Biosecurity Australia, the Australian Government body in charge of developing biosecurity policy, has proposed that the importation of fresh de-crowned pineapples to Australia from Malaysia be permitted, subject to a range of quarantine conditions. Biosecurity Australia has issued a draft report for a consultation lasting 60 days. The draft report identifies four pests that Biosecurity Australia says require quarantine measures in order to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection. According... ...Read more »

New research from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) has found that several types of Asian vegetables contain folate levels equal to or greater than spinach, making them one of the richest sources of folate known. The research team, led by scientists at the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) used new technologies to measure the folate levels of ten Asian vegetables including buk choy, choy sum and wombok and compared them... ...Read more »

The impact of fungal diseases on canola crops could be drastically reduced according to scientists from The University of Queensland, who are trying to crack the genetic code of a close canola relative. In a statement released today, the scientists said their research could have major ramifications for Australia’s export trade as the world’s second-largest canola exporter. Dr David Edwards and Dr Jacqueline Batley from The University of Queensland’s School of Agriculture and Food Sciences,... ...Read more »

Despite two-thirds (67 per cent) of Australian consumers saying they believe it is important for grocery products to be sourced locally, only 33 per cent claim to buy local food and drinks regularly, according to a survey undertaken by global consumer research group Datamonitor. Datamonitor surveyed Australian consumers during May and June 2011. The findings, published today, suggest a “clear disparity” between the number of consumers who attach importance to local products, and those who actually... ...Read more »

One of Australia’s largest retailers, Wesfarmers Limited today announced sales from its Coles business have increased by 8 per cent to A$8.09bn for the first quarter of 2012 financial year (from 27 June 2011 to 25 September 2011). According to Wesfarmers’ report, Coles’ food and liquor store sales grew by 5.2 per cent in the first quarter. However, the supermarket chain experienced food and liquor price deflation of 1.8 per cent during the quarter. Wesfarmers stated that this was due to... ...Read more »

A business lobby group in South Australia is calling for the State Government to lift its ban on genetically modified crops. There are currently no GM crops grown commercially in South Australia with the possible exception of blue carnations and carnations with an extended vase life. Apart from Tasmania, South Australia is the only State to have a ban on GM crops. The Chief Executive Officer of Business SA, a group that lobbies on behalf of the businesses in South Australia, Peter Vaughan said that... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today called for submissions on an application to change the Food Standards Code to allow food derived from a genetically modified soybean. FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said the application was seeking permission to allow food derived from a soybean genetically modified to be tolerant to the herbicide dicamba. Dicamba controls annual and perennial rose weeds in grain crops and highlands, and it is used to control brush and bracken in... ...Read more »

Australian soft drinks giant Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has been praised for its new Mount Franklin ‘Easy-Crush Bottle’ – said to be the lightest Australian produced 600ml water bottle.  The bottle came first in the Sustainability category of the 2011 Australian Packaging Design Awards. The Australian Packaging Design Awards (APDA) is an annual run competition for brand owners, designers, retailers, manufacturers. The awards are conducted by the Packaging Council of Australia. Coca-Cola Amatil’s... ...Read more »

A research report published this week by PayPal, Forrester Research, Nielsen and the Australian Centre for Retail Studies has claimed that retail in Australia is undergoing “monumental change”. PayPal’s report, titled “Secure Insight: Changing the Way we Pay”, said online shopping will grow by 12.2 per cent throughout 2012 in Australia. The report forecasts Australians will spend A$37.7 Billion shopping online by 2013, an increase of over a billion dollars since October 2010. The report... ...Read more »

Cider is outpacing all other alcoholic brands in Australia, with “exceptional” sales growth seen over the past year, according to a report released today by international market research company Nielsen. Nielsen’s report shows that, in the past year, cider sales in Australia have increased by just over a third (35 per cent) in value terms and just over a fifth (23 per cent) in volume terms. A spokesperson for Nielsen said that, considering the Australian liquor market is currently decreasing... ...Read more »