Food sold on European shelves should be properly labeled for both its nutritional contents as well as for its related greenhouse gas emissions, Germany’s scientific advisory board on agricultural policy, food and consumer health protection (WBAE) has said.

The Federal Government has committed not to buy any more water from farmers, as an independent review finds a key part of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan will not be delivered on time. Water Minister Keith Pitt has also promised a $38 million shakeup of policing water rules across the Basin, committing to establishing a new inspector-general of water compliance office.

As Australia dares to contemplate better times ahead, agriculture is ready to put its foot down and accelerate a return to economic prosperity.

Researchers in Australia have demonstrated that consuming extra virgin olive oil that is high in polyphenols led to a “significant reduction” in two different types of blood pressure.

National Agriculture Day 2020 is on Friday, 20 November and this year Australians everywhere are encouraged to host an AgDay Long Table Lunch.

We’re all being urged to get the family or community together in a COVID safe way, fold out the picnic table and chairs and raise cheers to all that is good about Australian agriculture and the people behind it!

There are also other ways to get involved in the annual event, including an AgDay Photo Competition and social media activity. Find out more here.

The competition watchdog will consider whether supermarkets should face tougher regulations in their dealings with farmers who supply fresh produce such as milk, eggs, seafood, and meat. The Federal Government has tasked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to spend three months investigating bargaining power imbalances across the perishable goods sector, between farmers, processors and retailers.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has advised new record-keeping and minimum training requirements for chemical use now apply in Queensland. From 19 June 2020, the requirement to make and keep records of chemical use and new minimum training requirements has been extended to all users of agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals under amendments to the Chemical Usage (Agricultural and Veterinary) Control Regulation 2017. The changes imposed mean that under the new provision, all users of agricultural chemicals are now required to make and keep records and that relevant competency units have been updated for users of restricted chemical products and users of Schedule 7 poisons. 

More information here or call the Department’s customer service centre on 13 25 23.

Applications are now open for funding of up to $100,000 for your natural resource management project, through Round 4 of the Smart Farms Small Grants.

Open to farmers, fishers and foresters, the program aims to deliver benefits for farms, the environment and local communities via the adoption of next generation sustainable farming practices. A total of $6.5 million is available under this funding round for one to two-year projects that boost best practice sustainable farming awareness, skills and capacity. The range of areas in focus include pest control, vegetation management, farm input efficiency, climate and market management, and the use of new technologies.

Smart Farms Small Grants is a sustainable agriculture element of the National Landcare Program (NLP).

More information and application details on the Community Grants Hub here.

Women currently working in the horticulture sector have a final opportunity to register their interest in a range of full and partial scholarships to support participation in an accredited leadership development program. Women working for both levy and non-levy paying organisations across the sector are encouraged to apply.  

This is the last chance to participate in this year’s joint funding arrangement between Women & Leadership Australia and Hort Innovation. Find out more and register your interest here before 9 October.

A podcast created for farmers, by farmers, Ground Cover is a uniquely Australian podcast series exploring real-life stories of land managers who have undertaken the transition from conventional farming to regenerative agriculture. The series shares unique and honest conversations about the challenges and opportunities of regenerative agriculture, so you can make informed decisions about how to best manage your land.

Subscribe on your favourite podcast listening app:

Apple itunes: Ground Cover on itunes

Stitcher (android): Ground Cover on Stitcher

Spotify: Ground Cover on Spotify

This series of webinars with seasonal risk agronomist Dale Grey will focus on the seasonal climate outlook, based on model projections for the climate drivers as well as the oceanic, atmospheric and soil moisture conditions.

The online presentations allow you to ask questions and will be recorded, so if you miss the live presentation you can watch it later at a time that suits you.

Tasmania: Wednesday 9 September 2020 at 10am AEST

Event number: 166 860 6689; password: TasSpring. Register here

Victoria: Wednesday 9 September 2020 at 12pm AEST

Event number: 166 485 9239; password: VicSpring. Register here

South Australia: Thursday 10 September 2020 at 12pm ACST

Event number: 166 233 2318; password: SAspring. Register here

New South Wales: Friday 11 September 2020 at 10am AEST

Event number: 166 191 9486; password: NSWspring. Register here

For more information contact Jemma Pearl on 0436 922 017 or jemma.pearl@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

There’s just one more week left until entries close for the 2020 WA Olive Awards, so if you haven’t entered yet you’d better get your skates on! Key dates are:

Entries close - Friday, 11 September

Results announced - Monday, 19 October

Queries to Chief Steward Ellen Slobe on 0411 293 398 or ellen.slobe@gmail.com

The entry pack is available on the Olives WA website - www.oliveswa.com.au. 

The persistent novel coronavirus has cast its shadow on the upcoming harvesting season in Greece, spreading anxiety among growers and producers.

26-Aug-2020 By Oliver Morrison

With COVID-19 exposing fragile food chains and putting scrutiny on the ways we consume and produce foods and approach our own health, now is the perfect moment for food tech startups to step up and lead the way, says venture capitalist and entrepreneur Thomas Falk.

Heston Blumenthal is expanding his Heston from Waitrose range across food and drink and his latest addition comes with a rather unique serving suggestion.

By Flora Southey; 19-Aug-2020 

The European Commission is adopting new measures to combat one of the world’s most dangerous plant bacteria: Xylella fastidiosa. Within the EU, notorious olive blight Xylella fastidiosa has the potential to cause an annual production loss of €5.5b per year.

Some Italian farmers are skeptical about the Agency for Payments in Agriculture’s (AGEA) decision to buy almost €8 million ($9.4 million) of extra virgin olive oil for only €2.28 ($2.69) per liter.

With 2020 now well underway, 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!

The Olive Oil Commission of California has issued its list of Members in Good Standing for the 2020/21 California olive oil harvest and milling season. The list can be used as a guide to help people buy California olive oil with confidence.

Table olive exports from Spain to the United States fell by almost a third in the first half of 2020. U.S. tariffs are blamed for the steep drop.

19-Aug-2020 By Katy Askew

Technological advances are transforming the food sector - and nowhere is this more evident than in the field of food safety. FoodNavigator caught up with Alex Bromage, Food Safety and Quality Director at Tetra Pak, to find out what innovations he is getting excited about.

Tunisia is on pace to export a record-setting 340,000 tons of olive oil in the 2019/20 crop year, according to figures published by the country’s National Olive Oil Board (ONH).

Rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, you can use olive oil for hair growth and also reap its other amazing benefits that range from strengthening to nourishing.

Entries close, 2020 Australian International Olive Awards

Organic Regenerative Conference 2020 – Wellington, NZ

Super High Density Webinar - Online

Entries close, 2020 Hunter Olive Show – Hunter Valley, NSW

Entries close, 2020 NZ EVOO Awards – Wellington, NZ

Entries close, 2020 WA Olive Awards – Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day – Northland 

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day – Hawke’s Bay

Results emailed to entrants, 2020 Australian International Olive Awards

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day – Nelson 

7 October 

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day – Canterbury 

9 October 

Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day – Wairarapa 

Olives NZ 2020 Conference – Wellington, NZ

2020 NZ EVOO Awards – Wellington, NZ

Awards Dinner, 2020 NZ EVOO Awards – Wellington, NZ

Applications close, Olive Wellness Achievement Award  

Results emailed to entrants, 2020 WA Olive Awards – Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition

Awards Presentation, 2020 Hunter Olive Show – Hunter Valley, NSW

2020 National Agriculture Day – Australia

Soil CRC Participants Conference

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

Advertising: editor@olivegrower.com.au

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