In the month leading up to this week’s Federal budget, a number of announcements have been made about Federal government funds being available on a selective basis for food-related projects. Recently,  the Australian Research Council announced that the Tasmanian-based sensory-monitoring technology company, Sense-T, would receive a significant funding injection from the Federal government for Sense-T’s Pathways to Market project. The Sense-T project would receive $2.5 million funding under the... ...Read more »

More than half of US consumers agree that labelling food or other products organic is just an excuse for companies to charge more, according to research from US market research organisation Harris Interactive. A March 2013 ‘Harris Poll’, conducted by the market research organisation, found that more Americans are concerned about the current state and future of the environment in 2013 than in 2012 (38 per cent in 2013, compared with 31 per cent in 2012). But this did not necessarily translate... ...Read more »

A new report tabled in the South Australian parliament shows that despite overwhelming community support for a plastic bag ban in the State, sales of bin liners have increased by more 80 per cent in South Australia (SA). According to research conducted by the Ehrenberg Bass Institute for Marketing Science at the University of South Australia, the plastic bag ban, which was implemented in South Australia in May 2009, has seen the household purchase of bin liners increase from 15 per cent to 80 per... ...Read more »

A new toolkit is being launched by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) to help businesses have a greater knowledge of and positive influence on decisions about sustainable packaging design. The program, which will particularly target marketing professionals, is an interactive e-learning program designed to increase awareness of principles and minimise the environmental impacts of packaging. The AFGC has developed the program with funding support from the Australian Packaging Covenant (APC)... ...Read more »

Australian supermarkets have been responding to growing consumer activism in favour of ‘sustainable’ fish and ‘free range’ eggs. The German-owned Australian ALDI supermarket group has announced that it will work with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) to evaluate the sustainability of its seafood range in Australia. ALDI  says the partnership will enable it to develop programs and strategies to ensure the sustainability of the supply chain and meet its commitment to ‘source sustainably... ...Read more »

Australian food box delivery company Aussie Farmers Direct has called on Australians to support peach farmers in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley who are having to let this year’s bumper crop of clingstone peaches go to waste due to a lack of sufficient market demand. Aussie Farmers Direct says it plans to ‘rescue’ tonnes of peaches by creating a new consumer market for the surplus fruit. “This year’s near perfect growing season for clingstone peaches has produced a high quality crop of canning... ...Read more »

The food and agriculture sectors in Western Australia are likely to be major beneficiaries of favourable policies that were promised by the returning Coalition government. The Liberal Party won an overall majority, with 32 seats, in the State’s election on Saturday 9 March 2013. The Liberals have said they intend to maintain their coalition with the WA Nationals, who held 3 Cabinet positions in the Coalition government prior to last Saturday’s results. Under the Barnett-led State Liberal... ...Read more »

Major meat company Teys Australia will receive money for two of its sites from the Australian Labor Government’s ‘Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program’. The money will go towards technologies that will help the Company’s sites at Wagga Wagga in New South Wales and at Beenleigh in Queensland become more energy efficient and sustainable. The Wagga Wagga site will receive $227,000 through the program, and the Beenleigh site will receive $2.82 million. The Federal Minister for... ...Read more »

The University of Sydney will today launch a $20 million multidisciplinary research centre dedicated to tackling problems of food security and environmental challenges in Australia and the surrounding region. The Centre for Carbon, Water and Food, funded by the Federal Government and the University of Sydney, will be launched at a major event at the Centre’s new site in the south western Sydney suburb of Camden. The Centre has already attracted international interest. Two agreements with leading... ...Read more »

The Victorian Liberal Coalition Government is contributing $2 million towards Mars Australia’s new expansion of its large manufacturing facility in Ballarat. The Mars expansion, which will cost AU$52 million overall, and involves energy and water upgrades, such as pipe and plant insulation, stormwater capture and storage, wastewater treatment upgrades, refrigeration systems upgrades and installation of solar panels. The investment will ensure Mars Australia continues to manufacture Mars Bars, Snickers,... ...Read more »