Industry News
Scholarship program attracts new talent to dairy processing industry
Leading Australian dairy manufacturers are opening their doors to develop the skills of talented graduates as part of Dairy Australia’s 2013 Manufacturing Scholarship program. [ + ]
Cask wine sales falling, imports increasing
When it comes to wine, Australians are opting for bottle rather than cask - but less money is making its way into Australian wine producers’ pockets. [ + ]
CHOICE launches Pack Attack
CHOICE has launched Pack Attack - a campaign calling on manufacturers to adopt packaging that is not difficult or dangerous to open. The consumer watchdog is asking consumers to submit photos of difficult-to-open packaging. [ + ]
Carbon price helps food processer cut emissions and energy costs
A $1.17 million Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program grant, funded from carbon-price revenue, will help Primo Smallgoods to reduce emissions and slash energy costs. [ + ]
Marketing and sustainable packaging round table
RMIT University and the Sustainable Packaging Alliance will host a one-day round table to explore the marketing advantages of packaging for sustainability. [ + ]
Produce exporter to open Asian export division
Perfection Fresh Australia has appointed experienced fresh produce and retail executive Malcolm McLean to lead its Singapore operations as General Manager Exports (Asia). [ + ]
Testing laboratory partnership to offer package and permeation testing
Inspection Systems has announced a testing laboratory partnership with MOCON. The laboratory, known as IS Laboratories, will commence operations in late February 2013. [ + ]
AMA calls for tighter alcohol regulation
The alcohol industry’s self-regulation has failed, the AMA has said, with the industry involved pushing to “lure young people into early and potentially harmful drinking patterns”. [ + ]
Evergreen by name, evergreen by nature
University of South Carolina scientists are working to give the term ‘evergreen’ a new meaning, developing new plastics that are based on polymers from pine trees, firs and other conifers. [ + ]
Milk just got lighter: world’s lightest HDPE milk bottle created
UK plastic milk bottle producer Nampak claims to have created the world’s lightest four-pint high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottle, weighing just 32 grams. [ + ]
Sustainable vanilla sourcing program announced
General Mills and Häagen-Dazs have announced a sustainable vanilla sourcing program designed to support smallholder vanilla farmers in Madagascar. [ + ]
20th Australian HACCP Conference to be held in Melbourne
The 20th Australian HACCP Conference will explore a range of topics, including Australia’s role in a global marketplace, Australian technical updates and new issues for food export. [ + ]
Why sourdough bread resists mould
Sourdough bread resists mould, unlike conventionally leavened bread. It seems that during sourdough production, bacteria convert the linoleic acid in bread flour to a compound that has powerful antifungal activity. [ + ]
Restrict ‘substantial transformation’ definition, says Australian Made Campaign
Country of origin labelling in Australia leaves a great deal to be desired, but the Greens’ proposed bill is not an acceptable alternative, the Australian Made Campaign has said. [ + ]
Swedish academic to present at AIP Technical Dinner
Dr Helén Williams, senior lecturer in energy and environmental systems at Karlstad University, Sweden, and visiting academic at RMIT in Melbourne, will speak at the AIP March Technical Dinner. [ + ]
