Traditional and staple foods

'Scientific breakthrough'

India-led team decodes genome sequence of the chickpea

28-Jan-2013 By RJ Whitehead

A global research project led by a Hyderabad institute claims to have sequenced 90 genomes of the chickpea, paving the way for improved grain yields, greater drought tolerance and enhanced genetic diversity.

Indian foodgrain production slips while procurement surges

24-Jan-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Citing leaked figures, Bloomberg has reported that India will announce a drop in its foodgrain harvest of nearly 4% when it is revealed next month.

China staples

Authorities move to ease concerns over alarming cereal import growth

21-Jan-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Following a dramatic rise in cereal imports last year, Chinese authorities have stepped in to assure concerned industry watchers that all is well.

China focus

Cities and countryside must integrate to ward off looming grain crisis

16-Jan-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Food policymakers in China have had a busy few days with party leadership outlining the need for agricultural modernisation, the government demanding improvements in logistics and the food watchdog offering rewards for whistleblowers.

China to explore increased rice imports from India

14-Jan-2013 By RJ Whitehead

India’s newfound position as the world’s leading rice exporter has not escaped the attention of China, which may look to its western neighbour for increasingly greater rice supplies over the coming years.

Indian breakfast market to liven up this year

04-Jan-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Two of India's biggest food companies are preparing to extend their battle into the lucrative, albeit relatively new, breakfast oats category this year.

Sustainable farming held up by funding and the environment

02-Jan-2013 By RJ Whitehead

A new study by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (Abares) has identified financial and environmental concerns to be the key drivers influencing the adoption of sustainable farming practices in Australia.

Australian egg body drops QA programme

24-Dec-2012 By RJ Whitehead

The Australian Egg Corporation (AECL) has advised Australia’s trademark administrators that it will withdraw its current application for a certification trade mark covering an enhanced quality assurance programme for the Australian egg industry. 

Australian imports of fresh decrowned pineapple on the cards

24-Dec-2012

Australia’s director of animal and plant quarantine is expected to approve the import of  fresh decrowned pineapple fruit from Malaysia. The decision based on consideration of a final risk analysis report for the import of the fruit from Malaysia. 

Japanese majors step up focus on Thai food business

20-Dec-2012 By RJ Whitehead

After a decade of rising profits on the back of Chinese demand for coal and iron ore, Japan's two biggest biggest trading companies are shifting focus to food as bulk commodity prices and demand continue to wane. 

Big plans for Chinese berry in Australia

17-Dec-2012 By RJ Whitehead

New varieties of the Chinese red bayberry fruit are nearing production after successful trials were held by growers, while a deal to market the produce is in the offing. 

Comment

Greenpeace gone too far with GM Golden Rice scandal

13-Dec-2012 By RJ Whitehead

“Human guinea pigs”, “gambling with health” and “shadowy research project”—the terms came thick and fast in Greenpeace’s revelation about Golden Rice earlier this year.

Record high for Vietnam rice exports

07-Dec-2012

Vietnam is expected to export 7.7m tonnes of rice in 2012, setting a 20-year record high due to increased export orders in the last months in 2012, according to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).

Yakult to build second Yongshe plant

07-Dec-2012

Yakult Honsha’s love affair with Yonghe is set to continue with the announcement of a second plant to be built in the economic zone in Guangzhou Province, China. The factory, which will produce the Yakult fermented milk drink, is slated to open in spring...

New Zealand outlaws battery hen cages

06-Dec-2012 By RJ Whitehead

The most commonly used cages for housing layer hens will be phased out in New Zealand by 2022 under a new code of welfare issued by the minister for primary industries, David Carter.

Science

Sweeter, more blight-resistant watermelon on the cards

27-Nov-2012 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...

State of the industry

Organic growth through well-laid plans in Karnataka

26-Nov-2012 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...

Lobbies wade into Indian sugar regulation debate

19-Nov-2012 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.

Malaysia slams France’s proposal for ‘Nutella tax’

13-Nov-2012 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.

Expert comment

Why does everyone hate the Thai rice mortgage scheme?

13-Nov-2012 By Dr Samarendu Mohanty, International Rice Research Institute

The Thai rice mortgage scheme continues to receive a fair amount of media bashing even after completing its first anniversary last month. 

State of the industry

Apac driving demand for global vegetable oils market

09-Nov-2012 By RJ Whitehead

A combination of factors is expected to drive demand growth in the vegetable oils market over the next few years, with demand from the food sector being led by a number of emerging economies, most prominently in the Asia-Pacific region.

'Fuel-injected' rice closing in on reality

08-Nov-2012 By RJ Whitehead

A project to develop a cutting-edge variety rice has received a significant funding boost, and is now about to roll into its second phase.

Watchdog might smash new standard for Australian eggs

06-Nov-2012 By RJ Whitehead

A new quality standard that promises to bring greater consistency to the way egg producers meet farm standards has created a row between the egg industry and Australia’s business watchdog.

Australian potato growers might soon bargain with buyers

06-Nov-2012

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the country’s business and consumer watchdog, has proposed a move to allow selected potato growers associations to collectively bargain with potato buyers.

Insight India

Haryana farmers demonstrate against GM corn trials

22-Oct-2012 By RJ Whitehead

Hundreds of farmers have turned out outside a regional research station in northern India as part of a peaceful protest against nearby open-air field trials of GM corn.

NZ honey study's sweet and sour findings

18-Oct-2012 By RJ Whitehead

A PhD student at New Zealand’s Lincoln University has found that nearly half of mono-floral honey bought from supermarkets in the country were not true to their labels.

Officials fast to slow down grain waste

16-Oct-2012 By RJ Whitehead

Government grain officials across China have joined a movement to “experience 24 hours of hunger” as part of a wider campaign to promote public awareness of food security and to curb grain waste.

Vegetable oil rise sees oilseeds literally lose ground

16-Oct-2012 By RJ Whitehead

China’s appetite for vegetable oils has been one of the key factors supporting markets for the commodity over recent years, a new report by Rabobank has found. 

Quaker thrives in China with traditional medicine cereal fortification

16-Oct-2012 By Kacey Culliney

PepsiCo’s investment to localize its Quaker brand in China with traditional herbal medicine fortification and texture adaptations has enabled it to thrive, an analyst says.

Drought sees less monsoon crops but soybean hits record acreage

15-Oct-2012 By RJ Whitehead

According to the latest planting progress report from the Indian Ministry of Agriculture, this year’s acreage of monsoon oilseed crops is down significantly over last year, even though soybean planting reached a record high amid fear of drought.

Bumper Chinese corn harvest a ‘relief’ for beleaguered US

11-Oct-2012 By RJ Whitehead

The US Grains Council (USGC) has projected another bumper crop of Chinese corn, and voiced its relief that China can step up to the plate as the US faces a tough harvest.

Sino-NZ study aims to produce bigger grains

09-Oct-2012 By RJ Whitehead

In another agricultural research collaboration between New Zealand and China, scientists have begun a joint study into how to improve seeds so that farmers can produce more and bigger grains.

Study links heightened diabetes risk to modern oils

05-Oct-2012 By RJ Whitehead

A long-term research study published this week has confirmed that non-traditional methods of cooking are significantly contributing to the rise in diabetes among Indians.

Unilever UK cleared over 'misleading' ice cream website info

03-Oct-2012 By Mark Astley

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has dismissed a complaint that the website for Unilever-owned Walls Ice Cream gave a misleading nutritional “impression” of its ice cream products.

UAE mulls Cambodia investment for rice and halal production

03-Oct-2012

On a visit to Cambodia, the UAE minister for foreign trade revealed that her government was considering pumping money into halal food production and rice milling in the Southeast Asian country.

Private agri-groups to develop SE Asian rice supply

02-Oct-2012 By RJ Whitehead

Agribusiness companies from the Philippines, Myanmar and Thailand have formed a consortium to develop a Southeast Asian rice supply chain using the proprietary hybrid and premium rice technology.

Chinese must make tough choices on corn and pork

28-Sep-2012 By RJ Whitehead

The author of a report suggesting that China’s corn imports are in line to explode by 2017, today cautioned that the government will have to walk a tightrope in balancing pork prices with domestic corn productivity.

Avebe targets Asian frozen dumplings with innovation

24-Aug-2012 By Rod Addy

Starch firm Avebe is targeting frozen dumpling manufacturers in Asia with a new ingredient that it claims will deliver better quality products.

China’s breakfast table: A local affair

16-Aug-2012 By Ankush Chibber & Kacey Culliney

Manufacturers targeting China’s breakfast market need to realize it is a local taste affair if they are to capture consumers, according to Mintel.

Chinese challenges: Sparking growth in a slowing FMCG sector

26-Jul-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Manufacturers must refocus efforts on Tier III and IV cities in China and delve into e-commerce to re-ignite consumer spending in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs) sector amid a slow, according to analysts.

Filipino food: Captivating a tasty global market?

23-Jul-2012 By Kacey Culliney

The unique flavours of Filipino foods should captivate the global market and underpin a surge in exports, according to the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

China’s top noodle maker in food safety soup

17-Jul-2012 By Ankush Chibber

China’s biggest instant noodle maker will fight allegations its products are too acidic and violate food safety standards in the country.

Rice gene discovery opens doors for low-GI products

09-Jul-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Research has identified the key gene that determines the glycemic index (GI) of rice, opening up opportunities to develop low-GI rice and rice-based products to reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes, according to the researchers.

Dispatches from Israel

Mycolivia develops mushroom-derived health supplements

26-Jun-2012 By Rod Addy

Israeli firm Mycolivia has developed a range of mushroom-derived health supplements, challenging the thriving market for such products in China.

India target US$3bn in spice exports by 2017

07-Jun-2012 By Ankush Chibber

India is embarking on ambitious plans to increase its spice exports, further increasing its domination of the world’s spice trade, experts from the sector said.

Future Group inks deal with agri-processor

04-Jun-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Food major Future Group has announced that it has inked a deal with rice processor LT Foods that includes the setting up of the latter’s new facility at the group’s new food park.

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2012

EU market is 'difficult to penetrate' for Chinese ingredient firm

28-May-2012 By Kacey Culliney from Geneva

A local Chinese company has developed a curcurmin ingredient for the global market but a sales representative told FoodNavigator-Asia at Vitafoods Europe that India is a strong competitor and Europe is a difficult market to penetrate.

Malaysia’s palm oil market is mature but Indonesia holds growth potential: Rabobank

25-May-2012 By Ankush Chibber

A mature palm oil market and scarce land for expansion in Malaysia means Indonesia is set to underpin increased production due to its considerably younger profile, a Rabobank report suggests.

UK trade body calls for more support on environment

23-May-2012 By Rod Addy

Channels for UK food industry funding for environmental projects could be improved, according to Andrew Kuyk, director of the Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF’s) sustainability and competitiveness division.

Thai food giant to tap West African noodles market

18-May-2012 By Ankush Chibber

In a first, a Thai food major is taking its operations across the Indian Ocean to Africa, hoping to capitalise both on available resources and rising consumption in the region.