While the debate over whether margarine or butter is better for you rages, consumers have been quietly voting with their dollar. Recent sales trends show that Australian shoppers are purchasing butter more often than they did five years ago. [ + ]

Organisers of the Queensland Supply Chain & Logistics Conference have announced the dates for the 2014 event. The conference will be held over 4 and 5 September at the Sofitel Hotel in Brisbane. [ + ]

Standards Australia has announced the release of three draft standards on energy audits for public comment. The standards are designed to assist organisations when deciding on what type of audit to implement, as well as providing an outline in best practice for energy auditors. [ + ]

The success of coconut water - which surged from zero in 2006 to an almost $1 billion business in North America and Europe by 2013 - could be just the first step in a massive emerging trend: healthy, natural, low-calorie waters taken directly from plants. [ + ]

The 1st Congress on Food Structure Design will take place in Porto, Portugal, from 15-17 October. The goal of the event is to strengthen the scientific understanding of product design and engineering and stimulate the development of innovative, complex and highly structured products and suitable production processes. [ + ]

West Australian organic farmer Steve Marsh is taking his neighbour Michael Baxter to court after Marsh's farm was allegedly 'contaminated' by genetically modified (GM) canola from Baxter's farm. [ + ]

Entries are invited for the 26th DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation, the industry's longest-running, independently judged competition. David Luttenberger, CPP, president, David Luttenberger Consulting, will lead the panel of judges. [ + ]

Centec has extended its partnership arrangement with B-R Controls to include the full Centec range of density, sound velocity, CO₂ and oxygen analysers. [ + ]

More than 42% of new bread products launched in 2013 made some type of health claim. [ + ]

Industry 4.0, cybersecurity, ethernet in industry, machine safety, future manufacturing and skills shortages are just some of the hot topics that will be covered at the inaugural ACI Connect conference. Book your space at this two-day, must-attend event now. [ + ]

The global biomass of fish is estimated to be 30 times more than the accepted value according to new research by an international team of marine scientists. [ + ]

A US company is testing antimicrobial formulations that can be used as a rinse or processing aid on produce, poultry and meats. The US-based company has already patented the antimicrobial silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC). [ + ]

The Federation of Māori Authorities and the Massey University-led Riddet Institute have signed an agreement aimed at providing distinctiveness and added value to Māori primary produce. [ + ]

By monitoring flow processes brewers can reduce water and effluent costs during the brewing, packaging/bottling and ancillary processes and in general areas. This white paper will inform brewers how contactless flow measurement solutions can help them to save resources and costs. [ + ]

Research undertaken by Flinders University scientists could help increase the nutritional output of the staple grains of developing countries. The team has shown that they can alter the distribution of micronutrients such as zinc and iron in rice and wheat, creating more nutritious crops. Staple food crops such as wheat and rice form the bulk of diets in poorer countries, but they contain very low levels of essential micronutrients; iron and zinc in particular. Whole grains contain higher levels of micronutrients but most of these are found in the outer layers of the grain which are often removed prior to cooking. [ + ]