The Australian Government has today announced changes to food store and alcohol licensing in the Northern Territory. Under the changes, areas outside of major centres in the Northern Territory will be defined as a ‘food security area’.  Stores in these areas will need a license if they are an important source of food, drink or groceries to an Aboriginal community. This means licensing will apply to some stores for the first time. The government will consult with the local community about the... ...Read more »

Australia is facing a huge glut of potatoes. Prices for potatoes for the Australian domestic market will soon drop below  farm production costs. Greengrocers and supermarkets are acquiring potatoes at bargain prices. We are constantly reminded by the Australian Government and its consultant experts that the world is running out of food. They tell us that Australia needs to produce more food for the impending famine faced by the world. Yet, we already have the scenario of many countries currently... ...Read more »

Potato growers across Australia are threatening to plough surplus potatoes back into the ground or leave them to rot in what is reported to be one of the biggest potato gluts in Australian history. Australian potato grower and Chairman of the Australian Potato Industry Advisory Committee, David Nix, has seen double the tonnage of potatoes on his farm in Atherton, Queensland, compared to last year. Mr Nix told Australian Food News today, “This year has brought a wave of excess potatoes across... ...Read more »

One of Australia’s key industrialists, Anthony Pratt, who is chairman of the leading Australian packaging business Visy Industries, has called upon the Australian government to work with Australia’s food industry to boost production. Speaking at a conference on food security yesterday in Shepparton, Victoria, Mr Pratt offered five ways he believes Australia can quadruple its food production: Accelerated depreciation should be introduced to encourage new manufacturing investments in food. Mr... ...Read more »

Researchers from Australia and China are collaborating to improve global food security by mounting a scientific counterattack on the pests and diseases that ravage food and tree crops. The Australian Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity (CRCNPB) is working with two leading Chinese science agencies and a university to curb losses of grain and other vital crops to insects, moulds and plant diseases. The CEO of CRCNPB Dr Simon McKirdy described the collaboration as making good... ...Read more »

Australia’s hunger relief organisation, Foodbank Australia, has awarded four companies for their contribution towards tackling the pressing problem of hunger in Australia. The Australian Dairy Industry, SPC Ardmona, Patties Foods and Lotterywest received Foodbank Awards at the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s (AFGC) Annual Industry Leaders’ Gala Dinner, held in Canberra on Wednesday 2 November 2011. This year, Foodbank’s ‘Leadership Award’ was presented to the Australian Dairy Industry... ...Read more »

The Australian Government announced today that it will release a paper outlining potential policy and regulatory framework changes within the Australian food industry as the next step of Australia’s ‘National Food Plan’. The National Food Plan was initiated by the Australian Government in June 2011 when it released an ‘issues paper’. This was followed by 10 weeks of public consultation. The next step, a green paper, will provide stakeholders with a chance to contribute before a white paper... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest hunger relief organisation, Foodbank, is to launch a campaign called Bridge the Hunger Divide on Sunday 16 October 2011, to coincide with World Food Day. World Food Day is a United Nations initiative to raise awareness of global food insecurity issues such as hunger and poverty. Foodbank said it will be building a sculpture of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, made almost entirely out of donated food. The Foodbank initiative has been supported by: Aldi, Cerebos, SPC Ardmona, Coles,... ...Read more »

A group of grocery stores in a remote far northwest region of South Australia will be allowed to work together to improve the supply of food under a ruling by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The Mai Wiru Stores Group, in the remote Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, will collectively negotiate terms and conditions with suppliers of essential grocery and supermarket items through a collective bargaining arrangement. Collective bargaining refers to two or... ...Read more »

Australia’s peak farming industry body, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and multinational Australian-based Westpac bank have launched plans for a Blueprint for Australian Agriculture. The blueprint will allow Australia’s food producers to help map Australia’s role in global food production over the next 40 years. Launching the Blueprint at Parliament House, Canberra, NFF President Jock Laurie said, “This initiative provides the opportunity for industry stakeholders to highlight... ...Read more »