Favourable seasonal conditions mean Australian wine production has increased despite the actual area of grape vines decreasing, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. [ + ]

The People’s Republic of China has officially recognised the Napa Valley with Geographic Indication (GI) status, making it the first region outside of China to be recognised with the designation. [ + ]

Eligible dairy farmers are encouraged to vote in a ballot that seeks to alter the trustee of the Graham Park Dairy Trust from NSW Farmers’ Association to Dairy Connect NSW. [ + ]

Easy Keg was awarded the $25,000 RMIT University First Prize and the $5000 The Litmus Group Environmental Sustainability Award as part of RMIT’s 2012 Business Plan Competition. [ + ]

The Australian organic sector’s latest report card is looking good. The Australian Organic Market Report 2012 claims that Australian organic products are rated higher in terms of quality than international organic products. [ + ]

Time is running out to book a place at the AIP’s NSW Technical Dinner. Bookings for the event close on Friday 19 October. [ + ]

PBI-Dansensor, a leading supplier of quality assurance equipment for the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) industry, is changing its name and logo to reflect a change of ownership. [ + ]

The former director of a Bankstown bakery has been prosecuted by the NSW Food Authority over a Salmonella outbreak that saw 83 people fall ill with food poisoning after consuming food from the bakery in January 2012. [ + ]

Schneider Electric has launched PlantStruxure, its process automation technology that allows industrial and infrastructure companies to transparently connect field, process and enterprise levels within their business. [ + ]

Schneider Electric’s PlantStruxure NOW! Users Conference is now underway. Around 250 delegates have gathered on the Gold Coast for the conference, which focuses on the company’s PlantStruxure offering. [ + ]

A Spanish researcher has investigated the use of essential oils in prolonging the shelf life of potatoes rather than using synthetic antigerminants. [ + ]

Astringency and fattiness contribute very differently to mouthfeel and it is thought that these differences may explain why some foods pair particularly well. [ + ]

New Zealand researchers believe they may have bred the first cow in the world to produce hypoallergenic, high-protein milk. [ + ]

Fresco Systems has been in the business of bulk materials handling and process systems for 18 years and says its new look is a more accurate reflection of the company’s current identity. [ + ]

As part of FSC Friday celebrations, Tetra Pak announced it is on track to achieve its aim of purchasing 50% of its paperboard from FSC-certified forests in 2012. [ + ]