PMAC weekly update 30th September to 6th October

1. Government agencies: ICPR Changes

2. New Zealand News: Foreign Minister visited Australia and PNG; SeekaFresh opens its doors; Sustainability in the Avocado Industry; Our story in Asia is of premium avocados from New Zealand; Hawke's Bay apple company nominated for top national award; US craft brewers chase unique Kiwi hop flavours; Oversees worker boost too small; Immigration NZ investigates corruption complaint against employee; New Zealand onion exporter looking to take advantage of growing global demand; NZ exporter Garra International merges with US-based KIT International; Heavy lightning, hail and flooding in Hawke's Bay; Plant & Food Research and Compac collaboration honoured at KiwiNet Awards; Motivation to adhere to exercise may be improved by consumption of New Zealand blackcurrants; Northland welcomes proposal to shift Auckland port to Northport; Reviving horticulture education in Katikati

3. International news: GAIN reports; US to implement new tariffs on fruit from EU; EU and Indonesia enhance economic ties; Plotting a course for South-East Europe; Freshfel's latest Headlines; Packaging fresh produce helps reduce food waste, according to new report; Bayer to invest more than 25 billion euros in Crop Science R&D; Aerial surveying and targeted spraying: Drones for applying pesticides and fertilizers; Hawk-eyed robot ‘cuts chemical use by 95 per cent; Farming and food security to be affected by melting ice and rising seas; Food companies are aligning with international sustainability goals, but need to do more, study finds; Study on slowing down memory loss in men; Berries ‘could help heal wounds’

Editors Comments This week I’d like to bring to your attention two types of articles that are becoming more and more common in the news I monitor for this update. These are well represented in this week’s edition.

In the New Zealand section it’s articles abut the strength of the New Zealand industry and the confidence that exporters (and apparently our overseas markets ) have in New Zealand horticultural produce. The fact this is backed by innovation and good quality targeted research just shows this success is due to more than just selling a well grown commodity.

PMAC weekly update Page 1

The other rapidly rising trend, both in New Zealand and internationally, is sustainability. As concern for climate change continues to increase sustainability becomes higher and higher profile. This week’s articles include some on the use of agritech which will can help decrease chemical use and ensure each plant has exactly the nutrients and water it needs to thrive. There is also reference to food companies aligning themselves with sustainability goals and news that Bayer has announced its commitments which will guide the companies research for the next decade. Two (out of three) have a sustainability orientation one to reduce the environmental impact of crop protection by 30% and a second to reduce field greenhouse gases emissions from the most emitting crops systems by 30%. Its good to see that companies and industries are progressing areas which the worlds Governments appear incapable of backing.

1. Agency news

1.1. ICPR changesThe ICPR for European Union has been updated with an additional declaration required for fresh capsicum and eggplant that “New Zealand is free from Spodoptera frugiperda”.

This requirement will be in place until 30 June 2021.

2. New Zealand News

2.1. Foreign Minister visited Australia and PNG Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters travelled to Australia and Papua New Guinea last week.The Minister went to Sydney to attend the regular six monthly Foreign Ministers Consultations with his counterpart Marise Payne. The Minister also visited Port Moresby for discussions with Prime Minister Marape and Deputy Prime Minister Davis Steven. Full article available here

2.2. SeekaFresh opens its doorsAustralasian fresh produce company Seeka has launched SeekaFresh, a rebranded wholesale and distribution service for the New Zealand market. Located in the Auckland suburb of Mt Wellington, the new-look operation will provide a variety of locally grown and imported seasonal fruit and vegetables to wholesalers and retailers.The rebrand follows Verena Cunningham’s appointment as general manager of SeekaFresh. Seeka’s

PMAC weekly update Page 2

chief executive Michael Franks said the move reflected the revitalisation of Seeka’s fresh produce business. Full article available here

2.3. Sustainability in the Avocado Industry New Zealand Avocado says the global Avocado industry needs to create best practice so the fruit is grown in ways that consumers know are sustainable. Chief Executive, Jen Scoular told the World Avocado Congress in Columbia that the industry is growing, particularly in New Zealand, and the fruit is increasing in popularity with consumers. But not enough steps are being taken to ensure that messages are being sent to the public with enough research.

"Sustainability must be very much a part of the plans that we make and we must be looking at how we do this; what the impact on the environment, on the people, and on the economies are," she said. "What we are learning from our forebears is that they have, for hundreds of years, valued their people and the environment. They are not making five year plans, as we are. They are making 100 year plans. What we need to do is make sure that we look after our people, environment and economies to ensure this industry is healthy in 100 years."

This article then contains a good profile of the NZ Avocado Industry and the orchard based research they have underway. Full article available here

2.4. Our story in Asia is of premium avocados from New ZealandNew Zealand is a small producer, but we are focused on export," Mr Jelley Avocado NZ’s marketing manager said at the recent International congress in Columbia . "We have relatively high costs of production, we have high labour costs, and a relatively high cost of land. So, we know we must take a different approach to market development. We are not big enough to feed all the consumers in the world. So, we have to seek out and connect with consumers and what they are willing to pay for a premium product."

Our story in Asia is of premium avocados from New Zealand. We tell a story of NZ providence, which leverages off the tourism concepts of the country's purity and beauty. We tell a story of avocado's unique nutrients and associated health benefits. We work with chefs in market to develop localised avocado recipes, and we focus on consumer education; how to choose a ripe and ready to eat selection and storage at home.

Mr Jelley added that the peak industry body is able to take a lot of information from social media accounts, which are highly popular across the continent. We use this to adapt our strategies moving forward. Full article available here

2.5. Hawke's Bay apple company nominated for top national award

PMAC weekly update Page 3

Rockit Global Limited is again celebrating success after it has been named as a finalist in the New Zealand International Business Awards for the Best Medium Business category. The company is the only Hawke's Bay finalist named in the run-up to the awards, which are managed by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and supported by ANZ, recognising excellence and innovation in businesses trading globally. The winners will be announced at a black-tie dinner in Auckland on 07 November. Full article available here

2.6. US craft brewers chase unique Kiwi hop flavoursThe Tasman District produces distinct flavours in their hops that cannot be replicated, according to Jason Judkins, Chief Executive of Nelson's Hop Revolution. US brewers are keen to use New Zealand hops to stand out among competitors. Mr Judkins visited 50 breweries on a recent trip the US, and states Hop Revolution will be working with around 30 of those breweries to supply next year’s harvest. Hop Revolution is developing its 116 hectare Tapawera hop garden with My Farm Investments and is in the process of buying a second property, Wairua Hop Garden, in Motueka in order to keep up with demand. Hop Revolution is working on an allocation and partnership model and is contracted to supply 60 to 70 percent of next year's harvest to the US. Andrew Watters is Chief Executive at My Farm Investments and states that New Zealand hops attract a premium price worldwide Full article available here

2.7. Oversees worker boost too smallImmigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway has approved an extra 3150 RSE workers over the next two years with 1550 this season and 1600 next year. That takes the total number employed here this season to 14,400. Kiwifruit Growers Chief Executive Nikki Johnson has stated that the increased number of RSE workers announced this week means that the kiwifruit sector will get only about half its requested extra workers. RSE workers typically make up about 20% of the kiwifruit sector’s staff and last year accounted for 1550 workers. Last season it was estimated that the sector was 2000 workers short of what was needed. Seeka Chief Executive Michael Franks has reported he welcomes any increase but is confident the extra 3000 workers can be easily absorbed by the kiwifruit sector alone. Mr Franks noted that last season they made do with the shortage by making the shifts longer.

In the past year 2282 new beds were created by the industry, in order to provide accommodation for RSE workers. Much of the existing and planned accommodation is on orchard or pack-house sites that would not otherwise be used by New Zealanders requiring rental housing, ensuring the sector meets a ministerial decree not to put pressure on local housing stocks. Full article available here

2.8. Immigration NZ investigates corruption complaint against employee

PMAC weekly update Page 4

An Immigration New Zealand investigation into a corruption complaint is underway after complaints that a disproportionate number of RSE workers have been allocated to the Hawke’s Bay since the beginning of the programme. National Party Immigration Spokesman Stuart Smith has reported that a staff member is being investigated and other people have been stood down as a resultFull article available here

2.9. New Zealand onion exporter looking to take advantage of growing global demand

A leading New Zealand export marketing company says demand for the country's onions is increasing globally, particularly in Asia. Integrow supplies mainly onions and apples, with each making up about 50 per cent of total sales. Managing Director Philip Bird says 2019 was a record year for the company, and New Zealand has 1-2 new markets opening up for 2020.

The company also exports some carrots, pumpkin, citrus and avocados, and recently showcased its produce and services at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong. Philip considers that if the UK is out of the EU, it could lead more opportunities for NZ onions, as UK Government looks to secure supply via free trade agreement with NZ," "In addition we look forward to supplying good volumes again of our safe NZ onions to Europe, but also Asia is increasing its buying power every year, so we have a nice balance developing." Full article available here

2.10. NZ exporter Garra International merges with US-based KIT InternationalChristchurch-based exporter Garra International ( founded 25 years ago) will merge with global trading company KIT International creating a joint venture, with a combined turnover in excess of NZ$350 million taking New Zealand and international primary produce to the world. Garra specializes in marketing and exporting meat, offal, dairy, vegetables and seafood – sourced from trusted suppliers throughout the world – to markets in the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and North America. KIT International was founded in the United States in 2011 and sells around 65,000 tons of primary produce annually throughout the world. The joint venture will combine 85 current staff and necessitate new hires in Christchurch and other global offices.

KIT, prior to the merger, had no presence in New Zealand. The merged companies will have offices in New Zealand, Brazil, Paraguay, Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, United States of America and Australia. Full article available here

2.11. Heavy lightning, hail and flooding in Hawke's BayLast Tuesday afternoon, a heavy hail storm pummelled Hawke's Bay, badly damaging some fruit orchards and collapsing a shop roof. Temperatures dropped dramatically mid-afternoon bringing hail, thunder and dramatic lightning strikes near Napier.

PMAC weekly update Page 5

Thunderstorms and heavy rain were also reported in Central Hawke's Bay. Full article available here

A Hawke's Bay orchard owner says Tuesday’s hailstorm was the heaviest in 20 years, and could have significant consequences for the summer fruit season but one blessing of the storm, was that it wasn't two weeks later. With the season under way, cherry blossoms could be the crop most hurt by the storm. "Cherries are in blossom. Some in 100 per cent blossom, some in 50 to 80 per cent blossom. Our cherries are reasonably well-protected because of netting, which broke the impact of the fall of the hail. But we won't know the extent of damage done for a week or two yet."Chief executive of New Zealand Apple & Pears Allan Pollard said early varieties of pip fruit could have been affected by the sustained hail on Tuesday: "It's a bit early to tell. Full article available here

2.12. Plant & Food Research and Compac collaboration honoured at KiwiNet Awards

A collaboration between Plant & Food Research and Compac, part of TOMRA Food, has won the PwC Commercial Impact Award at the 2019 KiwiNet Awards for the development of world-leading fruit grading and sorting technologies – Compac’s Spectrim™ and Inspectra²™. The judging panel calls the partnership “a textbook example of successful collaboration between research and industry to build a world-leading business with global reach and massive economic benefit to New Zealand.”

Inspectra2™ is Compac’s latest platform designed to accurately detect and grade internal fruit defects. Launched in 2016, the Inspectra2 system is a non-invasive, near-infrared (NIR) technology used for testing the internal properties of produce. NIR inspection analyses the spectra of light that is transmitted through every piece of produce to determine internal characteristics. External appearance is important for buyers’ purchase decisions, but internal quality is critical for consumer satisfaction. Beyond protecting and enhancing brand, NIR can increase profitability through supply chain optimization and reduced food waste. Sales of the Compac technologies have exceeded expectations in the two years since release, with sales of the system in over 50 countries, and have led to increased manufacturing volumes and capabilities at the Auckland-based factory. Full article available here

2.13. Motivation to adhere to exercise may be improved by consumption of New Zealand blackcurrants

Scientists at Plant & Food Research have found that juice from New Zealand blackcurrants consumed prior to exercising could increase motivation to adhere to exercise. This study looked at the effects of consuming polyphenolic-rich New Zealand blackcurrant juice one hour prior to exercising and found that participants who consumed the New Zealand blackcurrant juice had a significantly lower perception of exercise exertion at time-points over the first 60 minutes than the control group.Full article available here

PMAC weekly update Page 6

2.14. Northland welcomes proposal to shift Auckland port to NorthportNorthland is welcoming a recommendation that Ports of Auckland closes and moves all its freight to Northport. The Upper North Island Supply Chain Strategy, headed by former Far North mayor Wayne Brown, made the recommendation in its second interim report released on Thursday. When the plan is refined into a final report it will go to the Cabinet next month.

This shift would be New Zealand's most ambitious infrastructure project ever proposed, costing $10 billion, including a $1.6 billion rail line to Marsden Point, a freight hub in northwest Auckland, a major expansion of Northport and bringing forward the four-laning of State Highway 1 to Whangārei. Full article available here

2.15. Reviving horticulture education in KatikatiWhat began as a project to create a new, innovative and attractive horticulture course for Katikati College students has morphed into offering education and pathways to employment for the wider community.

Hilary their teacher has designed a modular, flexible, cross-curricular and future-focused programme where students personalise their learning by picking their own subjects. Classes also offer real-world learning and industry involvement, with out-of-school learning such field trips the norm.

But while the college’s horticulture subject went from 19 enrolments in 2018 to 58 this year, and is forecast to hit 80 in 2020 – something occurred to Hilary. “We realised there are people out there who don’t have access to this sort of training and education – and we needed to do something for the whole community, rather just for the college.”

The result is Katikati Innovative Horticulture Trust – which is fundraising to build a new horticulture block on the college grounds to educate both school students and local youth not in paid work or education. The trust’s aiming to bring the community into this programme to improve youth employability, and support needs of the industry – and altogether make a positive change. We’ll run this free, NEET-specific training separately, but alongside our school programme, using other providers and expertise who will team up with us. We won’t do it as a school – but we will host it.” Hilary says education will go up to a diploma course above Level 3 and lead participants directly to a career pathway or a job. Full article available here

3. International news

Comment 3.1. GAIN reports

PMAC weekly update Page 7

Gain reports are from the “Global Agricultural Information Network” and are produced by the USDA. They are designed to provide timely information on the economy, products and issues in foreign countries that are likely to have an impact on United States agricultural production and trade. The information in them is written for USA exporters but the majority is equally relevant to New Zealand. With regard to import regulations for a particular market New Zealand exporters should first check the countries ICPR on MPI’s web site. These are collated specifically for New Zealand product. However the Gain reports often provide additional information that is useful e.g. on grading and labelling, economic profiles. This week see:

a) Brazil Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional According to food service operators, Brazil has a solid food service industry which is becoming more dynamic. The performance of online delivery platforms and changes on nutritional habits will likely change the profile of the industry. Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional_Sao Paulo ATO_Brazil_09-30-2019

b) Hong kong Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional Hong Kong is the fifth-largest export market for U.S. consumer-oriented agricultural products, by value. With a dynamic food culture, sophisticated buyers, and world-class logistical infrastructure, Hong Kong is a market to promote high-quality, innovative U.S. food and beverage products as well as a gateway to the region. Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional_Hong Kong_Hong Kong_09-30-2019

c) Israel Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional The Israeli Hotel Restaurant Institutional (HRI) sector is generally stable with the economy’s growth over the past decade leading to an increase in spending on dining out. Sales in hotels and resorts continue to grow. Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional_Tel Aviv_Israel_09-30-2019

d) Peru Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional Peru is an internationally recognized gastronomic hub with opportunities for imported complementary food products. FAS Lima forecasts Peru’s hotel, restaurant and institutional (i.e., HRI) sector to grow 4 percent in 2019 based on new restaurant openings, the consolidation of the fast food chains, and the expansion of commercial shopping malls. Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional_Lima_Peru_09-30-2019

Regulatory3.2. US to implement new tariffs on fruit from EUThe US says it will implement a 10% tariff on EU aircraft and a 25% tax on "agricultural and other products" starting Oct. 18. This follows a World Trade Organization's ruling allowing the US to impose up to $7.5 billion in tariffs on European products each year.

This meant that the US Trade Representative (USTR) and the EU have each drafted lists of at least $20 billion worth of each other's products to tax in response to this WTO

PMAC weekly update Page 8

decision. Meanwhile, tariffs from the US trade war with China are estimated to cost US households $2,000 each by next year, per the National Foundation for American Policy.

The USTR released a list on Wednesday of which European products will be hit with tariffs; these include coffee, olive oil and fruit, mainly cherries, peaches, pears, oranges, lemons, and other agricultural goods. The US can block the billions in trade from Europe until the two sides have negotiated a settlement or the WTO decides Europe has complied with its guidelines. Both parties are expected to meet for trade talks Oct. 14. Click here to see the full list of production subject to additional duties. Full article available here and Full article available here

3.3. EU and Indonesia enhance economic tiesWith a budget of EUR 15 million, ARISE+ Indonesia is an initiative that Indonesia has commenced with European assistance to boost the country's export competitiveness and integration into the global value chains, beginning this year and ending in 2023.

The programme will advance Indonesia’s expertise in negotiating free trade agreements, improve the quality infrastructure required to boost export of key products and will promote the country’s geographical indications (GIs). The EU is Indonesia’s third largest trading partner and among the most important source of foreign direct investment (FDI). Full article available here

Business/ Industry3.4. Plotting a course for South-East EuropeFruitnet Forum South-East Europe, one of the European fresh produce industry’s leading international networking events, returns to Belgrade on 6-7 November. Bringing together regional and international professionals from the fruit and vegetable sector, it will highlight new strategies for attracting investment, fostering cooperation, improving quality and expanding to new markets. Full article available here

3.5. Freshfel's latest Headlines Freshfel's1 latest Headlines for the period August to September 2019 are now available here. The Headlines gives an overview of the most recent Freshfel activities. They include:

1 Freshfel Europe is the forum for the European fresh fruit and vegetable chain. Freshfel Europe represents its members at European and international level, ensuring a diverse, sustainable and robust European fruit and vegetable sector.

PMAC weekly update Page 9

Positive results for Freshfel Europe’s ‘Follow me to be healthy with Europe’ campaign

Jose Antonio Garcia Fernandez, Freshfel Europe Board Member reappointed to lead European Commission CDG on Fruit and Vegetables 

Freshfel Europe presents management differences between single and multi promotion programmes of EU agricultural products to Expert Group on Promotion

Freshfel Europe presents at European Commission promotion event at Asiafruitlogistica, Hong Kong

Freshfel Europe attends Childhood Obesity Stakeholder Conference Freshfel Europe teams up with OECD to explore European F&V online sales Freshfel Europe contributes to FAO Code of Conduct on Food Loss and Food Waste Freshfel Europe contributes to World Food Security Voluntary Guidelines on Food

Systems and Nutrition Task Force for Fruit and Vegetable Research submits research priorities to

European Commission Freshfel Europe intensifies preparatory work on Official Control Regulations

2017/625

3.6. Packaging fresh produce helps reduce food waste, according to new

reportA new report has highlighted the importance of striking a balance between packaging that reduces the environmental impact of food waste, compared to the environmental impacts of that packaging in the fresh produce industry. The Australian Fresh Produce Alliance (AFPA) has released research by RMIT University on the role of packaging for Australian fresh produce. It found that product protection should be the primary goal of packaging, as food waste generally accounts for a larger proportion of the life-cycle environmental impacts of the food-packaging system.

Waste is a complex issue that members of the Alliance have been contending with for some time and there is not a silver bullet solution. But it was clear that new packaging formats assisted in the establishment of new markets for previously out of specification produce. Industry is working to address the interlocking issues of food waste, packaging and recycling. We have committed to reducing and removing unnecessary packaging and developing new packaging materials. We are also looking to better understand what happens to fruit, vegetables and their packaging in the home so we can better understand how product and packaging formats can prevent food waste."

The Australian Fresh Produce Alliance has released a packaging commitment which outlines five key elements to minimise packaging waste:

1. Ensuring that the role of packaging is focused on providing consumers with freshly grown, healthy and nutritious food, and minimising food waste.

2. Implementing the agreement by state and federal Environment Ministers in April 2018 that ‘100 per cent of Australian packaging be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025 or earlier to cut down on the amount of waste we produce’.

PMAC weekly update Page 10

a. More than 75% of Alliance members’ current retail packaging (by volume) is recyclable, compostable or reusable.

3. Removing any non-functional or surplus packaging by designing it for optimal efficiency to maintain product freshness and maximising the availability of nutritious food.

4. Reducing the amount of packaging through the broader supply chain, and working toward developing a circular economy for packaging (where current packaging is recycled into new packaging) including recycled content.

5. Working with industry, suppliers, recyclers, and retailers to deliver outcomes, and encouraging the development of environmentally sustainable packaging.

The full report is available at http://freshproduce.org.au/resources/ Full article available here

3.7. Bayer to invest more than 25 billion euros in Crop Science R&DBayer welcomed farmers, academics, leading global industry experts, journalists and other stakeholders for its 2019 Future of Farming Dialogue, to engage in a collaborative discussion on the future of agriculture.

Under the theme “Tomorrow belongs to all of us” the event gathered speakers and participants from around 40 countries for two days of panel discussions, talks and interviews on issues and opportunities facing the industry. Topics discussed include the need to find a balance between production of food and preservation of our planet; consumer demands to have a healthy diet with no negative impact on the environment; and the importance of crop protection tools for sustainable agriculture.

During the event, Bayer announced it is introducing three commitments to address some of the most pressing challenges our world is currently facing by 2030:

1. Reduce the environmental impact of crop protection by 30 percent by developing new technologies that help farmers to scale down crop protection product volumes and enable a more precise application.

2. Reduce field greenhouse gases emissions from the most emitting crops systems in the regions Bayer serves by 30 percent.

3. Empower 100 million smallholder farmers in developing countries around the world by providing more access to sustainable agricultural solutions.

Bayer stated long-term success of Crop Science lies not in selling more products, but in providing farmers with personalized solutions, enabling them to achieve better harvests more sustainably using less resources such as water, land, inputs and energy. Last year Bayer invested 2.3 billion euros in Crop Science R&D on a pro forma basis – this figure is expected to rise to over 25 billion euros accumulated over the next 10 years. Some 7,300 scientists are working in over 35 R&D sites and more than 175 breeding stations to deliver innovation.

Data science and innovative digital tools also enable Bayer to sustainably improve the efficiency of its business operations while, at the same time, empowering farmers to make better decisions about how to grow crops. Full article available here

PMAC weekly update Page 11

3.8. Aerial surveying and targeted spraying: Drones for applying pesticides and fertilizers

Bayer and XAG have recently collaborated in Hangzhou, China, to host a crop dusting drone demonstration on citrus trees. XAG's fruit tree solution is an all-terrain autonomous drone spraying technology that resolves the global challenge of applying pesticides and fertilizers on complex terrains, such as mountains, hills and terraces.

To examine the efficacy of UAS fruit tree solution, XAG and Bayer selected a typical citrus orchard in Hangzhou's Jiande Town to conduct spraying on mandarin trees. The orchard covers a small area of 1.5 hectares but is located in rugged hills, where the mandarin trees are planted in uneven density and have grown to different heights. It used to take three days for three workers aged over 60s to manually spray the entire orchard for one time. By contrast, the field experiment showed that one XAG P Series Plant Protection UAS could effectively spray half of the orchard area in only 10 minutes.

While Bayer's experts had provided plant disease diagnosis and prescription, XAG utilized its newly released 3D flight modes – band, hover and spiral to conduct precision spraying operation on different types of terrains. Each of the fruit trees only received its demanded dosage, without excessive waste of water and pesticides. This was achieved through a coherent process from aerial surveying, 3D modelling, AI recognition to targeted spraying. The UAS fruit tree solution can help farmers grow high-quality horticultural crops and other cash crops in limited lands with less water and chemicals. Full article available here

3.9. Hawk-eyed robot ‘cuts chemical use by 95 per cent’Research trials of a new automated weed-killing robot are reported to have reduced herbicide usage on crops by up to 95 per cent.  A recent trial in Reading demonstrated how the eyeSpot robot uses cameras to identify weeds in vegetable fields. It targets weeds individually and applies precise herbicide droplets with an ejector, which accurately fires treatment to the individual leaves of each weed. Full article available here

3.10. Farming and food security to be affected by melting ice and rising seasMelting glaciers and rising sea levels – climate change will have profound consequences for ecosystems and people, if we do not take urgent action in order to limit global warming. Groups with the highest exposure and vulnerability, such as the poor, farmers and indigenous peoples, will be hit hardest since they often are those with the lowest capacity to respond. This is the message of a new special report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In a two-year process, more than 100 authors from 36 countries assessed the latest scientific literature related to the

PMAC weekly update Page 12

ocean and cryosphere (the frozen parts of the planet, including snow cover, glaciers and permafrost).

The consequences for people are severe: “Food and water security have been negatively impacted by changes in snow cover, lake and river ice, and permafrost in many Arctic regions. For example In the Indus and Ganges river basins, for example, snow and glacier melt provides enough water to grow food crops to sustain a balanced diet for 38 million people, and supports the livelihoods of 129 million farmers. Download report: Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate Full article available here

3.11. Food companies are aligning with international sustainability goals, but need to do more, study finds

Many food industry leaders have embraced sustainable development and generally started working toward alignment with larger international accords, but much more work is needed, according to a study from the Barilla Foundation. The Italy-based group looked at brands' progress in working toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement mandates. There was a lack of information from companies in certain areas such as in providing a detailed supply chain analysis by product line and source region, leading to the study suggesting developing a common reporting framework for this kind of information. The study looked at ten large companies including Nestle, Carrefour, Danone, Unilever and Walmart.Full article available here

Health

3.12. Study on slowing down memory loss in menEating fruits and vegetables every day helps ensure a healthy physique, but according to a recent study they also may be essential for a strong brain too. The study found that men, in particular, who consume six servings of vegetables and three servings of fruit daily experience less memory loss over time.

Researchers followed 27,842 men over the course of 20 years. The men, all healthcare professionals who averaged 51 years of age, were asked to fill out questionnaires about their regular diets, and especially their fruit and vegetable consumption. Every four years, they completed the same questionnaires. Full article available here

3.13. Berries ‘could help heal wounds’Blackberries are thought to be particularly good at healing wound. A study, published in the journal Food Research International, analysed the anti-inflammatory and wound

PMAC weekly update Page 13

healing properties of strawberries and blackberries. The scientists found that blackberries were particularly good at helping to suppress reactive oxygen species – molecules that are produced when tissues are injured. Berry proanthocyanidins – the very compounds that give berries their red, blue, or purple colours – also appeared to reduce the need for nitric oxide synthesis, a compound involved in wound repair. 

“Ongoing research in the form of in vivo human studies are now needed. In the meantime, regular berry consumption, particularly strawberries and blackberries, for those with sores, ulcers or other wounds or injuries, could be a nice, tasty way to benefit from their anti-inflammatory effects. And to step it up even further, eating berries with a spoonful or squirt of honey could be the perfect combination to help heal wounds. Full article available here

Subscribe/ Unsubscribe If you no longer wish to receive this email please send a note to info@pmac.co.nz asking to be added/ removed and providing the nominated email address

Disclaimer Please note this information has been accessed from emails that have been forwarded to info@PMAC.co.nz and are distributed as a weekly update. If you intend using this information please sight the original document to ensure you are aware of the context within which any changes have been made and to guard against any transcription changes

PMAC weekly update Page 14