Tag Archives: green
‘Romania, The New Eldorado For Buying Agricultural Land"
Author: Istvan Deak May 7, 2013 – 2:21 p.m. View Gallery Pledge of land, a solution for supporting small fermentation, influenced by the Ministry of Agriculture Soil quality, good price and can get help attract investors to a new Eldorado: Romania, through his fields, notes journaldujura.ch of Switzerland. phenomenon of media attention in the West, who are wondering how to get here, not without a finding that there is the reverse: Romanian peasants denounced by multinationals seizing the growing areas of our country. “Romanian peasants complain that Austrian investors in possession of agricultural land in Romania at ruinous prices, which then turns them into monocultures with funds. 40% of Romania’s agricultural territories are cultivated.Conflicts around land start growing, “writes Austrian daily Der Standard in an article entitled” Stealing land in Romania “.Austrian journalists story revolves around a Romanian farmer, Dan Cismas. The same character who is the interlocutor French journalists from Le Figaro, which they take to record in an article “Romanian peasants, united against land hoarding” that the land grabbing and Europe, especially Romania, which is the fifth country to agricultural area of the continent. “state has two faces. He makes laws to prevent the sale of land to foreign investors, but at the same time as a prostitute, ‘sleeps’ with their money, “says Cismas, owning 35 acres of land near a village in Transylvania. He runs a dairy farm, goats and pigs. Thus he was able to convince people of the region to focus on the production of bio roses, using manure from farm animals. Agricultural Association Small farmers in the area have joined an association called Ecoruralis and have elected Vice-President. “No other issue affects them more than the Romanian farmers territorial losses for speculators. Hundreds of thousands of hectares have been converted into agricultural lands and were intended for export, taking advantage of cheap labor and soil fertility. 2,000 euro you buy a hectare of land in Romania. In Austria would cost four times more. Romanian monthly salary of a worker in agriculture is 160 euros, “says Cismas the source. Since 2014 land purchase by foreign investors will become legal. But until then, a company registered in Romania for 150 euros can solve the problem. Role speculators Roman speculators bought land plot with plot pressured the population who many times did not last.Puzzle was completed at a time, and the land was eventually sold at a price 10 times higher by an international firm. They already have 6% of the Romanian territory. “Our countrymen are not nationalists. I call on the European non-profit organizations to pay attention to their initiatives. Hungry for maximum profit, they fail to seize million subsidies from Brussels. Amounts you drop the small farmers, most often due to bureaucratic barriers “, said Cismas. Imports 70% Products are no longer competitive regional farmers. “Importing food amounts to almost 70%. All this happens in a country that was considered the breadbasket of Europe. An unimaginable situation. In politics there is no interest Romanian regional structures. Agricultural markets are chaotic and unregulated.Consequently, many young people trying to escape the poverty spiral cheap working in gathering crops in Western Europe, “wrote the Austrians. They noted that Austrian investors are strongly represented in Romania. But there are exceptions. “Gerald Scheighofer Industrial Group faces the most powerful local resistance. He is accused of large areas grubbed and eliminates small producers in the area. The same group experiencing and Esterhazy, processing timber on 10,000 acres in Romania and try to export at a price three times higher. ” Open to investors Honorary Consul in Romania, Austrian Count Andreas Bardal, president of a holding company that owns 21,000 hectares Romanian, it supports Austrian investors who buy land in our country. “Romania is one of the few countries that are open to investors. 40% of agricultural land is cultivated. We may not be put in the same pot with speculators. We created 200 jobs and I did not land anyone. Profit is always reinvested, “says Bård that receives 3 million in grants. “This amount is needed to cover losses from poor harvest and high costs. Addiction blame for wearing the Romanian import. The fact that many agricultural projects is not made due to lack of funding. The problem is the banks “concluded Bardi. A practice originating in Africa and Asia Situation in Romania is symptomatic of the whole of Europe, a phenomenon already called “Land Grabbing”. “When there are big ones, small ones trying to hide in agriculture. Potent investors against financial networks, small farmers have no chance. Lose their land even when he does not want to give up. Large corporations controlling local agriculture. The practice is called Land-Grabbing and come mainly from Africa and Asia, “says Wiener Zeitung. According to a report released in late April by the Alliance “Hands off the Land” and the European association of small farmers “Via Campesina”, 3% of large corporations own more than 50% of all agricultural land in Europe. “Firms investor buys Austrian Andreas Barn massive earth in Arad and Timis, already exceeding 27,000 hectares. BARD is in the top four foreign investors in Romania. Many owners had lost his business, so there are some complaints against him. BARD Holding Romania has 16 companies that are specialized in animal husbandry. Small farmers have no chance against “claims for WZ, Attila Szöcs from Ecoruralis. “To avoid legal barriers in official documents appears the original owner, but the land is controlled by the big players. In other cases, national holdings are set to enter into possession of the lands, but there are cases where land is bought illegally. If any farmer who is neighbor plot with great concern, refuse to sell their land simply is sown in the land of plenty with the rest. Small farmers are not helped. Whether we are talking about Romania, Ukraine and France, the money goes to large corporations, “notes Christina Plank Professor at the University of Vienna. Grants European Union accuses the authors of the report noted that finances and encourages this by awarding grants. “In 2009, in Spain 16% of agricultural producers have received 75% of all subsidies. In Hungary, nearly 93% of local farmers are excluded from the subsidy scheme. Basically, to survive, they have to sell their land, “concludes Wiener Zeitung. Paradox French site atlantico.fr asked a specialist who is the explanation of this new “Eldorado” and the answer came quickly: “First, it clear that land prices are lower than in Western Europe. Suddenly it attracts a number of future owners. The second important argument: agricultural prices have an upward trend. That gives the impression that prospective investors can make money.Report quality land / purchase price is interesting. Thirdly, there is some disruption in these countries (Romania, Bulgaria, Poland etc) that make land available there. In these countries, a proportion of land not subject to individual peasant important properties. When collectivization of land, a large number of farmers has been removed from the policy. Therefore, the return is more difficult. “However, something is paradoxical. “More than half the farms in the Europe of 27 states are in these three countries. In other words, the 12 million agricultural holdings in Europe, 6 million are in these countries. The problem is that they are below 10% of total production, “notes atlantico.fr.__________________________________ Land sales to foreigners may be restricted At the end of 2012, the Minister of Agriculture, Daniel Constantin announce that this year the state will take measures to limit purchases agricultural land by foreigners, after market liberalization on 1 January 2014 as stipulated in the Treaty of Accession to the EU. official said in a recent interview for business24.ro that this topic is very sensitive and there is debate ample on the subject. “Many say we should extend the prohibition to sell land to foreigners. I must say that now foreigners, whether they are a company in Romania, can buy land and can work. Already pretty much bought and paid taxes here in Romania. From Legally, the Accession Treaty, it may extend the ban. To change it, would be a ratification in all Member States and Croatia this year. Which seems impossible and will be in a time beyond January 2014, the impossible at the moment, “said Constantin. Facilities for farmers Minister explained that he wanted to come up with a range of facilities for farmers, carrying the discussions with the banks in this regard. “We discussed with the banks to put farmland pledge that we want to buy it as it was before the real estate loan. So far, this allowed banks did not accept land as collateral, but now they accept it. Pledge of agricultural land would be an very beneficial for Romanian farmers, “said Constantine. Romania We have 11 million hectares of arable land of which 10 million were required to be paid this year, so 10 million of them were grown according to Agerpres.According to official data, the total area of arable land in Romania, about 10% is held by foreign firms through Romanian. ( Elena Stan ) Continue reading
Ed Davey Hits Out Against Coalition Climate Change Sceptics
Energy and climate change secretary will use a major speech at Clarence House to promise stronger action on global warming Fiona Harvey , environment correspondent guardian.co.uk , Wednesday 8 May 2013 13.15 BST Ed Davey , the energy and climate change secretary, is to use a major speech at Clarence House on Wednesday afternoon to fight back against the increasingly vocal climate change scepticism among other parts of the coalition. His uncompromising speech, seen by the Guardian, promises stronger action on global warming and follows the admission by his party leader, Nick Clegg, that green issues are now some of the most serious flashpoints between the coalition partners . The Liberal Democrats have long sought to be seen as strong on the environment, a core issue for the party’s voters. But they have suffered setbacks in government as the Treasury has cut renewable energy support and an increasingly vocal number of Tories oppose windfarms , money for low-carbon projects and tougher targets for UK emissions cuts, all of which the Lib Dems support. The extent of some of the divisions was on display in the European parliament recently, when rebel Tory MEPs played a pivotal role in scuppering plans to rescue the EU’s carbon trading system (ETS) . Davey struck a firm stance: “As a politician, you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But there are some issues where you have to draw the line – where you have to stand up and be counted, and you have to do the right thing. I think climate change is firmly in that category.” He quoted David Cameron as saying “we can’t afford not to” act on the problem. Davey was speaking to a conference on preserving tropical forests, an area where progress has been disappointing despite deforestation being one of the leading sources of carbon emissions . The conference was convened by the Prince of Wales, who has set up a working group to find ways of funding forest protection. Davey pinned his hopes on a global deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions, through United Nations negotiations that are proceeding at a glacial pace , although governments have agreed to write a new agreement by 2015 that would come into force from 2020. “The bottom line is climate change can only be addressed through an international response to reduce emissions.” He also addressed the tricky issue of the future of carbon trading. Davey and allies including France and Germany suffered a serious setback a few weeks ago when the European parliament – aided by most of the UK’s Tory MEPS, who defied the official party line – voted against reforms that would have rescued the EU’s emissions trading system. Although the CBI supported the reforms, there was heavy lobbying from other EU business groups to reject the reforms, that would have helped to prop up the price of carbon dioxide permits to businesses. Davey vowed to fight on for reforms to strengthen the troubled system, in which the price of carbon dioxide permits has fallen to record lows, giving companies almost no incentive to reduce their emissions. “The UK was one of nine member states to announce in a joint statement this week that we want the EU ETS to be reformed so it sends the right price signals to properly stimulate low-carbon investment,” he said. In a side swipe at the business interests that helped to scupper EU ETS reform and that have opposed spending on the low-carbon economy in the UK, Davey pledged: “Across multiple fronts, the UK is mounting a strong, concerted effort to unite and find common ground. Because we cannot gamble our future on vested interest and short-term gain. The stakes are too high.” Continue reading
Lumber Stocks on a Tear
Tuesday May 7, 2013, 4:30am PDT By Andrew Topf – Exclusive to Resource Investing News Resource investors who have seen their junior mining stocks beaten down over the past few months shouldn’t have tunnel vision and might consider looking at other aspects of the resource economy while they wait out a market upturn in metals commodities. One sector that is looking positively bullish is the Canadian forestry industry and associated forest products companies, which are capitalizing on an uptrend in US housing starts commensurate with an improving economy in Canada’s largest trading partner. Canada is the second-largest exporter of primary forest products behind the United States, and the US is Canada’s largest market for softwood lumber, used in home building. It is for that reason that the Canadian lumber industry closely tracks the trends in US housing starts, as well as the exchange rate between the Canadian and US dollar, since lumber is sold in US dollars. The Canadian dollar has been at near parity with the US greenback for the past two years, and that has made it more difficult for Canadian producers to compete against US forest companies. But what has changed in recent weeks is the surge in US housing starts, which has rekindled investor interest in the sector. A report quoted by the Financial Post shows new home sales during the first two months of the year at their highest level in more than four years. It’s a trend not seen since 2006, when the US housing bubble burst, followed by foreclosures, plummeting housing starts and demand destruction resulting in several years of low prices for Canadian softwood. Other factors working in lumber’s favor right now include brisk demand for Canadian lumber in China and a rebuilding effort in Japan following the 2011 tsunami. On the supply side, log supply is tightening due to mill closures that followed the 2006 housing market collapse, harvesting cutbacks in Quebec and the decimation of trees in British Columbia by the mountain pine beetle. Add it all up, and you have demand from Asia and the United States outpacing supply, which has led to a doubling of lumber prices compared to a year ago. The price of Western Spruce Pine Fir (SPF) 2x4s has shot up from $220 per thousand board feet in April 2012 to $440 in April of this year, according to Madison’s Lumber Reporter. OSB, or particle board, an important building material, has also enjoyed a significant price run, selling at US$357 per thousand board feet last week compared to $227 a year ago, reported Random Lengths. As producers ramp up production to take advantage of higher prices, lumber futures have retreated, around 20 percent since early March, but 2013 is still predicted to be a good year for lumber companies as US housing starts continue to rise. Unsurprisingly, the rise in lumber prices has translated to good profits and higher stock prices in the major producers. The S&P/TSX Forest Products subindex has gained nearly 108 percent over the past 12 months (from third week of April), and analysts are bullish. “At these prices, forest products companies are highly profitable,” The Globe and Mail quoted Patricia Mohr, an economist and commodity specialist at Scotiabank, as saying. “We are in a supercycle for lumber,” Raymond James forestry analyst Daryl Swetlishoff told the Globe, adding, “[w]e are in the third inning, and we see a lot of upside.” For investors looking at the forest for the trees as they weigh their resource investing options, here are a few companies to consider. While the 12-month targets listed below point to modest gains, Swetlishoff is more bullish, and predicts between 8 and 16 percent upsides for Canfor, West Fraser and Western Forest Products, and 35 percent or more for Interfor and Conifex Timber, according to the Financial Post. Canfor (TSX: CFP ) : Canfor has sawmills in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and the Carolinas in the United States, producing dimensional lumber, structural panels and value-added finishing products. Canfor’s stock has gained 100 percent, from $10.67 one year ago to its Monday close of $20.52. Scotiabank has a one-year target of $24.25. International Forest Products (Interfor) ( TSX:IFP.A ) : Diversified lumber producer Interfor churns out over 2 million board feet a year from operations in British Columbia, the US Pacific Northwest and Southern United States. Interfor stock has more than doubled from $4.55 a year ago to finish at $10.36 yesterday. Scotiabank has a one-year target of $11.50. Western Forest Products (TSX: WEF ) : Western Forest Products mills 800,000 board feet a year from eight operations on the British Columbia coast. A year ago, Western was trading at just under a buck, 91 cents, and it closed on Monday at $1.30, a 44-percent gain. Scotiabank has a one-year target of $1.65. Conifex Timber (TSXV: CFF ) : Conifex Timber manufactures SPF dimension lumber from Northern BC and also produces renewable energy . Conifex stock, which trades on the TSX Venture Exchange, was scraping a 52-week low at the end of December at $6.82, but has since risen 33 percent to finish at $9.10 on Monday. Thomson Reuters has a 12-month mean target price of $10.30. West Fraser Timber (TSX: WFT ) : West Fraser Timber produces SPF and SYP (southern yellow pine), as well as panels, pulp, newsprint and wood chips, from operations in Western Canada and the Southern United States. West Fraser’s stock has risen 101 percent, from $43.27 this time last year to a close of $86.62 on Monday. Scotiabank has a one-year target of $97, which would be a 12-percent gain from Monday’s price. Ainsworth Lumber (TSX: ANS ) : Ainsworth Lumber produces engineered wood products from four manufacturing facilities in BC, Alberta and Ontario. A year ago, Ainsworth was trading at $1.28; it closed on Monday at $3.84 for a 214-percent gain. Scotiabank has a one-year target of $5. Securities Disclosure: I, Andrew Topf, do not hold equity interests in any of the companies mentioned in this article. Continue reading
