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.
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.
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,"...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brazilians are confused about which food and drink is good for gut health - but this is an opportunity for manufacturers to offer premium solutions, according to health consultancy New Nutrition Business. 'Focus on value rather than volume,'...
Argentinian start-up The Food Market is an e-commerce platform for local and regional brands, giving producers "an unthinkable growth opportunity" and consumers the chance to buy "honest, transparent" brands.
An extract derived from natural fruit and vegetable compounds can extend the shelf-life of fruit by up to 250%, drastically cutting food waste, says the Peruvian start-up behind it.
Brazilian engineers say it is possible to create spicy tomatoes through genome editing, paving the way for healthier and cheaper foods that could benefit "the whole of society".
Appearing in Mexican street food, Argentinian coffee shops and Brazilian chocolate, hibiscus flavors are conquering the Latin American continent in categories as diverse as beverages, confectionery and dairy. We spoke to supplier Firmenich to find out...
Nopal cactus is a native vegetable commonly eaten fresh in Mexico. But it's the high-fiber, high-calcium powder format that has true superfood status, says one Mexican supplier.
From Chobani's new coconut-based range of spoonable and drinkable products to US food tech firm JUST aiming to take its plant-based product, JUST Egg, into China, a lot has happened over the past seven days. Here’s a round-up of the top seven global...
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.
Becoming Latin America's most valuable brand – like Corona achieved in 2018 – is no easy feat, but there are five consumer-driven attributes that are key to such success, says Kantar Consulting.
By ABIMAPI - Brazilian Manufacturers Association of Biscuits, Pasta and Industrialized Breads & Cakes
From sugar reduction to nutritional labeling and a focus on international markets, 2018 was an intense year for the Brazilian food industry. In this guest article, ABIMAPI (Brazilian Manufacturers Association of Biscuits, Pasta and Industrialized Breads...
Pitaya or 'dragonfruit' is an increasingly popular flavor in Latin America and holds great promise for use in sports nutrition products like pre-workout beverages and protein waters, says Synergy Flavors.
With sales growing year over year, Argentina’s Dulce Flor is eying further expansion of its range of jams and jellies with added flowers to bring poetry and exclusivity to the category.
After establishing itself in the US, yerba mate brand Guayakí is aiming to expand its availability to Latin America, senior executives tell FoodNavigator-LATAM.
Coca-Cola Brazil has launched a line of Del Valle coconut water-juice blends and extended its Frut range to stretch business and align with consumer needs in a drawn-out economic crisis, its senior marketing manager says.
Ingredient supplier Layn is helping food and beverage manufacturers in Mexico and Central America take the guesswork out of sugar reduction by expanding in the region two new plant-based sweetener platforms that are optimized for different categories.
Mexico’s market is primed for products offering prebiotic benefits as consumer research shows that consumers in the region are more knowledgeable and interested in digestive health than those in North America and Europe, according to ingredient supplier...
Latin America's coffee market is under intense pressure due to low future prices, a record crop from Vietnam and global over-supply, so cooperation and specialization will be key, says a commodity expert.
The El Salvador Coffee Council has partnered with Swiss tech startup Algrano to join its online coffee trade platform in a bid to secure wider European business amid a severe price crisis.
From the growth in meatless meat (plant-based meat) to Nestlé’s ambitious palm oil satellite tech and Mondelez stockpiling chocolate in the UK ahead of Brexit, here’s a round-up of the top seven global food and beverage news items from the past seven...
Responding to booming demand for super fruit such as maqui berry and acai berry, SouthAm Freeze Dry has launched a new line of freeze-dried fruit powders.
Regenerative farming is said to enhance crops and make the most of limited land resources while reducing the use of chemicals. In the third part of this series we look at how this translates into cacao production, and other crops.
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.
As consumers across LATAM increasingly seek out low- or no-sugar alternatives to their favorite food and beverages, Layn is excited by the potential of the region and expects to introduce new sweeteners as and when regulatory approval is attained.
Regenerative agriculture is slowly making inroads into the consumer mindset but still remains a mystery to most. To get to grips with the concept this article takes a look at the most important element: the soil.
With three decades of organic food business under their belts, Argentina’s Schatzi is eying further expansions while staying close to its main aim of “being a family that makes products as a way of life”.
The rise and rise of the organic and naturals trend in the food and health and wellness industry is putting increasing pressure on farmers to produce pesticide-free, sustainable and efficient crops for raw materials.
Supplementing the diet with chia oil may reduce fat accumulation and increased lean mass, and offer anti-obesity effects, according to a new study with mice.
Processing major Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has filed a global patent on its edible bean blends VegeFull for use as non-sweet food binders in cereals and bars.
Increased interest in functional foods and beverages across Central and South America is helping to drive Naturex’s sales of its health and wellness ingredients, as well as its natural colors and preservatives.
“Brazil. The Coffee Nation”, a joint industry project to promote Brazil’s image as a global coffee powerhouse between the Brazilian Agency for the Promotion of Exports and Investments (Apex-Brasil) and the Brazilian Association of Special Coffees (BSCA)...
Obrigado, the Brazilian coconut water brand with a focus on sustainability, has achieved BCorporation status in recognition of its dedication to social responsibility.
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 Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in collaboration with George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health and the Yale School of Public Health, with financing from the Government of Canada, are working to improve the efficacy...
Brazil is well-positioned to respond to increasing demands for sustainable plant protein through expanding its sunflower production within current soybean chains, say researchers.
Regional fruits like pineapple can provide important fiber and antioxidants that can be harnessed by beverage manufacturers to develop functional products, say researchers.
Drinking grape juice may help raise levels of HDL (‘good’) cholesterol and help reduce body mass index and waist circumference, says a new study from the University of Caxias do Sul in Brazil.
