In Panama, food and beverage multinational Nestlé and advertising firm Ogilvy Colombia have introduced a biodegradable cheese wrapper made from whey, a cheesemaking byproduct. Dubbed “Self-Packing Cheese”, the translucent and lightweight material is already being used to replace plastic packaging for Panama’s ¡Qué rico! cheese brand, according to Hype Beast. Gastón Potasz, Chief Creative Officer […]
In Indiana, bioplastics producer AgroRenew has told WIBQ that its previously announced production plant in Vincennes could be delayed due to tariffs. The company said tariffs have increased the cost of specialized equipment from Europe by as much as 50%, increasing the project’s total expected cost considerably and pushing out its construction timeline. “Our operation […]
In Qatar, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy has determined that cultivated meat is halal for Muslims if the source cells come from animals permissible to eat and are cultured in media free from blood or other sources considered haram. Notably, the latter condition means Muslims can’t eat cultivated meat grown using fetal bovine serum, a […]
In Austria, Arkeon, a company developing microorganisms that can convert gases into animal-based protein alternatives, has filed for insolvency. According to AgFunderNews, company cofounder and CEO Dr. Gregor Tegl announced the news on LinkedIn, and also affirmed his belief in the potential of the technology. “Every failure teaches us something new, and the lessons we’ve […]
In France, plant-based ingredients firm Roquette has named Thierry Fournier as its new CEO, effective July 18, 2025. Fournier is currently the CEO of the Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa Region for Saint-Gobain, a global leader in light and sustainable construction, with over 161,000 employees and revenues of more than €46 billion. He is […]
In Italy, dsm-firmenich has broken ground on a new production facility for flavors and functional blends. The Parma plant will support the production of flavors for plant-based products and more nutritious ready-to-eat meals. Scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2027, the new site will significantly expand the company’s capabilities in concentrated powder […]
In Japan, biotechnology firm bitBiome has partnered with an unnamed CMO for the manufacturing and supply of its enzymes, proteins and ingredients. bitBiome’s platform is built on their proprietary single-cell microbial genome analysis technology, bit-MAP®. Using bioinformatics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, bitBiome has used bit-MAP to create a comprehensive enzyme discovery and enzyme, pathway […]
In New Zealand, a startup called KiwiLeather Innovations is building a business converting rejected kiwifruit into a leather alternative. According to Fresh Plaza, over 50,000 tons of kiwifruit is deemed unfit for sale in New Zealand annually. KiwiLeather Innovations founder Shelley Jouston, inspired by similar fruit waste-to-leather projects in Europe, collaborated with Scion research to […]
In Indiana, UPSIDE Foods served cultivated chicken sandwiches during the recent Indianapolis 500 as it called the state’s upcoming ban on such products “un-American.” Indiana’s ban on cultivated meat sales is slated to begin July 1. According to CultivatedX, UPSIDE Foods said in a social media post that it is “here to defend your right […]
In California, MeliBio, a pioneer in bee-free food, has been acquired by Switzerland-based foodtech FoodYoung Labs for an undisclosed sum. MeliBio has earned global recognition as the creator of the world’s first plant-based honey, Mellody, which debuted at “buzzy”—and Michelin-star rated—Manhattan restaurant Eleven Madison Park. The deal includes MeliBio’s Mellody brand and its “Generation 1” […]
