University of Sydney academics offer their solutions to achieving zero hunger in recognition of World Food Day on October 16. The university reports that its experts are calling for action to improve life for the 820 million people suffering from chronic undernourishment worldwide. This could be done with the following steps, University of Sydney academics … Continue reading World Food Day: seven steps towards zero hunger →

The 2018 Australian Women in Wine Awards have attracted strong numbers, with more finalists announced this year than in previous years. There are eight awards on offer this year. Each attracted a large number of entries, which the judges decided to celebrate by naming four finalists in some of the categories, instead of the usual three. The Fabulous … Continue reading Australian Women in Wine Awards finalists announced →

Australian software technology company Skyfii has signed a three-year contract with Habib’s restaurants in Brazil – operating more than 400 venues. The contract includes the deployment of Skyfii’s IO Connect data collection and IO Insight data analytics services. Initial deployment will be across 100 Habib’s venues by December 2018, with the balance of contracted venues … Continue reading Australian tech company signs contract with restaurant chain in Brazil →

Functional Grains Centre PhD candidate Drew Portman is researching the use of lentils to make a healthier bread than types using traditional flours. Portman’s research, carried out with Agriculture Victoria, is investigating how lentil flour can be incorporated into wheat-based foods, such as bread, pasta or snacks. “Lentils are widely consumed within Indian subcontinent and … Continue reading Lentils studied as key ingredient to making bread healthier →

Collins Foods Limited is opening more than 50 new Taco Bell restaurants in Australia. The company has entered into a development agreement with Taco Bell, subsidiary of Yum! Brands, that will govern the roll-out of the restaurants across multiple states in Australia between January 2019 and December 2021. The agreement covers three Australian states, including … Continue reading Collins Foods opens more than 50 Taco Bells in Australia →

Rabobank’s agribusiness October outlook indicates growth in wine and fruit exports, but meat and grains are falling short. The monthly report shows that fresh orange exports continue to grow in price and volume, as well as wine exports to Canada. Canada is one of the top wine export destinations for Australia by value. For July and … Continue reading Australian orange exports increase but drought still burdens other sectors →

The Victorian government is helping summerfruit growers tap into the booming market for high-quality produce in China with $454,000 in grants. Minister for agriculture and regional development Jaala Pulford announced the food source Victoria grant for Summerfruit Australia on October 11. The project will establish a best practice guide for growers, packers and distributors so … Continue reading Summerfruit growers exporting to China receive extra funding →

The Queensland government plans to turn rundown buildings on Bribie Island into an aquaculture hub. The land is part of the Bribie Island Research Centre, an aquaculture research and development facility owned and operated by the department of agriculture and fisheries. Minister for agricultural industry development and fisheries, Mark Furner, said in the past 12 … Continue reading Queensland’s Bribie Island could turn into aquaculture hub →

The chief executive officer of Nuffield International Jim Geltch has taken out the 2018 Rabobank Leadership Award. Th recognises the role he has played developing upcoming leadership in the Australian and New Zealand food, beverage and agribusiness sectors. Geltch, who was appointed inaugural CEO of Nuffield International in 2016, was announced as recipient of this … Continue reading Nuffield International CEO receives Rabobank leadership award →

Few environments present challenges to coding and traceability like the beverage canning sector. Insignia discusses current impacts on the beverage industry. With high production speeds, uneven surfaces to code and a hot, wet environment to contend with, achieving a reliable high-quality code is an ever-present challenge. Every industry presents its own set of obstacles when it … Continue reading Insignia discusses challenges impacting the beverage industry →

The Premier’s Recognition Award has been won at the 2018 Victorian Premier’s Sustainability Awards by Yume Food for developing an online marketplace for quality surplus food, reducing waste and landfill impact. Earlier at the awards’ ceremony, Yume won the Innovative Products or Services, and the Small and Medium Enterprises categories. The Premier’s Regional Recognition Award … Continue reading Yume Food wins three sustainability awards →

Kraft Heinz has committed up to $100 million to Evolv Ventures, which is a fund that will invest in emerging tech companies transforming the food industry. The company’s CEO Bernardo Hees said new technological innovations in the food industry create endless new opportunities to strengthen business models. “Through Evolv Ventures, we will work with tomorrow’s … Continue reading Kraft Heinz launches $100m venture fund focused on tech companies →

Bio-Gene Technology Limited has completed the latest stage of a development project with CSIRO, which improves the yield and cost of the synthesis process for the production of flavesone – the active constituent contained within Flavocide. Flavocide is patented worldwide by Bio-Gene as an insecticide. It has demonstrated activity against a range of insect pests. … Continue reading Research project improves manufacturing process of insecticide →

In 2017–18, the volume of Australian exports to Canada increased by 11 per cent, to 7.6 million cases, and value increased by 7 per cent to $199 million. Canada is Australia’s fourth biggest export destination by volume and value. Exports grew by value to all ten provinces. More than 80 per cent of Australian wine … Continue reading Australian wine exports to Canada increase in volume and value →

The federal government, the National Farmers Federation and banks are working together through a new drought finance taskforce. The taskforce is designed to leverage resources and share insights on ways in which the government and banks could further support drought-affected farmers, and rural and regional small businesses. The group will include the treasurer Josh Frydenberg, … Continue reading Drought finance taskforce will further support Australian farmers →

Coca-Cola Amatil has taken a minority stake in Singapore-based restaurant tech start-up, TabSquare via its corporate venturing platform, Amatil X. TabSquare provides artificial intelligence-powered smart in-restaurant solutions to improve the restaurant experience for diners and improve operational efficiency for restaurant owners. It is the second investment made by Amatil X since its launch in April … Continue reading Coca-Cola Amatil backs restaurant tech company →

E-commerce continues to drive new construction in Melbourne’s west with national developer Vaughan Constructions signing a new deal with global logistics provider Kuehne + Nagel to significantly enhance its $30 million Derrimut facility. The design and construct contract will deliver an 8,000 square metre extension to the  20,000sqm Boundary Road distribution centre. The expected completion date is … Continue reading Vaughan Constructions signs deal with global logistics provider →

Nestlé has launched an improved Milo recipe with 25 per cent less sugar for the Indonesian market. Beside the lower sugar content, Nestlé Milo’s innovation is also manifested through the enrichment of malt, vitamins and minerals. Nestlé Indonesia business executive officer of the beverages business unit, Prawitya Soemadijo, said malt is an energy source that … Continue reading Nestlé launches Milo with 25 per cent less sugar in Indonesia →

Agricultural industry development and fisheries minister Mark Furner has laid bare his ambitions to make Queensland the aquaculture capital of the world. Furner used a visit in early October to the JCU aquaculture research lab in Townsville, to begin his campaign to entice further aquaculture investment in North Queensland. “Queensland stands at the foot of … Continue reading Growing aquaculture production backed by Queensland government →

The Sydney Doesn’t Suck collaboration, led by City of Sydney councillor Jess Miller, has walked away with the Food for Good Award at National Good Food Guide 2018. The award, announced in Melbourne on October 8, celebrates innovation, charity and sustainability. The Sydney Doesn’t Suck movement draws attention to the positive work Sydney’s bars, hospitality … Continue reading Sydney businesses celebrated for straw-free movement →