A new barley variety has been officially named at the Australian Barley Technical Symposium. The IGB1101, now officially named La Trobe, will reportedly improve export opportunities for Australian growers in medium to low rainfall areas. [ + ]

The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has assembled an independent panel to review scientific information on fishery practices of the freshwater longfin eel, Anguilla dieffenbachii. [ + ]

Clinical neuroscientists at the University of Western Australia have concluded that there is no truth to the long held belief which holds that alcohol causes depression, particularly if consumed at excessive levels. [ + ]

GS1 Australia has launched the GS1 Institute, which will consolidate the organisation’s 35 years of experience in administering the GS1 System of barcoding and numbering into a program of specialised education and training curriculums. [ + ]

Uncle Tobys has increased its monthly donation to hunger relief charity Foodbank Australia. The company has pledged to supply an extra 9600 packets of Vita Brits each month - an annual contribution of 3,456,000 serves of cereal. [ + ]

Today, the Australian Institute of Packaging celebrates a significant milestone: its 50th anniversary. [ + ]

If Bega Cheese succeeds with its $319 million offer for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter, the merged company will be one of Australia’s largest listed food companies. [ + ]

This year's walnut crop will be slightly early, but will be of high quality, the Californian walnut industry says. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service California Field Office has predicted the annual yield will be 495,000 short tons. [ + ]

The Australian Logistics Council has listed five infrastructure projects it wants the Coalition government to deliver on, in order to improve productivity and efficiency in the freight logistics industry. [ + ]

The past five years have seen vegetable exports to China and Korea double to $2 million and $5 million respectively, highlighting the growth opportunities for Australian vegetables in the region, AUSVEG says. [ + ]

While many of us see coffee as the fuel that gets us going for the day, scientists are working on literally using coffee as fuel to power cars, furnaces and other energy sources. [ + ]

Dr Thomas Collins discussed his research into the chemical profiles of American whiskeys at the 246th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society. [ + ]

The NZ Ministry for Primary Industries has targeted sulfite use in raw meat, with MPI Food Act Officers visiting Auckland butchers and supermarkets to collect raw meat samples for analysis. [ + ]

The still wine market in India looks set to outstrip the spirits market, with Canadean predicting it will lead growth in the Indian wine industry at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.2% by value up to 2017. [ + ]

Australian premium tea business T2 has been acquired by Unilever for an undisclosed amount. T2 operates 40 stores throughout the country, with 2012-13 financial year sales in the vicinity of $57 million. [ + ]