Industry News
EquiTherm wins Bavarian Energy Prize for 2012
Krones AG has been awarded the Bavarian Energy Prize for 2012. The company was presented with the award on 18 October for its energy-efficient EquiTherm brewing system. [ + ]
DSM to acquire Cargill’s cultures and enzymes business for €85 million
Royal DSM has reached an agreement with Cargill to acquire Cargill’s cultures and enzymes business for €85 million. The business generates net sales of about €45 million. [ + ]
Nestlé Health Science to manufacture medical nutrition products in Victoria
Nestlé has announced it will invest more than $17 million in a new facility at one of its factories to produce ready-to-drink medical supplements such as Resource, Isosource and Sustagen. [ + ]
$1.27 billion organic sector is booming, report says
Business is booming in Australia’s organic sector. The Australian Organic Market Report shows that organics is worth $1.27 billion and is predicted to grow by up to 15% each year. [ + ]
TÜV India opens new laboratory and office in Pune
TÜV NORD has opened a state-of-the-art laboratory and office in Pune, India, for the testing of agricultural and processed food, materials, animal feed, and pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. [ + ]
Making silk purses out of sows’ ears: first carbon farming piggery registered
Blantyre Farms is the first approved piggery project under the government’s Carbon Farming Initiative. By covering effluent ponds to capture methane, the farm converts the methane to electricity using a biogas generator. [ + ]
There goes good excuse for middle-aged women to drink red wine
Resveratrol, an ingredient in red wine thought to improve insulin sensitivity, reduce risk of heart disease and increase longevity, does not appear to offer these benefits in healthy women, new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis indicates. [ + ]
Manuka may not be the bee’s knees after all, research shows
Consumers may want to think twice before paying a premium for manuka and other monofloral honeys. Research from New Zealand’s Lincoln University has shown that a number of honeys from NZ are not true to label. [ + ]
Carob leaves could inhibit Listeria growth in food
According to a report in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, carob leaves are a rich source of antibacterial substances ideal for fighting the microbe responsible for listeriosis. [ + ]
Conference helps food sector navigate food policy changes
The 14th annual Food Regulations and Labelling Standards Conference will be held over 10 and 11 December. It provides a platform to discuss the ongoing issues in food policy. [ + ]
Southern Cross Compressors appoints new National Service Manager
As part of ‘aggressive’ expansion plans, Southern Cross Compressors has appointed Daryl Edwards as its National Service Manager. [ + ]
Winemakers reject oversupply claims
The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia has rejected claims made by FARE that the oversupply challenges facing Australia’s wine industry are over and it should be subject to a $1.5 billion tax increase. [ + ]
ACCC offers country of origin labelling advice to consumers
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has launched a new initiative to provide consumers with clear advice on country of origin labelling claims and olive oil quality claims. [ + ]
Lion to close Swan Brewery
Lion has announced its intention to close Western Australia’s Swan Brewery, with 80 roles being made redundant as well as impacts on contract labour requirements. [ + ]
MG increases farmgate milk price
Murray Goulburn has announced a further increase in its farmgate milk price for the 2012/13 season. Managing director Gary Helou said the increase is due to increased milk supply to MG plants and lower operating costs. [ + ]
