AGP Executive Report

Food safety & consumer health: Experts warn expectant parents are being misled by social media “prenatal” supplement spruikers, with many taking unnecessary multivitamins and stacking products that can waste money and potentially cause harm; guidelines in Australia focus on folic acid, iodine and (when appropriate) iron. Trade & exports: GI-tagged Mithila Makhana has made its first sea shipment from Bihar to Australia—18 tonnes in seven containers—delivering farmers nearly 18% higher returns. Dairy alternatives & livestock: Camel milk and camel meat are carving out niche markets in Australia, with domesticated herds supplying milk and exports despite feral population pressures. Local food industry: A Sunshine Coast mushroom farm is closing after costs and price pressures made the business unviable, highlighting ongoing squeeze on Australian fresh produce supply. Wine & spirits culture: A look at how cabernet sauvignon and shiraz differ in taste and structure, plus Woombye’s Ekka wins for cheese and Queensland rum. Food innovation & media: Matt Preston returns to SBS Food with Plating Locally, spotlighting Australian producers behind the plate. Childcare transparency: An ACT case shows how childcare services can keep high quality ratings while investigations are ongoing—relevant for families navigating health and food-related incidents.

Food & Drink Tech: Google Maps is rolling out “Ask Maps” upgrades that let users order food conversationally (via partners like Toast and Square) and also book hotels and discover live events, with early launches starting in the US. Chocolate & Cocoa Science: University of Queensland research says Australia’s cocoa fermentation microbes can matter more for flavour than bean variety or growing location—good news for premium makers chasing distinct profiles. Cocoa to Market: The same cocoa work points to fermentation as the key lever for stronger differentiation in premium chocolate. Health & Labelling Watch: The ACCC is set to investigate food labelling claims after a Four Corners investigation, adding pressure on how products are described to shoppers. Wine Industry Loss: Wine writer and entrepreneur Matthew Jukes has died aged 58, prompting tributes from industry figures including friend Libby Brodie. Caffeine & Coffee Industry: AgriFutures Australia and partners have launched a five-year, AUD $4m Australian Coffee Research Program focused on productivity, variety trials and biosecurity.

Food labelling scrutiny: The Albanese Government says it welcomes the ACCC probing ABC Four Corners allegations of food mislabelling, arguing labels must tell the truth so shoppers aren’t ripped off and honest producers can compete fairly. Packaging circularity trial: Viva Energy and Nestlé have rolled out a limited-run KitKat using locally manufactured recycled PP wrappers made from soft-plastics pyrolysis oil, showing a pathway to food-grade recycling. Competition in alcohol supply: The ACCC has moved to block MicroStar (Kegstar) from acquiring Konvoy’s keg pooling assets, warning the deal would substantially lessen competition and could lift prices or reduce service quality. Health and alcohol harms: New research links binge drinking in men to about double the risk of initiating domestic violence, with the amount consumed in a session driving the association. Japan food security: Japan’s food self-sufficiency ratio fell to 37%, below its 2030 target, highlighting vulnerability to supply shocks. Wine and hospitality: Haselgrove appoints long-time Chapel Hill winemaker Michael Fragos as CEO and chief winemaker, while Three Blue Ducks opens a new farm-to-plate restaurant near Sydney. Tech meets food: Google Maps’ “Ask Maps” is expanding in the US, letting users order food and book plans via agentic AI prompts.

Food Security Shock: The UN World Food Programme warns El Niño could drive severe starvation for nearly 50 million people as drought, heat and floods hit harvests, while fertiliser and energy costs surge. Local Business Change: Victoria’s iconic Italian Food Imports has been sold to longtime friends Kendra Iden and Joanne Hawkins, taking over from the Segato brothers after a gradual transition. Alcohol Licensing Tension: An award-winning café in Berkshire faces neighbour objections over plans to sell alcohol for off-premises consumption, with concerns about families and children nearby. Non-Alcoholic Trends: A new global report on non-alcoholic beverages finds three big shifts, including “function with feeling” as consumers want drinks that deliver both benefits and mood. Tech Meets Takeaway: Google Maps’ Ask Maps is expanding food ordering via conversational prompts, with rollout planned for Australia among other countries. Healthy Eating Support: A federal grant is backing “Garden to Plate” at Open Door Neighbourhood House in Yarrunga, combining fresh food workshops with affordable cooking to tackle cost-of-living pressures.

Bubble Tea Deal: Bain Capital is buying Gong cha from TA Associates and other shareholders in a reported $900m-plus deal, extending the private equity push into food and beverage; Gong cha has ~2,200 stores across 33 markets, including a big footprint in Australia. Food Standards & Safety: Australia helped shape new Codex Alimentarius standards at CAC49, including clearer precautionary allergen warnings and updated chicken hygiene guidance for Campylobacter and Salmonella. Waste & Recycling Rules: Western Australia has tightened FOGO bin guidance, banning items like dog poo bags, tea bags, paper towels and pizza boxes to keep organic streams “pure” and improve composting outcomes. Food Inflation Watch: UBS flags five long-term forces keeping global food inflation structurally higher than pre-pandemic levels, with climate risk, weak farm profitability, welfare standards, and rising labour costs among the drivers. Australian Wine Exports: Wine Australia reports exports fell to a record low, with global consumption still soft and China remaining the biggest export market by value. Animal Care Research: Adelaide University and Monarto Safari Park found zoo-housed lions fed whole carcasses on a feast-and-fast schedule showed more wild-like feeding and rest patterns. Health Privacy Breach: AHPRA accidentally identified 136 practitioners in an email inviting them to addiction and alcohol misuse training, triggering privacy complaints. Community Food & Drink Culture: Vietnam’s leader To Lam will visit Australia and New Zealand next week, with expected agreements spanning agriculture and healthcare among other areas.

Alternative Proteins: Aleph Farms has cleared a key Singapore regulatory hurdle, with the Singapore Food Agency approving its cultivated beef Thin-Cut Steak—another step toward commercial cultivated meat rollouts across Asia-Pacific. Food Safety & Labelling: A US court has cleared the way for a lawsuit challenging the federal ban on low-FODMAP food labelling, potentially reshaping how gut-friendly claims can appear on packages. Beverages & Retail: McDonald’s Q2 results point to growing demand for beverages (including a specialty beverage platform that launched in Australia in July) alongside chicken, though suppliers may face tighter cost and consistency pressure. Industry & Packaging: The Institute of Packaging Professionals has named Conor Carlin as its next president, signalling continued focus on packaging sustainability and innovation. Australian Food Culture: A new “Trust the Chef” dining format at Ramada Resort by Wyndham Phillip Island replaces menus with a chef-curated three-course surprise, aiming to cut waste while lifting seasonal ingredient creativity. Marine & Food Systems: A drone captured what’s thought to be a world-first footage of a humpback whale giving birth off NSW, adding to growing evidence that ocean conditions are changing—relevant for fisheries and food security planning.

Food security policy: The federal government has backed 15 of 23 recommendations from the House inquiry “Food for Thought”, including work on a National Food Plan via Feeding Australia and funding for End Food Waste Australia, plus moves on domestic organic certification and an industry-funded Spirits Australia body. New product push: Hard Rated has launched Orange Passionfruit Zero Sugar (4.5% ABV) as it builds on $1.5bn in retail sales over three years, expanding its zero-sugar RTD range. Manufacturing & regulation: ConTech2026 at the MCG highlighted transparency, sustainability and health as confectionery regulation tightens, with industry and student awards spotlighting future talent. Hospitality investment: Sonnel Hospitality secured DA approvals for $11m Ashfield Hotel and $4m Hurstville Ritz Hotel redevelopments, adding sports bars, beer gardens and bistro-style food offerings. Community food culture: Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo’s portrait was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery, celebrating her role in sharing native ingredients and First Nations cooking practices. Drinks industry: The Glendronach marked its 200th anniversary with an immersive whisky foraging trail at Ace Hotel Sydney, pairing sensory storytelling with food and beverage experiences.

Excise Reform Push: Australia’s drinks industry groups are urging excise reform after the latest spirits tax jump to AU$110.15 per litre of pure alcohol, warning it could fuel demand for cheap black-market alternatives and squeeze legitimate distillers. Retail & Household Demand: ABS data shows Australian household spending rose 0.8% in June, with transport and recreation lifting discretionary spend, while fuel costs eased after earlier excise relief. Big Foodservice Signals: McDonald’s flagged slower U.S. growth (+0.8% at established restaurants) as visits softened even as average spend rose, and named Skye Anderson president of McDonald’s USA to drive operational improvements and value. Wine Export Marketing: Andrew Peace is rolling out its biggest-ever UK campaign, backing a new “Smooth, Even When Life Isn’t” positioning with national media, influencer and sampling activity. Food Security Pressure: Australia contributed $6.34m to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund as needs rise, including food insecurity and limited funding. Local Fresh-Food Strategy: Harris Farm says it won’t compete on being the cheapest, doubling down on grower relationships and speed from farm to store as cost-of-living bites.

Pacific Trade & Exports: Pacific Trade Invest Australia will bring 15 exporters from eight Pacific economies to Fine Food Australia 2026, spotlighting premium food and beverage makers from Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Niue and French Polynesia. Food Retail & Value: Panda Mart’s Brisbane launch sparked “shopping warfare” in a former Bunnings warehouse, with shoppers chasing $1 items and major ticket deals. Confectionery Trends: Chocolate remains the biggest impulse category in Australia’s convenience channel, holding 52.8% of confectionery sales in 2025 even as unit volumes fall and growth shifts to price. Non-alc Drinks: Heaps Normal is expanding into non-alcoholic wine with High Hopes Prosecco, while Casella Family Brands adds distribution partnerships with Heaps Normal and Four Loko. Gambling & Kids Exposure: A Senate inquiry hears betting firms deflect blame to parents and platforms over children’s exposure to wagering ads, alongside allegations of inducements. Environment & Food Supply: New Queensland land-clearing data flags ongoing deforestation in the Great Barrier Reef catchment, with pasture production driving most clearing.

Foodservice & Trade: WOFEX 2026 spotlighted Mindanao’s culinary market via Global Pacific’s Janice Avisado, underscoring why regional representation matters at national shows. Beverage & Retail: Koko & Karma pushes into the Australian mainstream with collagen- and prebiotic-infused coconut water flavours, sold through major retailers and online. Food Culture: Aussies’ “burger with the lot” is getting attention for its signature pineapple and pickled beet combo, plus the sauce and topping debates it sparks. Wine & Climate: European wildfires are raising fresh alarms for global wine production as heat and drought intensify risk. Online Safety: Australia’s under-16 social media ban is being challenged by new eSafety data showing most teens still use platforms, pointing to weak age-assurance enforcement. Supplements: A look at how supplements are made via contract manufacturing highlights why label claims and quality can vary widely.

Bird Flu Watch: Australia has confirmed its first H5 bird flu mass mortality event, with 74 cases now logged and wildlife losses expected to worsen as migratory birds arrive—Tasmania is still “when, not if.” Fuel & Household Pressure: With the fuel excise cut ending, motorists face fresh price shocks and the ACCC is set to scrutinise potential fuel price gouging, while food costs are also expected to bite. Alcohol Policy: Spirits & Cocktails Australia warns the latest spirits/RTD excise indexation is making taxed alcohol less affordable and could push consumers toward illicit products. Food Culture & Events: Sunshine Coast’s The Curated Plate festival has drawn nearly 10,000 people over 10 days, spotlighting local producers and diverse dining experiences. Recipe & Home Cooking: ABC shares freezer-friendly midweek dinner ideas, including make-ahead meatballs and lamb-and-veggie soup, aimed at saving money and stress. Industry/Marketing: Guideline SMI reports June ad spend returned to positive territory, with food/produce/dairy and restaurants among the stronger categories.

Fuel & Food Costs: Australia’s fuel excise discount ends, with petrol up about 40c/L since late June and diesel up 60c/L in many capitals—prompting Treasurer Jim Chalmers to ask the ACCC to scrutinise whether prices are being artificially inflated, warning transport costs could flow through to grocery bills. Water Risk for Supply Chains: New analysis flags rising water stress as heat and drought hit global grain forecasts and other industries, with textiles singled out for complex, water-heavy footprints—an issue that can ripple into food and beverage inputs too. Indigenous Food Science: Scientists report genetic clues in an ancient Aboriginal food plant, channel millet, suggesting long-term Aboriginal harvesting and plant management—useful for future native food and land stewardship. Packaging Sustainability: Packaging awards highlight a shift from “just swapping materials” to reuse, design for recovery and closed-loop thinking, plus more traceability and convenience features across food and drink packs. Food Safety/Health Policy: WHO says ultra-processed food giants are suing to block obesity efforts, keeping pressure on how governments regulate nutrition.

Food safety & consumer health: Hawkesbury residents are being warned to think twice before taking vitamins and supplements, after research shows many Australians self-prescribe without discussing needs with doctors or pharmacists, raising risks of side effects, medication interactions and harm from excessive doses. Fuel costs: Australians are bracing for petrol and diesel price rises as the fuel excise discount ends, with diesel expected to jump sharply given heavy reliance on imported fuel for road freight. Australian wine & exports: Wine Australia reports exports have hit a 22-year low as global drinkers sober up, signalling pressure on the sector’s overseas demand. Packaging & equipment: Multiple buyer guides and industry updates focus on packaging machine options and food-industry packaging innovation, reflecting ongoing investment in production efficiency. Industry & retail: Italian Food Imports in Victoria has changed hands after 41 years, highlighting continued churn in specialty food retail. Science & food: Research on whale sharks’ feeding strategies and fossil evidence of ancient predator chains adds to the week’s science content with indirect food-chain relevance.

Alcohol Excise Hit: Australians will pay more from Monday as the federal government lifts alcohol tax again, pushing up spirits and packaged beer and squeezing margins for small brewers and distillers. Food Policy Pressure: The WHO says ultra-processed food giants are trying to block health measures by suing governments, arguing the legal fight is undermining obesity efforts. Teen Social Media Ban: Australia defends its under-16 social media ban after eSafety found most teens still find ways around it, citing weak age checks by platforms. Cultivated Meat “Yuck” Factor: Lab-grown meat faces a major perception hurdle, with many consumers reluctant to even try it despite limited market availability including Australia. Heat & Workers: A World Bank-backed report highlights a “heat tax” for garment workers in Bangladesh, underscoring how rising temperatures and humidity drive extra costs for survival—an issue that resonates with food and beverage supply chains too.

Food & Drink Events: Chris Lucas’ Lucas Collective is bringing its restaurants trackside to the Melbourne Cup carnival, with menus including Chin Chin and Society to help the VRC broaden appeal beyond sport. Spirits & Exports: Tasmania’s Whisky Week 2026 kicks off with nine days of tastings and events, as the state pushes its premium whisky story and export growth. Beer Policy Impact (NZ): New Zealand’s beer excise and on-premise tax settings are squeezing pubs, with hospitality liquidations up and beer share falling as costs rise. Wine Risk (Global): Smoke taint is again in focus as wildfire haze threatens grape quality and winemaking decisions during the most susceptible stages of the season. Health & Safety (Australia): Australia’s H5 bird flu response continues after local transmission was found in South Australian wildlife, with ministers coordinating to protect animal and human health and agricultural industries. Food Industry Consumer Angle: KFC has offered free chicken to Australia Post workers after a dismissed postie case, turning the dispute into a promotional “postcards” redemption stunt. Food Culture: A truffle training class in NSW is using scent-dipped cotton balls to teach dogs to hunt “buried treasure,” reflecting how luxury food experiences are being packaged for everyday enthusiasts.

Food safety & supply chain: Grain Trade Australia and DAFF have launched the Grain Storage Assets and Management Standard (GSAMS) at AGIC 2026, aiming to strengthen confidence in grain quality, food safety and phytosanitary outcomes across domestic and export supply chains. Health & nutrition research: A Murdoch University-led review in Animals says nutritionally adequate vegan/vegetarian diets for dogs and cats are generally well digested, challenging the idea pets can’t handle plant-based proteins. Agrifood innovation: QAAFI researchers at UQ have unveiled new purple passionfruit breeding varieties to refresh an industry facing declining performance from older hybrids. Food & environment: Australian researchers report a nanoparticle spritz approach that could help tomatoes cope with salty soil. Pet food & digestibility: Separate research also supports that vegan/vegetarian pet diets are broadly comparable to meat-based diets on digestibility. Food culture: A Sydney dining feature highlights “closed-eye” champagne tasting as a sensory experience.