All news articles for November 2012

Neptune and Aker facing off in court yet again

Krill wars

Neptune and Aker facing off in court yet again

By RJ Whitehead

Australia is the site of the latest battle between Neptune and Aker Biomarine. In addition to patent strife between the two krill majors in American courts, Canadian Neptune has now announced that it filed opposition to an Aker patent application earlier...

Far East and America driving Australian beef dynamics

State of the industry

Far East and America driving Australian beef dynamics

By RJ Whitehead

Changing trends in traditional key export markets are presenting both hurdles and opportunities for Australia's boxed-beef exporters, according to a recently released industry report.

Evolva pays €550,000 for Fluxome resveratrol business

Evolva pays €550,000 for Fluxome resveratrol business

By Shane Starling

Swiss biotech firm Evolva has bought failing Fluxome’s, yeast-derived resveratrol business for about €550,000 in cash and shares, but says it has no interest in the remaining omega-3 business being sold by sealed auction.

Jacob de Lichtenberg, head of Aktiefokus China

INDUSTRY VOICES: HEAD OF AKTIEFOKUS CHINA, JACOB DE LICHTENBERG

Tsingtao scales up beer operations in China’s bustling Henan province

By Jacob de Lichtenberg

In this guest article, Jacob de Lichtenberg, head of Aktiefokus China, gives BeverageDaily.com readers the lowdown on Tsingtao Brewery’s plans to build a brewery in Henan province, where beer production is booming.

Sweeter, more blight-resistant watermelon on the cards

Science

Sweeter, more blight-resistant watermelon on the cards

By RJ Whitehead

Evidence from a significant study now suggests that watermelon is a vital species for genetic research on account of its small genome size, and its diverse genetic mutants and variants. The findings also pave the way for research into genetic improvement...

BJD can be fatal to cattle

Australian cattle in BJD outbreak

Beef farmers in the Australian state of Queensland have expressed concern after cattle on a farm in the region tested positive for Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD).

Social storm pushes Woolworths to remove infant drink

Social storm pushes Woolworths to remove infant drink

By RJ Whitehead

A social media storm and petition have prompted Australian supermarket Woolworths to withdraw all juice supplies of infant drink brand Bebi from its shelves, although its infant suitable water line will remain.

Organic growth through well-laid plans in Karnataka

State of the industry

Organic growth through well-laid plans in Karnataka

By RJ Whitehead

Earlier this month a small story made its way into the Times of India—the country’s biggest-selling newspaper—to announce the opening of a shop that sells only organic products. For the rest of the world, this might be humdrum, but for India the event...

Daisy is the result of three years' research and is the first of her kind in the world

Right to reply

World’s first GE cow is a ‘milestone study’

Last week, FoodNavigator-Asia published an opinion piece by the anti-GE pressure group, GE-free NZ, that criticised AgResearch, the New Zealand research institute. In the article, the author made reference to the institute’s work in breeding a cow that...

Kiwis drinking more cider, but less beer

Drinks

Kiwis drinking more cider, but less beer

By Ankush Chibber

Cider is the rising star of New Zealand’s alcoholic beverages market even as consumption of beer in the country is showing a steady decline, said a top official from Lion, the Australasian food and beverage major.

Australian bird flu outbreak leads to import bans

Australian bird flu outbreak leads to import bans

By Carina Perkins and Vladislav Vorotnikov

A number of countries have banned poultry products from Australia over bird flu fears despite claims from the country’s authorities that the latest outbreak has been “successfully controlled”.

From chai to latte: India’s new coffee culture

State of the industry

From chai to latte: India’s new coffee culture

By RJ Whitehead

Coffee culture in India is flourishing thanks to the efforts of a few specialist coffee chains and the instant coffee players, says a new report from Rabobank. 

Groceries will thrive even with FDI

Groceries will thrive even with FDI

By RJ Whitehead

According to a new study in India, 800,000 people are employed directly by organised retail in India, and even without FDI, this number would grow to 2m by 2016—and double that when indirect employment is considered.

Massey planning agri-research in new Sino-NZ business park

Massey planning agri-research in new Sino-NZ business park

By RJ Whitehead

A delegation of municipal staff from south Beijing have returned home after seeking New Zealand’s expertise in food production ahead of the completion of a Sino-Kiwi agricultural park in the Chinese capital.

Oz, NZ get first-step approval for hemp in food

Oz, NZ get first-step approval for hemp in food

By RJ Whitehead

The decision by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to approve the use of hemp products containing low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the production of food has received widespread approval since its announcement earlier this month.

NZ gives aquaculture boost by domesticating mussels

NZ gives aquaculture boost by domesticating mussels

By RJ Whitehead

The New Zealand government has announced that it will support a seven-year, NZ$26m initiative to boost aquaculture by selectively breeding New Zealand greenshell mussels for the first time.

Stop GE creeping into NZ!

Right to reply

Stop GE creeping into NZ!

By Claire Bleakley, president of GE-free NZ in Food and Environment

In the first of a new series of hard-hitting opinion pieces, Claire Bleakley, president of GE-free NZ in Food and Environment, gives her take on how GE crops—and now livestock—have been quietly moving into New Zealand, a country that has traditionally...

Lobbies wade into Indian sugar regulation debate

Lobbies wade into Indian sugar regulation debate

By RJ Whitehead

Now some time has passed since the Rangarajan Committee revealed its recommendations to remove restrictions on the sugar sector, industry groups have begun to put pressure on the government to accept or reject its findings.

Palm oil plantation

French Senate rejects palm oil tax

By Caroline Scott-Thomas

The French Senate rejected its so-called ‘Nutella tax’ on Thursday, which aimed to quadruple the tax on palm oil, a key ingredient in the hazelnut-chocolate spread.

Nestlé invests big in R&D centre for India

Nestlé invests big in R&D centre for India

By RJ Whitehead

Understanding India’s consumer food trends is never an easy job, and with this in mind, Nestlé has opened its first research and development centre in the country. It will use the new facility to generate a better knowledge of the market, tastes and people.  

Experts don't buy new Pepsi’s fat-busting claims

Experts don't buy new Pepsi’s fat-busting claims

By RJ Whitehead

“I know what people are thinking as they head out for a Big Mac, large fries and cola: why not make it a lighter meal and opt for diet- or zero-calorie Coke—or now, a Pepsi Special?” reasons Rashi Chowdhary, a Dubai-based nutritionist. 

Malaysia slams France’s proposal for ‘Nutella tax’

Malaysia slams France’s proposal for ‘Nutella tax’

By RJ Whitehead

A French politician’s calls for a “Nutella tax” have been met with anger in Malaysia. Central to the terms of the proposal, which will be voted on in Paris this week, lies a 300% duty increase on palm oil imports to the country.

Live exports under pressure in Australia

Australian Greens ramp up live export pressure

By Carina Perkins

The Australian Greens have increased pressure on the government to end live exports, publishing a five-point plan for ending the trade and establishing a robust domestic meat processing sector.

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