The Australian Institute of Packaging will be holding its technical forum alongside AUSPACK in June this year. Registrations are now being accepted.

The World Congress on Oils and Fats and the 28th ISF Congress to be held in Sydney this September will include a number of short courses that will be of particular interest to food manufacturers.

The Australian Packaging Machinery Association offers a scholarship each year to enable a packaging engineer to complete the AIP's Diploma in Packaging Technology.

Bioplastics industry professionals throughout Europe will converge on Germany in November for the 4th European Bioplastics Conference, taking place on 10 November 2009 at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Berlin.

Wheat experts from Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas have converged on the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative 2009 Technical Workshop in Mexico to discuss the worldwide threat of the Ug99 windborne plant fungus, which could decimate 90% of the globe's wheat varieties.

In a study released at the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative 2009 Technical Workshop in Mexico, researchers have developed varieties of wheat that are not only resistant to plant rust fungus Ug99, but also produce more grain than today’s most popular varieties.

US researchers are conducting clinical trials for a botanical drug that could provide the key to effective treatments for peanut allergies.

More than 1200 companies from around the world are exhibiting at Anuga FoodTec, the world's premier event for the food processing and packaging industries, currently being held in Cologne, Germany.

Microgels may be an economical and reliable way to incorporate omega-3 fatty acids into foods without sacrificing taste, appearance or texture.

The Tomato Analyzer software tool allows scanning devices to be calibrated using colour standards. The tool may also have applications in the colour analysis of fresh crops and in the evaluation of discolouration of foods after processing or cooking.

A strawberry developed in Australia performs well in US sensory evaluation of strawberries.

Anuga FoodTec is the largest exhibition and trade fair for food processors and manufacturers in the world. At this year's event in March, five companies will receive awards for products with added new functions or the use of a new concept, resulting in significant process improvements or for existing products with further development that has achieved a significant improvement in function or process.

Healthlinx and Dairy Australia have identified a bioactive compound from dairy waste streams that reduces the production and storage of fat in cells.

Increasing business has lead Flexicon to expand its operations in Australia with a sales office in Sydney.

The American Heart Association has concluded that omega-6 fatty acids may decrease risk for heart disease. Soybean oil is one of the most concentrated sources of omega-6 fatty acids.