WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

In order to feed a population of 9 billion in 2050, the world will need a New Vision for Agriculture - delivering food security, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity through agriculture. This will require producing more food with fewer resources while reinvigorating rural economies. It can only be achieved through collaboration, investment and innovation among all stakeholders. This report outlines the concrete actions that can be taken to achieve such a vision, and the tools we can use to measure progress.

A number of countries are now undertaking ambitious efforts to achieve the New Vision through a transformation of their agriculture sectors, engaging in public-private collaboration and market-based approaches. The report outlines six elements that are essential stepping stones toward success in a large-scale transformation effort. These are illustrated by examples from national initiatives underway in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Happy New Year 2012

 Happy Chinese New Year 2012 - Year of the Dragon

Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade. The start of the celebration begins on January 23rd, 2011 and it's that date right now over in China! We'd like to wish all of our readers a Happy Chinese New Year. This means that many tech companies over in China and Taiwan will be closed for the holiday. Enjoy the time off!

The Year 2012 is the 4709th Chinese year. The Chinese believe that the first king of China was the Yellow King (he was not the first emperor of China). The Yellow King became king in 2697 B.C., therefore China will enter the 4709th year on January 23, 2012. 2012 is the year of Dragon. Some people say 2012 is a Black Dragon or Water Dragon year. This is because the Stem-Branch Calendar is connected to the Five Element theory.

VW up!

The German automaker confirmed a five-door version of the pint-sized vehicle was headed to market, and VW even went so far as to show off the "Cross up!" at the Motor Show in Frankfurt.  The production version of the "Cross up! five-door" will stick fairly close to the concept and will ride on a similarly tall suspension.  That should give the vehicle more of a mini crossover appearance instead of a small hatchback.   Information on drivetrain options is suitably scarce at the moment, but we expect the five-door Up! to roll off of the production line with the same engines as its shorter three-door kin. That means buyers should be able to tick boxes for either a 59-horsepower gasoline engine or a brawny 74-horsepower gas powerplant.  

U.S. market:

A company executive has informed, “The Golf and Jetta are as small as we’re going to go, for now”.

TOKYO Auto Salon 2012

Makuhari, JAPAN  -- TOYOTA 2000GT ―the first full-blown Japanese sports car born in 1967 (only 300units built)― as a solar Electrical Vehicle and exhibits this “2000GT SEV” at Tokyo Auto Salon 2012 during the event.     With emerging concerns for environment and energy, it is natural for the automobile industry to produce earth-conscious and fuel-efficient vehicles today. Pursuing functionality and efficiency is not enough, however: providing the excitement and pure driving enjoyment offered by old-time cars will appeal to a younger generation that demands fun and has turned its back on the automobile.

(with 17inch wheel)

The TOKYO Auto Salon is an annual auto show held in January at the Makuhari, Japan for Performance and custom dress-up parts and technology display. This show is the largest auto exhibition in the world.  There are over 600 vehicles for display with over 300 companies, associations, and schools. There are also after-market parts manufacturers, custom shops, care manufacturers, automotive businesses, and automotive vocational schools. There are not only customized vehicle and after-market manufactures, there is also live entertainment.

MINI ROADSTER

BMW's Mini brand unveiled its new Roadster convertible on Monday, calling it a fun-to-drive and modern take on the open-top sports car.  When the two-seater goes into production, it will be the sixth vehicle and second convertible in Mini's lineup.  Mini executives told journalists at the North American International Auto Show press days in Detroit that the Roadster will incorporate Mini's traditional go-kart handling with state-of-the-art fuel efficiency and safety technology.

Here are the details:

POWER: The Roadster will come in three different models, ranging from the Cooper Roadster with 121 horsepower, to the Cooper S Roadster with 181 horsepower and the John Cooper Works Roadster, with 208 horsepower.

SPEED: The Cooper Roadster can go from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds and has a top speed of 124 mph.

LOOKS: The Roadster features a classic cloth roof that opens and closes manually and tucks neatly behind the seats when open. A range of two non-metallic and six metallic paint colors are available for the car's exterior, but in keeping with British Roadster tradition, the roof remains black.  Owners can also add sport stripes in three different colors for a personal touch. Light-alloy wheels come in 15-, 16- or 17-inch versions depending on the model.  The car also comes with an active rear spoiler built into the tailgate that automatically extends when the vehicle reaches 50 mph.

Detroit Auto Show 2012

It's the first auto show of every year and it's always a big one. The Detroit Auto Show, officially the North American International Auto Show, takes place from January 14-22, preceded by several private days, including the press preview on January 9th and 10th. Notable debuts at this year's event include the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ in US-spec trim.