Biotech

FN+Inside plant-based meat’s big manufacturing shift

In the face of uncertain volumes and fluctuating demand, plant-based meat production is moving away from dedicated facilities towards contract manufacturing, shared infrastructure and repurposed assets

Learning platform for EU novel foods launched by think tank

The platform aims to develop insights to improve future pre-submission advice for novel foods

Barry Callebaut’s move beyond chocolate fails to convince investors

Chocolate producer’s transition into complete product solutions is designed to unlock growth, but investors remain unconvinced

FN+The GLP-1 effect: How weight-loss drugs are changing food and drink

Weight-loss drugs are reshaping the food and beverage landscape, driving demand for nutrient-dense, portion-controlled products and opening up new opportunities for innovation across the industry

FN+Food tech: 5 trends growing and 5 declining

What’s winning and losing in the world of food tech?

FN+Mars’ vision for 2036: The trends set to transform food and nutrition

Food and beverage giant bets on fibre, AI and personalised nutrition as solo eating reshapes food’s future

What is the one piece of food tech that excites you most?

Five industry experts share their insights

China’s alternative protein investment offers lessons for the UK

The UK has world-class research and a growing innovation ecosystem – the challenge now is joining the dots and investing at pace, says NAPIC’s Imran Afzal

Yeast-derived fat fools consumers in cocoa butter test

A fat derived from yeast cells may hold promise as an alternative to cocoa butter.

‘The world is changing faster than we can keep up with’: Arthur D Little’s Simon Guyomard-Norman on food innovation’s next steps

Shifts in the food sector will keep innovators on their toes

FN+Embryonic stem cells could boost cultivated meat research

A new technique could theoretically make it easier to produce cultivated steak

AI, algae and agentic commerce: food tech’s next frontiers

From AI-powered product development to next-generation proteins, technology is reshaping the food industry. We round up five recent stories showcasing the shifts transforming the sector

FN+Nestlé shifts strategy from scale to execution

Coffee, Petcare and emerging markets at centre of Nestlé’s new strategy as the food giant moves away from growth through scale

FN+What the EU’s ‘meaty’ names ban means for hybrid meat

New proposals for labelling regulations have specified products must be exclusively composed of meat to merit ‘meaty’ names

Top 10 shortlist announced for FoodNavigator’s Global Food Tech Awards EMEA heat

The 2026 shortlist of startups take on industry challenges around scalable food waste reduction, nutrition and food safety

FN+The 7 trends shaping the future of confectionery

Confectionery is booming, but what’s fuelling its momentum? We unpack the top trends transforming the category

Cultivated protein’s next phase? Integration over invention

The sector is entering an integration phase, according to Ever After Foods’ CEO Eyal Rosenthal, where partnerships, acquisitions and platform-based business models could help tackle persistent cost and scaling barriers that have slowed commercialization

FN+Terms including ‘burger’ and ‘sausage’ could be added to EU ‘meaty’ names ban

A range of terms have been added to the proposal

FN+Cultivated beef steak set for global expansion after historic approval

Aleph Farms has secured a historic regulatory approval for its cultivated beef in Singapore.

Will cultivated meat soon compete on price?

While other headwinds are becoming fiercer, price parity may be on the horizon

Global Food Tech Awards EMEA

FN+What’s driving Europe’s alternative protein sector in 2026?

Industry leaders see long-term growth in Europe’s alt protein market, despite a challenging environment

Mars invests €1.5m in the future of science

Confectionery giant invests €1.5m in young scientists through Mars Impact Fund

PepsiCo, Danone & Nestlé: how AI is powering F&B growth

AI is transforming how F&B giants cut costs, boost efficiency and innovate faster — turning data into a powerful competitive edge

The F&B jobs AI is targeting, but is it really that dire?

AI is accelerating reformulation, automation and data-led decision making at a pace that is already reshaping roles across the food and drink workforce

Future chocolate: Mondelēz, Lindt and Barry Callebaut reshape taste

From Mondelēz and Barry Callebaut to Lindt, the future of chocolate is being defined by bold flavour innovation, smarter formulations and a refusal to compromise on indulgence

The Big One: Cyberattack that could cripple food and drink

Cyberattacks are closing in on the food and drink sector, and the next one could be catastrophic. Is the industry ready for The Big One?

FN+Chocolate without trees? The science racing to reinvent cocoa

From cacao cells grown in bioreactors to fermentation-built chocolate flavours, scientists and startups are experimenting with ways to produce cocoa ingredients without growing cacao trees

FN+Sweeteners under fire as scientists probe neurological risks

New research linking popular sweeteners to cognitive decline has again raised concerns over their safety. What does this mean manufacturers?

FN+Do consumers want hybrid meat?

The hybrid meat market aims to provide consumers a happy medium between meat and plant-based

Why vertical farming failed - notes from a survivor

Four reasons why after more than $6bn investment in indoor farming, there’s just one man left standing

Global Food Tech Awards 2026

Global Food Tech Awards 2026: Americas shortlist reveals industry giants

The Americas are making noise on the global food tech stage in this powerful top 10 line-up of finalists

AI drives new wave of confectionery innovation

From faster R&D to predictive product design, AI is transforming the future of sweets

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast

3 steps to future-proof the food system and CPG industry in a ‘critical decade’

As population growth, soil degradation and climate pressures converge, BSI’s Todd Redwood explains why the next 10 years will determine whether the global food system can deliver enough high-quality nutrition, strategic opportunities and next steps for...

Cocoa crunch: How shortages are rewriting chocolate’s future

As climate, disease and regulation strain global cocoa supply, manufacturers are turning to low‑cocoa and cocoa‑free innovations to protect margins and future-proof their portfolios

How Mars is developing new ingredients with AI

AI can do a lot more than offer guidance and write emails. It can help food companies find brand-new ingredients for product formulation

Cyber attacks spike worldwide: 7 ways food and drink can fight back

Cyber crime is hitting food and drink hard, exposing just how quickly supply chains can break. What can industry do to protect itself?

As cocoa chaos continues, Kokomodo finds its moment

Why ‘climate-proof’ cacao start-up Kokomodo is hedging its bets on an increasingly stronger future for cell cultured cocoa

FN+World’s top 30 food-tech companies revealed

From AI-powered ingredient discovery to zero-waste packaging and next-gen proteins, the top 30 global food-tech list showcases the game-changing technologies shaping the future of food

Up the food chain

EFSA’s new boss: Why faster risk assessments are my guiding light

The newly appointed Dr Nikolaus Kriz has ambitions to optimise European food safety

SVZ sees health craze as opportunity, not threat

The ingredients company suggests that its focus on fruit and veg puts it in a prime position to benefit from consumer obsessions with health

World’s biggest chocolate supplier makes move away from cocoa

Barry Callebaut explores cocoa alternatives amid rising costs and climate pressure

Nestlé, Mondelēz, Hershey - How chocolate giants are coping with price hikes

The largest players in food are making bold decisions in an effort to boost growth

Meet Spot: Cargill’s new robotic watchdog

Cargill’s Amsterdam facility has a new member that’s turning heads - and maybe wagging a few tails

Sustainable September

Unilever and PepsiCo among companies in new regenerative agriculture initiative

The initiative will centre around farmer-facing organisations and focus on upscaling

What every food and drink brand must know about AI and innovation

AI can speed up your pipeline – but it won’t tell you why everyone still picks chocolate. Here’s how to innovate without losing your edge

Can AI protect future food security?

Climate change is threatening the world’s food supply, but could AI be the unexpected hero?

Up the food chain

Unilever’s food sustainability chief on proving regen ag works

The next big challenge for regenerative farming? Proving it’s making a difference

How common are ‘regenerative agriculture’ claims?

As consumer knowledge of regenerative agriculture grows, claims are increasing in number

Is regenerative agriculture driven by consumer demand?

Majors such as Danone, PepsiCo and Nestlé explain why they’re transitioning to regenerative farming

Eco-friendly packaging boom in full force as corporates race for sustainability

Regulation and consumer pressure is pushing the industry to go green on packaging