Regenerative agriculture can be productive and profitable, according to Brazilian producer Rizoma, which aims to regenerate one million hectares of land in Brazil by 2030. “Simply sustaining is not enough,” it says.
Sixty percent of Chileans were willing to try an empanada filled with insect protein, according to a study by the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
Argentinian scientists and tech firm EnyeTech have optimized the production process for mycoprotein, allowing for cheaper production both industrially and in the home. "We are decentralizing the production of protein in the world," says the...
Start-up accelerator TIC Colombia is on the hunt for innovative food, nutrition and agriculture start-ups to accelerate in its 2019 nationwide competition.
Strict environmental regulations in the Brazilian Amazon under previous governments helped make farmers more productive, according to a study. "Bolsonaro’s intentions to loosen environmental protections in the Amazon are a no-win for society,"...
Ecuador’s efforts to create value at origin could be damaged by the EU’s recent regulation of heavy metal cadmium in chocolate, claims the president of the country’s cocoa export association.
Maza Real is creating a market for native, Mexican-grown maize by buying red, blue and white criollo varieties from farmers. Consumers want to go "back to natural and back to their roots”, it says.
'What we're wrestling with is whether CBD is an ingredient play, or something huge brands can be built around'
The fact that CBD is not a legal ingredient in foods and supplements - at least not yet - did not deter scores of exhibitors at Expo West, who added it to everything from soda to protein bars (absent any claims), with some opting for isolates, but most...
DuPont is making its range of fermentation cultures for plant-based dairy alternatives, such as soy and coconut milk, available to manufacturers in South America.
Bezos Expeditions and ethical investment firm The Craftory will give Chilean plant-based start-up The Not Company US$30 million. “NotCo has the energy and capabilities to topple the traditional food production giants,” says The Craftory.
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...
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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'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,"...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brazil’s controversial president Jair Bolsonaro has got off to a controversial start, from disbanding the National Council of Food and Nutrition Security (CONSEA) to giving the agribusiness sector greater control over the Amazon in his first weeks in...
Danone has given its Argentinean yogurt brand La Serenísima a sustainable packaging revamp to make it easier to recycle. “We have the opportunity to be the first yogurt in Argentina to speak about the circular economy," it says.
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...
The University of Chile will collaborate with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in promoting sustainable agri-food production to tackle food security and climate change.
From the continued growth of the organic category in the US to Roquette's optimism around plant-based milk for pea protein and regulatory developments to watch in APAC, a lot has happened over the past seven days. Here’s a round-up of the top seven...
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...
From the stevia specialist PureCircle looking to move beyond sweeteners to Nestlé’s new Institute of Packaging Science and Cargill’s big Asian food system mega-trends to watch, a lot has happened over the past seven days. Here’s a round-up of the top...
Grupo Bimbo will invest in technologies, circular economy best-practices and recycling programs to reduce plastic use and ensure all packaging is compostable or made from recycled materials by 2025.
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.
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.
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).
Coca-Cola Brazil has invested R$100m into its returnable bottle initiative, rolling out universal formats with detachable labels to improved recyclability, reduce waste and improve carbon footprint.
From the US FDA’s approval of a qualified health claim for high oleic oils to the EU’s push to promote its own plant protein market, a lot has happened over the past seven days. Here’s a round-up of the top seven global food and beverage news items to...
Researchers have developed biodegradable active food packaging and suggest native Mexican plant extracts, traditionally used medicinally, could be incorporated as alternative antimicrobial agents.
