Lost crops of Africa

ExxonMobil is one of the largest oil producers in Africa, currently concentrating production in five nations. Today, ExxonMobil participates in production of about one million barrels per day (gross) in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Angola and Cameroon. We also have made discoveries in the Republic of Congo.

The Chevron Shipping Company transports crude oil, refined products, liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas to customers worldwide. During 2007, we managed approximately 3,000 deep-sea tanker voyages using a combination of single-voyage charters, short- and medium-term charters, a company-owned fleet, and a bareboat-chartered fleet.

Headquartered in San Ramon, California, Chevron Shipping also maintains regional offices in the major trading centers of Houston, Texas, London and Singapore. We offer a full range of services: transportation, commercial arrangements, risk management and technical consulting.

We commissioned our first tanker ship — an oil-fired steamer dubbed the George Loomis — in 1895. Our fleet has grown steadily from the days when barrels of oil were rolled onto the decks of sailing ships to the technically advanced supertankers of today.

In 2007, Chevron Shipping took delivery of a new crude tanker able to carry 500,000 barrels of oil and one U.S.-flagged product tanker capable of transporting 300,000 barrels. Three additional U.S.-flagged tankers are scheduled for delivery from 2008 through 2010.

The Teff Company founder, Wayne Carlson, first became involved in Ethiopian affairs during the early 1970’s. In the course of his work there Wayne lived as a guest of the local farming folk. The farmers were eager to show their guest their farms and crops and he became devoted to the local food. The farmers have a wide variety of crops including barley, wheat, sorghum, maize, finger millet and now even potatoes. But they prefer to grow and eat teff even though the yield is much less than that of barley or wheat. Since all the work is done by muscle power, Wayne wondered why they didn’t devote themselves to that grain which would grow the biggest return.

Later, in Idaho, Wayne was fascinated by the geological and climatic similarities of the Snake River region and the East African Rift. Both are the result of major dynamics in the earth’s crust, resulting in massive basaltic lava flows and tectonic movements. And both are subjected to hot summers with intense sunlight. The idea came that it may be possible to grow teff in the Snake River Valley. Why not change the direction of cultural influence? Rather than exporting “development” practices to Ethiopia, why not take some wisdom from an ancient culture? From there it was a small step to contact Ethiopians living in the American metropolitan areas and re-establish the relation between the Ethiopians and their favorite grain.

The Teff Company has been supplying the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities for nearly twenty years with American-grown Maskal Teff. With the fertile fields and ecologically sensitive farming methods some of the best quality teff in the world is produced in Idaho.

The Teff Company founder, Wayne Carlson, first became involved in Ethiopian affairs during the early 1970’s. In the course of his work there Wayne lived as a guest of the local farming folk. The farmers were eager to show their guest their farms and crops and he became devoted to the local food. The farmers have a wide variety of crops including barley, wheat, sorghum, maize, finger millet and now even potatoes. But they prefer to grow and eat teff even though the yield is much less than that of barley or wheat. Since all the work is done by muscle power, Wayne wondered why they didn’t devote themselves to that grain which would grow the biggest return.

Later, in Idaho, Wayne was fascinated by the geological and climatic similarities of the Snake River region and the East African Rift. Both are the result of major dynamics in the earth’s crust, resulting in massive basaltic lava flows and tectonic movements. And both are subjected to hot summers with intense sunlight. The idea came that it may be possible to grow teff in the Snake River Valley. Why not change the direction of cultural influence? Rather than exporting “development” practices to Ethiopia, why not take some wisdom from an ancient culture? From there it was a small step to contact Ethiopians living in the American metropolitan areas and re-establish the relation between the Ethiopians and their favorite grain.

The Teff Company has been supplying the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities for nearly twenty years with American-grown Maskal Teff. With the fertile fields and ecologically sensitive farming methods some of the best quality teff in the world is produced in Idaho.