THAIFEX 2014 indicates solid growth

This edition is 10% bigger, with participation from more than 1,400 exhibitors from 40 countries

I, farmer robot

Farming intelligence takes the physical load off farmers and increases their competitiveness

Collagen peptides reduce eye wrinkles

Daily intake of 2.5g of Verisol said to reduce wrinkles after four to eight weeks

Ready for the ‘silver tsunami’

A UNITED NATIONS report on world population ageing puts the number of people aged 60+ at one billion, by 2050. About 62% of these seniors will be from the Asia-Pacific region.1 Asia’s so-called ‘silver tsunami’ is imminent, and with it come multiple implications for society.

Live longer, live better

THERE ARE significant changes under way in the global economy. The continuing rise of emerging markets is one. Aging populations is another. The latter is gripping not just developed markets, such as Japan and Europe, in parts of emerging Asia, populations are greying rapidly as well.

Cost-effective wastewater treatment

THE COHRAL technology from Global Water Engineering is an economical means of increasing the quality of wastewater produced by agribusiness whilst addressing the odour pollution issue toward assisting crop and livestock operations to achieve higher environmental standards. It involves a Covered High Rate Anaerobic Lagoon (COHRAL) that uses concentrated anaerobic bacteria to digest at least 70% of the organic matter (COD or chemical oxygen demand) in wastewater to produce effluent of far higher q

To market, with just the right crisp

WHEN Martin’s Family Fruit Farm decided to turn the fruit of its labour into a snack, Kevin Martin drove from Ontario to North Carolina with boxes of apples in the back of his truck. He dreamed of developing a product from the orchards of the family’s 700-acre farm, and he wanted Buhler Aeroglide’s drying expertise to help bring the idea to market.

China’s F&B packaging industry

IN 2013, China’s output of food and beverage was worth in excess of $1.6 trillion (￥10 trillion). The food and packaging machinery total output value was close to $48 billion ((￥300 billion), increasing by 15.6 % in annual growth rate of the national machinery industry.

Fresh coffee, tea direct from the bag

A CREATIVE solution to pack ground coffee and tea leaves is a stand-up pouch that is shaped like a coffee pot. Developed by Bossar Packaging SA, based in Barcelona, Spain, the attractive pouch comes complete with an integral filter, zipper closure system and corner valve insertion for pouring the freshly brewed coffee and tea.

Barrier packaging meets Asia’s evolving lifestyle

THERE ARE multiple factors for the deterioration of food quality and shelf life – chemical reactions from prolonged exposure to oxygen and/or light, time, moisture, physical stress, micro-organisms, pest infestation, temperature, etc. Although typical packaging materials and specific storage conditions can protect against some of these factors, certain factors pertaining to oxygen and moisture require special barrier materials.

Unquenchable thirst for specialty coffee

SURPLUS production of coffee has led to a decline in prices in 2013 but these rose again by 30% to 35% in the first quarter of this year. The fluctuation is largely due to an unusual drought in Brazil, the world’s largest coffee supplier. However, even with crop failure in Brazil, there should be enough stocks to supply the market until next year, according to International Coffee Organisation (ICO) head of operations, Mauricio Galindo.

Spice giant leads the way

HEADQUARTERED in Fresno, California, Olam Spices & Vegetable Ingredients (Olam SVI) is amongst the world’s major producers of spices and vegetable ingredients. It has mastered the full supply chain from source to market, growing and sourcing the finest raw materials in spice and vegetable ingredients.