Industry News
Ebola not our only biosecurity concern: bees, wheat and others on the agenda
Ebola isn't the only potential biosecurity threat troubling Australia: the decline of our European honey bee population and a devastating wheat disease are also threats we need to watch out for, according to a new CSIRO report. [ + ]
Preparation creates profit in grain storage
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has issued advice for grain growers preparing to store grain on-farm from this year's harvest in the hope of cashing in on higher prices in the future. [ + ]
Primo Group to be acquired by JBS Australia
Smallgoods producer Primo Group is set to be acquired by Australia's largest fresh meat processor, JBS Australia, for $1.45 billion. The deal includes Primo's five processing plants across Australia and New Zealand, which employ more than 3000 staff. [ + ]
A new business model for ancient food
Australia's 'bush tucker' industry needs a new business model that includes commercial cultivation in order to reach its potential, according to a South Australian academic. [ + ]
Danfoss and Micromax sign sales agreement
Danfoss Power Electronics and Micromax Specialists in Automation have signed an agreement that will see Micromax become the preferred sales channel in Sydney and Melbourne for Danfoss variable speed drives. [ + ]
Plans revealed for world's largest integrated dairy production base
The Yili Oceania Production Base has been officially opened in Waimate, South Island. It will reportedly be the world's largest integrated dairy production base. [ + ]
No longer a trend? Organic purchases hit record high in Australia
Organic food isn't just a trend any more - consumption of organic food, cosmetics and household products has hit an all-time high, according to the latest biennial Australian Organic industry report. [ + ]
Dairy exports to China set to grow
Australian dairy producers and manufacturers will benefit from tariff reductions for liquid milk thanks to the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), according to Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce. [ + ]
Freedom Foods signs supply agreement with Chinese New Hope Group
Freedom Foods has signed an MoU with Chinese company New Hope Group to develop a long-term milk supply through large-scale, Australian dairy farms that will supply Freedom's UHT operations and potential fresh milk processing operations. [ + ]
Applications open for 2015 APPMA scholarship program
Submissions are now open for the seventh annual APPMA scholarship program. Presented in conjunction with the AIP, the program gives a packaging engineer the opportunity to complete a Diploma in Packaging Technology. [ + ]
China-Australia FTA good news for food, agriculture, fishery sectors
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has welcomed the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a win for Australia's agriculture, food, fishery and forestry sectors. [ + ]
Fijian ginger imports to be reviewed
Import conditions for Fijian ginger will soon be reviewed by the Department of Agriculture. The review was recommended in a document published in January 2013, and had originally been scheduled to take place twelve months after the commencement of trade. [ + ]
Could use-by dates be past their use-by date?
Cheap electronic circuits printed with eco-friendly materials could take the guesswork out of knowing whether milk is actually out of date or whether it has a day or two left - no smelling required. [ + ]
Supermarket house brands put the squeeze on juice companies
Fruit juice is losing favour with Australians, with more than 1.5 million fewer Australians drinking packaged fruit juice each week than in 2010, new data from Roy Morgan Research shows. [ + ]
Are Australian producers ready to capitalise on the Chinese FTA?
Australia's beef, dairy and wine producers need to consider whether they are well positioned to take their place on the world stage as premium providers to the Chinese market, says Grant Thornton National Head of Food & Beverage Tony Pititto. [ + ]