Australia and New Zealand invite public opinion on GMO corn for food 

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND– Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is inviting public commentary on an application that could see the introduction of genetically modified corn, line DP915635, into the food supply chain. This genetically engineered corn variety boasts herbicide tolerance and built-in defenses against insect pests, potentially reshaping the food landscape in Australia and New Zealand. The application currently under review…

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Australia poised to lower wheat forecast as El Nino curbs output 

AUSTRALIA- Traders and analysts anticipate that Australia will probably revise its wheat production estimate for the 2023/24 season downward by approximately one million metric tons.  This reduction is attributed to the adverse impact of dry El Nino weather conditions on crop yields, exacerbating the strain on global wheat supplies due to poor harvests in competing exporting countries. Australia, being the…

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Australia dispatches first barley shipment to China since tariffs lifted

AUSTRALIA- Australia has shipped the first barley cargo to China since tariffs imposed in 2020 were lifted earlier this month, according to the country’s minister for agriculture. China ended anti-dumping tariffs on Australian barley earlier this month, roughly three years after the 80.5% duties first dented exports once worth up to US$967 million annually and led Canberra to file a…

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Mondelēz partners Amcor to build innovative recycling facility in Australia

AUSTRALIA – Mondelēz International, an American multinational confectionery, food, beverage, and snack food company, is investing in an advanced recycling pioneer Licella to boost plastic recycling in Australia.  Joining the maker of Oreo and Milka brands is Australian packaging manufacturer Amcor which is also pumping an undisclosed sum into the recycling company. According to a statement from Mondelēz, Licella will…

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Mars Petcare Australia invests US$77 million to expanding pet food manufacturing capabilities

AUSTRALIA- Mars Petcare Australia recently announced a US$77 million (112.6 million AUD) investment to expand its pet food manufacturing capabilities in Wodonga, Australia, allowing for the construction of a new cat food facility. According to Mars Petcare Australia, this latest investment builds upon its over US$55.8 million investment at the facility during the past five years. The project is bound…

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GrainCorp registers US$134m net profit owing to increased oilseed crush volumes bumper canola crop

AUSTRALIA- GrainCorp reported A$200 million (US$134 million) in net profits after taxes for the first half of the 2023 financial year that ended March 31, led by an increase in oilseed crush volumes supported by a third straight canola bumper crop.  Additionally, the company also registered EBITDA of A$383 million (US$256.6 million) in earnings and down from A$427 million (US$285.53)…

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Australian CBH Group to co-develop sustainable ethyl formate-based fumigation solutions with UBL

AUSTRALIA- Cooperative Bulk Handling Ltd. (CBH Group), Australia’s largest grain exporter, has signed a collaborative agreement with Universal Biosecurity Ltd. (UBL), to co-develop ethyl formate solutions for sustainable and cost-effective pest control intended for use within the CBH Group supply chain. UBL developed its patented ethyl formate-based Fume 8 technology as a cost-effective time-saving solution to current widely used fumigation…

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Australia wheat production to drop by 25% to expected dry conditions: USDA

AUSTRALIA – Aussie wheat production in the marketing year 2023-24 is likely to dip 25% from the 39.2 million tonnes estimated in 2022-23, according to a Global Agricultural Information Network report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture. This forecasted dip in production comes after three consecutive years of record-setting wheat crops in Australia.  Interestingly,…

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Cargill invests US$50M in Australian oilseed crush capacity to meet international demand 

AUSTRALIA- Cargill will spend US$50 million in Australian operations, upgrading and expanding its Newcastle, Narrabri, and Footscray oilseed crush facilities to meet rising international demand for canola and cottonseed oil. According to an announcement by Cargill, Australian canola is in high demand globally for its use across food products, biodiesel, and as a feedstock.  Cargill processes over 680,000 tonnes of…

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Strategic merger between Australian grain organizations promises efficiency 

AUSTRALIA- Grains Australia, an initiative of the Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC), and the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) are planning integration between the two organizations to bolster efficiency in service delivery.  The two organizations said the integration would drive collaboration, improve coordination and streamline operations across key classification areas of trade and market access, market information and…

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