The Macadamia Processing Company (MPC) has secured a $1.484 million grant for major energy-efficiency upgrades and expansion to its factory macadamia nut drying system. [ + ]

The prepared meals sector in China is expected to grow rapidly up to 2017 with ready meals leading the way. [ + ]

Ithaca College researchers have found that betaine - a nutrient found in shellfish and beetroot - can boost athletic performance by nearly 6% when added to a sports drink. [ + ]

The uncertain economic climate is impacting new product launches in the UK, with the number of economy food and drink products launched in 2012 outstripping the number of premium launches for the first time. [ + ]

Around 700 million people in Africa and Asia rely on yams and cassava for food and income. But harvesting these staple crops isn’t easy: losses during harvesting and processing are exceptionally high, at 60% for yams and 30% for cassava. [ + ]

Nestlé has announced plans to build a new factory in Malaysia to meet growing domestic demand for its ready-to-drink beverages. [ + ]

The sugar-fat seesaw: while it may sound like a ride at an amusement park, nutritionists say it’s the reason people struggle to follow government guidelines to cut both fat and sugars simultaneously. [ + ]

The SCLAA has received a $743,310 grant to develop and deliver a program called Energy Efficiency Solutions for Australian Transport and Logistics SMEs. [ + ]

A new study found drug-resistant bacteria associated with livestock in the noses of industrial livestock workers but not in the noses of antibiotic-free livestock workers. [ + ]

Devondale has announced the location of it $60 million milk processing facility. The company recently confirmed that the new state-of-the-art facility will be built at Erskine Park in Sydney’s western suburbs. [ + ]

BASF, Cargill and Novozymes have successfully demonstrated the production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) in pilot scale, a significant milestone in the development of technologies to produce acrylic acid from renewable raw materials. [ + ]

Stanford researchers have found that teaching children the importance of healthy foods leads them to voluntarily eat more vegetables. [ + ]

Grants totalling $550,000 are helping a leading international bee expert - along with local beekeepers - combat the global decline in bee health that threatens world food production. [ + ]

Market research firm Canadean says that meal kits are set to grow in Germany, while ready meals are expected to dominate the prepared meals sector in France. [ + ]

GS1, a not-for-profit organisation which facilitates collaboration among trading partners with global standards across 150 countries is celebrating its 40th anniversary. [ + ]