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USDA Addresses Organic Dairy Rule

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) today commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its proposed rule designed to address the final court order concerning the Harvey v. Johanns case and congressional amendments to the Organic Foods Production Act. The proposed rule revises the NOP regulations to clarify that non-organically produced products must be listed in Section 205.606 and may be used in or on processed products labeled as “organic” or “made with” organic ingredients only when organic products are not commercially available. Also, under the proposed rule, transitioning dairy producers would no longer be able to use 20 percent non-organic feed during the first nine months of whole herd conversion to organic production. It further addresses dairy herd conversion by allowing crops and forage from land in its third year of organic management to be fed to animals under conversion. “OTA is pleased with the proposed rule as posted yesterday by USDA’s National Organic Program,” said Caren Wilcox, OTA’s executive director. “It succinctly offers clear and unambiguous resolution to issues raised by the Harvey lawsuit and the 2005 legislation, and leaves intact two very important provisions of the original rule, written in 2000 and implemented in 2002? the criteria and […]

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Suntech to Provide Solar for Beijing Olympics

Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd., one of the world’s leading manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, has signed an exclusive contract to supply the solar energy system for for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The 130k PV system will sit atop of the main stadium, Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Stadium. Suntech’s (STP) shares have soared since going public and have inspired other Chinese solar makers to follow suit. Website: http://www.suntech-power.com     

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Novozymes Reports Q1 Results

Novozymes reports growth of 14% in operating profit and 11% in sales for the first quarter, 2006. Outlook for 2006 is maintained. “Novozymes has made a good start to 2006,” says Steen Riisgaard, President and CEO. “We achieved pleasing top-line growth of 11%, positively affected by exchange rates. And underlying sales are also showing a higher rate of growth than in 2005. In addition, the first quarter has once again demonstrated the company’s ability continuously to optimise production and therefore increase profitability, despite rising energy and raw material prices. Sales are developing as expected, and the outlook for growth in both sales and in earnings remains unchanged. In January 2006 Novozymes acquired a small company in China within the biopolymers area. Novozymes continuously assesses potential candidates for acquisition, primarily outside the enzyme business area, which could strengthen the company’s position within the area in question.” Sales in the first quarter of 2006 rose by 11% to DKK 1,633 million from DKK 1,476 million in the same period of 2005. Measured in local currency, sales rose by just above 5%. Operating profit rose by 14% to DKK 313 million, compared with DKK 275 million in the first quarter of 2005. The […]

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