A commodities report released today by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), forecasts the value of farm exports will rise by around 6 per cent to A$34.5 billion in 2011–12, reflecting expected higher exports and relatively favourable agricultural prices. ABARES forecasts the demand for agricultural products in the Asian region is expected to remain strong, with more than 60 per cent of Australia’s farm exports to the Asian region in 2010–11. ABARES... ...Read more »

For the first time in eight years, Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has revised its dietary guidelines for Australia. The NHMRC’s Dietary Guidelines are used by government policy-makers and regulators as well as health professionals, food manufacturers, food retailers, educators, and researchers. Over 55,000 scientific journal articles were retrieved by a team of nutrition and medical experts employed by the Australian government-appointed NHMRC. Key recommendations... ...Read more »

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)’s new draft dietary guidelines, published today, have been welcomed by leading Australian scientists and nutrition experts. Emphasis on whole foods rather than nutrients Associate Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos, Head of Department of Dietetics at La Trobe University, in Victoria, said the revised dietary guidelines are “critically important” for healthy eating in Australia. Professor Itsiopoulos said that healthy eating and physical... ...Read more »

The Federal Government’s Food Safety Information Council (FSIC) is urging more consumers to use meat thermometers in order to decrease the risk of food poisoning. The Food Safety Information Council is a non-profit entity supported by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing, state and territory health and food safety agencies, local government, and leading professional, industry and community organisations. According to Newspoll research released today, which was commissioned by the FSIC,... ...Read more »

A prominent Western Australian scientist has found that, despite numerous studies previously highlighting the potential benefits of consuming specific nutrients and foods to prevent stroke, dietary patterns and overeating are more likely to predict stroke risk. Professor Graeme Hankey from the Royal Perth Hospital made the claims in an article published today in The Lancet Neurology, one of the world’s leading medical journals. Professor Hankey believes that these previous studies have been... ...Read more »

Following a cabinet reshuffle announced today by Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Australia’s Senator Kim Carr has lost his position as Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research to Australian Labor Party member Greg Combet. After the 2007 federal election, Senator Carr, also a member of the Australian Labor Party, was appointed Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research by the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Senator Carr was then re-elected in the 2010... ...Read more »

The Australian State and Territory food ministers, under the umbrella of the Federal Government’s Forum on Food Regulation, propose to investigate a suitable front-of-pack nutrition labelling model as an alternative to the Traffic Light system or Dietary Intake system. Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is contemplating a new points-based labeling system for U.S. food and drink products. On Friday, Australian and New Zealand Ministers agreed to the need for an “interpretive”... ...Read more »

Consumer concerns surrounding health issues such as obesity are giving the confectionery markets a challenging time in the EU, where sales of sugar and gum confectionery have remained stagnant over the past four years (2008-2011), from €8.6 billion in 2008 to an estimated €8.9billion in 2011. According to global market research company Mintel’s latest research, sales declined the most in mature markets such as Germany, which despite remaining the largest market in Europe has seen sales drop... ...Read more »

Sucrogen, the Australian-based sugar subsidiary of Singapore-listed Wilmar International Limited, has been given approval to purchase Proserpine Sugar Mill by the mill’s creditors, Westpac Bank. Sucrogen’s offer comprised a headline price of A$120 million, plus a working capital adjustment, normal settlement adjustments, as well as absorption of the mill’s normal operating costs and certain critical capital expenditure incurred from 31 October 2011. Sucrogen CEO Ian Glasson said the creditors’... ...Read more »

Two Australian food companies have been honoured for export achievements at the 49th Australian Export Awards. The Australian Export Awards, co-presented by the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is one of Australia’s oldest business award programs. Victoria-based dairy company, Longwarry Food Park, won the Agribusiness Award. Longwarry Food Park exports milk powders and dairy-based products to Asia, Africa and the Middle East and has increased... ...Read more »