Aquapharm Biodiscovery has announced it has signed a research agreement with Leatherhead Food Research to identify novel functional extracts with broad-spectrum, anti-microbial activity using Aquapharm’s extensive collection of marine microorganisms.

Research released by Nielsen and Citi has revealed that beer sales in Australia recorded volume declines for the eighth consecutive month in August 2010. With beer drinkers in the country increasingly opting for quality over quantity, not only are major brands at the mercy of microbreweries, but the category in general risks losing share to other alcoholic drinks.

Plantic Technologies has expanded its exclusive regional distribution agreement with the Klöckner Pentaplast Group for its line of Plantic biopolymer rigid packaging films to include Europe.

Canada has become the first country in the world to ban and declare bisphenol A (BPA) as a toxic substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

Melatonin is being harvested from nocturnal milk in Germany.

Australian packaging company Colorpak has signed a heads of agreement to acquire the folding carton operations of Carter Holt Harvey.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has released documents for comment on a proposal to extend the existing maximum limits for the toxin tutin in honey and comb honey to 31 March 2013.

The Victorian Government Business Office in Dubai has announced that the Middle East is set to become a major export destination for Victorian food and beverage companies in the next decade.

Vaisala has signed a contract to sell its oxygen measurement technology and business to Sick Maihak.

Ito En Australia, a company that farms green tea, has received a regional exporter commendation at the 2010 Governor of Victoria Export Awards.

Australia’s $100 billion food and grocery manufacturing industry supports establishing a new National Preventative Health Agency (NPHA) that will help to lift the profile of preventative health issues, according to the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC).

Companies taking on manufacturing interns through student placement company CEED have reported a combined $1.5 million in cost savings, or an average 330% return on investment in the last financial year.

The AUSPACK PLUS packaging exhibition will continue with the Bioplastics Pavilion that was introduced in 2009.

The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) is running a half-day course on the introduction to Life Cycle Inventory and Carbon Footprinting with Professor Gordon Robertson FAIP as course presenter. The training course will be held on Wednesday 10 November in Sydney, New South Wales.

The President of Kraft Foods Australia & New Zealand, Rebecca Dee-Bradbury, will volunteer at VicRelief Foodbank to help feed Australians unable to afford to buy food this year.