Fruit, vegetable, nut ingredients

Is the ‘healthy indulgence’ production trend out, the immunity diet one in for 2024?

22-Dec-2023 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

With the increasing emphasis on consumer health and wellbeing, a food futurologist shares the top 2024 dietary trends that will make a big impact—and interesting fruit and veg choices and eating occasions are getting a big appearance.

Health and taste from fruit-based sweeteners

21-Dec-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Fruit has been used for sweetness in Europe since before we even knew about refined sugar. It’s still in widespread use as the basis for sweeteners.

Recreating Willy Wonka flavours with food science: 'In principle, we could simulate any flavour'

05-Dec-2023 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

Food and flavours collide with the film world and a fictional favourite as a University of Warwick professor explores the most famous creations of chocolate idol Willy Wonka ahead of its reimagined release premiering in December 2023.

‘We believe consumer demand for healthier choices is there’: PepsiCo expands its use of diverse ingredients

24-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Ingredients such as whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and plant-based protein are highly nutritious. Snacks major PepsiCo, in its shift towards expanding its ‘diverse ingredients’ portfolio, plans to produce products containing...

Consuming the right diet can add years onto our lives even in old age, study suggests

23-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

What are the main benefits of eating a healthy diet? Well, according to a new study, living longer for one.. In fact, some longevity-related diets, particularly involving whole grains and nuts, can increase our lives by up to a decade.

Addressing unsustainable practices in the coconut supply chain: ‘Farmers are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty’

22-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

The Sustainable Coconut Partnership, founded by FMCG and ingredients heavyweights, was set up to establish best practice, impact programmes, and harmonise industry requirements for coconut supply chain players. Now a revised charter is bringing an assurance...

EU project pushes for adoption of Mediterranean diet as road to ‘healthy, active lifestyle’

15-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

The EU is funding a project aimed at promoting the Mediterranean diet as a route to a ‘healthy, active lifestyle.’ Coined MEDIET4ALL, the project will work with ten partners across eight countries, brings together expert knowledge from Europe and Africa...

NPD Trend Tracker: From peanut butter stout to Christmas chocolate nut mix

13-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

This week in our NPD Trend Tracker, we have new products from Baileys, which is releasing a nut mix for the Christmas period, and Brixton Brewery, which has teamed up with ManiLife to create a peanut stout. Furthermore, Freedom Brewery, Milliways and...

‘Buying deforestation-free should not be a choice’: Ferrero ‘well placed’ to comply with EUDR, but sector challenges remain

08-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

Ferrero Group considers itself well prepared for the EU Deforestation Regulation, which will apply to its palm oil and cocoa supply chains. But potential challenges and unintended consequences could threaten its effectiveness, suggests Francesco Tramontin,...

Developing markets will lead the next wave of chocolate and nut growth: ofi

03-Nov-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The humble hazelnut is poised to tap into a host of new applications, trends and markets, says ingredients giant ofi (olam food ingredients).

Unilever unearths regen ag findings for Knorr and Hellmann’s: ‘The time for pilots is over. It’s time to go big’

02-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

The environmental impact results from Unilever’s first set of regenerative agriculture projects in Spain, Italy, and the US have been dug up, with findings suggesting boons for food resilience and environmental sustainability.

GUEST ARTICLE

Industry Insights from NIZO: Great flavour without compromise for plant-based food

26-Oct-2023 By René Floris, NIZO Food Research Division Manager

To successfully launch a plant-based product onto the market today, businesses have to go above and beyond in flavour to stand out. How can a new, more holistic flavour approach put an end to organoleptic compromise?

Could ancient Peruvian crops promote a healthy gut and help those living with type 2 diabetes?

24-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The Andes has traditionally been a source of excellent food and medicinal plants. Now science is turning to ancient Peruvian crops to explore their benefits in boosting the gut health and preventing and treating type 2 diabetes.

Broccoli sprouts contain an abundance of polysulfide molecules, research shows

24-Oct-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Broccoli is already widely known for its nutritional qualities. However, a new study reveals that broccoli sprouts contain an abundance of polysulfide molecules, which exhibit a range of health benefits. This is significantly more than does mature broccoli....

Denmark unveils the ‘world's first’ action plan for plant-based foods

23-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Eighteen months after the Agreement on the green transformation of Danish agriculture was approved by the Danish Parliament, Food Minister Jacob Jensen has launched the government's new action plan for plant-based foods.

Algae discovery could be used to enhance the productivity of crops

20-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Scientists have found a ‘climate change coping mechanism’ that may be able to counter the reduction in the productivity of crops.

International food trade has overall positive effect on health, but red meat imports can lead to excess death, study suggests

19-Oct-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

While international trade in food can lead to positive outcomes, it depends on the food being traded. The trade in nuts, legumes, fruit and vegetables usually leads to improved health outcomes in the country that imports it. However, trade in red meat...

Eight crops endangered by climate change

19-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

From staple crops like potatoes and maize, to cash crops for wealthier customers like cocoa and coffee, climate change is having a widespread impact on global agricultural production.

News in brief

French food tech firm Umiami raises €32.5 million to speed up distribution in Europe

17-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

French plant-based whole-cut chicken producer Umiami has secured a further €32.5 million Series A funding, bringing its total raised to date to over €100 million.

‘CROP is designed for small spaces’: Crops can be grown indoors by new technology

12-Oct-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

To grow crops, one normally needs a range of resources: soil, access to sunlight and space, and most importantly, an abundance of time. A new technology, which uses an automated system to grow crops, such as nutritious microgreens and mushrooms, indoors,...

Quorn, mycoprotein and the push to grow a ‘third kingdom of fungi proteins’

10-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Mycoprotein and fungal proteins hope to offer a solution to the negative impact to the environment associated with industrial farming, heard FoodNavigator’s recent Climate Smart Food digital summit.

‘Synthetic vs natural’: Start-up targets fortification category disruption with organic plant-derived nutrients

06-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

UK-based BIOVIT is poised to launch plant-derived nutrient blends targeting fortified food and meal-replacement markets. Its vitamins and minerals, extracted from leaves, flowers, roots and fungi extracts, guarantees nutrient content, it claims, to boost...

Branston’s race to net zero in the potato supply chain

05-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Branston, one of the UK’s largest suppliers, has begun trials to assess the viability of creating net zero potatoes. Field Technical Manager Andrew Blair shares his insights into the methods the company is following and how it hopes to establish a process...

‘More than mylk’: Alternatives to coffee, cocoa, salt and sugar on the table at Mylkcubator 3.0

27-Sep-2023 By Flora Southey

The Mylkcubator programme has largely focused on next-gen dairy innovation to date. But for the incubator’s third edition, dairy-major Pascual wants to expand its focus to alt coffee, cocoa, salt, sugar and more.

Cacao guide aims to help producers communicate the quality of their cacao

25-Sep-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

For a long time, there has been no commonly agreed way of assessing and communicating the quality of cacao, the seed from which stems cocoa and chocolate. Now, however, a new initiative has been unveiled that will aim to do just that, with contributions...

‘If we take a conversational engine and we couple it with our data, you'll get something remarkable’: How Tastewise’s TasteGPT tool streamlines NPD

21-Sep-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

At Tastewise’s Generative AI summit last week, the company showcased its new TasteGPT tool, which uses generative AI to streamline concepts for NPD.

Organix eyes ‘window of opportunity’ to introduce new flavours and textures to kids

19-Sep-2023 By Flora Southey

Organix wants to help parents and carers introduce new flavours and textures to kids in the 6-18-month ‘window of opportunity’ prior to food fears kicking in.

WATCH: How Birds Eye grows, harvests, and processes its frozen peas

13-Sep-2023 By Flora Southey

FoodNavigator visits Birds Eye during harvest season to learn how the company works with partners to cultivate, harvest, and freeze its peas for the UK market.

Campaign targeting dramatic rise in global bean consumption eyes Kenyan consumers

31-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

A campaign aiming to double global bean consumption by 2028 will focus on Kenyan consumers and producers in a pilot effort for East Africa.

‘The traceability is appealing to many consumers’: Halal food increasing in popularity in UK and Europe

29-Aug-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Halal food is growing in popularity in the UK and globally, suggests a new report from food futurologist Lyndon Gee, on behalf of halal convenience food manufacturer TAKUL. The report suggests due to both a growing Muslim middle-class spending more on...

MadeRight: Mycelia-based packaging pioneer mushrooms with investment

24-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

Israeli start-up MadeRight has secured funding to expand its development team and refine its fungi-based packaging production process with the aim of achieving a commercially viable prototype.

'Bruising contributes to enormous losses in productivity': New project aims to reduce potato waste

23-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The nine-month TuberTurgor project has been awarded funding by Innovate UK.

‘An important tool to foster positive change’: ‘Princes expands migrant worker scheme to support victims of modern slavery

22-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Napolina-owner Princes Group is continuing efforts to support migrant workers impacted by labour exploitation via a partnership with Casa Sankara, a voluntary association based in southern Italy that provides support to migrant workers who have faced...

Packaging pitches: Meet the start-ups rethinking plastic with fungi, algae and grains

22-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

Industry is approaching the plastic pollution problem in varying ways, with some companies turning to plastic alternatives made from unlikely materials, from fungi to algae and grains. Join pioneers in the plastic-free space pitch their innovations at...

New tool to boost fruit and vegetable shelf life and cut waste

21-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The technology – from Poland-based food-tech company Fresh Inset – promises to preserve freshness, vitamins and antioxidants.

Food environments push consumers away from healthy and sustainable options, report shows

17-Aug-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

A new report shows that food environments, from promotional offers to the placement of food in shops, can influence consumers to make less healthy and less sustainable food choices.

Germany has ‘greatest market potential’ for plant-based dairy in Europe, finds research

16-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

An investigation into the drivers and barriers of plant-based dairy consumption in six European countries suggests Germany to have the highest sales and greatest market potential.

A new kind of ‘free from’ category: From cocoa-free chocolate to bean-free coffee

15-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

Start-ups are rethinking how conventional products – such as coffee and chocolate – are made in an effort to reduce environmental and human rights violations in global supply chains. Join pioneers in the cocoa-free chocolate and bean-free coffee sector...

Discovery of lupin ‘sweet gene’ could eliminate bitterness, encourage plant protein diversity

11-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

The causal mutation responsible for sweetness in white lupin beans, a traditionally bitter legume, has been identified by researchers. The discovery could help encourage greater diversity in plant protein cultivation and consumption.

From taste to texture and nutrition: How can plant-based meat reboot category growth?

10-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

Faced with a global market slowdown, plant-based meat players are looking is renew demand and encourage repeat purchases of their vegan beef, pork, and seafood alternatives. Pulling levers from taste to texture and nutrition, how can plant-based meat...

From securing cross-sector collaboration to managing red tape: tips for food tech start-ups traversing today’s headwinds

09-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

In a squeezed investment climate, we spoke to Fiona Choppe-Magal, Partner, Foodtech and Agritech, at Israel-based Cukierman Investment House, who reveals some crucial advice for Europe’s agrifood tech entrepreneurs to maximize their chances in dealings...

Nanotechnology: Challenges and opportunities in rolling out new tech at scale

08-Aug-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Nanotechnology – when matter is manipulated at the microscopic level – has the potential to be transformative in many fields. One of these fields is agriculture.

Don’t repeat the mistakes of West’s ‘broken’ food system in Africa, businesses warned

03-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Developing markets in Africa are keen to avoid the mistakes of Western food systems swamped by unhealthy and unsustainable diets, FoodNavigator hears.

Agricultural fertilizer can increase presence of parasitic infections, study finds

01-Aug-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

The removal of an aquatic vegetation known as hornwart along the Senegal River, Senegal has reduced the presence of parasitic infections in the area, which are carried by aquatic snails, and helped food production recover. The removal was part of a study,...

Peas picked to frozen in 150 mins: Behind the scenes at Birds Eye’s ‘just in time’ operation

31-Jul-2023 By Flora Southey

At peak production, Nomad Foods-owned Birds Eye UK can produce 48 tonnes of frozen peas per hour. FoodNavigator visits its Yorkshire operation to see how ‘sweet and tender’ peas are produced for the masses within just 150 minutes, from field to freezer.

'It's so, so terrible': The rise of food allergies and the cost-of-living crisis

31-Jul-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

It is well-known that food allergies are increasing. Amid a cost-of-living crisis, this is a problem.

Specialised peanut variety unveiled for allergy treatment

27-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Scientists in Israel have developed a peanut strain to treat peanut allergies.

As vertical farms topple, can tech sow sustainability into controlled environment agriculture?

27-Jul-2023 By Flora Southey

Vertical farming, and controlled environment agriculture more generally, holds the promise of environmental sustainability. But rising energy costs and challenging economic conditions are straining the sector. Can technology help overcome obstacles to...

Less food waste helps reduce levels of hunger – but the rebound effect means environmental benefits may be lost

25-Jul-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

According to the World Food Programme, one third of food produced for humans is wasted. A new study shows that reducing this could improve global food security. However, due to the ‘rebound effect,’ reducing food waste does not have correspondingly high...