Sustainable Agriculture

IFT First

Standardizing regenerative agriculture claims requires industry collaboration

25-Jul-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Brian Nash, VP, corporate sustainability, Ingredion, spoke with FoodNavigator-USA at IFT FIRST in Chicago about how companies must work together to establish a more unified regenerative agricultural claim.

Air Protein raises $32m to create sustainable 'meat' from microbes... and thin air

07-Jan-2021 By Elaine Watson

Air Protein – one of a new wave of startups producing proteins via microbes rather than plants or animals – has raised $32m in a Series A as it gears up to commercialize meat alternatives made from a complete protein it argues will blow rivals out of...

Startup Healthy PlanEat connects consumers with local farmers, advancing sustainable food movement

12-Feb-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Responding to the growing demand for locally-grown and sustainable food, startup Healthy PlanEat is working to connect consumers with the farmers who grow their produce via a mobile app.

Large-scale regenerative agriculture is possible – and profitable, says Rizoma

08-Apr-2019 By Niamh Michail

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.

‘A major step forward’: Brazil founds trade group for carbon-neutral meat

25-Feb-2019 By Niamh Michail

The newly-formed Brazilian Association of Carbon-Neutral Meat Producers will develop both supply of, and demand for, carbon-neutral meat.

European countries perform well in food sustainability index while US 'languishes'

05-Dec-2017 By Niamh Michail

Good nutrition, sustainable agriculture and low food waste aren't the preserve of wealthy nations: France has been ranked number one in a global sustainability index but low-income Ethiopia outperforms the USA.

Dean Foods buys Uncle Matt's: 'It further underscores our commitment to the organic space'

22-Jun-2017 By Elaine Watson

Dean Foods – best-known for dairy brands such as Dean’s, Dairy Pure and Land O Lakes -  has acquired organic juice maker Uncle Matt’s Organic for an undisclosed sum as it seeks to expand its presence in organic market.

From grain-free to grass-fed: What is driving growth in natural, organic and specialty foods?

21-Sep-2016 By Elaine Watson

With Expo East around the corner, food investment specialists Whipstitch Capital and Silverwood Partners have both released reports exploring the growth drivers in natural, organic and specialty foods. Checkout our gallery of highlights...

Organic growth set to double – but it won’t feed the planet alone: Study

10-Feb-2016 By Kizzi Nkwocha

Sales of organic food and drink are set to double by 2018 but this is not enough to feed the world – a truly sustainable farming system is needed for future food and ecosystem security, say researchers.

Ardent Mills launches plan to double US organic wheat acres in three years

21-Dec-2015 By Hank Schultz

Flour producer Ardent Mills has announced a plan that it hopes will more than double the number of organic wheat acres in the United States by 2019.

We recognize we have to change the in-store experience

Target to double Made to Matter natural & organic collection as part of food 'reinvention' plan

03-Mar-2015 By Elaine Watson

Target will double the size of its 'Made to Matter' range of natural, organic, and sustainable products this year as part of a plan to "reinvent" its grocery offering and "deliver more organic, natural, gluten-free items" to...

2014 in food M&A... Unilever says bye to SlimFast, hello to Talenti; Annie’s joins General Mills; Monster walks down the aisle with Coke

17-Dec-2014 By Elaine Watson

Natural & organic food brands are doing better than their ‘legacy brand’ counterparts and big food manufacturers want a slice of the action, which has stimulated some high profile mergers & acquisitions (M&A) activity in 2014. FoodNavigator-USA...

60-second interview: the day job

What do you do? Blake Waltrip, CEO of Ancient Harvest

09-Jun-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

In the latest iteration of FoodNavigator-USA’s What do you do interview series, we talk with the boss of organic ancient grain specialist Ancient Harvest about the challenges of long-distance (work) relationships, his move from banking to CPGs and what...

Organic claims leave a sour taste when it comes to functional health, says study

27-Nov-2012 By Nathan Gray

Organic logos and claims generally have positive effects on consumers, but even the most positive supporter has negative inferences towards organic products when they are judged on functional health benefits, suggest researchers.

Organic foods not healthier, suggests research

07-Sep-2012 By Carina Perkins

Organic foods – including meat – are not necessarily more healthy than conventional foods, according to new research from the US.

Sales of natural and organic food are booming for specialty retailers, says SPINS

28-Aug-2012 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Natural retailers have seen double-digit sales growth in every four-week period during 2012 as consumers continue to demand natural and organic foods, according to specialist market research organization SPINS.

ADM invests US$4.4m to boost cocoa production in Ivory Coast

29-Aug-2011 By Helen Glaberson

Global confectionery supplier Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) is injecting US$4.4m (€3m) into its Ivory Coast cocoa programme as the country tries to recover from its recent civil turmoil and an EU ban on one of the region’s most important exports.

Cargill looks to tackle child labour in cocoa growing

10-Sep-2010 By Jane Byrne

Cargill said its planned investment of $5m over the next three years in sustainable cocoa initiatives will help address the worst forms of child labour in cocoa growing communities in the Ivory Coast and Ghana.

ConAgra vows to cut packaging, water and waste by 2015

06-Apr-2010 By Rory Harrington

ConAgra has unveiled a raft of eco-measures aimed at “significantly” reducing its carbon footprint by slashing its packaging, water use and the waste it sends to landfill by 2015.

Germany plans allow GMOs in food labelled non-GM

15-Jan-2008 By Jess Halliday

The German ruling coalition has agreed to allow foods containing
certain GM additives or using GM processing aids to still be
labelled as non-GM if there is no alternative, in a bid to
encourage use of non-GM labels.

Organic food miles offset benefits, Canadian study

06-Jun-2007 By staff reporter

A study from the University of Alberta has concluded that the
environmental impact of food miles racked up by organic produce
cancels out the benefits of growing it.

Wild Oats launches nationwide initiative to promote local produce

17-Jul-2006 By Lorraine Heller

Natural and organic food chain Wild Oats has set up a program that
will promote locally grown organic products in all its stores
throughout North America.

New organic flavour extracts hit European market

21-Jun-2006 By Lorraine Heller

A European supplier of organic flavour extracts has added a range
of new ingredients to its portfolio, designed to produce a cleaner
label and boost the profile of organic products in the eyes of
consumers.