Japan is proving to be a safe haven for Australian beef exports, with the volume of red meat being sent to that market holding firm amid the current global financial turmoil.Beef exports to Australia’s biggest beef export market remain at similar levels to those of a year ago, before the financial crisis hit. Year to date exports of Australian beef to Japan have totalled 305,774 tonnes, down just three percent compared to 314,493 tonnes exported in the same period last year. Meat & Livestock... ...Read more »

Western Australian food and beverage companies will take their produce to new international markets at three upcoming major food trade events. Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman has invited local companies to explore promotional opportunities available in India, Japan and the United States. “I’m inviting local food and beverage companies, including wine producers, to promote their wares to the world through the WA booth at the International Food Exhibition in New Delhi to be held... ...Read more »

This year’s WA Industry and Export Awards has recognised a number of companies in the food industry, including Craig Mostyn Group which claimed a place in the Hall of Fame. The diversified food, agribusiness and logistics company, which serves customers and suppliers in over 60 countries, also claimed the Aribusiness Export Award. The WA Industry and Export Awards, now celebrating its 20-year anniversary, featured 15 industry and export categories. All the State’s export category winners... ...Read more »

An Australian Certified Organic (ACO) meat producer has become the first in the world to comply with Japan’s new organic livestock standard. Matt O’Leary, beef producer from Australian Organic Meats in NSW has out-stripped Japan’s own farmers to become the first meat supplier ever to match the stringent criteria of the recently developed Japanese Agriculture Standard (JAS) for livestock. “I’m pretty pleased - and a bit surprised,” Mr O’Leary admitted.... ...Read more »

A new campaign has been launched to help take Queensland produce to the world, the state’s Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin has reported.Mr Mulherin noted the state’s exporters had reaped rewards via the Asian Markets for Horticulture Initiative (AMHI) and suggests the next strategy will be bolder than the last. “Now we are going bigger with a new campaign - the Global Markets Initiative - that will promote a range of producers not just horticulture and it... ...Read more »

The unique Halal brand that was developed last year by Meat & Livestock Australia for use in the Middle East red meat market has now gone global.The brand, which supports the majority of Australian-produced Halal red meat sold in the Middle East, is now set to appear with Australian red meat sold in Islamic countries around the world. MLA’s Middle East regional manager, Ian Ross said the global expansion of the Halal brand is an important step towards expanding markets for Australian red... ...Read more »

Australia can play an important role in meeting Malaysia’s food consumption and demand for food processing inputs, according to a new ABARE report.The report, ‘Changing food consumption and imports in Malaysia: Opportunities for Australian agricultural exports’ was released today by Phillip Glyde, Executive Director of ABARE. “With continued income and population growth, Malaysian food consumption is shifting away from starchy staples such as rice and cassava and more toward... ...Read more »

Oatley Wines has marked their first international wine foray with the launch of Robert Oatley Vineyards in America this month and the shipment of 300,000 bottles to what the Oatley family feel is the strongest growth potential market for premium Australian table wine. Based in California, Robert Oatley Vineyards will import the family’s new wines for the American market, labelled under the Robert Oatley brand. “The family are really pleased to be back in America,” said Deputy Executive... ...Read more »

GrainCorp has announced that it has entered into a strategic marketing alliance with the largest cooperative grain marketer in the United States, CHS Inc. in order to reach new markets. The new marketing alliance will focus on the bulk export of durum from Australia and will commence immediately. CHS Inc. is a leading global durum marketer, with strong linkages to millers and more than half a century of durum milling expertise. The GrainCorp - CHS Inc. alliance integrates the Australian durum industry... ...Read more »

Despite the difficult environment at both domestic and global levels, the Australian wine industry continues to expand. The challenge, according to a recently released report from the world’s leading food and agribusiness bank, is how to grow value as well as volume. According to the Rabobank report, the Australian wine industry needs to break away from its image as a supplier of inexpensive wines and begin to improve the average price per bottle in order to secure a sustainable future. Report... ...Read more »