sees Sustainability Success Catalyzed by Global Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing Approach

Salina, Kansas, USA, Nov. 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Over 70% of the food calories that feed humanity come from annual grain crops, which occupy 60–80% of global croplands. But annual grain dominance may be changing. A study in the journal Nature Sustainability reports that a new high-yielding, long-lived perennial rice with significant environmental, economic, and social sustainability impacts is now being grown in Southeast Asia and parts of Africa.

Researchers in China’s Yunnan Province developed perennial rice in a relatively short two-decade timeframe, achieving comparable yields to annual rice varieties. They were supported with scientific expertise and seed funding from Kansas-based nonprofit The Land Institute and a global network of researchers.

“I congratulate the authors for delivering one of the most important reports in modern agriculture,” says National Geographic Society Explorer Jerry Glover, whose work has focused on developing and using perennial crops. “I believe this report will catalyze a generation of new discoveries by scientists who have not yet been involved in pursuing perennial traits in staple grain crops. This research marks a distinct new line of possibilities for global food production from the nearly 10,000-year single-track reliance on annual grain crops.”

Rice feeds 4 billion people and is the grain most consumed by humans, and is the third largest cereal grain crop after corn and wheat worldwide in metric tons. But annual grain agriculture comes at an ecological and economic cost, compromising ecosystems and forcing ever-higher inputs of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fossil fuel energy, and labor to maintain yields. The growing perennial grain agriculture movement is shifting this paradigm to address some of the food system’s most pressing challenges.

“Since perennial rice can produce yields over eight consecutive harvests similar to annual rice, this is direct evidence that developing perennial versions of grain crops is feasible,” says Lee DeHaan, Director of Crop Improvement and Lead Scientist of the Kernza® Domestication Program at The Land Institute. “This evidence provides a clear reason to vastly increase research investment in ongoing work to develop perennial versions of crops like wheat and sorghum.”

Senior author Fengyi Hu and Dayun Tao began working with co-author Erik Sacks to develop perennial rice in 1999 in a collaboration between the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (YAAS) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Hearing of the IRRI project, The Land Institute invited Sacks to present his research in 2005. This connection eventually led to Hu and the YAAS team partnering with the perennial grain breeding experts at The Land Institute in 2007 to help jumpstart the development of a promising wide hybrid cross between annual, cultivated rice and a perennial rice cousin from Africa. Inspired by the potential for Hu’s research to develop upland perennial rice, given the catastrophic soil erosion in the hilly regions of Southeast Asia, The Land Institute provided critical funding, technical support, and mentoring and helped expand a network of global peer researchers. The University of Illinois, Yunnan University, and the University of Queensland soon joined the effort.

“The success of Dr. Hu’s group is a wonderful example of how an international network of researchers can help support, advise and advance an amazing and important achievement,” says co-author Tim Crews, The Land Institute’s Chief Scientist and International Program Director. “At The Land Institute, we are intent on working with more research groups worldwide to build on the successes of Hu and others in the perennialization of grain agriculture.”

“Almost yearly since 2009, we’ve held workshops in Yunnan, China, on perennial rice and perennial grain crops, inviting international experts, including African and U.S. rice breeders, sustainable ag researchers, international ag development leaders, and more. This sharing of ideas and building an international network of collaborators has proven invaluable for accelerating progress and achieving success on perennial grains,” says Sacks, professor in the Department of Crop Sciences, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois.

The research shows that perennial rice crops have advantages over annual rice crops:

Long-Lived Production: Perennial rice produced grain for eight consecutive harvests over four years from a single planting
Comparable High Yields: Average perennial rice yields were equivalent to annual rice, with 6.8 Mg ha^-1harvest^-1 of perennial rice versus 6.7 Mg ha^-1harvest^-1 of replanted annual rice for each perennial rice regrowth cycle
Significant Carbon Sequestration: By switching from annual to perennial rice, soils accumulated almost a ton of organic carbon per hectare per year, 0.81 Mg organic carbon ha^-1yr^-1
Labor and Inputs Savings: Farmers used nearly 60% less labor and spent almost 50% less on seed, fertilizer, and other inputs for perennial rice than annual rice
Improved Farmer Livelihoods: Farmer profits from perennial rice ranged from 17% to 161% above annual rice

“Interest in developing and testing perennial grain cultivars has grown exponentially over the last ten years,” says Rachel Stroer, President of The Land Institute. “Besides perennial rice, our work on wide hybrid crosses of annual wheat and sorghum with their perennial relatives show promise. With intensified investment in perennial grain agriculture research from global funders and partners, we’re confident that these grains and more will reach high yields with robust ecological and social benefits and move onto the landscape in the coming decades.”

ABOUT THE LAND INSTITUTE

The Land Institute co-leads the global movement for perennial, diverse, regenerative grain agriculture at a scale that matches the enormity of the intertwined climate, water, and food security crises. An independent 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1976, the organization seeks to reconcile the human economy with nature’s economy, starting with food. Its transdisciplinary team of scientists and global partners are developing new perennial grain crops, like Kernza®, and diverse cropping systems that function within nature’s limits and researching the social transformation required for a just, perennial human future.

Attachments

Tammy Kimbler
The Land Institute
612-991-4747
kimbler@landinstitute.org

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8697794

November 16, 2022

Vinamilk investit dans de nouvelles méga-laiteries pour accélérer la capacité d’approvisionnement pour l’exportation

HO CHI MINH VILLE, Vietnam, 16 novembre 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Vinamilk, la principale entreprise laitière du Vietnam, a réalisé des progrès importants en veillant à ce que sa capacité de production puisse répondre à la demande intérieure et extérieure au cours des deux ou trois prochaines années grâce à deux projets de construction essentiels.

The perspective of the Moc Chau Dairy Complex Project in Moc Chau Highland

Le premier projet verra la construction de la plus grande usine laitière de la province de Hung Yen et le second concerne le complexe laitier de Moc Chau dans le nord-ouest, qui va de pair avec les usines existantes et le système de fermes de Vinamilk. Une fois achevés, ces deux projets augmenteront la capacité de production de Vinamilk de 20 % en vue des prévisions établies et renforceront la position de l’entreprise sur le marché.

L’usine laitière de Hung Yen reliera les fermes laitières, les entrepôts et les systèmes de distribution existants de Vinamilk afin de créer un écosystème durable. Les avantages économiques associés sont conséquents. L’usine laitière d’une capacité totale de 400 millions de litres par an produira une variété de produits laitiers pour augmenter l’approvisionnement au Nord du Vietnam et pour l’exportation vers les régions de l’ASEAN (Association des Nations de l’Asie du Sud-Est), la Chine, le Japon et la Corée du Sud, entre autres. The capacity of the UK's production lines in the Vietnam Powdered Milk Factory reaches nearly 23,000 products every hour

Le complexe laitier Moc Chau, d’un montant de 130 millions de dollars, sera un écosystème agricole moderne et fermé composé de fermes laitières de haute technologie et d’usines de transformation qui serviront de facteur d’écotourisme supplémentaire. Ce projet, qui sera mis en œuvre en deux phases, produira à terme jusqu’à 1 000 tonnes par jour pour répondre adéquatement à la demande mondiale.

Les installations de production de Vinamilk au Vietnam, dont 13 usines et 14 fermes, ont suivi les normes internationales, contribuant à la valeur de marque de l’entreprise et à sa croissance rapide au cours de la décennie. Au cours des 15 dernières années, 615 millions de dollars ont été investis dans ses usines.

La société s’est également diversifiée dans le segment du lait en poudre avec deux usines au Vietnam. L’une d’entre elles, la Vietnam Powdered Milk Factory, a une capacité de production de 54 000 tonnes par an et répond aux besoins de près d’un million d’enfants chaque année avec des gammes de produits bien connues telles que Dielac, RiDielac et Optimum Gold. The Hung Yen Dairy Factory will be officially started construction in 2023

Plus important encore, la variété des offres laitières est produite à l’aide de systèmes hautement automatisés alimentés par une technologie de pointe pour verrouiller les nutriments et le goût naturel, surtout vu dans Optimum Gold de Vinamilk. Cette préparation pour nourrissons contient des HMO, qui représentent le troisième composant le plus abondant dans le lait maternel. Les HMO ainsi que 26 vitamines, minéraux et DHA aident à prévenir l’adhésion des pathogènes, à favoriser une digestion saine et à améliorer le système immunitaire.

« Les produits Vinamilk sont exportés dans plus de 57 pays et territoires à l’échelle mondiale. Avec l’augmentation de notre capacité de production, nous sommes mieux placés pour répondre aux différents besoins du marché mondial », a déclaré Vo Trung Hieu, directeur du développement commercial international de Vinamilk. « Notre engagement envers nos clients reste fort, avec la recherche et le développement de nouvelles formules de produits alignés avec les besoins du marché, y compris notre conception et l’emballage qui sont fabriqués à partir de matériaux recyclés. »

À propos de Vinamilk

Fondée en 1976, Vinamilk est la première entreprise laitière du Vietnam. Elle figure parmi les 40 plus grandes entreprises laitières au monde en termes de chiffre d’affaires et parmi les 10 marques de produits laitiers ayant le plus de valeur au monde, représentant 2,8 milliards de dollars américains. Vinamilk compte désormais 46 unités subordonnées au Vietnam et au Laos, au Cambodge, aux Philippines, aux États-Unis et en Nouvelle-Zélande.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1933499/Copy_of_1___Ph_i_c_nh_t_ng_th__d___n_TH_T_S_MC__2.jpg

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1933500/H_nh_2.jpg

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1948603/Image.jpg

November 16, 2022

AirShow China 2022 : le drone tactique de LoongUAV attire l’attention

ZHUHAI, Chine, 16 novembre 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Le 13 novembre 2022, le 14e Salon aéronautique chinois s’est terminé en beauté à Zhuhai. De nombreux UAV intéressants ont été exposés dans le cadre de ce salon aéronautique, tels que l’UAV d’inspection à grande échelle et d’attaque WJ-700 « Falcon » de la troisième académie des sciences et de l’industrie aérospatiale, l’UAV de moyenne et basse altitude Wing Loong-1E d’AVIC, le drone tactique de surveillance de précision multirotor Loong 4 de LoongUAV, le drone de surveillance de moyenne portée Rainbow-4 de la société de sciences et technologies aérospatiales de Chine, etc.

De nos jours, un volume croissant d’équipements sans pilote est mis en service. Parmi ces équipements figurent divers UAV de combat qui sont fréquemment utilisés dans les guerres. Loong 1 est un drone de ciblage qui peut fournir un positionnement précis de cibles à longue portée.Loong 2 est un drone de reconnaissance qui peut être déployé rapidement et secrètement pour identifier les conditions du champ de bataille. Le Loong 5 est un drone d’attaque qui peut bombarder des cibles dans de vastes zones. Le Loong 4 est un UAV multirotor de taille moyenne. Il est doté d’une capacité de charge élevée et d’une longue autonomie de vol, ce qui lui permet de répondre à divers besoins en combat et lui a valu l’attention de tous les publics lors du salon aéronautique.

Loong 4 peut transporter quatre mortiers de calibre 82 mm et six mortiers de 60 mm, verrouiller la position de la cible grâce à la nacelle de suivi et réaliser la mission de bombardement depuis les airs. Il prend en charge les modes de prises de vue uniques ou multiples, et sa précision de largage est inférieure ou égale à 2 m, ce qui est adapté aux frappes précises en temps de guerre. En même temps, lorsqu’il transporte une triple charge utile, il peut également fournir des données de position de haute précision au mètre près pour le calibrage de l’artillerie cible.

Pour sa première apparition, le LoongUAV a non seulement reçu des éloges unanimes de professionnels de tous les horizons lors du salon, mais a également reçu des commandes et des demandes de la Russie, de l’Ukraine, des Émirats arabes unis, de l’Arabie saoudite, du Brésil, de l’Afrique du Sud, d’Arménie, du Yémen, d’Ouzbékistan, de Zambie, de Jordanie et d’autres pays, pour un total de commande atteignant une valeur de plus de 500 millions de dollars américains.

LoongUAV conçoit, met au point, fabrique et commercialise des drones tactiques efficaces, et propose une large gamme de services OEM/ODM. LoongUAV s’engage à construire des drones à haute performance, légers, pénétrants, invisibles, modularisés, à haute capacité et de longue durée. Capables d’exécuter des tâches de combat intelligentes, précises et diversifiées dans un environnement de champ de bataille à haut risque.

Pour plus d’informations, veuillez consulter www.loonguav.com ou contactez sales@loonguav.com

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1945826/image_5025910_24263464.jpg

November 16, 2022

Vinamilk Invests in New “Mega” Dairy Factories to Accelerate Export Supply Capacity

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Nov. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Vinamilk, Vietnam’s leading dairy company, has made significant progress in ensuring its production capacity can meet the domestic and export demand in the next two to three years with two vital construction projects.

The first will see the building of the largest dairy plant in Hung Yen province, and the second being the Moc Chau dairy complex in the northwest going along with the existing factories and farms system of Vinamilk. When finished, these two projects will increase the 20% production capacity of Vinamilk in preparation for the foreseeable future and strengthen the company’s position in the market.

The Hung Yen dairy plant will connect existing Vinamilk dairy farms, warehouses, and distribution systems to create a sustainable ecosystem and deliver substantial economic benefits. The dairy plant with a total capacity of 400 million liters per year will produce a variety of dairy products to increase supply to Northern Vietnam and for export to ASEAN regions, China, Japan, and South Korea amongst others. The capacity of the UK's production lines in the Vietnam Powdered Milk Factory reaches nearly 23,000 products every hour

The USD 130 million Moc Chau dairy complex, on the other hand, will be a modern, closed agricultural ecosystem consisting of high-tech dairy farms and processing factories that will serve as an additional ecotourism factor. This project which will be implemented in two phases will ultimately produce up to 1,000 tonnes per day to adequately meet global demands.

Vinamilk’s production facilities in Vietnam, including 13 factories and 14 farms, have been following international standards, contributing to its brand value and rapid growth over the decade. Over the last 15 years, a total of USD 615 million have been invested in its factories.

The company also diversified into the powdered milk segment with two factories in Vietnam. One of them – the Vietnam Powdered Milk Factory – has a production capacity of 54,000 tonnes per year, meeting the needs of nearly one million children every year with well-known product ranges such as Dielac, RiDielac, and Optimum Gold. The Hung Yen Dairy Factory will be officially started construction in 2023

More importantly, the variety of dairy offerings is produced using highly automated systems powered by leading technology to lock in the nutrients and natural taste, especially seen in Vinamilk’s Optimum Gold. This baby infant formula contains HMO, the third most abundant component found in breast milk. HMO alongside 26 vitamins, minerals, and DHA help prevent pathogen adhesion, support healthy digestion, and enhance the immune system.

“Vinamilk products are exported to over 57 countries and territories globally. With our production capacity ramped up, we are better positioned to serve the various needs of the global market,” shared Vo Trung Hieu, International Business Director of Vinamilk. “Our commitment to our customers remains strong, with the research and development of new product formulas aligned with market needs, including our design and packaging that are made from recycled materials.”

About Vinamilk

Founded in 1976, Vinamilk is the leading dairy company in Vietnam which is listed among the top 40 largest dairy companies in the world by revenue and the top 10 of the world’s most valuable dairy brands with a value of USD 2.8 billion. Vinamilk has now expanded its scale to 46 subordinate units in Vietnam and Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, the USA, and New Zealand.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1933499/Copy_of_1___Ph_i_c_nh_t_ng_th__d___n_TH_T_S_MC__2.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1933500/H_nh_2.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1948603/Image.jpg