In the continuing fallout from the ABC’s Four Corners investigation Duped, more highly experienced food industry professionals have come out and criticised the program, warning that a knee-jerk reaction from government could make food more expensive.
Agriculture
Posted inAgriculture, Coffs Harbour, Workers and Unions
Return help available for illegal farm workers, department says
Workers told the ABC they couldn’t afford to fly home. The Department of Home Affairs says return costs are usually covered, and help is available for those who need it.
Posted inAgriculture, Lismore, Science and Research
Southern Cross University to lead $4 million push to grow Australia’s own coffee industry
Less than one per cent of Australia’s coffee is home-grown. A new $4 million research program led by Southern Cross University wants to change that, five years, five partners, one big brew.
Posted inAgriculture, National News, Phone and Internet, Social issues and services
Regional Tech Hub shuts its doors after six years
It helped 80,000 households navigate patchy internet, the 3G shutdown and Triple Zero outages. Now the Regional Tech Hub has closed, after funding for the free service ran out.
Posted inAgribusiness, Agriculture, Coffs Harbour, Investigation, Long Read
Duped by the ABC: Food fraud investigation may be rotten
The ABC’s food fraud special ‘Duped’ made Australians afraid of what’s in their fridge. A closer look at the evidence, the lab behind it, and the sources it relied on tells a very different story.
Posted inAgriculture, Bucca, Legal
Bucca blueberry farm dam costs owners $100,000, contractor $30,000
A Bucca blueberry farm’s “spur of the moment” dam has cost its owners $100,000 and their contractor $30,000, as NRAR reveals 13 more Coffs Harbour blueberry operations are already under investigation.
Posted inAgribusiness, Agriculture, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Valley, NSW News, NSW Politics, Workers and Unions
Commissioner and Singh clash over North Coast berry farm slavery claims
A damning parliamentary report and now a public apology demand. The state’s Anti-slavery Commissioner and Nationals leader Gurmesh Singh are at war over old claims of exploitation on North Coast berry farms.
Posted inAgriculture, Business, Politics
NSW Farmers moves to strip MLA of NLIS database project
NSW Farmers moved to ask the government to strip MLA of the NLIS database uplift project at last week’s conference, after years of what one delegate called “lip service” from the agency running it.
Posted inAgribusiness, Agriculture, National News
Syngenta paraquat exit rattles farmers
Syngenta is pulling paraquat from Australian and New Zealand shelves, and farmers say it’s another tool gone from an already shrinking chemical toolbox.
Posted inAgriculture, Awareness Events, National News
New coin honours the land’s unsung heroes
A horse, a dog, an eagle and a story of grit. The Royal Australian Mint’s newest coin honours the rural battlers behind our beef, wool and grain.