New Zealand and Australia fight over GM
A decision by Australia to approve a strain of genetically modified (GM) corn has divided the Food Safety Agency Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the regulatory body for both countries, as the New Zealand government refuses to comply.
The LY038 strain of corn was previously only approved for use in livestock feed, however as cross-contamination with other grains is "inevitable", Australia now wants the corn to be approved for human consumption, the New Zealand Food Standard Authority (NZFSA) said.
However, New Zealand will not approve any amendment to the current regulations, the NZFSA said, because of what it deems to be a rash decision taken without proper investigation.
The country's Soil & Health Association praised the government stance, criticizing what it called "FSANZ's flawed assumptions and disregard for precaution."
Unilever buys Buavita brand
In a bid to strengthen its position in the "healthy" drinks market, Unilever Indonesia announced this week that it has entered into a conditional agreement to buy domestic brand Buavita, a fruit-based drink currently owned by Ultra.
"I am delighted that we can add the brand Buavita to our portfolio," said Harish Manwani, Unilever's president for Asia and Africa. "It is an ideal fit with our Vitality mission of offering products that help people look good, feel good and get more out of life."
Under the terms of the agreement, Unilever Indonesia will acquire the brand, but Ultra will continue to produce the product.
"The acquisition is also fully in line with our priority of building on our strengths in developing and emerging markets," Manwani added.
Vietnam funds rural exports
The Vietnamese government will pour VND400bn into the rural economy in an attempt to earn $1bn from agricultural exports by 2010, according to local news reports.
The government will pay for modern machinery for processing farm produce and farmed fish, the VetNamNet Bridge reported yesterday.
A large chunk of the cash will also be used to help strengthen links between farmers and food manufacturers, the newspaper reported.
Will drought reduce Australia's wine harvest by half?
Australian wine growers face massive financial losses, as extreme droughts are set to be cut by more than 50 per cent, an industry group warned.
The vintage is expected to be between 800,000 tonnes and 1.3 million tonnes, down from an average of about 1.9 million tonnes, said Wine Grape Growers Australia.
According to executive director Mark McKenzie, about 800 to 1,000 of the nation's wine grape growers are at risk of going out of business.
Nguyen Thang Long, an official from the Department of Local Industry, said that the money will help rural areas of the country compete with the booming urban industries currently revolutionising Vietnam's food industry.
