Feeding the world in the 21st century
Published: 27/12/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business
One of the biggest challenges the world faces over the next half century is how to feed a global population that is rapidly increasing. Some estimates have world population topping out at nine billion by mid-century, a near 50% increase.
World demand for calorie-rich, nutritious fare is starting to jump. Feeding so many hungry mouths is a complex task. But it will never happen unless we substantially increase food yields, especially the yields of staple foods such as palm oil which is already used by over one billion consumers around the world.
The good news is that our industry has the potential to meet the rising demand. We have invested in productivity-enhancing technology to boost yields. And we have done this while protecting the global environment. Palm oil is the world's most sustainable vegetable oil as it produces significantly more calories per acre than competing products. Thus our industry contributes safe food products to enhance global food security; protects valuable natural resources such as forests; and provides good jobs and careers for an aspirational middle class.
But there are potential roadblocks to feeding the world's billions. Those obstacles come from a small but loud minority of misguided policymakers and activists who wish to put parochial interests ahead of the broader public interest.
Take for example the World Bank, for many years they supported palm oil development and other plantation agriculture projects in poorer, less developed countries. The Bank's mission is to help kick-start economic growth. So supporting plantation agriculture was long viewed as a worthy goal.
But now the Bank has bowed to the wishes of a few environmental groups that have pressured the Bank to halt funding for plantation agriculture in the developing world and impose far-reaching regulations that will stifle the future of the industry. Environmental groups claim palm oil harms forests and wildlife. Knowledgeable observers have pointed out that this isn't true; and that it is likely that these Western-based environmental groups are instead trying to help Western agriculture interests.
Whatever the reason for the NGO opposition, it is worrisome that the Bank would bend under pressure from activist groups. It is especially troubling when the need to feed three billion more people around the globe is just over the horizon.
Most worrisome of all, the World Bank is not alone. Regulators throughout the West are starting to question the industrial practices of companies in tropical Asia. Their criticism is tinged with irony. After all, Western nations harnessed their natural resources and endowments on their path to becoming wealthy and developed. Asian nations are simply following this time-honored path to success.
Either way, it is important that all stakeholders keep their eyes set firmly on what's most important - the pressing need to feed the billions of people who currently live on less than $2.00 per day, as well as the billions more that will need to be fed in the coming decades. To do that we must produce food that is safe, inexpensive and sustainable. Palm oil is the anchor of that global strategy.
The author is the chief executive officer of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, Tan Sri Dr Yuson Basiron.
马 到 功 成. Success is when the horses come. Success goes only to those who dare and act, it seldom goes to the timid. The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Some Wisdom Worth Remembering
01) Always keep your words soft and tender because you may have to eat them someday.
02) Advice is best given when it is requested or in a life-threatening situation.
03) If you work too hard, you have no time to make money.
04) Man should be taught as if you taught them not.
05) Being kind is more important that being right.
06) A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
07) All who you know deserves to be greeted with a smile when you meet them.
08) When you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock somewhere.
09) Take good care of the pounds; let the pennies take care of themselves.
10) To be successful, mix with successful people.
11) Kind acts are worth more than kind words.
12) Be aware that everyone is hungry for appreciation, respect and love.
13) Being understanding is more important than being understood.
14) Opportunities are never lost. Someone will take the ones you missed.
15) Discretion is the better part of valor.
16) Love, not time, heals all wounds.
17) Seek excellence, not perfection.
18) If you can't beat them, join them; if you can't join them, leave them.
19) To overcome the odds of losing, you must learn the knowledge of winning.
20) Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.
02) Advice is best given when it is requested or in a life-threatening situation.
03) If you work too hard, you have no time to make money.
04) Man should be taught as if you taught them not.
05) Being kind is more important that being right.
06) A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
07) All who you know deserves to be greeted with a smile when you meet them.
08) When you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock somewhere.
09) Take good care of the pounds; let the pennies take care of themselves.
10) To be successful, mix with successful people.
11) Kind acts are worth more than kind words.
12) Be aware that everyone is hungry for appreciation, respect and love.
13) Being understanding is more important than being understood.
14) Opportunities are never lost. Someone will take the ones you missed.
15) Discretion is the better part of valor.
16) Love, not time, heals all wounds.
17) Seek excellence, not perfection.
18) If you can't beat them, join them; if you can't join them, leave them.
19) To overcome the odds of losing, you must learn the knowledge of winning.
20) Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
About ECS ICT Berhad
ECS ICT Berhad (“ECSB”), an MSC-status company, and its group of subsidiaries started in 1985 with the establishment of ECS KU Sdn. Bhd. Today, the Group is a leading distribution hub for Information & Communications Technology (“ICT”) products in Malaysia via ECS ASTAR Sdn. Bhd. and ECS PERICOMP Sdn. Bhd. Listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad on 15 April 2010, ECSB is an associate company of ECS Holdings Limited, a Singapore Exchange main board company which is one of the leading ICT distributors in Asia Pacific, accessing to a network of more than 21,000 channel partners across China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines.
ECSB distributes a comprehensive range of ICT products comprising notebooks, desktop computers, printers, software, network and communication infrastructure, servers, and enterprise software from more than 30 leading principals like Hewlett Packard, IBM, Cisco, Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, Epson, Samsung, Buffalo, Adobe, Juniper, Blue Coat, VMWare and Google.
With a nationwide channel network of more than 2,500 resellers comprising retailers, system integrators and corporate dealers, ECSB also provides value-added product support and technical services. In 2009, ECSB’s revenue surpassed RM1.3 billion with a compounded annual growth rate of 24.5% for the past 5 years.
For more information, please visit www.ecsm.com.my.
The above is an excerpt from the press.
Last Friday the counter was in great demand. Its price shot through the overhead resistance level. Better days are ahead for this counter. Go for it? Do so at your own risk.
ECSB distributes a comprehensive range of ICT products comprising notebooks, desktop computers, printers, software, network and communication infrastructure, servers, and enterprise software from more than 30 leading principals like Hewlett Packard, IBM, Cisco, Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, Epson, Samsung, Buffalo, Adobe, Juniper, Blue Coat, VMWare and Google.
With a nationwide channel network of more than 2,500 resellers comprising retailers, system integrators and corporate dealers, ECSB also provides value-added product support and technical services. In 2009, ECSB’s revenue surpassed RM1.3 billion with a compounded annual growth rate of 24.5% for the past 5 years.
For more information, please visit www.ecsm.com.my.
The above is an excerpt from the press.
Last Friday the counter was in great demand. Its price shot through the overhead resistance level. Better days are ahead for this counter. Go for it? Do so at your own risk.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself
Content Provided by Zacks.com
Analyst Blog
The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself
By: Steve Reitmeister
March 15, 2011 | Comments: 1
Recommended this article (2)
SPX | QQQ | TBT | TLT
The world media has done wonders to stir fears about potential nuclear meltdowns in Japan. Yes, it is a real possibility. Just not as likely as the headlines or glorified reporting would suggest. More importantly, its economic impact on every part of the globe outside of Japan is negligible. Maybe even a net positive as Japan would need a large stimulus plan to rebuild parts of the country. Please note that I’m not trying to be callous about the personal devastation caused in Japan to date or the potential for more to come. But as an investor I need to cut through the panicked market reaction to assess the underlying dynamics. For me, it is clear that the sell-off is already overdone based upon the fundamentals. Yet still the downward pressure may linger a bit longer because fear is such a strong emotion. So why are world markets selling off this morning? Because a rise in fear begets a decrease in risk-taking. This leads to stocks getting dumped in exchange for larger cash and government bond holdings. That is the short-term picture. Over the long haul stocks will trade based upon their ability to generate earnings. So let’s reflect on how even the worst case scenarios in Japan would cause the lowering of earnings power for US companies. Yes there are some insurance firms who will be hurt in paying out extra claims. And yes, some specific companies may have their supply chains disrupted if they get goods from the affected areas. Overall, the toll on US companies in the short run is very limited. The further out you look, the more potential positives will emerge for US companies, as Japan will need to spend massive amounts of money to rebuild their infrastructure. This stimulus spending will have wide-spread benefits within Japan and for their major trading partners: US, China and South Korea. So how long will the fear stay in place and risk-taking assets remain under pressure because of events in Japan? That is unknown and unknowable. But if I had to make a guess, it will only be a couple more weeks. Maybe less. What is the best strategy for investors who already have hefty stock positions? Given that the positive long-term picture for US company earnings is unchanged or maybe even improved, then I say sit tight. Yes, that means the beatings may continue in the short run, especially for smaller cap or higher beta positions. But at some date in the near future stocks will rebound and head back towards the recent highs at 12,400 and hopefully beyond. When that happens, then these same stocks that took the biggest losses will now reverse course and gain the most. So you don’t want to shed them just when they are about to do you the most good. If you have a fair amount of cash on the sidelines, then indeed this is presenting a great buying opportunity for you. Just make a list of your favorite stocks (hopefully Zacks #1 Ranks) and look to buy them on these dips. I know that these are the hardest times in which to enact these strategies. Yet these are exactly the moments that make or break the year. Weak hands get tossed off the bull. Don’t be one of them. Just keep your eye on the clearer horizon, which bodes well for the US economy and stocks.
Analyst Blog
The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself
By: Steve Reitmeister
March 15, 2011 | Comments: 1
Recommended this article (2)
SPX | QQQ | TBT | TLT
The world media has done wonders to stir fears about potential nuclear meltdowns in Japan. Yes, it is a real possibility. Just not as likely as the headlines or glorified reporting would suggest. More importantly, its economic impact on every part of the globe outside of Japan is negligible. Maybe even a net positive as Japan would need a large stimulus plan to rebuild parts of the country. Please note that I’m not trying to be callous about the personal devastation caused in Japan to date or the potential for more to come. But as an investor I need to cut through the panicked market reaction to assess the underlying dynamics. For me, it is clear that the sell-off is already overdone based upon the fundamentals. Yet still the downward pressure may linger a bit longer because fear is such a strong emotion. So why are world markets selling off this morning? Because a rise in fear begets a decrease in risk-taking. This leads to stocks getting dumped in exchange for larger cash and government bond holdings. That is the short-term picture. Over the long haul stocks will trade based upon their ability to generate earnings. So let’s reflect on how even the worst case scenarios in Japan would cause the lowering of earnings power for US companies. Yes there are some insurance firms who will be hurt in paying out extra claims. And yes, some specific companies may have their supply chains disrupted if they get goods from the affected areas. Overall, the toll on US companies in the short run is very limited. The further out you look, the more potential positives will emerge for US companies, as Japan will need to spend massive amounts of money to rebuild their infrastructure. This stimulus spending will have wide-spread benefits within Japan and for their major trading partners: US, China and South Korea. So how long will the fear stay in place and risk-taking assets remain under pressure because of events in Japan? That is unknown and unknowable. But if I had to make a guess, it will only be a couple more weeks. Maybe less. What is the best strategy for investors who already have hefty stock positions? Given that the positive long-term picture for US company earnings is unchanged or maybe even improved, then I say sit tight. Yes, that means the beatings may continue in the short run, especially for smaller cap or higher beta positions. But at some date in the near future stocks will rebound and head back towards the recent highs at 12,400 and hopefully beyond. When that happens, then these same stocks that took the biggest losses will now reverse course and gain the most. So you don’t want to shed them just when they are about to do you the most good. If you have a fair amount of cash on the sidelines, then indeed this is presenting a great buying opportunity for you. Just make a list of your favorite stocks (hopefully Zacks #1 Ranks) and look to buy them on these dips. I know that these are the hardest times in which to enact these strategies. Yet these are exactly the moments that make or break the year. Weak hands get tossed off the bull. Don’t be one of them. Just keep your eye on the clearer horizon, which bodes well for the US economy and stocks.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
The Rule of 3
In the stock market: We talk of Fear, Greed and Hope.
Buy, hold and monitor. Warren Buffett said, "Don't lose money."
At road junctions, we can see the sign: Stop, Look, Go.
For health advice, we have: Be wise, Be healthy, Be a non-smoker.
When it comes to investment in property, it's Location, Location, Location.
In priorities. Tony Blair said, Education, Education, Education.
For survival, you can live only 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food.
In school, we have 3 terms,
In a day we have morning, afternoon, and night.
In meals, we have breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
In sports, competitors are given 3 attempts.
In fables and movies, we have the 3 Musketeers; the 3 Stooges; and the 3 Blind Mice.
At CNN, we have: Go Beyond Boarders.
In religion, Jesus rises on the third day.
In hard time: Pull up your socks; Roll up your sleeve, and Let your hairs down.
When you forget your password, you are only given 3 attempts to get it right.
Popular phrases in threes include the following:
I came, I saw, I conquered.
I speak, the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Fathers, sons, and holy spirits
Friends, Romans, Countrymen
Blood, Sweat and Tears
Lock, Stock and Barrel
Line, Hook and Sinker
Drink, Eat, and be Merry
Do no evil, Think no evil, Speak no evil
The Government of the people, by the people, and for the people
Three simply has its magic. So if you failed twice, don't give up.
You could be third time lucky.
Buy, hold and monitor. Warren Buffett said, "Don't lose money."
At road junctions, we can see the sign: Stop, Look, Go.
For health advice, we have: Be wise, Be healthy, Be a non-smoker.
When it comes to investment in property, it's Location, Location, Location.
In priorities. Tony Blair said, Education, Education, Education.
For survival, you can live only 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food.
In school, we have 3 terms,
In a day we have morning, afternoon, and night.
In meals, we have breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
In sports, competitors are given 3 attempts.
In fables and movies, we have the 3 Musketeers; the 3 Stooges; and the 3 Blind Mice.
At CNN, we have: Go Beyond Boarders.
In religion, Jesus rises on the third day.
In hard time: Pull up your socks; Roll up your sleeve, and Let your hairs down.
When you forget your password, you are only given 3 attempts to get it right.
Popular phrases in threes include the following:
I came, I saw, I conquered.
I speak, the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Fathers, sons, and holy spirits
Friends, Romans, Countrymen
Blood, Sweat and Tears
Lock, Stock and Barrel
Line, Hook and Sinker
Drink, Eat, and be Merry
Do no evil, Think no evil, Speak no evil
The Government of the people, by the people, and for the people
Three simply has its magic. So if you failed twice, don't give up.
You could be third time lucky.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Some tips for thoughts
1) Don't buy what you don't understand.
2) Never overpay for a stock no matter what.
3) Buying at major support with strong fundamentals is generally safe.
4) Buying in a downtrend is foolish.
5) Stocks with high debts, low or negative earnings, and no dividends are
somebody's problems. Don't make them yours.
6) Averaging up is better than averaging down. Follow strength, not weakness.
7) Don't be lured into buying a stock because of great promises and some rosy pictures.
8) Times of extreme pessimism are the best times to buy.
9) When prices are moving fast, from strength to strength, pay close attention to your charts.
Sell as soon as the exaggerated uptrend line is breached even amid bullish news.
10. Everyone has the right to wait for the best opportunity. Patience is a must if you want to win.
2) Never overpay for a stock no matter what.
3) Buying at major support with strong fundamentals is generally safe.
4) Buying in a downtrend is foolish.
5) Stocks with high debts, low or negative earnings, and no dividends are
somebody's problems. Don't make them yours.
6) Averaging up is better than averaging down. Follow strength, not weakness.
7) Don't be lured into buying a stock because of great promises and some rosy pictures.
8) Times of extreme pessimism are the best times to buy.
9) When prices are moving fast, from strength to strength, pay close attention to your charts.
Sell as soon as the exaggerated uptrend line is breached even amid bullish news.
10. Everyone has the right to wait for the best opportunity. Patience is a must if you want to win.
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Yongye International CEO Wu Zishen
"If you invest 40 yuan in one mu of land, I promise you can earn more than 400 yuan, but in reality it is likely to be 3,000 to 4,000 yuan; If you invest 100 to 200 yuan in a cow, I promise you can earn 2,000 yuan and it might exceed 10,000 yuan," Wu said.
The wonder of Shengmingsu: Read more.
Yongye is one of the fastest growth stock in China. Its 1 year target price is 14.67. The stock is listed in Nasdaq and is lasted traded at 6.83.
May God bless your every trade.
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