In today’s talking points: National Agriculture day; Plantago emerges as a successful crop to be grown in Western Australia’s Old irrigation scheme; Australian meat industry encouraged to monitor the emergence of alternative proteins; Small Aussie winemakers setting sights off-shore.
National Agriculture Day
Yesterday the 21st of November was National Agriculture Day in Australia, which is a chance to acknowledge and pay tribute to the contributions made by those individuals and communities within the agriculture sector, and related industries. These farms grow and supply quality produce, which nourishes and clothes millions of people each day in Australia and around the world. Agriculture and related industries generates 1.6 million jobs across the supply chain and is the lifeblood of many rural communities.
Read more at: The Canberra Times
Plantago emerges as a successful crop to be grown in Western Australia’s Old irrigation scheme
Western Australia’s Old irrigation scheme has been considered as an ideal location to farm the plant Plantago, which is a substitute for gluten in health food products. This location in Western Australia proved suitable to growing the crop in previous trials in the 1980s and 1990s and is being sought out as an alternative location to India where difficulties have arisen in finding reliable, good quality crops. Efforts are now being made to make the Plantago crop into a profitable industry for local growers. While the husk of the plant is used as the gluten substitute, the rest of the plant is also a great source of protein that can be used as feed for multiple animals.
Read more at: ABC
Australian meat industry encouraged to monitor the emergence of alternative proteins
The Australian meat industry is being encouraged to watch the alternative protein industry closely as consumers preferences are changing towards alternative foods such as chick pea patties, and lab grown meat. According to Rabobank head of research in Australia and New Zealand Tim Hunt, consumers are not necessarily looking at being vegetarian but are interested into reducing meat consumption for various reasons. To combat this emerging trend, the meat industry is encouraged to match consumers expectations on sustainability, ethics and nutrition.
Read more at: ABC
Small Australian winemakers setting sights off-shore
With a growing demand for Australian premium wines and favourable export conditions, small wine producers are taking advantage of this opportunity. Wine Australia’s export figures show, that in the year up to September, 752 small wine grape levy-paying winemakers exported wine to the value of $353 million, up 10 per cent. This surge was largely due to the increasing demand from Chinese consumers with a 27% growth in exports recorded from the same group of winemakers.
Read more at: The Weekly Times