12 April 2024

Brought to you by Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor www.olivebiz.com.au

Today's Top Story

How do you know if extra-virgin olive oil is really extra-virgin? Australia to start quality monitoring program

Extra-virgin olive oil is the highest quality available and the best tasting. (ABC News: Laurissa Smith)

How do you know your extra-virgin olive oil is really extra-virgin? A new program in Australia is hoping to give peace of mind to consumers that the olive oil they are buying is the quality it is claiming on the bottle. Concerns have been raised about olive oil quality worldwide due to shortages. The Olive Oil Quality Monitoring Program, run by the Australian Olive Association, will randomly test local and imported products.

There’s great information for consumers about olive oil quality on the industry’s Everyday website, including around the Certified Australian EVOO and Table Olives trademarks. You can find it here to share with your networks.

Australia

More than a million older 4G mobile phones at risk of being blocked from making triple-0 calls in 3G shutdown

Australia's 3G network is being shut down after 20 years to make room for 4G and 5G technology. (ABC News: David Sciasci)

More than a million mobile phones could be cut off from calling triple-0 within months, the ABC can exclusively reveal, raising alarm about Australia's readiness for the imminent shutdown of the 3G network.

If you haven’t checked your phone already, now is the time.

BOM's first winter forecast for 2024 declares it could be one of Australia's warmest on record

The Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) first winter forecast of 2024 has confidently declared one of the warmest on record throughout Australia. It has also slightly favoured above average rain across a wide swathe of the interior and the east.

Let’s hope that above average rain comes through down south as well …

Drought-stricken King Island misses out on Tasmania’s recent April rain as farmers face ‘running out of water’

April rain has brought relief to some farmers across Tasmania this week, although areas struggling through a prolonged dry have missed out. February and March have been driest on record for more than 100 years in some parts of Tasmania, including Hobart and King Island.

Fine supermarkets for mistreating suppliers, but forced sales not credible, government told

Dr Craig Emerson recommended financial penalties for major supermarkets who mistreat suppliers (ABC News)

Former Labor minister Craig Emerson has told the government it should not force large supermarkets to sell off stores, but should fine them if they mistreat suppliers.

Release of the Interim Report of the Food and Grocery Code Review

Dr Emerson has released an Interim Report, which sets out recommendations for improving the Code. The Interim Report invites submissions, including in response to the specific consultation questions raised, by 30 April 2024.

The Interim Report provides 10 recommendations for improving the Code, drawing on submissions received to the consultation paper, and consultation undertaken to date. Some of the recommendations are firm and will not change, whereas others are subject to further consultation.

Find out more, inquire and make submissions here

Got something to sell? 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. 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.

Meet Shovon, the Australian university researcher turning ladybirds into assassins

Murdoch University PhD researcher Shovon Chandra Sarkar. Credit: Supplied

Ladybirds - those tiny, spotted insects - are beloved by many, with some believing their bright colours and polka dot livery bring good luck. Now, pushing beyond the realm of luck and into agriculture, the small beetle is taking on a new role as a pest-eating assassin, thanks to new research from Murdoch University.

Researchers track wedge-tailed eagles to convince farmers that birds are friends, not foe

The eating habits of Australia's largest bird of prey are being tracked to try to change farmers' perceptions of them as a threat to lambs. Wedge-tailed eagles have been fitted with solar-powered satellite tracking devices to follow their movements and see what they are eating.

Opportunities

Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program

The Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program is designed to empower women in agriculture through mentorship, networking, and industry partnerships. Over five months, participants will embark on an intensive journey tailored to their needs, providing flexibility, a supportive community, and the tools to elevate their leadership.

Open to 12 participants nationwide, the program provides a unique opportunity for women to clarify their goals and chart their own pathways toward achieving them.

Learn more about the program, meet the alumni, and start your application here.

Applications close 19 April, so there’s no time to waste. For more information or assistance with your application, contact Bec Wilde on rwilde@nff.org.au.

Core skill occupations list - stakeholder survey

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) in defining Australia’s skill needs and has developed a draft Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). JSA is currently inviting feedback on the draft list through both submissions and a survey.

Currently there are three lists:

Skills that are confidently in (green)
Skills that are confidently out (red)
Skills that are under consideration (yellow)

Any growers who are employing staff or looking to employ staff from overseas in skilled occupations are invited to complete the survey.

Find out more and access the survey here.

Help develop the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Disaster Adaptation Plan

Help reduce flood risk in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley: one of the most dangerous floodplains in Australia, it flooded six times between 2020-2022.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority is working with local councils and the community to develop a high-priority Disaster Adaptation Plan (DAP) to address flood risk in the Valley, and they want you to be involved.

Find out more and provide your input here.

Events

Webinar: Victoria's seasonal climate outlook and soil moisture update for autumn

Seasonal Risk Agronomist Dale Grey will provide an update on Victoria's climate outlook for autumn. Dale will focus on the current seasonal climate outlook and climate driver activity.

Details: Wednesday, 17 April, 1pm AEST. Free. Register here.

Webinar: Varroa mite update

Join the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries online to discover critical insights and actions you can take to protect our bee populations from the potential spread of varroa mite (Varroa jacobsoni), and learn about Asian honey bee.

Details: Wednesday, 17 April @ 6pm-7pm AEST.

There's no need to register - you can simply join at the time here.

Hort Innovation Mainland China Market Overview

This webinar will provide an update on the current Mainland China market, with guest speakers from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF) and Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) team, based in China. There will be an open forum for questions and feedback during the webinar.

The online meeting is open to Australian horticulture industry members who are currently, or have an interest in, exporting to Mainland China.

Details: Wednesday, 24 April from 3.00-4.00pm AEST. Free. Confirm your attendance here.

International

This ancient food could help keep astronauts alive on long haul space missions

The olive oil samples launched in 2022 as part of the EVOO in Space project. (Image: Stefano Polato)

In a joint project between the European Space Agency, the Italian Space Agency, and the Council for Agricultural Research and Analysis of Agricultural Economics, a team of researchers and astronauts embarked on a mission to study the effects of the space environment on extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) in the spring of 2022.

We’ll report on the results of the ‘EVOO in Space’ project when they’re published.

Alternatives to unhealthy oils are taking over restaurant kitchens - should you follow suit?

Over the past half-dozen years, one of America’s most dependable, all-purpose pantry staples has taken a severe hit to its reputation. Vegetable oil is key to cooking an infinite variety of food, whether fried chicken, roast vegetables, banana bread or popcorn.

What will they think of next? But at around $25/500ml for the new oil creations, why not just use olive oil?

Olive oil becomes most stolen item from Spanish shops

Olive oil is slipping through Spanish retailers’ hands. The kitchen staple has been nicknamed “liquid gold” as it has become the most stolen product from Spanish supermarkets.

So no doubt tis is good news …

Unexpected drop in the price of olive oil in Andalucía following recent rains

Although the price is still high, a noticeable decrease has been recorded according to the data from the Junta regional government.

Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news

We’re now well into 2024 and Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) team 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!

Discovery of adulterated olive oil kindles debate over testing in Northern Cyprus

A debate over olive oil testing renewed in Northern Cyprus after a random sampling by the de facto state’s Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources found that 19 of 66 bottles labeled as virgin or extra virgin olive oil were adulterated.

While elsewhere in Europe …

Fake olive oil worth €28,900 seized

The Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) seized 2,510 litres of cooking oil which was going to be sold as olive oil, in the districts of Portalegre and Beja and in the municipality of Silves (Faro), worth €28,900.

Fasting recipe: Cypriot olive pie

This delicious Cypriot pie honours olives and olive oil in the best way and is especially loved by those who are fasting. It comes from Georgia Kofina's book "Saracostiana".

This recipe ticks a lot of boxes – vegan, vegetarian, religious fasting … and uses 1.5 cups of EVOO + 3 cups of olives, so is great for sales. Share it with your networks!