Latin American consumers want to buy better, safer food and companies need to react, according to R&D company AINIA. 'The dual forces of consumer awareness and legislation are evolving the market,' says its director of international projects.
Búho Soda is Mexico's first all-natural, low-sugar soft drink made using locally-sourced ingredients, according to its manufacturer - and inspiration came from the country's booming craft beer movement, the start-up founder says.
Demand for plant-based products in Mexico is small but growing fast, according to supplier DuPont, as it shows customers how to incorporate soy into traditional Mexican dishes at Carne y Lacteos in Monterrey.
Sambazon, a company that pioneered açai as an ingredient in the North American market, has denied press reports that it was subject to a fine in Brazil for violating biopiracy rules.
In a global ranking for CBD potential and cannabis market 'readiness', Latin America ranks second. We spoke to experts about how big a role Latino countries could play in an industry predicted to be worth US$2.5 billion by 2026.
Dairy giant Grupo Lala will market and distribute Blue Diamond Growers' almond milk alternatives in Mexico, a strategic deal it says will help it target premium-minded consumers.
Brazilian craft chocolate brand Mestiço was founded by a Bahian cocoa farmer who saw artisan chocolate as a way to escape the uncertainty of the fluctuating cocoa commodity market. We spoke to its founder and CEO.
The biodiversity essential for food production is disappearing by the day, says a damning report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) – yet there are areas for positive action. The first-of-kind report suggests steps manufacturers could take...
Mexican bakery giant Grupo Bimbo posted record sales in 2018 and has expanded its presence in Chile with the acquisition of biscuit and cake manufacturer Nutra Bien.
With global demand for avocados set to rise by 15% annually until 2024, the boom is benefitting Latin American countries through job and wealth creation, according to the World Avocado Organization (WAO).
Cross-category beverages that are natural, offer fast hydration and improve energy will draw interest among Brazilian consumers in a competitive category, say Mintel analysts.
Danone Waters Brazil has launched 4U, a range of premium carbonated juices and flavored teas to meet demand for healthy, natural beverages in the country.
FoodNavigator-LATAM caught up with the president of the Round Table on Sustainable Soy to discuss Latin American supply, demand and how farmers can save money by switching to sustainable soy.
Chile's strict food regulations are helping mothers - and even children - make healthier food choices for the family, according to a study. The findings are “overwhelmingly positive”, say the researchers.
Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) has released updated guidance on its 2018 dietary supplement regulations to help industry better understand and implement the framework.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV has launched two research projects focused on lowering the level of saturated fatty acids in foods by 30% without using chemical additives and replacing palm oil with healthier alternatives.
Mexican social enterprise SmartFish is driving both supply and demand for sustainable fish and seafood by teaching local fishermen to use artisanal methods and selling their produce. “We are creating a market for sustainable fish in Mexico,” it says.
The Maize for Colombia partnership will invest US$1 million over the next five years to develop non-GMO corn varieties that are resistant to climate change.
Specialty nut and seed oils from the Amazon, such as murumuru, could be used to replace cocoa butter or to boost the nutritional profile of products such as margarine, Brazilian researchers say.
Although high amylose starches are associated with a number of health benefits their use is not widespread in the food industry. The development of new sources like high amylose wheat flour could be set to change this, researchers predict.
People, seeds and soil are the fundamentals of agriculture and, when combined, are a tool to fight climate change, say researchers working with Mayan farmers in Southern Belize.
With a healthy growth rate, boosted investor confidence and government commitment to innovation, Colombia is re-branding itself as a nation open to business - and, despite challenges, it is "well positioned to move forward", says a report by...
Brazil’s world leading diversity of plants conceals another as yet unexplored universe—the vast number of bacterial and fungal species living within these plants in a symbiotic relationship. These organisms could be the source of as yet undiscovered active...
Young Argentinians' and Ecuadorians' perception of ultra-processed food is closely aligned with the original definition, recent research suggests, and the results can help manufacturers with successful new product development.
Clinical nutrition is Nestlé Health Science's strongest business in Latin America but retail shows much greater potential, particularly for healthy aging – the region's biggest health concern, its LATAM chief says.
Most packaged food products in Latin America are meeting regional salt reduction targets, according to a first-of-its-kind survey - but this is probably because the targets were set too high, researchers say.
The Social Gastronomy Movement, a network of farm-to-fork actors offering solutions to issues such as food waste and poor nutrition, is being rolled out around the world with pilot hubs in Chile and Brazil.
Mexico is on a drive to boost cocoa production and wants to position itself as Latin America's top producer of added-value fine, flavor cocoa. We spoke to trade group ASCHOCO.
Consuming one liter per day of yerba maté – but not green tea – may increase levels of an antioxidant enzyme linked to HDL (good) cholesterol for obese and overweight people, says a new study from Brazil.
The high starch content of sweet potato, oca and arracacha makes them suitable for producing biobased foam trays to replace polystyrene, Peruvian researchers have found.
Barbados' tax on sugary drinks has been effective in reducing sales of sugar-sweetened beverages - however the ad valorum tax may also encourage shoppers to switch to cheaper - and possibly more sugary - brands, researchers have suggested.
European birch water startup ÖselBirch has received interest from purchasers in Mexico and Brazil and one expert believes the product could work with the right entry strategy, but there are numerous challenges facing such a long-distance expansion of...
Food security and nutrition experts from around the world gathered in Costa Rica this week for the Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) conference. FoodNavigator-LATAM brings you the highlights.
Chile is on a drive to increase investment and innovation by offering tax breaks for research and development (R&D) in any sector. “Chile is the natural laboratory for companies who want to see how the market responds to a product," says InvestChile
As consumers increasingly consider the environmental impact of the products they purchase, manufacturers are turning up the heat on suppliers to lower their emissions, manage water security risks and reduce deforestation, among other sustainability targets...
Brazil’s traceability law makes origin information for fresh fruit and vegetables mandatory, and is a boost for consumer transparency – but could make small producers less competitive, stakeholders warn.
Chile's Gelymar is developing a "completely new" range of apple fiber products and making seaweed sourcing more sustainable. "Natural, unique and sustainable are the three pillars that will dominate the future hydrocolloid industry,"...
Neogrid's cloud-based supply chain management tools allow manufacturers to react to consumer demand in real-time, meaning fewer product shortages or excesses. "We allow companies to put the right product in the right place and in the right quantity,"...
Latin American manufacturers are interested in cleaning up food labels but the region's lack of harmonization is limiting uptake, says Chr. Hansen’s LATAM vice president.
Brazilian start-up Plasticor's patent-pending, biodegradable plastic changes color when food begins to perish, reducing food waste without compromising food safety, it says.
Reformulating to remove warning labels by cutting salt and fat makes a product seem healthier than creating a health halo by adding fiber or vitamins, Chilean researchers have found.
