Major players in the food industry are looking for experts in commodity procurement to tackle volatile raw material prices which have eaten into profits, according to reports.
Natural blue pigments from oyster-friendly bacteria and red pigments from prickly pear, and concerns for men over soy consumption have been the highlights of this month's science.
Touchi, a fermented soy bean extract that has been used for centuries in Japan, China and other parts of Asia may be available to European consumers if a European Union Novel Foods application is approved.
A new study has found that men who consume an average of half a portion of soy products per day are more likely to have a lower concentration of sperm, particularly if they are overweight or obese.
Agro-chemical giant Monsanto has ended a long-running dispute with
Syngenta over soy and corn seeds by entering into a licensing
agreement that will allow its Swiss rival to use its technology in
its soy seed activities.
The US market for soy foods and beverages is poised for strong
growth as consumer awareness of the health benefits of soy
increases, according to a new report.
US-based Solae has said it will raise prices of its soy protein
ingredients around the world by as much as 30 percent in order for
it to be able to maintain its R&D activities.
Legacy Foods has been acquired by energy- and grain-based foods
company CHS, in a move that is expected to take the textured soy
protein supplier 'to the next level'.
Solae has announced price increases for a broad range of its
soy lecithin products from April 1 - just days after warning
of the need for ingredients firms to pass on higher input costs.
Using pectin to coat naturally occurring soybean oil bodies could
lead to stabilisation of the oil bodies and open up new
opportunities for the food industry, suggests new research.
Adding micro-particulated soybeans hulls to a doughnut formulation
may reduce the uptake of fat by the consumer after deep-fat frying,
suggests new research.
Israeli soy ingredient supplier Solbar has announced a change in
its management structure for 2008 in order to strengthen its sales
efforts and invest in business development.
A collaboration yesterday announced by biotech company Monsanto
could result in the establishment of an analytical standard for
heart-healthy soybean oil.
A soy isoflavone used in soy infant formula could reduce diarrhea
in infants, according to a new study, and thereby save lives in
developing countries.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended a comment
period on a review of the nation's soybean standards, as it aims to
ascertain whether these adequately respond to current grain
industry needs.
Agro firm Bunge is to expand its soy presence in China, announcing
today the establishment of a joint venture to construct a new
soybean processing plant in the country.
The Chinese soy protein market needs to consolidate to have fewer
players in order for anyone to make money from the market,
according to Solbar, which has had a production facility in China
since 2005.
Agro-firms Monsanto and Bayer CropSciences have entered into a
series of new agreements, which could result in crops that contain
two of the leading herbicide technologies - Roundup Ready and
LibertyLink.
A US District Court has found that agricultural firm DuPont holds
valid patents for a soybean market technology, a ruling that
concludes a patent infringement dispute with Genome and
Agricultural Biotechnology (GAAB).
A higher-yielding variety of genetically modified soybeans from
Monsanto could be introduced commercially within the next few
years, according to the leading biotechnology firm.
Soybean production in the US last year was the highest on record,
although production of corn, sorghum and rice decreased from the
previous year, according to the US Department of Agriculture
(USDA).
Peanut protein concentrate (PPC) could provide the food industry
with a cost-effective and alternative emulsifying ingredient,
suggests a study by US scientists.
Next year could see US agriculture focusing more on wheat and corn
at the expense of other crops, according to a marketing expert, who
examined the implications of higher crop prices on farmers and on
farm policy.
Sabinsa Corporation has agreed to discontinue making or selling
Genimax in the US as part of a settlement with Archer Daniels
Midland over patent infringement of the agribusiness giant's
proprietary soy isoflavone technology.
Soya beverage makers are using more subtle marketing of their key
ingredient and merging with more traditional segments like juice
and dairy in a bid to bring their products into the mainstream,
according to industry experts.
Leading oilseed processor Bunge has reported a sharp fall in second
quarter profit after farmer protests in Brazil caused a significant
disruption in the company's business.
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have discovered a
way to speed up the identification of low-linolenic soybean
varieties, findings that could contribute to increased production
of low-trans fat soy oil.
The link between soy consumption and a reduced risk of breast
cancer has been called into question by a meta-analysis of
available science, with researchers concluding that there is
insufficient evidence to support the health claim.
The battle surrounding the technology rights for the production of
soy isoflavones has been refired as Archer Daniels Midland files a
lawsuit against a US firm for infringing patent rights.
Scientific evidence says that consumption of soy from the diet or
as supplements should not cause alarm despite negative reports
about risks, a view that has been supported by a major US industry
group.
An independent panel of scientists is to meet this week to review
recent scientific data on the soy compound genistein. The
scientists expect to reach conclusions as to whether or not the
consumption of genistein could have a negative...
A new soybean variety claims to allow food manufacturers to develop
products that have all the health benefits of soybeans but less of
the beany taste.
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has launched a multi-lingual website
in a marketing effort to provide international customers with easy
access to information on its product portfolio.
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) is to expand its range of low trans
fat oils for the food industry by teaming up with biotech giant
Monsanto to process some of the company's Vistive low-linolenic
soybeans this year.
Global commodity markets will have mixed fortunes in 2006, with
China prepared to surpass India as the world's largest importer of
edible oil, according to ASA's latest report.
New research published today reveals that consuming soy could have
a "severe" impact on a genetic heart condition that affects
one in 500 people, though the authors caution that the effect has
so far only been observed in...
A new injectable soya protein designed for use in meat products
could help increase shelf life and cooking yields, while also
improving the texture of products, says supplier Archer Daniels
Midland (ADM).
The heart health benefits of eating soy protein containing
isoflavones received a boost this week, when researchers from John
Hopkins University presented new research indicating their ability
to reduce two strong indicators for coronary...
Archer Daniels Midland last week posted a significant dip in
first-quarter net income, but indicated that the year ahead could
be a good one for agricultural ingredients companies as a result of
good US harvests.
Biotech giant Monsanto and soy ingredients supplier Solae are to
develop a new line of soy proteins that they claim will have a
better taste and higher level of solubility than any other soy
protein on the market.
Soy isoflavone producer Acatris has reached a deal with ADM
allowing it to use substantial intellectual property covering
isoflavones and women's health, reports Dominique Patton.
Cargill's pioneering Life Stage approach to developing and
marketing ingredients shows how the industry can better tune into
consumer demand, writes Anthony Fletcher from New Orleans.