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How to demonstrate health benefits among healthy human beings? That is the challenge new European Union health claim laws have set contract research organisations (CROs) and others involved in trial design. A tough challenge yes, but not an insurmountable one, say two of Europe’s leading experts in the area.
It’s make or break time for the Australian olive oil industry. After setting minimum standards for extra virgin olive oil this year, olive growers are frustrated that cheap, imported olive…
Back in January when Australia and New Zealand proposed new olive oil standards that departed from those established by the International Olive Council, the IOC issued a statement calling the measure a possible “barrier to trade” while recommending a reconsideration of the move. The statement, titled “IOC Comments on the Draft Australian/New Zealand Standard Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils,” laid out about 20 “discrepancies” that included definitions, olive oil categories and testing methods in the proposed guidelines that differed with, or did not exist in the IOC standards. “It would be expedient,” the IOC said, “for the Australian/New Zealand draft standard to be re-examined.”
French organisation Odyssée Agri is looking for work experience placement positions on agricultural properties in Australia and New Zealand. The young French farmers come from farming backgrounds and are skilled and experienced in agriculture. Applicants are available throughout the year and most stay for several months. They have their own insurance and international drivers licences, and many have experience driving tractors, harvesters and other farm machinery. For more information, or to organise a placement, go to www.odyssee-agri.com (click on the British flag for English pages) or contact Odyssée Agri at [email protected].
Have you booked your place at the 2011 National Olive Conference and Trade Exhibition? There’s still time, and the Wangaratta community are gearing up for a warm country welcome for their olive industry visitors! You’ll find all the details, including speaker profiles and exhibitor details, site plan, conference schedule and registration form, in the official program, proudly provided by Olivegrower & Processor and the AOA inside the new September-October edition. Don’t miss out – register now for this important industry event.
And don’t forget also the two night-time demonstrations of new-model electrostatic sprayers in action, presented by The Olive Centre and Martignani, where a glow-in-the-dark spray medium will be applied to trees. The demonstrations will be held on 24 October at Sam Miranda Vineyards, Snow Road, Oxley, VIC (vineyard demo) and 26 October at EV Olives, 203 Everton Road, Markwood VIC 3678 (olive demo), commencing at 5.30pm, with a BBQ provided on both nights. To register ph: 07 4696 9845, 0403 498 645 or email [email protected]
The Australian Agriculture College Corporation (AACC) is seeking feedback from individuals interested in potentially completing an online Organic Agriculture Diploma. As this is the first course of its kind being developed, ACCC welcomes all feedback and/or suggestions from potential participants in order to tailor the course to individuals’ needs. A brief five minute survey is available here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/D8X3SQW and for further information contact [email protected].
Olives New Zealand Inc members, don’t forget to the 2011 ONZ Annual General Meeting is being held tomorrow, October 15 from 10am -11.30am at Tatum Park, 820-850 State Highway 1 Manakau (between Otaki and Levin). The agenda will include the election of officers and a review of the constitution. Further information https://www.olivesnz.org.nz/agm/notice-of-agm/ . The day will also encompass a field walk at last year’s Best of Show EVOO award winner’s grove, Kapiti Olives, followed by the ONZ Awards Dinner. The event is open to all olive growers, and the cost is $65 for the lunch and field walk, and $80 for the dinner. Last minute registrations and enquiries to [email protected]
Olives New Zealand is also planning to hold a pre-harvest conference in March 2012. Proposed content will include an oil blending workshop, table olives workshop, pre-harvest and processing considerations, and a final report by Marie Wong and Allan Woolf on the Maturity Research Project. The workshops will provide a valuable opportunity to pick up handy tips just prior to harvest, when they will be of most use, so keep this upcoming event in mind when planning next year’s calendar. We’ll bring you updates in Friday Olive Extracts as event plans progress.
The Chair of the Organic Federation of Australia, Andre Leu, has been elected as the President of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). IFOAM is the world umbrella organisation that currently unites 750 member organisations in 116 countries, and the only organisation that advocates for organic agriculture at the international level. Leu was elected at the General Assembly in Korea during the 17th IFOAM Organic World Congress, attended by representatives from 100 countries.