The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has moved a step closer to its ambitious goal of creating a global certification standard for seaweed production after announcing it will be working on the project with the NGO Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).
Sustainability non-profit organisation Forum for the Future has brought together the sometimes conflicting voices of the dairy and vegetable protein industry to meet its Protein Challenge 2040 – the world’s first whole-system protein collaboration.
A toolkit which allows manufacturers and retailers to evaluate the sustainability credentials of suppliers and their ingredients, has wrapped up its pilot scheme in the Netherlands and is set to transform the supply chain, says The Sustainable Consortium.
The value of UK Fairtrade sales dropped by €127m last year due to falling demand for cane sugar but the Fairtrade Foundation says it is remaining cautiously optimistic for 2016 as sales of Fairtrade coffee, cocoa, tea and wine all grew.
Technological advancements and dietary changes have been targeted to meet EU climate targets that require deep cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a study has identified.
A start-up firm has found a way of sustainably sourcing the African fruit baobab whilst supporting rural economies and empowering growers in a region that has been described as an untapped source of superfoods.
The number of sustainable seafood products certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has topped a record 20,000 – an important milestone which shows a growing consumer interest in sustainability, says the MSC.
French sugar giant Tereos has announced a guaranteed minimum price of €25 per ton for its beet growers in 2017 and 2018 in preparation for the end of the EU sugar quotas next year.
The EU has further expanded its protection of artisanal foods beyond Europe’s borders as it granted protected geographical indications to Cambodian Kampot pepper and a type of Turkish fig last week.
Protein-packed milkshakes made from ground-up bugs are a step nearer to becoming common drinks, a consensus of leading scientists and policy makers have claimed.
Demand for organic cocoa is on the rise but market analysts are predicting supply shortages unless more cocoa producers switch to organic farming – but where’s the incentive to do so when this means reduced yields, higher costs and huge debt?
Organic meat and dairy products have more healthy omega-3 fatty acids according to a large meta-analysis review - but experts have warned the amounts are too small to actually have an impact on diet.
Agricultural policies, designed to tackle poverty in Africa, may be doing more harm than good to the region’s poorest members, according to UK researchers.
Unless wide, sweeping investments are made in better water management, the world could face a 40% global water deficit in less than 15 years, warns a report by Rabobank.
Sales of organic food and drink are set to double by 2018 but this is not enough to feed the world – a truly sustainable farming system is needed for future food and ecosystem security, say researchers.
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil's RSPO Next allows manufacturers to demonstrate a tougher stance on deforestation, forest fires and peatland clearance – but it has been slammed by Greenpeace which says many progressive companies and governments...
Over half (54%) of processed meat products in France fail to use origin labelling - a 'pitiful result' suggesting the government's call for voluntary action has not been heeded, says French consumer watchdog.
The World Wildlife Fund has launched Markets Institute, a platform bringing together large industry players and small SMEs to boost sustainability using market-based approaches, winning praise from global giant Mars.
Swedish researchers have suggested that food labelled both GM and eco-friendly may become commonplace in the future - but is this an idea consumers will buy into?
Shoppers and supermarkets are falling back in love with organic, but this is as much down to innovation and marketing as it is a lifting of the economic storm clouds, say analysts.
Food Vision 2016 will bring together senior-level thought leaders to discuss how the global food industry can harness scientific innovation to meet the demands of the health conscious consumer.
Organic farming body IFOAM EU has called for new plant breeding techniques that are still in the experimental stage to be classed as GM under EU law - but this is a “Pavlov’s dog” response, says the European Seed Association.
'Abuses are taking place within ‘certified’ supply chains' say authors
NGO-certified ethical audits do little to root out labour abuses, poor working conditions and environmental degradation within global supply chains, as a report accuses corporations of 'fixing' the process to ensure working standards are approved...
Flavour giant Firmenich and water management firm Veolia join Mars and Danone in an investment fund that boosts the security and sustainability of their supply chains while improving the livelihood of smallholder farmers.
Swiss giant Nestlé is one of the most praised global corporations by NGOs - but also one of the most criticised food companies in the world, according to a survey by research organisation SigWatch.
'Green food': Euromonitor's top consumer food trend for 2016
One of 2016’s biggest food industry trends will be the switch to sustainable, says Euromonitor, affecting everything from invisible ingredients to finished products, business acquisitions to public policy – but in consumers' eyes can 'Big Food'...
The world’s biggest food companies are too slow in reacting to the double burdens of obesity and undernutrition, says a report that ranks 22 multinationals for their performance in marketing, labelling and nutrition.
Publicity at the expense of accuracy - this is how AB Sugar has described a recently published report which makes claims of forced labour, health and safety violations and illegal land grabs – among other unsustainable practices – in one of its subsidiaries.
Quitting the EU would be “a dangerous step into the unknown”, warned the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW), during a debate with Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones and the UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, organised by the Institute for Welsh Affairs.
While most insect products focus on hiding the insect content by using flours, French start-up Entoma sells Jimini's whole, spiced insects as a gourmet apéritif snack – a gamble that has paid off as they featured in Mintel's most innovative...
Research into bread wheat genomes will provide researchers with a new resource to improve yield, stress response, pest resistance and wheat adaptation, the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC) has announced.
In 2015 prices of the world’s major commodities fell for the fourth year in a row, averaging nearly one fifth (19.1%) lower than in 2014, says the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Bakers may need to alter production techniques in the face of climate change, according to the authors of a new study on the impact of drought on cereal production.
Scientists say protein from date seeds could used as an alternative to soy protein isolate or whey protein in foods, however commercial viability needs to be further assessed.
Swiss-Israeli flavours and ingredients house Frutarom Industries has invested 10 million Israeli Shekel (€2.25m) for a 50% stake in the biotech start-up Algalo.
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) will publish maps of all its members’ palm oil plantations – with the exception of Malaysia – in the hope closer monitoring will prevent forest fires and peat land destruction. But is this enough?
Following revelations of gross exploitation of workers in the Italian tomato processing industry, the Ethical Trading Initiative is asking food manufacturers to map their supply chains - but Princes is the only one to come forward so far.
Nutritional programmes and interventions are a starting point - but genuine multi-stakeholder involvement is what's required to tackle the world's problem of malnutrition and under nutrition.
Insects, ancient grains and algae. There is no such thing as a perfect protein and we must bust this myth of the ultimate ‘superfood’ protein, says researcher.
A coalition of international labour rights and environmental groups has questioned whether audits carried out by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) were robust enough to root out members that used slave labour.
How can companies tighten their global supply chains, future-proof profits against climate change and boost their sustainable credentials for consumers in one go? Information-sharing platform WeFarm promises to do just that.
Allboxes Direct launches bio based polymer packaging
Allboxes Direct, which works with Baked By Melissa, Milkbar, Farmigo, and Jacques Torres Chocolates, has launched a bio based polymer packaging to replace petroleum based polymers for the manufacture and production of plastic packaging.
Putting the spotlight on innovative start-ups, sugar reduction, sustainable sourcing and the latest trends in colour, texture and flavour, FoodNavigator's special editions calendar and online events for 2016 spans the hottest topics for the European...
Food companies are acting far too slowly to clean up their soy procurement practices while new standards for responsible soy may not go far enough, say campaigners.
A new on-pack label could be the best way to quickly reduce the use of antibiotics in the livestock industry, according to a major new report for the UK government.
