Packaging giant Amcor has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire the Aperio Group for $238 million, subject to regulatory and other conditions, including ACCC approval. [ + ]

A recent survey conducted by Canstar Blue and Colmar Brunton has shown that despite the supermarket price wars, consumers generally prefer premium brands to generic alternatives when it comes to snack foods, regardless of the price. [ + ]

Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) experienced unprecedented growth in 2011, according to a statement issued by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). [ + ]

McCormick’s Flavour Forecast 2012 has predicted some interesting emerging culinary trends for the coming years. [ + ]

After 25 years in Blackburn, Rockwell Automation has moved its South Pacific headquarters to Bayswater. [ + ]

A Primary Industries Education Foundation (PIEF) survey has revealed an alarming decline in students’ and teachers’ knowledge of food and fibre production. 75% of year 6 students surveyed thought of cotton socks as an animal product, while 27% of year 6 students thought of yoghurt as a plant product. [ + ]

A Rabobank dairy analyst has reassured the Australian dairy industry that European dairy quotas being lifted are unlikely to negatively impact the Australian dairy sector. [ + ]

A $7 million dairy research centre focusing on subtropical dairy production has opened at The University of Queensland’s Gatton campus. [ + ]

The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) has warned the ACCC that Amcor’s proposed takeover of its rival, Australian packaging company Aperio, could cost hundreds of jobs. [ + ]

New research from Mintel has revealed that cider popularity is rivalling that of lager, with 47% of British drinkers calling themselves cider drinkers, compared with 46% who are lager drinkers. [ + ]

A $250,000 Commercialisation Australia grant is helping researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) commercialise a food processing technique that will enable juice, milk and other dairy products to be fortified with probiotics and omega-3. [ + ]

A study by researchers at RTI International and George Washington university has shown that food shopping experience, rather than cost of produce, may impact how many serves of fruit and vegetables people eat. [ + ]

Tetra Pak has announced the start-up of its second production line in its Chinese packaging material plant. [ + ]

Pending shareholder approval at its annual meeting in May, global ingredient provider Corn Products International will be changing its name to Ingredion. [ + ]

Researchers in New Zealand are working with the kiwifruit industry to combat the PSA disease that has threatened the $1 billion industry. [ + ]