Daily News March 14, 2014

Ongoing Problem on Coal 

China's geothermal energy could replace coal, Global Times

China's geothermal energy potential roughly equals 853 billion tonnes of standard coal, and has the potential to replace coal in energy consumption, the country's energy regulator said on Thursday.

Crops and Food Security 

China’s demand for milk powder becomes a white gold rush on Aussie dairy farms, The Australian

Chinese are buying up infant milk powder everywhere they can get it, outside of China. And that has led to shortages in at least a half-dozen countries ... 

Is China's Grain Independence Over?, Investing

Chinese leaders are worried the world’s second-largest economy will come to depend on imports for corn, just as it does for soybeans.

Hybrid agricultural model to support China’s food demand, Farminguk

In China, the issue of food security is driving the development of a hybrid model and changing the way in which the region will feed itself in the long-term.

Cargill to reject for export crops with new GMO Syngenta corn trait, Reuters

Since November, China's authorities have rejected more than 600,000 tonnes of U.S. corn and corn products containing another unauthorized genetically modified Syngenta corn trait, Agrisure Viptera. Known as MIR 162, the trait has been awaiting Beijing's approval for more than two years.

Environment Problems

World Bank loan tackles pollution in China, Xinhuanet

South China's Guangdong agricultural pollution control project, funded by the World Bank, was launched on Thursday.

China plans harsher penalties for environmental damage, out-law

Chinese companies which damage the environment will face harsher penalties and be made to compensate for their illegal acts the government has said as it pledges to toughen up anti-pollution laws.

Beijing's clean air plan to boost gas demand: Report , Economic Times

Beijing city's plan to cut air pollution will require a big shift from coal to gas, boosting its demand for the cleaner fuel by levels equivalent to around 10 percent of the country's total natural gas imports, Thomson Reuters Point Carbon said. 

Trade 

Imports stir anxiety but meet China’s food needs, Global times

The US Department of Agriculture reporting a near doubling of Chinese imports in 2013 to 22.8 million tons.