https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/rssfeed/agri-business/refinery refinery https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/3592/biomerieux-launches-smartbiome-to-help-food-manufacturers-analyze-spoilage-and-maintain-product-quality.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/3592/biomerieux-launches-smartbiome-to-help-food-manufacturers-analyze-spoilage-and-maintain-product-quality.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:35:23 +0530 Provides actionable insights to protect product quality, reduce waste and better preserve consumer safety bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, announces the launch of SMARTBIOME™, an innovative solution designed to help food manufacturers better understand, control and prevent microbiological spoilage. By combining high‑precision DNA sequencing, advanced bioinformatics and bioMérieux's microbiology expertise, SMARTBIOME™ provides actionable insights to protect product quality, reduce waste and better preserve consumer safety. Every year, microbial spoilage contributes significantly to food waste and quality losses across the global food industry. Scientific estimates indicate that 15–20% of food is wasted after production, and part of the waste is due to spoilage, with microorganisms such as Pseudomonas, aerobic and anaerobic spore‑formers, and fungi playing a major role in both fresh and processed foods and beverages. For food manufacturers, these challenges lead to substantial economic losses, reputational risks and operational disruption. Identifying the microorganisms responsible for spoilage, understanding their origin and preventing recurrence remain complex and time‑consuming tasks. SMARTBIOME™ addresses these challenges through an advanced, accessible platform for in-depth spoilage investigation. The solution combines high‑resolution DNA sequencing with powerful bioinformatics and data science, an exclusive spoilage knowledge base, and bioMérieux's expert consulting services. Together, these capabilities transform complex microbiological data into clear, actionable insights. Spot spoilage, act confidently and prevent contamination The solution enables food manufacturers to accurately identify spoilage organisms at every stage of production, trace issues back to their root cause using data‑driven insights and strengthen process controls. By monitoring microbiological trends over time, manufacturers can anticipate risks and proactively adjust their processes to prevent future spoilage events before they escalate.  "With SMARTBIOME™, we are giving food manufacturers the ability to understand and control spoilage like never before," declared Alejo Migones, Senior Vice President, Food Safety & Quality. "By combining our microbiology expertise with powerful data science, we continue to enhance our Augmented Diagnostics approach by helping our customers run healthy and sustainable operations."  This innovative solution has been developed in close collaboration with the teams of Neoprospecta, a Brazil‑based genomics and data science company acquired by bioMérieux in January 2025. The teams jointly work in establishing an international reference in technologies and solutions for microorganism analysis, identification and control. SMARTBIOME™ is already available for food manufacturers in several regions worldwide, including North America, Latin America and Europe. "Through the development of sequencing and data‑driven microbiology solutions, we move beyond isolated test results to deliver meaningful, actionable insights. This allows us to support food manufacturers more effectively, helping them improve processes and making bioMérieux a true long‑term partner in their microbiological risk management and quality programs. Ultimately, these advances also contribute to delivering safer products to consumers," added Yasha Mitrotti, Executive Vice President, Industrial Applications, bioMérieux. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/3286/japans-nippn-corporation-partners-with-greenfield-milling-to-reinforce-u-s-flour-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/3286/japans-nippn-corporation-partners-with-greenfield-milling-to-reinforce-u-s-flour-production.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 10:41:32 +0530 Strategic alliance drives innovation and sustainability in the food supply chain with advanced milling technology and nationwide distribution capabilities. Japan's Nippn Corporation, a leader in food and agricultural innovation, has strengthened its global presence through a strategic equity partnership with Utah Flour Milling, LLC, dba Greenfield Milling. The collaboration marks a significant milestone as Greenfield Milling unveils its flagship flour milling facility in Richmond, Utah, designed to revolutionize the food supply chain. The partnership highlights Nippn's commitment to fostering international alliances and expanding its footprint in the U.S. market. Greenfield Milling, aims to redefine flour production through cutting-edge technology, quality, and strategic partnerships. The new state-of-the-art facility in Richmond is a testament to this vision, featuring advanced capabilities for producing hard wheat, soft wheat, whole wheat, and organic flours. A key feature of the Richmond facility is its dedicated pneumatic flour supply system, which supports Campbell's Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cracker and Milano Cookie plant under a 20-year supply agreement. This initiative underscores Greenfield Milling’s focus on sustainability and efficiency, aligning with Nippn’s values of innovation and quality. Greenfield Milling plans to further expand its operations by leasing assets from Panhandle Milling in Hereford, Texas. This move will enhance its ability to serve the bakery industry with a diverse range of ingredients and mixes, including tortillas, pizza dough, and dry bake mixes, in conventional, organic, and gluten-free formats. Looking ahead, Greenfield Milling plans to upgrade its Utah facility with advanced blending and warehousing automation by 2026, increasing capacity to meet rising consumer demand for high-quality bakery ingredients. This forward-looking strategy reflects Nippn’s influence in driving growth and innovation within the partnership. Genichi Murakami, Vice President of Medicaroid Corporation, a joint venture between Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Sysmex Corporation, emphasized the significance of this collaboration. "Nippn's partnership with Greenfield Milling showcases Japan's expertise in creating sustainable and innovative food solutions," he said. "We are proud to support initiatives that elevate industry standards and drive global growth." Together, Nippn Corporation and Greenfield Milling are shaping the future of food ingredients, combining Japanese innovation with American operational excellence to meet the evolving demands of the bakery and retail markets. This collaboration not only strengthens Greenfield Milling’s position in the U.S. but also reinforces Nippn’s role as a global leader in advancing food supply chain sustainability and quality. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/3274/singapores-terra-oleo-secures-us3-1-million-to-create-sustainable-palm-oil-ingredients-and-cocoa-butter-alternatives.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/3274/singapores-terra-oleo-secures-us3-1-million-to-create-sustainable-palm-oil-ingredients-and-cocoa-butter-alternatives.html Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:29:00 +0530 Terra Oleo’s tunable platform harnesses precision fermentation to transform agro-industrial waste into sustainable ingredients for personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food industries Terra Oleo, a Singapore-based biotechnology company, has secured US$3.1 million in funding from a group of investors, and support from Breakthrough Energy’s prestigious Fellows Program. As part of this highly selective global initiative, Terra Oleo is advancing microbial technology to create sustainable alternatives to palm oil derivatives and cocoa butter for use in personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food. To date, Terra Oleo has raised US$3.1 million a strategic corporate investor from the palm oil industry, and other investors. Palm oil and cocoa supply chains are stressed by climate instability, regulatory pressures, and limited land. In 2024, cocoa’s end-of-season stocks fell 26% and futures prices reached record highs, while global palm oil exports dropped 5.83% year-over-year amid rising demand and production constraints. Costs and supply volatility are being driven up by these pressures, making producers and consumer goods companies look for alternatives urgently. Terra Oleo’s technology meets this need by reinventing lipid ingredients production. Terra Oleo’s tunable platform harnesses precision fermentation to transform agro-industrial waste into sustainable palm oil ingredients and cocoa butter alternatives. Backed by deep synthetic biology and microbial engineering expertise, the platform delivers tailored lipid profiles for high-value palm and cocoa applications, while eliminating the energy-intensive refining steps and toxic byproducts of conventional processes. This approach overcomes natural microbe limits, delivering superior unit economics and faster market adoption than other solutions.   With strong process economics and deep market networks built alongside the conventional palm industry, Terra Oleo is uniquely positioned to deliver scalable, high-performance alternatives. At full scale, its technology could eliminate up to 900 million tons of CO₂ annually from palm oil and cocoa supply chains, accelerating decarbonization across personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food. The company has already signed product testing agreements with several global and regional leaders in oleochemicals, food, personal care, and cosmetics. With validation underway and demand accelerating, Terra Oleo is preparing to scale from lab to market with products designed to match or surpass conventional performance. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/3169/basf-strengthens-industry-footsteps-to-drive-plastics-recycling-evolution-in-vietnam.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/3169/basf-strengthens-industry-footsteps-to-drive-plastics-recycling-evolution-in-vietnam.html Thu, 07 Aug 2025 10:59:51 +0530 Chemetall will provide innovative PET recycling washing solutions for Circular Plastics Company’s new plastic recycling plant in Vung Tau, Vietnam, to empower the circular economy in Southeast Asia The Surface Treatment global business unit of BASF’s Coatings division, operating under the Chemetall brand, has been selected to supply innovative PET recycling washing solutions for Circular Plastics Company’s new plastic recycling plant in Vung Tau, Vietnam. Chemetall will provide a range of novel technologies tailored for Circular Plastics Company’s facilities, which recycle post-consumer PET plastics into food-grade products in Myanmar and Vietnam. They include Gardoclean® cleaning agents, Gardobond® additives for PET/polyolefin separation and defoaming. The integration of these technologies substantially improves the quality of treated flakes, boosts productivity, and reduces energy and resource consumption. The solutions also enable the plastic recycler to produce washed flakes that comply with food contact standards. “We are excited that our successful collaboration with Circular Plastics Company continues to strengthen, extending from Myanmar to Vietnam. As the plastics recycling industry evolves in Southeast Asia, Chemetall is dedicated to growing alongside our customers by offering differentiated PET and plastics recycling solutions and expertise that enhance quality, drive efficiency, and support the positive development of a circular economy,” said Evelyn Shen, Vice President, Chemetall Asia Pacific. “At CPC, we are committed to producing the highest-quality food-grade rPET. Chemetall's advanced wash chemistry not only enhances the purity and performance of our recycled materials but also aligns perfectly with our values of innovation and environmental responsibility,” said Marc Rudolf von Rohr, Group Chief Operating Officer, Circular Plastics Company. Amidst the growing demand for recycled plastics in the emerging markets of Southeast Asia, the collaboration between Chemetall and Circular Plastics Company exemplifies a shared commitment to leveraging innovations to tackle process challenges, create value for new material cycles, and achieve circular economy goals. Chemetall offers a specialized portfolio of cleaning technologies and process expertise for the plastics recycling industry, to elevate operational productivity and product quality, while supporting the industry’s shift toward a more sustainable future. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/2458/arzeda-expands-protein-design-capabilities-with-new-38m-funding-to-advance-commercialization-efforts-globally.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/2458/arzeda-expands-protein-design-capabilities-with-new-38m-funding-to-advance-commercialization-efforts-globally.html Thu, 07 Nov 2024 10:04:26 +0530 Aims to meet global market demand of better tasting stevia and accelerate the commercialization Arzeda, the Protein Design Company™, has concluded $38M oversubscribed funding round to  expand the production capacity of its ProSweet Enzymes™ and ProSweet RebM™ to meet strong market demand of better tasting stevia and accelerate the commercialization of additional breakthrough products in its pipeline. Arzeda has partnered with several global industrial leaders to bring these products to the market including Unilever, AAK, and W.L. Gore & Associates. The new investments is in collaboration with Sofinnova Partners, Fall Line Capital, Sucden Ventures, Silver Blue, and the venture arm of W.L. Gore & Associates (makers of Gore-Tex®), which has been in a joint development agreement with Arzeda since 2022. Previous investors also participated in the round, including the venture arm of the Continental Grain Company, Bunge Ventures, and Lewis & Clark Agrifood. “Arzeda is at a key inflection point with its products now at commercial scale,” said Michael Krel, Partner at Sofinnova Partners. “This funding will enable Arzeda to accelerate the commercialization of its industrial biotech products, including new designer proteins and enzymes that have the ability to reduce GHG emissions. Arzeda’s Intelligent Protein Design Technology™ is transformational to many industrial verticals and they are one of the few companies that have been able to translate this promise into commercial products that solve real- world problems and create value for the customer.” Arzeda’s Intelligent Protein Design Technology™ is built on one of the largest proprietary datasets of high-quality protein designs linked to experimental results and leverages the latest advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI) to design and manufacture higher-performing proteins and enzymes tailored for large-scale production. Arzeda’s proteins and enzymes enable alternatives which outperform existing products across various industries, including food, personal and home care, agriculture, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics, in a more sustainable manner. The biotech industry has only scratched the surface of what can be done with designed proteins, and Arzeda is on a mission to make this future a reality. Alexandre Zanghellini, co-founder and CEO of Arzeda said “The field of protein design has experienced explosive growth in recent years but has faced challenges in translating these advances into products. Where we excel is in developing solutions that can be manufactured sustainably at scale.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/2556/green-plains-launches-worlds-first-clean-sugar-technology-facility-cst.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/2556/green-plains-launches-worlds-first-clean-sugar-technology-facility-cst.html Mon, 04 Nov 2024 11:16:35 +0530 Patented system produces dextrose and glucose corn syrups with up to a 40% lower carbon-intensity than existing alternatives Green Plains Inc. unveiled successful ongoing production of dextrose syrups at the world’s first commercial deployment of Clean Sugar Technology™ (CST™) in Shenandoah, Iowa. This patented system, designed by Fluid Quip Technologies, produces dextrose and glucose corn syrups with up to a 40% lower carbon-intensity than existing alternatives. These low carbon-intensity ingredients are designed for renewable chemicals, bio-based materials and food and beverage formulations. “The successful start of the game-changing Clean Sugar Technology in Shenandoah, combined with the first ever dextrose from a dry mill, ushers in a new era for Green Plains and the sugar industry as a whole,” said Todd Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer at Green Plains. “Not only is this disruptive to traditional manufacturing of dextrose and glucose products but we believe our entry into this market with a focus on low carbon-intensity ingredients better positions us to meet expanding demand. I would like to thank the many people who have worked tirelessly to help accomplish one of the most critical milestones in our transformation journey, including our engineering and operating teams, the State of Iowa and the City of Shenandoah, enabling Green Plains to serve new markets in industrial fermentation and food production, sustainably leading the way in powering the bio-economy in the U.S. and abroad.” The dextrose and glucose corn syrups produced with CST™ have proven successful in trials as feedstocks for fermentation of various bio-products and bio-chemicals, in addition to food ingredients. Green Plains is in advanced negotiations and going through final product approvals with multiple offtake partnerships, and interest for these dextrose and glucose corn syrups exceeds the current production capacity of the Shenandoah facility. “Clean Sugar Technology unlocks the corn kernel to produce products similar to a corn wet mill but with a lower carbon-intensity as the demand for dextrose and glucose corn syrups continues to grow,” added Becker. “These sustainable ingredients are enabling a new path for the bio-based economy to achieve breakthroughs in renewable chemicals and beyond.” Bulk shipments of commercial quantities to end-use customers will commence in the coming weeks. The facility has achieved 3rd party certification for current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) with FSSC 22000 certification expected to be completed in the next quarter. Over the next several quarters the facility will be optimized to increase production. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/2380/the-seed-oil-free-alliance-certifies-promising-new-cooking-oil-made-from-algae.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/2380/the-seed-oil-free-alliance-certifies-promising-new-cooking-oil-made-from-algae.html Wed, 14 Aug 2024 11:09:55 +0530 Algae Can Provide A More Sustainable, Healthy Alternative To Seed Oils The Seed Oil Free Alliance announced Seed Oil Free Certified™ cooking oils as an new alternative to traditional seed extracted cooking oils. The two US-based companies are harnessing technology to produce cooking oil from microalgae. 'Spotlight Foods' is the first company producing oil through fermentation to complete certification by the Seed Oil Free Alliance alongside retailer Algae Cooking Club. Seed Oil Free Certification of both companies’ products followed independent lab testing by the Seed Oil Free Alliance. “Algae-derived cooking oils could revolutionize how we feed a growing world. Unhealthy and unstable seed oils are produced from industrially grown crops associated with deforestation, loss of habitat, pollution, and disruption of biodiversity,” said Seed Oil Free Alliance CEO Jonathan Rubin. “Spotlight™ Foods can produce monounsaturated fats ideal for high-heat cooking in a matter of days with a fraction of the land, water, and carbon needed for low-quality seed oils, and now Algae Cooking Club is making it widely accessible to consumers.” “It may seem unlikely, but this new algae oil is quite delicious, extremely pure, and even higher in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats than olive oil. What excites me is that it’s all being done in a controlled environment with a lower environmental footprint than many seed oils and without blending with inferior ingredients,” said Dr. Andrew Weil, the Founder of the Andrew Weil University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, who also serves as Scientific and Medical Advisor to the Seed Oil Free Alliance. “If we are going to address the larger challenges around our food system, companies will need to deliver new ingredients that ask less of the planet without sacrificing taste, trust and the overall cooking experience,” said Algae Cooking Club CEO and co-founder Kasra Saidi. Kevin Ward, Sustainability Scientist at Spotlight Foods, explains "Plant-based sugars from sugarcane are fed to microalgae in large, stainless steel fermentation tanks. Similar to yeast fermenting sugar into alcohol, algae efficiently convert sugar into an edible oil in a matter of days. The result is a neutral-tasting cooking oil high in monounsaturated omega-9 fats and low in omega-6 fats, which recent research has shown to be inflammatory.” "Algae-derived cooking oils could revolutionize how we feed a growing world. Unhealthy and unstable seed oils are produced from industrially grown crops associated with deforestation, loss of habitat, pollution, and disruption of biodiversity,” said Seed Oil Free Alliance CEO Jonathan Rubin.  The Seed Oil Free Alliance is a third-party certifying organization that offers the world's first “Seed Oil Free Certified” seal for qualifying consumer packaged goods (CPG), ready-to-eat foods, food service operations, and bottled cooking oil products. The “Seed Oil Free Certified” seal guarantees consumers that the foods they choose have undergone independent laboratory testing to ensure the purity of added oils and refined fat ingredients ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/1833/veolia-water-technologies-redevelops-brownfield-site%C2%A0for-its-first-ion-exchange-regeneration-facility-in-china.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/1833/veolia-water-technologies-redevelops-brownfield-site%C2%A0for-its-first-ion-exchange-regeneration-facility-in-china.html Tue, 26 Mar 2024 23:36:22 +0530 Water purification for strategic industries Veolia Water Technologies, a subsidiary of Veolia and a leading specialist in water treatment technologies and services, is redeveloping a brownfield site for its first ion exchange regeneration facility in China. The plant will be an integral part of its service deionization and mobile water treatment ecosystems and will improve supply chain resilience, regenerating and recycling the resins used in water treatment processes. This reliable source gives industries with the need for treated and ultrapure water — such as microelectronics, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, power and food and beverage — assurance of supply without compromising sustainability.  An investment of €10 million for the development of this new ion exchange regeneration service center and expansion of Veolia’s mobile assets in China signifies the company’s commitment to advancing the capabilities of its mobile fleet in Asia Pacific. Strategically located in the densely populated Changshu industrial zone, the plant will function as an operation and maintenance center for all associated assets. The Changshu regeneration facility is expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2024. This new plant is part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), which aims to develop a circular economy and resource recycling. It will complement Veolia’s current resin regeneration and recycling service center in Penang, Malaysia, enhancing support to customers within the Asia Pacific region. The facility will span approximately 6,000 square meters, the size of four football fields. The investment is inline with Veolia’s commitment to sustainable redevelopment and ecological transformation. Built upon a brownfield site, the completed plant will boast a production capacity of 60 kL/d for mobile water services and 5 kL/d for service deionization, and will be Veolia’s first ion exchange regeneration facility in China. Similar plants are available in the Middle East, Latin America, North America and Europe. From a sustainability perspective, the plant will incorporate ingenious water recycling systems, reducing city water consumption by up to 60%, preserving water for residents. Plans for a photovoltaic power supply and efficient transformers are in progress, and the facility will adopt state-of-the-art technology to efficiently recycle spent ion exchange resins, promoting resource optimization and sustainability. These actions accelerate decarbonization efforts by reducing power consumption and therefore lowering the site’s carbon footprint. In addition to environmental benefits, the plant's operation will create employment opportunities for the local community, and Veolia will focus on knowledge transfer and the upskilling of the local team as part of the company’s commitment to talent development. The implementation of these initiatives reflects Veolia’s commitment to achieving a multifaceted performance, which includes fostering economic growth and providing valuable resources to the communities in which it operates. The strategic investment is poised to bring multifaceted benefits to manufacturers and customers in the country. With the capability for swift mobilization and turnaround, Veolia aims to minimize operational disruptions, offering a reliable partnership for business continuity and security of treated water supply. The plant’s continuous production capacity ensures resilience against operational challenges, from supplier shutdowns to climatic conditions impacting installed equipment. Daniel NOGUEIRA, Chief Executive Officer of Veolia Water Technologies China, said: "This investment represents a crucial step forward for Veolia Water Technologies, highlighting our dedication to both technological advancement and sustainability. It also demonstrates that our dedication to sustainability is not mere rhetoric but rather a tangible action that makes a meaningful difference at the core of our operations. We are committed to growing sustainably, aligned with China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), which aims to develop a circular economy and resource recycling." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/987/beneo-increases-its-ingredient-solutions-for-sugar-reduction.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/140/987/beneo-increases-its-ingredient-solutions-for-sugar-reduction.html Fri, 26 May 2023 09:56:45 +0530 New launch delivers higher flexibility for manufacturers to meet high consumer interest in sugar reduced products BENEO, one of the leading manufacturers of functional ingredients, has announced the expansion of its portfolio with the launch of Beneo-scL85, a short-chain fructooligosaccharide (scFOS). The new variant offers customers greater versatility for sugar replacement and enrichment of foods with dietary fibre. Sugar reduction has grown to become an important area of focus for consumers with new figures showing that globally, more than 1 in 2 consumers (57%) state that “low in sugar” claims influence their purchasing decisions.[i] Through the addition of scFOS to its portfolio, BENEO opens the door for more customers to serve this trend through new product development or re-formulation. Expanding the range of ingredients with Beneo-scL85 means that manufacturers have more variety and increased potential to offer products with less sugar to meet the high demand. scFOS is a fibre derived from beet sugar that offers a mild sweet taste, good solubility and natural credentials that can contribute to improved taste and texture, as well as possibilities for bulking, in applications such as bakery, dairy, and cereals. Produced in Germany in a dedicated production facility, the new ingredient is available for BENEO’s customers globally to buy now as a syrup. Using scFOS means replacing sugar while adding dietary fibre. This in turn improves the nutritional profile of a product, allowing manufacturers to achieve a better score for front-of-pack nutrition labelling systems worldwide, e.g. NutriScore in Europe. Eric Neven, Commercial Managing Director for BENEO’s Functional Fibres comments: “Short-chain fructooligosaccharide from beet sugar is a valuable addition to BENEO’s portfolio because it increases flexibility and availability for our customers. In combination with the increased production capacity of our chicory root fibre production plant in Chile, BENEO’s short-chain fructoligosaccharide will further secure supply to meet the high demand for solutions to reduce sugar.” ]]>