A smartphone app, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning, can help farmers detect banana plant diseases, including the destructive TR4 that was recently reported in Colombia.
US company C16 Biosciences has developed a way to 'brew' palm oil through microbial fermentation, producing sustainable, deforestation-free palm oil. But what will the impact on smallholder farmers be - and will consumers accept it?
From probiotic cheeses in Brazil to mamey sapote-flavored drinking yogurt in Mexico, we take a look at some products tapping into Latin America's top dairy trends, according to market research firm Zenith Global
Between 65 and 80% of packaged food and beverage products in Colombia would meet criteria to receive front-of-package warning labels, says a new study.
Mexican food design agency Foodlosofia has worked with industry giants such as PepsiCo and Heineken to develop new products, retail concepts and eating experiences. We caught up with its CEO and creative designer to find out more.
Latin American and Caribbean countries are the biggest consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juices in the world, according to a recent study.
Bioactive peptides found in a common microalga inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and E. Coli bacteria by more than 90%, Colombian researchers have found.
Rappi, an on-demand food delivery service, has received an investment of "up to $1bn" from SoftBank and its 'Vision Fund', marking the largest technology investment made for a Latin America-based company to date.
The private sector forms a critical role in securing a universal health model across Latin America but it must be regulated and guided given how influential and complex industry is, says the High-level Commission of the Pan American Health Organization...
Start-up accelerator TIC Colombia is on the hunt for innovative food, nutrition and agriculture start-ups to accelerate in its 2019 nationwide competition.
De-cocainized coca leaf extract makes diet cola sodas taste better, according to a patent, and the scientist behind it is promising "a revolution in soda beverages that benefits the people of South America, not anonymous multinationals".
Adding the Nutri-Score to food and drink resulted in Colombians choosing more green-labeled products - not fewer red ones - and spending more overall in-store. “This is a potential financial incentive to stores,” say the researchers.
By Will Chu, Niamh Michail, Hank Schultz, and Cheryl Tay
The interest in cannabidiol (CBD) use in food supplements, foods, and even as an ingredient in cosmetics has gained much momentum in the past five years, but what is the regulatory situation around the world?
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.
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).
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.
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...
Producing sugarcane according to Bonsucro sustainability standards can halve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and boost crop yields, according to recent research. "A clear case" for seeking certification for this "very thirsty crop",...
By commercializing the Amazon's precious food resources through responsible supply chains, rainforest-to-table movement Cumari hopes to protect the rainforest. "We’ll only conserve what we value," it says.
Israeli ag-tech firm Taranis says its precision agriculture tools can boost yields and cut costs - and is already doing so for millions of hectares of farmland in Latin America. “This is a one-of-a-kind patented technology," says its CEO.
Natural Habitats is one of the world's biggest producers of certified organic palm oil, and almost all its supplies are grown in Ecuador. We caught up with its sustainability director to find out more.
Extracts from the skin of Granny Smith apples may help produce edible films to boost quality and preservation of food during processing and/or storage, says a new study.
Analyzing social media posts may offer food, beverage companies a quicker, and more resource-efficient method of identifying flavor pairings across Latin America, suggests a new study that looked at flavors in beer pairing.
Latin America and the Caribbean face many social, economic and environmental issues, all of which must be addressed collectively by regional stakeholders, including food and beverage manufacturers, says the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United...
Consumers across Latin America care greatly about environmental issues and a high percentage expect corporate engagement and will forfeit non-environmentally friendly brands, particularly in Colombia, finds Nielsen.
Several Central American countries are at 'high risk' to food and agriculture insecurity, given the impending El Niño weather pattern, says the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is coordinating with partners including Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Grupo Bimbo, Dow Chemical, the FEMSA Foundation, IBM, and Oxxo to fight food waste across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Colombian Secretary of State for Agriculture and Procurement (SEAB) has approved non-GMO Reb D sweetener derived from the stevia leaf for use as a tabletop sweetener and added to food and beverages.
For the first time in 10 years, FMCG volume consumption across Latin America shrank by -0.1% in the second quarter of 2018, according to a new report from Kantar Worldpanel.
The Not Company is using an artificial intelligence algorithm to identify suitable ingredients and blends to replace animal-origin products and will soon launch a plant-based milk in Chile.
From clean label to sugar and sodium reduction, a few trends resonated throughout the 2018 Fi South America expo in Sao Paulo. Here’s our take on what’s hot…
Arla Foods Ingredients is launching a whey protein ingredient solution to reduce the cream cheese manufacturing process from up to 20 hours to just 30 minutes.
Sugar reduction and ambient drinking yogurt are two of the most interesting trends in Latin America at the moment, but both present technical challenges to food and beverage companies. Hydrocolloids are part of the solution, explains CP Kelco’s regional...
Avocado production in Mexico and Colombia needs innovative collaboration if industry is to respond to increasing demand, reduce post-harvest losses and overcome mistrust, say researchers.
The food and beverage giant has reported that organic revenue grew 3.5% for Latin America, with strong growth in Argentina and Colombia. However, the truckers’ strike in Brazil hit overall revenue.
Orange-yellow pigments from cactus pear (Opuntia megacantha) may offer a water-soluble natural alternative for use in food products, says a new study from researchers in Argentina and Colombia.
With demand for natural food colors continuing to increase, supercritical antisolvent (SAS) technology may allow for encapsulated curcumin to replace artificial tartrazine, according to a new study from scientists in Colombia and Spain.
Regional fruits like pineapple can provide important fiber and antioxidants that can be harnessed by beverage manufacturers to develop functional products, say researchers.
Aloe vera ice cream with microencapsulated probiotics has strong viability and a 44% higher shelf life, presenting huge opportunities for industry to develop functional varieties economically, a study finds.
Consumers across Latin America are spending more on their basic baskets and are becoming skilled omni-channel shoppers, according to a new report from Kantar WorldPanel.
DuPont’s new POWERBake 8000 fungal xylanases can help bakers across South America achieve a more efficient and stable baking process and improve volumes in the final product.
Gluten-free and lactose-free are two of the leading growth categories in the evolving free-from category in Brazil, with ‘free-from’ also tipped as the most promising trend across the whole region, according to Euromonitor International.
Just over 60% of shoppers in Argentina, Brazil and Colombia are willing to pay extra for a food and beverage products that are higher in protein, according to a new survey.
After years of talking, Latin America must move to create a single free trade market if it wants to remain globally competitive because doing so could drive upwards of $11bn in annual trade flow, says the chief economist at Inter-American Development...
