Topic “In the News News” — Exporter Magazine

A start-up Auckland firm is applying nanotechnology to a fisheries by-product to manufacture 100% biodegradable, antibacterial air filters—a New Zealand first in an expanding global market. The Shiv Sena party activists last week drained thousands of litres of milk near Pune, south of Mumbai, according to an online report by India Today. The provocation came after the government’s decision to import 30,000 tonnes of milk powder and 15,000 tonnes of ghee from New Zealand. Air freight rates from Asia to Europe continue to decline as a weakening euro and doubts over economic growth create uncertainty among retailers, according to International Freight Weekly (IFW). Ireland is planning a big increase in milk output once quotas are lifted in 2015 as the government places food at the heart of an export led growth strategy, according to dairyreporter.com. Global demand for functional additives and barrier coatings for plastic packaging is forecast to grow by 4.3% in the five years from 2009 to reach US$752 million (NZ$1.03 billion) by 2014, according to a report by foodproductiondaily.com.