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Food price surge may not lead to chaos

Sep 3, 2010
Food riots are starting to break out with the spike in food prices -- particularly wheat -- like the last time food costs jumped two years ago. Will the wheat shortage cause a repeat of the unrest two years ago?

Russia extends ban on grain exports

Sep 3, 2010
Russia has announced it will continue to ban grain sales to other countries well into next year. Peter van Dyk reports.

Twitter makes for better commodities trading

Sep 2, 2010
This final note today. Another in our continuing series of me getting my head around how Twitter can actually be useful sometimes. I saw an...

Scientists crack wheat's genetic code

Aug 27, 2010
British researchers have successfully mapped the genetic makeup of wheat. The BBC's Rebecca Singer reports now on how the scientific breakthrough could help wheat farmers worldwide.

On the lookout for cattle rustlers

Aug 25, 2010
Someone -- or some group -- is stealing cows from the Oregon backcountry, and ranchers and law enforcement are scrambling to protect their herds and catch the thieves.

How to recall half a billion eggs

Aug 24, 2010
The FDA has recalled half a billion eggs due to a salmonella outbreak -- no small amount. So how does the FDA go about collecting and destroying so many eggs?

Olive oil virginity is in question

Aug 19, 2010
The olive oil section at the market has a dizzy array of bottles. At the top of the heap are the extra virgin olive oils -- but there's some question as to whether that label actually corresponds to what's in the bottle.

For public good, not for profit.

Step away from the spatula

Aug 18, 2010
Large food recalls due to e.coli, salmonella or other bacteria seem to happen every few months. But actually, food recalls happen as often as once a week.

Big mining wants a part of big fertilizer

Aug 18, 2010
Europe correspondent Stephen Beard talks with Bill Radke about why BHP Billiton, the world's biggest mining company, is making a hostile bid for Potash Corporation, the world's biggest fertilizer producer.

Fertilizer will be big business

Aug 17, 2010
An Australian company offered billions to buy the largest producer of potash in the world -- a deal that the Canadian company declined. Why fertilizer? With growing middle classes in populous countries like India and China, fertilizer to grow all the food in those countries will soon be big business.