The news that matter in Europe
The news that matter in Europe
… Nurse
Investing.com – European stock markets traded higher Thursday … over 2% higher, and Europe has continued the theme.
… 3% after the Swiss food giant confirmed organic sales should grow … after strong demand for its coffee and dairy products boosted …
… Nurse
Investing.com – European stock markets are seen opening … up over 2%, and Europe is expected to follow suit … decade.
Elsewhere, food giant Nestle (SIX:NESN) confirmed organic sales should grow … year after strong demand for coffee, dairy and pet care …
For more sustainability on a global level, EU legislation should be changed to allow the use of gene editing in organic farming. This is what an international research team involving the Universities of Bayreuth and Göttingen demands in a paper published in the journal Trends in Plant Science.
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In May 2020, the EU Commission presented its ‘Farm-to-Fork’ strategy, which is part of the European Green Deal. The aim is to make European agriculture and its food system more sustainable. In particular, the proportion of organic farming in the EU’s total agricultural land is to be increased to 25 percent by 2030. However, if current EU legislation remains in place, this increase will by no means guarantee more sustainability, as the current study by scientists from Bayreuth, Göttingen, Düsseldorf, Heidelberg, Wageningen, Alnarp, and Berkeley shows.
Numerous applications derived from new biotechnological processes are severely restricted or even banned by current EU law. This is especially true for gene editing, a new precision tool used in plant breeding. “Expanding organic farming further under the current legal restrictions on biotechnology could easily lead to less sustainability instead of more. Yet gene editing in particular offers great potential for sustainable agriculture,” says Kai Purnhagen, lead author of the study and Professor of German & European Food Law at the University of Bayreuth.
Organic farming focuses on greater farming diversity and prohibits the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Therefore, it can have a beneficial effect on environmental protection and biodiversity at the local level. However, compared to conventional farming, organic farming also delivers lower yields. Consequently, more land is needed to produce the same amount of high-quality food. “As global demand for high-quality food increases, more organic farming in the EU would lead to an expansion of agricultural land elsewhere in the world. This could easily result in environmental costs that exceed any local environmental benefits in the EU, as the conversion of natural land into agricultural land is one of the biggest drivers of global climate change and biodiversity loss,” says co-author Matin Qaim, Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Göttingen.
The combination of organic farming and modern biotechnology could be a way to resolve this dilemma. “Gene editing offers unique opportunities to make food production more sustainable and to further improve the quality, but also the safety, of food. With the help of these new molecular tools, more robust plants can be developed that deliver high yields for high-quality nutrition, even with less fertilizer,” says co-author Stephan Clemens, Professor of Plant Physiology at the University of Bayreuth and founding Dean of the new Faculty of Life Sciences: Food, Nutrition & Health on the Kulmbach campus. In addition, gene editing is used to breed fungus-resistant plants that thrive under organic farming without copper-containing pesticides. Copper is particularly toxic to soil and aquatic organisms, but its use to control fungi is nevertheless permitted in organic farming because of the lack of non-chemical alternatives to date. “Organic farming and gene editing could therefore complement each other very well and, combined, could contribute to more local and global sustainability,” says Qaim.
However, the use of genetic engineering in organic farming requires legal changes at the EU level. “There is certainly no political majority for this at present, because genetic engineering is viewed very critically by many. Yet perhaps improved communication could gradually lead to greater societal openness, at least towards gene editing, because this form of genetic engineering enables very targeted breeding without having to introduce foreign genes into the plants. Highlighting this point could dispel many of the widespread fears of genetic engineering,” says Purnhagen.
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<a class="text-medium text-info mt-2 d-inline-block" href="https://phys.org/news/2020-04-agricultural-economist-results-food.html" rel="nofollow">Agricultural economist evaluates research results on food security</a>
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Kai P. Purnhagen et al. Europe's Farm to Fork Strategy and Its Commitment to Biotechnology and Organic Farming: Conflicting or Complementary Goals?, <i>Trends in Plant Science</i> (2021). <a data-doi="1" href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2021.03.012" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2021.03.012</a>
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Apr 21, 2021 (Market Insight Reports) --
Bioplastics are derived from renewable sources such as sugarcane, corn, cellulose, and other grains. They are environmental friendly and are gaining huge demand from various industries. Bioplastic is widely used across food packaging, disposables, containers, pouches, shopping bags, etc. application.
The global bioplastics market is projected to surpass US$ 215 billion by the end of 2027, in terms of revenue, growing at CAGR of 25.8% during the forecast period (2020 to 2027).
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Increasing initiatives for reducing global warming by the government is projected to foster the market growth of the bioplastic. Growing need for reducing reliance on fossil fuels coupled with the easy availability of bio-based raw materials is also expected to propel the market growth of the bioplastic. Moreover, shifting preferences towards non-petroleum-based plastics is again creating demand for plastic over the forecast period.
Growing demand for green products, healthier lifestyle and environmental sustainability is projected to propel the market growth of the bioplastic. Increasing demand for organic-based material for packaging of food products is also driving demand for bioplastic. Moreover, consumers are willing to pay extra for eco-friendly packaging products in order to reduce the environmental impact. Thus, growing demand for the green product is expected to foster the market growth of bioplastic.
Regionally, Asia-pacific dominated the global bioplastics market in 2019, reporting 42% market share in terms of revenue, followed by North America and Europe, respectively.
Market Restraints
The premium price of bioplastic due to high production cost is affecting the demand for bioplastic. Also, the limited performance of bioplastic is also expected to hinder the market growth over the forecast period.
Lack of awareness regarding the bioplastic among consumers of the developing region is expected to hamper the demand. This is expected to curb the market growth of the bioplastic over the forecast period.
Market Opportunities
Increasing investment in the bioplastic for boosting production is expected to provide lucrative opportunities to the market. For instance, in January 2020, Stora Enso announced that it is investing US$ 10 million to build an experimental plant for enabling the production of bio-based plastics as a barrier in transparent packaging. The new plant will transform plant-based sugars into the renewable building block that is essential to make PEF, a biobased plastic, mainly targeting the food and beverage market.
Increasing ban on single-use plastic especially across Europe and North America is projected to serve major growth opportunities in the near future. For instance, in March 2019, the European Council has approved a law to ban single-use plastic by 2021. The ‘Single-Use Plastics Directive’ puts in place more responsibility for plastic producers and new recycling targets for EU member States. The law also requires plastic bottles to contain at least 30% recycled content by 2030 and 25% recycled content by 2025.
Market Trends
Growing fashion trends among consumers are creating demand for highly fashionable apparel such as clothes and shoes. Nowadays bioplastic such as polyamide and polylactic acid is majorly used in the production of textile products such as clothes and shoes. Moreover, bioplastics are also used in the production of wall mountings, containers, and sculptures which is again expected to augment the market growth of bioplastic.
Partnership and agreements among manufacturers for expanding business presence on a global level is a key trend in the market. For instance, in May 2020, Neste and Covestro entered into strategic cooperation in Europe to promote the use of sustainable raw materials in plastics production. In this partnership, Covestro will be supplied with material from renewable sources for the production of polycarbonates from Neste’s renewable hydrocarbons.
On the basis of application, bottles the global bioplastics market in 2019 with around 44% of market share in terms of revenue, followed by packaging and automotive, respectively.
Global Bioplastics Market – Impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic
The bioplastics market is facing a likelihood of a deep hindrance caused by the effect of lockdowns across the globe to slow the spread of Covid-19 pandemic. The demand for bioplastics has declined various end-use industries such as construction, paints & coatings, automotive industries, construction, and electronics. This is expected to hamper the growth of bioplastics market in next few years till end of the 2021.
Competitive Section
Key players are operating in the global pigments market are BASF SE, Braskem S.A., Koninklijke DSM N.V., Arkema S.A., Innovia Films, Ltd., Metabolix, Inc., NatureWorks, LLC, Novamont S.p.A., The Dow Chemical Company, and Total Corbion PLA
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A new partnership project initiated by WHO/Europe and the Nordic Culture Fund sets out to explore effective and sustainable strategies for integrating arts and culture into the wider health-care sector. Led by WHO/Europe’s flagship unit on behavioural and cultural insights for health, it will bring together academics, artists, cultural institutions, health-care practitioners and policy-makers from different countries.
Through implementing an arts-based health intervention in Denmark and Romania, the aim of the research is to identify good practices for the implementation of effective and sustainable arts and health interventions, while studying the impact on the local population.
To support the development and execution of the project, WHO/Europe has partnered with University College London (United Kingdom), University of the Arts Helsinki (Finland), BOZAR (the Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels, Belgium), the Central Denmark Region and the Cluj Cultural Centre (Romania).
“Looking ahead, it is clear that arts-based interventions will one day be an important option for the treatment and prevention of many health conditions,” reflects Andrea Scheel, Technical Officer, Behavioural and Cultural Insights for Health, WHO/Europe, and Project Lead. “We hope that this project will yield interesting and original results, and will help to bring us closer to this future of improved access to arts and health interventions.”
The project is part of the Nordic Culture Fund’s new Globus programme, which aims to expand the reach of Nordic cultural cooperation by investing in stronger international connections and long-term networks. The Fund is contributing kr. 400 000 to the project, which will support the in-country implementation of the arts and health interventions.
“With this project we want to explore how building connections to different actors and initiatives in Europe and globally can strengthen and enrich knowledge and cooperation in the Nordic region, as well as enhance the conditions for mutual exchange of information and best practices across country borders,” states Eline Sigfusson, Deputy Director of the Nordic Culture Fund and the Project Manager for Globus. She points out that “developing a consistent and sustainable practice in the field of arts and health requires acknowledging the agency and role of the artist, and ensuring sufficient expertise concerning artistic and cultural procurements goes into the planning and implementation of the interventions”.
The aim of the project is twofold: first, to evaluate the impact of the chosen arts-based health interventions on the local population; and second, the project will enable WHO to develop guidance on how to integrate arts and health into the wider health system and make these interventions more accessible to Member States across the WHO European Region.
“The project is an exciting and ambitious step forward,” says Nino Berdzuli, Director of the Division of Country Health Programmes at WHO/Europe. “Engaging with the arts is good for you and can tangibly improve lives. While there is increasingly robust research that shows the arts can have a demonstrable impact on health, we still know little about how to implement these interventions at scale and in different cultural contexts. This project is an excellent opportunity to explore these questions further.”
Apr 20, 2021 (MarketersMedia) --
Aloe Vera Extracts Market: Inclination Towards Natural and Healthy Products Due To Associated Health Benefits Growing: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016 – 2026
The Aloe Vera Gel Market is expected to expand at CAGR of 7.8% by value and 7.3% by volume through 2027. APAC region dominates the gel market with a CAGR OF 8.8% with skin care segment set to expand at 8.5% in the forecast period. In consideration of region, India and China stands at a higher pedestal in production and consumption of Aloe Vera gel.
“Improving standards of living and inclination towards organic supplements has surged the demand for Aloe Vera lately. Key companies are working hard and launching unique products to grasp the potential opportunities that are popping-up in this market,” states the FMI Analyst.
Aloe Vera Gel Market – Important Highlights
Improving lifestyle in the Asian-Pacific region is surging the demand and supply of aloe vera.
On the basis of end-use, skin care segment is expected to hold the highest market share of 44.4% due to the rising interest in plant-based products and cosmetics.
North-America tops the list in supplying raw-materials and end-products globally.
Organic segment and products expected to hold major sway with a value of US $ 160.8 million.
Aloe Vera Gel Market – Critical Factors
Wide range of health benefits and uses in making of herbal cosmetics promotes revenue generation.
Rising awareness on personal care and the desire to look attractive has paved a proper way for the market to expand production.
Manufacturing of gel-based products and the opportunities that it is presenting, is promoting players to invest into it.
High medicinal benefits, advanced availability in organic food industry, pharmaceutical companies, retail stores and natural ingredients has driven the market share.
Aloe Vera Gel Market – Key Restraints
Artificially grown Aloe Vera’s gel has harmful fertilizers which can reduce consumption.
Raw materials for the production of gel is not easily available in all regions of manufacturing, thereby, increasing trade cost.
Expected Impact on Market by Coronavirus Outbreak
The pandemic has surely affected production because raw materials were not available and trade was at a halt due to strict lockdown all across the globe. This industry will continue to flourish because the reliance on plant-based products has increased and people are now more dependent on organic products than ever before. North America, being the greatest producer of raw materials is estimated to witness increased production.
Competition Landscape
North America accounts for a leading share of the aloe vera gel market, followed by Asia Pacific. On the basis of region, Europe, Eastern Europe and Latin America are showing high consumption and production. Aloe Vera is largely grown in Mexico, China and India, and all of it accounts to the highest market share. Economic factors and improvement in lifestyles has paved the path for market expansion in Asia-Pacific regions.
The Aloe Vera Gel Market is expected to expand at CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 7.8% by value and 7.3% by volume through 2027. APAC region dominates the gel market with a CAGR OF 8.8% with skin care segment set to expand at 8.5% in the forecast period . In consideration of region, India and China stands at a higher pedestal in production and consumption of Aloe Vera gel.
… provider of organic and value-added organic fruits and vegetables today announced … of Brazilian ginger across its European customer base, Organto has … Organto and CEO of Organto Europe B.V. “We … and Asia.
SOURCE: Organto Foods Inc.
View source version on …
Small towns, mega-cities, districts, regions, federal states, all sort of subnational territorities have at least two things in common: their inhabitants need to eat and, at the same time, they find themselves on a planet where that same need is put at risk by climate change.
Some of them realised that food deserved a place of honour in a global revolution. Tackling the climate emergency through food policies, while calling on national governments to act, seemed appropriate to the local leaders who decided to speak with a unified voice and developed the Glasgow declaration on food and climate. Launched in December 2020 one year before the next UN climate conference (COP26, in Glasgow), the declaration is more than a commitment: it is already giving its fruits.
On March 23, the event ‘COP26 is already happening!’, supported by the EU regional development fund, URBACT and BioCanteens, presented the example of schools feeding children with organic and locally produced meals as a powerful way to value the environment. The online conference was moderated by Catherine André, journalist and cofounder of Voxeurop.
“Europe made some progress, but the Member states are raising obstacles,” said Marc Tarabella, Belgian mep member of the S&D group and the mayor of his native village, Anthisnes. “We see that it’s very difficult to change the mindset and we see a lot of resistance at a local level, people are looking for the lowest price at the expense of quality. Instead I think that we should enable people to have a choice down to the lowest level.”
Born with that goal, the URBACT programme helps cities find sustainable solutions and make a positive impact through networking and knowledge sharing. It also endorses the Glasgow declaration.
Among the networks funded by URBACT, BioCanteens’ partners come from all corners of Europe: Mouans-Sartoux (France), GAL Pays de Condruses (Belgium), Rosignano-Marittimo (Italy), Torres Vedras (Portugal), Trikala (Greece), Troyan (Bulgaria) and Vaslui (Romania).
At a biocanteen, food becomes rich in meanings. “Where do you learn food education if not within the family?” asked François Jégou, lead expert of BioCanteens Transfer Network. The school has to take that role and teach the subject at lunch time. After all, today’s children will be future creators, reaserchers, voters, consumers, and leaders. It makes sense to start giving them the best we have to offer and the kind of food we will eat in 2045 and further.
Since translating food democracy into practice requires non comformist beliefs, however, biocanteens remain an exception. “When I look around in the world, I don’t have the impression that what we will discuss at COP is already happening: it’s rather the opposite,” said Jégou. “But, if I look more carefully, there are places were transition started long ago and were I can already see at least in part what a more sustainable city could look like.”
What is the secret of these places? According to Jégou, there are five: an ongoing fight against food waste, job creation along the municipal food chain, sustainable land use planning, a discussion around healthy food, and integrate governance.
Yet, “good practice is dangerous word” as it implies a copy-paste approach. The “proud of it” approach, instead, suggests a reinterpretation whenever a functioning system is transferred somewhere else.
To ensure a fairer access to quality food for all, making the case for positive solutions to local challenges is key. In particular, three issues were highlighted during the event: the public procurement constraint for food supply, the construction of participatory food governance and the relocalisation of agriculture.
Located in the real estate and tourism paradise of French Riviera, Mouans-Sartoux manage to become an anticonformism’s champion. Although public procurement contracts are usually unconvenient for small local producers, the city established a special agreement and is today calling on the EU Parliament to fight for food exception in public procurement.
It is “neither protectionism nor an economic revolution, it is just some collective intelligence and common sense,” according to Gilles Pérole, deputy-mayor for childhood, education and food at Mouans-Sartoux. “Buying turnip or a pen is not the same thing. Food is an essential good to life and therefore it must be protected with public procurement.”
Nowadays, European cities are really at the forefront of the ecological transition. With a growing population and a growing vulnerability due to climate change, all types of communities and subnational governments can’t afford the privilege to wait and see what happens of them.
In Spain, Mollet del Vallès became one of the first cities to pass a local food policy back in 2015. “Children had the possibility to collaborate” and “learned how to make healthier dietary choices at individual level but through active democratic participation, they also developped a sense of corresponsibility in the city wellbeing and made proposals that were then integrated in the city food strategy,” explained Albert Garcia Macian, head of the EU project and international relations office at Mollet del Vallès.
Similarly, the Swedish city of Södertälje has worked with a number of different development projects and activities to increase sustainability since the beginning of the 2000s. “We have been supporting our small scale local vegetables production both in the countryside and in the city, combining activities to support unemployed people, running a project called ‘Matlust’ (food for joy) for small and medium enterprises to help them become more sustainable, successful and employ more people,” said Sara Jervfors, head of diet unit at Södertälje (Sweden).
Even if the biocanteens are still rare, their experience will be inspiring others to follow. For this, Europe is a great catalyst thanks to all the networks already existing.
For instance, Un Plus Bio is a French organisation accompanying cities towards positive change in the food system and part of it is the so-called Club of Territories. The coordinator Amandine Pieux said “it became the space where local authorities share their practices using public catering as a tool for ambitious food policies.”
“The speed of the ongoing discussions in Europe is very different and the food debate has not been a priority in some countries,” said Cecilia Delgado, researcher and director of the portugues platform Alimentar Cidades Sustentaveis. “So there is a need to fuel in the local debate in local languages before joining the European debate and there is a need for peer to peer learning.”
Nowadays, European cities are really at the forefront of the ecological transition. With a growing population and a growing vulnerability due to climate change, all types of communities and subnational governments can’t afford the privilege to wait and see what happens of them.
Scotland is showing the way with projects like Nourish Scotland, which promotes the human right to food by integrating, localising and democratising it. Nourish Scotland is campaigning for “a good food nation”, said the food policy project officer, Sofie Quist. “In the context of climate change, we are working especially with policy makers, farmers, scientists and communities to understand how everyone can be part of the solution to climate change, in particular food producers.” And that’s a good part of the Glasgow declaration.
Next November, Glasgow will be the place to bring all these messages. At COP26, Member states will then be asked to to take up the many positive local examples and actively support the development of progressive and integrated food policies at all levels.
… halted sales to the EU, with many considering giving … companies have set up EU operations to get around … expert at the Centre of European Reform, says businesses have … trading with Europe.”
Fabulous Foods, a London-based organic foods supplier that …
… , if any.
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Organic revenues, comparable currency neutral … the United States and Western Europe. Category performance was as … Maid®.
Hydration, sports, coffee and tea declined 11%. Hydration … SUPERMARKET RETAIL CONVENIENCE STORE FOOD/BEVERAGE
SOURCE: …
“The release of one million tonnes of contaminated water into the marine environment imposes considerable risks to the full enjoyment of human rights of concerned populations in and beyond the borders of Japan”, said Marcos Orellana, Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on Right to Food, and David Boyd, Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment in a joint statement.
Given the warnings from environmentalists and some governments that the discharge would affect many people as well as the environment at large, the experts called the Government’s decision “very concerning”.
It comes after years of discussions with communities – including the fishing sector, which was already severely hit by the 2011 disaster – environmental NGOs, neighbouring countries and civil society.
“The decision is particularly disappointing as experts believe alternative solutions to the problem are available”, they said.
Noting that the water may contain quantities of radioactive carbon-14, as well as other radioactive isotopes, the independent experts raised their concerns with the Japanese Government that discharging radioactive water to the Pacific Ocean threatens the health of people and planet.
Meanwhile, in reply to expert concerns, the Japanese Government has suggested that the treated water stored in the tanks was not contaminated.
However, the experts upheld that the ALPS water processing technology had failed to completely remove radioactive concentrations in most of the contaminated water stored in tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
“A first application ALPS failed to clean the water below regulatory levels and there are no guarantees that a second treatment will succeed”, they said, adding that the technology did not remove radioactive tritium or carbon-14.
While Japan said that the tritium levels are very low and do not pose a threat to human health, scientists warn that in the water, the isotope organically binds to other molecules, moving up the food chain affecting plants and fish and humans.
Moreover, they say the radioactive hazards of tritium have been underestimated and could pose risks to humans and the environment for over 100 years.
“We remind Japan of its international obligations to prevent exposure to hazardous substances, to conduct environmental impact assessments of the risks that the discharge of water may have, to prevent transboundary environmental harms, and to protect the marine environment”, the experts concluded.
Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not paid for their work.
The major U.S. index futures are pointing to a higher open on Thursday, with stocks likely to move back to the upside following the pullback seen over the course of the previous session.
The Dow is likely to benefit from an early advance by shares of Bank of America (BAC), with the financial giant moving higher in pre-market trading after reporting better than expected first quarter results.
Fellow Dow component UnitedHealth (UNH) may also see initial strength after the managed care company reported first quarter results that beat analyst estimates on both the top and bottom lines.
Shares of Citigroup (C) are also seeing notable pre-market strength after the financial giant reported first quarter results that exceeded estimates.
Early buying interest may also be generated in reaction to a batch of better than expected U.S. economic data, including a Commerce Department report showing retail sales spiked by much more than expected in the month of March.
A separate report released by the Labor Department showed first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits pulled back by much more than anticipated in the week ended April 10th.
Stocks came under pressure over the course of the trading day on Wednesday after moving to the upside early in the session. Reflecting weakness among technology stocks, the tech-heavy Nasdaq led the way lower.
After jumping by 1.1 percent in the previous session to its highest closing level in nearly two months, the Nasdaq slumped 138.26 points or 1 percent to 13,857.84.
The S&P 500 also slid 16.93 points or 0.4 percent to 4,124.66 after reaching a new record intraday high in early trading.
On the other hand, the Dow pulled back well off its best levels of the day but still closed up 53.62 points or 0.2 percent at 33,730.89. The blue chip index also set a new record intraday high before giving back ground.
The uptick by the Dow was partly due to a strong gain by Goldman Sachs (GS), with the financial giant jumping by 2.3 percent after reporting first quarter results that beat analyst estimates on both the top and bottom lines.
Banking giant Wells Fargo (WFC) also showed a strong move to the upside after reporting better than expected first quarter results.
Meanwhile, shares of JPMorgan Chase (JPM) moved notably lower even though the financial giant reported first quarter results that exceeded expectations.
The weakness that emerged in the broader markets seemed to coincide with a downturn by shares of Coinbase (COIN), which spiked to a high of $429.54 but pulled back well below their debut price of $381 before closing at $328.28.
The cryptocurrency exchange’s direct listing on the Nasdaq was closely watched by investors and described as a “watershed moment” for the industry.
Traders also kept an eye on remarks by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who told the Economic Club of Washington the central bank is likely to scale back its asset purchase program well before raising interest rates.
“We will reach the time at which we will taper asset purchases when we have made substantial further progress towards our goals from last December,” Powell said.
He added, “That would in all likelihood be before, well before, the time we would consider raising interest rates. We have not voted on that order but that is the sense of the guidance.”
Meanwhile, the Fed released its Beige Book, which noted economic activity in the U.S. accelerated to a moderate pace from late February to early April.
The release of the Beige Book comes two weeks ahead of the Federal Reserve’s next monetary policy meeting, which is scheduled for April 27-28.
In other U.S. economic news, the Labor Department released a report showing another notable increase by import prices in the month of March.
Gold stocks came under pressure over the course of the session, dragging the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index down by 1.5 percent. The weakness among gold stocks came amid a decrease by the price of the precious metal.
Semiconductor and software stocks also showed notable moves to the downside, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index and the Dow Jones U.S. Software Index both falling by 1.2 percent.
On the other hand, substantial strength remained visible among energy stocks, which moved sharply higher along with the price of crude oil.
Reflecting the strength in the energy sector, the Philadelphia Oil Service Index spiked by 5.7 percent, the NYSE Arca Oil Index surged up by 3.2 percent and the NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index jumped by 2.2 percent.
Steel stocks also held on to strong gains, with the NYSE Arca Steel Index climbing by 3.1 percent to its best closing level in almost ten years.
Commodity, Currency Markets
Crude oil futures are slipping $0.30 to $62.85 a barrel after spiking $2.97 to $63.15 a barrel on Wednesday. Meanwhile, after falling $11.30 to $1,736.30 an ounce in the previous session, gold futures are climbing $11.90 to $1,748.20 an ounce.
On the currency front, the U.S. dollar is trading at 108.77 yen versus the 108.93 yen it fetched at the close of New York trading on Wednesday. Against the euro, the dollar is valued at $1.1959 compared to yesterday’s $1.1980.
Asia
Asian shares ended mixed on Thursday as fears of a fresh U.S.-China tussle as well as renewed concerns over the surge in coronavirus cases in the region offset stellar earnings from U.S. banks against the backdrop of an improving economy.
Chinese and Hong Kong shares fell after a Chinese diplomat indirectly warned the U.S. over strong linkages and interference over Hong Kong issues.
Also, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen told a visiting delegation of former senior U.S. officials that the island would work with the United States to deter “adventurous maneuvers and provocations” amid threats from Chinese military activities.
China’s Shanghai Composite Index dropped 17.73 points, or 0.5 percent, to 3,398.99, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index ended down 107.69 points, or 0.4 percent, at 28,793.14.
Japanese shares ended on a flat note after Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda warned the economic recovery was likely to be modest due to uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic. Japan on Wednesday reported more than 4,000 new cases as the highly contagious variants drive a fourth wave of infections.
The Nikkei 225 Index ended marginally higher at 29,642.69, while the broader Topix closed 0.4 percent higher at 1,959.13. While banks and shippers led gainers, tech shares lost ground. Advantest gave up 2.6 percent and Tokyo Electron dropped 1.9 percent.
Australian markets advanced as the jobs report for March came in better than forecast. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 35.50 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,058.60, while the broader All Ordinaries Index ended up 36.90 points, or 0.5 percent, at 7,317.50.
The Australian economy added 70,700 jobs last month, far surpassing forecasts for the addition of 35,000 jobs, official data showed. The jobless rate dropped to 5.6 percent from 5.8 percent in February.
Mining heavyweights BHP and Rio Tinto jumped around 3 percent, while energy majors Oil Search, Santos and Beach Energy climbed 1-3 percent. Tech stocks finished broadly lower with modest losses. Gold miners slumped, with Evolution Mining losing as much as 5.6 percent.
Seoul stocks finished modesty higher after the Bank of Korea kept its benchmark lending rate unchanged at a record low 0.50 percent, in line with expectations.
The benchmark Kospi rose 11.95 points, or 0.4 percent, to 3,194.33, extending gains for the fourth straight session as Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol said the economy will still expanding faster than previously expected despite an uptick in coronavirus infections.
Mobile messenger operator Kakao soared 8 percent in its first day of trading after splitting its shares fivefold.
European stocks have edged higher on Thursday as Treasury yields pulled back after a steady stream of dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials.
Speaking on Wednesday to the Economic Club of Washington, Fed Chair Jerome Powell reiterated that the Fed would only begin winding down its asset purchases when the economy has made substantial progress towards its goals.
Powell also signaled that tapering would happen “well before” the U.S. central bank starts considering raising interest rates.
While the German DAX Index has risen by 0.3 percent, the French CAC 40 Index and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index are both up by 0.5 percent.
Swiss engineering company ABB has shown a strong move to the upside after raising its full-year sales outlook.
Norwegian lender Sbanken has also soared after the country’s largest bank DNB announced an all-share offer for the rival.
Dutch brewer Heineken NV has also risen. The company said it aims to be carbon neutral in its production sites by 2030 in order to meet the 1.5°C goal set by the Paris Agreement.
Glencore, BHP, Anglo American and Antofagasta has also advanced as metal prices hit multi-year high,s supported by weaker dollar and Fed comments over a strong U.S. economic recovery.
Advertising company Publicis Groupe has also jumped. The company has returned to organic growth for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
German real estate companies are also in focus after the Constitutional Court ruled that Berlin’s rent cap was unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, BP Plc and Royal Dutch Shell are moving lower as oil has edged down after climbing nearly 5 percent overnight on signs on increasing crude demand.
Food delivery company Deliveroo Holdings has also fallen. In its first trading update since its market debut last month, the company said its orders more than doubled in the quarter to end-March.
GlaxoSmithKline has also declined. The pharmaceutical giant said that it has stopped enrolling patients in a trial studying a combination drug therapy using feladilimab in cancer patients.
In economic news, German consumer prices grew 1.7 percent year-on-year in March, in line with the preliminary estimate, following a 1.3 percent rise in February, final data from the statistical office Destatis showed. A similar higher rate was last reported in February 2020.
French consumer prices increased 1.1 percent year-on-year in March, in line with the provisional estimate and faster than the 0.6 percent rise in February, final data from the statistical office Insee showed. This was the highest rate since February 2020, when prices were up 1.4 percent.
U.S. Economic Reports
Retail sales in the U.S. spiked by much more than expected in the month of March, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Thursday.
The Commerce Department said retail sales skyrocketed by 9.8 percent in March after tumbling by a revised 2.7 percent in February.
Economists had expected retail sales to surge up by 5.9 percent compared to the 3.0 percent slump originally reported for the previous month.
Excluding sales by motor vehicle and parts dealers, retail sales soared by 8.4 percent in March after plunging by a revised 2.5 percent in February. Ex-auto sales were expected to jump by 5.0 percent.
A separate report released by the Labor Department showed first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits pulled back by much more than anticipated in the week ended April 10th.
The Labor Department said initial jobless claims tumbled to 576,000, a decrease of 193,000 from the previous week’s revised level of 769,000.
Economists had expected jobless claims to decline to 700,000 from the 744,000 originally reported for the previous week.
With the much bigger than expected decrease, jobless claims fell to their lowest level since hitting 256,000 in the week ended March 14, 2020.
Separate reports released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia on Thursday showed faster growth in regional manufacturing activity in the month of April.
The New York Fed said its general business conditions index climbed to 26.3 in April from 17.4 in March, with a positive reading indicating growth in regional manufacturing activity. Economists had expected the index to inch up to 19.5.
Meanwhile, the Philly Fed said its index for current manufacturing activity rose to 50.2 in April from a downwardly revised 44.5 in March.
The increase surprised economists, who had expected the index to drop to 42.0 from the 51.8 originally reported for the previous month.
At 9:15 am ET, the Federal Reserve is scheduled to release its report on industrial production in the month of March. Economists expect industrial production to jump by 2.8 percent in March after slumping by 2.2 percent in February.
The National Association of Home Builders is due to release its report on homebuilder confidence in the month of April at 10 am ET. The housing market index is expected to inch up to 83 in April from 82 in March.
Also at 10 am ET, the Commerce Department is scheduled to release its report on business inventories in the month of February. Business inventories are expected to rise by 0.5 percent.
The Treasury Department is due to announce the details of this month’s auction of twenty-year bonds at 11 am ET.
At 11:30 am ET, Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic is scheduled to participate in an interview before virtual event, “The Atlantic’s Progress Report: The State of the Black Community.”
San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary Daly is due to speak on financial stability and monetary policy before a virtual Money Marketeeers of New York University event at 2 pm ET.
At 4 pm ET, Cleveland Federal Reserve President Loretta Mester is scheduled to give a virtual student lecture on “Economic Inclusion” before an event hosted by Swarthmore College.
Stocks In Focus
Shares of PPD, Inc. (PPD) are moving sharply higher in pre-market trading after the clinical research services provider agreed to be acquired by Thermo Fisher (TMO) for $47.50 per share.
Apparel retailer American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) is also seeing significant pre-market strength after forecasting better than expected first quarter sales.
Shares of Commerce Bancshares (CBSH) may also see initial strength after the bank holding company reported first quarter results that beat expectations on both the top and bottom lines.
Drugstore chain Rite Aid (RAD) may also move to the upside after reporting a narrower than expected fiscal fourth quarter loss on revenues that exceeded estimates.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
The alert from the World Health Organization (WHO) is delivered in a report showing that none of the 43 antibiotics in development today sufficiently addresses the growing threat posed by 13 priority drug-resistant bacteria.
“The persistent failure to develop, manufacture, and distribute effective new antibiotics is further fuelling the impact of antimicrobial resistance and threatens our ability to successfully treat bacterial infections,” said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Assistant Director General on antimicrobial resistance.
Those most at risk are young children and those living in poverty, but antibiotic-resistant infections can affect anyone, said WHO partner AMR.
According to WHO, three in 10 newborns who develop blood infections die, because the antibiotics that are used to treat sepsis are no longer effective.
Bacterial pneumonia – another preventable illness which has developed resistance to available drugs – is also a major cause of childhood mortality among under-fives.
WHO’s annual Antibacterial Pipeline Report, notes that almost all antibiotics available today are variations of those discovered by the 1980s.
We rely hugely on them in all areas of our lives, from having a tooth out at the dentist, to organ transplants and cancer chemotherapy.
But after reviewing antibiotics that are in the clinical stages of testing, as well as those in development, the report highlighted a “near static pipeline” of production, which WHO’s Haileyesus Getahun likened to the “Achilles heel” of global health security.
“Opportunities emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic must be seized to bring to the forefront the needs for sustainable investments in research and development of new and effective antibiotics,” said Mr. Getahun, WHO Director of Antimicrobial Resistance Global Coordination.
“We need a global sustained effort including mechanisms for pooled funding and new and additional investments to meet the magnitude of the antimicrobial threat.”
Only a few drugs have been given early-stage approval by regulators in recent years “and most of these agents…offer limited clinical benefit over existing treatments, WHO said, with the warning that the “rapid emergence of drug-resistance to these new agents” was a certainty.
The clinical pipeline and recently approved antibiotics are insufficient to tackle the challenge — WHO
This was despite the fact that “some promising products” were in different stages of development, as only a fraction of these will make it to market in a sector hampered by the small return on investment from successful antibiotic products, which has limited the interest of most large pharmaceutical companies.
“Overall, the clinical pipeline and recently approved antibiotics are insufficient to tackle the challenge of increasing emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance,” the UN agency concluded.
To promote investment in antibiotics development, WHO and partner Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) have set up the Global Antibiotic R&D Partnership (GARDP) to develop innovative treatments.
The UN health agency has also been working closely with other non-profit funding partners such as the CARB-X to accelerate antibacterial research.
Another important new WHO-partnered initiative is the AMR Action Fund, that was set up by pharmaceutical companies, philanthropists and the European Investment Bank; its aim is to strengthen and accelerate antibiotic development through pooled funding.
While largely spared the physical impact of COVID-19, young people around the world remain among those hardest hit by the pandemic.
Limits on social contact have seen schools shuttered. For many young people, this has resulted in a shift of learning from the classroom to the bedroom, living room or kitchen.
Anxiety over exams and the impacts on future education and career prospects are compounded by limited opportunity to connect and socialize with friends.
For others, their education has been brought to a sudden halt, and in some tragic instances left them at risk of physical violence, without a network to support them.
Among older peers, those about to embark on post-secondary education, or recently graduated seeking job opportunities, an uncertain future lies ahead.
The wider social and economic impacts on future generations remain to be seen.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the inequities already existing in societies. To address this, it is time to rethink policy priorities in the light of pandemics. But this requires a long-term vision and the views of future generations to help make it a reality. If you are part of a youth organization which has something to say on how to build a sustainable future, the Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development wants to hear from you.
Youth organizations formally established as nongovernmental entities with non-profit, public-interest goals are invited to present their views. This could include, for example, grassroots community organizations, civil society groups and networks, faith-based organizations, and professional groups with members not older than 30 years of age.
Your organization is invited to:
If you have a story you wish to share, reach out to us at eurofuturegenerations@who.int
To participate, your youth organization or chapter should have active membership anywhere in the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region. Individual or anonymous responses will not be considered.
If you have any questions about this online consultation, please write to eurofuturegenerations@who.int prior to the deadline.
This online consultation is being conducted by the WHO Secretariat of the WHO European Region for and on behalf of the independent Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development.
The online consultation will be open from 15 April to 5 May 2021. Following the consultation, all participants will be invited to join a public debrief session to learn more about the outcomes of the process, and to hear reflections from members of the Commission. More details will follow in due course.
The online consultation will be conducted on the basis of transparency, openness, inclusiveness, accountability, integrity and mutual respect.
Chaired by Professor Mario Monti, the Commission is an independent and interdisciplinary group of leaders convened by WHO/Europe to rethink policy priorities in the light of pandemics.
It is comprised of former heads of state and government, distinguished life scientists and economists, heads of health and social care institutions, and leaders of the business community and financial institutions from across the WHO European Region.
The mandate of the Commission is to draw lessons from the ways in which different countries’ health systems have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and make recommendations on investments and reforms to improve the resilience of health- and social-care systems.
The Commission’s work will culminate in a report to be published in September 2021 with recommendations on investments and reforms to improve health- and social-care systems.
Russian Nurses Association
Speaking at its opening, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge said, “Better quality of care relies on a strong primary health care system, where most preventive activities, diagnostics, consultations and treatments occur. Let us make no mistake – the quality of care encompasses all levels of a health system, hence the need to integrate quality policies across the board.”
Ensuring more people enjoy better health and well-being is central to WHO’s 13th General Programme of Work (GPW 13) and the European Programme of Work 2020–2025 – “United Action for Better Health in Europe”.
Supporting Member States to build stronger health systems, and improving health care for citizens in the process, is central to the work of WHO/Europe. Serving as a centre of excellence with the support of the Greek Government, the Athens sub-office will work on the following major areas:
Through this hub of expertise, health authorities across the Region will be able to deliver more effective health care with stronger clinical practice, empowered patients and communities, continually improving programmes and methods and, ultimately, higher overall standards of care.
It is estimated that millions of people die each year in the Region as a result of inadequate care. This can be due to a range of reasons, such as inaccurate diagnoses, errors in medication or inadequately equipped clinics. These shortfalls in care are not necessarily the fault of individuals – often they are structural. From top to bottom, quality care and patient safety is central to creating robust health systems, which has taken on greater urgency since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The pandemic has highlighted, and in many cases compounded, existing inequities in health. But it has also shown the importance of ensuring equitable access to health care for societies and economies. The new sub-office, opened with the support of the Greek Government, seeks to rebuild based on this shared understanding and need for change.
The sub-office based in Athens will bring WHO closer to the citizens of the south-eastern and Mediterranean countries of the Region. Furthermore, Greece recently spearheaded important developments in the field of health, notably by banning smoking in public places.
In addition, the country has significant experience in reforming health systems, including through the establishment of its National Agency of Quality Assurance. Greece has outstanding health institutions and top-class researchers – all important parts of making this new office a success.
… Nurse
Investing.com – European stock markets edged higher Thursday … of corporate earnings, both in Europe and on Wall Street.
… largest advertising group returned to organic growth for the first … slipped 0.7% despite the food delivery company saying its …
The WHO-recommended “best buys” for alcohol policy can easily help countries to reduce health harms related to alcohol consumption. But according to the new WHO/Europe report “Making the WHO European Region SAFER. Developments in alcohol control policies, 2010–2019”, not many Member States use these measures. Experience from Lithuania, Scotland and the Russian Federation shows how effective they can be when countries choose to implement them.
The WHO European Region has the highest level of alcohol consumption in the world. Here, alcohol use leads to almost 1 million deaths each year, or about 2500 deaths every day, and is associated with more than 200 diseases and injuries, including the leading causes of death such as cardiovascular diseases, injuries and cancers.
To reduce these harms, WHO/Europe has identified three best buys – affordable, feasible and cost-effective intervention strategies:
The new WHO report reveals that these measures are still vastly underused. “The available data from 51 countries of the Region suggest that alcohol has become more affordable as a whole because of Member States’ failure to adjust alcohol taxes for inflation,” said Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges, Acting Head of the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD Office) and Programme Manager of Alcohol, Illicit Drugs and Prison Health at WHO/Europe.
“Yet, some countries of the Region have already implemented policies that can really make a difference in the context of reducing alcohol-attributable health harm. And we already see this difference and their success,” she added.
In the early 2000s, Lithuania was among the Member States with the highest per capita alcohol consumption levels. In response, the country’s authorities used the WHO best buys to create a competitive policy aimed at correcting this trend over a short period of time.
The first action package was implemented in 2008–2009 and 2014. It included restrictions on alcohol advertisement and a ban on alcohol sales in petrol stations and kiosks. The second package, introduced in 2016, increased the minimum legal drinking age, increased the price of alcoholic beverages and limited their retail sale time, and banned the advertisement of alcohol.
“Among further measures was a total ban of alcohol advertisement in the media, internet, billboards, etc., an increase of the minimum legal drinking age from 18 to 20 years, and a major increase in excise tax,” explained Dr Aurelijus Veryga, who defined the Lithuanian measures as Health Minister of the country in 2016–2020.
In 2010, Lithuania had the highest rate of alcohol-attributable years of life lost in the European Union. The implementation of effective alcohol control measures led to a 20% reduction of this rate by 2016.
The Scottish Government has concentrated on changing behaviours connected to drinking. In 2009, the authorities adopted a framework for action that included 41 alcohol control measures, from a ban on multi-buy discounts on alcoholic beverages in off-trade establishments to alcohol brief interventions.
“Implementing minimum unit pricing (MUP) was the real game changer that happened in 2018. It took 6 years for this measure to enter into force after the law was passed in 2012,” said Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, Chair of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP).
“In the first year after implementation, alcohol sales reduced to a 25-year low and deaths caused by alcohol dropped by 10%. We are seeing early signs of how effective MUP can be, especially in reducing alcohol-specific deaths,” Dr MacGilchrist noted.
In 2018, the Scottish Government presented an updated alcohol framework, still based on a whole-population approach and founded on WHO’s 5 evidence-based, high-impact SAFER strategies for alcohol control.
The Russian Federation was one of the first countries of the Region to develop an evidence-based alcohol control policy.
In the early 2000s, a fundamental legislation overhaul significantly reduced the number of small-scale producers, which decreased the size of the formerly large counterfeit alcohol market. The Unified State Automated Information System (EGAIS), introduced in 2006, gradually became an advanced monitoring system that tracks each bottle from the production plant to the cashier register and ensures tax collection and alcohol market control.
In the late 2000s, Russian policy shifted towards changing drinking behaviours. “The Russian Federation implemented various measures, such as increasing alcohol excise tax, establishing and increasing minimum prices on certain alcoholic beverages, and introducing the EGAIS system. All these measures have led to a 43% decrease in per capita alcohol consumption in the Russian Federation over the last 15 years,” pointed out Dr Oleg Salagay, Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation.
The latest WHO data reveal a significant decrease in the levels of per capita alcohol consumption in the WHO European Region – by 12.5%, from 11.2 litres in 2010 to 9.8 litres in 2016.
“However, these improvements were mainly determined by countries of the eastern part of the Region, many of which have introduced best-buy policies. It is time for the whole Region to learn this lesson that will greatly benefit people’s health, the economy and well-being,” concluded Dr Ferreira-Borges.
Although the WHO European Region has experienced an overall decrease in alcohol consumption levels, this trend is only associated with the progress achieved by a small number of countries mainly from the eastern part of the Region. With a few notable exceptions, western European countries, including countries within the European Union (EU), have made little or no progress in the reduction of alcohol consumption.
This dynamic is highlighted in the new WHO/Europe report “Making the WHO European Region SAFER. Developments in alcohol control policies, 2010–2019”. The report assesses the latest steps Member States have made towards implementing evidence-based and effective alcohol control measures.
Alcohol is a psychoactive and dependence-producing substance classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen, along with other cancer-causing substances such as asbestos, radium and tobacco. It is recognized as a cause for more than 200 diseases and injuries, and in the European Region alone, alcohol use leads to almost 1 million deaths each year – about 2500 deaths every day.
“Alcohol is no ordinary commodity and should not be treated as one. It hits the most vulnerable,” explained Dr Nino Berdzuli, Director of the Division of Country Health Programmes at WHO/Europe. “Harm due to alcohol is greater for drinkers and their families with low incomes than for those with higher incomes, and this only exacerbates existing health inequalities. Alcohol consumption and its burden present some of the largest health and societal challenges in the WHO European Region.”
To present an overview of the current burden of disease attributed to alcohol in the Region and the implementation of corresponding control policies, WHO/Europe’s new report analyses data gathered from 51 Member States. Of these countries, 34 reported decreases in alcohol consumption levels and 17 reported increases.
According to the publication, the Region has demonstrated a significant decrease in per capita alcohol consumption – by 12.5%, from 11.2 litres in 2010 to 9.8 litres in 2016. However, these improvements were mainly determined by decreasing levels of drinking in the eastern countries of the Region, many of which have introduced stricter alcohol control policies over the past years.
For instance, half the countries that have reduced their alcohol consumption by at least 10% are members or associate members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a free association of sovereign states formed in 1991 by countries of the former Soviet Union.
The statistics for the EU are more troubling, as an earlier WHO report also revealed. In the same period, the 28 EU countries as well as Norway and Switzerland observed a reduction in alcohol consumption of only 1.5% – a change that is not statistically significant when accounting for measurement errors.
WHO/Europe’s research suggests that overall alcohol consumption in the Region will remain close to current levels in the next 10 years, although the global COVID-19 pandemic has likely led to an overall decrease in alcohol use, mainly due to the closing of restaurants, bars and other serving locations. However, more monitoring and surveillance efforts are needed as preliminary data indicate that this decline is not uniform across consumer groups.
“We recognize and praise the actions of the Member States that have followed WHO’s advice to implement evidence-based alcohol policies which are showing positive outcomes, but there is no room for complacency,” emphasized Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges, Acting Head of the European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD Office), who has been leading the research.
“In the eastern European and central Asian countries where the greatest decreases have been achieved, alcohol has long been a key risk factor for the burden of disease, and levels of harm still remain unacceptably high, affecting individuals, families and communities. These countries currently lead by example in implementing alcohol policies, but they need to maintain and increase their efforts, and other countries of the Region need to follow their lead,” Dr Ferreira-Borges added.
The WHO/Europe report also documents where countries currently stand in implementing the recommended measures of the global SAFER initiative. SAFER is an acronym that stands for the 5 priority areas of intervention with the most effective and cost-effective policy measures that countries can adopt to decrease alcohol consumption and harm and to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals:
The high-level launch of this report is an important step in WHO/Europe’s work to provide support for Member States in implementing high-impact strategies to build a SAFER European Region, free from harms due to alcohol.
“Yes, Bonnie Bloom is my real name,” said Bonnie Bloom, a local herbalist. Sitting in her small greenhouse, she added, “When emigrating from Eastern Europe, my family was assigned the name “Bloom’ at Ellis Island, which suits me fine.”
An early April visit to her modest Gill home and gardens might lead one to think that not much is growing yet. But Bloom has a keen eye for nascent growth, and spots shoots and tendrils emerging from the soil.
“The first nettles,” she noted. A few yards away, she pointed to a pale nub next to a dried stick. “Here’s this year’s black cohosh, next to last year’s.”
Behind the home Bloom shares with her partner, Dan Sachs, piles of logs are stacked in crisscrossed fashion. “Shiitakes,” explained Bloom, referring to the mushroom known for healing properties and delicious flavor.
“Dan and I did this project together: drilling holes, preparing the substrate, inoculating with spores, plugging, and waxing. On our first try, we got four pounds from 10 logs. Now we have many more.”
Bloom and Sachs — an acupuncturist — operate Abundant Splendor, a healing center in Turners Falls. Much of Bloom’s work, however, is literally homegrown: she processes herbal extracts, tinctures and other products in the bottom floor of their split-level ranch house.
An herbal medicine practitioner for over two decades, Bloom founded Blue Crow Botanicals. Her home workspace is small, but tidy and organized: equipment, filters, tools for precise labeling and record-keeping, and hundreds of bottles and jars.
“I wanted Blue Crow to be a small, local business in order to preserve the personal relationship we have with the plants and the medicines we make, as well as with our clients and community,” Bloom said.
Both before and while serving as Blue Crow’s primary herbalist, Bloom worked with Sojourns Community Health Clinic in Westminster, Vermont for 17 years. Now, working from home and with additional growing space at Just Roots Farm in Greenfield, she devotes her skills and knowledge to helping people during a time when health issues have become increasingly uppermost in many peoples’ minds.
Herbalism might seem like a stretch for a girl who grew up in the Bronx, but Bloom’s summers in the Catskills inspired a deep love of the natural world. “As a teen, I loved reading ‘Stalking the Wild Asparagus’ by Euell Gibbons and then trying to find plants in the wild.”
Her main focus as a young person, though, was visual arts; she attended a New York City high school emphasizing music and art. “I loved being in the city,” Bloom said, “with so many bookstores, coffee shops, and things to see and do.”
Her first jobs were in visual arts and teaching high school English. She married a graphic designer, and the couple had four children.
Years later, following a divorce, Bloom found herself staring at a poster advertising a class about herbs. “The poster was an interesting size and well designed, so I signed up for the class, which I found fascinating.”
When the teacher of the class expanded her herbal extract business, Bloom was hired to manage the gardens and do graphic design work for the company. She stayed with Green Mountain Herbs for about five years.
“I learned so much from that first class, and later from working in the field. When I made my move to Sojourns in 2002, I’d found my calling,” said Bloom. She was able to build up the Sojourns apothecary, given that she’d gained herbal manufacturing skills in her previous work.
Entering the world of healing arts held special meaning for Bloom. “I grew up around a lot of cancer and saw relatives suffer from various illnesses after years of smoking and poor dietary habits. I wanted to alleviate suffering by learning about how people can live healthier lives.”
Bloom credits what seemed like a negative — the dissolution of her marriage — as leading to unforeseen positives. “Basically, my life fell apart and I discovered a whole new world. There have always been opportunities and angels in my life. That’s why I’m so hopeful.”
Helping people achieve greater health is, for Bloom, both an art and a science, and she dedicates herself to maintaining supreme quality in her work.
To ensure freshness and quality, Bloom grows many of the 150 plants she uses in her business. “I purchase some herbs from companies I consider reputable and excellent, and also do wildcrafting throughout our region,” she said, referring to the practice of harvesting in the wild with knowledgeable care.
After growing or obtaining plants picked at peak potency, Bloom and her assistants process them into extracts, oils and other products. “We process plants within 24 hours of harvesting to preserve active chemical constituents,” she said. Blue Crow uses organic cane alcohol in producing small batches and optimal concentrations.
“Working at home is convenient and allows for a simpler life,” said Bloom. Each week has cycles, with some days spent in the lab and others working outside in her rented space at the Just Roots farm, at home, or foraging.
Lab work includes pressing, processing, and manufacturing extracts. “There’s also a massive amount of paperwork and tracking, because the government controls all foods and substances. So I work under a tremendous number of regulations.” Lab time also includes filling orders.
In addition to lab and fieldwork, Bloom also sees clients, “over Zoom during the pandemic, but hopefully in person again soon. I love talking with my clients not only about which herbs might be beneficial, but also about nutrition, breathing and movement. I think it’s important to consider all of the healing tools.”
Bloom practices what she teaches, beginning each day with meditation and some form of movement. “I find that life is calmer and more centered when I take that time for myself.”
For Bloom, self-care is essential, not to be dismissed as extra. “We’re in a time of huge changes,” she noted. “It can feel like everything’s happening at once, and that can leave people feeling overwhelmed. COVID, climate crises, human rights abuses, environmental degradation.” Leaning back in her chair, she let out a long, slow breath, then continued: “The way I see it, hope is healthy and worry is unhealthy. Sadness and anger are understandable in this time, but should be fleeting emotions.”
In this, Bloom believes that “human history is fairly fraught, and we’re in a downturn cycle. But that will change if we work with it.”
Noting that “coronavirus is not a one-off,” Bloom added, “If we don’t stop our destructive habits, there will be other similar crises. Humans live in cycles, not in straight lines.”
Bloom’s awareness of the ways humans have created imbalances in nature goes far beyond the pandemic. “Look what we’ve done all over the world. We’re major players, dumping poisons into the soil, air, and water, clear-cutting, weed whacking. We just don’t know when to stop.”
Herbal habitat is shrinking, according to Bloom. “Thousands of mini-storage units and hotels cover areas that used to be habitat for many herbs, not to mention insects, birds and other forms of life.”
She added, “Don’t get me started on the weed whacker. That one tool, in the hands of people who may be well-meaning but are unaware, takes out a lot of medicinal plants growing on peripheries.”
Other problems result from the removal of trees, said Bloom. “When you take out cover, it invites the proliferation of invasives like multiflora rose, bittersweet, wild mustard and knotweed.” While some invasives can also have useful purposes, she noted, “It’s a question of balance.”
Bloom tries to deal with current crises “humbly, with love and attention. At the very least, I try to treat the earth, others, and myself as well as I can. On a practical level, I try to avoid buying or using plastics, because only 9 percent are recyclable. Actions can make a difference.”
Having four grandchildren inspires Bloom to feel positive about the future. “We have a 3-year-old and three newborn babies in our family.”
She understands why people feel depressed in this era, “but depression is a dead end. Instead, we must be generative. There’s always both darkness and light, and we have to choose.”
Bloom believes the planet is in transition. “This is a fragile time. I’d like to be a player in tilting the balance back toward health. I feel grateful that the work I do can help people feel less anxious and frustrated. A steady diet of the news and media will leave one feeling overwhelmed. But it’s important to remember that there’s always goodness and beauty and that the earth offers us healing.”
Eveline MacDougall is a local author, nature lover, and mom who welcomes feedback at eveline@amandlachorus.org.
The development comes as risk of early death from diabetes is increasing, underscoring why countries must tackle the disease and bring treatment to all who need it.
“The need to take urgent action on diabetes is clearer than ever”, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General.
“The number of people with diabetes has quadrupled in the last 40 years. It is the only major noncommunicable disease for which the risk of dying early is going up, rather than down. And a high proportion of people who are severely ill in hospital with COVID-19 have diabetes.”
More than 420 million people worldwide live with diabetes, a group of chronic diseases characterized by elevated blood sugar, which can cause damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
The most common is type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar.
The global compact focuses on several priorities. Among the most urgent is increasing access to diabetes diagnostic tools and medicines, particularly insulin, in low and middle-income countries.
Roughly half of all adults with type 2 diabetes remain undiagnosed, according to WHO. Additionally, half of all people with the condition do not get the insulin they need, putting them at risk of irreversible complications such as early death, amputation and sight loss.
The insulin market is currently dominated by three companies, but a pilot programme for WHO prequalification of the medication, introduced two years ago, could change the situation. The prequalification process ensures medicines meet global standards for quality, safety and efficacy.
“Prequalification of insulin produced by more manufacturers could help increase the availability of quality-assured insulin to countries that are currently not meeting demand”, WHO said in a press release.
Meanwhile, discussions are underway with manufacturers of insulin, and other diabetes medicines and diagnostic tools, which could help meet demand at prices that countries can afford.
Another key aim of the compact is to set a “global price tag” that quantifies the costs and benefits of meeting new targets for diabetes care. Governments also will be encouraged to meet their commitments to include diabetes prevention and treatment in primary healthcare and universal health coverage packages.
Dr Bente Mikkelsen, Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO, added that the compact seeks to rally key stakeholders, as well as people who live with diabetes, around a common agenda to generate new momentum and create solutions.
“The ‘all hands on deck’ approach to the COVID-19 response is showing us what can be achieved when different sectors work together to find solutions to an urgent public health problem,” he said.
The new compact was launched at the Global Diabetes Summit, co-hosted by WHO and the Government of Canada, with the support of the University of Toronto.
“Canada has a proud history of diabetes research and innovation. From the discovery of insulin in 1921 to one hundred years later, we continue working to support people living with diabetes,” said Patty Hajdu, the country’s Minister of Health.
“But we cannot take on diabetes alone. We must each share knowledge and foster international collaboration to help people with diabetes live longer, healthier lives — in Canada and around the world.”