Ampac has started the year off with a bang, receiving awards from three separate organisations for its packaging products. [ + ]

The AIP's next technical dinner will feature guest speakers Gwen Blake, managing director of Boxer & Co, and Sharon Givoni, an intellectual property law expert. [ + ]

OceanWatch has been recognised as a natural resource management (NRM) organisation and will receive $439,836 as part of the National Landcare Program to promote best-practice harvest practices and help increase long-term returns for Australian fishers. [ + ]

Investing in research into wine yeast pays off, new research shows. An independent study commissioned by the GWRDC has found that $1 spent on research into improving the performance of yeasts generates $7.40 in returns to winemakers. [ + ]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has sugar in its sights, recommending that consumers aim to cut their sugar consumption in half to 5% of total daily calories. [ + ]

The world's first large-scale benchmarking trial for sparkling wine closures is due to commence in 2014. To be conducted by the AWRI, the trial will evaluate the impact of a range of different closure technologies on bottle-fermented Chardonnay Pinot Noir. [ + ]

The Victorian Government's Food To Asia Action Plan is a positive step that will enhance competitiveness and growth in the domestic food processing sector, the AFGC says. [ + ]

A US cardiovascular researcher and doctor has made waves within both the medical and research sectors by publishing an editorial arguing that the theory that saturated fat raises cholesterol levels is false. [ + ]

The Institute of Customer Service has awarded LINPAC Packaging the prestigious ServiceMark accreditation. LINPAC was recognised for its excellent standards of customer service through its LINcare program. [ + ]

Australia's ageing population is driving demand for lightweight, easy-to-open packaging with clear labelling. A new report from Canadean predicts that the Australian packaging market will grow at a CAGR of 2.21% up to 2017. [ + ]

Canned food has received the tick of approval after an analysis of more than 40 scientific studies found that canned foods are a good way to help people increase their fruit and vegetable intake, regardless of geography or income level. [ + ]

Speakers at ABARES 2014's global focus session spoke around the theme of improving the competitiveness of domestic agriculture sectors through reduced regulatory burdens and better supply chain infrastructure. [ + ]

Tetra Pak has acquired Miteco, a leading provider of production solutions for soft drinks, fruit juices and liquid food. The company has a particular focus on carbonated soft drinks. [ + ]

AMA Vice-President Dr Steve Hambleton has called on the food industry to put its full support behind the proposed star rating system for food. [ + ]

Researchers from The Netherlands have found that dark chocolate helps restore flexibility to arteries while also preventing white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels. [ + ]