Archives for December 11, 2015

Far East digest

Japanese coalition compromises on planned food tax hike

Japan's ruling coalition partners have agreed to a to exempt food products from a planned tax hike in 2017, when general consumption tax will be increased by two percentage points.

Australia not sheepish about ‘industry’s growing value’

Australian sheepmeat has been buoyed by the “shrinking” competition of New Zealand’s flock and – despite a dip in slaughtered lambs – is predicated to be stronger in 2016. 

Australia-China collaboration to focus on grains, health and wine

Australia and China are set to foster closer ties in agricultural research and wine production with the launch of a new collaborative research centre at the University of Adelaide's Waite campus in South Australia.

Big food firms are climate smart but social media stupid

Brands are blowing a major opportunity to communicate their sustainability initiatives to millions of consumers with social media updates that are “inane, safe and saccharinely artificial in their bonhomie”, says a report.