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Common Bridesmaid Gorgeous jewelry ProductsPosted on 2011-Jun-14 at 11:15 - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkProvided that there are bridesmaids, this is not unique bridesmaid gifts. All of the creates are built as a general fantastic method for their bride-to-be by way of thanking the girl buddies website marketing . an important part of your loved one big event. Just about the most customary sort of bridesmaids surprise will be charms. Necessities such as vintage bridesmaid charms tokens which often every lover would enjoy gain.When there's one kind of jewellery linked to marriage ceremonies, it truly is beads! Of all time these symbolic representation with bridal acceptance, pearl jewelry is also extraordinary for the purpose of ordinary. In case a wedding and reception is fairly old school or simply basic, pick the unbeatable mix off a good solid follicle from ovoids and a pair of spheres porn stars pertaining to your cheap bridesmaid gifts. 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Regardless which you want, the family and friends will definitely absolutely adore its bridesmaid bracelets gift ideas!Pearl Jewelry - The Story of Pearl HuntersPosted on 2010-Nov-12 at 05:46 - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkAs long as pearl jewelry have been known to people, they have been a highly sought commodity for their beauty. It's only in recent times however that the industry has taken the hunt for the perfect pearl to a whole different level. Today, the shiny orbs that we see on in display in jewelry stores have actually almost always been grown in farms. That's a far cry from the dangerous extraction and collection methods used before the invention of modern technology. In the past, not more than 100 years ago, the only way to retrieve pearls was by diving in lakes, floods and the ocean to pick them up, one at the time. The unfortunate divers who'se job it was to do this, were often poor and lured by the relative large sums they could get. The diver would sometimes have to dive as deep as 100 feet on one single breath of air. In order to preserve air and to stay submerged the longest, the divers would hold on to heavy stones on the way down. Naturally, this dangerous activity was reserved for the desperate or the powerless - in many cases slaves or extremely poor peasents. Today, this method is all but obsolete in most places of the world. The cheaper cultured pearls have become popular and are many times the only pearls available to the consumer. There are however still a few isolated areas that practice this old art of pearl diving. Some of the finest natural pearl speciments come from the gulf of Bahrain. Here, divers still risk their health to retrieve what are considered the top of the crop in the world. In fact, Bahrain wants no part of the sale of cultured pearls, banned from trade. Bahrain is one of the few places on earth that does an active job in trying to preserve the natural habitat and waters from pollution. It's an interesting story and one that continues to fascinate buyers around the world. Somehow, the beauty of the pearl grows when it's been retrieved from the depth of the ocean.
Buying Pearl Jewelry Without Being Ripped OffPosted on 2010-Nov-12 at 05:42 - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkBuying pearl jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of pearl jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality pearl jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online. Pearls Natural or real pearls are made by oysters and other mollusks. Cultured pearls also are grown by mollusks, but with human intervention; that is, an irritant introduced into the shells causes a pearl to grow. Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials. Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pears. A cultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usually stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which give it luster. Jewelers should tell your if the pearls are cultured or imitation. Some black, bronze, gold, purple, blue and orange pearls, whether natural or cultured, occur that way in nature; some, however, are dyed through various processes. Jewelers should tell you whether the colored pearls are naturally colored, dyed or irradiated. Clams, oysters, mussels and many other mollusks with limy shells are known to produce pearls. But very few kinds yield gem pearls of jeweler's quality. The pearl is an abnormal growth of mother-of-pearl, or nacre, imbedded in the soft bodies of these shellfish. It is built up, layer upon layer, in the same way as nacre is added to the lining of the growing shell and always has the same color and luster. For example, over the country, hundreds of good-sized pearls are found each year in the oysters we eat. Unfortunately these have no commercial value regardless of whether they have been cooked or not because they are dull opaque white or purple like the shell of the parent oyster. In recent times almost all pearls of gem quality come from the oriental pearl oyster which has a bright shimmering translucent nacre. A pearl starts growing when some irritating foreign substance such as a sand grain, bit of mud, parasite or other object becomes lodged in the shell-producing gland called the mantle. Pearls formed in the soft flesh where nacre can be added on all sides are most likely to be spherical and the most highly prized. By far the great majority are flattened or variously distorted and have little value. Size, color, luster and freedom from flaws are other essential qualities. Unlike other gems, such as diamonds, pearls have an average life of only about 50 years. In time the small amount of water in a pearl's make-up is lost and its surface cracks. Because they are mostly lime, necklaces which are worn often are injured by the acid secretions of the human skin.
Pearl Jewelry - The Story of Pearl HuntersPosted on 2010-Nov-7 at 06:17 - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkAs long as pearl jewelry have been known to people, they have been a highly sought commodity for their beauty. It's only in recent times however that the industry has taken the hunt for the perfect pearl to a whole different level. Today, the shiny orbs that we see on in display in jewelry stores have actually almost always been grown in farms. That's a far cry from the dangerous extraction and collection methods used before the invention of modern technology. In the past, not more than 100 years ago, the only way to retrieve pearls was by diving in lakes, floods and the ocean to pick them up, one at the time. The unfortunate divers who'se job it was to do this, were often poor and lured by the relative large sums they could get. The diver would sometimes have to dive as deep as 100 feet on one single breath of air. In order to preserve air and to stay submerged the longest, the divers would hold on to heavy stones on the way down. Naturally, this dangerous activity was reserved for the desperate or the powerless - in many cases slaves or extremely poor peasents. Today, this method is all but obsolete in most places of the world. The cheaper cultured pearls have become popular and are many times the only pearls available to the consumer. There are however still a few isolated areas that practice this old art of pearl diving. Some of the finest natural pearl speciments come from the gulf of Bahrain. Here, divers still risk their health to retrieve what are considered the top of the crop in the world. In fact, Bahrain wants no part of the sale of cultured pearls, banned from trade. Bahrain is one of the few places on earth that does an active job in trying to preserve the natural habitat and waters from pollution. It's an interesting story and one that continues to fascinate buyers around the world. Somehow, the beauty of the pearl grows when it's been retrieved from the depth of the ocean.
Buying Pearl Jewelry Without Being Ripped OffPosted on 2010-Nov-7 at 06:12 - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkBuying pearl jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of pearl jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality pearl jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online. Pearls Natural or real pearls are made by oysters and other mollusks. Cultured pearls also are grown by mollusks, but with human intervention; that is, an irritant introduced into the shells causes a pearl to grow. Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials. Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pears. A cultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usually stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which give it luster. Jewelers should tell your if the pearls are cultured or imitation. Some black, bronze, gold, purple, blue and orange pearls, whether natural or cultured, occur that way in nature; some, however, are dyed through various processes. Jewelers should tell you whether the colored pearls are naturally colored, dyed or irradiated. Clams, oysters, mussels and many other mollusks with limy shells are known to produce pearls. But very few kinds yield gem pearls of jeweler's quality. The pearl is an abnormal growth of mother-of-pearl, or nacre, imbedded in the soft bodies of these shellfish. It is built up, layer upon layer, in the same way as nacre is added to the lining of the growing shell and always has the same color and luster. For example, over the country, hundreds of good-sized pearls are found each year in the oysters we eat. Unfortunately these have no commercial value regardless of whether they have been cooked or not because they are dull opaque white or purple like the shell of the parent oyster. In recent times almost all pearls of gem quality come from the oriental pearl oyster which has a bright shimmering translucent nacre. A pearl starts growing when some irritating foreign substance such as a sand grain, bit of mud, parasite or other object becomes lodged in the shell-producing gland called the mantle. Pearls formed in the soft flesh where nacre can be added on all sides are most likely to be spherical and the most highly prized. By far the great majority are flattened or variously distorted and have little value. Size, color, luster and freedom from flaws are other essential qualities. Unlike other gems, such as diamonds, pearls have an average life of only about 50 years. In time the small amount of water in a pearl's make-up is lost and its surface cracks. Because they are mostly lime, necklaces which are worn often are injured by the acid secretions of the human skin.
Machine builders tackle falling demandPosted on 2009-Oct-26 at 10:03 - 1 Comments - Post Comment - LinkYekaterinburg, the capital of the Ural federal district, recently played host to the Construction Equipment and Service 2002 international exhibition. The exhibition, organized by the National Agency for Industrial Marketing with support from the Russian government, the Chamber of Trade and Industry, the Sverdlovsk Oblast and the Ural Federal District authorities, drew representatives of the Russian and foreign machine-building industries, as well as product sellers and consumers, to find solutions to their sector's challenges. Although the Russian economy continues to grow and production is increasing, industries ¨C such as electricity, machine-building and construction materials ¨C that focus on domestic rather than export markets have seen their demand and output fall. Industrial production in general grew 4.9 percent overall in the first 8 months of 2002, compared to pearl jewelry wholesale the same period in 2001. But electricity production dropped 1.5 percent, and machine production increased only 2.8 percent. In machine-building, metallurgical machine-building saw the most serious decline, operating at 68 percent of last year's level. The machine-tool industry is operating at 85 percent and the tractor and agricultural equipment sector at 86 percent of last year's level. Both a drop in investment activity and the end of state leasing programs for farming equipment have contributed to an uninterrupted 15-month decline. It was not always this way. The ruble's devaluation in Aug. 1998 led to a jump in growth among machine-building companies, as the demand for Russian-made goods increased. But this growth peaked in early 2001 and then began to fall, continuing a slow but steady decline of 0.3-0.5 percent per month. Demand from agricultural and metals processing companies also dropped, and pressure from imports, especially of secondhand equipment, increased. The Yekaterinburg International Machine-Building exhibition and the International Machine-Builders' Forum in late September addressed some of these pressing issues. More than 6,000 visitors browsed 100 examples of construction and repair equipment and over 200 company stands. Russian companies such as United Machine-Building Plants, the IKO Group, Uralvagonzavod, Cheboksary Aggregates Plant, Promtraktor and Pokrovskiye Filters joined Western companies including Komatsu, Dressta, Case, Lebherr, AtlasKopko, and Chevron Lubricants. Bringing the two sides together allowed the foreign companies to demonstrate interest in cooperating with Russian companies. Russian companies are coming under increasing pressure to match imported technology, while Western companies' solid financial backing allows them to offer more competitive prices. "At the moment, competition in the machine-building sector is on the increase in all markets, including Russia," said Jerzy Dziura, the director of Dressta's Russian office. "This is why it's so important to twisted pearl necklace become part of these global trends of international division of labor and production cooperation. This will guarantee more effective production and investment, and higher production quality that satisfies a client's demands." Consumer-producer relations, and the introduction of quality guarantees and service not common in Russia, was another popular topic. Western firms say they are hampered in developing their services by large distances, a lack of reliable local partners, and their reluctance to extend their own networks and open service centers. Russian companies, meanwhile, are more interested in selling technology than in long-term service. "We must join forces and break out of the stereotypes on how this business is run," said Alexander Denisov, the president of the National Agency for Industrial Marketing. "The producer's aim should not simply be to sell the technology, but to provide the consumer with a whole range of maintenance and repair services, adapt to the market's demands, and abide by its laws." This opinion was shared by Valery Stolbov, the director of the IKO Group, Russia's biggest construction technology repair and maintenance company. "The problem that Russian companies and some Western companies have is not that their prices are too high, but that they have no clear principles for guarantee and post-guarantee servicing," Stolbov said. "It often turns out to be more advantageous to buy Western technology, especially secondhand, because the manufacturer will provide qualified help and servicing throughout a product's service life. Our companies, on the other hand, are very unwilling to wholesale pearl jewelry provide such services, and are in no hurry to cooperate with service and maintenance companies." All forum presentations came back to a common theme: the sector urgently needs state support, now that state loan and leasing programs have ended. Many consumers have stopped investing in machine-building products and production is dropping. However, a number of financial institutions have shown willingness to invest in modernization, especially in small and medium-sized businesses. "Leasing is not just an effective means of financing the real sector of the economy," said Vadim Konstantinov, Delta Leasing's Ural region director and a forum participant. "It is also one of the ways to form the financial base for modernizing production. Many financial institutions are interested in working with suppliers of foreign and locally made road-building equipment, cranes and lifting equipment on the Russian market. Our company has already invested about $200 million in this area." Without state help, market conflict is intensifying. Russian consumers want high-quality equipment at reasonable prices with a full range of service options, and they are looking increasingly to pearl bracelet the Western market to find it ¨C even second-hand. Without leasing programs and support, Russian producers are concentrating instead on short-term strategies of the "make it, sell it and collect the money" type, rather than developing servicing. Related industries such as the construction sector and maintenance and repair companies also suffer along with production. At the same time, equipment in use is getting older and is not being replaced at the rate it should be. Kuban - the investment window into RussiaPosted on 2009-Oct-26 at 10:00 - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkAn economic forum in Krasnodar Krai highlights the region’s economic potential The investment potential of Krasnodar Krai was in the spotlight at the second international economic forum, Kuban-2003, in Sochi on Oct. 9-12 Under the slogan "Krasnodar Krai as Russia’s investment window on the world," the forum presented more than 250 investment projects in the Krasnodar region, with a total value of $5.5 billion. Experts say that Krasnodar Krai’s economic activities for 2002 paint a picture of rapid growth. The region is still the leader in the Southern Federal District for foreign-trade volume. According to official statistics, Krasnodar Krai’s foreign-trade turnover rose 31 percent, or $465.7 million, and to wholesale pearl jewelry $2.1 billion. The region finished the year with a positive trade balance of $106.9 million. Krasnodar Krai, blessed with a mild climate, fertile black-earth soil and well-developed ports, is a region with immense agricultural, industrial, tourism and scientific-technical potential, local and national experts boast. And both Russian and foreign experts agree that the region has high investment potential. One of Krasnodar Krai’s key advantages is its direct access to international waters through its eight ports, three international airports and one of the best road networks in Russia. The region also has excellent agricultural potential. After a recent working visit to the region, President Vladimir Putin said that agriculture had been one of the main subjects of discussion at his meetings there. "Krasnodar Krai is our breadbasket," he said. "This is well-known, and I know that the people there are proud of this." The region’s mild climate also makes it is ideal for development of tourism and leisure activities, experts say. "All these factors, along with the excellent raw-materials base for the processing industries and the advantageous geopolitical location, mean that we have all the necessary conditions for successful investment projects that will bring profits to investors who take a realistic look at the opportunities we offer," said Pavel Maleyev, head of investor relations at regional telecom Southern Communications Co. "This region is comparable in size to a European country and could offer highly effective placements for billions of dollars of investment," he said. A good beginning The Kuban-2003 forum signaled the region’s increased visibility as an investment prospect. High-level participants from government ministries, foreign embassies, leading Russian and foreign companies, banks and consulting firms attended the event. Participants were told of Krasnodar Krai’s economic-development program for 2003-08, a plan that envisages higher growth rates than that for the country as a whole. Gross regional product is set to increase two-and-a-half-fold, real incomes should rise 60 percent, investment volume is to more than double, and labor productivity will double or triple, depending on the sector. The program also calls for the creation of more than 100,000 jobs. The plan includes more than 300 investment projects for a value of more than $5 billion. It places particular focus on the region’s transport system. Krasnodar Krai is set to pearl jewelry wholesale eventually become one of the main transit regions, not just for Russia, but for the whole of Europe, local officials say. Currently, the region’s ports process more than 100 million tons of freight a year, with major growth expected in the near- to medium-term. To manage that increase, officials say, modernization of freight terminals, construction of new terminals and development of the transport infrastructure will take place.  Relations with investors are clearly improving. Following the first investment forum in 2002, eight agreements for a total of $30 million were signed Officials here were particularly hopeful about plans to build a new port on the Taman Peninsula that will be larger than the one in Tuapse. In addition, there are plans to build a motorway to Sochi to make a shorter and safer route to Russia’s southernmost resort town. Relations with investors are improving, officials say. Following the first investment forum in 2002, eight agreements for a total of $30 million were signed. This year, 36 agreements totaling $4.6 billion have been signed. Of this, $500 million will be invested in the region’s economy over 2004, while the rest will come over the next 10-15 years as part of long-term programs. These projects include the construction of a transport hub in the southern part of the Tsemesskaya Bay that will encompass port facilities, as well as rail and road links across the Markotkhsky range, a number of resort projects and energy- and agricultural-sector projects. Officials were most pleased that the forum received the support of the federal authorities and that, from now on, this major economic event in the region’s life will take place under Russian government patronage. "Through these projects, a number of towns and cities will stop being dependent on budget money, the region’s budget will get new revenue and people will get new jobs," says Maleyev. "This is why the regional authorities are so keen to dancing pear l attract investors and organize mutually beneficial co-operation with them." The market players Companies working in the region include Germany’s Knauf, American Philip Morris, major Russian oil pipeline KTK, Wimm-Bill-Dann, Nestle, Rusagro, Baltimor and Ochakovo. French foodstuffs producer Bonduelle, which has been on the Russian market for eight years, decided last October to open its first Russian subsidiary in Krasnodar Krai. Christophe Bonduelle, the company’s general director, says that, aside from the agricultural potential, support from the regional authorities and a qualified labor force played a role in the choice. Krasnodar Gov. Alexander Tkachyov met last year with a delegation from Bonduelle. Their talks led to a joint program spread over several years and providing for investments of more than 30 million euros in the region’s economy. As part of the program, Bonduelle will build a vegetable processing and canning plant in the region to produce more than 60 tons of ready to use products a year. All of the planned investment projects in the region have the support of the federal, regional and local authorities, officials say. The region’s administration says that it is open for cooperation with Russian and foreign partners. Support comes in three main forms – administrative, financial and legislative. Administrative support aims at speeding up the various administrative procedures projects must go through, while financial support will see that the region’s budget gets allocated about $300 million annually to twisted pearl necklace help implement them. Legislative support will entail tax breaks for investors. The region’s assembly has passed a law offering tax incentives for Russian and foreign companies that will remain in force until an investment project is paid off. Banks and leasing companies taking part in financing projects are also being offered tax incentives. Tourism – a mainstay of the economy With its warm sea, healthy climate, mineral-water sources and healing mud baths, Krasnodar Krai has long since been popular as a resort region. Russia’s main seaside resorts – Sochi, Anapa, Gelendzhik, Tuapse and Yeisk – are all here. The region is home to more than 1,300 health and resort centers that can accommodate a total of 220,000 people. The sanatoria have equipment and facilities for treating all the main types of diseases. This year, nearly 6 million people visited the region’s sanatoriums and resorts through organized tours, and there is also a huge number of people who holiday in the region on their own. Unlike elsewhere in Russia, the tourist season in Krasnodar Krai does not end with the approach of winter, as resorts and sanatoria are open year-round. Krasnodar Krai is the only region in Russia to have tourism-sector tax revenue as a separate item in its budget. Grain exports hit hurdlesPosted on 2009-Oct-26 at 09:58 - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkThis year's bumper harvests sound like good news for Russia: After decades of being forced to import grain, Russia is now turning its eyes to markets where it may sell its extra reserves. But record harvests leave the country's grain traders with two major problems: how to find buyers, and how to deliver the product to them. The export issue is gaining urgency. With sliding grain prices on the domestic market, Russia has to export at least 5-6 million tons of grain this year, experts say. If it doesn't, farmers will sow less grain next year, and soon Russia will find itself relying on imports once again. After more than button pearl a 30-year pause, Russia began exporting grain again last year. The flow of grain from Russia and Ukraine took European markets by surprise. Since spring 2002, the European Commission has twice raised duties on grain imports from Eastern Europe, and now it is discussing introducing quotas for exporters. If that happens, and these quotas are based on the amount of grain each EU country traditionally imported, Russian grain will find the doors to Europe closed this autumn, though flooding that destroyed some of the European harvest may change the situation. Europe isn't the only prospective market for Russian grain: Arab and North African markets are being considered as valuable and accessible markets. In the southern hemisphere, the economic crisis in Argentina has freed up part of Brazil's market, and Russia could try filling the gap. The head of Partrade, Brazil's largest grain trading company, visited Moscow at the beginning of August for business talks. "If we get the logistics chain right, there's a very real chance of selling grain to Brazil," said Arkady Zlochevsky, the head of the Agriculture Ministry's federal agricultural market regulation commission. "But even more attractive for our exporters are the Asian and North African markets. Saudi Arabia, for example, imports barley, including from Russia. Egypt also imports a lot of grain. The problem is that these markets have already taken shape, and it's usually multinational corporations that win the big tenders. So we're going to have to make a lot of effort to wholesale pearl jewelry get a foothold in these markets." But even if Russia finds the buyers, it still has to figure out how to get the grain to them. Russia's attempts to export grain last year revealed its lack of transport infrastructure, both in railways and in ports. Changes to internal rail freight tariffs have added more complications by increasing the freight moving into Russian ports. Russia only has one deep-water port capable of taking the kinds of ships used to transport oil or grain – Novorossiisk. Most major grain traders have their own port facilities, but this is not the case in Russia. Last year, some grain was exported through shallow-water ports by loading it onto ships from trucks or freight wagons, rather than from grain silos as at Novorossiisk. This practice will probably remain popular this year. The St. Petersburg port administration says no grain has come through the port since spring, but other sources say grain is being loaded onto small ships in the port. Oleg Terekhov, the president of the Association of Sea Ports, said the logistics can be sorted out, and that the main focus is finding export markets. But warning bells have started ringing. Railways to the south are already overloaded, and early in August railway officials were even obliged to wholesale pearl jewelry halt all rail traffic for a period to free up the lines. This was followed by devastating floods around Novorossiisk. There is also a shortage of grain wagons. Over the summer, many wagons used to transport grain were used for cement instead, leaving them unusable for grain. Both the state and big business are now working on plans to improve transport infrastructure, but improvements will be too late for this year's grain harvest. Agriculture officials and businesses are also lobbying for reduced freight tariffs for moving grain to ports in neighboring countries. Whether that lobbying is successful or not, many grain exporters are still likely to use nearby foreign ports such as Odessa, Ilichevsk or Muugu, as the drop in grain prices still allows them to make a profit. "I have information that some traders are already building up stocks to send through Muugu," said Andrei Sizov, an analyst at the Sovekon center. "Of the two challenges exporters face, logistics is the bigger priority. Given the current price situation, the most likely outcome is that grain will go out through Ukrainian and Baltic ports." Genetically modified potatoes nearly herePosted on 2009-Oct-26 at 09:52 - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkGenetically modified potato plants are expected to join Russia's 3.5 million hectares of potato fields as early as next spring, as U.S.-based agricultural giant Monsanto Co. prepares to clear the final hurdles to selling transgenic seeds in the country. In early April, Monsanto, a global leader in botanical genetic engineering, received a safety certificate from Russia's Ministry of Industry, Science and Technology for two types of genetically modified potato seeds. The company says it needs just one more official approval to begin marketing the seeds, which yield potatoes resistant to pearl earrings the Colorado beetle, a pest that can destroy entire fields by eating the plants' leaves. "Now we are waiting for the variety registration given by the Agriculture Ministry, which is mandatory for any kind of seed that will be planted in most countries, including Russia," said Marin Velcev, Monsanto's director of regulatory affairs for Central Europe, the C.I.S., Middle East and North Africa. "In the best-case scenario, we start sales at the end of this year or the beginning of next year." Government sources have suggested Monsanto's path will not be that smooth, however, because the sale of genetically modified seeds also requires the approval of the State Environmental Assessment Commission, part of the Natural Resources Ministry. The commission, these sources said, responded negatively earlier this year to the proposed issuance of the seeds in Russia but has started a new analysis of the proposal at Monsanto's request. If the commission grants the company a certificate after the current review is completed, sales of the seeds could begin in early 2003. Velcev said the modified potatoes would be marketed and sold mainly to small growers, who are responsible for 90 percent of the 25 million tons of potatoes grown each year in Russia. The transgenic plants are designed to allow farmers to cultured pearl jewlery reduce costs by eliminating the need for chemical pesticides, which Velcev called "frequently ineffective" and potentially harmful to human health. Scientists have made the two varieties of potato resistant by introducing into their genetic code the gene of a bacterium naturally harmful to the beetle and its larvae but not to humans. In other words, the potato produces its own insecticide. Monsanto says the new tubers are harmless, and there has been little public debate in Russia over its plans. Nikolai Kalinik, who heads the Agriculture Ministry unit that oversees seeds and crops, said a State Duma panel three years ago discussed transgenic varieties, with opinions divided at the end. "I particularly don't see any reason why I would eat something that a bug itself declined to eat," he said Greenpeace, which has fought the introduction of genetically modified plants in several countries, believes scientists have not done enough research on such foods to determine their long-term effects on people or the environment. The group, along with other environmentalists, warns that altering a plant's DNA could lead to long-term consequences for the earth and the health of humans and animals by interrupting the food chain, as well as the more direct potential threat posed by ingesting modified foods. Greenpeace also warns that the close relationship between researchers and seed companies on the Russian market may result in the public not receiving information about possible risks associated with genetically modified products. "The good laboratories and research centers on biotechnology, which don't have enough financial support from the government, are financed by Monsanto and a few other big companies to wholesale pearl jewelry keep working," said Ivan Blokov, campaign director for Greenpeace in Russia. Many Russians simply do not know what transgenic foods are, even though their country has allowed imports of genetically modified soy, potato and corn since 1999. Labeling of food containing genetically modified products is voluntary, and Greenpeace's Blokov said he has never seen such a label here. Viktor Shevelukha, a biotechnologist with Moscow's Timiryazev Agricultural Academy who works with Monsanto and is a member of the panel of experts that evaluated the proposal before its approval by the Ministry of Industry, Science and Technology, said products containing genetically modified foods will be required to be labeled in the future. Inspectors from the Health Ministry will be responsible for making sure producers comply. In the meantime, Greenpeace is researching the use of genetically modified vegetables in popular foods in Russia and says it has found that some sausages contain modified soy. Blokov said Greenpeace would continue its studies as well as monitor the decision of the State Environmental Assessment Commission regarding Monsanto's proposed potato seeds. "Without a positive assessment of the governmental environment expert commission, Monsanto is not allowed to wholesale pearl jewelry commercialize any seeds in the country," Blokov said. Some potato producers have expressed interest in, yet wariness about, the modified seeds. Depending on the price, the development may boost profits by cutting down on pesticide purchases and reducing the amount of crop lost to pests. But many growers say they are not yet convinced the potatoes are without adverse effects for humans. Viktor Kotulyov, who runs a potato farm called Frukht Grint in Krasnodar, said in a telephone interview that he loses up to 20 percent of his harvest each year to the Colorado beetle. The beetle causes more damage in the south than in other parts of Russia. He said he would be willing to experiment with the modified potatoes as a small percentage of his crop. "We would try with 10 percent of the crop and then see the results," Kotulyov said. Then, despite his own doubts about the safety of the plants, he would consider expanding use of the seeds, depending on the reaction of his customers. "If the plants and potatoes are normal and people buy them, then we could think about increasing the production," he said. "But I wouldn't eat them – we need generations of people to cultured pearl jewlery see whether these vegetables are indeed not harmful." Fruitful harvest for former collective farmPosted on 2009-Oct-26 at 09:52 - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkStruggling to survive in the rocky market conditions of post-Soviet Russia, many collective farms have accepted decaying equipment, shrivelling harvests and financial calamities as facts of life. As roughly 80 percent of Russia's 300,000 private and state-owned agricultural farms are reportedly facing bankruptcy, profitable operations seem illusory. Yet there is nothing illusory about Belaya Dacha, a privatized collective farm just outside Moscow. Nor is there anything miraculous about its successful adaptation to free-market conditions. Rather, its achievements are the result of relentless commitment to pearl jewelry wholesale the land and a willingness to learn, its directors say. As the wind of political and economic change swept the country 10 years ago, Belaya Dacha’s employees pooled their resources to privatize the farm’s 48 hectares of orangeries and greenhouses. Blessed with lucky timing, fertile soil and proximity to Moscow, the farm’s workers found themselves ideally positioned to start selling at free-market prices, satisfying consumers’ insatiable hunger for fresh fruit and vegetables. Vladimir Landishev, Belaya Dacha’s director and chief agronomist, didn’t mind sounding immodest when he said the farm’s success was the result of solid good management rather than luck. "Many former Soviet enterprises had equal if not greater opportunities, but they put them to less effective use," he said. Surviving hard times Landishev praised the insight of the firm’s former head Viktor Semyonov, a "very experienced, talented and wise person," who effectively tackled rising energy prices and falling profits and saved the firm from financial oblivion. "When economic conditions changed in the early 1990s, changes to the firm also became necessary. Viktor Alexandrovich [Semyonov] brought in new specialists and technical equipment so we could increase our harvest to meet higher costs. This allowed us to pearl jewelry wholesale stay afloat during difficult times." A wide range of shops and supermarkets, including Sedmoi Kontinent and Ramstore, have acknowledged the quality of Belaya Dacha’s operations by sealing partnership agreements, but McDonald’s remains one of its oldest and most-committed partners. While McDonald’s has high expectations of its suppliers, Belaya Dacha has been meeting and exceeding these expectations over the course of its 11-year relationship with the world’s leading fast-food chain. "Belaya Dacha is technologically advanced compared to others, very proactive in its business and open to changes and innovations," said McDonald’s representative Svetlana Polyakova. Landishev admitted technological advance was one of the keys to Belaya Dacha’s success. Last year, the farm invested 8 million rubles ($266,000) in improvements and expansions, officials said, although they would not reveal profits. Walking around the farm, Landishev proudly showcased its accomplishments: Huge greenhouses reveal neat rows of perky vegetables; the vast expanse of clean glass windows glimmers in the sun; well-mannered workers in blue-and-white overalls project an air of confidence. "Modernization of the glasshouses began in 1994, when we bought irrigation systems from Israel and Holland," boasted Landishev. "At the same time, we switched to pearl strand wholesale growing in individual bags, with a drip feeder attached. This increased productivity twofold." Quality also improved when a bio-laboratory was built to rear insects, decreasing the use of pesticides. "Today, chemicals are only used in the event of an uncontrollable insect outbreak, and in the off-season to neutralize ground cover, " said Yelena Grigorieva, a plant-protection specialist. Once picked off the ground, vegetables for McDonald’s and other customers move to a specially designed cool building, where they are washed, cut and packed prior to dispatch. McDonald’s Quality Assurance Manager Irina Korshunova said Belaya Dacha uses no preservatives to maintain the shelf life of lettuces, tomatoes, and cucumbers it supplies. "Vegetable products from Belaya Dacha are not irradiated. Their seven-day freshness guarantee is a result of proper washing, drying, packaging and storing." Raising salaries Thanks to increased productivity and rising profits, Belaya Dacha’s management has been augmenting employees’ salaries for the past five years. According to Landishev, this year salaries rose roughly 50 percent from 3,500 rubles a month to 6,000 rubles a month, while especially productive workers received up to 8,000 rubles in monthly compensation. "For an agricultural enterprise, this is a very high salary," he said. The firm recently launched a fully automated greenhouse for salad greens to keep pace with growing demand from McDonald’s, which plans to add 25 new restaurants to cultured freshwater pearl its current 70. Belaya Dacha makes extra cash by selling bags of compost to other firms. A bigger bio-laboratory is currently under construction with a view to selling predatory insects to other firms. "This is a niche in the Russian market which has yet to be occupied," said Landishev. And with Russian energy prices rising quickly to reach world levels, Landishev said the firm is actively seeking investors to support the construction of new glasshouses in southern Russia, where warmer weather will boost production levels and sharpen the firm’s competitive edge. "I think the political situation is stabilizing, and in the near future will stabilise further. Soon investors will have nothing to be afraid of, especially since we are a solid firm, and we are creditworthy," he said. Grigorieva, who has worked at Belaya Dacha for the past 17 years, said today working hours are the same as they were in Soviet days, but the work itself has become less strenuous. "We have new technology, drip watering, new trolleys which are lighter, so now the work is easier," she said. Not surprisingly, however, new technology led to job losses. The firm has cut the number of employees from about 3,000 in Soviet times to just over 1,000. Fewer top-level specialists are needed now – down from more than 300 to around 150. Other jobs disappeared when the management sold off some of its operations to focus on its core business. Frugal management "Many resources were spent supporting social infrastructures: building houses, paying for maintenance services and sanitary workers – and these expenditures were without return, so we handed all that to the municipality," said Landishev. Frugal management assures the workers that the enterprise maximizes its profits – a model valued by most shareholders. According to Landishev, more than 70 percent of workers who became shareholders following the privatisation have not sold their shares. Workers who leave or retire usually sell shares to cultured pearl ring other employees within the firm. Before jumping into politics, Semyonov, Belaya Dacha’s former head, transferred his stake to his wife, who is currently the farm’s largest shareholder. As a private company, Belaya Dacha is not obligated to sell shares to the general public, nor does it face any great demand, most likely because the farm offers no dividends to its shareholders, preferring to invest profits into improving operations instead. |
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