Large-scale crop plantations are expanding at a rapid pace across southeast Asia, with multinational firms often benefiting the most at the expense of local communities and the environment, two U.N. rights experts warned on Wednesday.

Demand for agrofuels, such as those derived from sugar cane and palm oil, has boomed thanks in part to the United States, Europe and other rich economies seeking alternative ways to fuel their cars and homes in order to reduce their carbon emissions.

After a decade of promise, advanced biofuels makers are entering a crucial make-or-break period with the first of a new generation of production facilities about to come on line.

The new facilities are designed to take biofuels beyond corn-based ethanol and begin to shift the industry to "advanced" fuels made with a lower carbon footprint derived from products that will not compete with demand for food.

After a decade of promise, advanced biofuels makers are entering a crucial make-or-break period with the first of a new generation of production facilities about to come on line.

The new facilities are designed to take biofuels beyond corn-based ethanol and begin to shift the industry to "advanced" fuels made with a lower carbon footprint derived from products that will not compete with demand for food.

The United Nation Economic and Social Survey of Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) has projected the economy of Pakistan to grow by 4 per cent during the year 2012. According to a report launched by ESCAP on Thursday, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Pakistan is projected to grow by 4 per cent in 2012 which is an improvement from 2.4 per cent growth in 2011.

The growing cultivation of Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) cotton, especially in Punjab, has decreased the area under wheat and sugarcane cultivation due to relatively longer germination period of BT cotton.

"BT cotton is gaining popularity in Punjab and its growing cultivation is having a negative impact on other crops particularly wheat and sugarcane because of long germination period of BT cotton.

Normal cotton takes about six months to BT cotton's 10 months", an official source told Business Recorder at National Agriculture Research Council (NARC).

Ahead of the presidential elections NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday got his way, with the government yielding to most of his demands regarding export policies for agricultural items. Early last month, the key UPA ally had shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to register his protest against the government sidelining his suggestions on export policies for key agricultural and allied items like cotton, sugar and milk-products.

Ministry proposes four options to the EGoM to expedite shipment of sweetener. Union food ministry has suggested four options to expedite sugar exports after the panel of ministers on food sought a mechanism that allows faster shipments.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Iogen Corp have scrapped plans for a commercial-scale biofuel plant in Manitoba, spelling the loss of 150 jobs and raising questions about widespread and near-term use of fuel made from agricultural waste in Canada.

The Iogen Energy joint venture had been studying building a plant to make ethanol from straw and other plant waste, rather than from food crops such as corn and sugar. One location discussed was Portage la Prairie, west of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh is heading for a record sugar production this year. According to Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), the state has produced 69.40 lakh tonnes of sugar which is about 18% higher than the previous year. The recovery of sugar from cane has been around 9.07%. Seven sugar mills, out of over 100, are still operational in the state, hence the production is likely to increase further in the coming days.