Alastair Child

Mars appoints new sustainability leader amid climate targets

Sustainable food production strategy at Mars Incorporated is set for a significant shift with the appointment of Alastair Child as Chief Sustainability Officer. The appointment comes at a crucial juncture as global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above preindustrial levels in 2024, highlighting the urgency for food manufacturers to accelerate their environmental initiatives.

Aerofarms

Aerofarms advances microgreen production through vertical farming innovation

A leading U.S. microgreens producer is demonstrating commercial viability of indoor vertical farming technology and is achieving significant nutrient density improvements and resource efficiency gains. The company’s Danville, Virginia facility employs aeroponics, robotics and AI to cultivate microgreens containing up to 40 times more phytonutrients than mature plants while using 90% less water than traditional […]

angel yeast

Angel Yeast scales microbial protein facility to tackle alternative protein demand

The completion of Angel Yeast’s main production plant at Baiyang Yichang marks a significant milestone in the company’s sustainable protein development strategy. The facility, scheduled to begin operations this year, represents one of the largest dedicated yeast protein production sites globally, demonstrating the technical feasibility of large-scale microbial protein manufacturing.

Lunar New Year - Chinese dumplings

Chinese dining trends reveal significant consumer behaviour shifts ahead of Lunar New Year 2025

Analysis of over seven million orders from more than 3,000 Asian restaurants across the United States reveals noteworthy shifts in consumer preferences, with traditional chicken dishes showing sustained growth and plant-based proteins gaining market share. The data, compiled by Chinese Menu Online, offers valuable insights for foodservice operations planning Lunar New Year celebrations.

Yeast protein discovery offers novel alternative to traditional food emulsifiers

Researchers have identified specific yeast cell wall proteins that demonstrate emulsifying properties comparable to milk-derived casein, potentially offering a new allergen-free alternative for food manufacturing. The discovery of these easily extractable proteins, particularly Tdh2 and Fba1, marks a significant advancement in developing natural, sustainable emulsifiers from microbial sources, addressing growing industry demands for non-allergenic ingredients.

Probiotics: A comprehensive look at their evolution and market trends

From ancient Bulgarian yogurt to cutting-edge infant nutrition, the developing world of probiotics continues to reshape our understanding of gut health. Mahalakshmi, research associate at Giract, explores the latest trends, regulatory challenges, and breakthrough developments in the global probiotics industry, with particular focus on European markets and recent product innovations.

Magnesium L-threonate gains EU novel food status with exclusive market rights

A proprietary form of magnesium L-threonate has achieved novel food authorisation from the European Union, marking a significant development in bioavailable magnesium supplementation. North American ingredient supplier AIDP and its licensee ThreoTech have secured exclusive EU marketing rights for five years, establishing new regulatory precedent for proprietary ingredient protection in the novel foods category.

Climate change poses critical threat to global food security, scientists warn

Call for greater collaboration between laboratory scientists and farmers Scientists from the Boyce Thompson Institute and international collaborators have published an urgent warning about the accelerating impact of climate change on global food systems. Their recommendations, published in Trends in Plant Science < doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2024.11.001 > call for a fundamental shift in how we approach […]

Coffee LENS – Impact Report 2023

Coffee Sustainability Report shows progress in multi-capital accounting and forest protection

Global food ingredients company ofi has released its annual Coffee LENS (Livelihoods, Empowerment, Nature at Scale) impact report, detailing progress in sustainable coffee production during the 2023 crop year. The report highlights advances in social capital valuation methodology, living income strategies, and forest conservation partnerships, alongside developments in digital traceability systems to meet incoming EU […]

SIG achieves APR recognition for recyclable bag-in-box beverage packaging

SIG has developed a new recyclable bag-in-box package featuring their Terra RecShield D laminate, which has received formal recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR). The innovation centres on a nylon compatibiliser technology that enables the entire package, including closure and evacuation components, to be reprocessed into blown film whilst maintaining package durability.