The 2014 Agriculture & Food Biotechnology Symposium will explore how Australia's food and agri-bio industry can secure its future as a niche provider of technology, services and products. [ + ]

The achievements of the international label industry were celebrated last week at the Label Industry Global Awards, held as part of Labelexpo Americas. [ + ]

The AIP and the APPMA have issued a call for papers for the 2015 National Technical Forums, which will be held in conjunction with AUSPACK 2015. [ + ]

The NZ Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has released the How to Determine the Shelf Life of Food document. The document replaces the 2005 Information Booklet for the Food Industry - A Guide to Calculating Shelf Life of Foods. [ + ]

While beer consumption in Australia is falling, it's not all bad news for the alcohol industry: research firm IBISWorld is forecasting a 21.5% increase in cider sales over the next five years. [ + ]

Here's a reason not to feel bad if you don't get your two and five a day: a new study from the University of Michigan shows that diets that conform to federal dietary recommendations could have higher carbon footprints than non-conforming diets. [ + ]

A Perth import business has been fined more than $50,000 for illegally importing pork products labelled as fish from Taiwan. The importer reportedly concealed the products among other imported goods as he knew the product is prohibited in Australia. [ + ]

A Canadean report predicts that consumer packaged-goods providers will capitalise on the trend of ‘Westernisation’ in China and integrate more Western groceries onto their shelves. [ + ]

A new online system for lodging imported cargo documentation is set to save commercial importers and customs brokers time and money, the Department of Agriculture says. [ + ]

A complaint against a 15-second television commercial for Devondale milk has been upheld by the Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB), which found that the commercial vilified a man of Asian background and Asian business generally. [ + ]

Kikkoman Australia has become the most recent Australian importer to sign a Food Import Compliance Agreement with the Department of Agriculture. The agreement will enable the company to access special import agreements. [ + ]

With the rise of the supermarket in-store bakery, bread, cake and pastry manufacturing industries are struggling to hold on to market share, according to IBISWorld. [ + ]

A new premium rice variety has been developed for Australia. Topaz rice will be available to rice growers in October 2014. [ + ]

Personalised medicine is making its way into the US, with blood tests at the heart of changes to the way consumers see their health. Canadean predicts that this technology will also shift into personalised diets. [ + ]

Researchers have turned the traditional 'first in, first out' approach to fresh produce distribution on its head, suggesting that a 'first expired, first out' approach would be more suitable when dealing with delicate fruits and vegetables like strawberries. [ + ]