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 »

As talk of economic turmoil continues to dominate media reports, food industry participants can’t help but feel it is only a matter of time before the downturn impacts on them – if it hasn’t already. However, in the case of economic conditions, it is important to remember that ‘what goes down must go up’. The impact on the food industry is fortunately softened by the fact that everyone still needs food, but some areas are still likely to suffer. Over the course of the next... ...Read more »

A new, brighter, deep-yellow pasta that meets Aussie tastes and cooking style will be the culinary end product of an improved durum wheat variety bred by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to be released to growers next year, the NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, has advised.”The new variety has been given the name Caparoi, an appropriate name derived from the Italian word capitano which means ‘leader’,” Minister Macdonald said. “I expect Caparoi... ...Read more »

The Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin yesterday said he was delighted with the announcement of the proposed merger of Proserpine Co-operative and the newly formed Mackay Sugar Limited. The merger between the two sugar producers is not yet finalised but is appears likely as both companies look to consolidate during a time that has seen a loss of good agricultural land. “The increased tonnages that the proposed merger provides will enable us to achieve those design efficiencies,” Lou... ...Read more »