MINISTER TO HOLD FORUM ON COMPANION ANIMAL PROTECTION . . . TRULEAF POSITION AVAILABLE . . . WAGGLING BEES GIVE THEIR VERDICT ON A LANDSCAPE . . . CANADA’S GROCERS EMBRACE THE MAGIC OF MUSHROOMS . . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

MINISTER TO HOLD FORUM ON COMPANION ANIMAL PROTECTION
Source: N.S. Dept of Agriculture
An annual Minister's Forum on Companion Animal Protection will be launched this fall, bringing together animal welfare advocates and enforcement officials. "This will be an opportunity for dialogue on animal protection issues such as standards of care, enforcement and training,” said Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell. The by-invitation-only forum, to be held in Halifax, will bring together key stakeholders. The department is reviewing and assessing the 317 responses received from the public and stakeholder groups concerning the draft standards of care for domestic animals. The feedback will be assessed and taken into consideration as the final version of the standards of care is completed, which is expected for the fall. (read more)

TRULEAF POSITION AVAILABLE
Source: AtlanticFarmer.com
TruLeaf has an opening for a Plant Systems Specialist (Vertical Farming. Location: Bible Hill/Halifax, Nova Scotia. Term: Full Time/Permanent. Start date: August 2014. With a passion for delicious, nutrient-rich food, TruLeaf was started in 2011 in Halifax, Canada. Our technology, the TruLeaf Smart Plant System, is a multi-layer plant farm that grows fresh produce anywhere in the world, regardless of environment, 365 days a year. The System combines innovations in agricultural lighting systems with leading edge hydroponic, controlled environment technologies to produce sustainable, safe, nutrient-dense leafy plants. With applications for retail grocery and the nutraceuticals/functional food markets, the TruLeaf System integrates proprietary innovations in equipment design, farm layout, and plant production formulas to produce clean, pesticide-free, nutrient-rich leafy plants year-round. The position – System operation, maintenance and monitoring: Monitor system for deficiencies, identify areas for improvement and ensure system is running optimally. Define timelines and budgets for system improvement projects. – Growing area maintenance and monitoring: Ensure clean workable growing area. Monitor area for deficiencies in terms of structure and environment. Investigate optimal space usage and environmental stability. – Lab area maintenance and monitoring: Ensure lab supplies are stored and kept up to date and in stock including gas, water, seeding, and other growing supplies. Ensure a clean and safe work area. – Plant monitoring: Inspecting for possible issues or deficiencies, in collaboration with Plant Research Specialist. – Communicate with Japanese business contacts. Qualifications Competitive applicants will have: – Degree in Plant Science – Experience growing plants in an indoor growth chamber, including calculating requirements for air and water flow, LED lighting, nutrient formulation, temperature and all other necessary consideration – Experience with environmental control systems (e.g. Argus, Priva), in a multi-level environment – Experience with scheduling; along with collecting and analyzing data related to plant trials – Bilingual in English and Japanese to act as a liaison with our contacts in Japan, (other languages would be considered an asset) – Strong organizational skills and ability to function in a fast paced team environment. To apply please send a cover letter and CV to careers@truleaf.ca, with the subject line “Plant Systems Specialist application

WAGGLING BEES GIVE THEIR VERDICT ON A LANDSCAPE
Source: NYTimes
European officials have spent more than $56 billion over the past decade in a program to mitigate landscape change and encourage environmentally friendly practices by farmers. But there is little evidence on how effective these vast expenditures have been. So researchers at the University of Sussex in Brighton, England, decided to seek the opinion of some discriminating judges of environmental quality: bees. (read more)

CANADA’S GROCERS EMBRACE THE MAGIC OF MUSHROOMS
Source: The Globe and Mail
The lowly mushroom is emerging as a secret weapon for profit-hungry grocers. Supermarkets are trying to lure shoppers with pricier exotic varieties ranging from king oysters to enokis and cinnamon caps. The gradual shift to specialty mushrooms from traditional white-button types is driven by retailers’ bid to cash in on a growing number of new Canadians who seek out familiar products and foodies looking for something different. (read more)