The Editor

After years of uncertainty over what happens to household soft plastics, a new Australian partnership is proving they can be recycled, and reused, locally, and at scale ... ARR.News interviews Matthew Holloway from the Holloway Group and Danial Gallagher from iQRenew.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry recently announced the delivery of an $8 million grant program to support industry to scale up production of Asparagopsis, the red seaweed known for its significant methane-reducing qualities when fed to livestock. ARR.News asked Professor Catriona Macleod, ASSA Chair, for an update on the state of industry in Australia.

Testimony to the potential presented by Southeast Asia is the steady progress of innovative Australia agtech company Bygen, both domestically and in the region, in this case Vietnam. Bygen is a Melbourne-based manufacturer producing granular and powdered activated carbon products. ARR.News found out more from Cameron Griffiths, Bygen CCO.

Whether the risks posed by imports from Australia's trading partners are being sufficiently assessed and addressed, whether we really need to or should import certain products at all, and whether Australia is becoming complacent, resigned, or courting disaster for political Brownie points - such questions are being asked more often. ... This last week, Australia's biosecurity around beef and banana imports was called into question by David Littleproud, Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Agriculture Minister. ARR.News sought a response from Julie Collins, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry ...

Rainforest Reserves Australia (RRA) has released a detailed and interactive Australian Renewable Energy map, created by conservationist Steven Nowakowski in collaboration with RRA, which it says "reveals the true scale of industrial renewable energy projects across the nation". It has elicited unsurprisingly contrasting responses from Labor and The Nationals.

JAZZ™ apples are the first of their kind to undergo a groundbreaking compostable sticker trial, reaffirming a commitment to reducing environmental impact and paving the way for an eco-friendly future. ARR.News found out more from Montague Farms and J-Tech.

Australia’s sheep industry is at a turning point - and producers are being asked to help write the next chapter. Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) has launched the development of The Future Flock, a national strategy designed to guide the sheepmeat and wool sector through change and set a profitable, resilient direction for decades to come. ARR.News asked some questions of SPA CEO Bonnie Skinner about The Future Flock and national strategy.

Shared love of a wee dram that has distilled into a brilliant business. The Single Malt Whisky Club started when two mates would catch up on Friday nights and relax with a shared bottle of single malt whisky. At the time single malt whisky mainly came from Scotland and only a few brands were available in Australia. ARR.News found out more about single malts, the club and the business from founder Brad Wright.

Sam Marwood, the Founder and Managing Director of Cultivate Farms, reports on the information session held at Malanda Dairy Centre in the Atherton Tablelands. ARR.News found out some more about the sharefarming concept from Sam ... "The ultimate aim is to empower aspiring farmers to own profitable farms, revitalise regional communities, and create sustainable, profitable agriculture across Australia."

Foresters and environmentalists in Australia may not have seen eye to eye of late, but on the subject of forest clearances for large scale renewable energy developments, there are increasing instances where their objections to the consequential impact on the forest make them de facto allies.