BASF, Cargill and Novozymes have successfully demonstrated the production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) in pilot scale, a significant milestone in the development of technologies to produce acrylic acid from renewable raw materials. [ + ]

Stanford researchers have found that teaching children the importance of healthy foods leads them to voluntarily eat more vegetables. [ + ]

Grants totalling $550,000 are helping a leading international bee expert - along with local beekeepers - combat the global decline in bee health that threatens world food production. [ + ]

Market research firm Canadean says that meal kits are set to grow in Germany, while ready meals are expected to dominate the prepared meals sector in France. [ + ]

GS1, a not-for-profit organisation which facilitates collaboration among trading partners with global standards across 150 countries is celebrating its 40th anniversary. [ + ]

Products containing fructose-rich ingredients could benefit from recent positive support for low-GI diets and slow release energy, Taura Natural Ingredients says. [ + ]

Fonterra has announced it will fit out its NZ$100 million UHT greenfield plant in Waitoa, New Zealand, with Tetra Pak processing and packaging equipment. [ + ]

Applications for the 2013 Premier’s NSW Export Awards are now open. Several changes have been made to the Awards, including a brand new category being added. [ + ]

Failing to declare allergens in cakes has cost a Sydney cake manufacturing business and its director $48,000 in fines plus $21,000 in professional costs. [ + ]

Gruppo Campari has acquired the business assets of Copack Beverage, a leading Australian contract beverage packer, for $20 million. [ + ]

An energy-efficiency grant could help Australian fruit growers reduce their costs by up to 20%. APAL has received $636,970 in funding as part of the Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program. [ + ]

Coles has paid $61,200 in fines after being accused by the ACCC of displaying misleading country-of-origin labelling on fresh produce in five of its stores. [ + ]

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has committed $50 million in Energy Efficiency Loans (EELs) to help businesses improve their energy productivity. [ + ]

Global Fresh Foods has sent its first commercial sea shipment of fresh fish to Tokyo from Chile using its fuel-cell based oxygen management system. The shipment will spend up to 33 days at sea before arriving in Japan. [ + ]

The AFGC has released the first Competitiveness and Sustainable Growth Report, which it says is the most detailed financial health check ever undertaken of Australia’s $110 billion food and grocery manufacturing sector. [ + ]