El Presidente Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 Cuban cigar-maker says overcoming bad weather with better seeds http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3470161/Cuban-cigar-maker-says-overcoming-bad-weather-better-seeds.html By REUTERS PUBLISHED: 08:44 EST, 1 March 2016 | UPDATED: 08:44 EST, 1 March 2016 By Daniel Trotta HAVANA, Feb 29 (Reuters) - Cuban cigar monopoly Habanos S.A. has compensated for a series of bad harvests by using genetically improved seeds and the renewal of weather-damaged land in Cuba's western tobacco-growing region, company officials said on Monday. The weather phenomena El Niño led to Cuba's worst drought in a century in 2015, followed by heavy rain during the northern winter, which is normally a dry period in Cuba. That has raised concerns among farmers and aficionados that the island's supply of its famous cigars might suffer at a time of increased demand resulting from detente with the United States. Unusual weather has also affected competitors elsewhere in the Caribbean, said Leopoldo Cintra, commercial vice-president of Habanos. The industry in Cuba has compensated with a "comprehensive plan" including genetically improved seeds that produce tobacco plants more resistant to drought and unseasonable rains. Cintra also mentioned unspecified technology and the "recovery" of land. Farmers have reported replanting crops wiped out by rain. Cigar experts say this year's annual harvest, which is coming to an end in March, will be the fourth substandard harvest in a row, a claim Habanos executives did not dispute. "We think the impact will be minimal," said Javier Terres, vice-president of development, who joined Cintra at a news conference to begin Cuba's annual cigar festival. "What's more, we think ... there will be a positive recovery in our business," Terres said. Habanos, a joint venture between the Cuban state and Imperial Brands PLC, does not report production figures. It said revenues reached $428 million in 2015, a four percent increase versus 2014 when measured at a constant exchange rate. The company says it has a global market share of 70 percent excluding the United States, where Cuban products remain illegal. U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced in December 2014 they would seek to normalize relations after more than half a century of Cold War animosity. Detente has led to international buzz about Cuba and a tourism boom. The number of visitors rose 17.4 percent to 3.52 million in 2015, with American visitors up 77 percent to 161,000. That had a negligible impact on sales but was good for branding, Cintra said. The real impediment to sales is the U.S. embargo, which Obama wants to remove but Congress has left in place. Terres said Habanos would be "thrilled" to compete in the United States but declined to speculate about the prospects. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Alan Crosby)
Dimmers Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 Cuban cigar monopoly Habanos S.A. has compensated for a series of bad harvests by using genetically improved seeds.... oh jesus.... *silently terrified* 1
El Presidente Posted March 1, 2016 Author Posted March 1, 2016 oh jesus.... *silently terrified* Serioulsy It will be interesting to see what the Keystone cops/Benny Hill of Tobacco have come up with 2
David88 Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 The latest photograph from the tobacco farms show the 'modified seeds' are working well 2
jackattack Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 Genetically "improved" seeds....Say what? I would like to know more before potentially becoming a lab rat... 1
RonR Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 GMO label on boxes soon! That's what I thought. They're getting further and further away from GMO's in our food. Hopefully they don't make up for that slack in tobacco. 2
Blazer Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 Hoo boy, juuuust a bit of propaganda there. These two quotes make me laugh and scratch my head at the same time. If the impact will be minimal and if your super seed has compensated for the unforeseen weather, why would you need to recover from it? "We think the impact will be minimal," said Javier Terres, vice-president of development, who joined Cintra at a news conference to begin Cuba's annual cigar festival. "What's more, we think ... there will be a positive recovery in our business," Terres said.
wabashcr Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 I certainly understand the skepticism, given the track record of the people running the show over there. I'm trying to keep an open mind though. I think it's definitely possible that they've made some improvements to the seed that would help mitigate the weather damage. While the people at the top may be suspect, they seem to have some pretty excellent people elsewhere along the supply chain. They have good farmers and good engineers producing the best cigar tobacco in the world. Maybe it's all just more hot air, but at least it's possible there's some truth to it. 1
Corylax18 Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 I don't doubt that they've made seeds more resistant to drought and floods. Mankind has been manipulating plants for centuries. What I don't believe is that these new super breeds will taste, look, or smoke as well as the Heirloom varieties. Sure the super market is always full of tomatoes, avocados, pork, and beef year round. Unfortunately they lack flavor in major way because of both their breeding and how they're grown/raised. When the goal is abundant crops all the time, you can get that. If you want high quality and flavor you can get that too, but not both at the same time. Its unbelievable how far behind the times they are. (Maybe not considering the situation). As the world is starting to move away from manipulated feed stock, Cuba is just hopping on the band wagon. Good luck, I hope it works out. I don't have high hopes.....
topdiesel Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 I am sure the new seeds are also pesticide resistant. The big GMO seed/pesticide companies have probably been working hard to get into the Cuban Tobacco seed. Just to help, of course.
Puros Y Vino Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 oh jesus.... *silently terrified* I don't see an issue here. Didn't Tabacuba modify the seed strains to get past the blue mold issues in the 80's? Also, this. 1
Lotusguy Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 I don't see an issue here. Didn't Tabacuba modify the seed strains to get past the blue mold issues in the 80's? Also, this. I guess the panic is if these are GMO which would also concern me. I don't believe that is confirmed, though.
Corylax18 Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 Im concerned either way. GMO or Non GMO, the genetics have been changed from the original. The only difference between the two is the method used to trigger those changes. Without human interference its called "evolution". (If that's even a thing ) A change to one chromosome may make the plant resistant to drought, but does that same change make the plant produce less essential oils and use that energy/water to build more roots/cell structure to help resist drought? I dont know, I have only limited schooling in Genetics. I do know this, you cant have everything. 1
JamesNYC Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 I guess I don't really know what they mean by GMO in this context. I mean manipulating the DNA? Putting in extra genes? I'm not really too comfortable with some really well equipped lab doing this. And a lot less so with the Cuban government trying their hand at it.
stogieluver Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 Isn't it the soil? Not so much the seed? At least that's always been the argument about NC's using Cuban seed, and the reason always given for the NC's not being as good as CC's, even though they use Cuban seed, the soil isn't the same. Not too concerned here. 1
ThePolskiOgorki Posted March 2, 2016 Posted March 2, 2016 GMO or not I am not too worried. I am not too concerned with the effects of my health when I smoke a cigar GMO or otherwise. Furthermore I doubt I would be able to discern the difference anyway unless there is a major decline in quality. It is odd however that Habanos S.A. continues to carry on like all is fine even though it is well known that there have been a few bad years as of late.On the other hand who really knows? Maybe everything is fine. After all they are thankfully not claiming that due to a shortage in tobacco from several years of poor harvests they have to boost the prices until supply normalizes. Something they could get away with very easily I'm sure. Much like the oil companies do.
anacostiakat Posted March 2, 2016 Posted March 2, 2016 Serioulsy It will be interesting to see what the Keystone cops/Benny Hill of Tobacco have come up with I miss Benny Hill....
MrGTO Posted March 2, 2016 Posted March 2, 2016 I should have pushed my sarcasm key when I typed earlier.
Guest MrRobusto Posted March 2, 2016 Posted March 2, 2016 Genetically "improved" seeds....Say what? I would like to know more before potentially becoming a lab rat...Definitely would like to know more about these "improved" seeds before smoking. I saw someone commented Gmo labels coming soon LOL Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk
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