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 »

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that the current financial crisis will affect agricultural sectors in many countries negatively, including those in the developing world. World cereal production is expected to hit a new record this year as high prices boosted plantings under generally favorable weather conditions, FAO said today in the latest issue of its “Food Outlook”, a bi-annual commodity publication. World cereal production is forecast to be large enough to meet... ...Read more »

Rules governing the size and shape of fruit and vegetables will be consigned to history after European Union Member States yesterday voted on Commission proposals to repeal specific marketing standards for 26 types of fruit and vegetables. The Commission claims the initiative is a major element in its ongoing efforts to streamline and simplify EU rules and cut red tape. For 10 types of fruit and vegetables, including apples, strawberries and tomatoes, marketing standards will remain in place. But... ...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 »

Australian horticulture must position itself as a supplier of high-quality produce that attract premium prices to be competitive both domestically and abroad, according to a recently-released industry report. The Global Focus report Australian Horticulture - fresh fruit and vegetables, by specialist agribusiness lender Rabobank, notes, “Australian horticulture cannot build its competitive advantage on cost leadership due to increased competition from low-cost producers who don’t face... ...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 »

A leading academic and legal expert on food believes there is a growing body of evidence to indicate that the concept of “food miles” is badly flawed and might well breach Australia’s free trade obligations if ever it was introduced as a mandatory labelling requirement nationwide. Joe Lederman, Managing Principal of FoodLegal and Adjunct Professor of Food Law at Deakin University, advised that a growing number of supermarkets and restaurants in the UK were promoting the... ...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 »