Swiss flavour giant Givaudan has achieved Rainforest Alliance certification for selected vanilla extracts in the European market, strengthening its sustainability portfolio through direct farmer partnerships in Madagascar. The certification provides full traceability from certified villages to the company’s Netherlands extraction facility.

SIG has entered a strategic partnership with PulPac, a global leader in Dry Molded Fiber technology, to develop paper-based closures for its aseptic cartons. The collaboration aims to accelerate large-scale production of sustainable closure alternatives that match the performance properties of traditional plastic closures.

Ukrainian agri-food company MHP has successfully closed its acquisition of over 92% of Grupo UVESA’s share capital, marking a significant expansion into the Spanish market. The transaction, valued at €225 per share with potential contingent consideration of up to €21.43 per share, was completed following regulatory approvals from multiple jurisdictions.

A collaborative four-year project led by the Italian Space Agency is developing genetically modified rice varieties specifically designed for cultivation in space environments and extreme terrestrial conditions.