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EXPORTS Victorian export success The Victorian Government is expecting to see strong growth in commodity exports in 2010–11, based on Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) forecasts for Australia. This will include a rise in dairy exports, one of Victoria’s two largest export commodities. According to ABARE, Victorian winter crop production is also forecast to increase by more than two million tonnes to 6.2 million tonnes in the current financial year, and this should boost cereals exports from Victoria in both 2010 and 2011. In 2008-09, Victorian companies exported $20.4 billion worth of goods and $12.7 billion worth of services, making a total of $33.1 million in exports. One company which has contributed to this prosperity is Clyne Foods, a Victorian regional-based company which exports dried fruit products to Europe, Japan, New Zealand and South East Asia. Winner of the 2009 Governor of Victoria Regional Export Award, the company is looking to expand its export markets in 2010–11. “From ten containers in 2004, we exported between sixty and seventy containers of dried fruit to overseas markets in 2008. We are now established suppliers to bakeries in Germany, Italy, the UK, South East Asia and New Zealand, and are currently looking to develop our markets in Japan,” said Chris Clyne, CEO, Clyne Foods. Another successful company is equine feed manufacturer, Hy Gain Feeds, which won the 2009 Governor of Victoria Agribusiness Award. The company exports equine feed to over twenty countries throughout Australasia, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Director of Hy Gain Feeds, Leigh Manley, said, “Our success lies in creating innovative equine products for new and emerging international markets.” Hong Kong food and wine export
opportunities Victorian Industry and Trade Minister Jacinta Allan said that Victoria’s food and beverage sector is renowned for products of exceptional quality. “This Victorian Government commissioned market research provides an ideal springboard for companies who are thinking about exporting their food and beverages to Hong Kong. The Victorian Government is committed to seeking global opportunities and upgrading the state’s key competitive advantages and this report provides solid assistance of this kind for the food and beverage sector,” she said. The current status of a range of premium food categories in Hong Kong is:
The report outlines that awareness of Victorian food and beverages needs to be raised in order to tap into this lucrative market. Reaching the right people Bellarine peninsula Abalone producers Great Southern Waters has successfully exported live Jade Tiger Abalone to Hong Kong for the past four years (see also Food Aust. 62(7): 281, July 2010). Martin Lanyon, Sales Manager for Great Southern Waters said: “We bred Jade Tiger Abalone as a delicacy that would specifically appeal to Asian palettes, however we found that getting our goods into the market in Asia was a task that required a lot of homework. We set about establishing contacts in Hong Kong through the referral services offered through the Victorian Government Business Office there and we also used services offered by Austrade. “The Victorian Government also gave us financial assistance to attend trade shows such as HOFEX. This gave us the opportunity to let Hong Kong customers taste, touch and see our unique green shelled Abalone.” Central Victorian winemakers Pyrenees Ridge have been exporting their premium wines to five star hotels in Hong Kong for the past eight years. Sally-anne Jukes who, along with husband Graeme, established Pyrenees Ridge 12 years ago, said that participating in a Victorian Government led trade mission to Hong Kong was the start of the export side of their business, which now accounts for fifteen percent of overall turnover. “The trade mission provided some really good introductions to premium wine importers in Hong Kong. Six months later we signed a contract with one of the importers we met during the mission and we haven’t looked back. Eight years on and our premium Pyrenees Shiraz and Reserve Shiraz is now served in some of the top restaurants in Hong Kong, including the famous Peninsula Hotel in Kowloon. “The key to our success in Hong Kong is the good relationships that we have established there. At least once a year we will travel over and meet with the importer and a number of restaurant owners and sommeliers who stock our wine for a special ‘meet the winemakers’ dinner,” she said. Further information is available from www.export.vic.gov.au. Grant helps promote Australian wines abroad The Federal Government has provided funding to Australia’s First Families of Wine (see also Food Aust. 61(11): 445, November 2009) to boost the profile of Australian quality wines overseas. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said that $429 900 funding, from the government’s Promoting Australian Produce (Major Events) program, was used to present a series of promotional events in the UK. “Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) is a collaboration of some of the most famous and trusted brands in the industry who have come together to promote and market quality Australian wines. I am strongly supportive of the Australia’s First Families of Wine initiative – Australia makes some of the finest wines in the world and they deserve far more attention overseas. Australia’s First Families of Wines is an excellent example of the industry taking ownership of its future to ensure the long-term success and profitability of this important industry,” said Mr Burke. The events in Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh and London were conducted over a week to coincide with the London International Wine Trade Fair in May. The UK is Australia’s second largest export market for bottled wine, worth almost $489 million a year. Welcoming news of the grant, AFFW member Colin Campbell from Campbell’s Wines in Rutherglen said, “Following our successful launch in 2009, this grant will now assist us to take the premium Australian wine message to the wider global audience whilst also signalling a strong endorsement of the AFFW’s objectives.” Promoting Australian Produce (Major Events) supports
major collaborative events that encourage information exchange, promote
innovation and boost productivity in the food, fibre and seafood industries.
Applications for grant funding under the program are open and will be
assessed continuously until 28 February 2011. To be eligible for funding,
project activities must be completed by 30 April 2011. Further information
is available at www.daft.gov.au/agriculture-food/food/promoting_australian_produce_major_events. Food Safety Services Mission to Hong Kong Austrade Hong Kong is organising the first Australian
Food Safety Services Mission to Hong Kong on 8–9 November 2010. The
focus of this mission is to capture the opportunities in Hong Kong for
Australian companies providing services related to all aspects of food
safety, including food handling, processing, packaging, storage, transportation,
display, quality assurances, education, training, consulting, testing,
accreditation, product recall and traceability. This mission therefore provides Australian food safety services providers with an opportunity to promote their capabilities and meet with potential customers, government regulators and industry associations in Hong Kong. Representatives of Australian businesses, academic institutions, government organisations and industry associations with expertise and experience in a range of areas, are invited to attend. They include accreditation and certification, food product recall, food processing, food safety auditing compliance, food storage and logistics, food supply chain, food testing, food transport and distribution, food tracing technology, quality assurance, and risk management and assessment. This mission has been timed to proceed the China International Food Safety and Quality Conference in Shanghai on 10–11 November (www.chinafoodsafety.com). Further information and registration is available from www.austrade.gov.au/FoodSafetyHK. Applications close Friday 10 September 2010. New website to help SME understand export finance options In May, the then Trade Minister Simon Crean announced the launch of a new website to help Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) understand the export finance options available when exporting or investing offshore. The ‘Export Finance Navigator’ (www.exportfinance.gov.au) is an independent source of information on export finance. It aims to assist current and potential exporters by sourcing a wide range of information on the financing alternatives available as they seek to grow their businesses through export and offshore opportunities. Developed by Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC), the Australian Government’s export credit agency, the online tool is a response to a recommendation of the 2008 Review of Export Policies and Program (the ‘Mortimer Report’). The website divides the exporter’s journey into six stages: preparing for export, finding markets, winning contracts, financing production, getting paid and expanding overseas. An exporter can easily identify at which stage they are, and then find the export finance solutions available to them at that stage. The website not only helps exporters to find out about the export finance tools provided in the commercial market, but also the grants and tax concessions available to exporters from federal, state and territory governments. EFIC’s CEO and Managing Director Angus Armour said, “Being better informed about their export finance options will help give Australian businesses operating in overseas markets a more solid financial foundation and contribute to their continued international success. SME exporters frequently tell us that they’re not sure where to begin looking for information about export finance, and often they don’t know that government assistance is on hand. Export Finance Navigator gives them the starting point they need to learn about export finance.” The launch of the Export Finance Navigator website will be followed by a series of workshops for exporters to be run jointly by EFIC and Austrade. The workshops will focus on the export finance solutions available at particular stages of an exporter’s journey. The Mortimer Report commented that a common problem for new exporters and businesses investing overseas was a lack of understanding about the financial products available and where to obtain finance. The report identified a need for ‘an independent source of advice and information on export financing, including referrals to commercial service providers as well as to other sources of government financial assistance’. ORGANICS Australian Standard for organic and biodynamic products The first Australian Standard for organic and biodynamic products was published in October 2009. AS 6000-2009 Organic and Biodynamic Products outlines the minimum requirements to be met by growers and manufacturers wishing to label their products ‘organic’ and ‘biodynamic’. It establishes an agreed set of procedures to be followed for the production, preparation, transportation, marketing and labelling of organic and biodynamic products including food and processed food. The decision to develop the Australian Standard originated from the need to standardise practices within the organic industry because of the growing use of unsubstantiated claims on product labels. John Tucker, CEO of Standards Australia, said that the publication of the Organic and Biodynamic Products Australian Standard was a significant step forward for Australia’s burgeoning organic industry. “The Australian Standard establishes a uniform framework for how to grow, produce, distribute, market and label organic and biodynamic products. Consumers can be sure that products complying with this Standard have been produced following natural, sustainable, ethical and environmentally-responsible farming practices,” he said. “Consumers are currently faced with up to eight different organic certification schemes all of which impose different requirements on growers and producers, as well as many non-certified products that claim to be ‘organic’. It’s hardly surprising how difficult it is to know what is actually organic,” explained Mr Tucker. “With a consistent and national approach to organic production now provided by the Australian Standard, shoppers should look for certified organic or biodynamic products labelled as complying with AS 6000 to be confident they have been produced in line with strict organic and biodynamic practices,” he said. The Australian Standard requires that operators must keep thorough records of their farming and production practices throughout all stages and verify their organic claims through a process of independent, third party certification. The Standard also requires:
The Australian Standard, which is currently voluntary, is based on the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) National Standard for Organic and Bio-dynamic Produce, Edition 3.3, which governs the export industry. Certifiers and operators are not expected to have difficulty aligning with the Australian Standard because of its close alignment to the AQIS Standard. MP 100 Procedures for certification of organic and biodynamic products has been published to assist certifiers, operators and accreditors wishing to comply with the Standard. AS 6000-2009 Organic and Biodynamic Products and MP 100 Procedures for certification of organic and biodynamic products are now available from www.saiglobal.com. Dr Andrew Monk, Standards Convenor for Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) and representative on the Standards Australia organic committee, said that the new standard will complement, not replace, existing standards and certification arrangements. “The new national standard will assist in plugging the now fairly small gaps in the marketplace where uncertified product, or product with questionable organic integrity claims, have eluded industry and the courts to date. However, consumers will not see any changes in the marketplace. …they can be assured if they purchase certified organic product they will be protected – as they have been for many years,” he said. “This new Standard will simply complement existing industry standards and certification arrangements, including the existing National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce. It is this standard on which the Standards Australia standard has been based and which has very effectively regulated certified organic products in Australia for over two decades,” explained Dr Monk. “Significantly, while the new Standard will remain voluntary, it will be, in concert with other relevant standards, a benchmark against which the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) can investigate fraud and mislabelling in the marketplace, and this is to be welcomed. It will therefore add to the existing arsenal of industry self regulation in place in Australia currently, which has over a 20-year history of successful growth and development. “Discerning consumers will need to continue to read labels and marketing claims, and only buy a product if it is clearly labelled with a certification mark for example the Australian Certified Organic Bud logo. Such consumers are then protected under Law currently, with precedents already established for large fines for companies found to be labelling in a misleading manner,” he concluded. Growth spurt predicted for organics Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA), Australia’s largest representative group for the organic food and farming industry, said that the recent massive growth predictions for the organic industry reflect data and trends identified in ongoing market research commissioned by industry. Organics is being increasingly tipped as the industry of opportunities in Australia, echoing similar positive reports in the US, Europe and other countries. In survey findings released in January 2010 by independent global industry researcher IBISWorld, organic farming was tipped to be a front-runner in the areas of revenue and employment in Australia. In its report on the “top 10” growth industries, IBISWorld (www.ibisworld.com.au) stated that organic farming revenue is poised for a growth spurt, to increase 14.8% in 2010, raising the value to $430 million. This places organic farming in the top two growth industries in Australia for the coming year. In the next five years revenue is expected to grow at an average rate of 13.4% per year reaching approximately $760 million in 2014. IBISWorld General Manager (Australia) Robert Bryant said that, “While on average organic goods remain more expensive than non-organic produce, higher disposable incomes, coupled with increasing awareness of environmental sustainability and an increase in the range of organic produce available, will see continued growth in this industry. “Growth will mainly be driven by increases in production, and an increase in consumer demand. Not only does organic farming offer higher returns for farmers, but recent studies suggest it is more resilient and adaptable to changing conditions wrought by climate change – encouraging some farmers to switch from conventional to organic farming.” In a separate IBISWorld report, organic farming, as an employer, is forecast to strengthen from 6.2% in 2012–13 to a 11.2% in 2013–14. In terms of job prospects, Mr Bryant noted that opportunities would relate to increased primary production, creating demand for farmers, farm-hands, skilled and unskilled labourers, and itinerant workers such as pickers. “While many of the jobs created will fall into the category of unskilled labour, there will also be opportunities created for ecologists, biodynamic farming specialists, and researchers,” added Mr Bryant. That organic production is on the crest of a wave comes as no surprise to Holly Vyner, General Manager of the Biological Farmers of Australia. “We have been watching steady growth in organics for some time now. BFA commissioned research in 2008 reported retail sales overshooting the half billion mark ($0.6 billion) and an 80% growth in farm gate sales over four years despite widespread drought. “This year will see the publication of the 2010 Australian Organic Market Report, independently researched by University of New England on behalf of BFA, building upon 2008 data. This next report will be an important yardstick for measuring organic industry growth over the past two years, and will provide industry members and potential new entrants with an essential guide to trends and opportunities in various sectors within the organic industry,” said Ms Vyner. The rise and rise of organic production has an impact beyond the farm gate, according to BFA Director and Standards Convenor Dr Andrew Monk. “In the marketplace, supply chain capacity is increasing to cope with the expanded demand for and supply of organics. The growing number of larger retailers that are now seeking out and stocking increased ranges of organic produce, should assist to grow consumer demand as organic becomes more available and consumers become better educated on the value of organics. In tandem with this has been the growth in popularity of organic farmers market stalls and smaller, local retail,” explained Dr Monk. Dr Monk said that biological farming is a long-term farming system and that BFA is working to assist in the development of this broader sector, which will in turn continue to assist in the maturation of the organic food and farming industry. “There will be a challenge in developing and nurturing the skills necessary for wide-scale food production and value adding under organic parameters. The recent incredible growth and success of courses such as the certified organic program at Albury, Riverina Institute of TAFE tells us that those skills can be taught but require a significant change in mindset to non-organic farming education and practices …” he said. ACO and NASAA programs highly recommended Choice magazine has awarded Australian Certified
Organic (ACO) the award for Australia’s Best Food Endorsement
Program. It was ‘highly recommended’ in an evaluation
of such programs in its March 2010 issue. Nominees for the award, were
determined by Choice. Judging by a panel of experts, carried out against
stringent criteria, determined a short list of nominees. Also highly
recommended was the program of organic certifiers National Association
for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA). OGA, a second subsidiary
company of the BFA providing certification for small growers, received
recommended status. SALT in food Salt in food As a result of recent publicity concerning salt consumption and salt levels in food, FSANZ have issued a fact sheet How much sodium and salt are we eating? It is reproduced here with the permission of FSANZ and can also be found at www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/factsheets2009/howmuchsodiumandsalt4340.cfm How much sodium and salt are
we eating? Sodium in food What are the recommended
sodium intakes? How much sodium do
Australians eat? Recent media reports suggest that Australians regularly consumed more than 40 g sodium chloride (salt) a day. In contrast, FSANZ’s estimates showed that 95% of Australians consume less than 8.5 g of salt each day, with the highest daily salt consumption calculated for an individual to be 26 g. The foods that contribute the most to Australians’ sodium chloride (salt) consumption are bread and bread rolls (25%), meat, poultry and game products and dishes, including processed meat (21%), cereal products and cereal based dishes (eg biscuits and pizza) (17%), savoury sauces and condiments (8%) and cheese (5%). Breakfast cereals contribute approximately 4% of total salt consumption from processed foods and dried soup mixes less than 3%. Is sodium identified
on food labels? How much sodium is
in Australian foods? The food industry has been reducing salt in various products and survey results indicate that levels of sodium in some processed foods have declined in recent years. For example, sodium levels in margarine, savoury biscuits, soup and mayonnaise were lower compared to previous studies. Average sodium values for various foods tested in recent FSANZ programs are presented in the table below.
AWASH perspective AWASH believes that the current confusion over Australian salt consumption further highlights the need for definitive data. The government must ensure that adequate methods of reliably estimating sodium intakes are included in the Department of Health and Ageing’s Health Risks Survey, which is planned to commence in 2010. Further, AWASH believes that the estimate of salt consumption derived from the dietary modelling methods used by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) significantly underestimates the actual intake. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Nutrient Reference Values define a Suggested Dietary Target of 4 g of salt (1600 mg of sodium) per day and an Upper Level of Intake of 6 g of salt (2300 mg of sodium) per day (NHMRC 2006). It is of note that the optimal level of daily salt intake is actually much less (1–2 g/day) and both government criteria represent a pragmatic compromise position. Recent media sources reported that many Australians are eating as much as 40 g of salt a day. This is incorrect and appears to have resulted from a media misinterpretation of the statement that “Australian’s are eating 5–10 times more salt than they need for optimal health.” Australians almost certainly are eating on average 5–10 times more than the 1–2 g/day required but are not eating 5–10 times more than the Suggested Dietary Target of 4 g per day. In its recent release (p 255), FSANZ estimated that Australians aged two years and older consume an average of 5.5 g of salt (2150 mg of sodium) per day. Further, FSANZ claims that 95% of Australians consume less than 8.5 g of salt each day and that only 34% consume more than 6 g of salt per day. The highest daily salt consumption calculated for an individual was 26 000 mg (26 g). The FSANZ estimates were based on dietary modelling. This modelling is prone to important biases because it uses old 1995 National Nutrition Survey data and dietary recall methods have been found to substantially underestimate sodium intake (Espeland & others 2001). While there are no representative studies that have made gold standard salt intake estimates based on urinary sodium excretion, it is likely that average Australian intake is substantially above the 5.5 g per day suggested by the FSANZ data. It is of specific note that:
Finally, even if the FSANZ estimates were correct (which they are almost certainly not) they would still be of huge concern. Salt consumption above 1–2 g per day is a leading cause of the rise in blood pressure with age and high blood pressure, alongside smoking, is the single greatest cause of premature death and disability in Australia. In conclusion, we reiterate our call that the government must take urgent action to ensure that we have truly reliable estimates of population salt intakes that are monitored over time. Furthermore, government must take leadership of this issue and work with industry to agree upon a comprehensive plan for the implementation and monitoring of a national salt reduction strategy. References Iodised salt required from October 2009 Australian bakers have been reminded that they need to replace the salt that they currently use in bread making with iodised salt from 9 October 2009. When launching the Australian User Guide for Mandatory Iodine Fortification in May, Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s Chief Executive Officer, Steve McCutcheon, said that the baking industry needs to be aware of the changes that become mandatory in October. “Iodine is essential for good health and mild iodine deficiency has re-emerged in Australia over the last 10 to 15 years. FSANZ has developed a mandatory iodine fortification standard to help address this iodine deficiency in Australia and New Zealand. The new standard requires the replacement of non-iodised salt in all bread, where salt is added, with iodised salt with a range of 25 to 65 mg of iodine per kilogram of salt. It also applies to the small amount of bread imported into Australia, usually as frozen dough. However, bread described as organic is exempt,” said Mr McCutcheon. “This simple user guide explains exactly what bakers have to do to replace the current salt they use with iodised salt. This must be done in all products made from bread dough that contain yeast and salt. This includes loaves, buns, rolls, pita, naan, focaccia, pide, bagels, topped breads, buns and rolls (such as cheese and bacon rolls), baked English-style muffins, sweet buns, and fruit breads or rolls. “The user guide also details what labelling changes may be needed, for example, if the bread is packaged and not made on the premises where it is sold then iodised salt must be listed in the ingredients list. Mandatory iodine fortification comes into force just after the folic acid mandatory fortification of bread to make it easier for bakers and bread manufacturers to make any labelling changes in one go. A user guide for folic acid mandatory fortification of bread making flour is also available. “We greatly appreciate the time the baking industry and flour milling industry have taken to bring in these important health initiatives. We also want to make sure that smaller bakers are aware of the changes and have the information they need. We are also working closely with health professionals on consumer information about the mandatory fortification of bread with iodine and folic acid which will be released closer to when the changes are being made,” concluded Mr McCutcheon. The Australian User Guide for Mandatory Iodine Fortification can be found on the FSANZ website at www.foodstandards.gov.au/thecode/industryuserguides/mandatoryiodineforti4336.cfm and the Australian User Guide for Folic Acid Fortification at www.foodstandards.gov.au/thecode/industryuserguides/mandatoryfolicacidfo4208.cfm. Information relevant for New Zealand is on the New Zealand Food Authority’s website, www.nzfsa.govt.nz. For previous discussions on salt in food and information
on the ILSI Science of Salt seminar see Food Aust. 61(6): 224, June
2009. For the next symposium on this topic see adjacent. Salt in the diet: the elephant in the room: why
health professionals need a shake up This symposium is held under the auspices of the Australian Academy of Science and sponsored by The Nutrition Society of Australia, Sydney Group. Its aim is to raise consumer and health professional’s awareness of the health consequences of excessive salt intake and to disseminate strategies that can be implemented at a federal, state and community level to reduce dietary salt intake. Invited speakers include Professors Stewart Truswell and Jennie Brand Miller, University of Sydney, Professor George Jerums, University of Melbourne, Dr Russell Keast, Deakin University and Dr Jennifer Keogh, CSIRO. Others are Dr Geoffrey Annison AFGC and Susan Anderson, National Heart Foundation, plus community health and nutrition specialists. They include Associate Professor Stephen Corbett, Centre for Population Health, Sydney West Area Health Service, Robyn Speerin, Fairfield Cardiac Rehabilitation & Complex Cardiac Care Service, Jacqui Krassie, J Krassie & Associates and Jacqui Webster, AWASH. The program addresses a range of issues including the role of salt in cardiovascular risk and diabetes, salt in foods and menus, taste perception, food labels and industry and regulatory issues. There will be Panel Discussions on Developing a framework for health professionals and Developing a coordinated policy framework. The final hour of the day will be a free public lecture, Should you be eating that much S**T (salt)? given by Dr Bruce Neal, George Institute for International Health. Early Bird registrations close 31 July. People D Pty Ltd IMPORT / EXPORT BFA opposes banana imports on organic grounds The Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) has announced its opposition to the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine’s recent policy determination that Australia accept imported bananas from the Philippines, on the grounds that it could affect Australian producers’ certified organic status. In March, Biosecurity Australia (BA), confirmed the
recommendation that Cavendish bananas be allowed to enter Australia
where appropriate risk management measures are met under the newly determined
quarantine policy. “For certified organic producers, this decision carries both marketing and production implications because it allows for the potential introduction of exotic diseases that cannot be treated or eliminated using organic or biologically orientated methods,” he said. Dr Monk says that exposure to foreign pests and disease could destroy the livelihoods of farming families and farm workers connected with the organic industry, “a promising and growing market sector in its own right”, in a matter of days. He added that the import recommendation also jeopardises Australia’s growing reputation as a provider of ‘clean and green’ foods – a claim which many organic farmers build upon. “BFA supports the prohibition of specific imported products from countries where there are clear biosecurity risks associated. We do not want to ruin the advantage of separation from product contamination which Australia’s isolated geographic position affords,” he said. BFA is calling on the current approach to both scientific and market risk review to be adjusted by relevant departments including the Department of Agriculture Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF); the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS); and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), to a format that pertains to developing markets like organic. Dr Monk said that review processes should take into account the market for consumers seeking natural food products not sprayed with synthetic pesticides, fungicides, and insecticides; as well as the Australian farming families that cater to organic demand domestically and internationally. Further information on this issue is available from www.daff.gov.au/ba/ira/current-plant/banana-philippines India reopens market for Australian dairy products Australian milk products can be exported to India for the first time since 2003, after years of detailed negotiations by the Australian Government. Australian dairy exports to India were worth around $6 million annually in 2003, including milk powder concentrate and lactose and that is expected to grow once trade recommences in the near future. Industry is also expected to gradually seek a share of other imports such as cheese, which is currently worth $4 million and growing at 100% per annum. Dairy desserts such as ice cream will be another key dairy product of high value. Several Australian exporters have expressed a keen interest in exporting dairy products for human consumption to India. The announcement follows the Indian Government’s approval of a new system for the health certification of Australian milk products developed by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. Trade had ceased in late 2003 when India changed its import requirements. The Minister for Trade Simon Crean said that the reopening of trade showed the growing agricultural relationship between Australia and India and the benefits of on-going cooperation on bilateral trade issues. “India’s changing demographics – particularly its growing middle class and urbanisation – is creating real potential for the trade growth and Australia is well placed to provide high-value dairy products,” he said. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said that Australian dairy producers were under pressure from factors including global input prices and the falling farmgate price. “This will be a great opportunity for the industry at a time when Australian dairy producers have been going through a difficult period,” he said. Guides to worldwide food regulations Leatherhead Food International’s series of Regional Regulatory Guides have been updated. Providing a guide to food law in four key regions, the publications review topical subjects such as additives, contaminants and genetic modification. The updates include new information on labelling, shelf-life requirements, compositional standards and the regulatory authorities, registration and import requirements and restrictions, for a number of countries. Updated respectively in September, October and November 2008 are guides on Central/Eastern Europe, Middle East, Far East/South Asia and Latin America. Further information is available from: publications@leatherheadfood.com. AGRIFOOD Good honey season in 08/09 One of Australia’s major honey producers has predicted an outstanding season as a result of rising demand and stronger supplies following good flowering conditions around Australia. The quality of honey is also described as excellent with enhanced flavour and density due to current climate conditions. Leabrook Farms, which is owned by Adelaide’s Spring Gully Foods, expected to sell more than 4000 tonnes of honey in 2009, sourced entirely from Australian bee keepers. This is a significant increase from the 800 tonnes of honey produced when the Leabrook Farms brand was purchased by Spring Gully in 2001. Kevin Webb, Managing Director of Spring Gully Foods, said that while Australian honey stocks had been very low during the winter months of 2008, the return to spring and good flowering in many forests around Australia meant that new honey was plentiful during the summer. “Australia’s honey industry is on the brink of a major expansion as overseas countries hit by declines in bee numbers look for alternative sources of honey and crop growers in Australia look to expand. Only recently we heard that almond growers in Australia will need another 100 000 hives in the next few years just to fertilise the new orchards that have been planted, so bee keepers will certainly be in demand. This will have the additional benefit of increasing honey supplies in coming years,” he said. “Overseas demand for honey and for Queen bees to overcome declining hive numbers in those countries also points to growing interest in bee keeping as a profession. The USA has reported a drop of about 25% in bee hive numbers because of disease and is looking to Australia as a clean supplier,” he added. Mr Webb said that Spring Gully Foods was currently riding the international export wave of success by securing ongoing export deals with several overseas markets. “We have recently secured export deals in Singapore, Japan and China. This has been largely based on Australia’s “clean” and “green” reputation. At the same time, we have been able to expand our operations interstate and have consolidated our position as one of the top three honey brands in Australia. With plans for further expansion, we will be looking for as much honey as Australian producers can supply,” he concluded. Leabrook Farms is a wholly South Australian owned brand, which is now one of the top three honey producers in Australia. Their honey products are available in all major supermarkets. Coles extends “Australian grown” message Coles’ General Manager Fresh Produce, Peter Pokorny, said, “We know that buying Australian grown fresh food is important to our customers and are committed to sourcing quality local produce, meat, deli and dairy, where possible. Over the course of the year, 97% of the fresh produce sold in our supermarkets is home grown … ” The icons will also allow customers to identify the origin of fresh produce by state within Australia, such as Queensland Mangoes, or more regionally specific, Gippsland Asparagus. Coles chose to display this information by adapting the classic green triangle and gold kangaroo icon, which, according to Roy Morgan research, is recognised by 98% of Australians. Australian Made, Australian Grown Campaign Chief Executive, Ian Harrison, congratulated Coles on the move. “Coles has used the green and gold kangaroo icon on its Australian home branded products for many years. Now, the inclusion of regional information in its catalogues is a fantastic extension of Coles’ commitment to identifying great Australian produce,” he said. Nutritional status of crops With a growing awareness of the importance of nutrition and diet to consumers, processors and retailers alike, techniques for optimising and maintaining the nutritional content of fruits and vegetables have become increasingly important. These techniques could range from agronomic crop treatments, to postharvest storage and handling. This review, Nutritional Status of Fruit and Vegetable Crops (Review No 61) covers the impact of varieties, agronomy, plant breeding, crop treatments and post-harvest storage, as well as the legislation relating to nutritional and health benefit claims on foods. It also suggests possible ways in which the levels of certain plant compounds could be increased, considering the evidence of crop inputs and management, and highlights possible areas for future practical research work. It is available via CCFRA’s on-line bookstore at www.campden.co.uk/. Do farmers get value from value chains? Farmers will not automatically increase their profitability just by being participants in value chains managed by food processors or food retailers. They need to develop some unique features for their businesses that others cannot easily copy. This is the key message for farmers arising from research that Agribusiness consultant Michael O’Keeffe has completed for the Australian Farm Institute, and which was released at a series of seminars held in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney during October 2008. The research aimed to investigate whether farmers gained any benefit from being integrated into value chains, rather than simply selling their farm products through traditional agricultural marketing systems. The study involved an examination of seven international case studies where groups of farmers have formed alliances with food processors or food retailers to market agricultural products. The case studies included vegetables, fruit and livestock products. The case studies were specifically selected to cover a range of business designs, each of which involved different ways of integrating farmers into value chains. “There are plenty of stories about how such arrangements disadvantage farmers, but the case studies included in this research also highlight that there are plenty of success stories as well,” said Mick Keogh, Executive Director of the Farm Institute. “What is obvious is that in cases where farmers have successfully been able to obtain extra value from such marketing arrangements, this has occurred because the farmers have developed unique skills and capabilities that cannot easily be copied by others, including other organisations involved in the value chain. “These unique skills include specific agricultural production skills for certain commodities, but also additional skills such as being able to accurately forecast supply, the ability to have produce available to meet specific seasonal demand, unique packaging and transport arrangements, or even the ability to meet specific quality or accreditation requirements,” he added. What is also evident from the case studies is that becoming involved in a value chain is not a ‘set-and-forget’ operation. Markets are constantly changing, and good market intelligence systems and open communication channels with other participants in the value chain is an important way of ensuring that value chains develop resilience, which enables them to evolve in response to changing markets. This report is available on www.farminstitute.org.au. New Board at AUSVEG AUSVEG Ltd appointed a new Board of Directors at the 2008 AGM held in Melbourne in late November, following the adoption of a new constitution for the company. The new board will comprise seven state-representative directors, one from each state and the Northern Territory, and up to two skills-based directors. The state representatives are John Brent, Queensland (interim Chairman); Geoff Moar, New South Wales; Romeo Giangregorio, South Australia; John Said, Victoria; and Jim Trandos, Western Australia. Representatives from Tasmania and the Northern Territory were still to be announced. Dr Elizabeth Duncan from La Trobe University was appointed as a skills-based director in December 2008. John Brent has more than 30 years’ vegetable industry experience. Tomato producer receives SA Great 2008 sustainability award Australian truss tomato producer, d’VineRipe Pty Ltd, has won a sustainability award in the SA Great Regional Awards 2008 for innovative water and energy savings implemented at its high-tech truss tomato facility in South Australia. d’VineRipe chief executive officer, Robert Gooden, said that the Mid North/Yorke Peninsula/Southern Flinders region award was recognition of more than two years’ planning and investment by the company in its sustainable water use and CO2 recycling practices. It came within the company’s first year of operation and recognised d’VineRipe’s outstanding achievements and significant contributions demonstrating excellence in regional leadership.
d’VineRipe’s Chief Executive Robert Gooden Sustainable water infrastructure comprising membrane filtration and reverse osmosis units saves d’VineRipe from drawing nearly 250 ML a year from Adelaide’s potable water supply while energy efficient environmental control systems within the facility maintain temperatures. “d’VineRipe’s goal from the initial planning stage was to set a precedent for sustainable glasshouse operations and this award is recognition we have achieved that. It says to the business world, and Australia’s horticultural industry that significant planning and investment is critical to achieve sustainability,” said Mr Gooden. “d’VineRipe would continue to investigate energy savings including the feasibility of installing energy saving screens to reduce the amount of reheating required inside the proposed Stage Two of the glasshouse development and a program to recycle its green waste,” he added. SA Great is an independent incorporated association. Its annual awards celebrate the positive contribution and successes of individuals, businesses and organisations across a range of categories and are supported by the Government of South Australia and its program partners. d’VineRipe’s award category was jointly sponsored by the South Australian Government and SA Water. d’VineRipe is a joint venture company comprising fresh produce marketing company, Perfection Fresh Australia Pty Ltd, agribusiness investment manager, Timbercorp Limited and diverse investment company The Victor Smorgon Group. Stage One of its 8.2 hectare glasshouse at Two Wells, north of Adelaide, produced its first truss tomatoes in late 2007. Bethonga Whole Foods boosts pineapple production Australia’s leading premium pineapple producer, Bethonga Whole Foods, expects to send 650 000 trays of its trademark Bethonga Gold pineapples to market in 2010 with the appointment of three additional growers in south-east Queensland.
Bethong’s Managing Director Gavin Robinson National sales and marketing manager, Kees Versteeg, said that the appointments were in line with Bethonga’s growth strategy, which aimed to send one million trays to market by 2012, and brought the total number of contracted Bethonga Gold growers to 10. About 60% of Bethonga Whole Foods’ current annual harvest of 500 000 trays a year is produced at its 300 hectare home farm at Wamuran, north of Brisbane. The company’s contracted growers produce the remainder on plantations stretching from Queensland’s far north to the south-east corner. Mr Versteeg said that two of the new growers –
based at Wamuran and Elimbah in the Glasshouse Mountains region, were
experienced pineapple producers who sought to diversify by growing hybrid
Bethonga Gold pineapples. The third, from the Gin Gin district, in the
Burnett region, was an experienced vegetable crop grower who would produce
pineapples for the first time. “The increase in our grower base will continue to ensure a year-round supply of Bethonga Gold pineapples, while boosting volumes to meet demand during peak periods. While, summer is traditionally a peak period for pineapple production, we have also experienced a substantial increase in pineapple sales in winter during the past year and need to be able to meet that demand on an ongoing basis. A continuous planting program allows us to more accurately forecast supply and achieve economical returns for the growers. “We have contracted growers in these locations
to meet specific market demands. For example, our Gin Gin grower is
ideally located geographically to produce larger fruit in the period
between January and March which will support production and supply from
the already established regions which, by nature, produce relatively
smaller fruit at that time,” said Mr Versteeg. |
Coles
Supermarkets have begun to use the classic ‘Australian made,
Australian grown’ green and gold triangle/kangaroo icon in
its weekly catalogues, to offer more information to customers about
the origin of fresh food. The new icons will indicate to customers where
their meat, fruit and vegetables have originated so they can support
local farmers, producers and growers. In Western Australia, the ‘Buy
West, Eat Best’ logo continues to be used in accordance with
a local government initiative.
A
new review from CCFRA UK discusses the many factors that affect the
nutrients in fruit and vegetables.
