Www.pmac.co.nz



PMAC weekly update 25th February to 4th March Government agencies: Fruit Fly Update; Brexit information; WTO Notifications; Customs arrangement with Hong Kong to benefit New Zealand tradeNew Zealand News: NZ and Fiji to hold regular talks; Visit to strengthen trade links with Mexico; Strong export growth in face of global headwinds; Export NZ Trade Update; Feedback from exporters on industrial relations changes; Seeka reports 27 percent lift in profit due to upturn in kiwifruit volumes; T&G Director of International Sales appointed; T&G Global reports profit dip; Scales Corporation delivers strong profit result; NZ kiwifruit continues on its export roll; New kiwi packaging facility for Katikati; NZ kiwifruit packhouse announces living wage; Onions NZ will explore sustainable production; Onions NZ will explore sustainable production; Chinese landing eyed for NZ apples; New Zealand banana project could soon bear fruit; HortNZ director election 2019; NZ Biosecurity Minister commends Hawke's Bay's defences against fruit fly; MPI to advise Government on biosecurity funding; International news: GAIN reports; Brexit to be delayed?; Vietnam: New food safety measures for agricultural sector; US FDA to adopt new methods to assess imports; European Commission to launch new market observatories; Australia will sign FTA with Indonesia; Dover can handle "moderate" Brexit disruption; Consolidation in the seed industry; Bayer swings to loss on Monsanto-related charges; Compass: ‘Trust and tech will shape our food system’; Naturipe targets global blockchain roll-out; Kuhne and Nagel increases results; Computer program aids food safety experts with pathogen testing; Listeria in US food facility means recall of veggies sold at Walmart; The carbon footprint of flowers; 'Ugly produce' might be losing its appeal in the US; Real to replace plastic bags with reusable nets by 2020; Home compostable film combined with paper; Avocado stone fights against cardiovascular diseases and cancer; Produce traceability on patented labelling system; Silver nanoparticles for bacterial control; Tiny drones a buzzkill for greenhouse insectsEditors comments The news that a third Queensland Fruit Fly was found in Northcote late last week has moved the current response up a peg with the imposition of an Export Restriction Zone . While 3 male QFF are not regarded an incursion, this will potentially impact exporters who are in or near Auckland or intend to transport product on State highway 1. MPI is listing the latest news and export requirements on the web page mentioned in the first article.All other news pales in comparison to this news item but there is a lot of good information in the update . The earnings season for 2017 is being reported in the New Zealand section (with mixed results) and Hort NZ is looking for nominations for its Directors.In the international section an article on the consolidation of seed and agrichemical companies and future food buying trends are very interesting. Also, of note is a recent model that has been developed to identify the most likely spots for listeria contamination in food processing facilities . Interestingly this article is followed by a recall in the USA because a company found a table over which beans and squash could have passed over was shown to have listeria. Agency news Fruit Fly updateOn Friday MPI found a third male fly in a trap near Northcote. To reassure New Zealand trading partners, MPI implemented an Export Restriction Zone (ERZ) for Queensland Fruit Fly effective 12:00 pm, Saturday 2 March 2019. At this stage, there is NO incursion. The ERZ applies to QFF host materials destined for export to countries that name QFF as a quarantine pest (refer to relevant ICPRs). Pest proofing for all markets is not mandatory, but may be worth considering for logistical reasons. Though it is possible to export via the Ports of Auckland without passing through the ERZ, MPI strongly recommends pest proofing consignments that pass through. MAO’s close to the ERZ will be contacted by MPI. Otherwise for the latest updates and information that exporters will need to take into account please see Brexit information MPI has collated the best available information about measures that will be in place when Brexit occurs. This document gives links to the most relevant websites for access to up to date information about import requirements into the UK Document available here WTO Notifications Please find attached the most recent WTO notifications from countries that are considering changes to their plant import requirements for specific products. If you have any concerns about the notifications being presented please contact Plant.exports@t.nz so that they can potentially make a submission to the notifying country. Changes notified over the last week include:Canada – MRL’sEcuador – seedsKenya frozen vegtables The embedded files for the last week (which has links through to the original notifications)is available here Customs arrangement with Hong Kong to benefit New Zealand tradeThe formal implementation of a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) between New Zealand and Hong Kong will bring significant benefits to New Zealand exporters, Bill Perry, Acting Comptroller of Customs said last week. "The MRA between Hong Kong and New Zealand was signed in June 2018 and came into effect on 22 February 2019. "MRAs are formal arrangements between customs agencies with similar supply chain security standards. Hong Kong and New Zealand are well aligned in this regard, and this arrangement will enable smoother trade for both New Zealand and Hong Kong importers and exporters. "Members of our Secure Export Scheme receive front-of-line priority and are able to move their goods more quickly and effectively through streamlined customs procedures. Full article available here 4888230-15557500New Zealand News NZ and Fiji to hold regular talks New?Zealand and Fiji are going to establish Joint Ministerial Consultations to allow regular discussions on issues and events in the region.? This was announced in line with Mr Peters first visit to Fiji since becoming the current Foreign Minister. Full article available hereVisit to strengthen trade links with Mexico Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker headed to Mexico this weekend for a series of meetings aimed at strengthening trade links with the Latin American nation. A focus of the visit is to promote new trade opportunities that have opened up with the entry into force of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), New?Zealand’s first free trade agreement with Mexico. Full article available hereStrong export growth in face of global headwinds Last week David Parker announced “New?Zealand’s goods and services exports increased 10 per cent in dollar terms to the year ending September 2018. Goods exports grew 7 per cent in the 2018 calendar year.”?Analysis by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade shows goods exports to existing trade agreement partners increased by 9.3 per cent in the year ending December 2018.?“Adding the new trade agreement partners from CPTPP – Japan, Canada, Mexico and, when it ratifies, Peru, New Zealand’s annual goods exports to trade agreement partners reached almost $38 billion at the end of 2018, up from $32 billion in 2017.”?Exports to China continued to grow at a rapid pace, with goods exports surging 20 per cent for the year ending September. Total goods and services exports to China increased 18 per cent for the year ending September. Two way trade reached $28.8 billion.? New?Zealand goods and services exports to the ASEAN six markets (Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam), grew by 13 per cent in the year ending September 2018.??Full article available here Export NZ Trade UpdateIn this month's trade update, the CPTPP is up and running and that it is likely to get bigger. Negotiations with the EU continue.? This negotiation is far more difficult than some seem to think.Uncertainty over the shape and timing of any Brexit remains.?Until this is known it remains unclear as to whether the UK can negotiate FTAs with other economies independent from the EU. There is much speculation in the media on the state of the New Zealand-China relationship.? But there is very little evidence to suggest that these differences are going to flow over into the wider trade and economic relationship. Full article available hereFeedback from exporters on industrial relations changes ExportNZ recently released our 2018 annual survey of exporters. Over 400 exporters responded to the survey and they were a good mix of small to medium to larger exporters. When asked what their major barriers to exporting were, the number one concern this year was “domestic regulation, e.g. upcoming changes to the industrial relations laws”. In order to understand this better, we have interviewed some SME exporters and horticulturalists. View the report here ->> Seeka reports 27 percent lift in profit due to upturn in kiwifruit volumesKiwifruit grower and marketer Seeka reported a 27 percent lift in full-year profit as the domestic harvest volume recovered from a slight dip in 2017.? The company reported net profit of $7.4 million in the year to Dec. 31, up from $5.8 million in 2017. The company said a key highlight was the purchase of a Northland kiwifruit packhouse, orchards, and related business from Turners and Growers Horticulture for $42.1 million."This significant and successful acquisition was the result of substantial planning as Seeka sought to grow its Northland operations alongside its loyal grower base. The business seamlessly transitioned mid-harvest, and performed operationally and financially to expectations," it said. Click here for the full report.Full article available here and see here Full article available hereT&G Director of International Sales appointedRachel Stotter will join T&G as Director of International Sales on March 25 2019, reporting directly to CEO Gareth Edgecombe. Rachel was formerly Head of Sales & GM Dairy Category at Goodman Fielder NZ Ltd where she had P&L responsibility for Dairy, while leading the Sales function through a major transformation. Full article available hereT&G Global reports profit dipLast year T&G Global Limited (T&G) saw its operating profit fall to NZ$15.6m (US$10.6) in 2018 despite an increase in revenue due to business and market challenges and higher operating costs, the firm revealed in its full-year financial results.T&G reported a revenue of NZ$1.2bn (US$820m) in the 2018 financial year - up by NZ$120m (US$82.2m) on the prior year, but operational and environmental challenges in key business divisions and markets, including a poor New Zealand growing season for apples and the impact of Chinese tariffs, impacted T&G’s 2018 financial result, reducing operating profit by NZ$11.5m (US$7.8m).The International Produce division also saw adverse weather conditions impact on its cherry season in Australia and the quality of its grape harvest in Peru. Yet despite these climatic challenges, the division reported an increase in operating profit of NZ$3.1m? (US$2.1m) in 2018 due to favourable trading conditions in most of its markets, particularly the Pacific Islands."With a new CEO, Gareth Edgecombe, who joined the company in July 2018, T&G has undergone a major strategic review and developed a Roadmap for Growth which includes driving global growth in apples and building new global categories, simplifying the operating model, leveraging a strong New Zealand base and streamlining non-core assets," T&G added. Full article available here Click here to see the annual report. And another article Full article available hereScales Corporation delivers strong profit resultDiversified agribusiness group Scales Corporation Limited (NZX:SCL) reported net Profit for the 2018 year (including non-cash NZ IFRS adjustments) was $45.5 million (FY2017: $31.6 million). Earnings per share for FY2018 were 32.2 cents per share. Full article available here NZ kiwifruit continues on its export rollKiwifruit sales for 2018 look likely to near the $3 billion mark, as export marketer Zespri closes in on its 2025 global sales target of $4.5 billion. Final sales totals won't be firmed up until March, but chief executive Dan Mathieson said the forecast is shaping to be $2.8b to $2.9b. While the 2025 goal looks well within reach, Mathieson cautioned there were challenges ahead "in terms of making sure we continue to have good, sustainable growth as gold (fruit) volumes start to come on more and more. Full article available hereNew kiwi packaging facility for KatikatiA new kiwi fruit packaging facility has opened in Katikati. Hume Pack-N-Cool, a kiwi fruit packhouse and cold storage firm, has set up the facility to store the packaging needed to put the fruit in.Managing director Mark Hume says at the moment the packaging is distributed to packhouses from Mount Maunganui in Tauranga: “The biggest advantage is it’s going to alleviate some of the traffic congestion from Katikati to Tauranga. Full article available here NZ kiwifruit packhouse announces living wageA packhouse in the Bay of Plenty has revealed it will pay a living wage to full time permanent staff - affecting more than 30 employees. The company in question is Apata, a kiwifruit and avocado post-harvest company. Apata's managing director, Stuart Weston, said the decision to embrace the living wage concept is part of a wider wellbeing programme which the company initiated last year: " According to nzherald.co.nz? the change would lift pay rates for 32 staff to at least $20.85/hr (as of 1 April 2019). The impact would vary between individuals but some would receive up to $5000 more per year before tax. Full article available here Onions NZ will explore sustainable productionSustainable Farming Fund has made money available to investigate ways to reduce the use of agrichemicals within the onion industry. ''This project will use benchmarking to measure the success of the changes implemented. Ultimately, growers will directly benefit from the industry having authentic and verifiable sustainability credentials that are over and above what any other country is doing. This project will cement New Zealand onions internationally as a premium high value product.''Full article available hereNew Zealand onion growers claim bumper seasonAccording to Onions New Zealand chief executive James Kuperus, the nation’s onion growers are reporting a good season so far after a hard season last year: “''There have been few issues with the onions this year and we have a good crop to supply the domestic market and our export markets.''Last year was an ''exceptionally difficult year,'' he said, with crop losses of approximately 20% to 25% due to drought and disease pressure. Full article available here Chinese landing eyed for NZ apples Gourmet apple producer RockitGlobal is the latest to join a New Zealand-led collaboration in China. Primary Collaboration New Zealand (Shangahi) Co Ltd (PCNZ) represents 13 New Zealand brands in China and has 22 staff there, with its understanding of the market deepening and brands said to be growing. The other PCNZ clients are ANZCO, Mr Apple, Bostock, Freshmax, Pamu, New Zealand King Salmon, Sealord, Silver Fern Farms, Synlait, Taharoa and Villa Maria. Over the last four years these companies have reported successes such growing sales, better relationships with customers and partners as well as deeper insights and knowledge into the market. Full article available here Bits and piecesNew Zealand banana project could soon bear fruitAgResearch scientists from Palmerston North have been helping grow the bananas from tissue cultures. Researcher Wajid? Hussain said it took about 18 months for a banana plant to grow and produce fruit, but through his group's research, it could take 12 to 16 weeks. Hussain said banana tissue culture had never been thoroughly researched in New Zealand. AgResearch staff have taken tissue culture from other banana plants and have been experimenting with growing new plants. Plants are only growing in the lab, but will be taken outside soon. The project is expected to take two to five years. Full article available here HortNZ director election 2019Nominations are being sought from individual grower members, affiliated product groups, and affiliated grower associations for these positions.?Candidates must be nominated by at least two grower members or affiliated organisations.The following Directors retire by rotation this year: Hugh Ritchie is offering himself for re-election. David Kelly has completed the maximum number of terms and is not eligible for re-electionIn addition, Barry O'Neil is offering himself for election, having been appointed by the Board to fill the vacancy left by Julian Raine on his retirement on 31 December 2018.The?nomination form,?position description, and other criteria can be requested from the board secretary via?email, or by calling 0508 467 869. Nominations close at 5pm, Friday 12 April 2019.? Full article available here Biosecurity NZ Biosecurity Minister commends Hawke's Bay's defences against fruit flyAccording to Biosecurity Minister Damien O'Connor, Hawke's Bay is well protected from the ongoing possibility of a fruit fly outbreak. O'Connor was in the region on Tuesday, not long after a biosecurity breach in Auckland, where three Queensland fruit flies were found on the city's North Shore.He said Hawke's Bay's horticulture industry had strong plans in place if something similar were to happen in the region: “ Full article available here MPI to advise Government on biosecurity funding MPI as part of an overhaul of the Biosecurity Act, is reviewing funding streams. Ray Smith, Director General of MPI whilst speaking at the Primary Production Select Committee said the government had asked the ministry to provide advice on the concept of a biosecurity levy. Mr Smith advised that MPI would provide advise government on the levy and it would go through the normal consultative mechanism however, could not provide detail on what advice was given by the ministry. A levy could provide a pool to fund biosecurity events rather than having to find money after the event had occurred. Damien O’Connor, Minister for Biosecurity reported that the Minister of Finance has indicated that they way biosecurity events are funded for the long term needs to be looked at as increased risks are occurring globally. Full article available here 3940810-63500 International news Comment GAIN reportsGain reports are from the “Global Agricultural Information Network” and are produced by the USDA. They are designed to provide timely information on the economy, products and issues in foreign countries that are likely to have an impact on United States agricultural production and trade. The information in them is written for USA exporters but the majority is equally relevant to New Zealand. With regard to import regulations for a particular market New Zealand exporters should first check the countries ICPR on MPI’s web site. These are collated specifically for New Zealand product. However the Gain reports often provide additional information that is useful e.g. on grading and labelling, economic profiles. This week see:Burma Annual Country Report Myanmar is in the process of updating many of its laws and regulations. ?Recent new laws include a Seed Law, a Plant Variety Protection Law, a Pesticide Law, an Investment Law, and a Trademark Law. ? Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report_Rangoon_Burma – Union of_2-14-2019Colombia Export Certificate Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report_Bogota_Colombia_2-22-2019Ethiopia Annual Country Report. Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report_Addis Ababa_Ethiopia_2-12-2019Ghana Export Certificate Report. Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report_Accra_Ghana_2-27-2019Ghana Regional Ag Developments The Ghana Gist is a new monthly roundup of regional developments relevant to U.S. food and agricultural trade, covering Ghana, C?te d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Regional Ag Developments - Ghana Gist - February 2019_Accra_Ghana_2-28-2019Guatemala Export Certificate Report ?Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report_Guatemala City_Guatemala_2-12-2019Kazakhstan Export Certificate Report? Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report_Astana_Kazakhstan - Republic of_12-21-2018Mexico Export Certificate Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report_Monterrey ATO_Mexico_12-6-2018Mexico Annual Country Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report_Monterrey ATO_Mexico_12-7-2018Nicaragua Exporter Guide. ? Exporter Guide_Managua_Nicaragua_2-20-2019Romania Annual Country Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report_Bucharest_Romania_2-15-2019Russia to Adopt New Law on Organics On January 1, 2020, Federal Law No. 280-FZ “On Organic Products and Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” will enter into force. ? Russia to Adopt New Law on Organics _Moscow ATO_Russian Federation_3-1-2019Singapore FAIRS Annual Country Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report_Singapore_Singapore_1-30-2019Singapore Export Certificate Report Annual Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report_Singapore_Singapore_1-31-2019Thailand Exporter Guide Exporter Guide_Bangkok_Thailand_2-21-2019 RegulatoryBrexit to be delayed?Last week, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Theresa May, postponed the Brexit plan vote to 12 March. This is a mere 17 days before the official divorce date. This delay would be an option for May to prevent a no-deal scenario if Parliament vetoed the Brexit plan. May is expected to ask the European Union for a two-month delay. With this, the Prime Minister wants to avoid a no-deal scenario. The EU would prefer a delay of 21 months. Brexit would then move to the end of the initially determined transition period. Full article available here Vietnam: New food safety measures for agricultural sectorThis year, large-scale production areas for key national products will be expanded under the country’s action plan to ensure food safety in the agricultural sector. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, agricultural products are classified into three main groups, including key national products, key provincial products and local specialties.The ministry this year has expanded the One Commune One Product Programme, in which each rural commune or district will develop its own specialty, apply high technologies, use organic cultivation procedures, and global Good Agricultural Practices in farming and production.It is also strengthening chains for “safe” agricultural products and aquatic and forestry products. The origin of products continues to be traced, and the ministry has made efforts to seek markets for products. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phùng ??c Ti?n said that food safety in the agriculture sector improved last year thanks to more unannounced inspections. Full article available here US FDA to adopt new methods to assess importsThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revealed a revised strategy to meet four goals in modernizing the oversight of imported foods. The aim is to reduce the number of imported food safety issues. The FDA objectives are, first, to preventing food safety problems in foreign supply chains at a point prior to entry into the U.S. The second aspect is with have a mechanism in place to effectively detect and block the entry of unsafe foods.The third area is having the agility to respond rapidly when information about unsafe imported foods is passed onto the agency. The fourth, and final, part concerns measuring progress to gain assurance that the imported food safety program remains robust and is succeeding in stopping potentially harmful food from entering the country. Full article available hereEuropean Commission to launch new market observatoriesTwo new market observatories ( presenting comprehensive data on the sector), for fruit and vegetables and wine, will be launched by the European Commission later this year. These observatories will bring greater transparency and analysis to two key sectors for European agriculture. Because the fruit and vegetable sector comprises such a wide range of products, the focus of this observatory will be on tomatoes, apples, citrus fruit, peaches and nectarines.The two observatories will be available online, providing a wide range of market data complemented by market analysis, short-term outlook reports and medium-term prospects. ec.europa.eu/agriculture/market-observatory_en Full article available hereAustralia will sign FTA with IndonesiaAustralia and Indonesia will sign a free trade agreement on Monday, ending months of uncertainty.Full article available here Dover can handle "moderate" Brexit disruptionThe Port of Dover can cope with moderate Brexit disruption in the event of a no-deal according to a new report. Dover could handle a 50 per cent increase in processing times if Brexit causes transport delays, with other ports able to absorb overflow if there are “capacity constraints” according to the report’s authors, The Drewry.“The report also highlights the UK’s reliance on Dover and the challenges of attempting to replicate the unique Dover short sea system anywhere else on much longer routes,” it stated. “The report affirmed that throughput would be constrained however if checking times were to increase from two minutes, as they currently are, to four. The report also revealed that cargo which doesn’t require rapid transit could be re-routed, although they estimate that only 20 per cent of goods going through Dover would be suitable for re-routing. Full article available here Business/ IndustryConsolidation in the seed industry The agriculture industry has seen several big waves of consolidation lately. Philip Howard, Associate Professor in the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University, has been following developments in the global seed industry for years now. His latest chart illustrates how the “Big 6” agrochemical/seed firms combine into a Big 4. These four firms are now estimated to control over 60% of global proprietary seed sales. A number of the brands acquired in previous acquisitions have been retired. Click here to for the chart (PDF)This concentration of power in the global seed industry begs the question if anti-monopoly authorities, which are supposed to prevent situations where too few companies have too much power, have ‘fallen asleep at the wheel’. According to Philip, the current situation of continued consolidation represents a danger to growers. "We have already seen prices increase dramatically with industry consolidation, although it has slowed in recent years as declining commodity prices make it difficult to extract more from growers. Research investment is also being centralized, focused on a smaller number of crops and traits within those crops, and on regions where these crops are planted most extensively. Those who are growing anything else are typically experiencing less and less innovation."Chinese companies have also been quite active in the market lately, for instance with the ChemChina takeover of Syngenta. "China is not self-sufficient in food, therefore the government is encouraging firms headquartered in China to make foreign acquisitions. Full article available hereBayer swings to loss on Monsanto-related chargesBayer AG swung to a loss in the fourth quarter, due in part to a series of one-off charges associated with its take over of Monsanto, the German company said Wednesday. The chemicals-and-pharmaceutical group posted a quarterly after-tax loss of 3.92 billion euros ($4.46 billion) compared with a profit of 148 million euros a year earlier. Full article available here Compass: ‘Trust and tech will shape our food system’Trust will be the currency of the next decade for the global food system, the chief executive of the world’s largest foodservice company has said, stressing the importance of transparency and sustainability, and how technology can drive progress. Recent surveys referenced by the speaker show that six in 10 consumers refuse to buy products from companies they do not trust, and 90 per cent of millennials say they are more likely to buy from companies that support local issues.?According to Blakemore, trust is already driving a number of important trends in the food system, namely the growing desire for transparency, the rising demand for locally-produced food, a thirst for experience over ‘stuff’, and efforts to make food healthier and tackle a national health crisis in the UK.The way to build trust with consumers, he told the audience, is through transparency and sustainability – building trust “literally from the ground up”. Technology can be a force for good where sustainability is concerned, Blakemore believes. Advances such as blockchain technology, vertical farming and the digitisation of agricultural production will lead to “an explosion of big data”, he said, challenging future generations to harness this information for environmental good.This 'big data' has the potential to allow better forecasting of food demand, allowing the food industry to manage supply in a much more accurate way. “Nevertheless, population is a major challenge for the future of the food industry, and earlier in his speech Blakemore noted that, “rather scarily”, global demand for protein will increase by around 80 per cent by 2050. This challenges us to create a system that feeds the planet without destroying the environment. One way of doing this is to switch to a more plant-based diet and to start eating lab-grown meatHe conceded that it is almost impossible to predict the future “as revolutionary tech may not have been invented yet”, but he predicted that “the use of voice, video and virtual will only rise in food commerce”. “Consumers will get projected 360-degree visualisations of food right in front of their eyes. From choosing meals from a menu, to home cooking, to ingredient information, portion sizes, calorie and nutrition info, it will all be visual and most likely audio.”Blakemore expects 3D printing to “infiltrate the food industry in a more pervasive way”, imagining a time when we use food robots that download recipes and 3D-print our meals from cartridges of ingredients. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence could mean we all have a “digital self, who knows more about us than we do today”, with our medical and dietary information programmed along with our taste preferences. “Delivery solutions will also be revolutionised beyond recognition,” he added, saying robotics and drones will improve efficiency and reduce energy costs, thus minimising the impact on the environment. Full article available here Naturipe targets global blockchain roll-outBerry company Naturipe Farms has provided more detail on its recent tie-up with SAP to develop the use of blockchain technology in its supply chain. A new video published by SAP shows how Naturipe's blueberries can be tracked all the way from the point of harvesting using a worker-generated QR code. The code remains with the fruit all the way along the supply chain, right up to the end consumer. The video is attached to the full article. Full article available here Kuhne and Nagel increases resultsSwitzerland-headquartered logistics group Kuehne and Nagel enjoyed a positive year in 2018, with strong results helping it expand its position as a leading logistics profit for the company increased 4.3 per cent . Full article available here Food safetyComputer program aids food safety experts with pathogen testingCornell scientists have developed a computer program, Environmental Monitoring With an Agent-Based Model of listeria (EnABLe), to simulate the most likely locations in a processing facility where the deadly food-borne pathogen listeria monocytogenes might be found. Food safety managers may then test those areas for the bacteria’s presence, adding an important tool to prevent food contamination and human exposure to the pathogen through tainted food.The computer model, which is described in the Jan. 24 issue of Nature Scientific Reports, has the potential to be modified for a wide range of microbes and locations. Full article available here Listeria in US food facility means recall of veggies sold at WalmartAfter learning of a possible listeria problem, Southern Specialties -from Pompano Beach- recalled green beans and butternut squash sold at Walmarts in nine states. The recall announcement on their website says: “Although no actual food product has tested positive for the bacterium, a table surface at the supplier’s facility tested positive during a routine test.” Full article available here The carbon footprint of flowersLife Cycle Analysis (LCA) is a popular tool for assessing the environmental impacts of products and processes, from raw material acquisition to production and use stages. Under a broader umbrella of ‘sustainability’, it also addresses water use, fertiliser use and labour conditions - pertinent issues in cut flower cultivation. Using the functional unit of kgCO2e/stem, emissions are found to be highest for Dutch lilies, followed by Kenyan gypsophila, Dutch roses and Kenyan roses. Read the full study at Flowers from the Farm. Full article available here 'Ugly produce' might be losing its appeal in the USIs the ‘ugly’ produce trend already nearing the end? Walmart and Whole Foods in recent years tried selling some blemished fruits and vegetables at a discount, produce they said might otherwise be trashed because it's not quite the right size, shape or color. But the two chains and others quietly ended their tests, suggesting dented apples and undersized potatoes may not be all that appealing in stores where better-looking fruits and vegetables are on display. Full article available here Real to replace plastic bags with reusable nets by 2020As the first company in the German food retail sector, the plastic bags in the fruit and vegetable department will be abolished by the end of 2020. Instead, customers find washable reusable nets or recycled paper bags as sustainable alternatives. In the area of ??product packaging, real is also working on new, resource-saving solutions. New transport solutions make it possible, for example, to dispense with the film for organic cucumbers. Other packaging alternatives, such as grass paper trays, are already in use with organic limes and organic vine tomatoes. For organic zucchini and the new TiP organic bananas, the plastic packaging has been replaced by a single band, and bio-ginger, organic sweet potatoes and organic mangoes are now using real laser labeling to produce the organic product to differentiate from the products of conventional cultivation. Full article available here Home compostable film combined with paperThe demand for alternative packaging solutions is ever growing. Recent developments in packaging and waste laws boost that demand even more. To answer these growing demands, Mediane recently created a packaging that is paper combined with home compostable film. ‘’We focus on the home-compostability of the paper/film combination whilst realizing that the visibility and presentation of the product is equally important. Full article available here Health Avocado stone fights against cardiovascular diseases and cancerResearchers from the Tecnológico de Monterrey, in Mexico, have found that avocado stone could help reduce the risk of suffering cardiovascular diseases or cancer related to the consumption of preservatives. The group, found molecules called acetogenins which can be used as medicines and food preservatives. Acetogenins have an anticoagulant effect that prevents blockages from forming in the bloodstream, reducing the risk of suffering embolisms and heart attacks. This effect, she said, is similar to that of medicines such as aspirin, but given that it is a natural treatment, it should not have any side effects. Full article available here InnovationProduce traceability on patented labelling systemTo increase consumer confidence and public safety, a labelling company says it’s necessary to have an effective traceability system in place. Full traceability is only a requirement on the outside of a case of produce. But consumers don’t buy an entire case of produce; they purchase it individually as a bulk item. Once the case is emptied at the retailer’s shelves and bins, all further traceability is lost, according to Hurst. The company says its POD Versaprint labelling system can add an additional traceability code on each price look up (PLU) label. The PLU label is added to all bulk produce items. By adding this additional traceability code, each produce item can be traced back to its origin. The item-level traceability code tracks the individual piece of fruit or vegetable throughout the entire supply chain. The traceability codes include: lot numbers; grower codes; dates; julian dates; time stamps; packing house locations, packing lines and production. By identifying the origin of each produce item, the grower/shipper/packer can determine where the fruit or vegetable was at any given date and track the process to see who came into contact with it. This allows the ability to trace the product quickly, helping to eliminate additional foodborne illnesses. The Direct Thermal Printing technology allows packers to label up to 63 different graphics at speeds up to 15 fruits per second. Full article available here Silver nanoparticles for bacterial controlSilver nanoparticles (AgNPs), particularly those entrapped in polymeric nanosystems, have arisen as options to manage plant bacterial diseases. Among biopolymers useful for entrapment of AgNPs, chitosan is promising due to its low cost, good biocompatibility, antimicrobial properties, and biodegradability. A study found that greenly‐synthesized chitosan‐derived nanomaterials containing AgNPs produced with leaves extract from the own species seem a promising and sustainable alternative in an integrated management approach to reduce yield losses caused by bacterial wilt.Full article available here Tiny drones a buzzkill for greenhouse insectsA novel and a futuristic way to combat moths and other insects is by the use of drones. A new approach has been developed consisting of a base station with cameras, a landing and loading pad, and multiple drones to guarantee continuous activity. The cameras observe the area around the base station and detect flying insects. The system steers the drone into the insect's flight path to cause a collision. The propellers give the final blow to the insects.""The current focus of the team is on combating various moth species in flower growing greenhouses such as Duponchelia fovealis, Turkish moth, and Tuta Absoluta. Full article available here Subscribe/ Unsubscribe If you no longer wish to receive this email please send a note to info@pmac.co.nz asking to be added/ removed and providing the nominated email address Disclaimer Please note this information has been accessed from emails that have been forwarded to info@PMAC.co.nz and are distributed as a weekly update. If you intend using this information please sight the original document to ensure you are aware of the context within which any changes have been made and to guard against any transcription changes ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download