Patents plummet in alt proteins: Has innovation ground to a halt?
Alternative proteins have lost a lot of popularity in recent years, and this is reflected in IP activity
Dairy
Unilever India expects profits boost after ice cream split finalised
Unilever’s widely-publicised ice cream demerger is expected to boost profit margins for its India business next quarter, despite recent delays in other markets
Packaging news: From smart labels to PPWR ranges
A round-up of some of the latest packaging stories
Nestlé targets 18 underperformers in major marketing and efficiency push
“What we’re doing is working but it’s not good enough,” CEO Philipp Navratil told investors during the CPG major’s Q3 FY25 results presentation
Women are shaping the next frontier of protein innovation
Protein’s health halo attracts female consumers to various products from food and drink to supplements. Here’s what’s driving demand
Nestlé’s Q3 results: What to look forward to
The CPG major will report its nine-month financials later this week – here’s what to look forward to
Top trends and formats driving innovation in dairy
Protein is the biggest buzzword, but what else is shaping new product development?
Danone’s Lifeway acquisition collapses
As talks between the two parties fall through, one question looms large: will Julie Smolyansky’s leadership survive?
Sustainable September
Space tech explores a new dimension in methane mitigation
Time2Graze uses satellites to optimize pasture-based grazing in a world-first initiative
Just launched: Matcha drink, Angel Hair ice cream and more new products
Here’s what’s new in dairy in September 2025
Rabobank Global Dairy Top 20: Big shifts brewing amid M&A activity
Rabobank’s annual list has few surprises this year but pending M&A activity may spell major changes in 2026
Sustainable September
Sustainability isn’t going away: and neither is cattle farming
Regulatory priorities may be shifting but climate risks, investor trust and consumer demand make industry action non-negotiable
What makes a GLP-1-friendly yogurt drink? Danone tells all
By formulating a dairy drink that specifically caters for weight loss medication users, Danone has set a new standard with Oikos Fusion
Danone sales up as Asia punches in hefty growth
Danone has delivered robust sales growth overall, thanks to its ‘Renew Danone’ strategy, but is seeing losses in some markets
‘A provocative move’: Canada passes bill to protect dairy in trade talks
Bill C-202 has caused division at home but will become law after completing its passage through parliament
Dairy farmer sues Trump administration
A Wisconsin-based farmer says USDA programs favor minority and female farmers, leaving him, a white male, at a disadvantage
Canada U-turns on supply management policy protection
A bill that would make Canada’s supply management policy non-negotiable in trade talks is quickly progressing through parliament
Global food fraud surges in 2025
Multiple sectors hit as industry struggles to contain threat
Dairy’s role as a heart health foe ‘not evidence-based’
Global dietary guidelines should target fat reduction from nutrient-poor foods instead of dairy, nutrition researchers argue
Colgate-Palmolive poaches Danone CEO Americas Shane Grant
Grant will oversee North America and LATAM at the personal care group
Fonterra’s consumer arm posts 103% profit increase
Hurrell says ‘it’s the right choice’ to sell the co-op’s consumer business, which recorded the highest YoY operating profit increase across the group in FY25 Q3
Amazon-backed feed additive can boost milk, meat production while cutting methane
Hoofprint Biome’s solution naturally optimizes the rumen microbiome to produce less methane
R&D insights: How to make a trendy dairy product
From high protein to sugar reduction, how is one of dairy’s major players leveraging its R&D might to address industry trends?
Cell-cultured meat gains traction with regulatory wins and scaleups
Cultivated meat and fat edge closer to scale and shelves worldwide
Mondelēz remains positive despite tariff uncertainty
Policymakers and businesses steel themselves against the turbulence of on-again, off-again tariff barriers
Addressing UPFs ‘not main focus for food majors’ like Mondelēz and Ferrero
Companies are instead focusing on HFSS, says industry association head
State vet downplays risk of bird flu in raw cheese, milk
A senior US animal health official has urged calmness over recent academic findings suggesting that ageing may not eliminate bird flu viruses from raw cheese
‘An exciting time’: Kerry North America CEO on taste and nutrition focus, GLP-1, and what’s next for dairy
We speak to Kerry North America CEO John Cahalane to find out more about the company’s renewed strategy at a time when consumer focus on health and nutrition is reaching a new high
Asian dairy drive: Lactose-free milk innovation could be key for Nordic firms to gain foothold in region – Valio
Finnish dairy co-operative Valio believes a focus on lactose-free milk innovation with an identical taste profile to regular dairy is the way to gain more prominent recognition within the Asian dairy market.
What's behind the major dairy business shake-ups of 2024?
From Unilever’s ice cream division to Fonterra’s consumer and integrated divisions, some of the global dairy majors have opted to change their organizations. Why?
FoodNavigator publisher William Reed acquires Future Food-Tech event organizer Rethink Events
William Reed – the publisher of award-winning B2B brands including FoodNavigator and NutraIngredients - has acquired a majority stake in agri-food summit organizer Rethink Events.
Brazil’s Lula’s comeback cheered as new research claims ‘deforestation-free’ supply chain pledges have barely impacted forest clearance in Amazon
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s presidential election win in Brazil will make it easier for food and beverage companies to comply with their zero-deforestation commitments, it has been claimed.
Plant-based cheese made with microalgae protein in development for global market
In Israel, a microalgae-based protein company and a vegan foods manufacturer are collaborating to develop protein-enriched plant-based cheese.
Low milk production lifting dairy prices – but will demand be hit?
Slumping milk production is keeping dairy prices high, according to AHDB. But as this feeds through to consumers, will demand take a hit?
Animal proteins... made by plants? 'Molecular farming’ co Moolec Science to go public via SPAC
Moolec Science – which has developed a ‘molecular farming’ platform to produce plants that express animal proteins – is going public via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC)* in a deal expected to close later this year.
News in brief
CP Kelco & IMCD expand distribution agreement into Mexico market
IMCD has become CP Kelco’s strategic distributor in Mexico across all market segments of food, plus consumer and industrial (C&I) applications.
DSM expands cheese biopreservation portfolio
Royal DSM, a global science-based company active in nutrition, health and sustainable living, has announced the extension of its Dairy Safe cheese biopreservation portfolio, with a selection of new phage-robust culture rotations.
Food pairings 'ripe for innovation' as immunity mega-trend rolls on
Exploring unique food pairings offers food brands the chance to tap into consumer desire to improve immunity via functional food, according to a report.
FrieslandCampina F&B tapping plant-based trend with ingredient innovation
FrieslandCampina Food & Beverages is leveraging its expertise in spray-dry powders to bring plant-based innovation to the bakery and desserts market. FoodNavigator hears how the group is building on the heritage of Kievit.
Chr. Hansen launches next generation of FreshQ food cultures for fermentation-enabled bioprotection of dairy products
It has been almost a decade since global bioscience company Chr. Hansen launched its first generation of FreshQ, a range of food cultures for improving the bioprotective effects of fermentation in dairy.
Investing in the Future of Food
Danone: "There has been a massive shift in how consumers are shopping and their adoption of digital commerce is significant'
With digital commerce sales accelerating during the pandemic and expected to climb from $35 billion to more than $250 billion by 2025, Danone North America is reallocating traditional marketing dollars to online in a bid to better drive consumer...
Russian dairy imports drop by 10%
In January 2021, Russian imports of dairy products were 10% lower compared to their level in 2020 for the same period and practically corresponded to the volume of imports in 2019.
AI key to safeguarding food systems amid coronavirus: tech firm
A UK tech company claims AI holds the key to avoiding the risk of coronavirus destabilising the food system.
Latin America's food industry reacts to COVID-19 crisis: 'Our operations are indispensable to food security'
Brazil's Marfrig pledges to keep all its meat plants operating; Mercado Libre cuts commission for non-perishable food products; Ambev brewery is now producing alcohol gel. We take a look at how the food industry is responding to the coronavirus outbreak...
Custom-designed yeast can make food healthier, says biotech start-up
A Brazilian biotech start-up is custom-designing novel, natural yeast strains that can be used to make plant proteins, replace artificial additives and boost the bioavailability of minerals.
Make ultra-processed food more expensive, say Brazilian researchers
When ultra-processed food costs more, it is associated with lower prevalence of overweight and obesity in Brazil, suggesting taxes could be an effective tool to fight obesity, argue the authors of a recent study.
Probiotic ice cream promotes health benefits in Chile
Ice cream is a treat for most children, but a startup in Chile is incorporating a strain of probiotics as a healthy supplement in the form of a daily snack.
Tetra Pak on sustainable bioplastic from sugarcane: ‘We’re part of the success story Brazil has been driving’
We talk to Tetra Pak about its packaging made from “fully traceable” Brazilian sugarcane certified by Bonsucro. “The decision to source in Brazil is part of our sustainability commitment,” says the company’s director of sourcing and manufacturing.
'Nature-based solutions': Nestlé to plant 3 million trees in the Americas by 2021
Starting in Mexico and Brazil, Nestlé will plant three million trees, restore degraded ecosystems and help farmers switch to agroforestry methods in a bid to make its supply chain more resilient.
Back on track? Court revokes Mexican nutrition label suspension but Concamin vows to fight on
Mexico's nutrition label is once again on path to enter into force as a court revokes the decision to provisionally suspend it, although industry says it will continue to oppose the regulation using "all legal means".