Australia: AU$2 Million in Funding Awarded to Optimize Hazelnut Production
Charles Sturt University is leading a five-year AU$2 million research program funded by AgriFutures Australia to optimize hazelnut production in Australia. The research program will support the long-term growth and competitive advantage of the Australian hazelnut industry by developing quality standards and an industry framework, and drive growth through innovation and communication.
EU: Council Formally Adopts Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
On December 16, 2024, the Council formally adopted the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, marking the final step in the legislative procedure. The regulation covers the full lifecycle of packaging, restricting certain types of single-use packaging and requiring economic operators to minimize the packaging used.
Given the enormous interest in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, the European Commission organized a webinar in December on the content of the Regulation, the implementation steps, and answers to frequently asked questions. Slides from the webinar and a recording of the event are available here.
EU: Forced Labor Ban Enters Into Force
On December 12, 2024, Regulation (EU) 2024/3015, banning products made with forced labor from the EU market, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It entered into force the day after its publication and will apply from December 14, 2027.
Spain: Strategic Plan to Ensure Long-Term Viability of Pistachio Sector
In December 2024, the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha, which produces more than half of Spain’s pistachios, unveiled its five-year Strategic Plan for Pistachios. This initiative aims to build a robust, well-structured, and sustainable pistachio industry for the long term. The plan focuses on five key areas: sector integration and scaling, enhancing processing capacity, increasing the value of the product, fostering research and innovation, and creating an interprofessional agri-food organization for pistachios.
USA: Grant Awarded for Research on Sustainable Almond Production
The University of California, Davis has been awarded nearly US$1 million in funding to advance climate-smart agriculture adoption for perennial crops like almonds that are grown in semi-arid environments. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research provided half of the funds, with Almond Board of California, Ceres AI, TriNut Farm Management Inc., UC Davis, and the UC Merced providing matching funds.