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.
Consumers in Latin America actively seek out pro-environment products which, combined with all-natural and organic, will become an essential attribute for any company wanting to succeed in the market, says Nielsen's head of Thought Leadership &...
Guatemalan cardamom producers are enjoying higher prices for their crop following a shortfall in global supplies, allowing them to invest in their plantations, says the country's agricultural export board.
Scientists have pinpointed the compound in rapeseed responsible for its bitter taste, marking an encouraging step towards the creation of palatable rapeseed by-products for human consumption.
IFF-LMR, a subsidiary of International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), hopes to build food industry awareness of Peru Balsam as a “warm and sensual” source of “brown notes” having secured FairWild certification for the ingredient.
There is a high level of public support for front-of-pack nutrition warning labels among the Uruguayan public, according to a 1,400-strong survey. “In the Latin American context, the Chilean scheme seems particularly appropriate," write the researchers.
Brazil's beverage market has been declining for the past three years, according to Kantar Worldpanel. "The market in Brazil is significant, complex and experiencing challenging times. However, there are opportunities to grow," it says.
The caramel and fruity notes of sapote make it ideal for both creamy dairy and acidic beverage applications, and can help manufacturers appeal to Latin American consumers, says supplier Aromatech.
Brazilians are hungry for meat-free foods with the taste and texture of meat - and quinoa patties won't cut it anymore, says the Good Food Institute (GFI). It shares advice for new product development and marketing strategies for plant-based products.
Consumers across Latin America are increasingly focused on weight management and digestive health, opening up plentiful opportunities for prebiotics, sugar alternatives and low GI products, says Beneo.
Europe is heavily reliant on imports of soy – both to feed its livestock and consumers’ appetite for plant-based diets. However, food brands are beginning to realise that this crucial commodity comes with a heavy footprint.
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",...
Juçaí's juçara berry sorbet may appeal to health-conscious millennials but it also has a more serious agenda: taking the juçara palm off the endangered list by growing demand for its superfruit berries.
Mexican students are transforming acidic agave waste from tequila production into a nutritious high-fiber flour. “We will create a new product to combat obesity and also have a cleaner Mexico,” they say.
‘We’re running out of time’: Big Food is compared to Big Tobacco in a polemic report that links it to the global obesity epidemic, along with malnutrition and climate change.
Unified standards and regulations on the production and sales of beverages across Latin America and the Caribbean should happen within five years, says the International Council of Beverage Associations' (ICBA) regional group.
Benexia, a Chile-based supplier of chia and other plant-based nutraceutical ingredients, says the low market penetration of dietary supplement ingredients in the continent means the market has a huge potential upside.
Brazilian Juçara berries can improve serum fatty acid profiles and epigenetic markers in obese individuals, according to recent research conducted in Sao Paolo. An expert in Brazilian nutraceutical ingredients said while the information is welcome, the...
From jabuticaba-flavored yogurt to guacamole mayonnaise, processed food firms are catering to Latin Americans demand for natural, healthy, and authentic foods, according to a survey by ingredient supplier Kerry.
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.
The Brazilian and US market is feeling optimistic about the growth of its pork industry during 2019 despite the threat of African swine fever (ASF) hanging over most pig producers.
Is there an end in sight to plastic pollution? Industry experts say the answer lies in addressing the economics of waste, changing consumer behaviour, and prioritising product design.
ConMéxico reacts: 'Our lobbying is legal, legitimate and transparent'
Mexico's lack of action to tackle its obesity crisis over the past six years may be due to policymakers' close ties with the food and drink industry, according to a report by consumer rights group El Poder del Consumidor.
Harvested wild from the Chilean forest, maqui berries have seven times more antioxidants than rival superfood açaí and their global popularity is growing, says supplier Arauco Nutrientes Naturales.
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.
Seara Alimentos and BRF are among the 25 Brazilian firms who will begin chicken meat trading with Saudi Arabia, according to Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA).
