Sustainability

It’s the mystery of all mysteries of science. Why is it that humans are so unusual compared to all other life? The key to solving this riddle lies in explaining the evolution of our large brains and exceptional intelligence. For as long as humanity has been contemplating our existence we must surely have been struck … Continue reading Food for thought? Diet helps explain unique human brainpower →

A new study is underway to determine the effects of long-haul shipping on Australia’s export lamb. Murdoch University PhD candidate Maddison Corlett aims to determine whether the time spent in transit from Australia to the US changes the quality of chilled lamb cuts. This is in response to reports from American consumers that Australian lamb … Continue reading New study to determine supply chain effects on lamb →

Cyclone Debbie, which lashed the Queensland coast a week ago, has hit farmers hard in the area around Bowen – a crucial supplier of vegetables to Sydney, Melbourne and much of eastern Australia. With the Queensland Farmers’ Federation estimating the damage at more than A$100 million and winter crop losses at 20%, the event looks … Continue reading Tropical Cyclone Debbie has blown a hole in the winter vegetable supply →

The Borthwicks (NH Foods) meat processing facility  meatworks at Bakers Creek near Mackay has reopened after Tropical Cyclone Debbie’s impact last week. The abattoir closed its business last Tuesday as TC Debbie made landfall near Airlie Beach, said a report in Queensland Country Life. “What was left in the cold rooms before Cyclone Debbie was … Continue reading Mackay meatworks reopens after Debbie’s destruction →

The third biggest wine company in China is planning a $80 million winery based in Australia, which it hope will rival exporters to the Chinese market. Weilong Grape Wine Company is proposing to expand its Grand Dragon brand to Mildura, only several kilometres from the Karadoc winery in north-west Victoria. The move presents “one of … Continue reading Chinese wine company searches for Australian vineyards →

Rising energy costs and lack of reliable supply are threatening to push Australia’s red meat processing offshore. The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) is currently conducting a survey of its members to determine the scale of the problem and help create an energy policy for the industry.  According to AMIC’s Robert Barker, affordable and reliable … Continue reading Rising energy costs put Australia’s meat processors at risk →

According to the AFR, Patties Foods has swallowed up South Australia’s Australian Wholefoods. In what is looking very much like a pattern, Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), which bought out Patties Food in 2016 and then followed that up by buying Leader Foods, has now devoured Australian Wholefoods, thereby allowing it to push into additional categories of the food services … Continue reading Patties Foods buys up Australian Wholefoods →

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) has welcomed news that Carlton United Breweries (CUB) has ended its VB sponsorship with Cricket Australia (CA). The demise of VB’s 20-year sponsorship with CA, estimated to be worth $65 million over the past five years is one of more than 20 alcohol-related sponsorships in Australian cricket. The … Continue reading Doctors cheer at last drinks for VB and Cricket Australia →

 A new agreement between China and Australia means the number of processors allowed to send chilled, or refrigerated and cryovaced beef cuts to China will more than triple.  Specifically, the number of meat processors permitted to export chilled beef to China will increase from 10 to 36, with another 15 expected to have pending approvals … Continue reading Australia to triple chilled beef exports to China →

Sustainable Seafood Day, an annual initiative by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), will take place on Friday March 31.

  More than 100 Australian wineries were recently on show at one of the world’s biggest industry events in a bid to further boost surging exports. The Wine Australia exhibit at ProWein 2017 which was held from March 19 to 21 in Germany featured 500 wines from 76 wineries across 39 varieties and 34 Australian … Continue reading Aussie wines set for German markets →

  According to a story from the Voice of America (VoA), some of China’s largest food suppliers have stopped selling Brazilian beef and poultry following a scandal over Brazil’s meat processing industry. While Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of beef, fears over Brazilian meat safety have increased since police accused inspectors of taking bribes … Continue reading Chinese supermarkets stop selling Brazilian meat →

West Australian researchers led by Dr. Kirsty Bayliss have discovered how to stop mould growing on fresh food. Dr. Bayliss will be presenting her technology, titled ‘Breaking the Mould’, a chemical-free treatment for fresh produce that increases shelf-life, prevents mould and decay, and reduces food wastage, in the US. “Our technology will directly address the … Continue reading Australian researchers find way to stop food mould →

While the recently-announced Food Agility CRC will be funded with $50 million over ten years along with $160 million in commitments from 54 partner organisations, Bosch Australia will be a lead technology partner and will apply its agriculture technology expertise and resource to projects in connected agriculture and automation. The Food Agility CRC will integrate the agile … Continue reading Bosch Australia partners with Food CRC →

Arkadia Beverages has released a blend of high of turmeric, spices and organic panela sugar and called it Arkadia Golden Latte. This turmeric blend is designed to be ready to drunk with hot or cold milk. With no added dairy, vegan friendly and gluten and caffeine free, Arkadia Golden Latte is claimed to imbue the natural benefits of turmeric … Continue reading Tumeric-rich Arkadia Golden Latte released →

 Understanding the extremely high standards that Australia’s food and beverage manufacturers work towards to ensure that consumers receive the highest quality products, SEW-EURODRIVE has announced the recent Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification of its mechatronic drive system MOVIGEAR type B, variant for wet areas. Traditional machine components are not only difficult to clean … Continue reading Mechatronic drive awarded HACCP certification →

Oven has announced its 5R6-900 temperature controller with ramp/soak capabilities. Contained all in one enclosure, the device can be plugged into the wall as a self-contained temperature control system, which has its own power supply. This feature makes the device convenient for users. The controller can also be used universally, which allows the user to … Continue reading Temperature controller →

The Australian Industry Group has welcomed today’s Fair Work Commission (FWC) Penalty Rates Decision. “The Commission has accepted Ai Group’s evidence and arguments to re-set penalty rates in the fast food industry to better align them with the characteristics and needs of 21st century workplaces,” Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said. “Ai Group represented the … Continue reading Food industry penalty rate change applauded by business →

MICROSCOPIC particles that have always been considered a pollutant are being studied for a range of agricultural uses. South Australian researchers are working on a number of novel uses for engineered nanoparticles including efficient fertilisers, agricultural ‘amendments’ and a unique way to clean-up contaminated land. Engineered nanoparticles are currently used in a range of industrial … Continue reading Nanoparticles could be the future of agriculture →

Unilever has committed to ensuring that all of its plastic packaging is fully reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.