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Farmer, Politician in
JAS presidential race
By Patrick Maitland
Editor-The Agriculturalist

A former CEO of the Rural

Agricultural Development
Authority (RADA), Lenworth
Fulton, and the former Mayor of
Montego Bay, Glendon Harris,
are locked in a heated race for the
presidency of the Jamaica Agri-
- cultural Society (JAS).
n After serving as JAS presi-
4 dent for 12 years in two, three-
year terms -- from 2003 to 2009
and from 2012 to 2018 -- Nor-
man Grant was restricted by term
limit, which set the stage for the
battle between the two veteran
agriculturalists to replace the for-
mer senator.
Just fewer than 500 delegates
will vote for a new president and
LENWORTH FULTON GLENDON HARRIS
two vice presidents at JAS’s an-
JAS Presidential Candidate JAS Presidential Candidate
nual general meeting scheduled
for July 11, 2018, at the Denbigh
Showground, May Pen, Claren-
don.
Clarendon JAS President,
Denton Alvaranga, and West-
moreland JAS President, Owen
Dobson, are on the “Fulton
Team” as the candidates for first-
vice president and second vice
president, respectively.
Harris, who is also the in-
cumbent second-vice president of
the JAS, has selected St. Mary
JAS President, Hugh Lambert, as
the candidate for first vice-presi-
dent and Small Business Associ-
ation of Jamaica President, Hugh
Johnson, as second-vice presi-
dent.
Continued on page 5
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See page 9
2 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • JUNE-JULY 2018 WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM

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EDITORIAL
JACRA needs a new team to overhaul its operations
Therefore, we would like to know “It is far from being operational, and
W e are echoing the sentiments of
many farmers, agriculturalists, and
food processors that the Jamaica Agricul-
how farmers and the country are expected
to benefit from a super-sized entity that fo-
in fact, if left in its current form, that would
be a deterrent to the farmers and the farm-
tural Commodities Regulatory Authority cuses on new farm taxes and regulations ing community. The idea of separating the
(JACRA) needs an immediate overhaul of but ignores the fundamentals that are re- commercial functions from the regulatory
its operations and regulations. quired to sustain the growth of the crops. has merit, but JACRA is going to need to
The idea of JACRA was proposed In the eyes of the public, JACRA is an take on a lot more than that,” the outgoing
some ten years ago. However, just over six embarrassment to the government, and we chairman told The Gleaner.
years ago the Ministry of Industry, Com- are blaming Stanberry, Brown, and Mal- It is very sad that one of the most crit-
merce, Agriculture and Fisheries' Perma- oney. These responsible officers were very ical organizations affecting the livelihood
nent Secretary, Donovan Stanberry, hired stubborn and would not listen to sugges- of thousands of farmers producing up to 50
noted agriculturalist, Dr. Garnet Brown, tions put forward by experienced agricul- percent of the island’s export food is being
and retired human resource specialist, Ju- turalists and farmers. ridiculed or mocked as it fails to get its act
dith Maloney, to manage the merger of the Stakeholders’ consultation and due together.
existing Coffee Industry Board, Cocoa In- diligence were not followed as the Author- After missing several start-up dates,
dustry Board, the regulatory functions of ity faced strong objections from farmers the red flag was already out that JACRA
the Coconut Industry Board and the Export and agriculturalists, as well as some mem- was having issues. Nevertheless, finally,
Division of the ministry into JACRA. bers of the manufacturing and commercial the announcement came that the Authority
We know it would have been a signif- sector. officially started Jan. 1, 2017.
icant challenge based on the unique fea- As noted by Norman Grant, president There was no fanfare or excitement as
tures of the respective boards, including of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, some in our opinion nobody wants to be the
the agronomic and trading practices of farmers are upset about the penalty that proud owner and founder of JACRA.
these crops. In fact, we do not think a PATRICK MAITLAND will be levied against them if they do not Despite the concerns, we need a strong
merger strategy would be the best option Publisher - The Agriculturalist have a license to plant pimento, cocoa, cof- and equipped “JACRA” to promote and
as the government seeks to rationalize op- patrick@theagriculturalist.com fee, coconut, ginger, and turmeric. regulate coffee, cocoa, coconut and the
erations and cut expenses. “JACRA has also introduced taxes on the spices in the interest of our farmers.
We have never been told of the sav- crops,” Grant said. Therefore, the government should
In fact, the export division that domi- JACRA’s Chairman, Richard Pando- move quickly to put in place a new team
ings, or monetary benefits, the government
nates the export of pimento has been a sig- hie, also berated his organization, charging and board of directors to overhaul the op-
is accruing by merging these commodity
nificant cash cow for the Agriculture that the Authority in its current form is erations of JACRA.
boards, which have not been receiving reg-
Ministry for many decades. “flawed.”
ular government subvention.
The opinions expressed in this newspaper, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Agriculturalist and its publishers. Please send your com-
ments or suggestions to editor@theagriculturalist.com. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all articles will be published.

JAS to elect a new president

By Kimmy Blair “Under Grant’s watch, the JAS con-
The Agriculturalist Writer tinues to receive 90 percent of its funding
from government subvention, and the con-
A fter serving 12 years as president of
the Jamaica Agricultural Society
(JAS), Norman Grant will not be up for re-
ditions at the Denbigh Showground dete-
riorated. After 12 years, the place is now
election at the Society’s Annual General an eyesore despite several redevelopment
Meeting scheduled for July 11 at the Den- launches, including the construction of a
bigh Showgrounds, May Pen, Clarendon. hotel on the grounds,” a director of the JAS
JAS bylaws prevented Grant from observed.
seeking re-election after completing two- Grant said, however, that he is proud
consecutive three-year terms. His initial of his record, and will continue working
withdrawal was in 2009, until 2012, when with the JAS to achieve some other objec-
he returned to head the Society. tives.
Former Mayor of Montego Bay and “Under my leadership, the JAS has
defeated Councillor for the Maroon Town been transformational, and I will continue
Division in St James on the People's Na- to work with the JAS and agencies like
tional Party (PNP) ticket, Glendon Harris, RADA, as well as seek the ministry's sup-
and former CEO of the Rural Agricultural port in meeting our targets,” he said.
Development Authority (RADA) and ex-
ecutive director of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs,
Lenworth Fulton, will seek to lead the JAS
for the next three years.
Grant joins controversial former JAS
president, the late Courtney Fletcher, who Publisher & Editor:
was appointed to Senator and was always Patrick Maitland
in the media spotlight for his comments on Consulting Editors:
Jamaican agricultural sector. Vincent Wright, Jairzenho Bailey
Agricultural commentators, however,
said Grant was more about getting media By Kimmy Maitland Produced & Published by:
attention than addressing the needs of the Agri Life Foundation Ltd
JAS and the farmers of Jamaica. AMC Complex,
188 Spanish Town Road,
Kingston 11, Jamaica, W.I.
Book your advertisemnt in The Agriculturalist Tel: (876) 923-7471• 923-7428
Denbigh Show 2018 - Special feature agriculturalist@gmail.com
editor@theagriculturalist.com
Call Miss Grant 923-9471 • August 2018 Issue - Publication Date: July 27, 2018 www.theagriculturalist.com
4 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • JUNE-JULY 2018 WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM

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OBITUARIES
Faba Chen
Sept 2, 1963 - June 13, 2018
F aba Chen, 55 previously known as Roan
Champagnie has been ailing for the past
six years from kidney failures, diabetes, and
cataract of the eyes.
He died of chronic renal failure on June
13, 2018, at the Spanish Town Hospital.
Chen is a graduate of the Knockalva Agri-
cultural School, College of Agriculture, Sci-
ence and Education (CASE) and the
University of the West Indies, St Augustine.
He previously worked at New Yarmouth
and Worthy Park estates in St Catherine as
an agronomist.
Chen is survived by two sisters, a brother,
uncles, and aunties.
Details on the funeral arrangement will
be announced later. Contact for details: Oral
Lewis: 482-5629
————-
Alpheous "Tata" Higgins
O le Farmer Alpheous "Tata" Higgins
(Class of 1971 Jamaica School of Agri-
culture) who recently made the transition to
be with his maker in Clarendon where he
resided.
Ole Farmer "Tata" Higgins gave many
decades of dedicated and unstinting service
to the Ministry of Agriculture as an agricul-
tural extension officer and was as an Ani-
mal Health Assistant in the Veterinary
Division, providing services to farmers in
Borobridge, Aenon Town and Morgan For-
est areas, up to the time of his fading.
Farmer, Politician in JAS presidential race
Continued from page 1
Under the theme, “Leadership with In-
tegrity, Honesty, and Experience,” the for-
mer executive director of Jamaica 4H Clubs
and current St. Catherine JAS, president,
Fulton is adamant that the 123-year-old So-
ciety needs new leaders with fresh ideas.
“The team with Glendon Harris has been
part of the JAS management for the past 10
years and is responsible for the dismal fail-
ure of the Society in addressing the needs of
members and farmers,” Fulton claimed.
“Our mission is for solid management of the
JAS operations to utilize the assets and other
resources to improve the income as well as
the living standard members and farmers.
The JAS must be more open, honest and
transparent on the financial and manage-
ment operations of the Society.”
JUNE-JULY 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 5
NEWS
RUMINANTS TALK: J.C. Hutchinson (c), Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fish-
eries, converses with (from left), Dr. Gillian Smith, Acting Food and Agriculture Organisation Representative in Jamaica, Belize
and The Bahamas; and Kenneth King, President of the Small Ruminants Association of Jamaica, at the 21st Annual General Meet-
ing of the association held at Bodles Research Station in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, on May 5.
Investment in small ruminant production
N oting that of the 3.27 million kg of goat
and sheep meat consumed in 2016 only
30% was supplied locally, J. C. Hutchinson,
face such as praedial larceny and lack of land
tenure.
In calling for stronger measures to be im-
lenges been faced in accessing lands for farm-
ing. These lands, he said, will be allocated to
farmers identified by the Jamaica 4-H Clubs.
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of plemented to deter praedial thieves, Minister This is in addition to the 10,500 hectares
Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fish- Hutchinson is proposing that restitution be of former sugar lands in Clarendon and St.
eries, is calling for more large-scale invest- given to victims who lose any type of crops or Catherine which will be available for lease to
ment in the small ruminant sub-sector, which animals for the amount equal to the value of farmers for production of non-sugar crops and
has a significant opportunity for growth for the agricultural crops or animals including any livestock. He stated that these lands could be
primary and value-added products. interest incurred. used in the cultivation and production of for-
“By and large, small ruminant farmers Minister Hutchinson also said that Gov- ages to supply feed to the small ruminant sub-
have been primarily small farmers rearing be- ernment will be providing 100 acres of land sector and thereby cut the high import cost for
tween 100 and 500 animals and many even for lease to young farmers to address the chal- processed feed.
below that,” said Minister Hutchinson. This,
he said, limits the scope of production.
The Minister urged the small ruminant
farmers to consider the mother and satellite
farm concept currently being used by the poul-
try industry, which will lead to increased herd
sizes, consistency of inputs as well as expan-
sion into agro-processing.
While noting that there was a positive
trend in local production compared to 2006
when only 11% of the meat consumed was
produced locally, Minister Hutchinson called
for increased production, stating that Ja-
maicans are eating less goat and sheep meat
as data showed that consumption moved from
6.8 million kg in 2006 to 3.2 million kg in
2016.
Minister Hutchinson was speaking at the
21st Annual General Meeting of the Small Ru-
minants Association at the Bodles Research
Station in Old Harbour on May 10, where he
commended the farmers for their commitment
to the sector amidst the challenges that they
Fulton said that his leadership would
emphasize attracting more youth and
women to the JAS to boost membership,
which is struggling at less than 3,000.
Harris, who serves as Councilor in St.
James for more than 20 years before he was
defeated in 2017, told The Agriculturalist
that he was interested in leading the organi-
zation for another term following his stint
from 2009 to 2012.
“With such experience and knowledge
of the JAS, I am offering myself to serve the
farmers for another three years,” Harris said.
“The JAS is the farmers' organisation
and I have been a transformational leader;
my principal background is business, out-
side of being an agriculturalist,” he said.
6 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • JUNE-JULY 2018 WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM
WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM JUNE-JULY 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 7

NEWS
Hanson departs JACRA
T wo months since appointed the first
Director General of the recently es-
tablished Jamaica Agricultural Commodi-
ties Regulatory Authority–JACRA,
Everton Hanson has departed the post ef-
fective June 4.
Unconfirmed reports are that the
Board of Directors of JACRA terminated
his contract based on the “without cause”
enforceable termination clause.
Hanson told The Agriculturalist he
did want to comment further on the issue,
but the separation was amicable. “Not
withstanding the initial changes, JACRA EVERTON HANSON
is very important organization, which will Former Director General,
continue to serve the farmers of Jamaica,” Jamaica Agricultural
Hanson added. Commodities Regulatory Authority

Agricultural Technology Symposium:

In photo (l-r) J.C. Hutchinson, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry,
Pandohie quits JACRA
Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, in discussion with Shalom Hodara, CEO, Israt- The idea of separating the commercial
ech Jamaica Ltd; and Dwight Ricketts, President of the Jamaica Institution of Engineers,
at the Agricultural Technology Symposium held at Isratech Jamaica Ltd in Kendal, Man-
C hief executive officer of the Seprod
Group Richard Pandohie has quit as
chairman of the Jamaica Agricultural Com-
functions from the regulatory has merit, but
JACRA is going to need to take on a lot
chester, on June 21, organised by the JIE and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agri- modities Regulatory Authority (JACRA). more than that.
culture and Fisheries in collaboration with Isratech Jamaica Ltd under the theme He applauded the concept of having "The concept is sound, but it needs a
‘Sustained Growth in the Agriculture Sector with Science & Technology, Engineering.’. one umbrella agriculture board with a man- lot of work to get it operational, and from a
The technology symposium examined strategies for sustained growth in the agriculture date to drive the growth of the industry regulatory aspect, I hope they find some-
sector through the application of science, technology and engineering. after years of decline. body really good who has some time and
-Photo credit: Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries But Pandohie charged that JACRA, as experience in regulations. But regulation is
is now laid out, is flawed. "It is far from not my forte. If you ask me to grow 'sup-
being operational, and in fact, if left in its pen' or add value to 'suppen' that's okay, but
Send press releases to: I'm not a regulatory guy," said Pandohie.
current form, that would be a deterrent to
editor@theagriculturalist.com the farmers and the farming community.

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9 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • JUNE-JULY 2018
SHAW’S SURPRISE GIFT:
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries Audley Shaw (right) is surprised with a 66th birthday gift of a barbecue grill from the Jamaica Broilers
Group. In photo Christopher Levy, president & CEO of Jamaica Broilers (l), makes the presentation, while Norman Grant (2nd left), president of the Jamaica Agri-
cultural Society and Conley Salmon president, Jamaican Operations (3rd l), Jamaica Broilers Group look on. The presentation was made on June 15 at the official launch
of Denbigh 2018 and was held on the lawn of Hi-Pro, White Marl, St Catherine. This will be the 66th year of the Denbigh show.
New Features For Denbigh 2018
By Chad Bryan, JIS:
T his year’s staging of the Denbigh Agri-
cultural, Industrial and Food Show,
scheduled for August 4 to 6, will include
several new features to enhance the specta-
cle of the event, while promoting the coun-
try’s agricultural sector.
The event, under the theme ‘Grow
what we eat, eat what we grow: Agriculture
securing, our future’, will include a craft vil-
lage; back-to-school fair; and transforma-
tion of the President’s Pavilion into a “living
embodiment” highlighting the country’s
agricultural history, growth of the sector and
future potential.
An investment in agriculture forum
will be staged with support from entities
such as Jamaica Promotions Corporation
(JAMPRO), Jamaica Business Develop-
ment Corporation (JBDC), National Export-
Import Bank of Jamaica (EXIM Bank) and
the Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC)
Limited.
“It is going to be a tremendous show
this year,” said President of the Jamaica
Agricultural Society (JAS), Norman Grant.
“These features are really just to showcase
Denbigh as the platform for strategic and
economic growth,” he noted.
He was speaking at the launch of the
66th staging of Denbigh, at the Hi-Pro Su-
percentre in White Marl, St. Catherine on
June 15.
Mr. Grant informed that a scholarship
award will be added to the National Farm
Queen competition, and ahead of the show,
on July 8, a Denbigh farmers’ 5k run will
take place at the showground in May Pen,
Clarendon, with the proceeds going to-
wards establishing a disaster relief fund for
farmers.
In addition to the new elements, pa-
trons will be able to enjoy the traditional
features such as the health and wellness
village, horticultural displays, farmers’
market, organic village, food court and
youth in agriculture village.
Mr. Grant, who indicated that this is
his final year as JAS president, emphasised
the importance of investing in agriculture,
which will contribute to the sustained
growth of Jamaica’s economy.
“Agriculture, in our view, is funda-
mental to the development of Jamaica. We
see agriculture as the bedrock and pillar on
which economic growth will take place,”
he said.
He noted that the sector accounts for
seven per cent of gross domestic product
(GDP) and employs thousands of persons.
Mr. Grant said the ‘Grow what we eat,
eat what we grow’ campaign, which has
been a part of Denbigh for over 14 years,
has been a “game changer”.
“The campaign has saved the Jamaican
economy US$500 million. Prior to the
campaign, we were increasing our imports
by about US$100 million per annum. Sub-
sequent to the launch, that has been de-
creased to US$60 million per annum…we
need to salute the work of the over 250,000
farmers and fisher folk,” he said.
In his remarks, President and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica
Broilers Group, Christopher Levy, stressed
his company’s commitment to the annual
JAMPRO takes Agricultural
Information Forum to Mobay
T he Jamaica Promotions Corporation
(JAMPRO) will be heading west for
the second staging of the Agricultural In-
formation Forum, aimed at promoting in-
vestments in that sector.
The event will be held on July 10 at the
Iberostar Beach & Spa Resort in Montego
Bay, St. James, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m,
and will target persons who have an interest
in the agricultural industry.
Speaking with JIS News, Manager for
Agribusiness at JAMPRO, Marlene Porter,
noted that the forum will engage persons
operating in the sector, companies that are
looking for investment prospects, or per-
WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM
staging of Denbigh and the development of
the agriculture sector.
Jamaica Broilers is one of the largest spon-
sors of the agricultural and industrial show,
which attracts over 80,000 patrons annu-
ally.
In 2016, the company signed a Mem-
orandum of Understanding (MOU) with
the JAS, committing more than $60 mil-
lion to the event over a three-year period.
sons who have land and capital and are
seeking areas in the sector where they can
invest.
The event will be held on July 10 at the
Iberostar Beach & Spa Resort in Montego
Bay, St. James, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m,
and will target persons who have an interest
in the agricultural industry.
Key participating entities are the Agro-
Investment Corporation (AIC), which will
provide information about the various pro-
grammes being undertaken such as the agro
parks and Rural Agricultural Development
Authority (RADA) will highlight the tech-
nical and marketing support being provided
to farmers and the incentives available.
10 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • JUNE-JULY 2018 WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM

INVESTMENT:
Economic Growth Council
Chairman, Michael Lee-
Chin and Agroinvest's CEO,
Sylburn Thomas (3rd l) dis-
cuss investment opportunity
in agriculture at a recent
meeting of the Council.
Agriculture has been identi-
fied as one of the sectors of
focus to assist Jamaica’s eco-
nomic growth.
WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM JUNE-JULY 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 11

Jamaica Agricultural Society’s Presidential Elections 2018

-

Leadership with integrity,

honesty, and experience!

Denton Alvaranga
First Vice President

Lenworth Fulton Owen Dobson

President Second Vice President

Vote for these JAS

Presidential Candidates
876-390-5451 • 876-801-6208 • fultonlenworth@yahoo.com
12 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • JUNE-JULY 2018 WWW.AGRIGRICULTURALIST.COM

YOUTH IN PHOTO

SHAW URGES 4-H CLUBBITES TO PURSUE EXCELLENCE:

Audley Shaw (left), Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries,
poses with the Jamaica 4-H Clubs National Boy and Girl of the Year, Shanique
Dawkins from Clarendon and Rovani Scott of Hanover, along with Ronald Blake
(right), Executive Director, and Colin Virgo, director; both of the Jamaica 4-H
Clubs, at the National Achievement Expo on April 27 at the Denbigh Showground
in Clarendon. The Boy and Girl of the Year received $1 million from the Ministry
of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries. SHAW ENCOURAGES YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME ENTREPRENEURS:
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Audley Shaw, presents
plaque to honor student Bradwayne Sinclair (r) at the Knockalva Agricultural
Book your adverts today.. School’s Valedictory Service held at the Mount Ward Methodist Church in
Special Denbigh Show Feature Hanover on June 1. The Minister is encouraging young people to avoid negative in-
fluences and to pursue a path of decency and honesty by establishing their owna-
August 2018 issue - The Agriculturalist gri businesses.
WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM JUNE-JULY 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 13

OLD FARMERS MEET MINISTER SHAW:

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Audley Shaw (2nd l) poses with members of the College of Agriculture, Science and Edu-
cation Alumni Association (Old Farmers) (l-r) Una May Gordon, Canute Saddler, Alexi Reid, Sylburn Thomas and Idelle Brown during a seminar on
"the state of Jamaica’s National Food Security and the vulnerability of local food supplies to external economic shocks," held at the Jamaica Pegasus
Hotel on May 17 in New Kingston. The forum also features presentations from knowledgeable industry speakers and lively discussions on the Jamaican
agro-processing sub-sector, the state of the Jamaican fresh agricultural produce export subsector, the major threats to national food security, the state
of the livestock and crop production sub-sectors and investment opportunities to enhance national food security.

GraceKennedy
to set up agro park
G raceKennedy Limited is
taking a more direct inter-
est in farming under a new
partnership with the Jamaican
Government to supply its St.
Elizabeth factory.
The company is a large
buyer of agricultural crops as
inputs for its food manufactur-
ing operations.
Previously, the conglom-
erate provided technical sup-
port to farmers in its supply
chain. DON WEHBY
Now, it will be more in-
volved as an agro park investor, utilising lands leased in the
parish.
Group CEO Don Wehby said that Grace Agro-Proces-
sors, a division of GK Foods & Services Limited, is part-
nering with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce,
Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF) to establish the agro
park on 110 acres at Ridge Pen in proximity to its process-
ing plant in the neighbouring district of Hounslow. CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE:
The company expects planting of crops to begin in No- (l-r) Dr Olu Ayie a director at the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU; Una May
vember of this year and for reaping to begin in May 2019. Gordon, Principal Director, Climate Change, Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and Peter
——————————-————————- Thompson, CEO, Rural Agricultural Development Authority during the recent official launch of Climate Smart
Rum manufacturers Agriculture Project for Portland, St. Thomas and St. Mary. The launch was held in Passley Gardens, Portland.

urged to partnering Climate-smart practices

with cane farmers
M inister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and
Fisheries Audley Shaw is calling for rum-manu-
facturers to return to the tradition of partnering more
with sugar cane farmers and to use more local prod-
ucts in their processing operations.
Shaw said Jamaica’s sugar cane farmers and the
industry need more support from rum-manufacturing
factories across the island, arguing that, without the
support, many farmers will not be motivated.
Komal Samaroo, Chairman of National Rums of
Jamaica, said he agrees with the Minister’s call.
training for farmers
S ome 5,000 smallholder farmers in
the parishes of Portland, St.
Thomas and St. Mary are slated to ben-
efit from specialised training to in-
crease their capacity to implement
climate-smart agricultural practices.
The project, dubbed Accelerating
the Uptake of Climate-smart Agricul-
ture in selected African, Caribbean and
Pacific countries, is to be implemented
in three beneficiary countries - Ja-
maica, Mali and Ethiopia.
The project is being implemented
in collaboration with the Technical
Centre for Agriculture and Rural Co-
operation (CTA), based in the Nether-
land, will be conducted over a two-year
period.
The launch of the Jamaican com-
ponent was held last Thursday at the
College of Agriculture, Science and
Education, Passley Gardens, Portland.
It will be executed through a part-
nership involving the CTA, the Climate
Change Division in the Ministry of
Economic Growth and Job Creation,
and the Rural Agricultural Develop-
ment Authority (RADA).
Smart Agriculture (CSA) is an ap-
proach to help the people who manage
agricultural systems respond effec-
tively to climate change.
14 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • JUNE-JULY 2018 WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM
WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Farm Sector Fears Large Losses
From Mounting Trade Conflict
By Chuck Abbott
T he Farm Belt will get walloped if China
retaliates in equal measure against Wash-
ington’s $50 billion in announced tariffs on
Chinese goods, said economists at Midwest-
ern universities.
Ohio State researchers said farmers in
the Buckeye State could see a 50% drop in
farm income, while Iowa State’s Chad Hart
said producers in the Hawkeye State could
lose up to $624 million this year, depending
on how long the tariffs are in place and if
other customers are found.
China is the largest market for U.S. ag
exports, which generate 20¢ of each $1 in
farm income. The Trump administration an-
nounced 25% tariffs on $50 billion of high-
tech Chinese products, with duties coming
into effect on July 6 for a tranche of $34 bil-
lion in goods. Beijing responded with a target
list of the same size, also taking effect on July
6 and which included soybeans, salmon, or-
ange juice, and whiskey along with electric
cars.
Analysts say China picks trade targets
for maximum political impact while mini-
mizing discomfort to its citizens. Soybeans
Pollutants from agriculture a
serious threat to world’s water – FAO
Tajikistan, Ghana:
W ater pollution from unsustainable
agricultural practices poses a serious
risk to human health and the planet’s
ecosystems, a problem often underesti-
mated by policymakers and farmers alike,
cautions a new report.
In many countries the biggest source
of water pollution today is agriculture —
not cities or industry — while worldwide,
the most common chemical contaminant
found in groundwater aquifers is nitrate
from farming.
This was made known in ”More Peo-
ple, More Food, Worse Water? A Global
Review of Water Pollution from Agricul-
ture’, report launched by the Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the In-
ternational Water Management Institute at
a conference in Tajikistan.
The report, which was made available
to the Ghana News Agency by George
Kourous of the FAO Media Relations in
Tariff retaliation already hitting pork, dairy industries
T he tariffs on pork will likely be pro-
hibitive, meaning that pork otherwise
exported to Mexico will have to find a new
home.
Recent tariffs imposed on steel and
aluminum imports to the U.S. from
Canada, Mexico, and the European Union
(EU) have resulted in retaliation in the
form of tariffs on a range of U.S. exports to
those countries.
Incomplete lists can be found here,
but the biggest concerns in terms of agri-
are, by far, the largest U.S. farm export to
China, but Brazil is its leading supplier.
Along with the tariffs, the Chinese Com-
merce Ministry also said a recent offer to buy
billions more of U.S. goods, including farm
exports, was off the table.
“As a soy grower, I depend on trade
with China,” said Kentucky farmer Davie
Stephens, vice president of the American
Soybean Association. “China imports
roughly 60% of U.S. soybean exports, repre-
senting nearly one in three rows of harvested
Rome, said modern agriculture is respon-
sible for the discharge of large quantities of
agrochemicals, organic matter, sediments
and saline trading into water bodies.
It said this pollution affects billions of
people and generates annual costs exceed-
ing billions of dollars.
“Agriculture is the single largest pro-
ducer of wastewater, by volume, and live-
stock generates far more excreta than do
humans. As land use has intensified, coun-
cultural trade are Mexican tariffs on pork
and cheese. Mexico is responsible for a sig-
nificant portion of all U.S. exports of pork
(32 percent in 2017) and cheese (up to 28
percent annually), but the full effect of
these tariffs is currently unknown.
New Mexican tariffs on cheese include
a 15 percent duty on fresh cheese and a 10
percent duty on shredded or powdered
cheeses. These duties increase to 25 per-
cent and 20 percent, respectively, after
July 5th.
JUNE-JULY 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 15
soybeans. This is a vital and robust market
that soy growers have spent over 40 years
building and, frankly, it’s not a market U.S.
soybean farmers can afford to lose.”
In the run-up to the White House an-
nouncement on Friday, the National Corn
Growers Association pointed to the outcome
of the U.S. grain embargo of the Soviet
Union in 1980. It prompted larger Soviet
grain production and damaged the U.S. rep-
utation as a reliable supply on the global mar-
ket.
“Our organization grows increasingly
concerned that this administration does not
have a plan to ensure family farmers and
ranchers aren’t thrown under the bus,” said
the National Farmers Union, the second-
largest U.S. farm group. The NFU said it sup-
ports the administration in trying to reduce
the U.S. trade deficit. “The administration
must work with Congress to develop a com-
prehensive solution to ensure family farmers
can continue to provide for the nation. For-
tunately, the current farm bill drafts moving
through Congress present an opportunity for
the administration to do just that.”
tries have greatly increased the use of syn-
thetic pesticides, fertilizers and other in-
puts,” wrote Mr Eduardo Mansur, Director
of FAO’s Land and Water Division, and Ms
Claudia Sadoff, IWMI Director-General, in
their introduction to the report.
“While these inputs have helped boost
food production, they have also given rise
to environmental threats, as well as to po-
tential human health concerns,” they add.
The report said agro-pollutants of
greatest concern for human health were
pathogens from livestock, pesticides, ni-
trates in groundwater, trace metallic ele-
ments and emerging pollutants, including
antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant genes
excreted by livestock.
The new report represents the most
comprehensive review of the dispersed sci-
entific literature on the issue complied to
date, and aims to fill information gaps and
lay out policy and farm-level solutions in
one consolidated reference.
The new tariffs on pork include a 20
percent tariff on all chilled or frozen pork
as well as cooked ham and shoulder prod-
ucts and a 15 percent tariff on pork
sausages. The U.S. is still allowed to export
pork to Mexico duty free under their
350,000 metric ton quota. However, this
limit is only 43 percent of U.S. pork export
volume in 2017 and the U.S. must compete
with other exporting countries for this
quota. To put it simply, the 350,000 metric
ton quota is “first come, first served.”
US approved Bayer’s
takeover of Monsanto
by David Rowlands/World Fertilizer
A ccording to Reuters, Bayer’s
planned takeover of Monsanto has
been a proved by the US.
Reuters reports that this comes after
the company agreed to sell approxi-
mately US$9 billion in assets, clearing a
major hurdle for the US$62.5 billion
deal, which will reportedly create one of
the world’s biggest seeds and pesticides
producers.
According to Makan Delrahim, who
heads the US Justice Department’s (DoJ)
Antitrust Division, the asset sales agreed
to by Bayer were the “largest ever di-
vestiture required by the United States.”
A spokesman for the company re-
portedly stated the planned sale of busi-
nesses with €2.2 billion in sales to BASF
already agreed to address antitrust con-
cerns, largely in Europe, were not differ-
ent materially from the demands of the
DoJ.
Reuters reports that this ruling has
come after months of delays in a long re-
view process. It brings Bayer closer to
establishing a giant agricultural supplies
company with sales of approximately
€20 billion, based on 2017 figures when
taking the divestments into account. At
current exchange rates, Reuters reports
that this compares to approximately
€12.4 billion at DowDuPont’s Corteva
Agriscience unit, €11 billion at Chem-
China’s Syngenta and €7.9 billion at
BASF, including businesses to be ac-
quired.
The takeover has already been
granted approval from a number of key
jurisdictions (EU, Brazil, Russia, the
US). However, it still requires clearance
in both Mexico and Canada.
—————————
Farmers spot diseased
crops faster with
artificial intelligence
by Matt McFarland
I f farmers want to know how healthy
crops are, perhaps they shouldn't trust
their eyes.
Matt Free -- a manager at Evergreen
FS, an agriculture company -- learned that
lesson this year. His team provides crop
protection services such as fertilizers and
herbicides to farmers across Illinois.
After a year-long test of a variety of
new technologies, Evergreen FS found ar-
tificial intelligence could identify trouble,
such as fungus growth and water short-
ages, in corn and soybean crops weeks be-
fore the naked eye would ever realize it.
The tech, which comes from startup
Ceres Imaging, offers farmers an AI analy-
sis of photos taken from planes flying sev-
eral thousand feet above fields. Previously,
the technology was generally limited to or-
chards and vineyards.
After images are taken, Ceres pro-
vides maps that highlight trouble spots on
farms. Free's team visited the marked
areas, but couldn't detect any issues with
their own eyes.
16 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • JUNE-JULY 2018 WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM
WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM JUNE-JULY 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 17

RADA FOCUS
Beet Armyworm Management Rally
By Marina Young
Principal Director - Technical Services
Rural Agricultural Development Authority
————————————————————————

A team of plant doctors from the Rural

Agricultural Development Authority
(RADA) and the Plant Quarantine Inspec-
tion and Research & Development Divi-
sion, MICAF, conducted a Beet
Armyworm Management Rally (the first in
a series of rallies on different plant health
topics) at the St. Elizabeth Parish Office
Open Day dubbed Agrifest held on May
31, 2018.
St. Elizabeth is one of the largest crop
production areas in the island and farmers
within the Parish have been experiencing
sporadic beet armyworm flare-ups and out-
breaks. The Joint technical team prepared
and successfully staged a public awareness
activity to assist the effective management
of the Beet armyworm.
The Rally is considered a new ap-
proach for Jamaica’s plant health system
and compliments other extension ap-
proaches used for transferring knowledge
and skills to farmers and other stakehold-
Technical Team from RADA and MICAF pose for the lenses after the successful execution of Beet Armyworm Management
ers.
Rally on May 31, 2018.
This high intensity training consisted
of four individual modules, where partici-
pants were exposed to 15-20 minutes du-
ration sessions on key areas for
management of the Beet Armyworm: (1)
Pest Life Cycle; (2) Field Inspection for
Assessing Beet Armyworm; (3) Construc-
tion and Use of Pheromone Traps and (4)
Pest Forecasting.
The Sessions included: practical
demonstrations and interactive communi-
cation with participant and feedback ques-
tions. Comments and opinions received
from stakeholders were all positive and en-
couraging.
This pilot project was implemented in Practical Demonstration led by
collaboration with Plantwise, Common- Kimmoia Witter, Pest Risk Analyst
wealth Agricultural Bureau International Plant Quarantine MICAF at the
(CABI), UK. The implementation of the Beet Army Worm Management
Plantwise Progranmme aims at enhancing Rally held at RADA St. Elizabeth
extension delivery and plant health in Ja- Open Day “ Agrifest” held on May
maica, through training of plant doctors, 31, 2018.
implementation of plant doctor clinics
(fixed and E-clinics), building Knowledge
Bank and public awareness including plant
health rallies.
For more information on participating
in the Plant Doctor Clinics or Rallies con-
tact your nearest RADA Parish Office.

Latania Richards, Pest Risk Analyst, Plant

Tel: 977-1158-62 • Fax: 970-4660 Quarantine MICAF in presentation at Beet
executive@rada.gov.jm Armyworm Management Rally.
www.rada.gov.jm
18 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • JUNE-JULY 2018 WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM
WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM
Steming the transboundary
movement of coconut pests
T hroughout history ancient seago-
ing vessels have spread diseases
and pests to new and unprepared coun-
tries. Today modern transportation sys-
tems do the same thing, only at much
greater speeds and volume.
Since May 22, 2018, the
Caribbean Agricultural Research and
Development Institute (CARDI) to-
gether with our partners the Interna-
tional Trade Centre (ITC), European
Union (EU) and the African Caribbean
Pacific Group (ACP) will be conduct-
ing national risk management work-
shops in 11 CARIFORUM countries .
In Jamaica, the workshop will be
held, 28 June 2018 at the Spanish
Court Hotel, Kingston.
Locally, the Coconut Industry
Board which has responsibility for the
affairs of nation’s industry is partner-
ing with CARDI and ITC the imple-
mentation of the project activities in
Jamaica.
Weathering the storm this hurricane season
J une signifies the start of another hurri-
cane season, and we are left to wonder
what the coming months will bring. In the
face of climate change, it is unlikely that
Jamaicans will continue to experience the
luck we have had over the past few years.
For the most part, farmers accept that
they are powerless to stop the next severe
storm damaging their crops and affecting
their income. When risks are too high for
any one individual to absorb, people often
turn to insurance – if they can.
Most farmers have no such protection
available to them, particularly those who
farm small plots of 5 acres or less. While
the weather is outside the control of all Ja-
maicans, most insurers have been unable
to offer viable protection to support those
in rural surrounds.
The Munich Climate Insurance Initia-
tive (MCII), in their continued work Cli-
mate Risk Adaptation and Insurance in the
Caribbean project (CRAIC), recognizes
there is an urgent need to address this
issue. MCII is hosted at the United Na-
tions University Institute for Environment
and Human Security (UNU-EHS). The
CRAIC project seeks to address climate
change, adaptation and vulnerability by
promoting insurance as a risk management
instrument in the Caribbean.
CRAIC has evolved to now include a
campaign to increase understanding of
how best to prepare for hurricane season.
By staying alert and adopting disaster risk
management strategies, farmers can reduce
the damage from natural hazards. So this
hurricane season, MCII has enlisted sev-
eral local volunteers to schedule commu-
nity events and provide free education on
simple tips we can all take to best prepare
for when the storm comes.
Dr
by
Gregory
Robin
Representative
in Jamaica
Caribbean
Agricultural
Research and
Development
Institute
(CARDI)
Jamaica’s coconut industry has
suffered tremendous losses due to the
scourge of Lethal Yellowing Disease.
Trees of Atlantic Tall variety have vir-
tually disappeared from the landscape
following outbreaks of lethal yellow-
ing disease.
Less susceptible Malayan Dwarf,
Panama Tall and first generation (May-
pan) hybrid varieties are exhibiting a
decline in levels of tolerance and there-
fore, the country continues to modify
its management strategy to maintain
MCII is currently seeking opportuni-
ties with farmer groups and other commu-
nity associations to deliver their disaster
risk education program. If you would like
to have a representative visit your area,
please send an email to
daniel.mcgree@gkco.com.
For financial protection, the Liveli-
hood Protection Policy (LPP) is one option
to replace income loss as a result of heavy
rains or strong winds.
The LPP was designed fill the finan-
cial protection gap and target running
small to medium-sized operations.
Damaged banana fields caused by hurricane
JUNE-JULY 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 19
the viability of the industry. Other
pests/disease problems such as bud rot,
coconut mite and Ambrosia beetle also
affect production and are targeted by
project activities.
We have to develop strategies to
prevent new introductions of deleteri-
ous organisms and mitigate the risks
posed by those already present. It is ex-
pected that participating coconut pro-
ducers and producer groups locally,
and across the region, will get a
broader global appreciation of the
range of coconut pests and diseases
that can impact on their operations.
This sensitization should see them ap-
preciating that they too have a role to
play in the development of relevant, ef-
fective action plans.
All must come on board to safe-
guard the Region. The Region must
adopt a multi-stakeholder approach
(including multiple agencies and pro-
ducers) to prevent the entry and spread
of invasive species
By
Daniel McGree
Impact
Insurance Fellow
GK General
Insurance
Company
Limited
Dirk Kohler, Insurance Advisor at
MCII in charge of the implementation of
CRAIC explains “The LPP helps prepare
for impacts from climatic risks, including
Board Chair - Debra Boyle
JOAM elects
new officers
A t the recently held Extraordinary
General Meeting of the Jamaica Or-
ganic Agriculture Movement (JOAM)
following the directors were elected to
serve for a two-year period: Board Chair
- Debra Boyle; Treasurer - Raymond
Martin; Secretary - Colleen Williams;
Directors- Kerri-Ann Bennett; Joseph
Lindsay, Roy Page, Kermit Tucker and
Colleen Williams.
The JOAM is a non-profit, non-gov-
ernmental organization created to foster
an organic agriculture industry in Ja-
maica.
hurricanes and storms. Coverage by these
approaches empowers people by providing
immediate funding after a disaster for a
faster livelihood recovery.”
As an index-insurance product, the
LPP payouts are tied to a series of thresh-
olds or “triggers” for wind speed and rain-
fall. If a threshold is met during a weather
event, the LPP is “triggered” and an auto-
matic payout is made to the LPP holder’s
bank account.
By not linking the LPP to a specific
asset, there is no need for lengthy claims
assessments that other insurance products
require so pay-out is made within 14-days.
This helps farmers get back on their feet
quickly.
Grace Kennedy Insurance offers two
versions of LPP. A standard LPP has a pay-
out limit of $50,000 to $500,000 depend-
ing on the units purchased. The Banana
Board works closely with the CRAIC Proj-
ect Team and offers banana farmers an LPP
with tailored trigger levels and higher cov-
erage limits of up to $5,000,000.
Already in 2018, five parishes have
experienced rains more than the triggers.
The most notable event occurred in the
first weekend of May where several LPP
holders were awarded pay-outs in Claren-
don, Westmoreland, and St. Thomas.
For more information on LPP, persons
are encouraged to visit the National Peo-
ple’s Cooperative Bank, selected credit
unions or call 926-5442.
Book your
adverts
Call 923-7471
20 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • JUNE-JULY 2018 WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM
WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM JUNE-JULY 2018 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • 21

Knowledge Page
Sustaining the pig breeding herd
T he most important unit of the breeding
herd is the sow, the source of piglets,
weaners, and growing pigs. The sustainability
and productivity of the Breeder or Multiplier
farm (F1 breeders) is directly related to the
number of piglets weaned or raised by the
sows per year.
Consequently, the general objective is to
achieve longevity of the sows and gilts (aver-
age 5 years), produce an average 2
litters/year, with an average of 10 piglets/lit-
ter, raising at least 17 weaners per year.
Achieving the above parameters begins
with the selection and management of gilts.
The rearing of selected gilts represents one of
the biggest factors affecting performance of
the sow herd. Replacement rate is usually
20-40% of the breeding herd per year making
gilts an integral part of sow production.
An inadequate number of gilts will often
complicate the culling of poor producing
sows meanwhile weaner production is de-
clining. Farmers must have available groups
of ready to breed replacement gilts to substi-
tute for culled sows.
Sows are replaced when:
• Weaner production is less than
14 piglets/year
• After weaning return to heat more
than two times
• Number of stillbirths increase
• Sows crush or kill many of the piglets
• Develop hoof problem or injury
• Aged (over 5 years with low production)
• Sick
Breeding Program
The industry has adapted a crossbreeding pro-
gram in the effort to increase pork production.
Current breeding programs involve cross-
breeding Large White (growth rate and piglet
production) with Landrace (mothering abil-
ity) and the offspring gilts crossed with a
third breed, Duroc (fast growth, high quality
meat) to produce a terminal cross, slaughter
pig.
However, farmers are selecting replace-
ment gilts from the three-way, terminal cross
pigs which is negatively impacting perform-
ance.
Sow Genetics — Current Sow genetics
F1 - LW (50%) LR (50%)
possess hybrid vigour
F2 - LW (25%) LR (25%) DU (50%)
F3 - LW (12½) LR (12½) DU (75%)
F4 - LW (6¼) LR (6¼) DU (87½)
There are few remaining pure breed
Large White and Landrace in the wider in-
dustry and most bear the characteristics of
their Type.
Disadvantages of Reducing the
Large White/Landrace Genetic
in Breeding Sows
These disadvantages include:
• Loss of heredity and hybrid vigour
• Reduction in length of productive life
• Loss of maternal traits and lowering of litter
size
As the average of the herd incline to-
wards a population of F2- F4 sows the growth
rate, feed efficiency and carcass quality, the
genetic contribution of the Duroc breed, will
improve but the most important traits of
piglets/litter and maternal behaviors decline
significantly.
Further decline in productive traits is ex-
pected when farmers select F3 and F4 gilts.
Selecting beyond F1 sows is not recom-
mended, and a sufficient supply of herd re-
placements are required to sustain
performance and production.
The Multiplier farms- which include
most of our local farms- that produce weaners
for finishing can only profit when farmers ad-
here to the recommended breeding program.
Selecting & Managing Productive Gilts
Gilts are generally selected at the end of
the growing-finishing period and are sepa-
rated in groups of 3-5. The Grower/Finisher
ration is discontinued and they are now fed
Gestation ration. Gilts will come on heat but
should be bred at their third heat period (60
days) to allow for physical maturity and in-
creased ovulation.
Pre-Mating Vaccination
Management of Breeding Herd
To maintain health of gilts, sows and for the
viability of piglets a vaccination programme
is key for success.
Majestic 7 (Parvovirus, Erysipelothrix sp,
Leptospira spp)
Vaccination Schedule
GILTS
•One dose 6 weeks before breeding
•Second dose 14 - 28 days later before breeding
SOWS
•Single dose prior to each breeding
Post Mating Management
of Breeding Herd
Seek to mate sows or gilts at the optimum
point of heat to ensure large litter size.
- Feed little or no feed on the day of mating or
Artificial Insemination (AI).
- Feed Hi-Pro Gestation ration 2.0 kg/day
- Check for heat at 21 days and again at 42
days
- Steam Up by feeding 2-5 – 3.0 kg/day for
15-20 days
- Deworm and Mange 7-9 days before far-
rowing
- Reduce feed to 2.0 kg/day
-Place pregnant sow in cleaned farrow pen
-Be present at farrowing if possible.
Feeding Lactating Sows
-Offer little to no feed on the day of farrowing
-Feed Hi-Pro Lactation ration 4.5 - 5.0 kg
daily
-Perform husbandry practices related to both
sow and piglets.
-Sow in good milk production will adequately
nurse piglets during the first 15 days.
-Piglet creep feeding should be managed
well.
Good sanitation
Good sanitation is critical to the survival and
well-being of piglets so farrowing pens
should be cleaned daily.
-Remove dung and other waste from the pen.
- Use minimal amount of water in cleaning.
- Do not deliberately wet piglets and maintain
dry areas for piglets.
- Provide heat particularly at nights.
Sustaining the breeding herd depends on
having a sufficient supply of well selected
gilts, the genetics of the sow herd, the man-
agement of sows and gilts, maintaining
proper nutrition and health, and following
standard husbandry practice established for
classes of animals.
-Courtesy of HiPro Feeds

2018

Let us Brand your products For Advertisement Placement and Copies:

Adira Grant
and services with the Almanac! Advertising and Sales Executive
909-0770 (c) or 923-7471 (o)
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Book your your advert now... 909-0770

Editorial Matters:
Patrick Maitland
Publisher and Executive Editor
Publishers:
AGRI LIFE FOUNDATION LTD
188 Spanish Town Road, Kingston 11, Jamaica W.I.
Hi-Pro Division Tel: 923-7471 • Fax: 923-7428
Jamaica Broilers
Group Limited agriculturalist@gmail.com
22 • THE AGRICULTURALIST • JUNE-JULY 2018 WWW.THEAGRICULTURALIST.COM

How does too much sugar affect your body
By Locke Hughes
C hances are you already know that eating
too much sugar isn’t good for you. Yet
you’re probably still overdoing it: Americans
average about 20 teaspoons of added sugars
per day, compared to the recommended 6
teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for
men. (That doesn't include sugar found nat-
urally in foods like fruits and milk.)
Sugary drinks, candy, baked goods, and
sweetened dairy are the main sources of
added sugar. But even savory foods, like
breads, tomato sauce, and protein bars, can
have sugar, making it all too easy to end up
with a surplus of the sweet stuff. To compli-
cate it further, added sugars can be hard to
spot on nutrition labels since they can be
listed under a number of names, such as corn
syrup, agave nectar, palm sugar, cane juice,
or sucrose.
No matter what it’s called, sugar is
sugar, and it can negatively affect your body
in many ways. Here’s a closer look at how
sugar can mess with your health, from head
to toe.
Your Brain
Eating sugar gives your brain a huge
surge of a feel-good chemical called
dopamine, which explains why you’re more
likely to crave a candy bar at 3 p.m. than an
apple or a carrot. Because whole foods like
fruits and veggies don’t cause the brain to re-
lease as much dopamine, your brain starts to
need more and more sugar to get that same
FOOD PAGE
feeling of pleasure. This causes those “gotta-
have-it” feelings for your after-dinner ice
cream that are so hard to tame.
Your Mood
The occasional candy or cookie can
give you a quick burst of energy (or “sugar
high”) by raising your blood sugar levels
fast. When your levels drop as your cells ab-
sorb the sugar, you may feel jittery and anx-
ious (a.k.a. the dreaded “sugar crash”). But
if you’re reaching into the candy jar too
often, sugar starts to have an effect on your
mood beyond that 3 p.m. slump: Studies
have linked a high sugar intake to a greater
risk of depression in adults.
Your Teeth
You probably rolled your eyes at age 12,
but your mother was right: Candy can rot
your teeth. Bacteria that cause cavities love
to eat sugar lingering in your mouth after you
eat something sweet.
Your Joints
If you have joint pain, here’s more rea-
son to lay off the candy: Eating lots of sweets
has been shown to worsen joint pain because
of the inflammation they cause in the body.
Plus, studies show that sugar consumption
can increase your risk of developing rheuma-
toid arthritis.
Your Skin
Another side effect of inflammation: It
may make your skin age faster. Sugar at-
taches to proteins in your bloodstream and
creates harmful molecules called “AGEs,” or
advanced glycation end products. These mol-
ecules do exactly what they sound like they
do: age your skin. They have been shown to
damage collagen and elastin in your skin --
protein fibers that keep your skin firm and
youthful. The result? Wrinkles and saggy
skin.
Your Liver
An abundance of added sugar may cause
your liver to become resistant to insulin, an
important hormone that helps turn sugar in
your bloodstream into energy. This means
your body isn’t able to control your blood
sugar levels as well, which can lead to type 2
diabetes.
Your Heart
A trendy sugar detox diet promises to end
your craving for sweets and help you lose
weight. But does it work? Here's the truth
about sugar cravings and how to tame your
sweet tooth.
Can You Really Be Hooked on Sugar?
Some people use sugary foods in ways that
aren't healthy, even though it may not be an
actual addiction. Some signs: You crave
sugar, lose control, and eat more than you
planned.
Your Brain on Sugar
Sugar fuels every cell in the brain. Your brain
also sees sugar as a reward, which makes you
keep wanting more of it. If you often eat a
lot of sugar, you're reinforcing that reward,
which can make it tough to break the habit.

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