The introduction of a national state of emergency, an all-hazard emergency warning app and a national fleet of water bombers are among the recommendations in the bushfire royal commission's final report. The inquiry was called in the wake of the devastating 2019-20 summer bushfire season, but looked at Australia's readiness for and response to all natural disasters.

An extra virgin olive oil from Victoria's Cape Schank Olive Estate has blitzed a path through the medals at the 2020 Australian International Olive Awards. Cape Schank Olive Estate's Picual EVOO topped the judges' scores at 95/100, beating a strong field of medal winning entries.

The National Farmers Federation (NFF) is disappointed at recent Federal Government action which seems to worryingly signal that Australia is preparing to accept unreasonable and illegitimate demands by the European Union (EU) to impose European regulations on Australian farmers.

La Nina event could briefly hit 2010 levels but less flooding expected

The eagerly anticipated La Nina weather event, which has been partially responsible for the good rainfall in many regions over spring is now in danger of overstaying its welcome with some. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) this week announced the La Nina event current in place in the tropical Pacific Ocean was likely to continue until at least February 2021.

Got something to sell - like Howard, who’s selling an olive oil bottling machine? Or want to buy? Go direct to your target market – olive growers and producers

If you’ve got something industry-related to sell, you can reach your target market directly with Olivebiz Classifieds. Our online Classifieds service is an easy and inexpensive solution to advertising your unwanted equipment, extra oil - or even your grove. Howard is selling an Italian olive oil bottling machine (and other equipment) so he came to us to help spread the word. And if there’s something you’re looking for, it’s the ideal way to get the message out loud and clear to your peers and industry associates – the most likely to have what you need.

Olivebiz Classifieds cost just $40 for AOA members ($100 for non-members), including a text ad and link through to either your web page or images hosted on our site. And you don’t need to be a tech-head: just send us your info and we’ll post it up for you.

Olivebiz Classifieds are online now at www.olivebiz.com.au/classifieds. To arrange a listing, contact Gerri at editor@olivegrower.com.au.

The government and peak farming body have been left scrambling to find ways to help unemployed Australians land fruit picking work after The New Daily revealed that finding a farm job is almost impossible for locals. Following The New Daily’s report – which revealed that job seeker Lukus Muir had been rejected for 20 farm jobs – the government announced it had teamed up with the National Farmers Federation to deliver a $6000 incentive for anyone willing to take a job in the country.

Australian food, wine and resources exporters fear they may soon be hit by a wave of further Chinese sanctions after Beijing banned Queensland timber imports and suspended trade with another Australian grain exporter.

The CSIRO has just released the Australia’s Biosecurity Future report, an action-oriented update to its 2014 report ‘Australia’s Biosecurity Future: Preparing for future biological challenges’. The report was developed in partnership with Animal Health Australia, Plant Health Australia and the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions via wide consultation and collaboration with 26 organisations across the biosecurity system, including Commonwealth and state governments, research, industry and NGOs. The result provides “a transformational vision for a resilient biosecurity system in 2030, and the system changes that can be made to get there”.

Find out more and download the report here.

WA’s annual Biosecurity Blitz 2020 is under way, with people of all ages urged to survey their local area and look out for biosecurity threats in their backyard. Now in its sixth year, the October 19 to November 16 event is run by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. It aims to encourage the general public to discover as many interesting or damaging pests across the State, using a mobile phone or camera and reporting findings to DPIRD.

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC), with funding support from the Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment (DAWE), is inviting Australian processed food exporters to help identify the non-tariff measures and comment on trade barriers specific to their industry.

Closing date is 13 November. Find out more and have your say here.

The International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) continues to announce new and extended flight capacity, covering numerous routes with multiple airlines, with services until February 2021. 

Extended flights announced over the past fortnight include Brisbane to Dubai, Brisbane to Narita, Melbourne to Narita and Narita to Brisbane.

Contact your preferred freight forwarder to access available flights.  

For full details on the IFAM supported flights see the outbound and inbound schedules online.

The South Australian Government is developing a new Biosecurity Act to provide a simpler, modern and more effective legislative framework for the management of pests and diseases, the trade in plant and animal products, and the response to biosecurity emergencies.

The State Government is now undertaking public consultation on the proposed approach, so now is the time to have your say in the future management and protection of the state’s vitally important biosecurity system.

Consultation is open until Tuesday 24 November 2020. Find out more and provide feedback here.

Export Connect is holding an Export Masterclass for the food and agri-business sector. Participants will learn how to develop your export strategy, select the right markets and buyers, tailor your pitch, activate sales and much more.

The Masterclass will be delivered via Zoom across three, 2-hour modules on 9, 11 and 12 November @ 11am-1pm (AEDT). Find out more and register your interest here.

The Australian Government is hosting a National Harvest Virtual Jobs Fair to help agribusinesses across Australia find the staff they need. If you have vacancies to fill, you’re invited to exhibit at the event, which is being held online on Thursday, 19 November 2020 at local times as follows:

1.00 pm – 5.00 pm (AEDT) NSW, ACT, VIC & TAS

12.30 pm – 4.30 pm (ACDT) SA

12.00 pm – 4.00 pm (AEST) QLD

11.30 am – 3.30 pm (ACST) NT

10.00 am – 2.00 pm (AWST) WA

Exhibiting is free, providing employers with the opportunity to showcase job opportunities and connect with enthusiastic job seekers looking for work. Employers can chat online with potential employees to discover if they might be a good fit for their business.

To register interest as an exhibitor, submit an Exhibitor Expression of Interest and you’ll receive a response shortly afterwards.

Find out more about the National Harvest Virtual Jobs Fair here or contact Employer Liaison Officer Tracey Blunt on (02) 6121 3432 or 0408 516 421.

Farm2Plate Exchange 2021 will be held in the Scenic Rim region of Queensland next May, exploring the theme “RENEWAL”. The event brings together all sectors of the producer-to-consumer value chain, from agriculture, food and beverage manufacturing and regional food distribution/networks to agri and culinary tourism, hospitality, economic development and policy making.

This year’s theme is aligned with ideas of adaptation and resilience, debating the big ideas over two conference days on May 18-19, with masterclasses either side of these dates. Workshops led by industry masters, off-site farm tours, panel discussions and dinners showcasing regional food will provide opportunities to network and experience hands-on learning.

More information here.

Italian film-maker Paola Ghislieri has produced a short documentary on the devastating effects of Xylella Fastidiosa on the historic olive trees in Puglia, Italy – and the region’s growers. It’s beautifully shot, informative and authentic, with the impact unfolding via first-hand accounts from those involved.

Paola has shared a link to this moving documentary with Friday Olive Extracts, with an invitation for all of our readers to watch and gain more insight into the ‘apocalypse’ currently underway in Salento. Access the documentary here.

At least 79% of Mallorca’s almond trees have been killed or damaged by the Xylella fastidiosa plague which a new study shows has been present on the Island for more than 25 years.

The oil from wild olive trees has excellent sensorial, physicochemical and stability characteristics from a nutritional point of view, according to an article published in the journal Antioxidants. The study, based on the analysis of fruits from wild olive trees of the natural reserve of the Medes islands (Catalonia), reveals that the parameters of the quality of oil are within the values the International Olive Council allowed. 

Italy's Ministry of Agriculture approved the Nutrinform Battery food labeling system that it sees as a better alternative to the Nutriscore scheme adopted elsewhere in the E.U.

The year is flying past, and Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) continues to bring all the latest industry news and events to your Inbox every week. THE place to share olive industry news, event details and reminders, our industry e-newsletter keeps growing in popularity and we now have nearly 4000 subscribers across the globe. If you’re not one of them, you can sign up here.

And please remember that FOE is YOUR e-newsletter, so we’re keen to receive your news and help spread the word. Just email your information to Editor Gerri Nelligan at editor@olivegrower.com.au - it’s free, and the best way to reach your fellow industry members!

Extra-virgin olive oil or EVOO, by its very nature, is destined to have a bitter taste on account of the green olives used to make it. It is defined by the International Olive Council as, "A virgin olive oil which has a free acidity of not more than 0.8 grams per 100 grams." This measurement represents the maximum amount of free fatty acids olive oil can have if it wants to be part of the EVOO club.

Adding boiling water to EVOO … would anyone actually want to do this?.

On the final day of the 32nd Session of the Regional Conference for Europe, FAO Members from Europe and Central Asia reinforced their commitment to transform agri-food systems through innovation, digital technologies and sustainable practices, as well as create inclusive growth in rural areas, taking into account the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on food and agriculture.

OSA-WEA EVOO Tasting Course – Adelaide, SA

OSA 2020 AGM – Adelaide, SA

2020 National Agriculture Day – Australia

Soil CRC Participants Conference

Entries close, Berlin Global Olive Oil Awards – Berlin, Germany

Farm2Plate Exchange 2021 – Scenic Rim, Qld

Hort Connections 2021 – Brisbane, Qld

AOA National Olive Conference & Trade Exhibition – Devonport, TAS

To include your event, or update your existing event details, email FOE editor Gerri Nelligan at editor@olivegrower.com.au

Friday Olive Extracts Editorial editor@olivegrower.com.au

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