60 years young in 2009
In 2008, food Australia embarked on its 60th year. We will mark our 60th Anniversary with the August 2009 issue. Volume 1 Number 1 of Food Technology in Australia, with Dr F H Reuter as Editor, was published in August 1949, under the auspices of the Council of Food Technology Associations (CAFTA), becoming the official journal of AIFST after its formation in 1967. The publication has continued to evolve during its 60 year history becoming Food Australia in 1988, jointly owned by CAFTA and AIFST in 1989, then fully owned by AIFST in 1995. Since then the publication has gone from strength to strength becoming a significant source of revenue for the Institute and providing a valued service to AIFST members and our industry stakeholders alike. In 2009 we will be also supporting AIFST in its new vision to be “the core professional Institute promoting and supporting excellence for the food science and technology community”.

How do you rate us?
During 2008 AIFST undertook a membership survey to assist in the future marketing strategy of the Institute and to ensure that it responds to member needs. Approximately 25% of members responded and, with some 70% of food Australia subscribers also AIFST members, the results provide some valuable feedback for the publication.

It was pleasing to again note that food Australia is the most highly valued of the AIFST benefits. On a 10-point scale, 81% rated the journal as good to excellent (seven or higher) and all respondents ranked it at five or more. What’s more, 59% ranked food Australia as the most valuable and informative industry publication and many more rated it as one of a number of local and international industry and research publications that they find valuable. This latter response was particularly pleasing as we do not aim to, and cannot, be all things to all people at all times. As usual a small percentage find the publication too technical and an equally small percentage not technical enough. However, we do try to present a cross section and snap-shot of developments across the very diverse fields that comprise the agrifood and its support industries and disciplines and are gratified that this is of interest and benefit to so many.

2008/9 in re/preview
In 2008 we brought you 592 pages containing 32 features covering 27 different topic areas, six updates, three special reports and 11 authored articles. We also published 20 Research, Technical and Convention Papers including five papers in a 20 page Nutrition Society of Australia sponsored supplement on the ‘real working of nutrition databases’. We continued with our three industry directories, each updated six monthly: Dairy Services in April and October, Training and Recruitment in May and November and Ingredients in June and December (on-line only). All can be accessed via the food Australia website and will continue in 2009.

In 2009 we have 33 features planned. These include Greening the Food Industry in July, reflecting the theme for the 2009 AIFST Convention and a Food Microbiology and Safety feature in March coinciding with the 13th Australian Food Microbiology Conference.

The full Features list and deadlines appears on the food Australia website. Editorial contributions are welcome. All material selected is subject to editing and unfortunately we cannot use all material received; however reports of new technical innovations, application case studies and industry news and events are particularly welcome.

We also plan to have fresh look at our logo, design, media kit and website during the year to ensure that we keep evolving in a positive way. From March the journal will also be printed on new PEFC certified paper manufactured in Australia.

Thanks to our stakeholders
food Australia thanks all who contributed to a successful year in 2008 and we look forward to continuing that in 2009. This includes all of our subscribers and readers (food Australia has a ‘pass on’ rate of more than 2.4 giving us a readership of greater than 7800), authors and reviewers of technical and research papers, and our advertisers, without whom we would not have a publication. Thank you for your outstanding support in 2008. We trust that together we can work through the financial issues of 2009 and emerge strong and successful into 2010.

As usual our Cover positions are proving popular, with all Front Covers for 2009 sold or ‘on hold’ and many of the other cover positions also committed. To ensure your preferred booking position contact our Advertising Manager
(mark.whiskin@foodaust.com.au) as soon as possible to lock in your 2009 (and 2010 Front Cover) contracts.

I also acknowledge the core food Australia team, Advertising Manager Mark Whiskin, Production Officer Ian Macdonald and Technical and Literature Editor Jack Kefford, plus the invaluable support activities of the AIFST National Office team, for their sterling efforts in 2008.

Remember for all information on food Australia see www.foodaust.com.au or phone any of the team on (02) 8399 3996.

Barbara Munce
Managing Editor