Science Alert - Tackling The Global Food Challenge

World food security, as Australian consumers and others are fast discovering, is at its lowest in half a century. The precipitous fall in world food stocks in the past seven years is forewarning of what we can expect in the next few decades as civilisation runs low on water, arable land, nutrients and technology, as marine catches collapse, as biofuels grow and energy costs rise, and as droughts intensify under climate change.

Stuff.co.nz - Litigious NZ a 'turnoff' for oil explorers

Oil and gas companies are too quick to start legal battles and that is a turnoff for international explorers who see New Zealand as "irrelevant".

Business Day NZ - Women and oil simply do not mix

Dutch Disease may sound like a variant of syphilis or an obscure tree fungus but is actually an economic term.

According to the Social Science Research Network, it “refers to the fears of de-industrialisation that gripped the Netherlands as a result of the appreciation of the Dutch currency that followed the discovery of natural [oil] deposits”.

The Age - Tough gig for new transport minister

Labor has neglected transport in NSW and whoever takes over the portfolio from retiring minister John Watkins has their work cut out for them, opposition spokeswoman Gladys Berejiklian says.

Mr Watkins, who is also deputy premier, announced on Wednesday he was quitting politics, prompting embattled Premier Morris Iemma to announce he will reshuffle his ministry.

ABC - Diesel fuel runs low in SA

The Civil Contractors Federation says diesel fuel supplies are low in South Australia and could disrupt major works.

It believes the level in storage tanks at Birkenhead is extremely low and a tanker of fuel from Singapore has been delayed.

Federation chief executive Peter Nolan believes bowsers are being given priority for available fuel.

He says some civil construction companies may consider closing sites because of the problem.

SMH - NSW goes backwards as rates, fuel costs bite

NSW was the only state or territory to record negative growth in the June quarter as its households were hit hardest by high interest rates and petrol prices.

Marlborough Express - Huge fuel theft

More than 4000 litres of fuel has been stolen from a logging site near Rai Valley.

Senior constable Maurice Horne of Havelock police said the thieves broke down a gate to get to a skid site a couple of kilometres from the main road.

NewsTalk ZB - Oil flowing at onshore oil field

Listed oil exploration company Austral Pacific Energy is getting positive results from initial testing of a new well at its onshore Cheal field in Taranaki.

Cheal A7, is producing 200 barrels of oil a day and the company believes it is capable of reaching a maximum flow rate in the range of up to 280 barrels a day.

Mercury - Hydro rules out power rations

HYDRO Tasmania has ruled out power rationing despite the state's record dry.

Chief executive Vince Hawksworth said rationing would only damage investor confidence in the industry's ability to meet demands.

Hydro is in the grip of a record dry spell with water storages at just 22.4 per cent of capacity.

It has been forced to buy 38 per cent of its power source from Basslink, gas and wind energy suppliers to compensate for its energy downfall.

The increased spending on outsourced power, which cost $100 million last financial year, is fuelling concern that power bills are poised to increase.

Money - UPDATE 1-Australia trade swings to deficit on oil jump

Imports rose 3.9 percent in July to A$23.6 billion, largely due to a hefty 29 percent increase in fuel imports.

Analysts noted the recent slide in oil prices, from a peak above $147 a barrel in July to $109.00 on Thursday, would likely see the import bill fall back in August.

The Age - Emissions trading will hurt most, says UBS

BABCOCK & Brown Wind, Woodside Petroleum, Energy Resources of Australia and Paladin Energy have been identified as among the companies that will benefit from an emissions trading scheme, according to a "winners and losers" analysis by UBS investment research.

The Examiner - FUEL SUMMIT - Free buses, alternative fuels part of the push

SIX TOPICS

•Transport dependent industries - How to mitigate rising fuel costs affecting industry?

•Connectivity-Disadvantaged - How to support those most affected by rising transport costs?

•Public transport - How can we increase the availability and usage of public transport options?

•Alternative fuels - What are the fuels of the future and how to best take advantage of them?

•Transport efficiency - How to increase the use of more efficient transport?

•Urban form - How to better plan our cities and urban centres for future transport challenges?