https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/rssfeed/livestock/dairy dairy https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4735/horinger-expands-specialty-dairy-processing-with-rmb-100-mn-investment.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4735/horinger-expands-specialty-dairy-processing-with-rmb-100-mn-investment.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:39:16 +0530 The Horinger Dairy Industry Development Zone Management Committee and Inner Mongolia Xinsongdu Food Technology Co., Ltd. have signed an agreement for a baked fresh milk refined and deep processing project, adding another high-value investment to the zone’s expanding specialty dairy processing ecosystem. With a total investment of RMB 100 million, the project will focus on the research and development, production, refining and deep processing of baked fresh milk-based dairy products. The company plans to target China’s premium consumer market, with a particular focus on quality supermarket channels including Sam’s Club and Pang Donglai. Once fully operational and running at designed capacity, the project is expected to generate annual output value of RMB 1 billion, according to the project announcement. The investment is also expected to strengthen demand for upstream milk supplies and stimulate related processing, logistics and other supporting industries in the region. The project will leverage the policy advantages of the Hohhot Area of the China (Inner Mongolia) Pilot Free Trade Zone, particularly measures supporting investment liberalisation and trade facilitation. It will also draw on Inner Mongolia’s high-quality fresh milk resources to develop products for both domestic and international markets. Overseas expansion will be a key component of the project, with Hong Kong and Southeast Asia identified as priority markets. The project is expected to generate annual export value of RMB 300 million once established. The investment comes as Horinger strengthens its focus on moving beyond conventional dairy processing towards higher-value, differentiated products. The baked fresh milk project is expected to fill a gap in the large-scale processing of this specialty category while supporting the broader premiumisation, specialisation and internationalisation of the region’s dairy industry. The project therefore adds another link to its specialty dairy refined and deep processing chain and is expected to deepen integration between local milk resources, product development, manufacturing and overseas markets. With its combination of premium domestic retail targeting and export ambitions, the project is positioned to add new value to Inner Mongolia’s dairy resources while supporting the development of a more export-oriented dairy industry in the region. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4687/victoria-backs-dairy-export-push-across-asia-with-250000-market-access-programme.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4687/victoria-backs-dairy-export-push-across-asia-with-250000-market-access-programme.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:25:00 +0530 Victoria is stepping up its push to expand dairy exports across Asia, with the state government partnering with Dairy Australia on a $500,000 market development initiative aimed at strengthening trade relationships and opening new opportunities across Greater China, Japan and Southeast Asia. Victoria’s Minister for Agriculture Michaela Settle announced $250,000 in government funding for the Growing Demand for Victorian Dairy Exports Program, with Dairy Australia matching the contribution. The funding, provided through Global Victoria, will support initiatives designed to deepen commercial connections, improve market intelligence and identify new opportunities for Victorian dairy businesses. The programme will back the Dairy Australia Scholarships Program, including its Victoria-based visit programme and ongoing engagement with alumni, alongside international seminars showcasing Australian dairy production, manufacturing and food safety capabilities. It will also support trade policy and market access activities as the industry seeks to strengthen its position in some of Asia’s most important dairy markets. The strategy builds on a relationship programme that has operated for more than 25 years. The Dairy Australia Scholarship Program brings participants from China, Japan and Southeast Asia to Australia to gain first-hand exposure to dairy farming, processing and food safety systems. More than 950 alumni now occupy influential positions across Asian markets, creating a network that can provide insight into consumer preferences, market trends and emerging commercial opportunities. The push comes with considerable export exposure already concentrated in the dairy sector. The state accounts for around 74 per cent of Australia’s dairy exports by value, with dairy exports valued at $2.79 billion in 2024-25. Expanding market access therefore has implications not only for individual exporters but also for farmers, processors and regional economies across the state. The partnership forms part of the Victorian Government’s $10 million Food and Fibre Exports Program Regional Package, which is aimed at strengthening the state’s international trade performance and supporting growth across regional industries. “This partnership will help our producers and exporters expand into key international markets, unlocking new trade opportunities, growing exports and supporting jobs and economic growth across regional Victoria,” said Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Natalie Suleyman. Agriculture Minister Michaela Settle said the initiative would help Victorian dairy farmers build stronger connections with international customers, reinforcing the role of market relationships in supporting long-term export growth. Dairy Australia CEO Dr Matthew Shaffer said the organisation’s longstanding partnership with the Victorian Government had helped the state’s dairy industry take advantage of commercial opportunities globally while building demand and value for Australian dairy products.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4686/iff-launches-phytase-enzyme-to-improve-nutrient-efficiency-in-dairy-cattle.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4686/iff-launches-phytase-enzyme-to-improve-nutrient-efficiency-in-dairy-cattle.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:10:00 +0530 IFF, a global player in flavors, fragrances and health and biosciences, has launched a new phytase enzyme designed for dairy cattle, targeting one of the sector’s biggest cost and productivity challenges: extracting greater nutritional value from existing feed ingredients. The enzyme is designed to improve nutrient utilisation and feed efficiency by breaking down phytate, a naturally occurring compound found in many feed ingredients that can bind nutrients and limit their availability to animals. The product will initially be launched across the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific markets. “We believe the future of dairy nutrition is helping cows receive more value from the nutrients in their feed,” said Regina Cortada, vice president, Animal Nutrition & Health, IFF Health & Biosciences. “Our research challenged the long-held assumption that dairy cows fully utilise the phytate contained in feed. We found that phytate breakdown is often incomplete, leaving valuable nutrients unavailable to the animal. This technology was developed to unlock those nutrients and help producers improve feed efficiency, support sustainability goals and increase profitability.” The launch comes as dairy producers face simultaneous pressure to raise productivity, contain feed costs and reduce the environmental footprint of livestock production. Global milk production is projected to grow by around 2 per cent annually over the coming decade, increasing the focus on technologies that can improve the efficiency with which animals convert feed into milk. Feed is among the largest costs in dairy production, making nutrient utilisation an increasingly important lever for farm economics. Phytate can bind phosphorus, minerals and other nutrients in feed, limiting their availability to the animal and increasing the need for additional supplementation. While phytase enzymes have been widely used in poultry and swine nutrition for decades, their application in dairy cattle has historically faced limitations linked to the digestive environment of ruminants. The new enzyme has been developed specifically for this physiology and is designed to remain active where it can break down phytate and release nutrients for absorption. “Traditional phytase enzymes were not designed to withstand the unique digestive conditions of dairy cattle,” said Ester Vinyeta, innovation director, Animal Nutrition & Health, IFF Health & Biosciences. “This technology was specifically developed for ruminants and is designed to remain active where it can unlock nutrients that would otherwise remain inaccessible. This enables dairy producers to extract more nutritional value from existing feed ingredients while reducing nutrient losses.” By improving the availability of protein, phosphorus and minerals already present in feed, the enzyme could reduce producers’ reliance on supplemental phosphorus and protected amino acids while also supporting greater flexibility in the use of alternative protein sources. The intended commercial outcome is higher feed efficiency, potentially lower feed costs and reduced nitrogen and phosphorus excretion. The enzyme can be incorporated into concentrates, premixes and total mixed rations. Product development included extensive evaluation, with one study showing an approximately 70 per cent reduction in undegraded phytate in the abomasum compared with a control diet. Additional studies in lactating dairy cows found improvements in phosphorus and phytate digestibility, alongside reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus excretion. The studies also reported higher digestibility of nutrients including crude protein and calcium. The findings position phytase as a potential new tool in dairy nutrition, where improving the efficiency of existing feed ingredients can have implications extending beyond animal performance. For producers operating under pressure from feed costs, resource constraints and sustainability requirements, the ability to extract more nutrients from the same feed base could become an increasingly important part of dairy production economics. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4690/eu-eases-sanitary-documentation-for-colombian-foods-containing-dairy-ingredients.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4690/eu-eases-sanitary-documentation-for-colombian-foods-containing-dairy-ingredients.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:05:00 +0530 The European Union has simplified the sanitary documentation requirements for certain processed food products from Colombia containing dairy ingredients, potentially making it easier for exporters to demonstrate compliance with EU market-access rules. The change covers processed foods made with milk powder, butter or whey. Under the revised approach, exporters can use evidence of heat treatment carried out on the dairy ingredients before they were incorporated into the finished food product to substantiate compliance with the relevant sanitary requirements. The move addresses a practical issue in food processing: where dairy ingredients undergo heat treatment before being incorporated into another product, exporters can now rely on documentation of that earlier treatment rather than having to demonstrate the treatment only at the stage of the final Colombian food product. The provision applies specifically to products whose formulations contain one or more of the covered dairy ingredients. It therefore does not represent a blanket change to sanitary requirements for Colombian food exports to the EU. For Colombian food manufacturers and exporters, the change could reduce some of the documentation complexity associated with demonstrating the sanitary status of processed foods containing dairy-derived ingredients. Records relating to heat treatments applied during the earlier handling of milk powder, butter or whey can be presented as part of the sanitary evidence for relevant products. The measure does not remove EU sanitary controls or eliminate documentation requirements. Rather, it changes how exporters can substantiate compliance by recognising treatment undertaken before the dairy ingredients are incorporated into the finished food. The regulatory adjustment could be particularly relevant for food manufacturers sourcing dairy ingredients from established processing chains, where heat-treatment records are generated before ingredients enter the formulation stage. Recognising those records can provide exporters with a clearer evidentiary pathway when preparing documentation for EU market access. The change comes as trade in processed foods increasingly depends not only on tariffs and market demand but also on the ability of exporters to meet detailed food-safety and traceability requirements. For Colombian businesses targeting the European market, greater clarity around the recognition of processing records could help streamline compliance without altering the underlying sanitary standards. No new export-volume target, financial trade value, implementation date or individual companies have been identified in connection with the measure. The change remains focused on the documentation of heat treatment for dairy ingredients used in qualifying processed foods. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4668/qingdao-nestl-and-laixi-sign-294-95-mn-deal-for-uht-milk-coffee-mate-projects.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4668/qingdao-nestl-and-laixi-sign-294-95-mn-deal-for-uht-milk-coffee-mate-projects.html Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:44:05 +0530 Laixi Municipal Government in Qingdao, Shandong Province, and Qingdao Nestlé Co., Ltd. have signed a strategic cooperation agreement covering UHT milk and Coffee Mate projects with a combined investment of $ 294.95 million (RMB2 billion), marking a major expansion of Nestlé’s manufacturing footprint and Laixi’s ambitions to build a larger health food and beverage cluster. The projects are scheduled for phased implementation between 2026 and 2029 and will centre on four priorities: expanding high-quality production capacity, upgrading intelligent manufacturing, accelerating green and low-carbon transformation, and building digital supply chains. The investment will support the establishment of multiple core production lines, alongside plans to pursue national-level green factory and excellence-level smart factory certifications. The expansion builds on capacity already commissioned at Nestlé’s Qingdao plant. Phase I of its UHT milk production line and a 1.8g small-pack coffee line have entered operation, with the facility securing EFFSO Industry 4.0 certification and recognition as a Shandong Province Advanced Smart Factory. The new projects are expected to deepen the plant’s manufacturing capabilities while integrating greater automation, digitalisation and resource efficiency into production. For Laixi, the agreement is part of a broader industrial strategy centred on its “2+2+1” industrial system, with the city positioning industrial development as its “No. 1 Project” and placing targeted investment in health food and beverages among its priorities. The partnership also extends a relationship that began in 1994, when Qingdao Nestlé established operations in Guhe Sub-district. Over the past 32 years, Nestlé’s presence has grown alongside Laixi’s dairy ecosystem, helping establish a more integrated supply chain around milk production and processing. With Nestlé serving as an anchor company, Laixi has developed a “company + breeding community + large-scale farms” model that now supports more than 280 large-scale dairy farms and a herd of 74,700 cows. The city’s milk production capacity has reached 200,000 tonnes a year, making Laixi the county-level city with the largest dairy herd in Shandong Province and an important national milk-source base. The scale of primary production provides the foundation for a broader value chain spanning dairy farming, raw milk supply, processing and consumer products. The latest investment therefore goes beyond adding production lines. For Nestlé, it creates additional capacity across UHT milk and Coffee Mate while supporting a manufacturing model built around automation, digital supply-chain management and lower-carbon production. For Laixi, the project strengthens the role of dairy and health food manufacturing within its industrial upgrading strategy and adds further depth to a local supply chain that has been built over decades. With implementation extending through 2029, the cooperation places capacity expansion and industrial modernisation at the centre of the next phase of Nestlé’s Qingdao operations, while reinforcing Laixi’s position as a major dairy production and processing hub in Shandong. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4667/guizhou-nanfang-dairy-secures-bse-ipo-registration-approval-plans-81-11-mn-fundraise.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4667/guizhou-nanfang-dairy-secures-bse-ipo-registration-approval-plans-81-11-mn-fundraise.html Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:28:02 +0530 Guizhou Nanfang Dairy Co., Ltd. (Nanfang Dairy) has secured approval for its initial public offering (IPO) registration on the Beijing Stock Exchange (BSE), marking a key step in the dairy company’s planned expansion of production capacity and market reach. Nanfang Dairy passed the BSE IPO review on March 18 and submitted its registration application to the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) on April 30. The company received registration approval 119 days later. On September 4, Nanfang Dairy disclosed that it had received approval for its public share issuance registration to unspecified qualified investors. On September 8, it announced further progress on the public offering and BSE listing and disclosed a trading suspension. Under the approved plan, Nanfang Dairy intends to issue up to 35.19 million shares to unspecified qualified investors, excluding the over-allotment option, for listing on the BSE. The company plans to raise up to $ 81.11 million (RMB550 million), with the proceeds earmarked primarily for a dairy farming base project in Weining County and the development of its marketing network. The planned investment comes as Nanfang Dairy seeks to strengthen both ends of its business—raw milk supply and downstream market access. The Weining County dairy farming base is expected to support the company’s milk supply capacity, while the marketing network project is aimed at expanding its reach across markets and channels. The company’s first-half performance showed continued revenue growth, although profitability came under pressure. According to its H1 2026 report released on August 26, Nanfang Dairy recorded revenue of $ 132.17 million (RMB 896.27 million), an increase of 4.97 per cent year on year. Net profit attributable to shareholders, however, declined 16.08 per cent to $ 15.18 million (RMB 102.91 million). The revenue increase was supported by active market expansion and new business development. Sales of ambient dairy products rose by $ 4.18 million (RMB 28.34 million) from a year earlier, driven mainly by school milk and customised channels. Other core products also contributed to growth, with sales increasing by $ 2.05 million (RMB 13.93 million). Raw milk sales rose by $ 0.96 million (RMB 6.53 million), while dairy beverages and other new products added $ 1.09 million (RMB 7.40 million). The contrasting movement in revenue and profit highlights the pressure facing dairy companies as they seek growth in a competitive market. While Nanfang Dairy has expanded sales through new channels and products, its ability to translate that growth into stronger earnings will remain linked to raw material costs, market competition and operating efficiency. As the newly approved projects are implemented, the company expects greater raw milk supply capacity and a broader marketing network to strengthen its operating platform. The expansion could provide additional room for product and channel growth, but the impact on profitability will depend on how effectively the company manages input costs and competitive pressures. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4629/yili-launches-shanxi-forage-drive-as-dairy-industry-focuses-on-cost-efficiency.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4629/yili-launches-shanxi-forage-drive-as-dairy-industry-focuses-on-cost-efficiency.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 13:53:03 +0530 Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd. has launched its “Local Forage Innovative Development and Cost-Reduction Technology Application” initiative in Shanxi Province, with a clear focus on one of dairy farming’s biggest challenges: producing more milk without allowing feed costs to erode farm margins. The initiative makes Shanxi a strategic rollout region for Yili’s locally sourced forage technologies, which are designed around the resources and farming conditions of the Yanmen Pass agro-pastoral ecotone. The company aims to help dairy farms reduce their dependence on imported feed, improve feeding efficiency and support better milk quality. China’s 2026 Central No. 1 Document has put greater emphasis on improving the quality and efficiency of agricultural industries, supporting the beef and dairy sectors and expanding the production of silage corn, alfalfa and other forage crops. The issue is becoming increasingly important for Shanxi’s dairy industry. The province is one of China’s top 10 dairy-producing regions and has set a target of 1.4 million tonnes of milk production by 2030 under its 15th Five-Year Plan for agricultural modernization. Reaching that target will require farms to improve productivity while keeping a closer watch on production costs. That puts forage at the centre of the equation. Yili’s Dairy Cow Science Research Institute has spent more than a decade developing locally sourced feed solutions. Its work now covers more than 40 types of local forage and eight categories of compound silage fermentation technologies. According to Yili, these technologies can replace more than 8 per cent of imported alfalfa in applicable feeding programmes. The financial impact could be meaningful for dairy farms. Farms using the technologies have reported a daily feed-cost saving of RMB2.06 (about $ 0.30) per cow, while average milk production increased by 1.38 kg per cow per day. The numbers point to a larger opportunity. For a large dairy operation, even a small reduction in feed costs multiplied across thousands of cows can have a significant impact on the economics of milk production. If that saving is accompanied by higher milk yields, the benefit becomes even more compelling. But Yili’s strategy is not simply about finding a cheaper substitute for imported alfalfa. It is also about making better use of agricultural resources already available in the region. The Yanmen Pass agro-pastoral ecotone offers a mix of crop and livestock resources that can support a more integrated approach to feed production. Developing forage locally can strengthen the connection between crop farming and dairy production, allowing more agricultural resources to stay within the regional production system. This is increasingly relevant as China looks to make its dairy sector more resilient. Greater use of locally available forage can reduce exposure to external feed markets while creating additional opportunities for crop producers and other players in the agricultural supply chain. Yili already has a substantial footprint in Shanxi. The company established its Jinzhong plant in 2013 and has since invested more than RMB4.3 billion ($ 634.13 million) in the province. Its operations have supported more than 200 supply-chain partners, generated over RMB20 billion ($ 2.95 billion) in industrial-chain output and created direct and indirect employment for nearly 10,000 people. The local forage initiative builds on that presence and extends Yili’s focus from dairy processing into the economics of milk production itself. For Shanxi, the bigger test will be whether local forage can be scaled without compromising feed quality or milk productivity. If it can, the approach could offer dairy farmers a practical way to manage costs while supporting the province’s longer-term production ambitions. The shift also reflects a broader change taking place across China’s dairy industry. As the sector moves from rapid expansion towards greater emphasis on efficiency and profitability, the competitive advantage may increasingly come from what happens before milk reaches the processing plant. For Shanxi’s dairy farms, that could mean looking closer to home for the next source of efficiency. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4620/milkgroound-food-partners-with-dksh-to-take-chinese-cheese-into-global-markets.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4620/milkgroound-food-partners-with-dksh-to-take-chinese-cheese-into-global-markets.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 16:42:00 +0530 Shanghai Milkgroound Food Tech Co., Ltd. is turning to an international distribution partner to take its cheese business beyond China, launching its products in Hong Kong as the first step in a broader push into Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The company announced a strategic partnership with DKSH at a press conference in Hong Kong, formally bringing Milkgroound Food’s cheese products to the market through the Swiss-headquartered market expansion services provider. The partnership marks a shift in the way Chinese cheese brands are approaching overseas markets—from isolated export trials toward a more structured strategy built around established distribution networks and local market intelligence. DKSH has more than 160 years of experience in Asia and operates across 35 global markets. Under the partnership, Milkgroound Food will use DKSH’s distribution network to establish an initial presence in Hong Kong, while using the market as a testing ground for future expansion into Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The first focus will be retail and foodservice channels. For Milkgroound Food, Hong Kong offers more than a new sales market. Its mature consumer environment provides a relatively controlled setting in which the company can test how consumers respond to Chinese-developed cheese products, from taste and nutritional positioning to packaging and usage occasions. That feedback will also flow back into the company’s domestic innovation pipeline. The international expansion is planned in three stages. The first involves launching two ambient high-calcium cheese sticks in Hong Kong and gathering consumer feedback. The second will incorporate those insights into product development, supported by Milkgroound Food’s Global Cheese R&D Innovation Center. The third will use the experience gained in Hong Kong to support expansion into broader international markets. The approach reflects a growing realization among Chinese food companies that international expansion is not simply a distribution challenge. Products that succeed at home can require changes in formulation, positioning, packaging and consumption occasions before they can compete in established overseas markets. That makes Hong Kong both a commercial destination and a product-development laboratory. The company intends to use direct engagement with consumers in the market to understand preferences around taste, nutrition, packaging and how cheese products are consumed. Those insights can then inform subsequent product iterations before the company moves into more geographically diverse markets. The strategy also reflects the changing economics of China's cheese industry. China has historically been a relatively small cheese-consuming market compared with mature dairy markets, but changing diets, rising demand for convenient nutrition and the development of new cheese formats have created opportunities for domestic manufacturers. As local companies build greater capabilities in product development and manufacturing, overseas markets represent a potential next stage of growth. The challenge is competing in markets where consumers already have established preferences and where international dairy companies have strong distribution and brand recognition. Partnering with DKSH gives Milkgroound Food a way to avoid building an international commercial infrastructure from scratch. Instead, the company can leverage an established market network while concentrating its own resources on product development, consumer learning and expansion. The partnership is also intended to provide insights into broader premiumization and functional-food trends. Those learnings could ultimately influence Milkgroound Food’s products in China, creating a two-way flow between international market development and domestic R&D. The company’s longer-term ambition is therefore not simply to export existing products. It wants to develop cheese products that retain characteristics suited to Chinese consumers while gaining acceptance among consumers in other markets. That is a more demanding proposition than traditional export growth. It requires companies to balance local taste preferences with broader consumer expectations around nutrition, convenience and product functionality. Milkgroound Food’s three-stage approach is designed to reduce that risk by starting with a relatively focused market before expanding geographically. Hong Kong provides an initial test of product-market fit. Product development follows based on consumer feedback. Broader international expansion comes only after the company has accumulated experience in adapting and commercializing its products outside mainland China. This partnership adds a Chinese cheese producer to its portfolio at a time when Asian food markets are becoming increasingly interconnected and Chinese consumer brands are looking for international growth. Milkgroound Food, is attempting to build an export model in which distribution, consumer research and product innovation reinforce one another. The ultimate goal is to develop what the company describes as “Chinese cheese that pleases palates worldwide”—products rooted in Chinese consumer preferences but capable of competing for attention in international markets.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4590/china-dairy-firm-invests-51-5-mn-in-new-intelligent-processing-park.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4590/china-dairy-firm-invests-51-5-mn-in-new-intelligent-processing-park.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:41:37 +0530 Anhui Liangdianshui Dairy Products Co., Ltd. is investing RMB350 million (US$51.55 million) in a new digital and intelligent dairy industrial park in Huaiyuan, Anhui, as the company moves to expand its deep-processing capacity and strengthen its position in China's growing value-added dairy market. The foundation stone for the project was laid on August 18, 2026, at the Huaiyuan Economic Development Zone. The facility will cover about 4.53 hectares, with a total floor area of 53,000 square metres, and will bring together production workshops, cold-chain storage, a digital exhibition centre and supporting office and living facilities. Once fully operational, the park is expected to process 51,000 tonnes of deep-processed dairy products annually, including butter and cheese. The project is projected to generate an annual output value of around RMB710 million ($104.57 million), giving Liangdianshui Dairy a significantly larger platform for developing higher-value dairy products. The investment is part of the company's broader digital and intelligent transformation. Rather than focusing solely on expanding physical production, Liangdianshui Dairy plans to connect research and development, manufacturing, warehousing and sales through digital systems, creating end-to-end control over its operations. The project is being developed around three principles—digital empowerment, intelligent manufacturing and green development—reflecting the changing priorities of China's food-processing industry. For dairy manufacturers, greater digital integration can improve production management, inventory control, traceability and coordination with cold-chain logistics, particularly as companies expand into more specialised product categories. The timing of the investment also reflects a wider opportunity in China's dairy market. Demand for products such as cheese, butter and other deep-processed dairy products continues to grow, but the country remains dependent on imports for some high-end dairy raw materials and products. That dependence has created space for domestic companies to expand processing capabilities and capture a greater share of the value generated further down the dairy chain. The shift is closely linked to China's efforts to revitalise its dairy sector and improve the industry's technological and processing capabilities. As the market matures, increasing milk production alone is no longer the only route to growth. The ability to convert dairy inputs into differentiated, higher-value products is becoming increasingly important for domestic processors. Huaiyuan project represents a bet on that transition. By combining large-scale processing capacity with digital manufacturing and integrated cold-chain infrastructure, the company is positioning the new park as a domestic base for deep-processed dairy products and as a platform for competing in segments where China still has considerable scope for import substitution. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4570/royal-group-brings-in-jiadao-capital-as-it-pursues-bigger-bet-on-buffalo-milk.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4570/royal-group-brings-in-jiadao-capital-as-it-pursues-bigger-bet-on-buffalo-milk.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:54:49 +0530 Royal Group Co., Ltd. has moved to bring strategic capital into its shareholder base, selling a 5.80 per cent stake to Shenzhen Jiadao Green Low-Carbon Technology Investment Partnership, a vehicle associated with Chinese investor Gong Hongjia and Chen Chunmei. Huang Jiadi, Royal Group’s controlling shareholder and actual controller, signed an agreement on July 30 to transfer 48.2794 million unrestricted tradable shares to the Shenzhen-based partnership at RMB 3.50 per share. The transaction is valued at approximately RMB 169 million. On completion, Jiadao Green Low-Carbon will become a shareholder with more than 5 per cent of Royal Group’s equity. The transaction does not change control of the company. Huang’s shareholding is expected to fall from 25.87 per cent to 20.07 per cent, while he remains Royal Group’s controlling shareholder. Shenzhen Jiadao has committed not to reduce the shares acquired in the transaction for 18 months and is expected to nominate one director to Royal Group’s board. For Royal Group, the deal is more than a routine stake transfer. It is an attempt to bring in an investor with technology, industrial and consumer-market connections at a time when the company is trying to sharpen its focus on buffalo milk and reposition itself in a crowded dairy market. Royal Group occupies an unusual position in China’s listed dairy sector. It is widely identified as the country’s only A-share-listed company with buffalo milk as its core business. That distinction gives it a differentiated product, but it does not remove the commercial challenges facing dairy companies: intense competition, consumer sensitivity to price, rising demands around quality and a market where conventional capacity expansion has become a less reliable route to growth. The company is seeking to respond by developing a more integrated buffalo-milk value chain. Its strategy spans breeding, genetic resources, dairy farming, processing and smart manufacturing. Upstream, Royal Group is working on buffalo germplasm, including a breeding programme built around genetic chips, high-quality embryo introduction and whole-genome breeding. The stated aim is to improve breeding resources and address constraints in the water-buffalo supply chain. In the middle of the value chain, the company is focusing on processing technology, including high-end buffalo-milk purification and stable milk-tea production. The commercial objective is to create higher-value and functional dairy products rather than compete solely on volume in the mass-market milk category. Downstream, Royal Group has been investing in 5G-enabled manufacturing systems intended to improve production efficiency, quality control and operational visibility. The broader plan is to link breeding, farming, processing and manufacturing in one system. That model, however, requires patient capital. Buffalo breeding, genetic-resource development, biomanufacturing and smart-ranch upgrades are long-cycle projects. They involve scientific research, fixed assets, technical teams, animal husbandry, quality control and a period of commercial development before they can materially affect earnings. Royal Group’s decision to bring in Jiadao therefore appears to be based on the expectation that an industrial investor can provide more than funding. The company is looking for access to technology relationships, consumer-market capabilities and broader industrial resources that may help turn its buffalo-milk position into a stronger business. Jiadao Green Low-Carbon is linked to Gong Hongjia and Chen Chunmei. Gong is known in China as an early investor in Hikvision and has built a portfolio across technology, healthcare, biotechnology and industrial businesses. The investment platform’s relevance to Royal Group lies in its potential ability to connect the dairy company with capabilities outside traditional dairy operations. The most immediate potential linkage is in biotechnology and breeding. Royal Group’s buffalo-milk strategy depends partly on better genetics, breeding efficiency and herd quality. Jiadao’s investments and networks in areas such as cell technology, gene-related research and biotechnology could potentially complement the company’s germplasm and breeding ambitions. Another possible area is circular farming and low-carbon livestock management. The Jiadao system’s association with microbial-cycle technologies could be relevant to manure treatment, waste management, nutrient recovery and integrated planting-and-breeding systems. For a dairy company, these are not peripheral concerns. Manure handling, feed, water, energy and land use can affect both environmental performance and operating costs. Digital marketing is also a potential avenue. Royal Group’s buffalo-milk products occupy a premium and differentiated category, making branding, consumer education and targeted distribution especially important. The company may seek support in customer management, digital channels and brand operations as it competes with larger dairy groups that have broader retail reach and more established consumer brands. The transaction price of RMB 3.50 per share represented a premium of approximately 13.27 per cent to Royal Group’s closing price on the trading day before the announcement, according to market reports. That premium has drawn attention because it suggests the incoming investor is taking a long-term view of the company’s underlying assets and potential rather than relying only on short-term share-price movements.  However, strategic investment does not automatically solve operating problems. Royal Group has faced financial pressure in recent years, and media reports have pointed to cumulative losses over a six-year period. The company’s ability to turn its buffalo-milk franchise into sustained value will depend on execution: improving herd quality, controlling production costs, building premium products, expanding distribution and translating technology investment into commercial returns.finance.sina.com The company’s challenge is to prove that buffalo milk can support a durable premium business rather than remain a niche proposition. That will require products with clear differentiation, consistent quality, consumer trust and a distribution model that does not depend excessively on costly promotions or fragmented channels. The board representation planned for Jiadao Green Low-Carbon is therefore important. A director nomination gives the investor a role in major strategic planning and operating decisions, rather than limiting its involvement to a financial position. The 18-month lock-up commitment also signals that the investment is intended to support a medium-term strategy rather than a short-term trade. Royal Group’s story reflects a broader shift in China’s consumer and agricultural businesses. Differentiated agricultural products increasingly need more than capacity and distribution. They need control over biological resources, processing know-how, product development, data systems, brand building and patient capital. For Royal Group, buffalo milk remains the centre of that strategy. The Jiadao transaction gives the company an opportunity to combine a specialised dairy platform with an investor ecosystem spanning technology, biomanufacturing and digital consumer engagement. Whether that combination produces a second growth curve remains uncertain. The deal is still subject to the relevant exchange review and completion procedures. But the transaction gives Royal Group fresh strategic backing as it attempts to move beyond conventional dairy competition and build a more distinctive, technology-led buffalo milk business.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4567/asias-largest-dairy-farm-rooftop-agrivoltaic-project-begins-operations-in-anhui.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4567/asias-largest-dairy-farm-rooftop-agrivoltaic-project-begins-operations-in-anhui.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:51:40 +0530 A large-scale rooftop agrivoltaic project at a dairy-farming complex in Anhui Province has entered commercial operation, creating a new model for combining renewable power generation with intensive livestock production. The Anhui Huadian Wuhe Modern Dairy 60MW Photovoltaic Power Project was completed and commissioned on July 27, 2026, according to information released by CCM. The project is located at the Modern Dairy Industrial Park in Zhuding Town, Wuhe County. With a total installation area of approximately 560,000 square metres and installed capacity of 84.02 MWp, the project is described as the largest single-scale dairy-farm rooftop agrivoltaic project in Asia. The development uses the roofs of large dairy-cow sheds as the primary platform for photovoltaic generation. Rather than converting additional agricultural or rural land for solar panels, the project uses existing industrial and agricultural structures. The approach addresses one of the central challenges facing large-scale renewable-energy development: securing land without competing directly with farming, livestock production or other rural uses. The project’s design follows a “power generation above, breeding below” model. Solar modules are installed across the rooftops, while dairy operations continue underneath. This three-dimensional use of space allows the same site to support two activities. The roof area generates electricity, while the ground-level facilities remain available for standardised, large-scale dairy production. The model also offers an operational benefit for the livestock facilities. The photovoltaic modules provide shade over the cow sheds and reduce direct exposure to intense sunlight. By moderating heat gain, the rooftop structures can help stabilise the temperature inside the sheds. Temperature control is an important consideration in dairy farming because heat stress can affect animal comfort, feed intake, productivity and milk quality. The project’s design is intended to improve the conditions in which the cattle are housed while generating renewable electricity. The project is positioned as an integrated green-power demonstration for a large dairy industrial park in East China. It has also been identified as a key new-energy demonstration project for Anhui Province during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Its significance extends beyond the scale of the solar capacity. The project demonstrates how existing agricultural and livestock infrastructure can become part of the clean-energy system without requiring a separate land footprint. For rural industrial parks, large farms and food-production complexes, rooftops, sheds, warehouses and processing buildings can provide substantial surfaces for solar generation. These sites may also have high electricity demand, creating opportunities for self-consumption, grid supply or a combination of the two. The Anhui project adopts a centralised power-generation model. All electricity generated by the facility is connected to the grid and supplied through the power system. The project is expected to generate approximately 100 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and produce annual output value of around Rs 24 million equivalent in Chinese currency? Wait source says RMB 24 million. We need use source currency, not Rs. The requested style likely use RMB. We need correct. Let's rewrite sentence. Annual output value about RMB 24 million. The combination of centralised grid connection and large installed capacity gives the project a clear commercial structure. Electricity generation is not limited to the dairy farm’s own demand and can be delivered into the wider power network. The development also reflects a shift in the way agricultural and livestock industries are approaching energy costs. Dairy farms consume electricity for milking, cooling, refrigeration, ventilation, water pumping, feed preparation, lighting and waste management. Rooftop solar can help reduce exposure to grid-power costs, although the project’s reported operating model involves feeding the generated electricity into the grid. The project’s broader value lies in the integration of agriculture, livestock and renewable energy. Traditional livestock operations can be energy-intensive, particularly where they rely heavily on grid electricity or fossil fuels. By adding a large solar installation without displacing the underlying dairy activity, the project creates a path towards lower-carbon production. The development also revives underused rural assets. Large dairy parks often include extensive shed roofs and other built structures that are not fully used for energy generation. The project converts that idle three-dimensional space into an income-generating energy asset. This approach could be relevant beyond dairy. Poultry farms, livestock parks, grain warehouses, cold-storage facilities, food-processing units and agricultural markets also have large roof areas that could host solar systems. The economic case will depend on the condition and load-bearing capacity of existing roofs, the cost of structural reinforcement, grid-access arrangements, solar-resource availability, maintenance requirements and the operating life of both the buildings and the photovoltaic equipment. Rooftop agrivoltaics also require careful design. Panels must be installed without interfering with ventilation, animal movement, maintenance access, fire safety, water drainage or future expansion of the livestock facility. The Wuhe project is therefore not simply a solar installation placed on a roof. It is an integrated infrastructure project in which electricity generation must coexist with animal housing, farm logistics and industrial operations. The project’s supporters describe it as a demonstration of “dual use of one space and efficiency improvement”. Its economic logic is based on extracting more value from existing assets rather than expanding the land footprint of either the dairy or the solar facility. The environmental case is similarly linked to land efficiency. Solar generation on existing cow-shed roofs can reduce the pressure to allocate additional land for photovoltaic development. It can also support local decarbonisation objectives and contribute to the wider “dual carbon” goals associated with China’s emissions-reduction and carbon-neutrality strategy. The project is also intended to support the green transformation of the livestock sector. Its direct impact will depend on actual electricity generation, grid performance, operational availability and the extent to which the solar system improves the energy economics of the dairy park. The reported annual output of approximately 100 million kWh provides a substantial renewable-power contribution. The project’s effectiveness will ultimately be judged by its generation performance, operating reliability, contribution to the grid, impact on the dairy facility and financial returns. The commissioning of the Anhui Huadian Wuhe project points to a broader trend in rural energy development. Agriculture and livestock production are increasingly being viewed not only as consumers of energy but also as platforms for generating it. A dairy farm can produce electricity from rooftop solar, generate biogas from manure, recover nutrients through digestate and potentially reduce its dependence on external energy and fertiliser inputs. The rooftop photovoltaic project represents one component of that wider circular model. The most immediate opportunity is replication. If the Wuhe model performs as expected, similar rooftop solar projects could be developed at large dairy farms and livestock parks in other regions. The approach would be particularly attractive where land is scarce, grid demand is high and large agricultural structures already exist. Replication will require more than copying the project’s installed capacity. Each site will need a separate assessment of roof area, structural integrity, livestock operations, electricity demand, grid access, financing, maintenance and regulatory permissions. The project also raises the importance of measuring benefits beyond electricity output. A complete assessment should examine whether rooftop panels reduce shed temperatures, improve animal comfort, influence milk productivity, lower farm energy costs and reduce emissions associated with dairy operations. Those outcomes will determine whether rooftop agrivoltaics becomes a niche demonstration or a scalable infrastructure model. For Anhui, the project strengthens the province’s position in integrated renewable-energy development. For China’s livestock industry, it offers a practical example of how agricultural infrastructure can support clean-power expansion without sacrificing productive land. The project’s central proposition is straightforward: generate electricity above the dairy sheds while continuing livestock production below them. Its significance lies in what that arrangement represents—a move away from single-use land and single-purpose infrastructure towards a more integrated rural economy. The Anhui Huadian Wuhe Modern Dairy 60MW Photovoltaic Power Project has therefore opened a new chapter in the relationship between livestock farming and renewable energy. With 84.02 MWp of installed capacity, approximately 560,000 square metres of installation area, projected annual generation of around 100 million kWh and reported annual output value of about RMB 24 million, it provides a large-scale test of the agrivoltaic model.     ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4558/chinas-dairy-giants-hold-ground-as-smaller-players-chase-growth.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4558/chinas-dairy-giants-hold-ground-as-smaller-players-chase-growth.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:34:57 +0530 China’s dairy industry began 2026 with no single growth story. For some companies, the first quarter brought double-digit revenue gains. Others saw sales shrink, while a number of businesses discovered that growing the top line did not necessarily translate into higher profits. At the centre of the industry, meanwhile, the country’s largest dairy companies continued to command a disproportionate share of the revenue pool. An analysis of first-quarter 2026 financial results from 17 dairy-related companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges and the Beijing Stock Exchange shows combined revenue of approximately $7.14 billion. The figures underline both the concentration of the industry and the increasingly uneven performance of companies operating across different segments of the dairy value chain. Yili remained the undisputed heavyweight. The company generated around $4.83 billion in revenue during the quarter, accounting for approximately 67.6 per cent of the combined revenue of all 17 companies included in the analysis. The gap between Yili and the rest of the field was substantial. The five largest companies by revenue together accounted for around 91.7 per cent of the sample's total revenue, highlighting the dominance of a relatively small group of companies. The remaining 12 companies shared less than one-tenth of the combined revenue. The analysis, however, should not be treated as a measure of overall market share in China’s dairy industry. The companies included operate across a range of businesses, from large integrated dairy groups and infant formula producers to cheese companies, raw milk suppliers, dairy ingredient businesses and milk-containing beverage producers. That diversity is precisely what made the first quarter difficult to define. Eight Companies Grew. Nine Went Backwards Of the 17 companies analysed, eight reported year-on-year revenue growth in the first quarter, while nine reported lower revenue. Milkground emerged as the fastest-growing company in the group, with revenue increasing 31.8 per cent year-on-year. Western Animal Husbandry followed with growth of 28.9 per cent, while Panda Dairy reported a 20.3 per cent increase. Other companies reporting revenue growth included Yili, TERUN and several smaller players, although the pace of growth varied significantly. On the other side of the ledger, Maiquer Group recorded the steepest revenue decline, with sales falling 13.8 per cent from the previous year. Beingmate’s revenue dropped 9.7 per cent, while Chevalese Dairy reported a 9.5 per cent decline. Sunshine Dairy saw revenue fall 7 per cent and LIZIYUAN reported a 6.4 per cent decrease. The numbers show how differently companies are navigating the current market. For the fastest-growing businesses, the challenge will be to determine whether their momentum can be sustained. For those reporting declining sales, the more immediate question is whether falling revenue reflects a temporary slowdown, competitive pressure, changes in consumer demand or deeper structural issues within their businesses. Revenue Growth Did Not Always Reach the Bottom Line Perhaps the most revealing feature of the quarter was the disconnect between sales and earnings. Milkground’s 31.8 per cent increase in revenue was not accompanied by stronger attributable net profit. Instead, its attributable net profit declined by 8.3 per cent. TERUN presented an even more dramatic example. Revenue increased 6.8 per cent year-on-year, but attributable net profit fell 99.2 per cent. The opposite pattern was visible elsewhere. Chevalese Dairy reported a 9.5 per cent decline in revenue but managed to increase attributable net profit by 17 per cent. Yiming Food recorded a 2 per cent drop in revenue while attributable net profit increased 18.9 per cent. These results underline an increasingly important point for the sector: revenue growth, on its own, offers only part of the picture. Companies can sell more while facing pressure from costs, expenses or changes in product mix. Conversely, a business can report lower sales but still improve profitability through cost controls, better margins or operational adjustments. Margins Tell Another Story The gross margin data showed an equally wide spread. Beingmate reported the highest gross margin among the companies analysed, at 40.5 per cent. Yili followed with a gross margin of 38.4 per cent, while LIZIYUAN recorded 37.7 per cent. At the lower end, Western Animal Husbandry reported a gross margin of 10.3 per cent, while Chevalese Dairy stood at 12.3 per cent. The gap reflects the different economics of the businesses rather than a simple measure of efficiency. Companies operating in infant formula and branded consumer products generally have a different margin structure from those involved in raw milk production, dairy ingredients or other commodity-linked segments. Still, the figures demonstrate how strongly product mix can influence financial performance. A company growing rapidly in a lower-margin business may face a very different earnings outlook from a slower-growing company operating in a higher-value segment. Scale Remains the Biggest Advantage Despite the mixed performance across the sample, one theme remained consistent: scale matters. Yili’s $4.83 billion in quarterly revenue placed it far ahead of every other company included in the analysis. Its revenue alone was more than two-thirds of the combined revenue generated by all 17 companies. The concentration becomes even more pronounced when looking at the top five companies, which together generated approximately 91.7 per cent of total revenue. This leaves smaller and mid-sized companies competing in a market where the largest players possess substantial advantages in distribution, branding, supply chains and financial resources. But size did not produce uniform results across the sector. The Q1 data shows that smaller companies can deliver faster revenue growth, while larger businesses may offer greater stability and scale. The challenge for both groups is maintaining profitability. A Sector Moving at Different Speeds The first-quarter results suggest that China's dairy industry is operating at several different speeds. There are companies expanding rapidly but struggling to translate growth into higher profits. There are businesses with falling revenue that are still improving their bottom lines. Some companies are operating with premium-level margins, while others are working with much narrower room for error. This makes broad conclusions about the health of China's dairy industry difficult. The sector cannot simply be described as growing or contracting. Instead, performance appears increasingly dependent on where a company sits in the value chain, what products it sells and how effectively it manages costs and margins. For the largest companies, the priority will be maintaining scale while protecting profitability. For smaller and mid-sized players, differentiation and the ability to find profitable growth could become increasingly important. The first quarter has therefore set up a more complicated year for China's dairy sector. The headline numbers show an industry dominated by a handful of large companies. The underlying data tells a different story—one of sharply contrasting fortunes, where a 30 per cent increase in revenue can still coincide with lower profits and where falling sales do not automatically mean weaker earnings. As 2026 progresses, revenue growth will remain an important indicator. But the companies that stand out may ultimately be those that can do something more difficult: turn growth into sustainable profits. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4529/queensland-invests-2-mn-in-cattle-breeding-startup-nbryo-to-accelerate-genetic-gains.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4529/queensland-invests-2-mn-in-cattle-breeding-startup-nbryo-to-accelerate-genetic-gains.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:53:14 +0530 The Queensland Government is investing $2 million in Brisbane-based cattle breeding technology company Nbryo, marking the first investment announced under the state’s $30 million Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund. The investment, managed by Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), will support Nbryo’s efforts to develop and commercialise embryo production technologies designed to accelerate genetic improvement in cattle while making advanced breeding tools more accessible and affordable to producers. Founded in 2024, Nbryo is developing a platform that combines in vitro embryo production with bio-digital and robotic technologies to enable the production of high-quality embryos at scale. The company’s ambition is to compress what would traditionally require years of conventional breeding into a significantly shorter cycle. Its technology platform is designed around the potential to achieve seven years’ worth of breeding progress within a seven-day in-vitro embryo production cycle. The Queensland Government said the investment will help Nbryo move its technology towards commercial deployment and expand access to superior livestock genetics for beef and dairy producers. “Queensland has an incredible opportunity to lead the world in agricultural technology innovation,” said Paul Niven, Chief Executive Officer of Nbryo. “We’re proud to showcase the work being undertaken at Nbryo and the role advanced reproductive technologies can play in helping make better herds faster,” Niven said. “Translating scientific innovation into practical outcomes for cattle farmers is at the core of our mission. Every improvement in reproductive efficiency has the potential to deliver significant benefits for producers, the supply chain and the broader agricultural sector.” Tackling the slow pace of genetic improvement Nbryo is targeting a longstanding challenge in livestock production: the time required to achieve meaningful genetic improvement through conventional breeding. Existing breeding systems can be slow and difficult to scale. In many cases, achieving a 10 per cent improvement in a trait or group of traits can take around seven years, while annual improvement may be limited to approximately 1.5 per cent. Nbryo aims to change that equation by combining advanced reproductive technologies with digital systems and robotics. The company’s platform is designed to increase selection intensity and accuracy while enabling elite embryos to be produced at scale. The approach could allow cattle breeders to identify desirable genetic traits and multiply them more rapidly, potentially shortening breeding cycles and improving the speed at which superior genetics enter commercial herds. For producers, faster genetic progress could translate into improvements in herd performance, productivity and profitability, while also helping reduce the cost and time associated with accessing advanced breeding technologies. First investment under Queensland’s $30 million innovation fundThe Nbryo investment is the first commitment announced through the Queensland Government’s $30 million Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund, launched in 2024. The fund was established to make equity investments across multiple stages of business growth and help agricultural technologies move beyond pilot projects into commercially scalable enterprises. The programme is designed to support businesses developing technologies that can deliver measurable improvements across Queensland’s agricultural value chain, including on-farm productivity, profitability and sustainability. QIC is managing the investment using its commercial investment expertise to identify and support innovative businesses with the potential to deliver long-term benefits to Queensland’s primary industries. The investment in Nbryo will help the company expand its technology and improve producers’ access to superior livestock genetics. Government targets $30 billion primary production sector The investment comes as the Queensland Government pursues a target of increasing the value of the state’s primary production sector to $30 billion by 2030. Queensland Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said agricultural technology would be critical to achieving that goal. “The Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund will help Queensland producers reach this bold goal by getting game-changing technology from concept to on-farm application sooner,” Perrett said. “Queensland is home to almost half Australia’s beef herd, and this investment will help accelerate technologies that improve access to superior genetics, reduce costs and support a more productive and profitable beef and dairy sector,” he added. Perrett, who is also a beef producer, said the technology being developed by Nbryo could help make advanced breeding tools more accessible to producers. “As a beef producer myself, I know how important it is to maximise productivity and make every dollar count,” he said. “Nbryo is developing technology that has the potential to make advanced breeding tools more accessible and affordable for producers, helping them improve herd performance and profitability.” Agriculture innovation moves from lab to farm The Queensland Government sees the Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund as a mechanism for closing the gap between scientific research and commercial agricultural applications. Rather than focusing only on early-stage research, the fund is intended to help promising technologies progress towards commercialisation and practical on-farm use. For Nbryo, that means scaling a technology platform that combines reproductive science with automation, digital systems and robotics. The company’s longer-term objective is to make accelerated genetic improvement available to cattle breeders globally, potentially creating a new model for how elite genetics are selected, reproduced and distributed. The ability to produce high-quality embryos at scale could also provide producers with greater access to genetics that might otherwise be difficult or expensive to obtain. Queensland backs technology-led agricultural growth State Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the investment reflected the Queensland Government’s broader focus on creating the conditions for agricultural innovation and business growth. “We are backing our primary producers to develop the technology they need to stay at the forefront and continue to grow our agricultural sector,” Bates said. “The Government is creating the conditions for innovation, investment and job creation and supporting the long-term success of Queensland’s primary industries.” The investment in Nbryo gives the Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund its first major test in the market, while providing the Brisbane-based startup with capital to advance its reproductive technology platform.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4527/fonterra-bets-on-biomass-protein-to-unlock-new-value-from-dairy-lactose.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4527/fonterra-bets-on-biomass-protein-to-unlock-new-value-from-dairy-lactose.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:32:57 +0530 Fonterra is expanding its innovation ambitions beyond traditional dairy ingredients through a new partnership with natural ingredient manufacturer Superbrewed Food, aiming to convert lactose from its dairy processing operations into a high-quality, functional biomass protein. The collaboration brings together Fonterra’s dairy processing, ingredients and applications expertise with Superbrewed’s patented fermentation technology, which produces an ingredient known as Postbiotic Cultured Protein. The move reflects a broader effort by the dairy co-operative to extract greater value from its existing milk streams while positioning itself for emerging demand for new forms of sustainable nutrition. “Dairy will always be at the core of Fonterra’s business, now and in the future,” said Chris Ireland, Fonterra’s General Manager for Innovation Partnerships. “At the same time, ingredients produced through emerging technologies can work alongside our dairy products, expanding the range of products and choices we can offer to customers and consumers.” The proposed protein ingredient is designed to be high in protein, non-GMO and highly functional, making it suitable for a range of food and beverage applications. Those are markets where Fonterra already has an established customer base, technical capabilities and extensive experience in developing and commercialising ingredients. The partnership centres on the potential to use lactose—a naturally occurring component of milk—as a feedstock for biomass fermentation. Instead of treating lactose solely as a dairy co-product, the approach could create a new pathway for transforming it into a nutrient-dense protein ingredient. For Fonterra, the initiative is part of a wider strategy to respond to rising global food demand and changing consumer expectations without moving away from its core dairy business. Rather, the company sees emerging technologies and new nutritional ingredients as complementary to its existing portfolio. “Superbrewed’s cutting-edge technology aligns with our mission to provide sustainable nutritional solutions to the world and respond to global demand,” Ireland said. Superbrewed’s Postbiotic Cultured Protein is described as a non-GMO, allergen-free bacteria biomass protein. The ingredient recently received US market approval from the Food and Drug Administration, potentially opening the door for broader commercial development in food and beverage markets. The partnership also marks an important validation for Superbrewed as it seeks to scale its biomass ingredient platform through collaboration with established global food companies. “We are excited to be partnering with a company of Fonterra’s stature, as it recognises the value in bringing Postbiotic Cultured Protein to market and is a pivotal step towards expanding our offerings of biomass ingredients that further contribute to sustainable food production,” said Bryan Tracy, CEO of Superbrewed Food. The agreement underscores a growing convergence between conventional food production and fermentation-based technologies. For dairy companies, such partnerships could create opportunities to derive additional value from existing processing streams while expanding their presence in fast-growing categories such as alternative and functional proteins. For Fonterra, however, the strategy is not about replacing dairy. It is about broadening the definition of what can be created from the dairy value chain—and using new technology to ensure that more value can be extracted from every part of the milk stream. As global demand for protein and sustainable nutrition continues to rise, Fonterra’s partnership with Superbrewed could offer a glimpse into how established dairy companies may increasingly combine traditional agricultural strengths with biotechnology to build the next generation of food ingredients. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4478/feihe-dairy-expands-deep-processing-footprint-with-new-ningxia-dairy-plant.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4478/feihe-dairy-expands-deep-processing-footprint-with-new-ningxia-dairy-plant.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:02:13 +0530 Heilongjiang Feihe Dairy Co., Ltd. (Feihe Dairy) has received approval for the production licence of its Phase I intelligent dairy processing project in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, marking the start of trial production at what is expected to become the company's largest deep-processing base in China. The facility's spray-drying tower production line has completed full-scale material commissioning, with its first batch of qualified powdered milk successfully produced. The milestone marks the transition of the facility from construction and equipment commissioning into trial operations, with the integrated production line now running across raw material reception, processing and packaging under an intelligent closed-loop control system. Covering approximately 130,000 square metres, the Phase I project has attracted cumulative investment of around RMB260 million (approximately $38.29 million). The facility has been designed to process 1,000 tonnes of fresh milk per day and includes supporting production workshops, cold-storage facilities and testing centres. Designed as Feihe Dairy's largest deep-processing base nationwide, the facility has been developed to high manufacturing and hygiene standards. Its production workshop follows GMP and EHEDG sanitary design principles and incorporates automated intelligent control systems throughout the production process. The plant also brings together a range of advanced dairy-processing technologies, including membrane separation, chromatography, crystallisation control and whey and lactose demineralisation. The combination of these technologies is intended to improve process control, product consistency and biosafety while enabling higher-value utilisation of fresh milk. At full production capacity, the facility is expected to process approximately 300,000 tonnes of fresh milk annually. Its planned product portfolio includes 21 tonnes per year of lactoferrin, 13,500 t/a of demineralised whey powder, 8,400 t/a of casein powder, 12,000 t/a of lactose, 30,000 t/a of cream and 6,000 t/a of infant formula. The project is expected to generate annual revenue of more than RMB3 billion (approximately $441.84 million) once operating at full capacity. It is also projected to create more than 300 direct jobs, adding to the economic contribution of the facility in the region. The commissioning of the plant comes as Ningxia seeks to strengthen its dairy-processing capabilities and capture greater value from its local milk supply. By combining large-scale fresh-milk processing with production of specialised dairy ingredients and finished products, the project is positioned to support the region's shift towards higher-value dairy manufacturing. For Feihe Dairy, the Ningxia facility represents a strategic expansion of its processing network and deepens its capabilities across dairy ingredients and premium products. The integration of automated processing and advanced separation technologies is expected to give the company greater flexibility in converting fresh milk into a broader range of higher-value outputs. The successful trial production of powdered milk represents a key milestone for the project and is expected to support the subsequent ramp-up of the facility. As operations move towards full-scale production, the plant could play a larger role in strengthening Ningxia's dairy value chain, improving the utilisation of fresh milk and supporting employment and regional economic development. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4448/yili-launches-high-calcium-milk-with-patented-technology-to-improve-calcium-retention.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4448/yili-launches-high-calcium-milk-with-patented-technology-to-improve-calcium-retention.html Mon, 10 Aug 2026 19:09:47 +0530 Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd. (Yili) has launched its new Yili Bone-Energy High-Calcium Milk at the World Dairy Congress held on August 1, 2026. The product is positioned as a technology-led upgrade in the ambient high-calcium milk category, which has been available in the market for nearly three decades and has developed a broad consumer base. However, competition in the segment has traditionally centred on a single measure—calcium content. That approach has resulted in similar product formulations and encouraged brands to compete largely on numbers and price. Yili’s latest launch seeks to shift the basis of competition from how much calcium a product contains to how effectively the body can retain and utilise it. According to Yili, the product uses patented lipid-layer encapsulation technology that increases calcium retention by 18.3 per cent. The technology is intended to address a key consumer concern associated with calcium-fortified products: high intake does not necessarily translate into high retention. By focusing on calcium retention, Yili is attempting to move the category beyond the “more calcium” proposition. The company is presenting the product as an example of how food science and formulation technology can create greater value in a mature dairy segment. The launch comes as consumption patterns evolve, particularly among Gen Z consumers and China’s expanding middle-class population. These consumers are increasingly seeking products supported by science, convenience and clear functional benefits. Rather than viewing high-calcium milk only as a nutritional supplement for specific groups, they are showing greater interest in products that fit into everyday lifestyles. Yili Bone-Energy High-Calcium Milk combines 400 mg of milk-derived calcium with vitamin D3. The formulation is designed to support a more convenient and lifestyle-oriented approach to calcium intake, rather than relying on the logic of medicinal supplementation. The company’s positioning marks a shift from basic calcium supplementation to what it describes as effective calcium retention. This broadens the product’s potential appeal beyond consumers with specific nutritional needs and towards a wider audience looking for a quality daily dairy choice. The strategy also reflects a wider transformation in the functional food and beverage market. As consumers become more familiar with nutritional claims, brands are under pressure to provide stronger scientific support and more meaningful benefits. Product differentiation is increasingly being built around delivery systems, bioavailability, formulation quality and measurable outcomes. For the ambient high-calcium milk category, this shift could create new opportunities for premiumisation. Instead of competing solely on calcium quantities, brands may increasingly focus on absorption, retention, ingredient combinations and proprietary technologies. Yili’s product strategy also aims to address the limitations of a volume-driven market. When products are differentiated mainly by calcium content, consumers may find it difficult to distinguish between competing formulations. This can intensify price competition and reduce the overall value of the category. By introducing a patented delivery technology and highlighting calcium retention, Yili is seeking to establish a technology-based competitive advantage. The approach could help the company build a differentiated position while encouraging the broader category to compete on value rather than volume. The launch may also support the development of new consumption occasions. High-calcium milk has traditionally been associated with children, older consumers or people seeking targeted nutritional support. A product framed around daily wellness, convenient nutrition and science-based formulation could appeal to working professionals, younger consumers and health-conscious households. For Yili, the product is therefore more than an addition to its high-calcium milk portfolio. It represents an effort to revitalise a mature category by responding to changing consumer expectations and applying technology to a familiar dairy format. The long-term performance of the product will depend on consumer acceptance, regulatory compliance, pricing, distribution and the ability of the technology proposition to translate into repeat purchases. If successful, Yili Bone-Energy High-Calcium Milk could help move ambient high-calcium milk from a numbers-led segment towards a more differentiated, premium and science-driven category. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4435/mengniu-and-milkground-unveil-chinas-first-global-cheese-research-centre.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4435/mengniu-and-milkground-unveil-chinas-first-global-cheese-research-centre.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:20:52 +0530 China's dairy industry has taken a significant step toward strengthening its position in the global premium dairy market with the inauguration of the country's first Global Cheese Research & Development Centre, a strategic collaboration between Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy (Group) Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Milkground Food Tech Co, Ltd. Located in Dengkou County, Bayannur City, Inner Mongolia, the research facility is designed to become a national innovation platform dedicated to advancing cheese science, accelerating commercialization of dairy technologies and supporting China's transition toward higher-value dairy products. The centre reflects China's broader strategy of moving beyond traditional liquid dairy products into premium, value-added segments, as rising consumer demand for cheese, functional nutrition and processed dairy products reshapes the country's food industry. The research platform will focus on six core disciplines—nutritional science, dairy raw materials and processing technologies, sensory and flavour science, standards and regulations, microbiology, and product innovation. By integrating scientific expertise with industrial capabilities, the initiative aims to strengthen research across the entire cheese value chain while accelerating the commercialization of new technologies. Industry observers increasingly view cheese as a strategic growth segment for China's dairy industry. Beyond offering higher-value product opportunities, expanded cheese production can improve utilization of raw milk, reduce supply imbalances and help stabilize dairy price volatility, creating greater resilience across the sector. The centre is expected to serve as both an innovation incubator and a technology transfer platform, bringing together researchers, universities and industry partners to develop scalable technologies capable of enhancing manufacturing efficiency and product quality. Through a standardized framework for translating laboratory research into commercial applications, the facility aims to accelerate the development of high-quality, affordable domestically produced cheese while supporting industrial modernization and strengthening China's long-term dairy competitiveness. The initiative also aligns with China's broader ambitions to advance food innovation, improve national nutrition standards and build a more sustainable dairy ecosystem driven by scientific research and technological collaboration. By combining industry leadership with academic research, Mengniu and Milkground are positioning the new centre as a catalyst for the next phase of China's dairy transformation—one centered on premiumization, innovation and greater self-reliance in value-added dairy products. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4397/meiji-exits-china-dairy-business-as-austasia-acquires-drinking-milk-yogurt-and-b2b-operations.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4397/meiji-exits-china-dairy-business-as-austasia-acquires-drinking-milk-yogurt-and-b2b-operations.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 16:29:09 +0530 Japanese food and dairy major Meiji Co., Ltd. has agreed to transfer its China dairy business to Shanghai AustAsia Food Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of AustAsia Group Ltd., marking a significant restructuring of its operations in one of Asia's largest dairy markets. The divestment covers Meiji's drinking milk, yogurt and business-to-business (B2B) dairy operations, reflecting the company's decision to redirect resources toward businesses offering stronger long-term growth and profitability. The transaction includes the transfer of equity interests in Meiji's operating entities in China, including its manufacturing facilities in Tianjin and Suzhou. AustAsia confirmed that the acquisition will be completed at a base consideration of RMB 320 million (approximately $ 47.01 million), with post-closing adjustments that could raise the total transaction value to RMB 350 million (approximately $ 51.42 million). The acquisition strengthens AustAsia's downstream dairy processing capabilities while expanding its footprint in China's competitive fresh dairy segment. The decision follows several years of financial underperformance for Meiji's China dairy operations. Meiji (China) Investment Co., Ltd. generated RMB 1.28 billion ($ 188.64 million) in sales during 2025, but losses continued to widen sharply. The company's operating loss reached RMB 1.04 billion ($ 152.79 million), compared with RMB 643 million ($ 94.47 million) in 2023 and RMB 487 million ($ 71.55 million) in 2024, underscoring the mounting pressure on profitability despite maintaining a sizeable revenue base. Performance at the manufacturing level also reflected the difficult operating environment. Meiji's Tianjin facility recorded net sales of RMB 131 million ($ 19.25 million) while reporting an operating loss of RMB 50 million ($ 7.35 million). The Suzhou production base experienced an even steeper deterioration, with sales declining to RMB 259 million ($ 38.05 million) and posting an operating loss of RMB 101 million ($ 14.84 million) after having remained profitable in the previous year. The weakening financial performance at both facilities highlighted the structural challenges facing the company's China dairy business. Meiji attributed its decision to fundamental changes reshaping China's dairy industry. The company cited shifting consumer preferences, evolving retail and distribution channels, increasingly intense market competition, and persistently high raw material and logistics costs as key factors eroding profitability. Against this backdrop, Meiji has chosen to concentrate capital and management resources on businesses where it sees stronger competitive advantages, particularly its global chocolate and confectionery operations. Although Meiji is exiting direct dairy operations in China, it will continue to oversee trademark licensing for the transferred business to safeguard product quality and maintain brand standards. This arrangement allows the company to preserve the value of the Meiji brand in the Chinese market while reducing its operational exposure. The transaction represents another example of multinational food companies reassessing their presence in China's increasingly competitive consumer market. For AustAsia, the acquisition provides an opportunity to expand its dairy processing portfolio and strengthen downstream integration, while for Meiji it marks a strategic shift toward a more focused business model centred on higher-margin product categories. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4394/jengton-dairy-unveils-major-goat-milk-processing-project-to-expand-product-portfolio.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4394/jengton-dairy-unveils-major-goat-milk-processing-project-to-expand-product-portfolio.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:50:04 +0530 Jengton Dairy has unveiled an ambitious expansion plan aimed at transforming itself into one of China's leading integrated goat dairy companies, with a RMB500 million (approximately $73.46 million) investment in a new intelligent manufacturing complex. The project, which recently entered the design phase, will be developed in Yangling—widely recognised as China's "Goat Milk Science and Technology City"—and represents one of the company's largest investments since its establishment. The new facility will feature an annual production capacity of 50,000 tonnes of formula goat milk powder, alongside a 30,000-tonne liquid goat milk processing line and a dedicated goat milk ice cream manufacturing unit. Together, the three businesses are expected to create an integrated production ecosystem that expands Jengton Dairy's presence across multiple consumer segments, from infant nutrition to everyday dairy products and value-added frozen desserts. The investment marks a strategic shift for the company, which has built its reputation as one of China's early innovators in fermented lactic acid bacteria goat milk powder. Rather than focusing on a single product category, Jengton Dairy is broadening its portfolio to become a comprehensive goat dairy manufacturer capable of serving a wider range of domestic consumers. According to the company, the intelligent 50,000-tonne milk powder facility has been designed as a benchmark smart factory for China's goat dairy industry. Meanwhile, the liquid goat milk business will target growing household consumption, while the ice cream segment is expected to help the company tap into younger consumers seeking premium dairy products. The expansion forms a key pillar of Jengton Dairy's long-term growth strategy and reflects rising demand for functional dairy products, premium infant nutrition and specialised goat milk-based foods in China. Increasing consumer awareness of nutritional alternatives and premium dairy ingredients has created new opportunities for manufacturers investing in modern production infrastructure and diversified product portfolios. Founded in 2015, Jengton Dairy has established itself as a specialist in fermented goat milk powder through its proprietary "ferment-first, spray-dry-later" manufacturing technology. The company has also built a significant intellectual property portfolio with 17 national invention patents, covering microbial strain selection, activity preservation and functional enhancement technologies. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4396/austasia-strengthens-china-dairy-footprint-with-acquisition-of-meijis-local-business.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4396/austasia-strengthens-china-dairy-footprint-with-acquisition-of-meijis-local-business.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 16:09:57 +0530 The transaction includes the transfer of equity interests in Meiji's operating entities in China, including its manufacturing facilities in Tianjin and Suzhou. AustAsia confirmed that the acquisition will be completed at a base consideration of RMB 320 million (approximately $ 47.01 million), with post-closing adjustments that could raise the total transaction value to RMB 350 million (approximately $ 51.42 million). The acquisition strengthens AustAsia's downstream dairy processing capabilities while expanding its footprint in China's competitive fresh dairy segment. The decision follows several years of financial underperformance for Meiji's China dairy operations. Meiji (China) Investment Co., Ltd. generated RMB 1.28 billion ($ 188.64 million) in sales during 2025, but losses continued to widen sharply. The company's operating loss reached RMB 1.04 billion ($ 152.79 million), compared with RMB 643 million ($ 94.47 million) in 2023 and RMB 487 million ($ 71.55 million) in 2024, underscoring the mounting pressure on profitability despite maintaining a sizeable revenue base. Performance at the manufacturing level also reflected the difficult operating environment. Meiji's Tianjin facility recorded net sales of RMB 131 million ($ 19.25 million) while reporting an operating loss of RMB 50 million ($ 7.35 million). The Suzhou production base experienced an even steeper deterioration, with sales declining to RMB 259 million ($ 38.05 million) and posting an operating loss of RMB 101 million ($ 14.84 million) after having remained profitable in the previous year. The weakening financial performance at both facilities highlighted the structural challenges facing the company's China dairy business. Meiji attributed its decision to fundamental changes reshaping China's dairy industry. The company cited shifting consumer preferences, evolving retail and distribution channels, increasingly intense market competition, and persistently high raw material and logistics costs as key factors eroding profitability. Against this backdrop, Meiji has chosen to concentrate capital and management resources on businesses where it sees stronger competitive advantages, particularly its global chocolate and confectionery operations. Although Meiji is exiting direct dairy operations in China, it will continue to oversee trademark licensing for the transferred business to safeguard product quality and maintain brand standards. This arrangement allows the company to preserve the value of the Meiji brand in the Chinese market while reducing its operational exposure. The transaction represents another example of multinational food companies reassessing their presence in China's increasingly competitive consumer market. For AustAsia, the acquisition provides an opportunity to expand its dairy processing portfolio and strengthen downstream integration, while for Meiji it marks a strategic shift toward a more focused business model centred on higher-margin product categories. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4362/feihe-and-china-national-institute-of-standardization-redefine-dairy-quality-with-new-freshness-standard.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4362/feihe-and-china-national-institute-of-standardization-redefine-dairy-quality-with-new-freshness-standard.html Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:37:33 +0530 China’s dairy industry is entering a new phase of quality competition, where freshness is moving beyond a marketing claim to become a measurable quality benchmark. China Feihe Limited and the China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS) have jointly introduced a new quality management standard for dairy source raw materials, aiming to establish a science-based framework for evaluating freshness, nutritional activity and supply chain transparency. The move reflects a broader shift in consumer expectations. As dairy consumption continues to upgrade, consumers are increasingly looking beyond basic safety standards and demanding higher nutritional value, ingredient transparency and better quality assurance. According to industry reports, “freshness” has emerged as the most important factor influencing consumer perception of dairy quality, accounting for 28 per cent of quality-related considerations — ranking ahead of nutritional content and taste. However, the industry’s traditional understanding of freshness has largely remained focused on finished-product indicators such as manufacturing dates and shelf life. The new standard challenges that approach by shifting attention upstream — recognising that the freshness of dairy products is closely linked to the condition of raw materials, preservation of active nutrients and processing methods. The newly released “Fresh Quality Management Requirements for Dairy Source Raw Materials” and “Fresh Quality Management Requirements for Products Containing Dairy Source Ingredients” establish detailed requirements covering raw material usage cycles, ingredient traceability, active nutrient retention and processing control. The standards aim to make freshness measurable, comparable and verifiable across the dairy supply chain. The Freshness Challenge Begins Before the Product Reaches Consumers The importance of raw material quality is particularly significant in infant formula, where the nutritional value of the final product depends heavily on the quality and stability of dairy ingredients. While consumers often associate milk powder quality with fresh milk content and production dates, the composition of infant formula tells a more complex story. Raw cow’s milk accounts for only around 20 per cent of an infant formula product, while whey-based ingredients contribute more than 60 per cent. This makes the freshness of whey-based ingredients a critical factor. China’s dairy industry continues to rely heavily on imported whey ingredients. In 2025, China imported 732,700 tonnes of whey, accounting for 36.6 per cent of total dry dairy product imports. The dependence on imported ingredients means longer transportation routes and extended storage periods, creating challenges in maintaining the activity of sensitive nutritional components. Protecting Active Nutrition, Not Just Preserving Freshness The new standard expands the definition of freshness by including not only the physical condition of ingredients but also the preservation of their nutritional activity. The nutritional value of breast milk is widely recognised for two key characteristics — its balanced nutrient composition and the presence of active components such as lactoferrin and immunoglobulins, which contribute to infant health and immune development. The new dairy raw material framework focuses on protecting these sensitive components through stricter processing and quality control requirements. Under the standard, dairy ingredients are expected to be produced through low-temperature and gentle processing methods to reduce nutrient degradation. Key requirements include controlling processing temperatures, maintaining ingredient purity and limiting nutrient losses during production. For example, whey protein extraction is required to use membrane filtration technology directly from fresh milk, with operating temperatures controlled at 20°C or below. Lactoferrin production standards require purity levels of above 97 per cent. The framework also sets controls on heat-related degradation indicators, including limits on compounds associated with excessive processing temperatures. The standard further requires the loss rate of key nutrients such as thiamine to remain within 0.05 per cent, reinforcing the industry’s focus on nutrient preservation rather than only product safety. Shorter Supply Chains Become a Competitive Advantage Beyond processing technology, the new framework places strong emphasis on time management across the dairy supply chain. The standard requires core ingredients such as whey protein and lactoferrin to move from production to utilisation within 30 days, while fresh milk is expected to enter powder processing within two hours to minimise nutritional losses. For Feihe, this approach aligns with its vertically integrated dairy strategy. The company has developed capabilities across milk sourcing, ingredient production and manufacturing, including self-production of 11 key dairy ingredients. The company’s “two-hour ecosystem” aims to shorten the journey from milking to processing, reducing storage time and preserving ingredient activity. Feihe has also developed a fresh ingredient traceability system that allows consumers to access information on both raw material production dates and final product manufacturing dates. A New Direction for China’s Dairy Industry The introduction of the freshness standard reflects a wider transformation underway in China’s dairy sector, where companies are increasingly competing on scientific quality management rather than only production scale. By moving quality control from the finished product stage to the raw material level, the framework could encourage broader industry adoption of transparent sourcing, advanced processing technologies and stronger traceability systems. For consumers, the shift provides a clearer understanding of what “freshness” truly means. It is no longer limited to how recently a product was manufactured, but extends to how effectively nutritional value has been protected throughout the journey — from raw material sourcing to final consumption. For the dairy industry, the message is clear: the next generation of quality standards will be built not only around what is added to products, but around how carefully every ingredient is preserved before it reaches the consumer. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4353/yili-tightens-grip-on-chinas-dairy-supply-chain-with-increased-stake-in-youran-dairy.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4353/yili-tightens-grip-on-chinas-dairy-supply-chain-with-increased-stake-in-youran-dairy.html Mon, 27 Jul 2026 14:53:31 +0530 Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd. has strengthened its upstream integration strategy by increasing its equity stake in China Youran Dairy Group Limited to 36.07 percent, reinforcing one of the closest producer-processor partnerships in China's dairy industry. The move combines a $149.56 million (HKD1.17 billion) equity investment with a multi-year raw milk procurement agreement valued at more than $10.28 billion (RMB70 billion), highlighting Yili's focus on securing long-term supply chain resilience amid evolving market dynamics. The investment was completed on 30 June 2026 through Yili's wholly owned overseas subsidiary, Boyuan Investment, which subscribed to 299.25 million newly issued shares of Youran Dairy at $ 0.50 (HKD3.92) per share. Following the transaction, Yili's total ownership in Youran Dairy increased to 36.07 percent, comprising 24.47 percent held through Boyuan Investment and 11.60 percent through Hong Kong Jingang Commercial and Trading Holdings Co., Ltd. The transaction traces back to 14 January 2026, when the investment proposal was initiated. Definitive agreements were executed on 16 January, followed by public disclosure on 17 January 2026. The deal adopted an "old shares first, new shares second" structure, allowing Youran Dairy to raise approximately $ 299.11 million (HKD2.35 billion) in fresh capital while preserving Yili's proportional ownership and preventing dilution of its strategic interest. The investment extends beyond financial ownership and further integrates the two companies' operations across China's dairy value chain. In April 2026, Yili and Youran Dairy entered into a 2027–2029 raw milk framework agreement, under which Youran Dairy will supply at least 70 percent of its annual raw milk production to Yili. The agreement carries a cumulative transaction value exceeding $ 10.28 billion (RMB70 billion), providing Yili with long-term access to high-quality milk while offering Youran Dairy stable demand visibility for its production. The dual strategy of expanding equity ownership alongside securing long-term procurement reflects an increasing shift among China's leading dairy processors toward vertically integrated supply chains. Rather than relying predominantly on market-based procurement, processors are strengthening relationships with upstream producers to improve supply security, maintain consistent raw material quality and enhance operational planning across processing businesses. For Yili, the transaction reinforces the company's strategy of building greater control over critical raw material resources as it continues expanding its dairy deep-processing operations. Stable milk sourcing has become an increasingly important competitive advantage as processors invest in higher-value dairy products, improve manufacturing efficiency and strengthen quality assurance throughout the production chain. The investment also provides Youran Dairy with additional capital while deepening its relationship with one of China's largest dairy processors. The combination of increased equity participation and long-term commercial cooperation is expected to create stronger alignment between upstream milk production and downstream manufacturing, supporting greater efficiency across the dairy value chain. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4334/ausnutria-royal-a-ware-unlock-growth-in-europes-goat-dairy-market.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4334/ausnutria-royal-a-ware-unlock-growth-in-europes-goat-dairy-market.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 14:30:57 +0530 Dairy nutrition company Ausnutria and Dutch dairy producer Royal A-ware have entered into a strategic partnership centred on Amalthea Group, a leading goat dairy producer, marking a significant step toward strengthening Europe's fast-growing goat dairy value chain. Under the agreement, Royal A-ware will acquire a 35 per cent equity stake in Amalthea, while Ausnutria will retain majority ownership with 65 per cent, ensuring continued operational control as both companies pursue long-term expansion opportunities. The collaboration is designed to capitalize on the growing international appetite for goat dairy products, particularly premium cheeses and value-added nutritional ingredients. Royal A-ware will spearhead the domestic and international commercialization of Amalthea's goat cheese portfolio, leveraging its extensive marketing and distribution capabilities across Europe and beyond. Ausnutria, meanwhile, will continue focusing on the production and utilization of high-value whey proteins, a critical ingredient in infant nutrition and specialized dairy formulations. Beyond commercial collaboration, the partners have committed to jointly investing in the expansion and modernization of Amalthea's cheese manufacturing operations. The investments are expected to enhance production capacity, improve operational efficiency and position the business to meet sustained demand for goat milk products in both mature and emerging markets. The alliance reflects a broader transformation taking place across the global dairy industry, where companies are increasingly integrating production, processing and market access to build more resilient supply chains. By combining Royal A-ware's expertise in dairy commercialization with Ausnutria's strengths in nutritional science and goat milk processing, the two companies aim to maximize the value extracted from every component of goat milk while creating a more efficient farm-to-consumer ecosystem. The transaction also provides strategic financial benefits for Ausnutria. The partial divestment unlocks capital while allowing the company to retain majority ownership and continue consolidating Amalthea within its business. According to regulatory disclosures, the agreement is complemented by a long-term governance framework, including shareholder arrangements and a 10-year exclusive supply agreement under which Amalthea will supply products to Royal A-ware. The structure is intended to provide long-term revenue visibility, improve capacity utilization and create a stable platform for future expansion. Consumers are increasingly seeking premium, specialty and nutrition-focused dairy products, prompting manufacturers to invest in integrated production models capable of supporting both food and infant nutrition segments. As companies look to strengthen supply security and improve operational efficiency, strategic partnerships are becoming an increasingly important growth lever. For Royal A-ware, the investment expands its presence in the premium goat dairy segment while complementing its existing cheese portfolio. For Ausnutria, the partnership reinforces its strategy of focusing on high-value nutritional ingredients and international expansion without relinquishing control of a strategically important asset. Together, the companies are positioning Amalthea as a stronger player in Europe's evolving goat dairy industry, backed by shared investments, complementary expertise and a long-term vision for sustainable growth. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/interviews/5/4269/global-market-will-be-won-by-whoever-can-unleash-most-reliable-dairy-decisions-at-lowest-integration-cost-anand-mahurkar-founder-ceo-findability-sciences.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/interviews/5/4269/global-market-will-be-won-by-whoever-can-unleash-most-reliable-dairy-decisions-at-lowest-integration-cost-anand-mahurkar-founder-ceo-findability-sciences.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:35:12 +0530 Discussing the launch of LactaAI , Mahurkar argues that dairy processors need AI systems capable of translating fragmented plant data into real-time operational actions that improve yield, reduce energy consumption, and accelerate decision-making. He explains how the platform’s proprietary AI Factory architecture and industry-specific intelligence can unlock annual value ranging from Rs 2.35 crore to Rs 28.2 crore per plant, while integrating seamlessly with existing ERP, MES, SCADA, and plant systems. The conversation also explores AI adoption on the factory floor, the future of outcome-based industrial AI, and Findability Sciences’ global ambitions as it takes LactaAI from India to major dairy markets worldwide. Your claim that dairy plants “do not need more dashboards” challenges a crowded industrial analytics space. What fundamentally differentiates LactaAI from existing AI and Industry 4.0 solutions, and why hasn’t this problem been solved effectively until now? Dashboards describe. AI Factories decide. That is the difference, and it sits at the centre of everything LactaAI does.  After fifteen years and meaningful capital, the industrial analytics space has converged on a familiar pattern: collect telemetry, surface it on a dashboard, and leave the plant manager to figure out what to do with it. The result is what the industry now openly calls dashboard fatigue. Operators have more visibility than ever, and exactly the same decisions to make.  LactaAI starts from a different premise. We treat the dairy plant as an AI Factory, an environment that produces decisions the way a power plant produces electricity. Each decision is tied to a specific outcome: a yield gain, an energy unit saved, a quality deviation prevented, a changeover shortened. The platform is closed-loop by design. It ingests operational data, computes a recommendation, routes it to the person who can act, and then measures what actually happened.  Two reasons the problem has not been solved before. The industrial analytics market has been dominated by horizontal Industry 4.0 platforms that are deep in operational technology plumbing but shallow in dairy physics and biochemistry. They digitise signals; they do not understand the difference between fat recovery in a separator and SNF loss in evaporation. The commercial models of legacy vendors reward dashboards over decisions, because a dashboard scales as a license while a decision requires ownership of an outcome. We accept that ownership.  Dairy plants generate massive volumes of data that often go unused. What are the core technical and organizational barriers that prevent this data from translating into decisions, and how does LactaAI overcome both? Two layers of friction sit between data and decisions in dairy. Both are structural, not aspirational.  The technical layer first. Data lives across SCADA, MES, ERP, LIMS, IoT gateways, and laboratory notebooks. Each system has its own schema, its own time signature, and its own owner. Plant historians capture telemetry at one cadence, ERP captures transactions at another, LIMS captures test results at a third. Joining these into a unified picture of a single batch or a single shift is non-trivial. Add legacy PLCs on proprietary protocols, and a meaningful fraction of operational data never reaches a place where a model can reason about it.  The organizational layer is the harder one. Even when data is consolidated, recommendations stall. Operators do not trust outputs they cannot interrogate. Plant managers do not have a closed-loop feedback mechanism to verify whether an AI suggestion actually moved the metric it claimed. Ownership of the outcome remains diffuse between IT, OT, quality, and operations.  LactaAI addresses both. The platform sits on our I-CUPP architecture, which unifies the data layer before any model touches it, so the AI reasons over a coherent operational picture rather than fragments. On top of that, our Business Process Co-Pilot embeds each recommendation into the systems operators already use, with a transparent rationale, an accountable owner, and a measured outcome. The decision and its consequences are bonded.  Industrial environments are notoriously resistant to change. How do you ensure adoption among plant operators and decision-makers who may be skeptical of AI-driven recommendations, especially in high-risk production settings? Operator adoption is earned, not assumed. Three principles guide how we earn it.  First, we deploy as a Co-Pilot, not an autopilot. Every recommendation comes with the reasoning behind it in plain plant language, the variables it considered, and a confidence band. The operator remains the decision-maker. This matters because in a high-risk production setting, the person closest to the asset must retain authority.  Second, we sequence the decisions. We begin with high-confidence, low-risk recommendations where the operator can verify the outcome quickly, such as CIP cycle optimization or boiler load scheduling. Trust accumulates. Only once a track record is established do we move to higher-leverage decisions like composition-aware standardization or fat-recovery setpoints.  Third, we localise. Our interfaces run in the languages operators actually speak. In India that means Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, and Tamil. The recommendation is useless if the operator has to translate it. Training materials and onboarding are built around the working vocabulary of shift supervisors and floor leads, not corporate slide decks.  The result is that operators move from skepticism to ownership within a few weeks of go-live, because they see the platform working with them rather than around them. LactaAI integrates with legacy systems like ERP, MES, and SCADA without requiring replacement. What were the biggest engineering challenges in achieving this interoperability, and how do you handle data inconsistencies across systems? Interoperability with legacy systems is the single hardest engineering problem in industrial AI. Dairy plants run a cocktail of vintages: SAP or Oracle ERP from the 2010s, Wonderware or Siemens SCADA, custom MES, LIMS from a half dozen vendors, and OEM-controlled PLCs that sometimes predate the people running them.  Our approach has three layers. At the bottom, a protocol adapter layer that speaks OPC-UA, Modbus, MQTT, and the vendor-specific protocols that matter in dairy. We read before we write. In the first phase of every deployment, we are a non-intrusive observer; we do not push setpoints back into the control system until governance and trust are in place.  In the middle, the unification layer, which is the U in I-CUPP. This is where data inconsistencies are resolved: entity resolution across systems that use different identifiers for the same batch or SKU, time synchronization across instruments with drift, unit normalization, and semantic harmonization so that what one system calls fat percentage and another calls FAT_PCT become the same field.  At the top, the decision layer, which is where the AI Factory runs. By the time models see the data, it is coherent and reliable.  The biggest engineering challenges were time-series at scale, particularly hot-cold tiering for plants generating millions of tag-seconds per day, and reconciling real-time streams with batch-loaded reference data without compounding errors. We solved them by treating the unification layer as a first-class product, not a connector marketplace.  Dairy processing varies widely—from fluid milk to complex whey derivatives. How scalable is LactaAI across different product categories, and what customization is required for each segment? Dairy looks like one industry from the outside and a dozen sub-industries from the inside. Fluid milk, butter, ghee, paneer, cheese, milk powders, condensed milks, whey derivatives, infant nutrition, ice cream, fermented products. Each has its own process flow, its own quality regime, and its own economic drivers.  What scales across all of them is the I-CUPP architecture. The way we collect, unify, process, and present data is invariant to product category. What customises per category is what sits on top: the process model, the BOM derivation logic, and the decision packs that encode the levers that matter for that product.  We have built a library of pre-configured process models for the major dairy segments. For a fluid milk plant, the high-value decisions cluster around standardization, route optimization, and shelf-life prediction. For a milk powder plant, around evaporator and dryer thermal efficiency, particle size control, and lactose crystallization windows. For cheese and paneer, around culture management, syneresis control, and ageing. For whey, around membrane fouling and protein recovery.  The customization required for a new segment is the process model and the decision pack, not the platform. Typically a new segment takes us six to ten weeks from first engagement to first production decisions.  India is the launchpad, but dairy is a global industry. How do you see LactaAI competing internationally, particularly against established industrial AI players, and what markets are you targeting next? Our near-term international roadmap targets the United States first, where our Chicago go-to-market is engaging the top-25 processors and where the consolidation of the industry into a small number of large producers makes the unit economics attractive. Australia and New Zealand follow, with channel work underway into the Fonterra ecosystem and the broader Oceania industry. Japan is open through our SoftBank relationship, with strong specialty dairy and functional nutrition demand. Latin America is the natural next step from our existing presence in adjacent agri-industrial categories.  The global market will not be won by whoever has the largest platform. It will be won by whoever can produce the most reliable dairy decisions at the lowest cost of integration.   --- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com)   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/interviews/5/4235/india-can-become-global-exporter-of-livestock-genetics-ashish-khandelwal-on-indigenous-embryo-transfer-breakthrough.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/interviews/5/4235/india-can-become-global-exporter-of-livestock-genetics-ashish-khandelwal-on-indigenous-embryo-transfer-breakthrough.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:15:00 +0530 Leads Genetics' indigenous embryo transfer programme is more than a technological milestone—it signals India's growing ambition to build world-class bovine genetics through domestic capabilities and global scientific collaboration. By combining advanced IVF, genomics and embryo transfer technologies with indigenous breeds such as Gir and Sahiwal, the initiative addresses the long-standing challenge of improving dairy productivity without compromising genetic resilience. The partnership with Brazil's Embrapa also reflects an important shift towards international knowledge exchange in livestock breeding. AgroSpectrum has further explored the significance of this breakthrough through an exclusive interview with Ashish Khandelwal, Director, Leads Genetics, on the programme's scalability, commercial viability and its long-term impact on India's dairy economy. The real measure of success, however, will lie in translating these laboratory breakthroughs into scalable, affordable solutions that improve farmer incomes and strengthen India's dairy value chain. Defining a National Milestone: This is being positioned as India’s first large-scale indigenous embryo transfer programme—what makes this breakthrough structurally different from previous efforts in cattle breeding and genetics? Leads Genetics has break through success in genome technology by setting up an integrated R&D centre for Indigenous Cattle Genetics & Genomics in Bareilly. It is not just a scientific achievement, but as a systemic breakthrough. For long, genome technology or any efforts in embryo transfer were largely government initiatives or were in a very limited scale. For the first time, Leads Genetics has brought three things together, a private-sector-led Centre of Excellence with world-class IVF, Pathology, and Genomics laboratories, a structured programme with success metrics, and a tripartite international collaboration involving Embrapa (Brazil’s state-owned agricultural research institution under MAPA), Fazenda Floresta and Leads Genetics. The results are for everyone to see. In the first phase we have already witnessed successful IVF treatment on 116 cows with a 70 per cent success rate. In the second phase we have expanded this to 160 Gir, Sahiwal, and HF cross cows. What started as a pilot model has become a scalable model. From Pilot to Scale. Achieving a 70 per cent IVF success rate at this scale is significant—what were the key scientific, operational, or infrastructure factors that enabled this level of efficiency? The scale of IVF success is a defining moment for Indian dairy. This was made possible due to advancements in reproductive technologies like IVF and embryo transfer. This will accelerate India’s journey toward becoming a global leader in per-cow dairy productivity and livestock genetics. However, there were some key challenges. The first one was donor selection. We ensured high-genetic-merit Gir donors, including superior germplasm imported from Brazil, were only used. This gave us a strong genetic foundation to work with. The second challenge was that of having a world class laboratory infrastructure. For this we created an Integrated R&D Centre right from scratch. It had the state-of-the-art IVF-ET, Pathology, and Genomics capabilities. Also, the equipment and protocols had to meet international standards, not just Indian benchmarks. The third was operational discipline. We have to ensure synchronised protocols across hormone treatments, OPU (Ovum Pick-Up) procedures, fertilisation windows, and embryo transfer timing. Any deviation would have an adverse impact on the success. Economics of Genetic Transformation. How does embryo transfer at scale translate into tangible economic gains for dairy farmers, particularly in terms of yield improvement and return on investment? The economics of this successful program is at two levels. The first one is at an individual farmer level and the second one is at enterprise level. At an individual farmer level, the primary value will be in the form of step-change in milk yield per animal. Farmers can expect 3X increase in milk yield with our breeds. However, the actual outcome would depend on farm management and ecosystem support. A margin of 50 per cent -70 per cent increase in yield would be of great economic importance for farmers. Higher-genetic-merit Gir and Sahiwal cattle are known for their disease resistance and easily adapt to Indian climatic conditions compared to exotic crossbreeds. As a brand we are conscious in making sure that the economics improve not both revenue and cost side as well. We have to democratise access to large farms and as well as small farmer through cooperative models and government partnerships. Indigenous Breeds vs. Crossbreeding Debate. With a strong focus on Gir and other indigenous breeds, how do you see this initiative reshaping the long-standing debate between indigenous genetics and high-yield crossbreeds? Historical data tells us that the crossbreeding route, particularly with Holstein Friesian genetics, has given us short-term productivity but it came at a cost like increasing vulnerability to tropical diseases, heat stress, declining fertility rates, and a gradual erosion of our indigenous breed population. However, we have seen that Gir and Sahiwal, Red Sindhi breeds carry genetic traits that have been shaped by thousands of years of evolution in the Indian subcontinent. This is a valuable asset that cannot be replaced. Our IVF and embryo transfer technology allows us to unlock the productivity potential of indigenous breeds scientifically. There was no doubt on whether our breeds could be productive, it was always about whether we had the technology to realise our potential. Technology as a Force Multiplier. To what extent can IVF and embryo transfer realistically accelerate India’s per-cow productivity, and what are the bottlenecks to scaling this nationwide? There is no doubt that our IVF and embryo transfer will boost India's per-cow productivity is enormous. But we must be mindful of the challenges and the opportunities. Natural breeding produces one calf per cow per year but IVF-based OPU-ET can potentially yield 20–30 embryos per superior donor annually. This a huge opportunity for us. The compounding impact on national herd quality would be transformative. The main challenge is having skilled veterinary manpower, cold chain and logistics infrastructure for embryo transport, and recipient cow management. All these are critical for transfer success and it requires a framework for armer education and last-mile support. At Leads Genetics we see ourselves as change agent not just creating technology but an entire system through training and partnerships. Role of Global Collaboration. This programme involves collaboration with Brazil’s Embrapa—how critical is international scientific cooperation in advancing India’s livestock genetics ecosystem? The scientific knowledge transferred through this collaboration was as valuable as any piece of equipment we installed. India and Brazil share similar agro-climatic conditions and also a common ancestry in Zebu cattle genetics. Being Brazil's state-owned agricultural research institution, Embrapa represents decades of scientific work on Gir and Zebu breeds. This has transformed Brazil from a net importer of genetics to a global exporter. The partnership reflects a strategic significance of India's livestock sector and the credibility we have built. International scientific cooperation of this nature is unprecedented in India. Infrastructure and Replicability. The Centre of Excellence plays a central role—what investments and ecosystem support are required to replicate this model across other dairy clusters in India? The Centre of Excellence in Bareilly is not just a significant investment but reflects our firm commitment towards building physical infrastructure, scientific talent, and building protocols that are suited for Indian conditions. To replicate this across key states like Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, or Maharashtra requires a carefully crafted integration programme. India is a diverse country and different regions have different breed priorities, different agro-climatic conditions, and different dairy ecosystem structures. It cannot be copied it has to adapted. However, what can be done is standardising things like laboratory protocols, training curriculum for veterinary staff and creating a data system for tracking outcomes. Also, one key factor would be government support through National Livestock Mission and Rashtriya Gokul Mission. Long-Term Vision for India's Dairy Sector. Looking ahead, how do you see advanced reproductive technologies shaping India’s position in the global dairy and livestock genetics landscape over the next decade? Our Centre of Excellence can create a paradigm shift in India’s dairy sector. Strangely, we are the world's largest milk producer but still our per-cow productivity ranks among the lowest globally. We have to solve this over the next decade. Advanced reproductive technology is the most powerful lever for us. We have to build a nationally networked livestock genetics infrastructure. Also, India has the potential to become a significant player in the global livestock genetics market. Our indigenous breeds like Gir and Sahiwal are now attracting interests from Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. We are on the right track and India could transition from being an importer of livestock genetics knowledge to being a credible exporter of both genetics and expertise. This is our vision as well. -- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com)   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4198/california-opens-34-mn-dairy-plus-program-to-fund-advanced-manure-management-projects.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4198/california-opens-34-mn-dairy-plus-program-to-fund-advanced-manure-management-projects.html Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:53:22 +0530 California dairy producers are being invited to apply for the third funding round of the Dairy Plus Program (DPP), a major initiative aimed at accelerating the adoption of advanced manure management technologies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve environmental performance across the state's dairy industry. The programme, administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability in partnership with the California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF), has approximately $34 million available for projects that support innovative manure management practices with multiple environmental benefits. The funding is being provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Advancing Markets for Producers initiative and is intended to help bring emerging technologies to dairy farms of all sizes. The programme focuses on projects that can simultaneously reduce methane emissions, improve groundwater protection and address nitrogen and salt surpluses associated with manure management. Since its launch in 2023, the Dairy Plus Program has supported 34 projects across California. Collectively, these initiatives are expected to reduce more than 1.5 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from manure management practices, an environmental impact comparable to removing approximately 355,000 gasoline-powered vehicles from the road. The projects are also anticipated to deliver substantial improvements in nutrient management and water quality outcomes. The latest funding round reflects California's broader efforts to strengthen the sustainability and long-term resilience of its dairy industry, which remains a cornerstone of the state's agricultural economy. Milk is California's largest agricultural commodity, and the state accounts for approximately 18 per cent of total U.S. milk production, making it the country's leading producer of milk and dairy products. According to research conducted by the University of California, Davis, the state's dairy sector generates tens of billions of dollars in economic activity and supports more than 150,000 jobs, underlining the importance of initiatives that help producers adapt to evolving environmental and regulatory requirements. Eligible projects under the Dairy Plus Program include a range of advanced technologies and management approaches, such as vermifiltration systems, advanced solid-liquid separation technologies using flocculants or beads, and both mechanical and non-mechanical systems designed to separate manure solids from water. By supporting the deployment of next-generation manure management technologies, the programme seeks to accelerate practical solutions that can improve environmental stewardship while enhancing the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of California's dairy sector. Industry stakeholders view the initiative as an important opportunity for dairy producers considering investments in new technologies and nutrient management systems. The funding is expected to encourage wider adoption of innovative practices that can help producers address environmental challenges while improving operational efficiency and resource management. The third solicitation of the Dairy Plus Program further reinforces California's position as a leader in agricultural sustainability initiatives and highlights the growing role of climate-smart technologies in shaping the future of dairy production. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/interviews/5/4145/why-future-of-food-security-depends-on-reducing-antibiotic-dependence-in-livestock.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/interviews/5/4145/why-future-of-food-security-depends-on-reducing-antibiotic-dependence-in-livestock.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:26:00 +0530 In an exclusive interview with AgroSpectrum, Alejandro Acosta, Livestock Economist and Policy Officer, FAO, cautioned that the projected rise in livestock antimicrobial use by 2040 could accelerate antimicrobial resistance (AMR), undermining animal health, farm profitability, food security and public health. Acosta emphasized that while reducing antimicrobial use delivers significant long-term economic benefits, the transition carries short-term costs that require targeted policy support, incentives and investment. He argued that preserving antimicrobial effectiveness should be treated as a global public good, given that the benefits extend far beyond individual farms and national borders. The FAO’s latest analysis suggests that improving productivity through better veterinary services, vaccination, biosecurity and husbandry practices offers the most effective pathway to reducing antimicrobial dependence without compromising livestock production. How does FAO’s latest assessment change the economic argument around antimicrobial use in livestock, particularly for policymakers balancing productivity and sustainability? Previous studies often presented antimicrobial use (AMU) reduction as a win-win proposition, assuming that lower use would automatically translate into economic gains. Our assessment suggests the reality is more nuanced. While reducing AMU delivers substantial economic, animal health and public health benefits in the long run, the transition is not costless, and the short-term economics can be challenging. In the early years, producers may face adjustment costs as they invest in improved biosecurity, vaccination, veterinary services and alternative disease prevention strategies. As a result, the immediate cost of action can be higher than the cost of maintaining existing practices. However, over time, the economic consequences of rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) become significantly greater. The key policy challenge is therefore not whether to act, but how to support farmers through the transition so productivity, profitability and sustainability can advance together. With antimicrobial use in livestock projected to rise significantly by 2040, what are the biggest risks to food security, farm profitability and public health if current trends continue? Under the business-as-usual scenario, the projected increase in antimicrobial use (AMU) is not driven by higher use intensity, but by the expansion of livestock biomass required to meet growing global demand for animal-source foods. In other words, if AMU intensity remains broadly unchanged and productivity gains are insufficient to offset demand growth, total antimicrobial use will rise mechanically as livestock production expands. The main concern is that this trend could accelerate antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As resistance increases, treatments become less effective, animal diseases become harder to control, and producers face higher mortality rates, rising production costs and lower profitability. What may initially appear as a manageable production strategy can gradually undermine the economic efficiency of livestock systems. The implications extend beyond individual farms. In the long term, higher AMR could reduce global livestock production compared with scenarios where resistance is better controlled, affecting the availability and affordability of animal-source foods. This has direct consequences for food security, particularly as global demand for meat, milk and eggs continues to grow. From a public health perspective, the risks are equally significant. AMR is a One Health challenge that affects animals, humans and the environment simultaneously. If current trends continue, the long-term economic and societal costs of resistance could far outweigh the short-term benefits associated with continued reliance on antimicrobials, making preventive action increasingly important. The report suggests that the long-term costs of antimicrobial resistance far outweigh the short-term productivity gains from antimicrobial growth promoters. What evidence supports this conclusion? We first quantify the short-term productivity value of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs), and then compare it with the long-term economic losses associated with rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AGPs can provide measurable gains in growth performance and feed efficiency, which explains why they continue to be used in many livestock systems, particularly where disease pressure is high and access to alternatives remains limited. However, our analysis shows that these short-term benefits are significantly outweighed by the long-term economic consequences of increasing resistance. By 2040, cumulative livestock production losses under a high-AMR scenario are projected to reach approximately $ 318 billion, compared with about $ 53 billion under a severe AGP phase-out scenario. The key point is that while AGPs may deliver immediate productivity gains, AMR gradually erodes the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments, making animal diseases harder and more expensive to control. Over time, this can lead to higher mortality, reduced productivity, increased production costs and lower farm profitability. The report therefore demonstrates that the economic risks of inaction are substantially greater than the costs associated with reducing reliance on growth-promoting antimicrobials and investing in preventive animal health measures. Why does FAO believe antimicrobial effectiveness should be treated as a global public good, and what would that mean in practical policy terms? The costs of reducing antimicrobial use (AMU) are often local and immediate, while the benefits of preserving antimicrobial effectiveness are global and long-term. This creates a misalignment of incentives, where farmers and countries bear the transition costs today, while the benefits are shared widely and materialize over time. For example, producers may need to invest in biosecurity, vaccination, improved husbandry, veterinary services and other preventive measures to reduce antimicrobial dependence. These investments require resources upfront, while the benefits of slowing antimicrobial resistance extend far beyond individual farms or national borders. This is why FAO considers antimicrobial effectiveness a global public good. Preserving it benefits animal health, food security, public health and the sustainability of agrifood systems worldwide. In practical policy terms, this means stewardship cannot rely solely on regulations or restrictions. It requires coordinated investments, economic incentives and transition support that help farmers adopt better practices without compromising productivity or profitability. The report highlights the need for stronger veterinary services, improved surveillance and diagnostics, wider access to alternatives, sustainable financing mechanisms and market incentives that reward responsible antimicrobial use. Ultimately, preserving antimicrobial effectiveness requires collective action because the benefits are shared globally, while the costs of transition are often borne locally. What kinds of investments and incentives are needed to help farmers transition away from routine antimicrobial use without compromising productivity? The transition should be built around FAO’s RENOFARM approach, which focuses on reducing the need for antimicrobials rather than simply restricting their use. The objective is not to take tools away from farmers, but to create production systems where animals are healthier, disease risks are lower, and reliance on routine antimicrobial use becomes unnecessary. To achieve this, FAO promotes the Farm 5Gs framework: Good Health Services, Good Production Practices, Good Alternatives, Good Incentives and Good Connections. This starts with investments in the fundamentals of animal health. Strengthening veterinary services, disease surveillance, diagnostics, vaccination programmes, biosecurity measures and improved husbandry practices can significantly reduce disease pressure on farms. These preventive measures help producers maintain productivity while reducing their dependence on antimicrobials as a routine management tool. Access to effective alternatives, including vaccines and other non-antibiotic interventions, is also critical, particularly in regions where disease risks remain high. However, technical solutions alone are not enough. One of the key findings of our report is that the transition carries real costs, especially in the early years. Farmers may need to invest in infrastructure upgrades, improved farm management systems, staff training or preventive animal health measures before the benefits become fully visible. Without support, these upfront costs can discourage adoption. This is why incentives are equally important. Farmers need access to finance, technical assistance and extension services that help them implement better practices. Market-based incentives can also play a significant role. Certification schemes, price premiums, sustainability-linked procurement programmes and other value-chain rewards can help compensate producers for the investments they make in responsible antimicrobial stewardship. The report also highlights the importance of stronger connections across the value chain. Producers, veterinarians, processors, retailers, financial institutions and policymakers all have a role to play in supporting the transition. When farmers are provided with the right combination of knowledge, financing, market access and technical support, it becomes possible to reduce antimicrobial use without sacrificing productivity or profitability. Ultimately, successful antimicrobial stewardship is not about imposing restrictions. It is about creating an enabling environment where farmers can adopt healthier, more productive and more resilient production systems while remaining economically competitive.  How can veterinary services, biosecurity measures, vaccination programmes and improved husbandry practices reduce dependence on antimicrobials in livestock systems?   These interventions reduce dependence on antimicrobials by addressing the root causes of disease rather than relying on treatment after disease occurs. Each plays a distinct but complementary role in strengthening animal health and improving the resilience of livestock production systems. For example, biosecurity measures help prevent the introduction and spread of pathogens by improving farm hygiene, controlling animal movements, managing visitor access and strengthening sanitation practices. By reducing disease exposure, farms face fewer outbreaks and consequently require fewer antimicrobial treatments. Vaccination programmes reduce the incidence and severity of infectious diseases by building immunity within animal populations. When animals are better protected against common diseases, the need for therapeutic or preventive antimicrobial use declines significantly, while productivity and animal welfare are maintained. Similarly, strong veterinary services and diagnostics enable earlier disease detection, more accurate treatment decisions and better herd health management. This helps ensure that antimicrobials are used only when genuinely needed and in an appropriate manner, rather than as a routine precautionary measure. Improved husbandry practices, including better nutrition, housing, animal welfare, stocking densities and overall farm management, reduce stress and disease pressure in livestock systems. Healthier animals are naturally more resilient and less susceptible to infections, which lowers the need for antimicrobial interventions. Together, these measures shift livestock production from a treatment-based approach to a prevention-based approach. They make antimicrobials less necessary as a routine risk-management tool while protecting productivity, farm profitability and long-term sustainability. This is the core principle behind FAO’s RENOFARM approach: reducing the need for antimicrobials through stronger animal health systems rather than relying solely on restrictions on antimicrobial use. The report highlights major regional differences in antimicrobial use, particularly across Asia-Pacific, South America and Africa. How should policy responses be tailored to these varying realities? While antimicrobial use patterns vary considerably across regions, the fundamental policy objective should remain the same everywhere: reduce antimicrobial use (AMU) intensity while increasing animal productivity. The report shows that changes in livestock biomass alone have relatively limited influence on total AMU. The main leverage comes from lowering the amount of antimicrobials used per unit of production through better productivity, greater efficiency and stronger preventive animal health management. That said, the pathways to achieving this objective will differ depending on regional realities. In some regions, particularly where livestock systems are rapidly expanding, the priority may be strengthening veterinary services, disease surveillance, vaccination coverage and biosecurity measures to ensure productivity growth does not translate into proportionally higher antimicrobial use. In others, the focus may be on improving farm management practices, promoting technology adoption and increasing access to alternatives that reduce dependence on routine antimicrobial use. The report projects that Asia and the Pacific will continue to account for the largest share of global livestock antimicrobial use by 2040, reflecting both the scale of livestock production and growing demand for animal-source foods. South America is also expected to remain a significant contributor, while Africa, despite a smaller overall share, is projected to experience some of the fastest growth rates in livestock production and antimicrobial demand. These differences underline the need for context-specific implementation strategies. However, regardless of geography, the most effective long-term approach is to improve animal health and production efficiency. Investments in biosecurity, vaccination, diagnostics, veterinary services and improved husbandry practices can simultaneously enhance productivity and reduce AMU intensity. This creates a pathway where producers can meet growing demand for animal-source foods while limiting the risk of accelerating antimicrobial resistance. Ultimately, the report suggests that successful antimicrobial stewardship is not about reducing production; it is about producing more efficiently and sustainably. The policy tools may vary across regions, but the strategic goal remains consistent: healthier animals, higher productivity and lower reliance on antimicrobials. What role can market-based mechanisms, trade policies and supply-chain standards play in accelerating responsible antimicrobial stewardship across the global livestock sector? Market-based mechanisms can play a critical role in accelerating responsible antimicrobial stewardship by helping to offset the transition costs associated with reducing routine antimicrobial use (AMU). One of the key challenges highlighted in our report is that while the benefits of preserving antimicrobial effectiveness are long-term and broadly shared, the costs of changing production practices are often immediate and borne by farmers. Economic incentives can help bridge this gap. Certification schemes, product labels and price premiums can function much like a “green premium,” rewarding producers who adopt responsible antimicrobial-use practices. When consumers, retailers and food companies recognize and value these practices, producers receive a direct economic signal that supports investment in improved animal health management, biosecurity, vaccination and other preventive measures. Supply-chain standards can further accelerate change by establishing clear expectations for responsible antimicrobial use across production systems. Food processors, retailers and exporters increasingly require suppliers to meet sustainability and animal health standards, creating incentives for producers to align with best practices. These standards can also improve transparency, traceability and accountability throughout the livestock value chain. Trade policies can complement these efforts by encouraging greater convergence around internationally recognized antimicrobial stewardship principles. As global markets place increasing emphasis on food safety, sustainability and responsible production, compliance with antimicrobial-use standards may become an important factor in maintaining market access and competitiveness. This is particularly relevant for export-oriented livestock sectors seeking to meet evolving consumer and regulatory expectations. However, market incentives should not be viewed as a substitute for public investment. They work best when combined with supportive policies, veterinary services, technical assistance and access to alternatives that enable farmers to make the transition successfully. The objective is to create an environment where responsible antimicrobial stewardship is not only a regulatory requirement but also an economically attractive business decision. Ultimately, aligning market signals with animal health and sustainability goals can help accelerate the adoption of responsible practices across the global livestock sector while supporting productivity, profitability and long-term food security. -- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com)   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4076/rootsii-bets-on-sweet-potatoes-to-disrupt-plant-based-dairy-market.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/4076/rootsii-bets-on-sweet-potatoes-to-disrupt-plant-based-dairy-market.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:25:41 +0530 Backed by nearly $1.82 million in funding, the North Carolina startup is converting crop waste into value-added food products A North Carolina food-tech startup is turning one of the state's biggest agricultural challenges into a new business opportunity after securing nearly $1.82 million in grant funding to commercialize a plant-based milk made from surplus sweet potatoes. Rootsii, a startup co-founded by Dr. Brett Taubman, professor at Appalachian State University, and Daniel Parker, manager of the university's Fermentation Sciences Lab, has received preliminary funding from NCInnovation, a nonprofit focused on advancing university research into market-ready businesses. The investment supports the commercialization of a proprietary technology designed to address a major inefficiency in North Carolina's agricultural sector: the loss of millions of pounds of sweet potatoes that never reach consumers. Tackling a Multi-Million-Dollar Waste Problem North Carolina produces approximately 60 percent of the United States' sweet potatoes, yet as much as 40 percent of the annual harvest is lost before reaching retail markets, according to industry estimates. That translates into roughly 63 million pounds of sweet potatoes discarded each year, representing an estimated $13.2 million in lost value for farmers. Rootsii's solution is a patent-pending enzymatic process that converts surplus sweet potatoes into a naturally sweet, plant-based milk without the need for added sugars. "The sweet potato industry is desperately in need of innovation, and we have an innovation that should seriously help to promote it," said Taubman. The company's current formulation contains only four ingredients: sweet potatoes, chia seeds, yeast-derived protein, and coconut oil. Future versions are expected to replace coconut oil with muscadine grape seed oil, another upcycled agricultural byproduct sourced from North Carolina's wine industry. Beyond Plant-Based Milk While sweet potato milk will serve as the company's flagship product, Rootsii is pursuing a broader vision centered on value-added fermentation and food innovation. Its planned product portfolio includes creamers, yogurt, ice cream, sweet potato miso, and fermented hot sauces, creating multiple commercial pathways for agricultural byproducts that would otherwise go unused. The strategy reflects growing consumer demand for sustainable food products while addressing mounting concerns around food waste and supply-chain efficiency. Building a New Agricultural Value Chain Production will be divided between two locations, with bulk processing taking place in eastern North Carolina near major sweet potato growing regions and product development continuing in Boone, home to Appalachian State University. The project, which began development in 2024, is targeting commercial readiness within the next two years. Funding from NCInnovation will support product validation, consumer testing, shelf-life studies, and production scale-up efforts. The grant will also fund undergraduate research opportunities, providing students with hands-on experience in food innovation and commercialization. Creating New Markets for Farmers Industry leaders view the initiative as an example of how agricultural innovation can create economic value while improving sustainability. "North Carolina is the country's top sweet potato producer, and Dr. Taubman's work could open an entirely new market for those farmers while reducing agricultural waste," said Michelle Bolas, CEO of NCInnovation. Rootsii is already collaborating with the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission, Caldwell Community College's Culinary Arts Program, and the High Country Impact Fund, while discussions with beverage companies and distribution partners are underway. As consumer interest in plant-based foods continues to expand, Rootsii is positioning itself at the intersection of food technology, sustainability, and agricultural innovation—transforming an overlooked waste stream into a potentially scalable new category of dairy alternatives. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3937/vietnamese-dairy-innovation-gains-global-recognition-through-uspto-patent-approval.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3937/vietnamese-dairy-innovation-gains-global-recognition-through-uspto-patent-approval.html Mon, 25 May 2026 11:49:26 +0530 The United States Patent and Trademark Office recognises Nutifood’s proprietary digestive and immunity-support formula, reinforcing Vietnam’s growing presence in global nutrition science and functional dairy innovation. Vietnamese nutrition and dairy company Nutifood has secured a significant international intellectual property milestone after the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted a patent for its proprietary Foundation of Digestion & Immunity (FDI) Formula, a clinically evaluated nutritional formulation designed to support digestive and immune health in children. The patent recognition marks a notable advancement not only for Nutifood but also for Vietnam’s broader dairy and nutritional-science ecosystem, positioning the country more prominently within the increasingly competitive global functional nutrition and paediatric health market. The announcement was made during the anniversary celebration of Nutifood GrowPLUS+, one of the company’s flagship dairy brands developed using the FDI Formula. The event drew participation from senior representatives across Vietnam’s science, technology, food safety and foreign affairs institutions, alongside international stakeholders including the U.S. Consul General and the California Milk Advisory Board. Developed by the Nutifood Nutrition Research Institute in Sweden (NNRIS) beginning in 2020, the FDI Formula represents an attempt to integrate European nutritional science with research focused specifically on the physiological and dietary requirements of Vietnamese children. The formulation was designed around a dual-targeted nutritional strategy aimed at simultaneously improving digestive health and strengthening immune function to enhance nutrient absorption and support childhood development outcomes. At the core of the patented formulation lies Nutifood’s proprietary ratio combining 2’-FL HMO (Human Milk Oligosaccharide) with FOS (Fructooligosaccharides) and Inulin, soluble plant-derived fibres widely associated with gut microbiome support and digestive balance. 2’-FL HMO, a bioactive compound naturally found in breast milk, has increasingly attracted global scientific attention for its role in supporting immune-system development and gut health in infants and young children. By combining this compound with prebiotic fibres such as FOS and Inulin, Nutifood positioned the formula as an integrated digestive-immunity support system tailored to paediatric nutritional needs. According to the company, a clinical study conducted in 2021 by Vietnam’s National Institute of Nutrition demonstrated measurable improvements in digestive conditions including constipation, diarrhoea and poor appetite among participating children. The study additionally indicated a reduction in susceptibility to respiratory infections, further reinforcing the formula’s dual-function positioning. The USPTO specifically recognised both the proprietary ratio embedded within the formulation and the clinically evaluated digestive and immune-health benefits associated with its application. Industry observers view the approval as particularly significant given the increasingly rigorous evidentiary standards required for nutrition-related patents in advanced global markets. The development arrives at a time when the global functional nutrition industry is witnessing accelerated growth, driven by rising consumer focus on preventive healthcare, gut health, paediatric nutrition and science-backed wellness products. Within Asia, the dairy sector is increasingly evolving beyond conventional milk products towards specialised nutritional formulations, value-added functional foods and clinically differentiated wellness solutions. Nutifood stated that the patent reflects its long-term strategy of investing in evidence-based nutritional science, international R&D capabilities and globally benchmarked product development frameworks aimed at enhancing child nutrition outcomes. The achievement additionally signals Vietnam’s growing ambitions within higher-value food innovation and intellectual-property-driven nutritional manufacturing, sectors historically dominated by multinational Western and East Asian corporations. As global food and nutrition industries transition toward science-led differentiation, the USPTO recognition of Nutifood’s FDI Formula underscores a broader shift underway within emerging Asian dairy economies — from volume-driven production models towards research-intensive, innovation-oriented nutritional ecosystems capable of competing on scientific credibility, clinical validation and proprietary intellectual property. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3931/nestle-and-first-milk-back-next-generation-of-regenerative-dairy-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3931/nestle-and-first-milk-back-next-generation-of-regenerative-dairy-farmers.html Fri, 22 May 2026 13:19:29 +0530 The group toured the facility and took part in discussions on stress management, leadership and resilience Nestlé and First Milk have launched a forward-thinking initiative to support the next generation of dairy farmers. The format has been developed with 8point9 Training and Education and responds to the lack of opportunity for capable farmers to learn in a way that fits how they think and work. It focuses on practical learning, reflecting the realities of running a modern dairy business. Attending the launch event, Mike Warmington, Regeneration Lead at Nestlé UK & Ireland, said: “We want to make sure we are helping to build long-term resilience and sustainability in our supply chain. Of course, that means farming regeneratively, but it also means the long-term resilience of the farmers and their businesses. Young Dairy Leaders is a great step forward to help make sure the next generation of farmers keep doing what they’re doing today for many years to come.” Young Dairy Leaders was launched at Dovenby Hall in Cumbria, home of international motorsports business M-Sport UK, so attendees could experience a successful business outside farming and explore how different sectors deal with pressure, uncertainty and decision making. The group toured the facility and took part in discussions on stress management, leadership and resilience. Guest speakers included Cumbrian dairy farmer Robert Craig, who shared his experience of building a progressive and sustainable dairy business, alongside adventurer, author and charity founder Alex Staniforth, who spoke about overcoming extreme physical and mental challenges. Young Dairy Leaders will run a series of events in 2026 and is for First Milk members looking for relevant learning to support both business performance and personal growth, with a strong sense of community sitting at its heart. Lee Truelove, Head of Regenerative Farming at First Milk, said: “We are not building a training course. We are building the community, the confidence and the competence the next generation of regenerative farmers needs to thrive." Nestlé and First Milk believe Young Dairy Leaders come at a critical time for the sector, as dairy businesses adapt to economic pressures and the transition towards more regenerative systems. Their ambition is to create a lasting network of skilled and confident farmers who can support one another and help shape a sustainable future for the industry. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3875/nestle-expands-dairy-development-footprint-through-dedicated-demonstration-hub.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3875/nestle-expands-dairy-development-footprint-through-dedicated-demonstration-hub.html Tue, 12 May 2026 18:14:33 +0530 Landmark partnership to strengthen dairy productivity, technical capacity, and value chain modernization The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development of Nigeria and Nestlé Nigeria Plc have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre in Abuja, marking a strategic step toward strengthening the country’s dairy sector through structured capacity building, technology transfer, and value chain development The initiative is designed to enhance technical competencies across Nigeria’s dairy ecosystem, improve on-farm productivity, and support the long-term transformation of the livestock sector through practical, skills-based training and demonstration-led learning models. The planned centre will be hosted at Nestlé’s Dairy Demonstration Farm in Paikon Kore, Gwagwalada, building on the company’s existing livestock development initiatives that focus on improving milk production systems, strengthening dairy cooperatives, and enhancing hygiene and herd management practices at farm level. The facility will serve as a national hub for dairy skills development, offering structured training programmes covering key areas such as animal health, breeding practices, feed optimization, milk hygiene, farm management, and post-production handling. The objective is to address long-standing structural constraints in Nigeria’s dairy sector, including low productivity, fragmented production systems, and limited technical capacity among smallholder producers. The partnership aligns with Nigeria’s broader livestock development priorities aimed at improving domestic milk production, enhancing food security, and reducing dependency on dairy imports through increased local capacity and improved supply chain efficiency. Speaking on the initiative, stakeholders emphasized that the collaboration represents a coordinated effort between government and the private sector to build a more resilient, productive, and commercially sustainable dairy industry. The centre is expected to play a key role in equipping farmers and sector participants with modern technical knowledge and practical tools required to improve output quality and operational efficiency. Nestlé Nigeria reiterated its long-standing commitment to dairy development in the country, highlighting its focus on strengthening local milk production systems through training, knowledge transfer, and support for cooperative-based collection models. The company noted that the new centre builds on its ongoing investments in livestock development aimed at improving productivity and supporting rural livelihoods. The Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre is expected to contribute to the emergence of a more structured and integrated dairy value chain in Nigeria, fostering improved standards, greater efficiency, and enhanced competitiveness within the domestic milk sector. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3841/indonesias-dairy-sector-strengthens-export-momentum-with-first-yogurt-shipment-to-vietnam.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3841/indonesias-dairy-sector-strengthens-export-momentum-with-first-yogurt-shipment-to-vietnam.html Thu, 07 May 2026 11:12:07 +0530 Rising global competitiveness, tighter compliance standards, and expanding Asian demand drive Indonesia’s processed dairy exports into a new growth phase Indonesia’s livestock and dairy industry has marked a significant export milestone with the shipment of processed dairy products to Vietnam, underscoring the sector’s improving global competitiveness and steady transition toward higher value-added agricultural exports. The Ministry of Agriculture described the development as clear evidence that Indonesian dairy products are increasingly aligned with international quality benchmarks, strengthening their position in regional trade. The latest shipment, led by PT Cisarua Mountain Dairy, includes Indonesia’s first export of yogurt to Vietnam, valued at approximately $65,000. The consignment was dispatched from Bogor, West Java, reflecting coordinated execution between industry players and regulatory authorities to ensure export readiness and compliance. Officials noted that the expansion of dairy exports is closely linked to strengthened food safety systems, veterinary supervision, and harmonisation of standards with importing countries. These mechanisms have been central to enabling Indonesia’s gradual entry into more demanding international markets, particularly within Asia. Between 2023 and 2026, Indonesia’s cumulative veterinary-certified dairy and processed livestock product exports exceeded 11.9 million kilograms, with a total value of about $15.3 million. Export destinations have expanded steadily to include Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, and now Vietnam, with the Philippines remaining the largest market to date. Industry stakeholders highlighted that export growth is also supporting domestic market stability by improving absorption of fresh milk supply, thereby contributing to more stable farm-gate prices and better income security for dairy farmers. For processors, expanding export channels is strengthening confidence in scaling production and diversifying product lines. The Ministry of Agriculture has framed the Vietnam entry as part of a broader structural shift toward export-led growth in Indonesia’s dairy sector, where compliance, product quality, and market diversification are increasingly central to industry strategy. Continued government facilitation, including certification support and market access negotiations, is expected to play a key role in sustaining this momentum. Overall, Indonesia’s dairy export trajectory reflects a dual transformation: deeper integration into regional value chains and a gradual elevation of its processed food industry into more competitive international markets. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3794/novonesis-launches-bovacillus-for-dairy-farmers-amid-rising-feed-costs.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3794/novonesis-launches-bovacillus-for-dairy-farmers-amid-rising-feed-costs.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:19:27 +0530 The feed-stable probiotic can withstand temperatures up to 95°C and be used across multiple feed formats Novonesis has launched what it describes as Europe’s first Bacillus probiotic designed for lactating dairy cows, targeting higher milk productivity and feed efficiency at a time when dairy farmers are grappling with rising input costs and tighter margins. The product, branded as Bovacillus, is positioned as a feed-stable probiotic solution that supports both animal health and dairy farm profitability without requiring changes in feed systems or farm operations. The launch comes as feed costs continue to account for nearly 60–70 per cent of total milk production expenses globally, increasing pressure on dairy producers to improve nutritional efficiency and herd productivity. Novonesis said Bovacillus works through dual action in both the rumen and intestines, supporting gut health, fibre digestion and feed conversion efficiency. The company said the probiotic helps cows extract more energy from feed for milk production rather than using energy to combat harmful bacteria. According to the company, the product can increase milk production by around one kilogram per cow per day, while also improving milk composition through higher protein, fat, and lactose output. The company said the probiotic improves feed efficiency by 3.7 per cent, allowing more milk output from the same quantity of feed, an increasingly important metric as feed inflation continues to affect dairy economics. Bovacillus has been developed in a heat-stable format capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 95°C, enabling use across multiple feed applications including pellets, premixes, mineral blocks, mash feed, liquid feed, and total mixed rations. Novonesis said the product has already been supported by five years of commercial usage and approximately 1.5 million users globally before its European launch. The company also highlighted scientific validation behind the product, stating that Bovacillus has been evaluated through nine peer-reviewed publications and 12 mode-of-action studies. The launch reflects growing investment by animal nutrition companies in biological and microbiome-based solutions aimed at improving livestock productivity while reducing resource intensity and supporting sustainability targets in agriculture. Industry analysts say feed-efficiency products are gaining traction globally as dairy producers seek technologies that can improve milk yield, animal health, and operational efficiency amid volatile commodity prices and increasing environmental scrutiny. With dairy producers under pressure to balance productivity, profitability, and sustainability goals, companies are increasingly positioning probiotics and biosolutions as alternatives to traditional feed additives and performance enhancers. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3776/ever-ag-bets-on-agentic-ai-with-everett-launch.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3776/ever-ag-bets-on-agentic-ai-with-everett-launch.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:47:39 +0530 New decision engine transforms data into automated workflows across the agri supply chain Ever.Ag has unveiled Everett, an agentic AI-powered “Ag Decision Engine” designed to transform how agricultural and food processing businesses convert data into real-time decisions across the supply chain. Introduced at the American Dairy Products Institute Annual Conference in Chicago, Everett represents a significant evolution in agricultural technology—moving beyond analytics dashboards to autonomous, workflow-driven decision systems embedded directly within the software platforms companies already use. From Data to Decisions Everett is built to connect fragmented datasets across operations—production, procurement, transportation, processing, and markets—and translate them into actionable decisions. Unlike traditional tools that surface insights, Everett actively orchestrates workflows, enabling agricultural businesses to respond faster to changing conditions across complex supply chains. The platform is the culmination of Ever.Ag’s multi-year investment in AI and data science, including the acquisition of Austin Data Labs in 2023, a team known for pioneering AI applications in global food and agriculture systems. Dairy First, Broader Rollout Ahead The initial rollout targets dairy processors, a segment where Ever.Ag has an established footprint. Everett capabilities are being embedded into key products such as cheese yield optimization, transportation optimization, and sales and operations planning (S&OP), enabling operators to make context-aware, real-time decisions within their existing workflows. By integrating intelligence directly into operational tools, Everett delivers a critical advantage: deep contextual understanding of products, processes, and performance drivers, reducing the gap between insight and execution. A New Layer of Intelligence Across the Supply Chain Everett is designed to operate across the full agricultural value chain, leveraging Ever.Ag’s position as a technology provider spanning production through markets and risk management. The system continuously evolves, improving performance and decision accuracy as it processes more data and user interactions. This “learning system” approach positions Everett not just as a tool, but as an adaptive intelligence layer capable of scaling across diverse agricultural segments. Continuous Deployment Model The launch marks the beginning of an ongoing rollout rather than a one-time release. Ever.Ag plans to expand Everett’s capabilities across additional sectors, including livestock, animal protein, and broader agribusiness operations, with new features expected in the coming months. Redefining Ag-Tech’s Next Phase As agriculture grapples with rising complexity—from volatile markets to operational inefficiencies—the industry is shifting toward decision-centric technologies that can act, not just analyze. Everett signals that transition, embedding AI directly into the operational core of agricultural enterprises. With this launch, Ever.Ag is positioning itself at the forefront of a new wave in ag-tech—where agentic AI systems drive faster, smarter, and more integrated decision-making across the global food supply chain. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3661/australias-terra-firma-secures-western-district-landholding-for-a-550m-regional-development.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3661/australias-terra-firma-secures-western-district-landholding-for-a-550m-regional-development.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:27:45 +0530 Terra Firma secures 82.15ha Hamilton site in multi-million Western District transaction, underpinning its $550M+ integrated protein infrastructure development. Australia's Terra Firma Equity Limited announced it has secured a strategically located 82.15-hectare freehold industrial landholding at 8525 Henty Highway, Hamilton, Victoria, establishing the foundation for its flagship infrastructure development, Project Linear Spine – Hamilton Food Park. The acquisition represents a significant private multi-million dollar transaction in Victoria’s Western District, reinforcing the region’s role as a cornerstone of Australia’s agricultural and industrial economy. Hamilton Food Park will be developed as a $550+ million, single-stage, Tier-1 integrated protein processing and export precinct, designed to operate at industrial scale and position Victoria at the forefront of global protein manufacturing. Upon completion, the facility is expected to deliver approximately 1,200 head of beef per day and up to 15,000 smallstock per day, supported by fully integrated value-added manufacturing, advanced cold-chain systems, and export-ready logistics infrastructure. At the core of the development is Terra Firma’s 400-metre Linear Spine, a next-generation processing system engineered for continuous, high-efficiency production. Operating on a unidirectional clean-to-dirty flow, the facility is designed to eliminate cross-contamination risk while enabling seamless throughput across all stages of production. The system is capable of delivering the full spectrum of processing activities, including live animal handling, primary despatch, dehiding, evisceration, carcass splitting, deboning, trimming, meat preparation, portioning, value adding, further processing, packing, and labeling. This integrated design establishes a new benchmark for food safety, biosecurity, traceability, and industrial performance. Hamilton Food Park has been designed as a modern, ESG-aligned industrial platform, incorporating advanced cross-contamination controls, integrated water management systems including Clean-In-Place (CIP) and recycling infrastructure, and waste-to-energy and co-product utilisation systems that convert organic waste streams into usable energy. Centralised infrastructure will support energy, water, waste, and digital integration, delivering a low-waste, resource-efficient operating environment. Located in Victoria’s Western District, one of Australia’s most productive livestock regions, the site provides direct access to high-density cattle and smallstock supply, established saleyards, and regional producer networks. Positioned on the Henty Highway, a key arterial freight corridor, the site offers strong connectivity to interstate logistics routes and export infrastructure, including the Port of Portland and Melbourne. The landholding is zoned Industrial 2 (IN2Z), supporting large-scale industrial development. Hamilton Food Park is expected to become one of the most significant regional industrial developments in Victoria, supporting more than 2,000 direct jobs, alongside substantial indirect employment across agriculture, transport, and regional services. The project is expected to drive increased demand for Victorian livestock producers while contributing to long-term regional economic growth. The development aligns with structural changes across the Australian protein sector, including the transition away from live sheep exports by 2028 and the increasing focus on domestic processing, boxed meat exports, and value-added production. Hamilton Food Park is designed to support this transition while strengthening Australia’s global competitiveness. Phillippe Barros, Founder and Chairman of Terra Firma Equity Limited, said: “This is a defining investment in Victoria’s Western District, reinforcing the region’s role as a powerhouse of Australia’s agricultural economy. Hamilton Food Park represents the next generation of protein infrastructure — built for scale, efficiency, and global competitiveness. We are investing in sovereign capability, regional jobs, and long-term supply chain strength.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3635/malaysia-achieves-historic-milestone-in-dairy-exports-to-singapore.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3635/malaysia-achieves-historic-milestone-in-dairy-exports-to-singapore.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:33:43 +0530 F&N AgriValley Flags Off First Bulk Fresh Milk Shipment, Strengthening Regional Food Security and Modern Agriculture In a groundbreaking move for Malaysia's dairy industry, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (F&NHB) has launched its first-ever bulk fresh milk export from F&N AgriValley in Gemas to Singapore. This historic achievement marks Malaysia's debut in exporting locally produced bulk fresh milk, underscoring the nation's growing expertise in large-scale, modern dairy farming and its commitment to bolstering food security through increased domestic production. The milestone event was officiated by Datuk Seri Isham Ishak, Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, alongside key representatives including Datuk Dr Mohd Noor Hisham Mohd Haron, Director General of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS); Mohamad Shaffie Hassan, Director General of Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS); Dr Nurul Ain Ahmad, DVS Director of Negeri Sembilan; and Datuk Raffiq Md Ariff, Director of F&N AgriValley. The Ministry and its agencies have been instrumental in supporting this initiative. DVS provided technical expertise, advisory support, and facilitated regulatory processes to ensure export readiness, while MAQIS ensured best practices in cattle management, including quarantine preparations, certification, and export permits. At the state level, DVS and MAQIS Negeri Sembilan played a crucial role in the safe transfer of cattle to F&N AgriValley and in supporting daily dairy operations and vaccination programs to maintain cattle health. Isham remarked, “This milestone is a significant step for Malaysia’s dairy industry, showcasing our capability to meet international standards in modern agriculture. Through strong public-private collaboration, Malaysia is well-positioned to become a key regional player in high-quality dairy production, advancing our national food security agenda.” The first shipment involved two specialized export trucks carrying 40,000 litres of 100% fresh milk from Gemas to F&N Foods Pte Ltd (F&NF) in Singapore. Siew Peng Yim, Managing Director of F&NF, noted, “With fresh milk transported within hours and processed within 24 hours of milking, this streamlined process ensures optimal freshness and quality for consumers in Singapore.” Datuk Raffiq emphasized F&N AgriValley's integrated and sustainable farming approach, stating, “Our high-quality feed and advanced practices deliver unmatched freshness and quality. This export is part of our journey toward food self-sufficiency and becoming a net exporter of fresh milk. It builds on our earlier success in exporting Bear Brand Sterilised Milk to Cambodia, made from milk sourced and processed at our Gemas and Pulau Indah facilities.” F&N AgriValley’s freestall barns, equipped with intelligent environmental control systems, prioritize cattle comfort and welfare. The farm’s rotary milk parlours and closed-system processes ensure milk remains untouched until it reaches the container filling station. Rigorous quality control checks, from raw materials to bulk export, guarantee full compliance with Singapore Food Agency standards. This initiative highlights Malaysia’s rising potential as a regional leader in sustainable, high-quality dairy production. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3592/biomerieux-launches-smartbiome-to-help-food-manufacturers-analyze-spoilage-and-maintain-product-quality.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3592/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/5/3509/from-additives-to-spices-cac48-redraws-rules-of-global-food-trade.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3509/from-additives-to-spices-cac48-redraws-rules-of-global-food-trade.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:50:16 +0530 Codex and FAO officials detail how updated standards aim to protect consumers without triggering disproportionate trade disruption for export-dependent economies In an exclusive Agrospectrum and NUFFOODS Spectrum interview with global food-standards leaders — Sarah Cahill, Codex Secretary; Lingping Zhang, Food Standards Officer, Codex Secretariat; Markus Lipp, Senior Food Safety Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); Gracia Brisco, Food Standards Officer, Codex Secretariat; and Hilde Kruse, Senior Food Standards Officer, Codex Secretariat — CAC48 emerges as a decisive moment for Codex amid rising geopolitical fragmentation. The experts reaffirm Codex’s science-based, consensus-driven mandate, which shaped major reforms including additive reviews, aflatoxin updates, pesticide-residue reference guidelines and new maximum lead levels for spices. They underline how improved Codes of Practice, surveillance support and harmonised quality parameters enable consumer protection while minimising trade disruption for export-reliant economies. Looking ahead, they highlight the Codex Strategic Plan 2026–2031, which places digital traceability, climate-risk foresight, and advanced analytical technologies at the core of modernising global food safety governance. Edited excerpts; Codex at a Geopolitical Crossroads The 48th Session saw critical standards adopted across additives, contaminants, and fresh-produce quality. At a time when food systems face geopolitical fragmentation, supply-chain shocks, and rising protectionism, how does Codex ensure these standards remain science-led, globally harmonized, and insulated from political pressure? The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is a Member-driven body with its commitment to a science-based approach to standard setting enshrined in its procedures. Its work is guided by its strategic goals, and its core values of collaboration, inclusiveness, consensus building and transparency. Codex texts are the benchmark for food safety under the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and are relevant to the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) where WTO members refer to harmonization with international standards such as the Codex Alimentarius for food-related issues such as labelling. Codex standards play an important role in addressing specific trade concerns or for dispute settlement cases. Wherever you are, whatever you do, safe food is an everyday need. And it is a global commodity. These aspects are integral to every discussion in the Codex Alimentarius Commission. “Together” was also the theme of CAC48, which served to highlight that when it comes to food safety and quality it is only by working together that we can effectively and efficiently ensure food is safe and of good quality.  The GSFA Overhaul: Science, Safety, and Consumer Trust More than 500 food additive provisions were reviewed, leading to revocations and new inclusions. What principles guided the reassessment—particularly for colourants like annatto extracts—and how does FAO ensure regulators and industry transition smoothly to these updated provisions without disrupting product availability or trade flows? All Codex work is conducted following approval by CAC. Thus, the decision for reassessment was taken by Members. In the case of annatto extracts, this decision was based on: The need to align the General standard for food additives with relevant sections of commodity standards. In this case, for example, there was a need to align with the Standard for fermented milks, which does not provide for the addition of annatto extracts in plain milk. Codex texts are developed through consensus by all its Members in a deliberate manner that often spans a timeframe of several years. The national Codex contact points serve as a primary node to disseminate all applicable information to national stakeholders. In addition, FAO provides support when requested by Member Countries to strengthen national Codex structures, thereby enhancing national capabilities in disseminating all relevant Codex texts to national stakeholders. Aflatoxins in Peanuts: New Science, New Responsibilities The revised Code of Practice on aflatoxins integrates updated agronomic science, maturity-stage tables, and roasting effects. How will FAO help producing countries—especially smallholder-dependent economies—translate these best practices into field-level change? Are new surveillance, extension, or capacity-building mechanisms planned? FAO stays ready to support its members needs and will respond to requests by its members for additional capacity building measures correspondingly. FAO and Codex furthermore have published numerous guidance documents, codes of practice and related texts that is publicly available, ready to be used by any other organization that would like to use this information in order to support producers of peanuts. Lead Limits in Spices: Balancing Public Health and Trade facilitation With new maximum levels now set for dried bark (cinnamon) and culinary herbs, exporting nations such as —India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia—face compliance pressure. How does Codex balance the dual mandate of protecting consumers health while ensuring fair practices in trade, in this case, preventing trade disruptions for economies reliant on spice exports? The mandate to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in the food trade is the statutory purpose of CAC. This means that, when it comes to food safety standards such as maximum levels for contaminants in foods, CAC will not establish more stringent measures than necessary to protect consumers health so that the measures themselves do not become a technical barrier to trade which may then translate in trade disruption that may impact economic growth and ultimately food security.   Although spices and culinary herbs are consumed in small amounts, as opposed to other foods, it remains important to assess the safety of lead levels in these foods due to the impact of lead toxicity on human health that may include neurodevelopmental effects such as decreases in Intelligence Quota (IQ) and attention span in children, impaired renal function, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, impaired fertility, and adverse pregnancy outcomes and therefore the ALARA continued to apply when CCCF discusses risk management considerations related to health and trade so that while ensuring the safety of the food, this does not imply high rejections rate of lot consignments, at import control point. CCCF does provide support to Codex Members to enable them to comply with MLs, by developing codes of practice, a compendium of risk management measures and practices to assist in reducing food contamination, in this case CAC40 adopted in 2017 the Code of practice for the prevention and reduction of mycotoxins in spices (CXC 78-2017). FAO does have a role to play in assisting countries with the implementation of the CoP, helping them to identify specific risk management measures that may not be included in the CoP, as they are usually overarching texts, that can complement the measures applicable worldwide that are described in these CoPs. The Codex Alimentarius Commission has now adopted MLs for lead in spices and culinary herbs, specifically, dried bark (cinnamon) and dried culinary herbs. The MLs are 2.5 mg/kg for lead in spices, dried bark and 2.0 mg/kg for lead in culinary herbs, dried and will now be added to the General Standard for contaminants and toxins in food and feed (CXS 193-1995).  Pesticide Reference Materials: A Quiet but Critical Reform The guidelines allowing extended use of pesticide reference materials beyond labelled expiry dates could significantly reduce laboratory costs and waste. What drove this reform? And how does FAO envision it strengthening residue monitoring systems in low- and middle-income countries where testing infrastructure remains limited? Pesticide residues in food are a subject of particular concern for consumers and in the food trade. To ensure the safety of food, the regulation of pesticide use, and relevant residues, must be enforced and guaranteed. Part of the process of testing for pesticide residues relies on laboratories being able to access what are known as reference materials, or RMs. But these are costly and sold with 2-to-5-year short-term expiry dates, though there is no requirement to find maximum shelf life. This can force laboratories to buy new RMs more frequently than potentially necessary. This leads to additional work and additional costs, and that can hinder how much testing can be done.  The Codex Alimentarius Commission has now adopted guidelines that provide a scientifically sound framework to monitor the purity and stability of reference materials under defined conditions, which, if implemented correctly, may allow continued use of RMs beyond their expiry date - where purity remains within acceptable limits. This reduces recurring costs, minimizes waste, and ensures confidence in the reliability of pesticide residue analysis.  The work on the development of guidelines for monitoring the purity and stability of reference materials of pesticides during prolonged storage commenced at CCPR51 in 2019, when some delegations expressed concerns regarding the limitation of the use of reference materials beyond the expiry date, leading to significant recurring costs for laboratories. As chair of the electronic working group (EWG), India led the work to develop these guidelines. FAO stays ready to support its members needs and will respond to requests by its members for additional capacity building measures correspondingly.  Read more about this work in the 2025 edition of the CODEX magazine   Standard for Fresh Dates: Trade Enablement for Climate-Stressed Regions The new standard comes after a decade of negotiations and is deeply important for date-producing regions across the Middle East and North Africa. How will harmonized quality parameters—size, colour, uniformity, defects—reshape global trade? Can such standards help climate-stressed producers secure better prices in high-value retail markets ? By adopting the new Standard for fresh dates, Codex Members now have an international reference that provides the baseline for international trade of this commodity upon which trading partners can agree on additional quality provisions based on their consumers’ preferences. For producing countries, this opens up trade possibilities across the globe, which, in many cases, will support the livelihoods of small producers, bolster economies and provide a safe, good quality product for consumers worldwide. Castilla Lulo (Naranjilla): Regional Standards as a Strategic Tool This new regional standard reflects the fruit’s cultural importance and emerging trade value in Latin America. What criteria does Codex use to decide when a product merits a regional rather than global standard? And do regional standards serve as testbeds for potential future global adoption? When considering new work proposed by FAO/WHO regional coordinating committees, CAC considers, amongst other things, whether the new work is justified on the grounds that the product in question is significantly traded intraregionally and that there is no significant trade between or within other regions When a commodity for which there is a regional standard, sees increased trade at a global level, the coordinating committee concerned, or a Member, can propose extension of the territorial application of the standard. This involves new work, which has to be approved by CAC. CAC48 approved, for example, new work on converting the Regional standard for laver products (Asia) to a worldwide standard, work that will be carried out by the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (CCFFP). The Next Frontier: Modernizing Codex for a New Era of Food Risks From AI-driven food systems to precision fermentation, novel ingredients, and climate-linked contaminants, food safety risks are evolving faster than many national regulatory systems. What are FAO’s top priorities for modernizing Codex over the next decade? How will future standards incorporate digital traceability, climate risk modelling, and new analytical technologies? FAO is a parent organization of Codex, together with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, work prioritization in Codex is the remit of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. CAC47 adopted the Codex strategic plan 2026–2031 and CAC48 its monitoring framework. The purpose of the Codex strategic plan and its renewal and renegotiation every five years is to ensure that Codex work is aimed at achieving the most appropriate objectives. FAO has a very long-standing tradition to inform the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its subsidiary bodies with all relevant information to facilitate forward looking workplanning. FAO continues to offer its support to all its members and the members of the Codex Alimentarius Commission to assist in national capacity building activities to strengthen food control systems, food safety governance and all related aspects. The new strategic plan has as its first Strategic Goal to: Respond to Members’ needs for protecting the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in the food trade in an evolving global landscape, by developing science-based standards and related texts 1.1 Foresight and horizon-scanning activities are used to support the identification of issues likely to impact food safety, quality and trade. 1.2 Scientific advice that addresses the needs identified by CAC and its subsidiary bodies is primarily provided by FAO and WHO and their joint scientific advisory bodies, informed by globally representative data and appropriate international expertise and methodology. 1.3 Scientific advice is used by CAC and subsidiary bodies in line with Codex risk analysis principles. 1.4 Codex standards and related texts are developed, reviewed and adopted in a timely, transparent and inclusive manner. Thus, with reference to FAO’s foresight programme ( https://www.fao.org/food-safety/scientific-advice/foresight/en/ ), Codex will aim to keep ahead of emerging trends Codex work is already addressing some of the key emerging issues and adapting based on Members’ priorities: Digital traceability is already a key topic of discussion in the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS), and work is ongoing to develop texts for the digitalization of national food control systems. CAC47 adopted the Codex Committee on Food Labelling’s (CCFL’s) Guidelines on the provision of food information for pre-packaged foods to be offered via e-commerce New food sources and production systems have been discussed extensively in Codex in recent years. In this context several areas of new work are under discussion which will help define how codex addresses this emerging area moving forward. Changing climate is also impacting food safety and this is also impacting the standard setting work of Codex. For example, the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF) elaborated and CAC47 adopted the Code of practice for the prevention or reduction of ciguatera poisoning, in response to the evolving nature of this issue, which is related to climate factors. The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene developed and CAC46 adopted Guidelines for the safe use and reuse of water in food production and processing in response to Members concerns about the need to ensure that in the context of water resource challenges, the safety of food was not negatively impacted. There is a continued emphasis, particularly within CCCF, on the issue of mycotoxins, the threat of which is evolving and possibly expanding as climate factors change. —---- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3359/sgs-and-yili-group-sign-global-agreement-to-advance-dairy-quality-and-sustainability.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3359/sgs-and-yili-group-sign-global-agreement-to-advance-dairy-quality-and-sustainability.html Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:47:43 +0530 Global standardization across dairy production, safety, sustainability and innovation SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has signed a global cooperation agreement with Yili Group, one of the world’s top five dairy enterprises. This partnership promotes full-chain mutual trust and global standardization across dairy production, safety, sustainability and innovation. The partnership will deliver integrated solutions, including: • Safety and nutrition – comprehensive testing, inspection, certification, training and consultancy• Laboratory empowerment – specialized training and consultancy• Joint zero-carbon initiatives – carbon reduction services including audits and certification• Digital integration – linking SGS and Yili systems for seamless testing and data exchange This collaboration underscores SGS’s commitment to helping companies enhance product quality, sustainability and operational efficiency. Yili Group is one of the world’s top five dairy companies, Asia’s leading dairy producer for twelve consecutive years and China’s largest dairy enterprise. With a comprehensive product portfolio, Yili is recognized for superior quality, integrated services, and a strong commitment to sustainable development. The company has built partnerships with over 2,000 organizations across six continents and 39 countries and operates 15 R&D innovation centers and 81 production bases worldwide. Its products are sold in more than 60 countries and regions. The partners are commited to forage cultivation, milk supply quality, sustainable manufacturing and product innovation, strengthening SGS’s understanding of China’s high-quality dairy sector. Charles Ly Wa Hoi, SGS, said: “As a globally trusted leader in quality and integrity, SGS will play a pivotal role in advancing Yili’s global development strategy of ‘Comprehensive Value Leadership.’ We look forward to working together to build a sustainable future for healthy food.” Liu Dapeng, Yili Group, added: “The belief that ‘Yili means quality’ is deeply embedded in our corporate culture. Our long-standing partnership with SGS in food safety reflects this commitment. Today’s agreement is a promise to global consumers – Yili and SGS will jointly demonstrate the quality and reliability of China’s dairy industry to the world.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3323/singapore-scientists-develop-safer-and-more-sustainable-antimicrobials-to-prevent-infection-of-cow-udders.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3323/singapore-scientists-develop-safer-and-more-sustainable-antimicrobials-to-prevent-infection-of-cow-udders.html Mon, 13 Oct 2025 11:20:35 +0530 NTU Singapore and SMART scientists develop new antimicrobial compounds A team of international researchers in Singapore has developed a groundbreaking alternative to antibiotics, offering a novel approach to preventing bacterial infections. In a preliminary farm trial, these innovative antimicrobial compounds were applied to cow teats, successfully preventing udder infections after exposure to bacteria. The study, conducted by researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), in collaboration with the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Interdisciplinary Research Group at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), highlights a promising step forward in combating antimicrobial resistance. When cattle udders get infected, the antibiotics used to treat them often end up in their milk in high concentrations for some time, so the milk cannot be consumed or sold under existing rules. Bacteria resistant to such antibiotic treatments have surfaced too. The NTU-led scientists realised that these challenges in the dairy business could be addressed with novel compounds called “oligoimidazolium carbon acids” (OIMs) that they initially developed as alternatives to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They found that OIMs kill bacteria in a new way, unlike traditional “cationic” antimicrobials studied now as antibiotic substitutes. Parts of the OIMs convert into structures called carbenes, which lets them slip past the bacteria’s protective membranes quickly to damage their DNA and kill them. This killing method is more potent than for typical cationic antimicrobials. So, lower doses of OIMs are needed, which reduces the chance of side effects. “Our study has unveiled an alternative class of potent antimicrobial compounds that could be used in the agriculture industry to combat multi-drug-resistant bacteria that cause bovine mastitis,” said Professor Mary Chan, one of the co-leads of the research from NTU Singapore’s School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, as well as a Principal Investigator at SMART AMR. “The compounds are also promising as they did not cause significant adverse effects in cattle in our tests. They didn’t spoil the cows’ milk nor make it unsafe for consumption as well.” The new compounds have since attracted interest from several agricultural companies in Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and New Zealand. The businesses are keen as they are seeking substitutes that are safer and more environmentally friendly than existing compounds in preventing the infection of cow teats. Professor Paula Hammond, Institute Professor and Executive Vice Provost at MIT and Principal Investigator at SMART AMR, who is one of the co-authors of the research, said: “With the success of our initial study in both the laboratory and in the field, we are now planning to work closely with industry partners to scale up and do larger trials in dairy cattle, with the aim of commercialising the novel antimicrobial compounds.” Professor Kevin Pethe, the study’s other co-lead from NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and Principal Investigator at SMART AMR, noted that the new compounds are also very effective in killing multi-drug-resistant bacteria in mice at doses that were not noticeably harmful to the rodents in the team’s study. “This opens the way for the compounds to be further developed and optimised for other therapeutic applications in the biomedical field in the future,” he said. The dairy industry has been plagued by a persistent global problem for decades – bacterial infection of cow udders that significantly reduces milk production. The condition, known as bovine mastitis, is estimated to cause annual global losses of US$22 billion (S$28 billion). While antibiotics have been used to treat the infection in dairy cattle, there are issues such as rising antibiotic resistance and concerns around milk contamination from antibiotic residues. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3320/fonterra-and-biolumic-partner-to-bring-light-activated-seed-traits-to-new-zealand-dairy-systems.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3320/fonterra-and-biolumic-partner-to-bring-light-activated-seed-traits-to-new-zealand-dairy-systems.html Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:38:58 +0530 Breakthrough collaboration targets improved pasture performance, resilience, and climate-smart benefits BioLumic, a pioneer in seed trait innovation, has entered a multi-year partnership with global dairy co-op Fonterra to develop a new category of seed traits for pasture-based dairy systems — traits that program the plant’s genetic expression rather than alter its genetics. The partnership will deliver light-activated traits designed to improve the productivity and resilience of ryegrass, starting in New Zealand. “This partnership signals a new era for forage innovation to supercharge pasture-based dairy systems,” said Jeremy Hill, Chief Science and Technology Officer at Fonterra. “Together, BioLumic and Fonterra are aiming to set a new standard for forage performance—unlocking greater productivity with technology that’s readily scalable.” Supported by Fonterra’s Ki Tua Fund, the collaboration combines BioLumic’s proprietary xTraits™ technology with Fonterra’s deep farmer network and field validation expertise. Together, the two companies will accelerate the availability of practical, scalable solutions that address core productivity challenges in pasture. Tackling the Productivity Gap in Forage Innovation Pasture-based dairy systems are under increasing pressure to lift productivity while navigating rising costs, climate volatility, and regulatory constraints. Yet trait innovation in forage grass has failed to keep pace—constrained by the long timelines, high costs, and regulatory hurdles of breeding and biotech approaches. Meanwhile, greater reliance on supplementary feed increases input costs and complexity. “The xTraits Platform uses precise light signals to program beneficial traits into seeds – without altering their DNA. It’s a faster, natural alternative that works with the varieties farmers already trust,” said Dr. Jason Wargent, Founder and Chief Science Officer at BioLumic. “We’re committed to practical, farmer-focused solutions that unlock more from every hectare.” The initial focus is on productivity xTraits for ryegrass—targeted to enhance dry matter yield and metabolizable energy to improve forage performance, feed efficiency, and milk solids production. These traits can also be stacked with lipid-enhancing traits, which may help reduce methane emissions from enteric fermentation in cows, supporting more climate-smart dairy outcomes without impacting on-farm practices. Trait development is already underway in BioLumic’s controlled environment trials, where early results have been promising. Field trials in partnership with Fonterra will begin in 2026, with a commercial product launch targeted for 2028. BioLumic is partnering with leading seed companies to activate traits in proven ryegrass varieties, requiring no change to existing seed or farming systems. The partnership builds on BioLumic’s success activating xTraits™ across multiple crops, including corn, soybean and rice programs, where the company is working with seed partners to unlock productivity and sustainability gains. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3313/appier-and-vitadairy-forge-strategic-partnership-to-accelerate-ai-driven-digital-growth.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3313/appier-and-vitadairy-forge-strategic-partnership-to-accelerate-ai-driven-digital-growth.html Fri, 10 Oct 2025 10:58:00 +0530 Vietnam's dairy market was valued at USD 5.71 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 13.37 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 9.5% from 2025 to 2033. Appier, an AI-native SaaS company specializing in advanced AdTech and MarTech solutions, announced a strategic partnership with VitaDairy, Vietnam's leading immunity-focused dairy brand. The collaboration was launched with a project kick-off ceremony, marking the start of a joint journey to harness Appier's AI innovation in accelerating VitaDairy's digital growth and enhancing customer engagement across its diversified channels. According to IMARC Group, Vietnam's dairy market was valued at USD 5.71 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 13.37 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 9.5% from 2025 to 2033. Growth is fueled by rising health awareness, increasing disposable incomes, and stronger demand for nutritious products. Meanwhile, a 2024 report by MMA and Decision Lab found that 89% of Vietnamese businesses have adopted AI into their marketing strategies, with 78% reporting medium to high levels of integration. Key applications include chatbots, creative optimization and personalized recommendations, underscoring that AI-driven marketing is rapidly becoming standard practice in Vietnam. "VitaDairy's AI transformation marks a pivotal step in reinforcing our leadership in the health-driven, premium dairy sector. By unifying data and leveraging AI-driven insights to automate customer engagement, we are enhancing personalization while deepening consumer trust. Combined with our pioneering colostrum science, VitaDairy is uniquely positioned to capture the rising demand for functional, premium nutrition as the market continues to evolve and premiumize," said Phan Ngoc My, Chief Marketing Officer, VitaDairy. Vita Dairy's AI transformation: Unified data to empower seamless journeys VitaDairy is embarking on an ambitious AI transformation to elevate every aspect of customer engagement. By unifying data across multiple sources, the company is building a holistic view of its customers, laying a strong foundation for smarter and more strategic decision-making. Automating business intelligence will enable real-time insights, empowering teams to act with speed and precision. At the same time, integrating online and offline touchpoints will create a seamless customer journey, while AI agents will enhance service and sales with timely interactions and support. Complementing these initiatives, VitaDairy's Nutrition Advisor is set to evolve into a trusted digital companion, offering personalized guidance and enriching the way consumers access nutritional knowledge. Appier is supporting VitaDairy's transformation with a full-funnel Agentic AI marketing ecosystem that unifies touchpoints and empowers personalization at scale. Together, Agentic AI solutions empower VitaDairy to close the data loop and accelerate growth in Vietnam's premium dairy market. This partnership marks more than a technology adoption—it signals a shared vision to redefine how AI can shape the future of customer experience in Vietnam's dairy industry. By combining VitaDairy's pioneering nutritional expertise with Appier's AI-native innovations, both companies are poised to deliver not only business growth but also greater value to consumers, setting a new benchmark for intelligent, health-driven engagement in the region. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3292/angel-yeast-unveils-worlds-first-high-altitude-probiotic-production-facility.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3292/angel-yeast-unveils-worlds-first-high-altitude-probiotic-production-facility.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:58:34 +0530 Unlocking a new frontier in microbial innovation Angel Yeast announced that its subsidiary Xizang Angel Zhufeng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Angel Zhufeng), located on the Qing-Zang Plateau, has officially commenced operations at the world’s first high-altitude probiotic production facility. The state-of-the-art plant has completed its first shipment of the Bifidobacterium lactis XZ-BI36 probiotic powder. “Every stage of production is carried out in oxygen-free conditions—setting a new industry benchmark for quality and safety,” said He Hongchao, Assistant General Manager at Angel Zhufeng. “This first shipment also includes Lactiplantibacillus plantarum probiotic powder with viable counts in the trillions. In addition, the company has already achieved large-scale production of seven plateau–origin probiotic strains and more than ten compound formulations, establishing a comprehensive portfolio that includes high-altitude probiotic blends, fermentation cultures for food applications, and microecological feed additives.” The milestone reflects Angel Yeast’s ongoing commitment to scientific innovation and its deep expertise in microbial fermentation. By developing and cultivating strains sourced from extreme environments, the company is expanding the global diversity of probiotic ingredients. The facility features a fully integrated value chain—from strain collection and screening to full-scale production—driving growth in the premium probiotic ingredients sector while showcasing a sustainable approach that aligns advanced technology with local community development and environmental stewardship. “Xizang’s unique conditions—high altitude, low oxygen levels, cold temperatures, and intense ultraviolet exposure—have created a unique ecosystem rich in plateau-specific microbial resources,” noted Dr. Tan Yali, Deputy General Manager of the Industrial Innovation Technology Center at Angel Yeast. “The probiotic strains developed by Angel Zhufeng are primarily derived from sources including Xizang yak gut microbiota, traditional local fermented foods, and the intestinal flora of healthy individuals.” Dr. Tan’s research team has collected microbial samples from traditional fermented foods and local households, and has even ventured into the uninhabited areas of Ngari Prefecture at altitudes of up to 5,800 meters to study wild yaks. To date, the team has preserved more than 2,000 strains and filed 56 patent applications worldwide. In 2020, Angel Group established Xizang Angel Zhufeng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. in Shannan and launched its plateau probiotic initiative. Despite challenges related to material sourcing, logistics constraints, and harsh environmental conditions, the company completed construction of the production line in just one year. Since operations began in June 2025, Angel Zhufeng has formed partnerships with more than 30 distributors, reflecting strong market interest in its lineup of innovative probiotic products. The facility has also generated meaningful employment opportunities and skill development for the local community. Currently, 54 Xizang employees represent 76% of the workforce. In 2024 alone, more than 200 Xizang team members received professional training at Angel’s headquarters, while over 300 specialists in technology, project management, and marketing traveled to Xizang to support operations. The launch and operation of the Angel Zhufeng probiotic facility not only demonstrates the successful application of biotechnology under extreme environmental conditions but also serves as a model for integrating scientific innovation with corporate responsibility. By bringing extreme-environment strains to global markets, Angel Yeast is expanding access to more diverse and functional probiotic solutions, supporting sustainable growth and long-term innovation across the global nutrition industry. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3261/frieslandcampina-ingredients-expands-rd-capabilities-with-new-state-of-the-art-application-centre-in-singapore.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3261/frieslandcampina-ingredients-expands-rd-capabilities-with-new-state-of-the-art-application-centre-in-singapore.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 13:50:51 +0530 The company which recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Singapore's Health Promotion Board will serve as a strategic gateway to the evolving Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets with its advanced laboratories for developing functional foods FrieslandCampina Ingredients, a global leader in proteins and prebiotics, unveiled new application centre in Singapore, representing a 30% increase of R&D space in the city-state. Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the facility will serve as a strategic gateway to the evolving Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets, including Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. The expanded application centre not only reaffirms Singapore as an important regional headquarters for the company, it also enables the faster delivery of tailored ingredient solutions to help brands meet the region’s diverse and growing nutritional needs. Singapore is also home to other FrieslandCampina business groups, including FrieslandCampina Professional and FrieslandCampina Asia, underscoring the company’s long-term commitment to the market. Driving APAC-centric innovation With 4 in 5 consumers in APAC proactively taking nutritional supplements, growing demand in the region offers huge opportunity for consumer-focused application development. The new application centre strengthens FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ on-the-ground application and technical expertise in APAC in order to meet this need. Equipped with advanced laboratories for developing functional foods like yoghurts, bars, and supplements, the centre brings together specialist expertise in UHT processing, analytical testing, sensory science and packaging to accelerate application development and help customers bring innovations to the APAC market faster. While the company’s existing activities in Singapore focused primarily on infant and medical nutrition, the new facility will also add capabilities in high-demand areas – including performance & active nutrition and children’s nutrition. As such, it will enable partners to address emerging trends and co-create innovative applications such as yoghurt, functional beverages, snacks and supplements. Building an innovation ecosystem in the heart of Asia Pacific Since 2011, Singapore has been home to FrieslandCampina’s headquarters for the APAC region and its only development centre outside the Netherlands. This investment in an additional FrieslandCampina Ingredients application centre further establishes Singapore as a crucial part of the company’s innovation ecosystem. Beyond regional innovation, the new facility also reinforces FrieslandCampina’s commitment to creating new jobs, developing local skills, and supporting the nation’s health agenda. In addition to expanding its full-time workforce, the facility will also enable the company to collaborate with local Institutes of Higher Learning to nurture young talent – FrieslandCampina Ingredients has established a long-term internship programme with local universities, with three internships already offered under this initiative. The company has also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Health Promotion Board for the Eat, Drink, Shop Healthy initiative and has previously partnered with ActiveSG on the Nurture Kids pilot to promote healthy lifestyles among children. “The opening of our new application centre in Singapore marks a pivotal time for our business, demonstrating our commitment to the APAC market and the strategic importance we place on the region. The APAC market is changing rapidly. Consumers are prioritising daily health,emotional wellness and beauty-from-within. Our new application centre will help our customers succeed in this fast-moving and growing market by accelerating application development and enabling closer collaboration so we can navigate these exciting opportunities together" Tjalling Bekker, Regional Director APAC, FrieslandCampina Ingredients. “FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ new application centre is a valuable addition to our vibrant food and nutrition ecosystem. The facility will accelerate innovation through co-development efforts with customers to support health and well-being outcomes across all life stages. We look forward to seeing FrieslandCampina Ingredients work closely with industry partners to create nutritional solutions that unlock new business opportunities in the APAC region.” Melissa Guan, Vice President. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3150/baladna-algeria-secures-integrated-agri-industrial-project-with-an-initial-contract-worth-500m.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3150/baladna-algeria-secures-integrated-agri-industrial-project-with-an-initial-contract-worth-500m.html Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:00:41 +0530 A total investment of $3.5 billion is planned for the company's integrated agri-industrial project for powdered milk production in Algeria. Baladna has announced the signing of initial contracts valued over $500mn between Baladna Algeria and a group of Algerian and international suppliers and consultants in the capital, Algiers. The agreements are part of the first phase of the company’s integrated agri-industrial project for powdered milk production in Algeria, which represents a total investment of $3.5B. The Baladna Algeria project is considered one of the largest agri-industrial ventures in the world and the first of its kind in Algeria. Spanning 117,000 hectares, the project is being developed through a strategic partnership between Baladna Q.P.S.C. and the Algerian government, represented by the National Investment Fund. Ramez al-Khayyat, Board Member and Managing Director explained that the first phase includes land reclamation and construction work for two out of four farms, one out of two factories, and 700 of the planned 1,400 pivot irrigation units. He added that production is scheduled to begin before construction of the first phase is fully completed, with herd formation planned to start in 2026. On the Qatar Stock Exchange website, the company announced that these agreements mark the official launch of this strategic investment, which will enhance food security and reduce reliance on imports, which will benefit Algeria's economy. Baladna Algeria is a joint-stock Algerian company established through a partnership between a subsidiary of Baladna Q.P.S.C. and Algeria’s National Investment Fund. The signed contracts cover a wide range of critical sectors, including agricultural technologies, production lines, irrigation equipment, water well drilling, steel and metal structure supplies, in addition to consultancy services in project management, topographic surveying, soil analysis, and environmental impact studies. Among the key international suppliers and consultants are GEA (Germany), a leader in dairy processing and automated milking systems; Valmont (USA), specialised in water-efficient irrigation systems; UCC, a globally recognised contracting firm; and EHAF, a prominent engineering consultancy. Leading Algerian companies involved include Condor-Travocovia, RedMed Contracting, and EFORHYD, specialised in water well drilling. Moutaz al-Khayyat, Chairman of Baladna, stated that the signing of these initial contracts, which form a key part of the project’s first phase, marks a major milestone in what is considered one of the largest agri-industrial projects of its kind in the world. He added: "Today, we are taking a critical step in the execution of this integrated agri-industrial project for dairy and powdered milk production in Algeria, which aims to achieve self-sufficiency in one of the country’s most essential and widely consumed food products. We are proud to bring together top-tier global and national expertise through collaboration with leading companies from the US, Germany, Qatar, and Algeria. These combined efforts will ensure the project is delivered on schedule and according to the highest international standards — starting with field studies, soil and water analysis, construction, and the design and implementation of world-class irrigation networks and production lines." Focused on dairy cow farming and powdered milk production, the initiative is expected to supply 50% of Algeria’s national demand for powdered milk, supporting the country’s goal of achieving food self-sufficiency. In addition to dairy, the project will contribute to red meat supply and is expected to generate more than 5,000 job opportunities for the local workforce. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3125/yili-reinforces-its-footprints-into-australia-and-new-zealand-dairy-supply-chain.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/3125/yili-reinforces-its-footprints-into-australia-and-new-zealand-dairy-supply-chain.html Wed, 23 Jul 2025 09:59:25 +0530 Deepening presence in Australia with total investment and trade volume in Australia exceeding RMB 3 billion till date Yili's collaboration with Australia, initiated in 2016, has leveraged the country's premium raw material resources and wellestablished industrial system to expand partnerships across various sectors. These include raw material sourcing, dairy farming, dairy technology R&D, and nutritional health products. With a total investment and trade volume exceeding RMB 3 billion, Yili has fostered mutually beneficial development in the China-Australia supply chain and industrial cooperation. Liu Chunxi, Senior Executive President of Yili Group, Recently, the 8th AustraliaChina CEO Roundtable Meeting took place in Beijing, where Liu Chunxi, Senior Executive President of Yili Group, participated and delivered a speech. Liu highlighted that Australia is rich in highquality agricultural and pastoral resources, with extensive expertise in dairy cattle breeding, pasture management, and dairy product R&D and manufacturing. He also noted that China offers a stable and positive macroeconomic environment, a thriving health food consumption market, and leadership in digitalization and low-carbon technology applications. According to Liu, the industries of the two countries are highly complementary, presenting broad prospects for cooperation. In 2024, the ADP factory of Ausnutria, Yili's subsidiary in Australia, obtained a formula registration certificate, becoming the first Australian company granted approval for the full range of infant formula products. This milestone marks a significant breakthrough for Yili's operations in Australia and is expected to greatly enhance the global competitiveness of its infant formula offerings, offering superior quality assurance for maternal and infant health. Yili's Australian subsidiary, Nutrition Care, is a professional, pharmacy-grade nutrition brand. Its flagship product, NC Gastrointestinal Powder, has maintained the top position in China's adult gastrointestinal healthcare compound powder market for several consecutive years. Recently, its probiotic product, NC Seasonal Biotic, also achieved top-selling status among Australian probiotic brands for nasal health. Yili's Oceania production base, New Zealand In New Zealand, Yili's business has been steadily progressing. Over a decade of investment and development has allowed the company to establish a presence across the entire value chain, including dairy sourcing, R&D, manufacturing, and brand marketing. Yili operates six production facilities and offers a range of products such as liquid milk, milk powder, butter, cheese, cream, yogurt, lactoferrin, and bovine colostrum. The company has partnerships with over 400 local farms, making it the largest Chinese dairy investor in New Zealand in terms of both scale and scope of cooperation. This setup enhances Yili's role in the global supply chain and supports the dairy industry in the Australia-New Zealand region, creating a trans-Pacific dairy corridor. Yili remains committed to an open and collaborative approach, aiming to expand its global market presence through technological innovation and global resource integration, with the goal of providing consumers worldwide with high-quality health food and promoting sustainable industry development. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2985/philippines-reports-surge-in-milk-production-in-the-first-quarter-of-2025.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2985/philippines-reports-surge-in-milk-production-in-the-first-quarter-of-2025.html Mon, 02 Jun 2025 13:25:29 +0530 Establishes stock farms, proper training, and more efficient market linkages Philippines recognized the importance of dairy farmers, cooperatives, and industry stakeholders, calling them the backbone of the sector during the recent occasion of 2025 World Milk Day. He emphasized the Department’s aim to empower the farmers and help them evolve into agripreneurs with profitable and sustainable livelihoods. The Department of Agriculture through its attached corporation, the National Dairy Authority (DA-NDA) organized a dairy fair on May 30. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized the Department's goal of empowering farmers and helping them become agripreneurs with profit-making and sustainable enterprises. “The Marcos administration remains committed to transforming Philippine agriculture into a more modern, competitive, and sustainable engine for growth,” Sec. Tiu Laurel said. He stressed the dairy industry’s role in this transformation, noting the national target of reaching five percent milk sufficiency by 2028. He also announced progress in this effort, with DA-NDA nearing 2% sufficiency this year—up from just 1% in the past. “Through the DA-NDA and DA-Philippine Carabao Center, we’re investing in the increase of our herd, the establishment of stock farms, proper training, and more efficient market linkages to ensure that milk reaches every Filipino household,” Sec. Tiu Laurel said. DA-NDA Administrator Andaya expressed confidence in meeting the DA’s sufficiency goal. He shared recent milestones, stating that this year’s celebration is timely, given the industry’s continued growth. “Based on the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, we recorded 9.8 million liters of milk production in the first quarter of 2025—an 11% increase compared to the same period last year. Our herd inventory also grew by 2.9%, from 145,000 to 158,000 head, including cattle from PCC, NDA, and cooperatives. In our milk feeding program, which we implement with DepEd and DSWD, we reached nearly 350,000 students from January to February 2025,” Andaya said. Meanwhile, Mayor Joy Belmonte reaffirmed Quezon City’s support for the DA’s efforts to strengthen the local dairy sector. She highlighted the city’s commitment to ensuring proper nutrition for children, recognizing that adequate nourishment enables them to study well and achieve their dreams. Mayor Belmonte also highlighted local efforts to promote healthy eating habits, including the implementation of Quezon City Ordinance SP-2579, S-2017, which prohibits the sale and promotion of junk food and sugary drinks within 100 meters of schools. She added that the city is also promoting milk serving in school canteens. World Milk Day is observed annually on June 1 to recognize the dairy sector’s contributions to sustainable agriculture, economic development, and global health. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2914/vietnams-nutifood-and-australias-viplus-dairy-form-a-joint-venture-to-co-found-a-premium-milk-brand.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2914/vietnams-nutifood-and-australias-viplus-dairy-form-a-joint-venture-to-co-found-a-premium-milk-brand.html Fri, 16 May 2025 08:37:32 +0530 Strengthening the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Australia launches joint venture namely ViPlus Nutritional Australia Nutifood has officially signed a strategic partnership with ViPlus Dairy - an over 130-year-old dairy manufacturer from Gippsland, Australia - to establish an international joint venture namely ViPlus Nutritional Australia. This milestone marks a major step in Nutifood’s globalization journey, making it the first Vietnamese enterprise to directly co-found an Australian-standard premium dairy brand, GippsNature. Owned jointly by Nutifood and ViPlus Dairy, GippsNature is set to launch as an international premium nutritional brand embodying Australia’s “nature-first” philosophy. The signing ceremony has taken place at the Victoria Global Investment Centre in Melbourne, Australia, witnessed by government representatives from both countries. On the Australian side, Kevin Norman - Senior Global Engagement Manager, Australian Trade and Investment Commission; Huda Albanna - Strategic Advisor to the Commissioner, Victorian Government Trade and Investment Southeast Asia; Annie Jiang - Director of International Investment Asia & MENA at Invest Victoria attended. From Vietnam, Nghiem Xuan Hoa, Minister Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Viet Nam in Australia, also attended. Kevin Norman - Senior Global Engagement Manager, Australian Trade and Investment Commission stated, “The strategic outcomes that we anticipate will flow from this newly formed Joint Venture between ViPlus Dairy and Nutifood Vietnam, will only strengthen the trade ties between our two nations, both in commerce and in friendship”. Nghiem Xuan Hoa, Minister Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Viet Nam in Australia also praised the collaboration at the event: “As a strategic collaboration between two leading enterprises, the joint venture will bring practical benefits to consumers in both countries and contribute to strengthening the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Australia.” The partnership coincides with Nutifood’s 25th anniversary. In 2025, driven by a global vision, Nutifood officially enters its globalization phase by co-creating a premium dairy brand in Australia. The milestone underscores Nutifood’s innovation capacity and integration prowess, with its commitment to putting Vietnamese identity on the global dairy map. GippsNature’s initial product lineup will cater to a wide range of consumers across all life stages, from milk for children and adults to elderly, along with nutritional supplements. The brand is prioritized to be launched first in Vietnam in Q3/2025 before expanding globally. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2796/first-of-its-kind-chia-milk-is-pioneering-change-in-the-plant-based-milk-category.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2796/first-of-its-kind-chia-milk-is-pioneering-change-in-the-plant-based-milk-category.html Wed, 19 Mar 2025 13:22:54 +0530 A New Era of Plant-Based Innovation Benexia®, a global leader in chia-based innovations for over two decades, announces Seeds of Wellness® Chia Milk, the first plant-based milk made from whole chia seeds. With chia experts combining sustainability, nutrition, and versatility, this creamy, nutrient-rich milk alternative offers health-conscious consumers an unprecedented choice in plant-based milk alternatives. This new product is poised to elevate the plant-based milk category. It is available exclusively at Costco stores in California (LA region), Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Alaska, and Hawaii. The Seeds of Wellness Chia Milk is more than another plant-based milk alternative, it's challenging the status quo. Chia Milk from Seeds of Wellness stands apart from other plant-based milk options with its exceptional quality, health attributes, and environmental stewardship. Made by Chia Experts: Benexia, the parent company behind Seeds of Wellness, is a field-to-shelf chia ingredients specialist that is vertically integrated from chia agricultural production to final ingredient solutions and distribution. Naturally Crafted from Whole Chia Seeds: Seeds of Wellness Chia Milk features all the best parts of chia seeds - protein, fiber, omega-3 fats, and nutty flavor. Sustainably Produced: The company's chia farms rely exclusively on rainwater as a watering source and follow regenerative agriculture practices. Chia seed ingredients used in Seeds of Wellness Chia Milk are processed without water, solvents or enzymes, in a zero-waste, zero-water process. The final product only contains water as the main ingredient. Unparalleled Nutrition: Each 8-ounce serving delivers 740 mg of plant-based omega-3 fats, 4x more fiber than leading almond or oat milks, and 3x more protein than leading rice milks, with no added sugar.* Fortified with a good source of calcium and vitamin D, this Chia Milk delivers 'more' for only 25 calories per serving. Free From Major Allergens: Dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free. Sandra Gillot, CEO and Co-Founder of Benexia said "We looked at the best milk alternatives on the market and asked ourselves how we could elevate options for consumers. From seed to shelf, every aspect of Seeds of Wellness Chia Milk is designed with human and planet health in mind." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2782/nestle-rd-to-strengthen-local-capabilities-in-key-innovation-areas-in-singapore.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2782/nestle-rd-to-strengthen-local-capabilities-in-key-innovation-areas-in-singapore.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 08:03:12 +0530 Aims to drive innovation in key areas such as alternative proteins including hybrid plant/dairy and plant-based products, sustainable packaging and digital transformation. Nestlé Research & Development (R&D) will strengthen Singapore's local capabilities in key innovation areas with the support of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). In the face of global food insecurity and environmental challenges, Nestlé is focused on delivering great-tasting, affordable and nutritious food that is also sustainable. To strengthen its capabilities at the R&D Center in Singapore, Nestlé will commit resources to support various roles ranging from chefs to engineers and product developers. This will enable the company to drive innovation in key areas such as alternative proteins including hybrid plant/dairy and plant-based products, sustainable packaging and digital transformation. With the continued support of EDB and other government agencies, Nestlé R&D will also work with local enterprises, including start-ups and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), to co-innovate, evaluate and adopt emerging technologies for the next generation of sustainably produced products and ingredients as well as manufacturing solutions. These partnerships are key to driving relevant and fruitful innovation for the region. For example, the Nestlé R&D Center in Singapore partnered with KosmodeHealth, a local start-up to develop high protein and fibre noodles made from upcycled spent barley grains. This partnership was recognised with the “Most Transformational Collaboration” Award by the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce in 2023. Guglielmo Bonora, Head of Nestlé R&D Singapore, Nestlé said, “For over 40 years, our R&D Center in Singapore has played a key role in developing products and technologies for Southeast Asia and globally, for well-known Nestlé brands. Our ongoing partnership with the EDB underscores our commitment to contribute to making Singapore a recognised global hub for innovation and technology. Only with a thriving local business ecosystem and a core of competitive talent, can our R&D teams continue to drive science-based innovations that cater to local and regional consumers’ taste preferences and nutritional needs. ” Rajat Kumar Jain, Managing Director, Nestlé Singapore, "Nestlé first established its R&D Center in Singapore in 1980. The facility, also includes the Nestlé Quality Assurance Centre (NQAC). Situated in the heart of Southeast Asia, Singapore is well positioned to tap into the region’s rich culinary heritage and novel food trends to create innovative products in Asia, for Asia and beyond. The R&D Center complements our decades old presence in Singapore, enabling us to rapidly develop, test and roll out game-changing products, driving sustainable growth of our business in Singapore and beyond.” Melissa Guan, Acting Vice President & Head, Consumer, EDB said "We have witnessed Nestlé’s growth over the past four decades to become one of the largest R&D centres in Singapore. Nestlé R&D’s latest investment to build new future-forward capabilities in their workforce in areas such as innovation, digitalisation and sustainability.” Over the years, the Singapore R&D Center has contributed significantly to the innovation of many products across major brands for consumers in the region. For example, Nestlé experts recently developed a breakthrough sugar reduction technology that was rolled out for MILO beverages in Southeast Asia and beyond.  The Center has also developed new coffee experiences for both hot and cold use, as well as ice cream innovations that were launched both locally and globally for global brands like Nescafé, Starbucks, Blue Bottle Coffee, KitKat and MILO. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2681/angel-yeast-boosting-yeast-protein-production-at-baiyang-yichang-plant-in-china.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2681/angel-yeast-boosting-yeast-protein-production-at-baiyang-yichang-plant-in-china.html Mon, 20 Jan 2025 11:47:38 +0530 Sustainable protein development strategy to Meet the Growing Global Demand for Alternative Proteins Angel Yeast, a global leader in yeast manufacturing, has officially completed the topping out of the main plant for the industrial yeast protein production project at Baiyang Yichang, which will generate 11,000 tons of yeast protein annually. To develop new sustainable food products and alternative proteins globally, the company uses advanced fermentation technologies and biomanufacturing capabilities. Traditional protein production, from cereal and legume cultivation to dairy farming, is time-consuming and may struggle to meet future demands for quantity, quality, and sustainable supply. Therefore, there is an urgent need to innovate large-scale, low-cost, and high-quality protein production methods. Angel Yeast has achieved the breakthrough to extract proteins from yeast, only taking hours, boosting production efficiency significantly. To meet the growing market demands, it is expanding production capacity and the 11,000-ton production line is expected to be put into operation in 2025. Yeast protein boasts significant environmental advantages by effectively lowering dependence on land and water resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon dioxide emissions associated with producing yeast protein are approximately 1/20 of those from animal protein. AngeoPro by Angel Yeast has broadened the application of yeast protein significantly. The products range from protein bars, high-protein cereals and chips to yeast protein powder, cookies and alternative meats. "AngeoPro is boasting 80% higher protein content and a 96% protein utilization rate that surpasses nearly all plant-based proteins. It also provides the nine essential amino acids needed by the human body which account for 47% of total amino acids, while in comparison whey protein is 46% essential amino acids, while plant proteins are usually only 35 to 40% , making AngeoPro yeast protein a nutritionally advantaged and highly efficient source of high-quality protein," said Zhang Yan, assistant general manager of Angel Yeast and dean of the Angel Yeast Research Institute. Bruce Friedrich, founder and CEO of Good Food Institute, recently noted that, Asia-Pacific region's demand for meat is expected to account for 50 percent of the global total by 2050. He compared alt protein development to that of solar and electric vehicles a decade ago, which was not seen as a viable choice of energy transformation at that time but is now mainstream. With the costs of yeast protein coming down dramatically, the global and Asian markets are quickly responding to the trends and promoting the potential technologies. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2496/steeds-launches-revolutionary-multi-bottle-feeder-for-baby-animals.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2496/steeds-launches-revolutionary-multi-bottle-feeder-for-baby-animals.html Mon, 07 Oct 2024 11:12:08 +0530 Supporting Animal Caregivers with an Innovative Bottle Feeding Solution STEED’S is excited to announce the pre-launch of its Kickstarter campaign for the Baby Bottle Bed, a new product designed to facilitate the feeding of multiple baby animals simultaneously. STEED’S Baby Bottle Bed is an all-in-one feeding solution that allows caregivers to feed several baby animals at once. This product is designed with soft, cushioned materials to ensure the comfort and safety of the animals during feeding. The hands-free design makes it easy for caregivers to manage feeding times efficiently. Additionally, the Baby Bottle Bed is made from durable, easy-to-clean materials, ensuring a hygienic feeding environment. STEED'S Baby Bottle Bed addresses a common challenge faced by animal caregivers: the need to bottle feed multiple baby animals at the same time. Traditional feeding methods can be time-consuming and stressful, both for the caregiver and the animals. The Baby Bottle Bed simplifies this process, allowing for a more streamlined and stress-free feeding experience. This innovative product is particularly beneficial for animal shelters, rescue organizations, and breeders who often care for multiple young animals simultaneously. STEED’S is committed to providing innovative solutions that enhance the well-being of animals and support the dedicated individuals who care for them. The Baby Bottle Bed is just the beginning of our journey to develop products that make animal care easier and more efficient. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2486/baladna-signs-mou-with-algerian-national-investment-fund-for-baby-milk-project-and-dairy-milk-powder-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2486/baladna-signs-mou-with-algerian-national-investment-fund-for-baby-milk-project-and-dairy-milk-powder-production.html Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:05:29 +0530 The agreement, paves the way for the establishment of an integrated dairy and milk powder production project in southern Algeria, which will become one of the largest agricultural enterprises in the region. As part of strengthening cooperation between Qatar and Algeria in the agricultural and industrial sectors, Baladna Trading and Investment W.L.L., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Baladna Q.P.S.C., signed a shareholder agreement with the Algerian National Investment Fund. In a major development aimed at strengthening cooperation between Qatar and Algeria in the fields of agriculture and industry, Baladna Trading and Investment WLL, a subsidiary of Baladna QPSC, has entered into a shareholders’ agreement with the Algerian National Investment Fund. The agreement, paves the way for the establishment of an integrated dairy and milk powder production project in southern Algeria, which will become one of the largest agricultural enterprises in the region. In addition, Baladna signed a cooperation agreement with the Algerian Ministry of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production to study the feasibility of an infant milk production project. Additionally, Baladna Trading and Investment W.L.L. signed a cooperation agreement with the Algerian Ministry of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production to explore the establishment of an infant milk production project. This project, to be developed in partnership with the Algerian National Investment Fund, will complement the milk powder production project. The signing ceremonies were attended by Mr. Moutaz Mohamad Raslan AlKhayyat, Chairman of Baladna Q.P.S.C., and on the Algerian side by Minister of Finance Mr. Laaziz Fayed, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Mr. Youcef Chorfa, and Minister of Industry Mr. Ali Aoun, in addition to the Director of the Algerian National Investment Fund, Ms. Souad Assous, Director General of Agricultural Investment and Land, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, along with several officials from the relevant ministries. The integrated dairy and milk powder project aims to meet the growing demand for dairy and milk powderproducts in Algeria, with a focus on enhancing food security and supporting agricultural investments. The legal framework for the partnership has been established, with Baladna holding a 51% stake and the Algerian National Investment Fund holding 49% of the capital in the Algerian company that will be formed to execute the project. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2481/zoetis-and-danone-partners-to-pioneer-sustainable-innovation-in-dairy-farming-harnessing-the-power-of-genomics.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2481/zoetis-and-danone-partners-to-pioneer-sustainable-innovation-in-dairy-farming-harnessing-the-power-of-genomics.html Mon, 30 Sep 2024 11:15:05 +0530 The partnership aspires to positively impact the environment, increase cow longevity, improve farm resilience Zoetis and Danone recently announced a joint business development plan to drive sustainable practices on today’s dairy farms through the power of genetics for healthier cows. Combining Danone’s commitment to environmental stewardship with Zoetis’ expertise in animal genetics, the partnership aims to innovate the dairy industry’s approach to breeding for sustainability. The partnership aspires to positively impact the environment, increase cow longevity, improve farm resilience, and meet the increasing consumer demand for sustainably sourced dairy products. Visit ClarifidePlus.com to learn more about Zoetis' comprehensive portfolio of dairy genetic solutions. The plan between the two companies is intended to enable Danone to leverage Zoetis’ cutting-edge genetic technologies globally. The focus is on integrating sustainable practices into dairy genetics and selection, emphasizing animal well-being, reducing environmental impact, and promoting long-term resilience in dairy farming. “Collaborative partnerships allow us to harmonize genetic innovation with sustainable practices. Through our partnership with Danone, we intend to leverage our respective expertise to set new benchmarks for healthier herds that contribute to a sustainable future for the dairy industry,” said Wafaa Mamilli, EVP, Chief Digital & Technology Officer, and Group President for China, Brazil, and Precision Animal Health at Zoetis. As part of its commitment to equip dairy producers with innovative solutions to help them meet their sustainability goals, Zoetis’ genetic testing solutions and expertise provide the ability to predict an animal’s susceptibility to costly diseases and potential to remain healthy and productive over its lifetime - aligning with Danone’s ambition to support dairy production that prioritizes environmental resiliency. “We really look forward to embarking with Zoetis on this journey. Together, we are committed to utilizing genomic testing as an important tool for incorporating sustainability at its core. This partnership aligns with our vision of creating positive change throughout the dairy value chain,” said Jean-Yves Krummenacher, Chief Procurement Officer at Danone. Zoetis became a member of Danone’s global Partner for Growth program in 2023 as the preferred provider for genetic testing on dairy farms, specifically leveraging the Dairy Wellness Profit Index® (DWP$®) from CLARIFIDE® Plus. Only available through CLARIFIDE Plus, DWP$ is a multi-trait animal ranking selection index that reveals the value of critical wellness traits, including cow and calf wellness, production, fertility, functional type, longevity, livability, calving ability and milk quality traits, plus polled test results.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2470/israels-dairyx-crafting-next-gen-casein-micelles-using-precision-fermentation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2470/israels-dairyx-crafting-next-gen-casein-micelles-using-precision-fermentation.html Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:13:43 +0530 Paving the Way to Making Stretchy, Protein-rich, Dairy Cheese – Cow-free DairyX Foods Ltd. announces a major advancement in creating authentic milk proteins without cows, using precision fermentation. The food-tech start-up has developed a method to produce casein proteins that can self-assemble into micelles. Micelles are the primary building blocks of dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt. DairyX has also refined a complementary technology to enhance the gelation of its casein micelles, considered the holy grail of the industry. DairyX’s gelating micelles enable manufacturers to produce firm, stretchy and creamy products using their traditional dairy-making processes. Galit Kuznets, Head of Strain Development and Fermentation discusses DairyX's proprietary technologies and protocols, saying, “We have achieved several key objectives with our solutions. Our biological design genetically manipulated yeast to produce functional caseins that we organized into micelles. We developed a fast-tracked screening process that simulated evolution to locate super-producers of protein from among millions of yeast strains. Our machine-learning models simulated fermentation to determine optimal fermentation conditions. We have proven our ability to create a gel from reconstituted casein micelles. All these ingenuities have helped us work smarter and faster to create highly functional micelles.” Creating a smarter casein with precision fermentation Casein micelles are key to the appealing sensory profile of dairy products. DairyX’s precision fermentation technology uses microorganisms (specifically yeast) to produce smart casein proteins. “Not all caseins produced using precision fermentation are alike,” explains Maya Bar-Zeev, PhD, Head of Product Development and Downstream Processing. “We trained yeast to produce the next generation of casein. DairyX's patent-pending casein is an advanced form created to precisely and effectively organize into micelles.” “The industry knows quite well that caseins are extremely hard to produce using precision fermentation, so our initial goal was to solve this problem. Once we successfully crafted caseins, the next major challenge was to upgrade caseins so they could self-assemble into gelating micelles to produce the dairy properties manufacturers are seeking,” explains DairyX CEO and founder Arik Ryvkin, PhD. DairyX casein eliminates the need for hormones and antibiotics applied in dairy farms and Maximizes efficiency Currently, manufacturers of animal-free dairy products use additives, like stabilizers, emulsifiers and thickeners, which don’t perform as well as cow’s milk and can add unpleasant aftertastes. These fail to satisfy consumer cravings for a real dairy experience. “DairyX caseins have amino acid sequences identical to those of their animal counterparts, making them, in fact, non-genetically modified,” explains Galit Kuznets, Head of Strain Development and Fermentation. DairyX addresses taste with its innovative caseins while also making non-animal dairy affordable. The company is creating yeast strains that produce exceptionally high casein yields in short timeframes. This approach ensures that DairyX's ingredients are cost-effective – a crucial factor for adoption by dairy manufacturers. “Another significant challenge that dairy companies face is adapting their production facilities to use new ingredients,” Bar-Zeev explains. “This is why we created a drop-in replacement for milk that does not require process changes or retooling.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2409/chinas-angel-yeast-expands-into-probiotics-rd-production-advances-biotech-transformation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2409/chinas-angel-yeast-expands-into-probiotics-rd-production-advances-biotech-transformation.html Fri, 30 Aug 2024 04:48:00 +0530 The probiotics product can be applied in the food, healthcare, agriculture industries and more, boasting huge economic value and market potential Angel Yeast, a global leader in yeast manufacturing, has officially put its plateau probiotics project into production in Xizang, a milestone of the company's biotech transformation strategy and a key step to achieve local, industrialized production of probiotics. The probiotics product can be applied in the food, healthcare, agriculture industries and more, boasting huge economic value and market potential. Angel Yeast's probiotics production now focuses on three main industrialized strains – the Lactobacillus plantarum S2 has strong acid-producing capacity and excellent fermentation results, which can be utilized in food and agriculture productions; the DB-8 that's mainly applied in dairy products and can make the yogurt to have a natural tomato flavor without additives, which is of high commercial value; and Streptococcus thermophilus, which can prevent the yogurt from further acidification over time to maintain the good taste. He Xinzhang, general manager of Angel Yeast's subsidiary in Xizang, noted that for three years, the R&D team overcame altitude sickness and visited the herdsmen's families, collected dairy products, and traveled to the high-altitude areas to chase yaks and pick up cow dung, completing a series of microbial resources census collection and evaluation works with fruitful results. "We collected and preserved over 1,800 bacterial strains and identified the ones to be industrialized. Now we not only have the patent-licensed probiotic strains, but also own the independent intellectual property rights of the production process, which together build up our competitive advantages in the market," said He. "And as we expand the probiotics project in Xizang we're also building a local talent pipeline of management, finance, and equipment professionals." The Xizang Angel Zhufeng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. owns full independent property rights from the key strains to production processes, and the factory workshop is fully digitalized and automated to achieve automatic control, fully enclosed conveying, digital management and quality tracing of all sections. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2393/msd-animal-health-launches-sensehub-dairy-youngstock.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2393/msd-animal-health-launches-sensehub-dairy-youngstock.html Wed, 21 Aug 2024 11:26:32 +0530 Group housing capability to provide farmers with actionable insights to make informed decisions and to increase capabilities and efficiencies for herds MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., launched SenseHub™ Dairy Youngstock for pre-weaned calves in individual hutches and group housing, the industry’s first monitoring technology for dairy calves from birth through the first 12 months of life, for herds of all sizes. Launch coincides with new updates to SenseHub Ecosystem and SenseHub Dairy aimed at increasing capabilities and efficiencies for herds of all size. SenseHub Dairy Youngstock makes it easier for dairy producers to detect and locate calves and heifers that need attention. Proprietary, science-based algorithms constantly monitor animal behaviors through the special SenseHub monitoring ear tag. The technology identifies animals that exhibit behaviors that fall outside their individual norms, indicating they may need attention. The SenseHub monitoring ear tag incorporates a blinking LED light so producers and farmers can quickly and easily locate those animals and apply appropriate interventions. Calves have a natural tendency to hide symptoms of disease. SenseHub Dairy Youngstock helps to overcome this instinctive behavior by identifying potential signs of illness, often before symptoms are apparent to producers or farmers. “With SenseHub Dairy Youngstock, dairy producers can now harness objective insights to find calves that may need extra care and then provide early intervention to keep them on a path toward becoming healthy and productive cows” said Juan Pedro Campillo, global lead, SenseHub Dairy Youngstock. This technology also allows dairy farmers to alleviate the increasing labor shortages on farms and benefit when managing their daily operations from their smartphones. The new SenseHub Dairy Youngstock solution increases well-being conditions for the animals and allows for more sustainable herd health management of the farm. The efficiency associated with the technology allows producers and farmers to adjust the workflow on their operation and more effectively utilize their resources. Tiago Arantes, associate vice president, Global Livestock lead, MSD Animal Health said “With its recent enhancements, the SenseHub Ecosystem can support farms of all sizes in addressing milk price volatility, input costs, labor shortages and environmental challenges, through customizable and integrated tools that provide data to help make more informed choices.” SenseHub Ecosystem features include: SenseHub Services: a new online resource for SenseHub users designed to empower customers with new self-service capabilities. SenseHub Insights: an advanced herd management tool to allow farmers to monitor and track trends in their herd and farm management processes which is accessible via SenseHub Services New Third-Party Connections to create a more unified technology experience for farmers like ‘Predicta Guardian’ which helps farmers become aware of potential health issues in animals six to eight weeks before they emerge which allow farmers to take a proactive preventative approach. Similarly, SenseHub Dairy provides greater capacity to cater for larger dairies alongside such as; Scalability: Increased capacity from 5,000 to 15,000 animals means large dairies can now also utilize the benefits of the SenseHub Dairy Ecosystem. Batch Group Entry: Report customisable events for individual and multiple animals or by preselected groups for a more seamless SenseHub Dairy experience. Heat Report Masked by Group Activity: Enhanced functionality of SenseHub Dairy Behavior Monitoring means that a farm can focus its system on those animals that are truly in heat and block the abnormal group activity. Third Party LED Task Management: New capability enables SenseHub Dairy users to activate the LED functionality of the SenseHub Dairy Behavior Monitoring Ear Tag through third party software for a more seamless experience. SenseHub Dairy Youngstock: Building on last Summer’s launch of the industry’s first monitoring technology for dairy calves from birth through the first 12 months of life. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2383/fonterra-and-superbrewed-food-collaborate-to-advance-biomass-protein-technology.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2383/fonterra-and-superbrewed-food-collaborate-to-advance-biomass-protein-technology.html Mon, 19 Aug 2024 11:19:34 +0530 The collaboration builds upon Superbrewed’s commercial launch of their patented biomass protein, called Postbiotic Cultured Protein Global dairy co-operative Fonterra and natural ingredient manufacturer Superbrewed Food have teamed up to boost sustainable food production. The partnership combines Superbrewed’s biomass protein platform with Fonterra’s dairy processing, ingredients, and applications expertise to develop additional nutrient-rich, functional biomass protein. The collaboration addresses the rising global demand for protein, reflecting on commitment to delivering sustainably sourced, functional proteins that meet customer and consumer needs worldwide. The collaboration builds upon Superbrewed’s commercial launch of their patented biomass protein, called Postbiotic Cultured Protein. Postbiotic Cultured Protein is a non-GMO, allergen-free, nutrient-dense bacteria biomass protein that recently received US market green light from the FDA. In ingredient evaluations, Fonterra determined that the excellent function and nutrition of Postbiotic Cultured Protein complement dairy ingredients in food applications with growing consumer demand. Additionally, Superbrewed demonstrated that its non-GMO, fermentation platform could be adapted to ferment other inputs. Thus, the multi-year joint effort seeks to develop new biomass protein solutions based on the fermentation of multi-feedstocks, including Fonterra’s lactose permeate, which is produced during dairy processing. The objective is to add value to Fonterra's lactose by converting it into high-quality, sustainable protein with Superbrewed's technology. Chris Ireland, GM Innovation Partnerships commented, "Superbrewed Foods cutting-edge technology aligns with our mission to provide sustainable nutritional solutions to the world and respond to the global demand for protein solutions thereby creating more value from milk for our farmers." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2357/roquette-launches-botanical-tapioca-starch-range-to-address-unmet-texture-needs-of-food-manufacturers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2357/roquette-launches-botanical-tapioca-starch-range-to-address-unmet-texture-needs-of-food-manufacturers.html Thu, 08 Aug 2024 11:03:00 +0530 Highly versatile and designed to provide flexibility in formulations for dairy and food industry Roquette, a global leader in plant-based ingredients and a leading provider of pharmaceutical excipients is proud to announce the expansion of its texturizing solutions range with the addition of four new tapioca-based cook-up starches. The new grades – CLEARAM® TR 2010, CLEARAM® TR 2510, CLEARAM® TR 3010 and CLEARAM® TR 4010 – have been specifically developed to address unmet texture needs of food manufacturers and complement existing botanical sources within the broader range. Formulated to enhance viscosity, consistency and elasticity in various food applications, from sauces, dairy desserts and yogurt to bakery fillings, these modified starches help to ensure distinct and desirable sensory experiences for consumers The new additions are highly versatile and designed to provide flexibility in formulation. CLEARAM® TR 3010 and CLEARAM® TR 2510 are suitable for sauces, but provide different technical and texture properties, respectively. CLEARAM® TR 3010 is ideal for tomato-based sauces, with a flowable consistency that works well in squeezable tubes or applications requiring higher spreadability. When used in oyster sauces, it provides a velvety smooth texture, excellent gloss and good thickness. With its low gelling temperature and excellent shelf-life stability, CLEARAM® TR 2510 is better suited to high salt sauce recipes and chilled products. The solutions also support manufacturers in creating products with appetizing visual appeal. They provide excellent clarity and neutral color, which are essential characteristics for applications that require a clear, transparent appearance or where the original color of the product needs to be maintained. Tapioca starch is also naturally allergen- and gluten-free, offering a suitable option for a range of label-friendly and free-from products. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2327/clean-energys-rng-production-facility-breaks-ground-at-south-fork-dairy.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2327/clean-energys-rng-production-facility-breaks-ground-at-south-fork-dairy.html Thu, 25 Jul 2024 09:07:18 +0530 The project expected to be completed in 2025 with $85 million investment Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has broken ground on a renewable natural gas (RNG) production facility at South Fork Dairy in Dimmitt, TX. Home to a 16,000-cow herd, the facility will produce RNG, an ultra-clean transportation fuel that is made from organic waste and receives a negative carbon-intensity score. The construction of the digesters and processing plant is forecasted to cost approximately $85 million and is expected to be completed in 2025. The South Fork Dairy facility is set to be one of the biggest RNG production developments in the country with an anticipated 2.6 million gallons of RNG to be produced annually once completed. All the RNG fuel produced at the site will make its way into Clean Energy’s nationwide network of stations. “We are excited to begin construction on the South Fork Texas project. Building anaerobic digesters at a large dairy like South Fork will help the dairy owner, Frank Brand, and his team collect and monetize sizeable amounts of manure waste while also benefiting from the environmental credits an RNG facility brings,” said Clay Corbus senior vice president of renewables at Clean Energy. “The project not only helps us convert our waste into a clean, useable sustainable fuel, but it also helps us with managing manure which for a dairy of our size is quite a feat. We do this while simultaneously reducing our environmental footprint – it’s a direction I hope many other dairies will look to pursuing,” said Frand Brand, owner of South Fork Dairy. Agriculture accounts for nearly 10 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Capturing methane from farm waste can lower these emissions. RNG is a transportation fuel made entirely from organic waste and drastically reduces GHG emissions by an average of 300% versus diesel. It is so clean that the California Air Resources Board gives RNG from dairy farms an average carbon-intensity score of -330, which is substantially lower than electric vehicles charging with electricity on today’s grid. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2263/strive-and-turtletree-to-build-adult-immunity-support-beverages-and-sports-nutrition-by-2025.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2263/strive-and-turtletree-to-build-adult-immunity-support-beverages-and-sports-nutrition-by-2025.html Wed, 03 Jul 2024 09:04:00 +0530 Expands Consumer Product Offerings with LF+™ for Adult and Sports Nutrition TurtleTree, a pioneer in sustainable nutrition, has entered a multi-year strategic partnership with Strive, a nutrition company focused on providing sustainable, protein enriched beverages that are better tasting, more nutritious and better for the planet. Strive currently offers FREEMILK, a true milk alternative with fermentation-derived protein and through the partnership with TurtleTree, plans to expand into additional products including a immunity support beverage aimed at adult nutrition as well as a ready-to-mix protein powder—both to include TurtleTree's lactoferrin (LF+), the world's first animal-free lactoferrin. The functional beverage landscape has a market size of $200B with 7.49% CAGR, confirming the need for more options being made accessible to the general population. The immunity support beverage from Strive with LF+ will be an 8 oz carton with 12-15 grams of fermentation-derived whey protein and 250 mg of fermentation-derived lactoferrin (LF+). There will also be a mix of 23 critical vitamins and minerals to enhance the product geared toward aging adults. Strive and TurtleTree are committed to providing products that will give the adult population the opportunity to address some of their concerns and provide the functional ingredients they are searching for. By creating an immunity support beverage that includes TurtleTree's LF+, Strive can provide consumers with the unique benefits of lactoferrin to support gut health and iron regulation as well as immune support while ensuring supplementation of the daily vitamins recommended. TurtleTree continues to have a stellar year receiving its vegan certification from Vegan Action, securing its first commercialization partnership and being recognized in Fast Company's 2024 World Changing Ideas. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2215/milk-specialties-global-msg-appoints-dan-nisser-as-chief-financial-officer.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2215/milk-specialties-global-msg-appoints-dan-nisser-as-chief-financial-officer.html Thu, 13 Jun 2024 09:36:34 +0530 Milk Specialties Global (“MSG”), a leading nutritional ingredients manufacturer, announced the appointment of Dan Nisser as Chief Financial Officer. Effective immediately, Mr. Nisser succeeds Tim Preuninger following his decision to retire. Mr. Preuninger will remain with MSG until September 2024, to help ensure a smooth transition. Mr. Nisser brings more than 30 years of progressive experience in finance and operations management within global multi-billion-dollar organizations to MSG. Most recently, he served as Group Vice President, CFO, Ag Services and Processing, at Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM), a global leader in both human and animal nutrition, with responsibilities involving a significant portion of the company’s global revenue of $94 billion in the most recent fiscal year. Throughout his career, Mr. Nisser has crafted, developed and instituted new organizational structures that led to significant growth in profitability. Notably, under his leadership at ADM, the divisions he was involved with doubled operating profit to more than $5 billion. “Dan is a proven senior finance executive in the ingredients space who has built an impressive track record over the past three decades in supporting profitable growth at multinational food companies," said David Lenzmeier, Chief Executive Officer at MSG. “On behalf of the entire team at MSG, we are thrilled to welcome Dan to the leadership team. With his deep expertise in the food industry and international experience, we’re confident Dan will continue driving successful finance strategies at MSG as we grow.” MSG has been producing nutrition ingredients for food and performance products for more than 80 years. Its human nutrition business and expansion into private label offerings have enabled the company to produce key ingredients for a wide range of health and nutrition products. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2141/slurryforsoil-new-formulation-reduces-cost-and-carbon-footprint-from-dairy.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2141/slurryforsoil-new-formulation-reduces-cost-and-carbon-footprint-from-dairy.html Fri, 17 May 2024 10:50:26 +0530 SlurryForSoil’s new concentrated formula will lower costs for dairy farmers while reducing the product’s carbon footprint The new formulation is four times more concentrated, giving users the same performance at a fraction of the cost while also reducing the packaging required, and lowering the weight.  It will be launched at Dairy Tech on 7th February 2024 at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. “The new formulation has enabled us to reduce the cost of production and we’re passing that saving onto our customers,” explains Sylgen Animal Health Director, Romney Jackson. “Farmers will save 37% per treatment. Which, when combined with the reduced need for fertiliser and improved grass growth, gives an average return on investment of £9.50 to £24 for every £1 spent on SlurryForSoil.  “With less packaging and reduced weight for transport, the new formulation lowers the product’s environmental impact too.”  The award-winning slurry inoculant contains 18 different fungi and bacteria, selected for their abilities to improve soil and plant health.  Proven to increase grass quantity and quality, SlurryForSoil™ has been recognised for its contribution to both the bottom line and the environment. “SlurryForSoil does far more than break down slurry and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from stores,” says Romney. “It’s designed to turn slurry into a highly-effective biologically-active fertiliser. SlurryForSoil™ captures nutrients in slurry in a microbial form, when the slurry is spread on grassland, it inoculates the soil with key plant and soil beneficial microbes. All of the microbes in the product have been independently proven to increase plant growth – whether that’s through the provision of nutrients as and when plants need them, improved tolerance to stress or increased defence against pests and pathogens.  “When it comes to slurry inoculants, SlurryForSoil™ is leading the way and we’re now seeing others follow,” he says. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2137/yara-international-and-kongsberg-digital-enter-collaboration-on-digital-twin-technology.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2137/yara-international-and-kongsberg-digital-enter-collaboration-on-digital-twin-technology.html Wed, 15 May 2024 11:17:29 +0530 Novel digital tech solutions will be deployed in Yara's production facilities worldwide Kongsberg Digital, a leading provider of industrial software, and Yara International, a global fertilizer company and the world's largest distributor of ammonia, have entered into a two-year agreement under which Kongsberg Digital will develop digital twin technology for Yara's factories in Herøya in Norway and Sluiskil in the Netherlands. The agreement includes an operational twin for Yara's production facilities at Herøya in Porsgrunn and a project twin for the carbon capture project in Sluiskil in the Netherlands. The ambition is to deploy the solution to Yara's production facilities worldwide.  The operational twin for the production facility at Herøya will utilize industrial data from the factory in combination with technical data and equipment documentation. Based on this, a contextualised work surface with detailed 3D models of the plant and the various units will be created, along with associated maintenance, operational, and facility information gathered from the factory's sensors and data sources. The work surface will assist users in making the right decision at the right time by providing relevant information.  Twin technology will also be implemented into the carbon capture project at Yara's facility in Sluiskil, Netherlands, where a new carbon capture unit is being built to convert CO2 gas into liquid before transporting it by ship for injection and storage in reservoirs in the North Sea. The twin technology will play an essential role in this project by contributing to efficient collaboration and preparations for data transfer from project to operation before the plant is operational. The digital twin will establish a "digital thread" through all project phases and into the operation and maintenance phase.  "Yara is the first wholly Norwegian industrial company to use Kognitwin – Kongsberg Digital's twin technology. With this technology, a significant improvement in the work process is expected, thereby leading to a more efficient workday for engineering, maintenance, and operations," says Merete Østby, Digital Manager at Yara Porsgrunn.  "In cooperation with Yara, Kongsberg Digital will build on the already close cooperation between Kongsberg Gruppen and Yara and deliver technology that provides Yara with improved insights and new opportunities to optimize the operation of their facilities" says Shane McArdle, CEO of Kongsberg Digital.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2031/milk-specialties-global-joins-vanguard-renewables-farm-powered-strategic-alliance-fpsa.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2031/milk-specialties-global-joins-vanguard-renewables-farm-powered-strategic-alliance-fpsa.html Fri, 05 Apr 2024 11:01:51 +0530 FPSA is a collaborative initiative dedicated to promoting sustainable organic waste reduction and regenerative agriculture solutions in more than 20 national and regional food and beverage companies The Farm Powered Strategic Alliance (FPSA), a global collaborative initiative focused on driving systemic change, is dedicated to promoting sustainable organic waste reduction and regenerative agriculture solutions. With the addition of Milk Specialties Global, the Alliance gains a valuable partner with extensive experience in sustainable manufacturing and is dedicated to supporting America’s farmers. The FPSA was launched in 2020 with founding members Unilever, Starbucks, Dairy Farmers of America, and Vanguard Renewables and has since grown to more than 20 national and regional food and beverage companies. Milk Specialties Global, a nutrition ingredients manufacturer, has joined Vanguard Renewables® FPSA. Milk Specialties’ range of high-quality ingredients, including whey and milk proteins, functional fats, and carbohydrates are spread across the globe. Neil H. Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Vanguard Renewables said "We are thrilled to add them to our cohort of first movers in the food and beverage industry focused on sustainability, decarbonization of supply chains, and moving towards a more circular economy." Vanguard Renewables partners with food and beverage manufacturers to recycle their inedible food waste via Farm Powered® anaerobic digestion, which converts organic waste into renewable natural gas (RNG). This RNG is then used to generate electricity, heat, and transportation fuel, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. By diverting food waste from landfills and transforming it into clean energy, Vanguard Renewables is making a significant impact on the environment while also creating economic opportunities for farmers and local communities. Vanguard Renewables has grown from two facilities under management in 2014 to 32 sites across the United States, with new projects commencing construction consistently over the next four years. A highlight in its decade-long history was the formation of the Farm Powered Strategic Alliance which now boasts more than 20 national and regional companies across several verticals. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2021/japans-elovi-evolve-by-rebranding-as-morinaga-nutritional-foods-vietnam.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/2021/japans-elovi-evolve-by-rebranding-as-morinaga-nutritional-foods-vietnam.html Wed, 03 Apr 2024 10:54:42 +0530 Rebranding will deepen MNFV’s connections in the Vietnamese dairy market Elovi, a group company of Morinaga Milk Industry (Japan) has rebranded as Morinaga Nutritional Foods Vietnam (MNFV) to align with global standards of excellence. Rebranding will deepen MNFV’s connections in the Vietnamese market. Elovi has become the member of Morinaga Milk Group, one of the leading company in the dairy and nutrition industry in Japan with a legacy spanning over a century. With this acquisition, Elovi now joins Morinaga Milk's network of subsidiaries globally, further strengthening its position as a key player in the industry. Now operating under the banner of Morinaga Nutritional Foods Vietnam (MNFV), the company remains dedicated to developing business through products catering to customers of various ages with the overarching goal of enhancing wellness and happiness. Morinaga Milk Group has been exporting formula milk to Vietnam since 2010, and the addition of MNFV, a local manufacturer of beverages and yogurt contributing more to the Vietnamese market. Leveraging Morinaga's extensive experience, leading technology, and proven track record of delivering high-quality products in Japan, MNFV is poised to make a substantial impact on the Vietnamese market and pioneer innovations. Chihaya Takashi, General Director of Morinaga Nutritional Foods Vietnam, emphasized the company's commitment, stating, "Our mission is to contribute to "Wellness" through offering both "nutrition & deliciousness" by utilizing the advanced technology cultivated in Japan for over 100 years. Together, we aim to illuminate even brighter smiles and wellness across Vietnam." MNFV's has stabilized with dedicated research, MNFV's R&D team analyzing the nutritional needs and health concerns of different age groups, habits, and cultural nuances. In 2022, MNFV established a Healthcare business team to distribute Morinaga Milk Industry Group's healthcare products from Japan, broadening access to a wider range of high-quality Japanese products for Vietnamese consumers. MNFV's sustainability initiatives aim to address emerging health challenges while ensuring a brighter and healthier future for all Vietnamese consumers. Aligned with this vision, MNFV has adopted the slogan "For Better Wellness," emphasizing not just physical health but also well-being of people. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1964/philippines-evaluates-revitalisation-of-dairy-industry-to-boost-local-milk-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1964/philippines-evaluates-revitalisation-of-dairy-industry-to-boost-local-milk-production.html Mon, 18 Mar 2024 08:35:05 +0530 Reviews possibilities for amending provision requiring commercial milk processors and domestic dairy cooperatives Philippines Department of Agriculture is drawing up plans to significantly increase local dairy milk production, including seeking support from local milk processors to bolster investment in the industry and increase dairy cattle population. Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI), Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. discussed that the DA will review Republic Act 7884, or The National Dairy Development Act of 1995, particularly its provision requiring commercial milk processors and domestic dairy cooperatives to agree on the volume of locally produced milk that will be absorbed by the commercial sector.  A volume would have been determined three years after the passage of the act, or by 1998. Despite the passage of the law, however, domestic production remains low at less than 1% of annual demand. “We will draft a measure that will activate the provision of the diary law,” the agri chief said, who had earlier described the development of the dairy industry as “a low-hanging fruit” in the country’s drive to boost economic growth and increase income of those who depend of the industry. PCAFI said a volume hasn’t be agreed upon and suggested the DA, through the National Dairy Authority, set a rule that will “require commercial milk processors and traders to secure their milk supply from local sources (at a volume of) at least five percent of their total requirement, within a full or staggered basis over a certain fixed period.” Despite two laws—RA 7884 and Batas Pambansa 21 or the Dairy Industry Development Act passed in 1980, investments in Philippine dairy milk production remain low despite steady growth in dairy demand. The country imported USD1.6 billion of milk in 2022, mostly in powdered form, from Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. PCAFI said if commercial processors and traders won’t agree to a minimum volume, then the DA could either require a safeguard duty on imported milk that will help fund the development of the local dairy industry or require commercial processors and traders to establish their own dairy farms in the Philippines. NDA records show that cattle production in 2023 reached 17,850 metric tons, accounting for roughly 0.8 percent of total milk consumption of 1.937 million metric tons. Output in 2022 stood at 16,678 metric tons. NDA projects consumption this year to reach 1.978 million metric tons ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1929/innovative-packaging-solutions-for-the-cheese-industry-using-sealpac-packaging-technology.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1929/innovative-packaging-solutions-for-the-cheese-industry-using-sealpac-packaging-technology.html Tue, 05 Mar 2024 12:30:03 +0530 A revolutionary packaging technology has been developed by Swiss and Portuguese cheese manufacturers to advance the dairy industry across the globe. A high-tech tray sealer and thermoformer from packaging specialist SEALPAC support these organizations' objectives. The European Union has the world’s largest annual consumption of cheese. Manufacturers are competing for the consumer's hand with their own specialty products Regardless of whether it is a small craft company with a regional customer base or a large-scale cheese producer for export markets. Suitable and innovative packaging is crucial to ensure cheese specialties are of high quality and to ensure their quality on their way to the end user, as well as to stand out from the competition. The packaging expert SEALPAC has adapted its traysealers and thermoformers to meet the demands of the dairy segment and offers producers innovative packaging solutions that combine optimal product protection with efficient production, simplify logistics, and offer attractive presentations while consuming fewer consumables. SEALPAC helps cheese manufacturers throughout Europe and beyond with the right packaging solutions for distributing and marketing their products.  PRO thermoformer from SEALPAC is a compact thermoformer that is tailored to small and medium-sized companies. The space-saving PRO uses consumables and energy extremely economically, and has a modular design. The PRO thermoformer is equipped with an innovative tooling quick exchange system, which reduces changeover times.  The basic PRO machine is suitable for running flexible and rigid film, both for vacuum packaging and sealing-only applications. Different modules can be added to run other packaging solutions, such as MAP, skin, or shrink packaging. The model is the most ideal for the artisan cheese factory. CEO Roland Rüegg at Wildberg Käserei said, “With the new PRO thermoformer, the pieces of cheese are now packaged from a reel of highly transparent bottom film using Rapid Air Forming. The machine reliably manages particularly thin film that is easy to print, for example with product information, an organic label, or a brand logo. Besides ensuring consistent high quality, the new thermoformer also makes progress in terms of sustainability: unlike the previous bag solution, thinner films are now used, which saves plastic and reduces storage space. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1928/westfalia-fruit-trials-exclusive-technology-targeting-food-safety-and-sustainability.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1928/westfalia-fruit-trials-exclusive-technology-targeting-food-safety-and-sustainability.html Tue, 05 Mar 2024 12:04:14 +0530 Westfalia Fruit, a leading multinational supplier of avocados, has conducted the first successful trials of an innovative and natural method of ensuring food safety within the supply chain. Current industry practice is to manually deep clean avocado ripening rooms to maintain high levels of food safety and eliminate residue from naturally occurring fruit mould. Westfalia’s new method uses a probiotic uniquely distributed within a water mist circulated throughout ripening room, delivering several clear benefits. Andrew Mitchell, Head of Innovation at Westfalia Fruit, explains, “Our innovative probiotic liquid is similar to that found in yoghurts which can help with the natural balance of our digestive system. This type of probiotic is also very good at attacking yeasts and moulds. We have developed the application of this natural probiotic further as a liquid, Westfalia Fruit is the only avocado supplier able to do this.” In an initial study, there was a 65 percent reduction in micro levels in the trial room compared to the control room. The study also found that mould on the individual fruit was significantly reduced. Avocados that had been treated with the probiotic remained mould free for up to fifteen days, which resulted in a reduction of internal rot of around 20 percent. Using this method also has several other clear benefits – it eliminates the need for chemical cleaning materials, avoids the need to shut down ripening rooms for cleaning, and can also be applied to hard-to-reach areas such as ventilation ducts and fans. Westfalia is conducting a second trial, applying the probiotic liquid from the roof of the ripening room, and expects this to achieve a 90 percent reduction in micro levels compared to the control room. Fruit quality will be continuously monitored over a four-week trial in preparation for initial rollout across Westfalia’s UK facilities. “From there, we will be managing a role out to our European operations and extend trials across a range of products including citrus and mango. Looking even further ahead with the benefit of Westfalia’s integrated supply chain, the unique misting technique can be applied within shipping containers, giving fruit the benefit of the probiotic application before reaching its final destination, Andrew continues. This project is a clear example of how Westfalia continues to ensure consistent high-quality avocados are available for consumers to enjoy 365 days of the year. We are very excited about this breakthrough, as well as the immediate benefits we anticipate a further reduction in potential waste product whilst successfully and naturally maintaining food safety, all of which directly aligns with our ambitious sustainability goals.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1927/unilever-appoints-heiko-schipper-as-president-nutrition.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1927/unilever-appoints-heiko-schipper-as-president-nutrition.html Tue, 05 Mar 2024 11:59:08 +0530 Heiko, currently President, Bayer Consumer Health, has deep experience and a successful track record in the global foods and nutrition industry. He started his career at Nestlé, spending more than 20 years in sales and marketing roles in Asia, before rising to lead Nestlé’s global Nutrition business division as CEO in 2014. He joined Bayer in 2018 and has since driven significant performance improvements to deliver industry-leading growth for Bayer’s Consumer Health division. Unilever CEO Hein Schumacher said: “Heiko is a global business leader with deep expertise and experience of the foods and nutrition industry and a long track record of delivering sustained high performance. He is a very impactful, values-driven leader and I look forward to working with him as we continue our focus on accelerating the growth of Unilever’s Nutrition business, which includes our leading Knorr and Hellmann’s global Power Brands.” Heiko will join Unilever and its Leadership Executive on 1 May 2024. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1857/21st-bio-opens-sustainable-avenue-for-industrial-scale-dairy-protein-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1857/21st-bio-opens-sustainable-avenue-for-industrial-scale-dairy-protein-production.html Tue, 20 Feb 2024 08:38:04 +0530 Access to 21st.BIO's technology represents a step change to food production with precision fermentation, allowing manufacturers to focus on production, product development and commercialization.     By offering its precision fermentation technology platform widely, 21st.BIO mitigates the cost and time associated with development, opening access to proven industrial scale production technology for precision fermentation of alternative proteins. The platform provides a sustainable and less carbon and resource intensive alternative to traditional animal-based production methods and helps to stabilize global food supply chains. According to recent studies, producing proteins via precision fermentation reduces greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, and land and water use by 90 to 96%, compared to animal-derived production.  With 21st.BIO's platform, customers have access to world-leading industrial production strains, fermentation processes, as well as support with scale-up, tech transfers to contract manufacturers, and regulatory approvals to get to market at speed and with lower costs. 21st.BIO continuously optimizes the strains and processes, ensuring customers are always ahead of the market.  21st.BIO has the most advanced precision fermentation technology platform in the industry for large scale production. The technology foundation is licensed from Novozymes, who has 40 years' experience perfecting production strains and processes for industrial production. The technology base is already used to provide dozens of food-grade products on the market today.   21st.BIO's technology can be optimized for each customer's specific purpose, such as the nutritional fortification of a plant-based product, improvement of texture in alternative dairy and medical nutrition.   Customers of 21st.BIO can be innovative start-ups planning to take one or several proteins to the market, as well as established players expanding into sustainable alternatives, and dairy companies aiming to grow with the increasing global demand for proteins while reducing their footprint on the environment.   Thomas Schmidt, CEO of 21st.BIO said: "We founded 21st.BIO with one simple mission: to make precision fermentation technology accessible to as many companies as possible, so they can successfully take their product to market at a competitive price. We believe this is the best way for technology to support and accelerate the transition to more sustainable and better nutrition globally. With this new offering, I am proud that companies will be able to safely scale innovation into industrial production and meet global demand utilizing our technology and expertise."  With a technology platform based on Novonesis (formerly Novozymes), and financing from Novo Holdings, 21st.BIO is uniquely positioned to help accelerate the quest for greener and more nutritious alternatives in the food industry.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1835/turtletree-secures-first-vegan-certification-for-precision-fermentation-dairy-industry.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1835/turtletree-secures-first-vegan-certification-for-precision-fermentation-dairy-industry.html Thu, 15 Feb 2024 10:57:10 +0530 TurtleTree's sustainable lactoferrin, LF+,  receives approval setting new industry standards TurtleTree, a pioneer in sustainable nutrition, and Vegan Action, the most recognized vegan certification provider in the U.S. has announced the official vegan certification of TurtleTree's animal-free sustainable lactoferrin, LF+. This milestone establishes TurtleTree as the first precision fermentation dairy company globally to obtain vegan certification, and the first ever to receive the Certified Vegan logo in the 24 years it's been administered. In taking this step, TurtleTree has solidified its unwavering commitment to animal welfare as well as meeting the evolving demands of conscious consumers. While most precision fermentation products don't involve animal products or byproducts, their bioidentical nature and the origins of the genetic codes required in production can make interpretations complex, particularly when adhering to vegan standards originally designed for plant-based products. Regulatory approval also demands extensive safety testing, and some companies may opt for quicker, cheaper animal studies, and preclude their products from obtaining vegan certification. This is a hot-button issue and potentially the reason most precision fermentation companies haven't pursued official certification, despite stating they are vegan and animal-free. Turtletree has taken a pioneering step by securing vegan certification for its bioidentical dairy protein, LF+, confirming strict adherence to the highest ethical standards. In turn, the company aims to set a precedent that can help create a standardized definition of veganism in the context of precision fermentation. TurtleTree's certification by Vegan Action adhered to rigorous criteria, guaranteeing the exclusion of animal products, byproducts, and animal testing. LF+ is now the only vegan lactoferrin on the market, challenging the dominance of lactoferrin sourced exclusively from cows. As the global vegan food market is projected to reach $36 billion by 2031, the demand for certified vegan products continues to surge. With this certification, LF+ is well-positioned to cater to this growing market and support large food and beverage companies seeking innovative, vegan-certified ingredients. Krissi Vandenberg, Director of Vegan Action, celebrates this alternative protein milestone. "We were thrilled to get TurtleTree's product Vegan Certified because of the clear benchmark this sets for the rest of the industry. TurtleTree's dedication to ethical practices and transparency is commendable and will undoubtedly inspire other precision fermentation companies. This certification demonstrates the tangible steps companies can take to validate and communicate their values to customers, underlining a collective commitment to ethical standards." TurtleTree is a biotechnology company creating a new generation of nutrition—one that's better for the planet, animals, and people everywhere. Harnessing cutting-edge precision fermentation technology, ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1830/advanced-ai-technology-to-uncover-novel-rd-and-commercialization-opportunities-of-dairy-nutrition.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1830/advanced-ai-technology-to-uncover-novel-rd-and-commercialization-opportunities-of-dairy-nutrition.html Wed, 14 Feb 2024 08:21:00 +0530 US national dairy research and promotion organization to leverage AI application LEAP™ to explore the full spectrum of Dairy dietary nutrition PIPA LLC, AI leader in Nutrition and Ingredient Innovation and Dairy Management Inc, the US national dairy research and promotion organization, have partnered to further explore the full spectrum of dairy's health benefits. Leveraging AI application LEAP™, DMI will work with the dairy industry and other partners to expedite the identification of novel R&D opportunities in milk while also analyzing scientific evidence to validate and build new product claims. "This partnership represents a groundbreaking development for the U.S. dairy industry, pioneering the integration of AI in dairy research and innovation," said Barbara O'Brien, President and CEO of Dairy Management Inc. "Dairy farmers' long-standing investments in nutrition research have made significant contributions to the portfolio of credible science demonstrating the positive impact dairy foods have on overall health and wellness. The partnership with PIPA will leverage the power of AI to uncover dairy-centric health and wellness opportunities that can meet the growing world's needs for personalized nutrition solutions." PIPA's Chief Commercial Officer, Eric Hamborg said: " With PIPA's technology and the subject matter expertise of DMI, we'll unlock novel research and commercialization opportunities for the industry with a speed and accuracy we've never seen before." PIPA aims to accelerates science and innovation for nutrition and Ingredient industries by embedding AI in their R&D, manufacturing, and commercial business, decreasing times and improving productivity. PIPA's AI apps, LEAP and Ingredient Profiler, coupled with in-house pipelines, enables a comprehensive suite of solutions to advance scientific breakthroughs in feeding plants, animals and humans. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1818/philippines-national-dairy-authority-nda-reviews-strategies-and-proposals-to-increase-milk-production-in-the-country.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1818/philippines-national-dairy-authority-nda-reviews-strategies-and-proposals-to-increase-milk-production-in-the-country.html Mon, 12 Feb 2024 10:38:34 +0530 Aims to increase milk output 2.5 times over the next five years Officials of the National Dairy Authority (NDA) recently met with Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. to discuss strategies and proposals to increase milk production in the country. The NDA provided the DA chief with an overview of the country’s current dairy situation, including a status report on project implementation, number of animals distributed in 2023, and growth figures, among others. NDA Administrator Dr. Gabriel L. Lagamayo said NDA aims to boost the country’s milk output to 80 million liters by 2028, a small portion of the projected demand of 2.143 million metric tons by that time. Increasing milk output 2.5 times over the next five years, he said, requires a dramatic increase in the number of animals in the milking line, enhancing dairy productivity, expanding distribution networks, constructing additional dairy-related infrastructures, and promoting the consumption of local milk and dairy products. Secretary Tiu Laurel welcomed NDA’s suggestions and expressed full support for the dairy agency’s plans. He cited the positive impact of developments in the dairy industry, describing it as “a low-hanging fruit” in government’s goal of boosting agriculture’s contribution to the broader economy and in improving the lives of millions who depend on sector. Pending the release of the national data for milk production from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), NDA records show that cattle production in 2023 reached 17,850 metric tons, accounting for approximately 0.8% of total milk consumption of 1.937 million metric tons. This consumption figure represents an increase of 1,372 metric tons compared to the previous year (2022). The NDA projects a further rise in demand for milk consumption to reach 1.978 million metric tons this year. Dr. Lagamayo stressed the crucial role of the DA Secretary’s support in advancing the industry. and said, “Based on these figures, we should advocate for greater investment in dairy cows which are the primary milk producers”. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1807/the-a2-farm-sustainability-fund-to-support-sustainable-dairying-across-new-zealand-and-australia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1807/the-a2-farm-sustainability-fund-to-support-sustainable-dairying-across-new-zealand-and-australia.html Fri, 09 Feb 2024 07:29:00 +0530 Announces a further round of grants The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) announces the launch of a new round of grants to support projects aimed at enhancing dairy farm sustainability via the a2™ Farm Sustainability Fund. Farmers supplying A1 protein free milk in New Zealand or Australia for use in the a2MC’s products are eligible to apply. The a2™ Farm Sustainability Fund supports projects within the Company’s supply chain that demonstrate an integrated approach to a sustainable future and enable a positive and meaningful impact across the community and environment. The Fund now combines farmer grants programmes that have been supporting farmers across New Zealand and Australia for a number of years. Under this latest round of funding, the a2™ Farm Sustainability Fund is seeking to allocate a further up to $630,000 in total to applicants in New Zealand and Australia. Since inception the New Zealand and Australia programmes have awarded more than 65 projects with a value of more than $1,500,000. The funded projects have included diverse riparian planting, alternative fertiliser use, diverse pasture implementation, wetland restoration and planting of trees to enhance biodiversity and provide shelter for animals. The a2 Milk Company has partnered with specialist agriculture organisations in both countries to administer the fund and support the assessment and progress of projects – Lincoln University, a specialist agriculture-based university in New Zealand; and Landcare Australia, a not-for-profit organisation focused on sustainable management of natural and productive landscapes in Australia. Applications are evaluated by an independent Investment Committee comprised of industry experts in regenerative agriculture, soil health, animal health and wellbeing and farming systems. Evaluation is based on criteria aligned to The a2 Milk Company’s sustainability objectives and key priority areas including: Improving animal health and wellbeing Lowering greenhouse gas emissions Increasing on-farm carbon sequestration Improving farm system resilience Improving water quality and efficiency Enhancing on-farm biodiversity Managing and improving soil health Jaron McVicar, a2MC’s Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer, said: “The a2 Milk Company’s purpose is to ‘Pioneer the future of dairy for good’ and this programme is testament to our commitment to support local farmers with projects that help to create better environmental outcomes.” Dr Shane Norrish, CEO, Landcare Australia, said: “We are delighted to partner with The a2 Milk Company to support Australian dairy farmers to implement projects that are contributing to nature positive outcomes. These investments in supply chain sustainability enhancements are so important to enable primary producers to respond to significant climate and biodiversity challenges we all face.” The a2 Milk Company is also funding measurement tools for farms that receive grants under the Fund, such as carbon audits and water quality testing, to enable them to measure the impact of their projects. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1782/phytolon-and-ginkgo-bioworks-to-produce-natural-food-color-spectrum-via-yeast-strains.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1782/phytolon-and-ginkgo-bioworks-to-produce-natural-food-color-spectrum-via-yeast-strains.html Thu, 01 Feb 2024 09:33:25 +0530 Natural food colors via fermentation-based technologies are unique and cost-efficient for the food industry Phytolon, a biotechnology company that offers natural food colors via fermentation-based technologies, and Ginkgo Bioworks, which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, today announced the successful completion of the first development milestone of their multi-product collaboration to produce natural food colors and the resulting distribution of an equity milestone to Ginkgo. Ginkgo and Phytolon's partnership, which began in February 2022, aims to produce vibrant betalain pigments spanning the entire yellow-to-purple spectrum using cell engineering. The successful completion of the project's first milestone unlocks the commercial potential of Phytolon's yellow-to-purple palette and further establishes this broad and cost-efficient offering to its clients. By leveraging Ginkgo Natural Product Services, Phytolon has significantly improved the efficiency of its yeast strains to generate these vibrant, sustainable colors and offer cost-efficient replacements to artificial dyes. Phytolon's naturally produced betalain pigments can be used throughout the food industry as safe, sustainable, and viable alternatives to synthetic dyes, which are facing increased scrutiny and bans. As governments continue to intensify regulations on synthetic dyes, consumers will increasingly seek out more sustainable and nature-derived products. By partnering with Ginkgo, Phytolon is in a strong position to scale their robust array of food colorants for the global market. Following the successful completion of the partnership's first milestone, Phytolon soon expects to bring the full color palette enabled by these two new strains to market. Ginkgo and Phytolon will continue to work together under their existing agreement toward achieving additional milestones that further increase production efficiency. We are so excited to reach this key milestone with our partner, Ginkgo Bioworks. This achievement puts our colors at the forefront to efficiently replace artificial dyes in our food and create a healthy and sustainable world," said Tal Zeltzer, co-founder and CTO of Phytolon. "Our clients are now able to explore high-performing natural colors in their brands, covering the full range from purple to pink, red, orange, and yellow shades." "We are thrilled to see our collaboration with Phytolon accelerate, and we're proud to be a driving force behind the realization of this milestone and the R&D breakthroughs it represents," said Kevin Madden, Senior Vice President of Commercialization at Ginkgo Bioworks. "Ginkgo Natural Product Services have enabled Phytolon's products to be competitive worldwide and create a broader palette of options for the industry. We're happy to be able to provide innovators like Phytolon with our services and give access to our codebase to accelerate their product development. As we celebrate this success, we look forward to sustaining this momentum to further enhance the performance of Phytolon's products." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1720/organic-valley-expands-product-portfolio-with-new-family-first-milk-line.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1720/organic-valley-expands-product-portfolio-with-new-family-first-milk-line.html Thu, 25 Jan 2024 07:59:24 +0530 Organic Valley – America's largest organic farmer-owned dairy cooperative – announced the expansion of its fluid milk portfolio with Organic Valley® Family First™. New Organic Valley Family First milk has all the goodness of the standard 12 essential nutrients in Organic Valley milks, with added DHA Omega 3 to support brain health. This new milk is meant to be enjoyed by milk lovers of all ages and comes from pasture-raised cows on Organic Valley's small family farms. According to a 2019 study published by the National Institute of Health, Americans in all age groups did not meet the recommended daily intake of Omega 3s to meet nutritional needs based on U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. And, recent insights uncovered by Organic Valley show that families are in search of a milk that meets the varying nutritional needs of their families. The new Family First organic milk line from Organic Valley provides 50 mg of DHA Omega 3 per serving to help provide a solution to this problem. "Our new Organic Valley Family First milk tastes just as fresh and delicious as our other organic milks, with the added benefits of DHA Omega 3," said Jaclyn Cardin, Organic Valley chief brand officer. "And so, we couldn't be more excited to bring our new Family First milk to store shelves nationwide and offer families a great-tasting option from our co-op that provides quality nutrition for the whole family." Like all Organic Valley milk, Family First comes from happy, healthy cows on the cooperative's farms and is produced without antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides, or GMO's. Consumers can feel good knowing that when they choose Organic Valley – including the new Family First milk – they are purchasing organic milk from small organic family farms and helping protect where your food comes from. Organic Valley Family First milk can be enjoyed as a delicious, hydrating beverage to support everyday nutrition. Additionally, it can be used for cooking and baking just like other Organic Valley milks. Family First milk will begin appearing on retailer shelves nationwide beginning this month, available in Whole and Reduced Fat 2%, 64-ounce (half gallon) cartons for a suggested retail price of $5.99-$6.99. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1756/nutricell-marks-a-new-era-of-global-expansion-with-2024-export-launch-to-japan.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1756/nutricell-marks-a-new-era-of-global-expansion-with-2024-export-launch-to-japan.html Thu, 25 Jan 2024 07:11:25 +0530 Nutricell is allset to launch of our export operations to Japan on January 25, 2024. This event, taking place at PT. Nutricell Pacific in Tangerang Selatan, marks a milestone in our commitment to delivering superior quality and innovation beyond borders. Japan, known for its stringent quality standards and innovative market, is a crucial step in our global expansion strategy. Nutricell’s entry into this market is not just a business expansion; it’s a testament to our unwavering dedication to quality, sustainability, and excellence in animal nutrition and health solutions. The export launch will be honored by the presence of the esteemed Minister of Agriculture of The Republic of Indonesia, who will officially inaugurate our journey into the Japanese market. This high-level endorsement underscores the significance of this venture for both Nutricell and the broader agricultural sector in Indonesia. Our journey to this point has been fueled by relentless innovation, deep market understanding, and a commitment to sustainability. The expansion into Japan aligns with our vision of being at the forefront of the animal nutrition and health industry, not just in Indonesia but globally. As we celebrate this new chapter, we also reaffirm our promise to our clients and partners. Nutricell is more than a brand; we are a symbol of trust, quality, and progressive solutions in the animal nutrition and health sector. Our foray into Japan is just the beginning of many more strategic expansions we envision in the future. We invite our partners, stakeholders, and the media to join us in this celebration. Let’s mark this momentous occasion together as we unveil Nutricell’s Horizon: Bridging Markets, Expanding Futures. Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for more updates and insights into this exciting development. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1744/chinese-aseptic-packaging-firm-shandong-newjf-enters-liquid-packaging-market-viz-dairy-and-beverages.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1744/chinese-aseptic-packaging-firm-shandong-newjf-enters-liquid-packaging-market-viz-dairy-and-beverages.html Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:09:24 +0530 Leading aseptic packaging enterprise acquired 28.22% stake in Greatview Aseptic Packaging As one of the largest dairy and milk consumers in the world, with an annual industry growth rate of about 10%, China has in recent years set its sights on aseptic packaging, an unassuming but critical phase for the milk industrial chain, which aroused market attention as Chinese companies strategize to break foreign monopoly through business mergers and acquisitions. Chinese leading aseptic packaging enterprise Shandong NewJF Technology Packaging Co., Ltd (NEWJF) has now acquired 28.22% stake in Greatview Aseptic Packaging to boost NEWJF's competitiveness in the liquid product packaging market. The acquisition helped NEWJF resolve overcapacity issues with Mengniu and enhance production efficiency by adopting a universal management system. The collaboration between the two leading companies also facilitated the healthy development of the industry, moving away from price wars.Greatview Aseptic Packaging accounts for about 40% of products of Mengniu, and is also the core supplier of New Hope Dairy and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Xiajin Milk. "NEWJF values this cooperation opportunity, and is willing to explore the aseptic packaging sector providing clients and industry with better services. It is our right to appoint directors as the largest shareholder and we believe that diversifying Greatview's board of directors will expedite its sustainable development" explains NEWJF office. Founded in 2007, NEWJF, listed on the Growth Enterprise Market of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in September 2, 2022, witnessed consecutive revenue growth from 2020 to 2022. Analysts believe that the acquisition will facilitate NEWJF in further exploring international markets. NEWJF became qualified provider of aseptic packaging material for Yili in 2009 and it solidified its ties when Yili bought a 20% stake in NEWJF in August 2015.  While Yili's current stake has been reduced to less than 5% at present, it still remains NEWJF's largest client, generating 70% the packaging company's revenue. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1740/nestle-invests-additional-100-million-to-expand-production-in-vietnam-market.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1740/nestle-invests-additional-100-million-to-expand-production-in-vietnam-market.html Fri, 19 Jan 2024 10:41:30 +0530 Total investment capital at Vietnam site reaches more than $500 million Nestlé Vietnam has announced an additional investment of $100 million to increase the capacity of Nestlé Tri An factory, Dong Nai province, bringing the total investment capital at this factory to more than $500 million. The additional investment in the Nestlé Tri An factory will help increase capacity and capacity to meet the increasing demand for coffee, continuing to make the Vietnamese market a center for coffee production and supply. High value for domestic and world markets. To date, Nestlé Group has invested nearly $830 million through Nestlé Vietnam Co., Ltd. with 4 factories and 2 distribution centers. In Dong Nai province alone, the company is operating 3 factories, of which Nestlé Tri An is one of Nestlé's largest manufacturing factories in Vietnam. This is also one of the Group's coffee processing factories with the most modern scale and technology in the region. Currently, the factory is producing coffee products with familiar brands including NESCAFÉ, NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, NESPRESSO, Starbucks and Blue Bottle. Currently, coffee products produced at Nestlé Tri An factory have been exported to more than 29 countries around the world. In addition, Nestlé is also the largest coffee purchasing unit with a total annual purchasing cost from Vietnam of up to $700 million. Binu Jacob - General Director of Nestlé Vietnam - said: "The project is a testament to Nestlé's long-term investment commitment in Vietnam. It is expected that when the project comes into operation, the factory's capacity will increase, meeting the domestic market's consumer demand and effectively exploiting the export potential, making Vietnam a coffee supply center. High value coffee for the world. At the same time, through this project, we also hope to create many job opportunities and continue to expand long-term investment activities in Vietnam, contributing to sustainable economic development and prosperity of the country". Sustainable coffee production is one of Nestlé's important directions in Vietnam. Besides investing in production technology, Nestlé Tri An factory is always a pioneer in sustainable development through the use of clean energy, biomass energy, and application of circular economy in quality management. waste and conserve water resources. Accordingly, each year Nestlé Tri An factory can reduce more than 14,000 tons of CO2 emissions during coffee processing. In addition, 100% of coffee grounds after production are reused by the factory as biomass raw materials. Wastewater from the coffee production process is also treated, recycled, and reused in the boiler, helping the factory save more than 112,000 m3 of water/year. At the same time, with the desire to contribute to improving the quality of Vietnamese coffee beans, since 2011, Nestlé has implemented the NESCAFÉ Plan program in the Central Highlands region. The program has also brought positive solutions to sustainably develop the Vietnamese coffee industry from distributing high-quality seedlings, farming according to regenerative agriculture, protecting water resources and biodiversity. learn. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1733/novel-dairy-farming-study-demonstrates-microbial-nitrogen-efficacy-to-boosts-silage-tonnage-and-profitability.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1733/novel-dairy-farming-study-demonstrates-microbial-nitrogen-efficacy-to-boosts-silage-tonnage-and-profitability.html Thu, 18 Jan 2024 09:11:00 +0530 Study indicates farmers who used Pivot Bio’s PROVEN 40 witnessed reduced rate of nitrogen with a 0.91 increase in tonnage per acre, representing a 4.2% advantage over the grower standard An extensive new study conducted in collaboration with over 30 dairy producers during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons demonstrated that replacing up to 40 pounds per acre of synthetic nitrogen with Pivot Bio PROVEN® 40 significantly improved silage tonnage without sacrificing quality. The results, presented at the Dairy Business Association’s Dairy Strong event in Green Bay, Wisconsin, showed that farmers who used PROVEN 40 and a reduced rate of nitrogen saw a 0.91 increase in tonnage per acre, representing a 4.2% advantage over the grower standard. Along with increasing silage production PROVEN 40 also boosted farmer profitability. Replacing synthetic nitrogen with up to 40 pounds of PROVEN 40 led to a 3.4% increase in milk production per acre. While production per acre increased, milk per ton remained consistent, demonstrating that production can increase while maintaining quality. Andy Heath, a Pivot Bio agronomist from Central Wisconsin. “For the second year in a row, our results show that Pivot Bio’s revolutionary microbial nitrogen is a step toward a more prosperous future in corn silage production, optimizing tonnage, maintaining quality, improving environmental outcomes and ultimately driving profitability.” Key findings include: Consistent performance across varied weather conditions: The study, conducted over two years, showcased the consistent advantages of PROVEN 40 in increasing silage yield across diverse weather conditions, soil types and corn silage management systems. Impressive tonnage increase: Dairy producers who replaced up to 40 pounds of synthetic nitrogen per acre with PROVEN 40 increased tonnage per acre by 0.91, a 4.2% boost when adjusted to 65% moisture content. Maintaining quality while growing profitability: In addition to increasing corn tonnage, replacing synthetic nitrogen with PROVEN 40 led to no statistical difference in quality metrics, including 30-hour neutral detergent fiber digestibility, starch content, 240-hour undigestible neutral detergent fiber and crude protein. Pivot Bio is a leading sustainable agriculture company delivering farmers patented crop nutrition technologies that harness the power of nature to reliably and productively grow the food the world needs in the face of increasing volatility. Currently available in North America and soon in Brazil, provides climate solutions by delivering nitrogen to plants without the negative impacts of synthetic fertilizer. Pivot Bio is upending the $190 billion nitrogen market. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1678/koreas-castoma-develops-a-revolutionary-therapeutic-dairy-supplement-turmeric-milk.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1678/koreas-castoma-develops-a-revolutionary-therapeutic-dairy-supplement-turmeric-milk.html Wed, 03 Jan 2024 07:45:05 +0530 Castoma is the first milk-based stomach pain relief product available in Korea to enhance the anti-inflammatory ability of quantum nanoparticles called Nano Curcumin Castoma, a new breakthrough dairy supplement that can support those suffering from stomach disease, has been launched in Korea. Castoma aims to provide relief and comfort to millions of people who struggle with stomach problems such as gastritis, ulcers, and reflux. Castoma is the first milk-based stomach pain relief product available in Korea. Characterized by Nano Curcumin essence, it has the effect of inhibiting HP bacteria 40 times more than regular turmeric powder. Castoma helps improve intestinal problems. Castoma, the dairy supplement, uses curcumin as its main ingredient to treat stomach ulcers. Here are some key features of the innovative therapeutic product. Inhibits HP bacteria (Helicobacter Pylori) 40 times more than regular turmeric powder and inhibits the growth of 65 HP strains. Reduces factors that attack the stomach: Curcumin reduces the secretion of gastric acid and pepsin, reducing the activity of substances that promote inflammation in the body. The product increases gastric mucosal protective factors: by increasing mucus concentration and increasing nitric oxide in mucus. Thus, induces anti-inflammation and quickly heals ulcers on the stomach lining. The product brings back great benefits to actively support the treatment of peptic ulcers, but Curcumin is poorly soluble in water, with less than 1% absorption in the intestine, causing limitations in treatment. To surmount this limitation, Castoma has been applied nanotechnology to bring Curcumin molecules to the size of microscopic molecules, which are nanoparticles, collectively called Nano Curcumin, hence optimizing the absorption and effectiveness of this powerful natural compound. Based on the effective anti-inflammatory ability of quantum nanoparticles, they go deep into the stomach and inhibit the growth of HP bacteria - a harmful agent that accounts for up to 80% of the causes of illness in people with stomach diseases nowadays. Castoma with nanotechnology which supports the treatment of stomach pain, is available in milk form and can be consumed daily.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1643/nestle-partnership-sees-extra-payment-offered-to-fonterra-farmers.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1643/nestle-partnership-sees-extra-payment-offered-to-fonterra-farmers.html Thu, 21 Dec 2023 07:54:53 +0530 One year on from announcing a partnership designed to help reduce on-farm emissions, Fonterra and Nestlé are pleased to confirm the next step they’re taking to support farmers with their sustainability actions A new agreement will see Nestlé fund an additional payment to farmers who achieve one of the three levels of Fonterra’s  Co-operative Difference framework during the 2023/24 season. Depending on the number of farmers that meet these levels, Fonterra expects the additional payment to farmers to be about 1-2 cents per kilogram of milk solids. Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell welcomes Nestlé’s continued support of farmers who are making continuous improvements with on-farm sustainability.  “By working in partnership, we can grow sustainably together as we aim to produce lower carbon milk into the future,” says Hurrell.  Globally, Nestlé is investing 1.2 billion Swiss Francs (NZD2.25 billion) by 2025 to advance regenerative agriculture and reduce emissions, aiming to source 50 per cent of their ingredients through regenerative agriculture methods by 2030.  Jennifer Chappell, Nestlé New Zealand CEO says their success relies not just on working with processors, but also farmers who share this vision.  “Nestlé has sourced dairy from New Zealand for well over a hundred years and we will continue supporting farmers, alongside our partners, to develop new economic opportunities and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.” Fonterra has an ambition of being net zero by 2050, with 2030 targets including a 30 per cent intensity reduction in on-farm emissions, which Nestlé welcomes. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1638/trouw-nutrition-to-chair-pathways-to-dairy-net-zero-animal-nutrition-workstream.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1638/trouw-nutrition-to-chair-pathways-to-dairy-net-zero-animal-nutrition-workstream.html Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:19:05 +0530 Dairy is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, representing 2.5% of global emissions – so lowering its impact is an urgent priority. Trouw Nutrition and the Global Dairy Platform (GDP) have agreed to collaborate on a global pre-competitive Animal Nutrition Workstream to help support and guide research on innovative solutions to decarbonise the dairy sector. Developed as part of the Pathways to Dairy Net Zero (P2DNZ) initiative, the task force will provide leadership in the dairy nutrition space, focusing on opportunities to minimise the environmental impact of dairy production through innovative forage, feed and feeding developments and technologies. To launch this partnership, GDP and Trouw Nutrition will host two P2DNZ webinars on January 17. The GDP is a dairy value chain organisation whose members collaborate pre-competitively to address issues important to the industry. GDP developed the P2DNZ initiative, a growing global movement dedicated to reducing dairy’s greenhouse gas emissions over the next 30 years by accelerating action against climate change throughout the dairy sector. Over 200 organisations, representing nearly 40% of global milk production, have already signed on. The immediate goals of the new Animal Nutrition Workstream include:  Identifying high-impact development areas and assembling workstreams to address them Creating a pre-competitive and collaborative forum to identify and address barriers to implementing and scaling solutions Demonstrating the dairy sector's commitment to achieving sustainability goals JJ Degan, Ruminant Manager of Global Strategic Marketing at Trouw Nutrition, said" At Trouw Nutrition, we are committed to investing in improving the future of dairy farming. We believe that the P2DNZ’s collaborative and pre-competitive approach will enable us to collectively identify game-changing opportunities that will help us move the needle on the urgent task of reducing the dairy sector’s climate impact while also increasing the supply and access of nutritious dairy foods to a growing global population". A critical and urgent challenge The dairy sector supports one billion people’s livelihoods while also providing nutritious dairy products to billions across the globe. It will play a critical role in helping to achieve Nutreco’s purpose of Feeding the Future: ensuring the 10 billion people on the planet in 2050 have enough high-quality nutrients to thrive. But at the same time, dairy is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, representing 2.5% of global emissions – so lowering its impact is an urgent priority. Degan explained the focus on animal nutrition is an important part of the solution, noting that, “roughly 40% of greenhouse gas emissions on dairy farms are related to feeding cattle, and about another 40% of emissions come from enteric methane. The Animal Nutrition Workstream will work on reducing these impact areas.” Donald Moore, GDP Executive Director, said, "We know all the good that dairy can do in the world. Now we need to be sure that, as we move forward, we’re making the dairy sector as environmentally, socially, economically and nutritionally sustainable as we can. This is a key component of the P2DNZ program and this newest workstream. We’re excited to collaborate with the team at Trouw Nutrition to tap into their expertise on how innovative animal nutrition solutions can help us lower emissions". “Driving dairy sustainability is a complex task that will require collaboration across the value chain, so we urge other players in the chain to join us on this journey. We can go much further together than alone, and it’s critical to the future of our industry – and the planet – that our work has a real impact,” said Degan. GDP and Trouw Nutrition will be hosting two P2DNZ webinars on January 17 to dive into how the animal nutrition industry is contributing to our global sustainability goals and how we can take the next steps on this journey in the area of cow feed, and to introduce the Animal Nutrition Workstream.   ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1626/usda-releases-japans-dairy-industry-analytics-for-fy-2023.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1626/usda-releases-japans-dairy-industry-analytics-for-fy-2023.html Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:51:07 +0530 USDA has released analytical report depicting ups and down in Japan's Dairy industry. According to the report, the weaker yen has made landed feed costs higher for dairy producers, driving up milk prices anddampening consumption in 2022 and 2023. For details, see JA2023-0119. The surge in milk prices started in late 2022 and has not eased. As a result, retail milk consumption from January through September in 2023 dipped by 12 percent compared to 2020. For butter, the impact was delayed due to a buildup in stocks during the COVID-19 pandemic as school closures and other factors depressed liquid milk consumption, forcing dairy producers to divert large quantities of raw milk to butter production (see JA2020-0174). However, by April retail butter prices also started to rise, pushing consumption down 13 percent from January to September compared to 2020. Meanwhile, prices for both domestic and imported cheese remain high. The average CIF price for imported natural cheese was 792 yen ($5.28) per kilogram, up 68 percent from 2020, leading to a 15 percent drop in retail consumption. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1541/darigold-launches-new-operations-in-boise.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1541/darigold-launches-new-operations-in-boise.html Wed, 15 Nov 2023 11:06:20 +0530 The new Boise operation area continues to modernize and globalize dairy and agriculture business Seattle-based Darigold, Inc., one of the nation's largest dairy producers with farming and processing operations throughout the Northwest, announced plans to open a new office in the Boise, Idaho area. Farmer-owned Darigold will use the new location to put key parts of its business closer to its network of farms and processing facilities. The company will continue to maintain a presence in Seattle. "While Seattle has always been our home, our operations – including farming and production – are located throughout the Northwest, in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana," said Joe Coote, CEO at Darigold. "With the establishment in the Boise area we continue to modernize and globalize our business. This new office location gives us greater access to a larger workforce focused on agriculture, creates a better opportunity to establish Darigold as an employer of choice and valued community partner, and establishes a presence closer to farming and production operations in much of our region." "Idaho's red-hot economy, including a robust agriculture sector, combined with our business-friendly regulatory environment and strong communities are attracting more and more companies to expand in our state," Governor Brad Little said of Darigold's plans to establish an Idaho office. The new Boise area office comes at a time when Darigold is making other investments to support its co-op. The company made an investment in an aseptic packaging line in its Boise production facility in 2021 and began construction on a new production facility in Pasco, Wash., in 2022, which is expected to open next year. Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen's Association. "Idaho is a growing center for dairy production and securing a major office location from one of the nation's largest dairy producers underscores our state's importance in the nation's dairy industry." Darigold announces Plans for Boise Area Office/p.2 Darigold hopes to secure space in early 2024. The company anticipates completing tenant finish and staffing for the Boise office over the span of 18 to 24 months. "We are thrilled to see Darigold expand its presence in Idaho," said Karianne Fallow, CEO of Dairy West, which represents dairy farm families in Idaho and Utah to promote the dairy industry. "In addition to being home to so many thriving dairy farms, the state also houses a number of agriculture and packaged food companies. Adding this century-old brand to the state's lineup of food and ag companies shows the important role Idaho plays in feeding people around the country and globally." "With this office established in the Boise area, we'll have a better opportunity to establish lean and efficient teams to support the needs of our farmer-owners, our network of operating sites, and our customers," said Darigold's Coote. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1536/foremost-farms-partners-ginkgo-bioworks-to-develop-technology-for-upcycling-dairy-co-products.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1536/foremost-farms-partners-ginkgo-bioworks-to-develop-technology-for-upcycling-dairy-co-products.html Fri, 10 Nov 2023 11:16:38 +0530  Foremost Farms will leverage Ginkgo's bioproduction services and market-leading metabolic engineering and analytical capabilities to advance this novel technology Foremost Farms USA, a world-class producer of cheese, butter, and dairy ingredients supplied to national and international markets, and Ginkgo Bioworks, which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, has partnered to use advances in biotechnology to enable domestic, sustainable biomanufacturing of materials from dairy co-products to benefit the environment, family farms and the dairy industry as a whole. Through this partnership, Foremost Farms will leverage Ginkgo's bioproduction services to develop and commercialize a new technology that could help upcycle billions of pounds of dairy co-products each year. Foremost Farms has selected Ginkgo as its partner of choice to develop a new upcycling technology because of Ginkgo's leading metabolic engineering and analytical capabilities, which will allow strain optimization for challenging environmental conditions while avoiding common toxicity issues. Reducing the Dairy Industry's Carbon Footprint The dairy industry produces low-value co-products that contribute to their overall carbon footprint. Ginkgo aims to help Foremost build a technology to reduce this carbon footprint by upcycling these low-value co-products. This process could provide an environmentally friendly alternative to wasteful and carbon-intensive chemical production through domestic, sustainable biomanufacturing solutions. "We're excited to partner with Ginkgo Bioworks, which can uniquely help Foremost Farms realize its goals. Ginkgo's platform gives us access to everything we need to move from concept to commercialization faster, providing a competitive advantage," said Greg Schlafer, President and CEO, Foremost Farms. "We are innovating to continue our trajectory as environmental stewards that take care of our world and create value for dairy farm families by potentially lowering manufacturing costs and creating a significant new revenue stream for those farmers." "Ginkgo is always on the lookout for opportunities to use biology to create more sustainable products, and we are especially interested in helping customers in legacy industries develop improved production processes and a more circular economy," said Jennifer Wipf, Ginkgo's Head of Commercial, Cell Engineering. "We're eager to put our advanced metabolic engineering capabilities to work for Foremost Farms and are proud to help accelerate efforts focused on sustainable biomanufacturing." "We're in a unique position to leverage Ginkgo's expertise because their flexible R&D service offerings allow us to creatively approach this significant opportunity in our value chain," said Declan Roche, Chief Commercial Officer at Foremost Farms. "With Ginkgo, we're able to pursue this exciting opportunity while minimizing our internal R&D fixed costs and allowing our team to remain focused on our core business." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1504/first-locally-produced-organic-cheese-is-launched-in-indonesia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1504/first-locally-produced-organic-cheese-is-launched-in-indonesia.html Mon, 30 Oct 2023 06:25:47 +0530 Mazaraat Artisan Cheese production to produce the country's first organic cheese at its newly established manufacturing facility in Malang The Indonasia cheese project brings together Denmark's agricultural expertise with local Indonesian partners to showcase the opportunities within organic dairy farming in Indonesia. Mazaraat Artisan Cheese processes the certified organic milk from the KPSP cooperative at its newly established manufacturing facility in Malang to produce the country's first organic cheese. A milestone for the dairy sector in this country with a population of 273 million is the launch of the first Indonesian organic cheese production lines in August 2023. In order to increase the efficiency of dairy farming and unlock the potential of organic production in Indonesia, Danida-funded Mazaraat Artisan Cheese has produced the cheese. Initially, the project focused on capacity building and supporting local farmers in the dairy cooperative KPSP as they transitioned from conventional to organic farming. An Indonesian certification body LeSOS, Bina Swadaya, and the cooperative worked together to complete the project with the assistance of Danish company SEGES Innovation and ICOEL. "Converting the first smallholder farms in Indonesia, with only 3-5 cows, from conventional to certified organic dairy production represents a significant step forward. The Indonesian organic standards have to reflect the local context where many of the farms are located in villages, and without fields surrounding the barns. But we have outlined the basics of organic milk production in terms of animal welfare, feed and concentrate production. This achievement is a result of a great partnership with KPSP and Bina Swadaya as well as from numerous stakeholders all along the dairy value chain," says Lisbeth Hendricksen, director of innovation from SEGES Innovation. by end of 2023, Indonesian dairy consumption is expected to grow by 6%, and 80% of it is imported, indicating a local desire to make dairy production more efficient. In addition, the Indonesian government has set specific targets for organic food production, aiming to increase it from 2% to 20% by 2024. The Danish food cluster has a long and celebrated tradition of producing organic dairy of the highest quality. In this project, we are combining the expertise and data acquired over decades with local players bringing an entrepreneurial spirit and market knowledge to the benefit of the whole Indonesian dairy sector," says International Chief Consultant at the Danish Agriculture and Food Council, Jeppe Søndergaard Pedersen. The milk volume is set to increase to 250 litres per day by the end of the year and to 6000 litres per day by 2026 from the current 60 litres. With its experience working with both organic and artisanal cheese categories, Arla Foods, the world's largest organic dairy producer, contributes advanced processing expertise and go-to-market support. An official partnership was formed following research trips to Denmark in 2018 and 2019, in which representatives of the Indonesian government and KPSP farmers gained insights about organic dairy production. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1493/vietnams-vinamilk-expands-into-chinas-dairy-market-with-key-partnerships.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1493/vietnams-vinamilk-expands-into-chinas-dairy-market-with-key-partnerships.html Mon, 23 Oct 2023 11:15:36 +0530 Partnerships begins with signing of a mutual cooperation agreement to penetrate China's dairy market Vietnam's leading dairy brand Vinamilk has signed a cooperation memorandum with leading Chinese partners during the Hanoi investment, trade, and tourism promotion conference in Guangzhou on September 26th, 2023 to is make significant strides in China's dairy market. Prior to this collaboration, the Chinese partners visited Vinamilk's facilities in Vietnam, and expressed trust in Vinamilk's capabilities after sampling Vinamilk's products tailored for the Chinese market. Vinamilk pioneers in producing customized yogurt products, tailored to meet the Chinese market's quality standards and preferences. Concurrently, Chinese partners will oversee importation, distribution network, regulatory compliance, and trade promotions. China stands as the world's largest import market for dairy products, with 3.897 million tons valued at $13.36 billion imported in 2021. Yogurt ranks among the fastest-growing segments in the Chinese dairy industry, expected to reach $73 billion in sales by 2029 with annual growth of 15% from 2023 to 2029. "Yogurt holds a vital place in the Chinese consumers' diet. Since the protocol allowing the export of Vietnamese dairy products to China was established, I've been eager to collaborate with Vinamilk to introduce the brand's yogurt products to China," said Ye Canjiang, Chairman and General Manager of Guangzhou Jiangnan Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market Management Company Limited, the leading wholesale market management company in Guangdong. "Yogurt has stringent storage requirements and short shelf-life. With this collaboration, we can significantly reduce the time it takes for Vinamilk's yogurt products to reach consumers while ensuring optimal preservation conditions" said Vo Trung Hieu, Vinamilk's International Business Director. Vietnam Dairy Products JSC (Vinamilk) is the leading national dairy company specializing in dairy and nutritious products. Vinamilk manages 15 farms and 17 factories supplying up to 250 SKUs in the product portfolio and has exported to nearly 60 countries and regions. The dairy brand is currently among the Top 40 largest dairy companies and the sixth most valuable dairy brand worldwide. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1489/natureworks-forges-into-next-phase-of-new-fully-integrated-ingeoefb88f-pla-biopolymer-manufacturing-facility-in-thailand.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1489/natureworks-forges-into-next-phase-of-new-fully-integrated-ingeoefb88f-pla-biopolymer-manufacturing-facility-in-thailand.html Fri, 20 Oct 2023 10:33:56 +0530 The leading manufacturer of low-carbon polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers is on track to complete construction on their newest manufacturing facility with full production anticipated in 2025 NatureWorks, a leading manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, has made significant progress on the construction of their new fully integrated Ingeo™️ PLA biopolymer manufacturing facility in Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand. As a fully integrated PLA complex, the plant will include three manufacturing facilities: lactic acid fermentation, lactide monomer production, and polymerization. The facility will have an annual capacity of 75,000 tons of Ingeo biopolymer and produce the full portfolio of Ingeo grades. The company is striving to be develop fully biobased, low-carbon biomaterials with unique performance attributes valued by global downstream packaging and fiber markets. “The construction of our new facility is a significant undertaking that represents NatureWorks’ continued investment both in the Asia Pacific region and in the expansion of the biobased materials market,” said Steve Bray, VP of Operations at NatureWorks. “We have seen a rise in demand for Ingeo biopolymers throughout the Asia Pacific region, and this new complex will allow us to continue to sustainably and efficiently supply our markets with the highest quality biopolymers.” The construction of this new facility will support rapid growth in multiple different markets including 3D printing, nonwovens for hygiene, compostable coffee capsules, tea bags, flexible packaging, and sustainable food serviceware. Construction is on track to support projected start-up activities and full production in 2025. Ingeo biopolymer produced at this site will be made from sugarcane, an annually renewable feedstock that is locally abundant and will be sourced from farms within a 50-kilometer radius of the Nakhon Sawan site. “Over the last decade, the global materials market increasingly prioritized the use of biobased, sustainably sourced materials in order to reduce the impact on climate and facilitate climate-friendly processes like food scrap diversion from landfill to compost through the use of compostable materials,” said Jill Zullo, CEO at NatureWorks. NatureWorks as an advanced materials company offering a broad portfolio of biopolymers and biochemicals made from renewable resources. With performance and economics that compete with oil-based materials, naturally advanced Ingeo™ biomaterials are valued for their unique functional properties and used in products from coffee capsules and appliances to tea bags and 3D printing filament. NatureWorks is jointly owned by Thailand’s largest ASEAN leading integrated petrochemical and refining company, GC, and Cargill, which provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1474/international-dairy-federation-idf-announces-new-board-of-directors.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1474/international-dairy-federation-idf-announces-new-board-of-directors.html Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:55:32 +0530 Announces new Board of Directors and IDF Dairy Innovation Awards The International Dairy Federation  IDF World Dairy Summit 2023 commenced on 16 October under the theme “BE Dairy: Boundless Potential. Endless Possibilities”. The US, the world’s 2nd largest milk producer, is hosting 4 days of sessions exploring the latest developments in dairy science, technology, knowledge and innovation from all over the world. The IDF World dairy Summit 2023 will also be an unparalleled opportunity for networking for dairy leaders and experts from all over the world. This year marks the 120th anniversary of the International Dairy Federation's establishment. The IDF has played a pivotal role in fostering dairy science and technological innovation worldwide and making substantial contributions to the sustainable development of the global dairy industry. With 39 member countries representing 74% of the world's milk production, the IDF holds unparalleled influence in shaping the industry's future. IDF as the foremost advocate for scientific and technical expertise in the global dairy sector, and with the 2023 World Food Forum being hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization, the IDF’s General Assembly, comprised of diverse dairy-producing nations worldwide, underscores the significance of collaborative efforts. Dairy’s premier global gathering returns to the United States (Chicago) for the first time in 30 years, featuring dynamic programming, consisting of eight plenary sessions, and twenty-one concurrent break-out sessions, all led by world-renowned experts. The IDF World Dairy Summit 2023 is aiming to foster collaboration, celebrate innovation, and shape the future of the global dairy industry. In addition to its robust program and networking opportunities, it is providing an unrivaled forum for stakeholders to share knowledge and drive dairy excellence globally. IDF has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with other key stakeholders like ICAR, the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR), and IICA (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture). As IDF President Piercristiano Brazzale emphasized “IDF World Dairy Summit 2023 is an international congregation of dairy enthusiasts, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders that holds the key to transforming dairy’s promise into a vibrant reality. The summit forges a united front in advancing dairy excellence across the globe”. New Board of the International Dairy Federation New Board of Director IDF, Dr Meenesh Shah Chairman of NDDB and Dr. Yun Zhanyou, Vice President of Yili Group along with IDF President Piercristiano Brazzale On October 15, 2023, The International Dairy Federation (IDF) held its Board of Directors election. Dr Meenesh Shah serving as Chairman & Managing Director at India’s National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Dr. Yun Zhanyou, Vice President of Yili Group are among the three newly elected Board of Directors at IDF. Dr Shah has been associated with IDF since long in different capacities and has been instrumental in sensitising the world about the unique smallholder-based Indian dairying system in different international forums. He is the Member Secretary of the Indian National Committee and also a member of the Standing Committee on Dairy Policy and Economics. Dr Shah mentioned that India contributes to more than 23% of the global milk production, and now will be representing the Board of IDF, which will ensure a more inclusive and better global dairying ecosystem. This will also help put forth the voice of millions of dairy farmers from the smallholder-based dairying system to the global forum and help design suitable policies, frameworks, systems and processes.  Dr. Yun Zhanyou, Vice President of Yili Group said "I'm honored and proud to be a part of the IDF board of directors, and it comes with a greater sense of responsibility. We're excited about having closer communication with the global dairy industry and sharing the valuable experiences and accomplishments of Chinese dairy companies in areas like innovation research, digitalization, and sustainable development. Our goal is to work together and create more opportunities, unlocking the boundless potential of the global dairy industry". The Board of Directors is the governing body that manages the strategy of IDF, endorsed by the General Assembly to meet the needs of the constantly changing and dynamic dairy sector. The Board of Directors provide detail on general IDF operational policies and strategies, and the vision and the mission of the Federation. The Board supervises the execution of the decisions of the General Assembly, and makes recommendations on IDF policies and priorities to the General Assembly. IDF Board of Directors. Comprising nine industry associations and business representatives from member countries, this influential body serves as the primary hub for research, decision-making, and coordination within the IDF. The Board President, the Chair of the Science and Programme Coordination Committee, four Delegates of the General Assembly, two dairy sector representatives (one for farming and the other for processing) and the Chair of the National Secretaries Committee will be part of it. IDF Dairy Innovation Awards The IDF World dairy Summit also hosted the second edition of the IDF Dairy Innovation Awards 2023 on 17 October, aimed at showcasing the most innovative and groundbreaking innovations of global dairy. The IDF Dairy Innovation Awards is an International Dairy Federation initiative designed to celebrate and encourage innovative practices across the global dairy sector, which was launched in 2022 in partnership with Zenith Global and supported by headline sponsorship from Tetra Pak. With a particular focus on Sustainability, both in terms of environmental care and positive social impact, the awards seek to stimulate innovative practices that improve farming and processing of milk and dairy foods. In this years edition, the IDF Dairy Innovation Awards received 173 entries from 26 countries, representing a 20% increase over last year's entry number indicating Dairy industry commitment to innovation and sustainability throughout the multistage milk and dairy production value chain. Innovation in Sustainable Farming Practices (Environment) awarded to Bioret Agri for Aqualim Thermodynamic and Dairy Australia for Environmental Tracker Innovation in Sustainable Farming Practices (Animal Care) awarded to FaunaTech for FaunaTech tool Innovation in Sustainable Farming Practices (Socio-Economic) awarded to Danone for transforming the food system by empowering Algerian Smallholder farmers Innovation in Sustainable Processing awarded to Hochschule Hanover for development of a RO-NF-UF membrane cascade to concentrate skim milk to a dry matter of > 48% Innovation in Marketing & Communication Initiative Building Dairy Category awarded to Dairy Farmers of Canada for Innovation in New Product Development with focus on Food Safety and Consumer Nutrition; Unison Process Solutions for Heist System; and Yili Group Ltd for Ambient Cheese Lollipop Innovation in Sustainable Packaging awarded to Yili Group Ltd for declaring "Your Love to the Earth with Actions" – SATINE Environmentally Sustainable Packaging with No Ink or Printing Innovation in Women Empowerment in the Dairy Sector awarded to Shreeja Milk for Shreeja Milk Innovation in Climate Action awarded to Lactanet and Semex, Canada IDF is the leading source of scientific and technical expertise for all stakeholders of the dairy chain. IDF's network of dairy experts has provided a mechanism for the dairy sector to reach global consensus on how to help feed the world with safe and sustainable dairy products. IDF members are National Committees, generally constituted by dairy organizations in each country and India is represented by the National Committee (INC) of the IDF.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1462/ql-ag-partners-with-ginkgo-bioworks-to-develop-dairy-proteins.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1462/ql-ag-partners-with-ginkgo-bioworks-to-develop-dairy-proteins.html Fri, 13 Oct 2023 11:03:43 +0530 QL AG, an innovative food technology solutions company, extends collaborative partnership to develop dairy proteins with Ginkgo Bioworks, which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity. QL AG will tap into Ginkgo's extensive capabilities in strain engineering across multiple chassis organisms to support its goal of providing the market with high-quality nutritionally equivalent dairy proteins. The dairy industry faces significant pressures as climate change continues to lead to a reduction in arable land and water. Across the world, supply chain disruptions are increasing input costs and consumers are seeking out more healthy, tasty, sustainable, and affordable food options and alternatives to animal agriculture. As a result, the alternative dairy market has grown by tens of billions of dollars in recent years. Yet, current dairy alternatives still fall short of consumer criteria on critical factors like taste and texture. "Dairy proteins derived using fermentation have advantages across many key dimensions, including taste and texture, as well as the fact that they have no arable land requirement and a lower water requirement," said Roger Föhn, CEO and co-founder of QL AG. "By accessing Ginkgo's platform, QL AG can help reduce the cost of producing dairy proteins with fermentation. We are excited to pursue our goal of making a quantum leap in alternative agriculture by leveraging Ginkgo's unique capabilities in producing strains at high titers and scaling fermentation processes." "Dairy proteins provide an exciting opportunity to leverage our platform, as they have traditionally presented product developers with significant challenges around protein productivity, economics, and functionality for efficacy across different applications. We aim to solve such challenges with our deep expertise in protein engineering, novel bioactivity and biochemistry identification, high-throughput expression, functional studies and scale-up capabilities," said Kalpesh Parekh, Vice President of Business Development at Ginkgo Bioworks. "We are so excited about QL AG's mission, and can't wait to further grow our capabilities in the precision fermentation space by working with such an innovative partner." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1328/vietnam-is-new-zealands-seventh-largest-dairy-export-market-by-value.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1328/vietnam-is-new-zealands-seventh-largest-dairy-export-market-by-value.html Fri, 25 Aug 2023 10:24:05 +0530 Possessing abundant potential, Vietnam’s milk and dairy product market has consistently been an attractive destination for foreign brands. Milk and dairy products imported into Vietnam reach a value of nearly $12 billion in 2021, and it is expected to increase by about 12 % a year until 2031. The demand for milk consumption per capita in Vietnam will reach 40 litres by 2030, along with the middle class and people’s awareness of healthcare increasing according to market research dynamics. A resent report by 'Research and Markets' indicated that in spite of the high demand, domestic fresh milk production could only meet about 40-50 % of the domestic demand, with the rest relying mainly on imports. Anchor Food Professionals (AFP), a dairy brand familiar to Vietnamese consumers, said that they consider the country a key market and will continue to seek opportunities to expand its business here. “We would like to encourage Vietnamese businesses to use our high-quality ingredients for their businesses,” an AFP representative told VIR. Currently, this brand supplies over 3,000 food and beverage outlets across the country. AFP is an ecosystem brand of Fonterra, one of the largest dairy manufacturers in the world, originating in New Zealand. Fonterra has been supplying the Vietnamese market for over 30 years and is a major supplier of dairy ingredients to key Vietnamese manufacturers. “Vietnam is New Zealand’s seventh-largest dairy export market by value and its products account for approximately 40 % of total dairy imports in Vietnam,” the AFP representative added. Attractive destination for foreign brands Possessing abundant potential, Vietnam’s milk and dairy product market has consistently been an attractive destination for foreign brands. In June 2022, the market welcomed Morinaga Milk Industry, a Japanese enterprise with 100 years of experience in developing dairy products, after the acquisition of shares of Elovi Vietnam JSC. Morinaga Milk aims to increase sales outside of Japan to more than 15 % of total sales by 2029. In Vietnam, the company also aims to achieve around $73 million in sales. Macroeconomic struggles and the sharp increase in input material prices since the beginning of this year have not reduced the ambition of foreign enterprises to enter the Vietnamese dairy market. According to the announcement made more than a week ago, South Korean bakery company Orion Food Vina (OFV) decided to join the Vietnamese dairy industry after cooperating with Thai dairy company, Dutch Mill. The result of the joint venture is the appearance of two new brands, Choco IQ milk and ProYo drinking yogurt, which are being launched this month. OFV is a member company of Orion Group, which currently owns confectionery brands such as ChocoPie, Custas, and O’star with the top market share in the bakery industry in Vietnam. Dutch Mill has 70 % of Thailand’s market share. “Making a quality dairy product is not something that can be done quickly, which is why Orion chose to cooperate with a big Thai brand. The two sides have a similar mission,” an OFV representative said. Domestic dairy dominates The entry of more foreign enterprises is creating a competitive market to give Vietnamese consumers the opportunity to choose various products with increasing quality. However, the weakness of these enterprises is that they lack their own raw material areas, and have to depend mainly on imports to ensure the quality according to their own formula. “We import high-quality materials from overseas or buy from the appointed local distributors for our products to ensure the best quality for our products,” said Yoshinobu Matsumoto, marketing director of Elovi Vietnam. Meanwhile, the domestic dairy market is still under the control of Vietnamese enterprises with about 65 % of the market share held by Vinamilk, TH Group, Nutifood, and Vinasoy, according to Euromonitor. The remaining market belongs to foreign enterprises including FrieslandCampina, Nestlé, and around 10 % is there for the taking for new brands. Even though they have the advantage of understanding the market and customers, domestic groups have to change and improve service quality to protect their position. Vinamilk, which holds up to 40 % of the dairy market share, continues to expand cooperation and investment with nutrition expert groups such as Chr. Hansen, DSM, Beneo, and AKK to develop dairy products of international standards. The company uses raw fresh milk from domestic farms and through association with local dairy farmers. The powdered products owned by the company are also used with imported ingredients from reputable partners from countries with strengths in powdered materials, such as the United States and New Zealand. “Vietnam’s dairy market is not saturated. Vinamilk will focus on meeting the needs of consumers in three aspects: quality, price, and service to increase sales and market share,” said CEO Mai Kieu Lien. What is more, Vinamilk is also active and effective in the export segment, with the company’s total accumulated export revenue up to now reaching as much as $3 billion with products present in 60 different countries and territories. Another enterprise in the domestic dairy field, TH Group, also did not miss the opportunity to develop when building more organic dairy farms, providing raw materials for organic milk products in line with the new consumption trend. Besides investing in a $1.2 billion state-of-the-art dairy cow farm and fresh milk processing plant in the central province of Nghe An, with a capacity of 500,000 tonnes of fresh milk a year, and with three clusters including nine farms, about 70,000 cows, and a meadow area of nearly 8,100 hectares, TH Group is also developing a concentrated large-scale high-tech dairy cow production project in Russia, with total investment capital of $2.7 billion, ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1316/thailand-to-increase-efficiency-of-dairy-cow-production-of-farmers-and-preparation-by-2025.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1316/thailand-to-increase-efficiency-of-dairy-cow-production-of-farmers-and-preparation-by-2025.html Mon, 21 Aug 2023 11:20:42 +0530 The Department of Livestock Development has set up five action plans Somchuan Veterinarian Rattana Mangkhalanon Director General of the Department of Livestock Development Assigned Praphas Phinyochep, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Livestock Development discussed on ways to increase the efficiency of dairy cow production of farmers and preparations in 2025. Under the free trade agreement (FTA) Thai-Australia and Thailand-New Zealand, Thailand has to cancel the tax quota in milk and cream products flavored milk beverages and skimmed milk powder. This affects the upstream production sector of the Thai dairy industry because the cost of production is still high. The Department of Livestock Development has set up an action plan and drives work and plays a role in the development of the entire dairy industry, which involves factors affecting the production of dairy cows in 5 main areas: animal breeding animal feed Farm management to increase efficiency animal health  dairy farm standards From upstream in providing services and taking care of dairy farmers and dairy organizations to prepare for the development and increase of farmers' production efficiency. Including managing using the dairy cow database system of the Department of Livestock Development for integrating data for management. and make use of the same information which relevant persons can access the information both executives of the department and cooperatives In order to produce milk that meets quality standards and is safe for consumers. able to compete with foreign countries ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1288/asia-stands-as-a-leader-in-the-global-milk-production-market.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1288/asia-stands-as-a-leader-in-the-global-milk-production-market.html Fri, 11 Aug 2023 11:25:24 +0530 World milk production (roughly 81% cow, 15% buffalo, and 4% for goat, sheep and camels combined) is projected to grow at 1.5% p.a. over the next decade (to 1 039 Mt in 2032), faster than most other main agricultural commodities.  Milk and dairy products are vital sources of nutrition and provide livelihoods for millions of people in dairy value chains across the world. As income and population increase, more dairy products are expected to be consumed over the medium term. The key locations of this strong demand growth are India, Pakistan, and several African countries. Overall, per capita consumption is projected to increase 0.8% p.a. to 15.7 kg (milk solids equivalent, excluding the water content of milk or dairy products) by 2032. Most dairy production is consumed in the form of fresh dairy products, which are unprocessed or only slightly  processed (i.e. pasteurised or fermented) and their share in world consumption is expected to increase over the next decade. In low- and middle-income countries, fresh dairy products comprise over two-thirds of the average per capita dairy consumption (milk solids), while consumers in high-income countries tend to consume more processed products. In Asia, butter is not only the most consumed processed dairy product, accounting for almost half of all processed dairy consumption in terms of milk solids, but it also has the strongest projected growth. World milk production (roughly 81% cow, 15% buffalo, and 4% for goat, sheep and camels combined) is projected to grow at 1.5% p.a. over the next decade (to 1 039 Mt in 2032), faster than most other main gricultural commodities. Over half of the increase in total milk production is anticipated to come from India and Pakistan, which will jointly account for over 32% of world production in 2032. Production in the second largest global milk producer, the European Union, is expected to decline slightly in response to stagnating domestic demand due to low population growth and declining per capita consumption of fresh dairy products, policies targeted to a transition to sustainable production, the expansion of organic production, and pasture-based production systems. Globally, the projected growth in the number of milk-producing animals is expected to be strong, especially in regions with low yields such as Sub-Saharan Africa and in major milk-producing countries such as India and Pakistan. Over the projection period, yields across the world are expected to grow steadily with the strongest growth expected in Southeast Asian countries. Milk is traded internationally mainly in the form of processed dairy products. The People’s Republic of China (hereafter “China”) is expected to remain the most important importer of milk products despite a stronger increase in domestic milk production relative to the past decade.  The projected increase in import demand for dairy products in Southeast Asian countries will be driven by population as well as income growth, which favours more livestock products in diets. However, their per capita consumption is projected to remain low relative to traditional dairy consumer markets. Over the medium term, the European Union, New Zealand, and the United States will remain the key exporters of processed dairy product and are projected to jointly account for around 65% of cheese, 70% of WMP, 70% of butter, and 80% of SMP exports in 2032. The introduction of new sustainable production policies or consumer acceptance issues of dairy products will impact the projections for the dairy sector. In some countries, dairy production accounts for a substantial share of overall greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), resulting in considerations of how adjustments to dairy production scale and technology could contribute to reducing such emissions. Only a relatively small share of global milk production is traded internationally in the form of processed products, mainly powders and cheese. In addition, trade in dairy products is often covered specifically in regional trade agreements. Consequently, new or changed trade agreements tend to alter the global dairy trade. Any entry of India, the world’s largest dairy producer and consumer, into the international market could have a strong impact. Currently, some Indian dairy companies are showing interest in exporting to neighbouring countries. Current market trends Dairy prices reached record highs in 2022 but then started to decline In 2022 the FAO Dairy Price Index value increased by 20% across all dairy products, reaching a new record high. International dairy prices reached their peak around mid-2022 and have started to decline slowly since. Nevertheless, domestic milk prices peaked later and only started to decline towards the end of 2022. The main drivers of prices were energy and feed costs, both showing a similar pattern, but with larger swings compared to those for dairy and milk. World milk production grew by 0.7% in 2022 to about 897 Mt. In India, production increased by 2.2% to 194 Mt., but with little impact on the world dairy market as they trade only marginal quantities of milk and dairy products. Focusing on the three major exporters, the production of the European Union remained unchanged during 2022 but declined in New Zealand and increased in the United States. The world dairy trade in 2022 declined due to considerably smaller import demand from China, especially for whole milk powder (WMP). On the other hand, other major importers of dairy products ‒ Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Mexico - increased their imports. Of the large exporters, the United States would be a strong beneficiary of any additional exports Market projections Milk consumption per capita (in terms of milk solids) will vary largely worldwide (Figure 7.1), driven by varying growth in incomes and regional preferences. In low- and lower middle-income countries most of the production is consumed in the form of fresh dairy products. The consumption of fresh dairy products per capita is expected to be high in India and Pakistan, but low in China.  The dominant use of SMP and WMP will continue to be in the manufacturing sector, notably inconfectionery, infant formula, and bakery products. A small share of dairy products, especially SMP and whey powder, are used in animal feed. Whey powders are gaining prominence globally because of their use in the processing of nutritional products, especially of clinical, infant, and elderly preparations. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1287/revolutionary-therapy-by-mileutis-to-enhance-dairy-cows-health-and-milk-quality.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1287/revolutionary-therapy-by-mileutis-to-enhance-dairy-cows-health-and-milk-quality.html Fri, 11 Aug 2023 11:02:08 +0530 Imilac™, therapy to completely substitute the routine use of antibiotics at dry-off in the dairy industry Mileutis, an Israeli-based biopharmaceutical company conducted clinical trials in seven large Israeli dairy farms, in collaboration with Strauss Health (partially owned by Groupe Danone), demonstrated that Mileutis can effectively substitute the major use of antibiotics in the dairy industry. Milk derived from cows treated with Mileutis' Imilac™ non-antibiotic, non-hormonal therapy exhibited a 7.2% increase in protein content, 4% increase in fat content, and an increase of 957 kg (8.6%) in energy corrected milk yield per cow over 305 days. The trial paves the way for superior milk production performance for dairy farmers while improving the well-being of the dairy cows. Designed to replace the routine use of antibiotics administered at dry-off once a year, Imilac™ has exhibited game-changing results in the clinical trials, paving the way for a transformation in the dairy sector and leading the dairy industry into a sustainable future. In addition, the study revealed that Imilac™ is further impacting milk nutritional characteristics – a breakthrough that was patented by Mileutis. The trial was carried out in dairy farms providing milk to Israel's two largest dairy product providers – Yotvata Dairy, part of the Strauss Health Group, partially owned by Danone, and Tnuva, Israel's largest dairy company. David Javier Iscovich, CEO and co-founder of Mileutis: "Consumers can anticipate a future where they will enjoy better milk, produced by healthier cows, and with superior nutritional values". Mileutis is leading the dairy industry and animal health into a sustainable future, has completed a rigorous, randomized, case-controlled, multi-center, clinical field trial. The trial was conducted at seven different commercial dairy farms and involved over 500 dairy cows. The results of this trial provide further conclusive evidence of the ability of Imilac™, therapy to completely substitute the routine use of antibiotics at dry-off in the dairy industry. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1279/vietnam-to-strengthen-agri-dairy-and-fisheries-commodities-trade-with-belarus.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1279/vietnam-to-strengthen-agri-dairy-and-fisheries-commodities-trade-with-belarus.html Wed, 09 Aug 2023 11:15:07 +0530 The total bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and Belarus expected to reach $113.9 million by 2023 end Vietnam's Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien held a discussion cooperation activities regarding economic and trade cooperation, according to statistics of Vietnam Customs, the total bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and Belarus in 2023 is expected to reach $113.9 million, In 2022, Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery exports reached more than $53 billion and export to more than 200 countries and territories. The main agricultural products Vietnam exports to Belarus include: seafood, rice, cassava, cashew nuts, and tea.  Seafood is another strong agricultural products of of Vietnam accounting for a high proportion of Vietnam's export structure to Belarus. There are 54 Vietnamese seafood processing establishments that are allowed to export seafood to the Eurasian Economic Union (Belarus is a member of this Union). Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has licensed Belarus to export milk/dairy products.    Nguyen Van Long, Director of the Department of Animal Health, suggested that Vietnam and Belarus need to develop a cooperation agreement on veterinary medicine to promote trade in livestock products between the two countries.  This agreement will cover five issues like; Cooperation to better understand the veterinary capacity of each country, thereby resolving issues related to trade in animal products Cooperate to ensure products come from disease-free areas as required by the World Organization for Animal Health Cooperation on veterinary hygiene and food safety Unify measures on animal quarantine Exchange of information between the two veterinary agencies of the two countries to serve as a basis for solving related issues. Ambassador of Belarus to Vietnam Uladzimir Baravikou said "Vietnam and Belarus have a long historical relationship. Uladzimir Baravikou hoped that the two countries would make efforts to promote closer cooperation. Regarding trade in agricultural products, in the coming time, trade procedures and barriers should be removed". ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1262/opportunities-for-u-s-agricultural-and-dairy-products-in-singapore.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1262/opportunities-for-u-s-agricultural-and-dairy-products-in-singapore.html Fri, 04 Aug 2023 10:20:25 +0530 Singapore imports more than 90% of its food and has a diverse, competitive array of trading partners. The United States and Singapore have a long-standing free trade agreement (FTA), and Singapore is a well-developed market for high-quality food and agricultural products. In 2022, the United States exported $1.4 billion worth of agricultural products to Singapore. The United States’ top agricultural exports to Singapore in 2022 were largely consumer-oriented products such as food preparations, dairy products, meat and meat products, potatoes, fresh fruit, and confectionary products. These and other consumer-oriented products, such as alcoholic beverages and pet food, have the potential for increased market share. Consumers in Singapore are affluent, technically savvy, and interested in healthy and innovative foodstuffs. Macroeconomic Perspective Singapore is a high-income country with a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of $91,100 in 2022 and a population of about 5.7 million. Despite strong economic performance in 2021, Singapore’s economic growth slowed in 2022 to real GDP growth of 3.6 % (it was 8.9 % in 2021), while the average growth rate for the Asia-Pacific region was 4 %, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The slowdown is expected to continue, with the average annual rate of real growth for 2022-2027 forecasted at 2.1 %, according to Euromonitor. In 2023, the IMF expects the annual inflation rate based on average consumer prices to drop to 5.8 % from 6.1 % in 2022. Due to its importance as a regional hub, many multinational companies have their Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore, including processed food companies and commodity traders. Consumption Trends and Market Drivers Singapore is very dependent on imports for food due to its small geographical size, which constrains agricultural activities. In 2022, according to Euromonitor, food and non-alcoholic beverages saw some of the largest price increases compared to other product categories due to inflationary pressures. Euromonitor research found that consumers flocked to convenient, modern supermarkets and hypermarkets during the pandemic and in the face of inflationary pressures, as these outlets offered cheaper private-label brands and lower prices due to close relationships with suppliers. Singapore is a tech-savvy and innovative market. According to Euromonitor, as of 2022, 94 % of the population uses the internet, and 42 % use it to buy and sell goods and services, with 59 % of businesses placing and receiving orders online and grocery e-commerce sales growing nearly 30 % between 2017 and 2022. Key buyers of agricultural products include food and beverage companies, pet food and animal feed companies, and the textile and leather industries. Products with double-digit year-over-year growth in 2021 included meat and dairy products and textile and leather products, according to Euromonitor. Despite having a diverse array of trading partners, Singapore’s food imports can be adversely affected by those partners’ production and trade policies. For example, in 2022, Malaysia banned chicken exports due to domestic supply issues, and bad weather affected Malaysia’s vegetable crop yields, which in turn spiked food prices in Singapore. Trade Policy Singapore has 27 FTAs, including regional agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The U.S.-Singapore FTA has been in place since 2004. Singapore is an active member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Codex Alimentarius fora, as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. In 2022, according to Euromonitor, Singapore ranked first out of 184 countries on the Index of Economic Freedom (IEF) and stood first as part of the IEF Trade Freedom Pillar, highlighting its favorable trade environment, free-market principles, and low- and non-tariff barriers. Singapore has a national strategy to promote food security, develop new agricultural technologies, and support the agri-food sector via its Agri-Food Cluster Transformation Fund. Singapore has robust intellectual property regulations and is a member of the World Trade Organization. Prospects for U.S. Agricultural Exports Dairy Products U.S. dairy product exports to Singapore in 2022 grew 17 % and reached an all-time value record of $116 million, consisting of milk albumin and whey protein, dry milk powder, lactose, cheese, and other products. Singapore imported a total of $1.3 billion worth of dairy products in 2022 from all sources, with the top five suppliers being New Zealand, the European Union, Australia, the United States, and Thailand. According to Trade Data Monitor, the United States’ market share grew to 9 % in 2022, up from just less than 7 % 5 years ago, when Singapore’s total dairy product imports were just more than $1 billion. According to Euromonitor, upscale supermarket brands market a large range of international cheeses and yogurts, and private labels are capitalizing on demand for essentials like butter. The total consumption value of dairy products in 2021 was more than $3.5 billion. The dairy product import market is competitive, with only one company, Malaysia Dairy Industries, carving out a 10 % share. There is competition from plant-based alternatives, but Euromonitor anticipates rising demand for products like butter and condensed/evaporated milk through foodservice channels. U.S. agricultural exports are well positioned in Singapore. Consumer-oriented products are likely to see continued demand growth as tourism continues to ramp up and affluent consumers frequent foodservice and grocery outlets. Singapore consumers and businesses also continue to utilize e-commerce channels.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1258/australias-first-virtual-fence-for-dairy-farms-launches-in-tasmania.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1258/australias-first-virtual-fence-for-dairy-farms-launches-in-tasmania.html Fri, 04 Aug 2023 10:09:00 +0530 Banned in New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, the ACT and South Australia New dairy technology allowing farmers to remotely herd cows has become commercially available in Australia but it is banned in three major states. The technology is currently approved by Tasmanian administration but is banned in New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, the ACT and South Australia states, where the use of electric shock collars are banned under their various animal welfare acts, which supposedly predate the technology. The technology allows precisely control the areas his cows fed, spot medical issues early on and a stress free farming for the farmers. The technology is offered at a subscriptions starting at $8.50 per month, per cow. Virtual fencing is a system that uses smart collars to herd and monitor cattle. Each animal is given an electric collar that emits sound and vibration cues to tell them where to go, and then zaps them if they ignore the cue. Controlled by a smartphone app, it gives dairy farmers the ability to remotely move their cows to the milking shed, set up temporary paddocks and monitor cow health — all without setting a foot outside. Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture senior researcher Dr Megan Verdon has been studying virtual fencing since 2016. She said the race to introduce the technology has been ticking since its initial conception in the 1980s, followed by a further boost in the early 2000s when the CSIRO commissioned research and development in the area. New Zealand tech startup Halter has become the first company in the country to offer it commercially. The system was already widely used in New Zealand where, in the last year alone, collars were put on about 100,000 cows. In Victoria and South Australia, electronic collars can only be used for the purpose of scientific research. In NSW, the collars cannot be used at all on livestock. Dairy Australia's principal scientist John Penry said the main issue was that each state had differing opinions regarding the impacts of the "pulse" delivered by the collars.  Dairy Australia is looking forward to have harmonised legislation between the states. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1237/thailand-evaluates-dairy-farming-practices-to-ensure-continuity-of-raw-milk-supplies.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1237/thailand-evaluates-dairy-farming-practices-to-ensure-continuity-of-raw-milk-supplies.html Mon, 31 Jul 2023 11:15:00 +0530 Recent turbulence in Thailand's Dairy industry might create raw milk shortages affecting domestic market demand as well as concerns over rising production costs A meeting with agencies and representatives to discuss raw milk shortage concerns in Thailand was chaired on July 27 by Thailand's Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mananya Thaiset. Wisit Srisuwan, Director-General of the Department of Cooperative Promotion, Veterinarian Praphas Pinyocheep, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Livestock Development, Somporn Srimuang, Director of the Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand (DPO) was at the forum to discuss the concerns. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives discussed the issue of raw milk shortages that negatively affected domestic market demand as well as concerns over rising production costs. Minister Thaiset confirmed that there is still a continuous purchase of raw milk from the DPO and the private sector without any cessation of milk purchase. However, it was found that the total production of raw milk in the country is currently reduced to about 2,700 tons/day attributed to the seasonal changes. The amount of milk will increase at the end of the year when winter starts. Compared to last year when dairy farmers quit and turned to other occupations, there is a need for at least 3,100 tons/day. The need for use of dairy products has increased by about 400 tons compared to the same period last year, when some dairy farmers quit and pursued other careers. As a result, the number of dairy cows in the system decreased.  Currently, raw milk is highly demanded by entrepreneurs in the dairy industry. In this regard, she urged relevant agencies to consult with all sectors. To avoid affecting the amount of milk used in the supplementary food (milk) school project, which requires about 1,000 tons of milk per day. For Thai people to have food security (milk) in the future, more dairy cows must be encouraged and dairy farmers must be promoted to be Smart Farmers with more business-oriented dairy farming to meet market demands that continue to rise. In addition, in the future, more dairy cows must be encouraged. and to accelerate the promotion of dairy farmers to become Smart Farmers, with more business-oriented dairy farming to meet market demands that tend to increase continuously As well as to provide food security (milk) for Thai people. During the discussions at the meeting, it was found that The number of dairy farmers declined due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic and the situation of higher feed prices in the world market. Including the dairy farming style of small farmers in Thailand who raise a variety of cows on their own farms, including lactating cows, non-lactating cows, young cows, heifers, non-mixed cows, known as free-feeding cows. which is an additional cost that farmers have to bear resulting in decreased farm income. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1139/vietnamese-vitadairy-partners-with-pantheryx-supporting-pediatric-and-adult-immunonutrition.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1139/vietnamese-vitadairy-partners-with-pantheryx-supporting-pediatric-and-adult-immunonutrition.html Wed, 05 Jul 2023 03:30:00 +0530 PanTheryx commits with 3-year extended strategic partnership to producer colostrum ingredient named ColosIgG 24h and supply to VitaDairy PanTheryx®, Inc., an integrative digestive and immune health company, and VitaDairy®, the leading Vietnamese dairy company, have mutually renewed a multi-year strategic partnership.  PanTheryx, VitaDairy’s No. 1 partner in Vietnam for U.S. bovine colostrum, will continue to be VitaDairy’s exclusive producer and supplier of the colostrum ingredient named ColosIgG 24h. This multimillion-dollar agreement reaffirms their commitment to advancing pediatric and adult immunonutrition, ensuring the well-being of Vietnam’s children, mothers, and vulnerable groups. VitaDairy makes a wide range of products, including ColosBaby® and CaloSure® America‡, using ColosIgG 24h from PanTheryx. ColosBaby®, a growing-up milk brand, is specially created for children and mothers and provides a high level of IgG antibodies, which have scientifically demonstrated immune-boosting properties. The CaloSure® America brand is sold as a multi-benefit nutrition product for aging adults.  Wes Parris, president and CEO of PanTheryx explained that, “By leveraging PanTheryx’s extensive network to collect bovine colostrum within the first 24 hours after calving, VitaDairy ensures the highest levels of immune activity, including IgG antibodies. Together we’ll continue to deliver innovation, scientific expertise, and unwavering commitment to providing quality products that support the health and well-being of adults and children.” VitaDairy aims to develop 'natural immunity solutions' integrated into nutritional products for children and the elderly, providing them with fortified defenses and strengthening their immune systems as a personal arsenal to combat epidemics. VitaDairy's scientific applications of ColosIgG 24h colostrum has significantly extracted the full potential of bovine colostrum for human health benefits. It is estimated that $20B global growing-up milk industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2020 to 2025.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1133/nestle-health-science-to-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-through-u-s-dairy-net-zero-initiative.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1133/nestle-health-science-to-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-through-u-s-dairy-net-zero-initiative.html Tue, 04 Jul 2023 09:59:53 +0530 Collaborates with Royal Dairy Farm to demonstrates that Dairy can be a sustainable source of nutrition Nestlé Health Science, a leader in the science of nutrition, is collaborating with Royal Dairy farm in Washington state to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions through climate smart farming practices. Together, Royal Dairy and Nestlé Health Science are aligned on four key areas of environmentally-focused innovation—cow feed, manure management, renewable energy, and regenerative agriculture – to show how dairy milk can be a sustainable source of nutrition. To help bring this sustainable source of nutrition to families, Royal Dairy joins Nestlé Health Science's family of dairy suppliers for Carnation Breakfast Essentials® nutritional powder drink mix, which is available at national retailers. Christiane Baker, Director of Sustainability U.S., Nestlé Health Science. "Royal Dairy is pioneering a comprehensive regenerative approach to dairy that helps reduce our carbon footprint while also supporting a more sustainable food system for all. We're proud to help Royal Dairy implement additional sustainable solutions that can better their business and the planet, and we look forward to exploring ways to expand this initiative in the future." U.S. Dairy Net Zero InitiativeThe Nestlé Health Science and Royal Dairy collaboration is a part of the Dairy Scale for Good pilot, which aims to demonstrate practices and technologies that are sustainable, feasible, and economically viable on a commercial dairy farm. This pilot is a key pillar of the U.S. Dairy Net Zero Initiative, which advances research, on-farm pilots and new market development, as an essential first phase to make sustainability practices more accessible and affordable to farms of all sizes and accelerate progress toward the industry's 2050 environmental goals. Nestlé is working across its businesses and brands to help create a more sustainable future, a stronger and more responsible society, and a thriving economy. Nestlé Health Science is making progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, sourcing ingredients that have significant nutritional value with minimal environmental impact, reducing virgin plastic use, and striving to make all packaging recyclable. In 2022, Carnation Breakfast Essentials® achieved B Corp Certification, showcasing its commitment to meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1098/vietnams-vinamilk-achieves-carbon-neutral-operation-of-its-factory-and-farms.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1098/vietnams-vinamilk-achieves-carbon-neutral-operation-of-its-factory-and-farms.html Mon, 26 Jun 2023 10:10:02 +0530 First dairy company in Vietnam to achieve carbon-neutrality certification while embarking "Pathways to Dairy Net Zero 2050"  Vietnam’s leading dairy company, Vinamilk marks a significant milestone towards sustainable development by mapping out its Pathways to Dairy Net Zero 2050. Through the initiative Vinamilk seeks to reduce its environmental impact while bolstering sustainability efforts throughout the company's entire value chain. Vinamilk is the 36th largest dairy manufacturer, in terms of revenue and manages 15 farms and 17 modern factories domestically and overseas. Vinamilk is the first local dairy producer to publicly announce its pledge to carbon neutrality and Net Zero following the Vietnamese Government's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, made by the Prime Minister at the COP26 in 2021. Vinamilk identified its sustainability focus in four fundamental pillars: sustainable agriculture, green production, environmentally friendly logistics, and sustainable consumption. Furthermore, the company strives to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2027, 55% by 2035, and reach net zero emissions by 2050. By achieving Net Zero goal, Vinamilk became the first dairy company in Vietnam to obtain a carbon-neutrality certification from Bureau Veritas and BSI for its dairy factory and farm, located in Nghe An province, following the PAS 2060:2014 standards. The total amount of greenhouse gases neutralized by these two units is 17,560 tons of CO2, equivalent to 1.7 million trees.  Using a "dual action" approach, Vinamilk has reduced its emissions in its production and livestock activities while maintaining its trees as a source of greenhouse gas absorption over time. Nguyen Viet Dung, General Director, Bureau Veritas Vietnam says “Achieving greenhouse gas emission reductions and moving towards Net Zero in the dairy industry poses significant challenges, especially for large-scale dairy farms. It requires comprehensive investments in technology, transitioning to renewable energy, and applying circular economy practices. Vinamilk's accomplishments are noteworthy and serve as a significant motivation for the broader dairy sector's journey toward Net Zero”.  Since 2012, Vinamilk has published its sustainability report which aligned with the GRI Standards and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and recently included sustainable development as one of its strategic development goals from 2022 to 2026. It has utilized solar energy in 13 farms and 11 factories, pioneered the Green Farm model and successfully achieved the "1 Million Trees for Vietnam Fund" goal. As a supporter of the "Pathways to Dairy Net Zero" initiative and aligning with its ESG strategy, Vinamilk intends to launch more elaborate activities to achieve its sustainability goals such as boosting afforestation initiatives and strengthening international collaboration. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1069/new-zealands-primary-industry-exports-hit-record-high.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1069/new-zealands-primary-industry-exports-hit-record-high.html Fri, 16 Jun 2023 10:23:46 +0530 New Zealand’s food and fibre sector is on track to set a new record high, with export earnings to hit $56.2 billion by 30 June 2023 New Zealand’s Primary industry exports are forecast to grow 6 per cent to a record $56.2 billion this year, exceeding previous estimates. The latest forecast for the year to June 30, released by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is $1.2 billion higher than the December estimate of $55 billion. Chris Hipkins, Prime Minister says New Zealand’s food and fibre sector is on track to set a new record high, with export earnings to hit $56.2 billion by 30 June 2023.   The Prime Minister joined Trade and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor to release the new Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) in Hamilton at the Mystery Creek Fieldays.  “The economy is through the worst with inflation having peaked and returning to the target range next year, tourism bouncing back and record numbers of workers arriving to plug skills shortages,” Chris Hipkins said.   “The focus on trade and export growth remains a major cornerstone in our economic recovery plan, with the securing of new FTAs like the UK & EU and an upgrade to the China FTA. These are resulting in more exports and more value being derived.  “Primary industry exports are expected to hit a record $56.2 billion by June 2023, 2.3 per cent higher than projected. Our job now is to continue supporting our producers by opening doors for exporters wherever we can and build on the seven new or upgraded free trade agreements secured since we’ve been in office.  “We need to maintain our international competitive edge to ensure New Zealand’s economy remains better positioned than many others against global headwinds,” Chris Hipkins said.  “This Government has always backed our farmers, growers, fishers, and foresters to achieve success – investing significantly to support the sector lift its sustainability credentials to maintain our competitive edge,” Damien O’Connor said.  “I want to thank our food and fibre sector for this outstanding result. These record results show that the future is bright as the worst of the economic headwinds look to be behind us and we look to climb to $62 billion by 2027.  “We also acknowledge the extremely challenging start to the year for our primary sector and the impact of the North Island weather events on our rural communities. High input costs, also experienced internationally, have affected farmers and growers, and it’s encouraging to see those pressures easing.  “To still achieve a record forecast after Cyclone Gabrielle is a testament to the resilience and hard work we see each and every day from farmers and growers.   “Major growth is projected in several parts of the sector in the year to 30 June 2023, including dairy export revenue to reach $25.1 billion, a 14 per cent increase on the previous year. Horticulture export revenue is expected to rise 2 per cent to $6.9 billion.  “Exports of processed foods and other products is expected to jump to more than $3.4 billion in the year to 30 June 2023, up 6 per cent on the previous year. Driven by demand for food ingredients and products like chocolate.  “Seafood is also one of the major drivers of this positive outlook and is helping to drive record earnings with a forecast increase of 8 per cent to achieve a record $2.1 billion in the year ending 30 June 2023.  “The effects of Cyclone Gabrielle have obviously affected our forestry exports in the short term. However, they are expected to pick back up as forestry operations recover from the adverse weather and international demand increases.  Our strategy to position our food and fibre sectors for future export growth dovetails with our trade agenda and is reflected in our investment decisions through consecutive Budgets. By working together our plan is delivering,” Damien O’Connor said. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1071/volta-greentech-and-protos-to-produce-climate-friendly-beef.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1071/volta-greentech-and-protos-to-produce-climate-friendly-beef.html Fri, 16 Jun 2023 10:23:32 +0530 The supplement, made from natural algae, reduces the methane emissions of animals by 70–90 per cent per day Volta Greentech and food company Protos have partnered to significantly increase the production of more climate-friendly beef in Sweden by using Volta Greentech’s feed supplement, Lome. The supplement, made from natural algae, reduces the methane emissions of animals by 70–90 per cent per day when included in their feed (0.6 per cent). The collaboration includes the delivery of algae for up to 1,000 cattle annually over 5 years. The beef is produced by carefully selected farmers chosen by Protos and Volta Greentech. These farmers will be pioneers in using Volta Greentech’s innovative feed supplement to reduce the methane emissions of their cows. “It is likely the most climate-friendly beef in the world. Cows naturally release methane through burping as part of the digestion process. However, by adding a small amount of algae to their feed, methane emissions are significantly reduced,” says Thomas Östlund, CEO of Protos. Lome Beef has the same excellent, rich taste as all Protos meat. Starting from June 9th, Lome Beef will be available at Hemköp stores in the Stockholm area, initially at Torsplan, Stockholm City, and Mörby Centrum for a limited period. “Our ambition is to be at the forefront of sustainability, and with this launch, we simply make it easier for our customers to eat more sustainably. That is why Lome Beef is highly interesting to us,” says Shoan Etemadi, Head of Sales of Hemköpskedjan. After two years of pilot studies, Volta Greentech and Protos can now increase the availability of more climate-friendly meat, which will be sold under the brand ‘Lome’. Following the launch, Protos will sell the meat to grocery stores and wholesalers, subject to availability. “Volta Greentech was founded with the mission to battle global warming. We have significant work ahead in scaling up algae production. But we are on our way. By offering Lome Beef, we have the opportunity to build a movement of climate-aware consumers who share our vision.” says Fredrik Åkerman, CEO of Volta Greentech. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1045/international-dairy-foods-association-chairs-roberta-wagner-as-sr-vp-regulatory-and-scientific-affairs.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1045/international-dairy-foods-association-chairs-roberta-wagner-as-sr-vp-regulatory-and-scientific-affairs.html Fri, 09 Jun 2023 10:55:18 +0530 As a dairy industry advocate, Wagner focuses on science-based food safety, labeling, and nutrition policies that facilitate innovation and growth. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) on 7 June, announced Roberta Wagner as senior vice president, of regulatory and scientific affairs. She succeeds Dr. Joseph Scimeca, who announced his IDFA retirement earlier this year. Wagner spent 33 years in public service, most recently as assistant administrator of the Office of Policy and Program Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Previously, Wagner served as deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Field Operations at FSIS where she oversaw a workforce of 7,800 inspection program personnel, including consumer safety officers, public health veterinarians and food inspectors. Wagner also spent more than 25 years with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working in a variety of roles from analytical chemist to associate commissioner for Food Safety Modernization Act implementation. “I am excited to be joining the IDFA team and for the opportunity to advocate for food safety, labeling and nutrition policies that are science based, practical to implement, and that facilitate innovation and growth in the extremely important and diverse dairy industry,” said Wagner. IDFA’s Regulatory and Scientific Affairs team provides guidance and consultation to IDFA members in the areas of food safety, food defense, federal standards of identity, labeling, nutrition policy, sustainability, and environmental and worker safety. Scimeca will remain in the role through the summer to assist Wagner and IDFA with the leadership transition. IDFA’s Scientific and Regulatory Affairs team oversees the association’s engagement with the FDA, USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and globally with the UN agencies and the Codex Alimentarius. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3.2 million jobs that generate $49 billion in direct wages and $794 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA’s diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent most of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1025/australias-dairytas-embarks-on-farm-business-resilience-pilot-program-with-4m-grant.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/1025/australias-dairytas-embarks-on-farm-business-resilience-pilot-program-with-4m-grant.html Tue, 06 Jun 2023 12:05:00 +0530 Novel program to build on-farm resilience, disaster preparedness and risk management to promote competitive sustainable production at Tasmanian dairy sector Australia's Dairy Tasmania has rolled out a successful farm business resilience pilot program designed to help Tasmanian farmers adapt to a changing climate and prepare for risk management. DairyTas is leading the way to build on-farm resilience, disaster preparedness and risk management to promote competitive sustainable production at Tasmanian dairy sector. Governments have committed over $4 million to the new Tasmanian Farm Business Resilience Program, under the Australian Future Drought Fund. Federal Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister, Murray Watt said, "We are committed to working collaboratively with government and industry to ensure businesses are equipped for the future. We are pleased to commit federal funding to develop more resilient communities.” Over the next two years, the target is for at least 300 farming businesses to receive subsidised learning opportunities and develop farm business plans. These plans will be tailored to a participant’s own agribusiness, risks, and situation. Tenders are now open for industry groups and service providers to deliver similar farm business resilience plans across all Tasmanian regions. The Program runs until late 2025. Additionally, the Tasmanian Government will support a $450,000 partnership with Dairy Tas to deliver its Our Farm Our Plan framework to 75 dairy farmers. "Developing a climate ready agricultural sector is a priority to unlocking the Rockliff Liberal Government’s target to grow agriculture value to $10 billion by 2050. We know this starts on the farm, supporting farmers, farm managers, and their employees with training and coaching to develop or update their own plans for their own business in their own way. The Tasmanian Farm Business resilience program has been designed with the ethos developed by farmers for farmers" explained Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jo Palmer. The program will give farmers access to workshops and one-to-one support to consider their long-term goals, business management and risks, investment priorities, natural resource management, climate change, succession plans, sustainable irrigation, and farm safety.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/992/yili-opens-a-new-lactoferrin-factory-in-new-zealand.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/992/yili-opens-a-new-lactoferrin-factory-in-new-zealand.html Tue, 30 May 2023 10:30:00 +0530 Chinese dairy giant Yili subsidiary Westland Milk Products lays foundation for the new factory in Hokitika to establish itself as the world's valued bioactive ingredients producer. On May 23, Yili subsidiary Westland Milk Products held a ceremony for the construction of its NZ$70 million ($42.58 million) lactoferrin factory in Hokitika, New Zealand. The investment will enable Yili to rank among the top three global companies in the lactoferrin category with a market share of approximately 10 percent.  The ceremony was attended by New Zealand Minister for Trade, Exports and Agriculture and Tasmania West Coast MP Damien O'Connor; the Director General of the Department of Primary Industry, Ray Smith ; the Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiao Long ; and Chinese Consul General in Christchurch , He Ying. Lactoferrin is a versatile natural protein, that offers immune system benefits as well as antibacterial and antioxidant effects. Its widely used in food, pharmaceuticals, and other industries on global markets. The company has invested significant resources in research and development to address the challenges of lactoferrin extraction. In order to improve the quality of protein components and increase extraction efficiency, Yili developed its own alignable lactoferrin extraction technology. As part of its long-term strategic plan, Yili has worked to overcome key technological barriers, increase the company's global reach, and improve its long-term profitability. Yili Westland's director, Zhiqiang Li emphasized on the significance of the global market advantage that both Westland and Yili would gain from Yili's investment in the new lactoferrin factory. "The launch of the Lactoferrin program will secure Westland's position as one of the world's leading manufacturers of valued bioactive ingredients. The investment also signals Yili's commitment to high-quality bioactive ingredients takes over milk ingredients" said Director Zhiqiang Li. "We were one of the first companies to bring this highly specialized protein ingredient to market, and over the past 20 years we've built a reputation for producing exceptional products. Our pipeline of innovation in bioactive ingredients is extensively progressed and we are pleased that we are one step closer to commercializing these concepts" said Richard Wyeth , CEO of Westland. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/982/australia-delivers-half-a-million-lumpy-skin-disease-vaccines-to-indonesia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/982/australia-delivers-half-a-million-lumpy-skin-disease-vaccines-to-indonesia.html Thu, 25 May 2023 12:25:00 +0530 Australia has committed more than $17 million to directly support Indonesia’s efforts to control FMD and LSD outbreaks Australia has handed over 500,000 doses of lumpy skin disease (LSD) vaccines to Indonesia as part of the Australian Government’s work to fight exotic animal diseases before they reach Australia's borders and territories. Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has granted one million doses of the vaccine in its recent commitment to assist Indonesia in controlling LSD. Up until, nearly 435,000 LSD vaccines are donated to the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture in Jakarta by Australia since March 2022. The Australian Government via the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has provided $5 million for technical expertise and support for Timor-Leste, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, to assist their work in combatting livestock diseases. This includes provision of vaccines, training in biosecurity and building diagnostic capacity. The Australian government has committed more than $17 million to directly support Indonesia’s efforts to control outbreaks of FMD and LSD, especially in Sumatra and Java islands provinces. Acting Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Beth Cookson said "LSD and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) presented the most significant threats to Australia’s biosecurity in decades. Australia has been providing support to our nearest neighbors and close trading partners—like Indonesia—as they work to curb the spread of these diseases. LSD causes milk production losses and skin sores in cattle and water buffalo, and can be spread by mosquitoes, biting flies and ticks. The disease is a major threat to Australia’s livestock industry, trade and our economy". “Australia is free of both LSD or FMD. The work happening in Indonesia now is essential to reducing the impact of diseases throughout the region and to avoid the risk of entering Australia" added Dr. Cookson. Dr Nuryani Zainuddin, Director of Animal Health, from Indonesia’s Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health Services, said "LSD had been confirmed in 15 provinces such as Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, Bengkulu, Lampung, Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta, and Central Kalimantan Province". Lumpy skin disease has decimated the livestock industry, resulting in economic losses. This highly contagious viral disease spreads rapidly, and its impact on cattle productivity cannot be overstated. Thus, the Australian government's donation of lumpy skin disease vaccines will play a crucial role in controlling and eventually eradicating lumpy skin disease in Indonesia. The on-going vaccinator training program delivered to Indonesian vets and paravets to assist in building their technical capabilities in FMD and LSD control and eradication. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/974/abvista-proposes-strategies-to-mitigate-heat-stress-in-dairy-cows.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/974/abvista-proposes-strategies-to-mitigate-heat-stress-in-dairy-cows.html Tue, 23 May 2023 08:15:00 +0530 Dairy industry forecasts a loss between $897 - $1,500 million/year in revenue due to heat stress, in US alone Heat stress occurs in dairy cows when they absorb more heat than they can expel, leading to discomfort, reduced feed intake, poorer productivity and impaired fertility. It can cause significant economic losses. In the US alone, the dairy industry loses between $897 - $1,500 million/year in revenue due to heat stress (St-Pierre et al., 2003). The harmful effects of high ambient temperatures in production conditions are enhanced by high humidity and insufficient air flow. When the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) exceeds 72, cows suffer heat stress. Heat stress affects cows in all physiological phases. In dry cows it results in reduced blood flow to the uterus, reduced placenta weight and birth of smaller calves with lower vitality. High yielding cows are more prone to heat stress, especially in peak lactation. Milk production could reduce by 10-25% due to decreased appetite and feed intake, and lower levels of lactogenic hormones. In heat stressed cows, dry matter intake is reduced by 8-12%, and milk yield by 20-30%. It can also affect milk quality, with reduced butter fat content and increased somatic and bacterial cell counts, most likely due to impaired immunity. Endocrine status of cows can also be negatively affected, together with reduced intensity and duration of oestrus, impaired fertility and elevated early embryo mortality. To mitigate the risk, Dr. Dimcho Djouvinov, Technical Manager CEE and Dr. Derek McIlmoyle Technical Director Ruminants EMEA at ABVista proposes certain key strategies. Some of the key management and nutrition actions proposed to help mitigate the negative effects of heat stress are, Protecting the animals from direct sun radiation, Increasing ventilation rate in barns, Applying cool water spray, Reducing animal density, Allowing access to cool drinking water, Use high-quality dietary ingredients to improve nutrient content, Ensuring gradual and on-time adaptation to corrected diet. Further, Diet to be fed mainly during the cooler part of the day along with increasing feeding frequency with smaller portions. Specific nutritional strategies can reduce the physiologic impact of heat stress, to support milk yield and health status of cows such as Time and frequency of feeding, Forage/concentrate ratio, Fat level, Nitrogen balance, Electrolyte balance, and Mineral buffer additives. and live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation, explains ABVista experts. Moreover, the heat stress can result in higher bicarbonate loss in the urine, causing less bicarbonate being available to help buffer acids in the rumen and pH is reduced, leading to SARA, according to expert opinion. Dr. Dimcho Djouvinov and Dr. Derek McIlmoyle indicates that there is no single approach to alleviate heat stress for dairy cows. Effective management and nutritional strategies are required to balance the homeostasis of the animal and help support feed efficiency, productivity and reproduction. Supplementing the diet with live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) can be a successful part of these strategies to help counteract the negative effects of heat stress. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/958/japanese-dairy-giant-megmilk-forms-jv-with-agrocorp-to-build-pea-protein-facility-in-malaysia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/958/japanese-dairy-giant-megmilk-forms-jv-with-agrocorp-to-build-pea-protein-facility-in-malaysia.html Tue, 23 May 2023 08:00:00 +0530 The companies will invest $21 million in the joint venture. Megmilk Snow Brand Co, one of the largest dairies in Japan, has established association with Singapore-based Agrocorp International, one of the world’s leading pulse traders, to form a joint venture (JV) to manufacture and market plant-based ingredients. The partnership aims to respond to the growing demand for plant-based foods. The companies will invest $21 million in the joint venture. Agrocorp is contributing 51% and Megmilk 49% to build a factory in Malaysia producing pea protein, pea starch and pea fiber for plant-based beverages, meats, and cheese. The factory is expected to commence production in late 2025. Agrocorp has already opened its first facility in Canada's Saskatchewan province. Megmilk Snow Brand Co., Ltd. and Agrocorp International Pte Ltd will leverage their individual strengths to manufacture and sell raw materials for plant-based food processing. In its Medium-Term Management Plan 2025, Megmilk Snow Brand Group specifically identified the plant-based food business as one of its key growth areas. Vishal Vijay director of strategic investments, Agrocorp International said "This joint venture seeks to leverage the strengths of both companies and will see the setting up of a factory in malaysia to manufacture soy-free plant protein products like pea protein, pea starch and pea fibre.  Pea protein can be used in a variety of plant-based food applications in plant-based beverages, plant-based meats, as well as in plant-based cheese, such as the  vegan cheeses by our downstream brand HerbYvore Foods". Agrocorp, an international agribusiness company based in Singapore, is a plant protein extractor. The joint venture to be established in Singapore will establish a manufacturing subsidiary (100% investment) in Malaysia. Plant-based protein pea protein still lags behind soy when it comes to production capacity, but production capacity has been increasing rapidly in recent years, with PURIS opening a large plant in Dawson, Minnesota; Ingredion opening a facility in Nebraska; ADM opening a plant in North Dakota; Cosucra expanding production in Belgium and Denmark; and several Chinese manufacturers expanding production capacity. Legumes like peas are plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation, containing symbiotic bacteria called Rhizobia within nodules in their root systems, producing nitrogen compounds. Nitrogen is a major component of protein and a required nutrient for plants. Peas, or other legumes, in the crop rotation usually lead to lower needs for mineral and organic nitrogen fertilisers, which contribute to 25% of the total direct greenhouse gas emissions by agriculture in the EU, explains Agrocorp International. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/919/dairy-runway-program-launches-to-support-early-stage-dairy-innovators.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/919/dairy-runway-program-launches-to-support-early-stage-dairy-innovators.html Thu, 11 May 2023 11:11:44 +0530 The Dairy Runway program will provide entrepreneurial coaching and access to New York-based kitchen incubators for participants who complete the virtual course Cornell University's Centre for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA) and the Northeast Dairy Foods Research Centre has launched the Dairy Runway program, an entrepreneurship curriculum for dairy innovators that focuses on product concepts and consumer discovery. This Cornell-based, virtual course will take program participants through a process to determine if their value-added dairy products are desirable, viable, and feasible. Supported by a grant from Empire State Development with funding from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Dairy Promotion Order, the Dairy Runway program will provide entrepreneurial coaching and access to New York-based kitchen incubators for participants who complete the virtual course. Graduates of the program will develop the skills and training to competitively apply for local and regional funding opportunities, like CREA's Northeastern Dairy Product Innovation Competition. "New York is well known for producing high-quality milk, a premium ingredient for many value-added products. Providing food innovators with critical entrepreneurial training will advance the state's effort to introduce more value-added dairy products and increase the utilisation and sales of milk and dairy ingredients produced in New York," said Larry Bailey, chair of the New York State Dairy Promotion Advisory Board. Up to 12 teams will be selected into each Dairy Runway cohort to participate in a virtual course that combines self-directed online learning activities with Zoom-based class meetings and one-on-one instructor check-ins. Throughout the program, participants will have access to a select group of CREA's Entrepreneurs in Residence to provide support in coursework and product development. "Too often entrepreneurs struggle to successfully identify their product consumer group, which can lead to product failure," said Jenn Smith, CREA's Director of Food and Ag Startup Programs. "We want to provide dairy entrepreneurs with a head start by teaching them the fundamentals of consumer discovery and delivering their product to that target group. CREA is well known for producing exceptional and easily accessible entrepreneurship curricula, and we're thrilled to extend this resource to New York's dairy community." Engaged teams will also be offered fully-funded access to Cornell's Prototyping Kitchen or another approved incubation kitchen in New York State, and will receive support from Cornell Food Science technical experts, in order to bring their innovative ideas to the prototype stage after coursework concludes. The application period for the Dairy Runway program closes on June 22, 2023. Dairy innovators with a value-added dairy product who are located in the United States and committed to using New York-produced dairy ingredients in their products are eligible to apply. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/880/exosomm-introduces-new-bioactive-ingredient-for-medical-food-space.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/880/exosomm-introduces-new-bioactive-ingredient-for-medical-food-space.html Wed, 03 May 2023 09:03:32 +0530 EXOSOMM introduces proprietary immune supportive natural exosomes from upcycled whey Jerusalem headquartered, Israeli BioFoodTech start-up EXOSOMM, Ltd., has explored the natural mechanisms inherent in human breastmilk to create a novel bioactive ingredient that can potentially support millions of adults with inflammatory disorders. Based on its scientific findings EXOSOMM developed an innovative technology that isolates exosomes—natural particles in maternal milk that play an important role in the healthy development of the immune system. EXOSOMM upcycles byproducts of the traditional cheese making process to create this potent functional ingredient. While still a young start-up, it has already reached commercial production capacity of its patent-protected exosomes for the medical food space. “Exosomm’s technology is based on cutting-edge scientific discoveries and is inspired by the virtues of mother’s milk and its unique health properties,” enthuses Reif. “We believe adults, can benefit from exosomes as a valuable nutrient to help better manage chronic metabolic inflammatory disorders and to boost overall well-being. Further clinical research is in the pipeline, and we currently are focusing our studies on the role of exosomes in managing IBD conditions, such as Crohn’s and Colitis.” Maternal milk is recognized as the key vital resource for infants to provide them with the essential elementary nutrients needed to promote optimal growth and wellbeing. It has been linked to protection against various diseases, such as infections, inflammation, and obesity, and plays a crucial role in developing the immune system. Scientific inquiry attributes these benefits predominantly to the presence of exosomes. Exosomes are small nanoparticles produced by the body’s cells that naturally accumulate at high concentrations in mother’s milk. They contain beneficial microRNAs: small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules shown in studies to have a significant impact on early child development and also on the infant’s future health. The Exosomm research team were astonished to find that different mammals (human, cow, or sheep) share similar exosome composition, indicating the evolutionary importance of exosomes in offspring. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/871/israel-approves-animal-free-milk-protein-products.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/871/israel-approves-animal-free-milk-protein-products.html Tue, 02 May 2023 08:18:46 +0530 Remilk secures first-of-its-kind regulatory approval from the Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) for the marketing and sale of non-animal milk products and boosts alternative protein industry Israel has become one of the first countries in the world to offer real dairy products made without cows and free of lactose, cholesterol, antibiotics, and growth hormones.  Remilk, a global leader in the development and production of animal-free dairy protein has received a first-of-its-kind approval from the Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH). This historic regulatory event clears a path for the marketing and sale of non-animal dairy products made with Remilk for Israeli consumers. "Israel becomes on of the first in the world to recognize the significance of precision fermentation in global alternative protein industry" said Aviv Wolff, CEO and co-founder of Remilk. Remilk is a world leader in the development of animal-free milk proteins produced through a proprietary fermentation process. The Ministry of Health approval follows Remilk's receipt of an FDA "No Questions Letter," confirming FDA acceptance of an expert panel's conclusion that Remilk's animal-free protein can be safely used in food products under its GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) standards, as well as a recent regulatory clearance from the Singapore Food Authority. Remilk has raised more than $130M to date and signed deals with leading players in the global food industry. Last year, Remilk, which is already producing its protein at industrial volumes in facilities around the world, announced a large-scale commercial agreement with the Central Bottling Company (CBC Group), the exclusive Israeli franchisee of Coca-Cola, and one of the largest food companies in Israel, to launch a line of dairy products made with Remilk's protein, for the Israeli market. The product launch planned with the Central Bottling Company is on the horizon of Remilk. "Remilk non-animal milk protein is thoroughly tested by MOH and found to be safe, of high-quality, and identical to its cow-derived counterpart," said Dr. Ori Cohavi, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-founder of Remilk. "The opening of the Israeli market to real, animal-free dairy products will place Israel not only at the forefront of global food-tech research and development, but also as a leading market in the world for new food consumption. It opens the door for the introduction of high-quality and nutritious animal-free dairy products" he added. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/857/bangkok-to-host-agriconnect-conference-exhibition2023.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/857/bangkok-to-host-agriconnect-conference-exhibition2023.html Thu, 27 Apr 2023 14:17:01 +0530 Address Southeast Asia's agriculture industry challenges with smart farming innovations ; On May 24/25, at True Digital Park in Bangkok, Thailand The AGRICONNECT Conference & Exhibition 2023, organized by the German Agricultural Society (DLG) and VNU Asia Pacific with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives as official co-host, is set to address the challenges facing Southeast Asia's agriculture industry. The conference and exhibition will take place on May 24, 2023, at True Digital Park in Bangkok, Thailand. The event will convene over 300 participants from various sectors to discuss sustainable agriculture practices and farm visit options on May 25, 2023. The theme of this transformative event is "Eco-efficiency: Solutions for Environmental Farming Business." Eco-efficiency combines cross-cutting topics to integrate sustainable farming practices that benefit the environment, the economy, and society. The AGRICONNECT Conference & Exhibition 2023 is powered by AGRITECHNICA ASIA and HORTI ASIA, Southeast Asia's leading exhibitions in agriculture. The event will feature more than 30 speakers from nine countries and innovative sponsors. In addition, keynote speakers and representatives from international organizations, such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), will share their best practices and solutions in more than 15 sessions. On May 24, 2023, the exhibitors will showcase their latest agriculture-related services and products. In addition, the AGRICONNECT Conference & Exhibition 2023 offers a diverse range of sessions and speakers covering various topics relevant to sustainable agriculture. Some of the highlights include:Environmental Protection: Narapat Kaeothong, Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, who will provide an overview of the ministry’s initiatives on environmental protection.; Takayuki Hagiwara, Regional Programme Leader of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), will discuss the graduation process from farmer to entrepreneur. Innovations in Smart Farming: Matthew McDonald, APAC Precision Technology Product Manager at CNH Industrial will speak on Pivotal role of technology in securing a prosperous future for Southeast Asia; Stewart Andrews, CEO of BioSci(Thailand), Ltd., will expound on his experiences in implementing actionable data insights and intelligent farming.; Tobias Fausch, CIO of BayWa AG will explain Sustainable food security and digital Twin German-Thai Cooperation Project for Clusterfarms, the Department of Agricultural Extension and the Thai Society of Agricultural Engineering will discuss views on the achievements, challenges and opportunities of adopting Smart Farming technologies in Thailand. Dr. Bjöern Ole Sander, Country Representative of Vietnam for the International Rice Research Institute will discuss Carbon market regulations in Southeast Asia agricultural sector. A exclusive panel discussion on vertical farming will discuss characteristics of successful business models in vertical farming. Panel features Christine Zimmermann-Loessl, Chairwoman and Co-Founder of the Association for Vertical Farming, Ralph Becker, CEO/Founder of Urban Greens Hydroponics Systems, Inc., and Sansin Sriphiromrak, CEO of Distar Fresh. Participants will also have the opportunity to participate in interactive sessions and roundtable discussions. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Germany (BMEL) will offer an in-depth exploration of the challenges related to sustainable production in Southeast Asian agriculture, providing valuable insights into opportunities for German agribusiness companies. Similarly, the Sino-Thai Agricultural Young Farmers Exchange Conference will conduct an interactive workshop on "Future Farmer: Strategies for Success in Sustainable and entrepreneurial agriculture by Young Chinese and Thai Farmers," featuring the perspectives of young farmers from China and Thailand. May 25, 2023, will involve farm visits. Participants can visit the Choncharoen Farm in Kanchanaburi, run by Chia Tai x True Digital Solutions to witness technologies surrounding irrigation systems, weather stations, drones, and robotics, are integrated into sustainable farming practices. Alternatively, participants can visit DiStar Fresh Farm, Thailand's largest indoor vertical farming facility. Participants can see how soilless growing using Perlite and Vermiculite provides protection from pests and pathogens while maintaining optimal water usage and an ideal environment for crops. All this is accomplished while controlling LEDs, AC, nutrients, and CO2 levels for an ideal balance of light, atmosphere, and nutrients. AGRICONNECT Conference & Exhibition 2023 will bring experts, stakeholders, and industry leaders in the agriculture sector to discuss and showcase sustainable agriculture practices, innovative technologies, and best practices for achieving eco-efficient farming. The event promises to provide valuable insights, networking opportunities, and new business collaborations for participants from various sectors, including agribusiness, the food industry, and agriculture. To register for the AGRICONNECT Conference & Exhibition 2023 visit www.agritechnica.com/agriconnect/ ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/825/cepc-green-corridor-focuses-on-agricultural-environment-and-food-security.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/825/cepc-green-corridor-focuses-on-agricultural-environment-and-food-security.html Mon, 24 Apr 2023 17:08:15 +0530 In 2023, CEPC Green Corridor is focusing on improving land cultivation area, water management and better access to seeds, fertilisers, farm mechanisation, credit, irrigation China-Pakistan Green Corridor (CPGC) in the year 2022 recorded growth of 4.4 per cent, a target was decided at 3.5 per cent. In 2021 growth was recorded at 3.48 per cent. China-Pakistan agricultural cooperation has deepened in 2022 and has reached $730 million with a year-on-year increase of 28.59 per cent. Export under the project is expected to reach $1 billion in 2023. In 2023, CEPC Green Corridor is focusing on improving land cultivation area, water management and better access to seeds, fertilisers, farm mechanisation, credit, irrigation and improvement in infrastructure and cold storage facilities.  CEPC Green Corridor focuses on the agricultural environment and food security and speaks volumes about the significance of agricultural cooperation in CPEC. China and Pakistan have decided to promote modern agricultural cooperation. Both countries have recently signed a framework agreement on Belt and Road agriculture cooperation. The framework was signed at the China-Pakistan Symposium held at Northwest A&F University, China recently. The agreement was signed by the Northwest A&F University, China National Machinery Industry Corporation (SINOMACH), and the Office of Foreign Affairs Commission, Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee. According to the agreement, the three sides will work together under Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), for promoting international agriculture technology cooperation, training in agriculture, building overseas agriculture parks and enhancing the agriculture industrial chain of BRI countries. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was launched in 2013, the corridor links Pakistan’s Gwadar port with Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The initial phase highlights energy, transport, and industrial cooperation. The latest phase includes agricultural cooperation. Sichuan Litong Food Group and China Machinery Engineering Corp established a company in 2021 to carry out a red chilli farming project in Multan. Under the chilli farming project, the company is implementing 1000-acre chilli cultivation in Multan during 2022 – 2023. China’s pepper technician is training Pakistani farmers to grow pepper seedlings in a greenhouse. The company also plans to build two pepper processing plants in Lahore and Multan. CPGC’s Long Term Plan (LTP) aims for development in the agriculture sector in Pakistan, which has a huge potential for enhancing agri export to the world.  BRI agricultural cooperation focuses on increasing the use of modern machinery and synthetic fertilisers to enhance crop cultivation, under this cooperation warehouses and food processing plants also would be constructed to mitigate post-harvest losses. Cold storage plants and meat processing units would be constructed.  According to the Pakistan Observer, China is planning to outsource agricultural supplies in the form of joint ventures by investing in and developing processing zones, warehouses, dairy farming and cold storage stations in Pakistan. China-Pakistan agricultural cooperation gained manifold traction during the last year. China has developed maize-soybean cultivation projects in 65 sites in Pakistan’s Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions.  The production of maize and soybeans at these sites reached 8,490 kg and 889 kg per hectare respectively. China is also developing the strip intercropping systems of maize-peanut, maize-pea, sugarcane-soybean, sugarcane-mustard, wheat-mustard, wheat-soybean, wheat-chickpea, potato-maize and canola-pea. In June 2022 a new centre was established at Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (AAUR), the CPEC-Agriculture Cooperation Centre (ACC), announced to perform policy research, assist Chinese businesses in working in the agriculture sector, and foster institutional cooperation. Pakistan is also looking forward to enhancing banana production with Chinese cooperation. Cotton germplasm is another important segment in Pak-China agricultural cooperation. China and Pakistan have cooperated in the field of gathering and identifying cotton germplasm resources. For the research of cotton germplasm Institute of Cotton Research (ICR) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), collaborated with the Cotton Research Institute (CRI), Multan, the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), and other universities and scientific research institutions. In July 2022, Tianjin Modern Vocational Technology College (TMVTC), China and MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan (MNSUAM) signed an online agreement for an agricultural machinery training program of Luban Workshop in Pakistan. The two institutions will jointly promote the sci-tech exchanges and cooperation on agricultural machinery, germplasm resources and the agricultural environment. Pakistan is also working to grow sorghum crops as, along with the three main basic foods of the globe, sorghum is a crop that has increasingly gained acceptance around the world. Therefore, Pakistan’s cooperation under CPEC has huge potential to gain new agri-technology from China and revolutionise its agricultural sector. Shraddha Warde ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/809/new-zeeland-dairy-farmers-continue-to-embrace-innovation.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/809/new-zeeland-dairy-farmers-continue-to-embrace-innovation.html Thu, 20 Apr 2023 11:21:33 +0530 New Zealand farmers are focused on improving the production efficiency of their herds utilising digital data and statistical insights to support on-farm decisions DairyNZ has released its annual New Zealand Dairy Statistics report in association with Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) in mid April 2023, highlighting the industries achievements in FY 2021/22. This is the first New Zealand Dairy Statistics published since herd recording companies have been able to send data directly to the Dairy Industry Good Animal Database (DIGAD). The report states that, "In the 2021/22 season, 20.78 billion litres of milk containing 1.87 billion kilograms of milksolids was processed by dairy companies. After reaching a record milk production per herd and per cow in the previous 2020/21 season, production dropped back to 2019/20 levels as the impacts of Covid-19, climatic conditions on farm, inflationary pressures and supply chain issues presented a challenging year for the industry". The trend of declining cow and herd numbers continued and was accompanied by a 4.3% decrease in litres and 4.1% decrease in kilograms of milksolids processed, compared to the previous season. “Through tough times farmers continue to prove their resilience and stay focused on milking better and more efficient cows, by making the most of technology and information. Dairy farmers work hard to retain their unique pasture-based farm system, as they keep milk production flowing and therefore creating real value for New Zealanders” says DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle. The 2021/22 season saw an increased uptake of herd improvement services, with record herd testing levels this season of 3.79 million cows. Artificial insemination remained steady at 3.94 million cows. This continues the trend of New Zealand farmers remaining focused on improving the production efficiency of their herds, and utilising data and insights to support on-farm decisions. Key statistics from the New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2021-22 report The dairy sector produced 20.78 billion litres of milk containing 1.87 billion kilograms of milksolids – a 4.3% (~929 million litres) decrease in litres and a 4.1% (~79 million kg) decrease in milksolids processed compared with the previous season Average milk production per cow was 386 kg of milksolids (made up of 216 kg milkfat and 169 kg protein), a 2.9% decrease from 397 kg last season and back to similar levels as 2019/20 season. Cow numbers have continued to decline, down to 4.84 million, a decrease of 1.26% from the previous season. A total of 3.79 million cows were herd tested (78.3% of cows) – a new record. 3.942 million cows were mated to artificial breeding. The average dairy co-operative payout of $9.52 per kg milksolids was the highest average payout on record, increasing from $7.76 in the previous season. "Record levels of herd testing uptake and strong investment in artificial breeding demonstrates a continued focus from farmers on herd improvement, to identify poor performing cows and to breed more efficient animals. The average dairy co-operative payout from Fonterra and Tatua was $9.52 per kg, which was a record average payout for farmers, while dairy exports reached a record $22 billion in 2021/22, once again showing the importance of the dairy industry to New Zealand’s economy and our rural communities in a difficult economic climate" says LIC chief executive David Chin. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/772/uaes-rumailah-farm-awarded-for-sustainable-dairy-production.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/772/uaes-rumailah-farm-awarded-for-sustainable-dairy-production.html Thu, 13 Apr 2023 11:40:22 +0530 The company prides itself on its sustainable farming practices, which have greatly contributed to the efficient use of resources and the reduction of its carbon footprint UAE’s leading manufacturer of dairy products, Rumailah Farm, has won its first Agricultural Excellence Award. The prestigious HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Award was granted in recognition of the firm’snotable contributions to sustainable farming and innovative dairy production. “We’re proud to receive the Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award, which represents a notable milestone for the company,” Abdullah Taleb, Rumailah Farms General Manager states. “It’s a testament to our longstanding commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community involvement.” Rumailah Farm has made a name for itself in recent years with its chain of popular coffee shops on the UAE’s dynamic East Coast. All its products are derived from Jersey Cows, which are world-renowned for their creamy milk – often referred to as the ‘milk of royalty.’ The company prides itself on its sustainable farming practices, which have greatly contributed to the efficient use of resources and the reduction of its carbon footprint. For example, its adoption of innovative methods and technologies has allowed it to streamline water and energy consumption at its state-of-the-art facility. “Our commitment to delivering top-quality dairy products means we’re always exploring and implementing novel techniques,” Taleb explains. “Eco-friendly initiatives have not only raised our production capacity but have also set an example for the region’s other agricultural businesses.” Rumailah Farm works closely with qualified veterinarians and nutritionists to ensure that its cows receive the best possible care. According to Taleb, this ethical approach leads to happier, healthier cows – which means higher-quality products for customers. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/767/plant-based-dairy-alternatives-to-hit-the-us-market-using-ai-and-data-science.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/767/plant-based-dairy-alternatives-to-hit-the-us-market-using-ai-and-data-science.html Thu, 13 Apr 2023 11:09:00 +0530 Climax Foods and Bel Group partners to leverage AI and data science to empower new generation of plant-derived cheese mimicking traditional dairy products Climax Foods Inc., a US-based biotech start-up with innovative plant-based dairy alternatives and Bel Group, a global leader in cheese production, have partnered to develop a new generation of plant-derived cheese with the goal to tackle key challenges of the food transition such as taste, nutrition and indistinguishable from dairy cheeses while reducing carbon footprint. The two companies will collaborate to create plant-based cheese versions under the brand names Laughing Cow®, Kiri®, Boursin®, Babybel®, and Nurishh® using data science and artificial intelligence (AI). Bel acquired an equity stake in Climax to support its disruptive solution development. The partnership between Bel and Climax Foods will utilize AI and data to help change the game and meet the challenge of scaling up quickly and effectively. Climax's team of food scientists have already succeeded in creating various prototypes with all the characteristics of specialty cheeses, including blue, brie, feta, and goat varieties. Bel aims to launch these new plant-based products in the U.S. and Europe by the end of 2024. This will contribute to achieving the Bel Group objective to balance its portfolio with 50 percent of dairy products and 50 percent of plant-based/fruits products. "Bel, have a strong determination to explore new territories and develop innovative solutions that will define the future of food, for all. The products we will develop can meet the three-fold challenge of being sustainable, nutritious, and accessible. This collaboration epitomizes our co-innovation strategy by combining their distinctive technological data science and AI platforms and expertise with Bel's pioneering and historical knowledge," said Cécile Béliot, CEO of the Bel Group. Dr. Oliver Zahn, CEO and founder of Climax Foods Inc., adds, "AI and data can be game changers in food in terms of delivering optimal taste and texture while making it affordable and sustainable. We must accelerate food evolution due to climate change and consumer preferences." Climax Foods' predictive analytics and AI enable a deep understanding of animal-derived foods at the molecular level. Climax leverages this knowledge to replicate animal-derived products with plant-based versions that match their texture, flavor, and nutrition density. Climax Foods' AI-powered product development significantly reduces the time required to create plant-based recipes that harness more from the vast plant kingdom. Bel brings together deep expertise and innovation capabilities, both in dairy cheese and non-dairy alternatives, to make new generation of cheese accessible. As part of Bel Group's pioneering strategy towards feeding 10 billion people by 2050, this new partnership combines the best of both plant and animal worlds. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/737/philippines-france-to-strengthen-cooperation-for-agricultural-development.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/737/philippines-france-to-strengthen-cooperation-for-agricultural-development.html Thu, 06 Apr 2023 12:30:24 +0530 Both sides agreed upon the finalisation and signing of the Implementation Agreement on the Promotion of Geographical Indications The governments of the Philippines and France will continue to partner towards the development and strengthening of the agri-food sector, particularly involving the local livestock and dairy industry.  This was decided during the 3rd Philippines-France Joint Steering Committee (JSC) on Agricultural Cooperation held at the Philippine Coconut Authority.  The JSC was co-chaired by Noel A. Padre, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Research and Development of the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) and Françoise Simon, Head of the International Affairs Division of the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty (MAFS). Michele Boccoz, French Ambassador to the Philippines was also present.  In an administrative arrangement signed between the Government of the Philippines and the Government of France in 2017, one of the implementation cooperation is the conduct of dialogues such as the Joint Steering Committee on Agricultural Cooperation every two years to strengthen areas of cooperation and open new doors for partnership.  During the meeting, both sides agreed upon the finalisation and signing of the Implementation Agreement on the Promotion of Geographical Indications, confirmed the planned activities on strengthening the management of African swine fever, and continued further discussions on ASF vaccine development.  In addition, France supports the proposal of the NMIS on the fellowship visits to reference labs specialising in the analyses of veterinary drug residues in pig meat. The Philippines also raised proposed scholarship grants and agricultural education.  Both sides have agreed on furthering dairy cooperation and on expediting existing projects.  The Farm and Fisheries Consolidation and Clustering (F2C2) shared their priorities from the Agriculture Forum which transpired the previous day and discussions arise about the exchange of experts to help with the priorities.  Possible areas of partnership with France include the development of wholesale markets, improvement of the Peking duck industry, and strengthening the resilience of the seaweed industry. The possible creation of an SPS working group was also raised.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/714/netherland-pilots-worlds-first-large-scale-methane-reducing-feed-additive-for-cattle.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/714/netherland-pilots-worlds-first-large-scale-methane-reducing-feed-additive-for-cattle.html Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:56:52 +0530 Dutch dairy industry moves towards sustainability with successful incorporation of Bovaer® into the regular farming activities of 158 dairy farms in the Netherlands  Dutch dairy company Royal FrieslandCampina, DSM, and feed supplier Agrifirm have successfully incorporated Bovaer® into the regular farming activities of 158 dairy farms in the Netherlands in the world’s first large-scale on-farm use of the methane-reducing feed additive for cattle. The six month program, which started in 2022, confirmed that Bovaer® can easily be introduced at scale without affecting animal health, milk production or milk composition. This work supports the quicker adoption of Bovaer® by the dairy sector, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping the Netherlands to reach its climate targets. In 2022, history was made by launching an extensive project to gain practical experience with Bovaer®, involving more than 20,000 cows and 158 farms. The successful collaboration between the member dairy farmers of FrieslandCampina, DSM and Agrifirm led to a decrease of 10,000 tons of CO2e in methane emissions (an average of 28% less enteric methane emissions). The project’s success also opens the door for Bovaer® to be more easily implemented across the entire Dutch dairy herd. This move towards sustainability in the Dutch dairy industry stands to benefit consumers and farmers alike. Starting this year, farmers that are using Bovaer® in their feed can be recognized for its use through the KringloopWijzer (Annual Nutrient Cycling Assessment), the carbon footprint tool of the Dutch Dairy Sector (ZuivelNL). The successful collaboration between Bovaer® and the member dairy farmers of FrieslandCampina has opened the door for Bovaer® to be implemented across the entire Dutch dairy herd. This move towards sustainability in the Dutch dairy industry will benefit farmers and consumers alike. Together with its member dairy farmers, FrieslandCampina aims to achieve a 33% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on its member dairy farms by 2030 (vs. 2015). It is therefore working on various solutions to achieve this, such as using guaranteed deforestation-free soy in cattle feed, digestion of manure, generating sustainable energy on farms and reducing cow methane emissions using Bovaer®. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/680/singapores-turtletree-debuts-first-ever-animal-free-lactoferrin-protein.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/680/singapores-turtletree-debuts-first-ever-animal-free-lactoferrin-protein.html Tue, 28 Mar 2023 13:06:00 +0530 LF is a high-value bioactive milk protein set to commercially launch in Q4 2023 TurtleTree (HQ: Singapore), a global leader in animal-free functional dairy proteins, has developed the world's first precision fermentation-produced lactoferrin —LF+—a high-value bioactive milk protein. TurtleTree projects to commercially launch LF+ in Q4 2023 Lactoferrin is one of the most powerful parts of cow's milk, with great functional benefits for immunity, iron regulation, and digestive health. The highly nutritious ingredient is designed into LF+-powered food and beverages that deliver delicious, unadulterated flavor coupled with health-boosting benefits. Lactoferrin, otherwise known as "pink gold" because of its high value and iron-rich pink hue, is naturally found in cow's milk but the low concentrations and current resource-intensive extraction processes limit access for many people. Its iron-regulating benefits can improve physical performance, aiding endurance, fatigue resistance, muscle strength, and energetic efficiency. To put the value of lactoferrin into context with other dairy proteins like whey, which costs approximately $1 per kilogram, lactoferrin retails at between $700 to $1,500 per kilogram. These prices reflect the significant resources necessary to extract the highly-prized protein, with up to 10,000 liters of milk—or nearly 50 cows producing a week's worth of milk—required to obtain just 1 kilogram of purified lactoferrin. Currently, lactoferrin is already used in supplements and infant formula. Yet, there remains a supply scarcity concerns unable to meet the demand for other fertile segments like sports nutrition. Accessing lactoferrin directly through off-the-shelf whole cow's milk can be a challenge, with pasteurization removing up to 50% of the naturally occurring protein. Furthermore, for conscious consumers who make the switch to plant-based milk, where lactoferrin is not inherently present, maintaining intake of this important nutrient can be a struggle. "The development and debut of this highly valuable animal-free dairy protein is yet another innovative breakthrough that creates more sustainable food choices and a more sustainable food system. With more private sector and public sector support, precision fermentation is one of the brilliant alternative protein technologies that can open up a world of possibilities on this front" says Good Food Institute Co-Founder and President Bruce Friedrich. Through the use of precision fermentation—harnessing microbes as tiny factories embedded with lactoferrin's unique recipe—TurtleTree is removing high methane-emitting cows from the lactoferrin supply chain and unlocking an abundant, sustainable, and affordable source of the highly-prized nutrient. TurtleTree is demonstrating how precision fermentation-derived proteins can help reduce the nutritional gap between conventional and plant-based products. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/681/irish-food-board-presents-sustainable-european-dairy-campaign-in-malaysia-2022-2024.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/681/irish-food-board-presents-sustainable-european-dairy-campaign-in-malaysia-2022-2024.html Tue, 28 Mar 2023 13:05:00 +0530 Three-year promotion in Malaysia to raise awareness of high quality and sustainably produced European Dairy from Ireland. Bord Bia – Irish Food Board held a successful trade seminar, "Sustainable European Dairy from Ireland" at the Sheraton Petaling Jaya in Malaysia. The event brought together key stakeholders in the dairy industry in Malaysia, including local importers, distributors, manufacturers, and media representatives. Distinguished guests included Ireland's Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins, T.D. and Ambassador of Ireland to Malaysia, H.E Hilary Reilly. Malaysian stakeholders gained valuable insights on the dairy industry's latest global trends and future outlook. Bord Bia presented high-quality ingredients produced in Ireland, emphasizing the country's commitment to sustainability. Malaysian local partners shared their experience of working with European Dairy from Ireland. Over 40 dairy industry representatives including local importers, distributors, manufacturers explored Ireland's capability as a supplier of high quality and sustainably produced dairy. Bord Bia - Irish Food Board is a government agency within the Department of Agriculture. Bord Bia is responsible for the development of new markets and the promotion of Irish food, drink, and horticulture products internationally. The role of Bord Bia is to act as a link between Irish food, drink and horticulture companies and existing and potential customers. Bord Bia has 16 offices around the world, in Europe, Asia, Middle East and North America, to promote trade in the international market. Patrick Lim, Business Manager for Dairy - APAC at Bord Bia said "the collaboration created an excellent opportunity to showcase the quality and sustainability of European Dairy from Ireland and to connect with key stakeholders in the dairy industry in Malaysia." Niall Collins, Ireland Minister of State for Skills and Further Education emphasized the importance of sustainable agriculture in food production. Hilary Reilly, Ambassador of Ireland to Malaysia also shared her remarks on the potential of Irish-Malaysian partnerships in the dairy industry. Ireland exported over €65 million in food and drink to the Malaysian market in 2022. Irish dairy exports to Malaysia rose to a value of €60 million in 2022, making it Ireland's largest food export category to the market. Due to strong demand for cheese and powders, Irish dairy exports to Malaysia are up 35% in value terms in the first 6 months of 2022 ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/674/uae-rumailah-farm-set-to-expand-into-agro-tourism-education.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/674/uae-rumailah-farm-set-to-expand-into-agro-tourism-education.html Mon, 27 Mar 2023 15:06:46 +0530 Leading dairy producer seeks to inspire upcoming generations while raising the international profile of UAE’s agricultural sector Rumailah Farm, the UAE’s leading producer of high-end dairy products, is tapping into the agro-tourism and education sectors by forging exciting new partnerships with local educational institutions. “We hope to educate – and inspire – the UAE’s upcoming generations, while also raising the international profile of the country’s agricultural sector,” Abdullah Taleb, General Manager of Rumailah Farm, states. In recent years, Rumailah Farm has made a name for itself with its flagship locations on the UAE’s dynamic East Coast. Drawing a wide base of loyal customers, its popular coffee shops have proven a hit with local residents and foreign visitors alike. For the past year, Rumailah Farm has provided in-depth tours of its state-of-the-art dairy facilities. Visitors also have the chance to interact with the farm’s famous Jersey Cows, which are world-renowned for their creamy milk – often referred to as the ‘milk of royalty.’ Along with creating fresh sources of revenue, Rumailah Farm tours have piqued the interest of the wider public. “Visitors, both local and foreign, are curious to see how our products achieve their unique and delicious taste,” Taleb explains. By opening its facilities’ doors to the public, Rumailah Farm has raised the quality and reputation of agricultural standards, throughout Fujairah and the UAE. According to Taleb, the tours aren’t only fun – they’re educational as well. “Our popular tours have helped raise the profile of the country’s agricultural market, both nationally and internationally,” he says. In line with its ongoing commitment to education, Rumailah Farm recently partnered with the GEMS Winchester School Fujairah. The agreement will allow 600 students to visit the farm’s facilities, where they can enjoy the hands-on experience of dairy production. Rumailah Farm plans to further expand its tours division by forging additional partnerships with other respected educational institutions, with the ultimate aim of passing its agricultural knowledge on to Emirati youth. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/652/chinas-first-milk-and-yogurt-factory-achieves-international-standard-compliance.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/652/chinas-first-milk-and-yogurt-factory-achieves-international-standard-compliance.html Thu, 23 Mar 2023 08:03:00 +0530 Yili obtains international water footprint verification both at the product and organizational levels for its liquid milk and the yogurt product factory Chinese firm Longyou Yili Dairy Co., Ltd., one of Yili's liquid milk plants in Zhejiang Province, and Yili's AMBPOMIAL Greek-style Yogurt has received water footprint verification issued by Bureau Veritas, making them the first liquid milk factory and the first yogurt product in China's dairy industry to obtain water footprint certification in compliance with the international standard ISO 14046. After incorporating water conservation projects into its value chain and mitigating water scarcity risks in 2022, Yili Group has reached another milestone in its water footprint verification efforts. Yili Group took the lead in exploring and adopting the "Low Water Footprint" (LWF) strategy in the dairy and food industries. In 2022, Yili Group established a Carbon Neutrality Committee responsible for the group's water resources management, integrated planning of water intake and water use, and exploring innovative solutions for water stewardship in its entire supply chain. In 2022, Yili took its Zhejiang factory as a pilot to carry out organizational level LCA (full life cycle) water footprint research and management, and has obtained the water footprint verification issued by the British Standards Institution, becoming the first China food company that obtains the transparent and credible water footprint certification. The water resources stewardship of Yili Group is based on the self-developed digital management platform. This platform can not only manage the data of all water intake by cattle, water consumption and water recycling, but also be able to calculate the water footprint of the product life cycle according to international standards. The third-party verification and certification will also enable the digital platform to provide a solid foundation for better management of water risks. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/647/alltech-enters-partnership-to-enhance-dairy-sector-in-thailand.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/647/alltech-enters-partnership-to-enhance-dairy-sector-in-thailand.html Tue, 21 Mar 2023 12:51:11 +0530 The collaboration will leverage global expertise and technologies to sustainably expand dairy quality, animal welfare and economic benefits in Thailand’s dairy industry. Alltech, a global leader in animal nutrition, and the Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand (DPO) have collaborated to create a model for nutrition innovation and sustainable dairy farming in the country. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed at VIV Asia with Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, Jonathan Forrest Wilson, president of Alltech Asia Pacific, and Peera Chairut, assistant director of DPO. Alltech has established itself in Thailand for over 25 years. The MOU outlines the scope of collaboration, including the development of management and nutrition strategies to solve challenges and improve production efficiency, the establishment of guidelines and procedures to meet project objectives, and the management of ruminant nutrition to solve production issues and promote better efficiency and quality of products. DPO is a government agency which operates under the oversight of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. It is best known as the manufacturer of the Thai-Denmark brand of dairy products. The collaboration will leverage global expertise and technologies to sustainably expand and develop dairy and beef cattle production in Thailand. The agreement will also include the development of management and nutrition strategies and guidelines to solve challenges and improve production efficiency. Alltech and DPO will work together to help farmers in developing appropriate knowledge and utilising relevant technologies, services and management practices for sustainable dairy and beef cattle production which will improve the performance of dairy cows and the quality and quantity of milk they produce. There are currently around 24,000 dairy farms in Thailand, 162 milk collection centres and 130 processing plants. Commenting on the new partnership, Dr. Mark Lyons, president and chief executive of Alltech, said: “Working with DPO, we can apply our global resources and insights to the Thai market, so the future of dairy farming will deliver high-quality nutrition for the people of Thailand while enabling the country’s farming sector and land to thrive.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/581/evonik-launches-first-plant-based-animal-nutrition-premix.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/581/evonik-launches-first-plant-based-animal-nutrition-premix.html Mon, 06 Mar 2023 10:25:00 +0530 Flavonoid-rich plant extracts alleviate inflammation in sows, laying hens and dairy cows Evonik is introducing a new plant-based Animal nutrition premix product to maintain good health among sows (female pigs), laying hens and dairy cows by boosting their immunity. The new product, called PhytriCare® IM, consists of selected plant extracts with a high flavonoid content. Flavonoids are known for their anti-inflammatory effects. Currently available throughout Europe, the product is under approval in other countries. PhytriCare® IM is originally developed in association with Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition GmbH & Co. KG to prevent an overshooting of inflammatory reactions in sows, laying hens and dairy cows. PhytriCare® IM is a blend of carefully selected plant extracts covering a wide range of flavonoid subclasses. This blend targets a broad spectrum of inflammatory pathways to modulate, but not suppress, the inflammatory response. “Farm animals are exposed to a variety of stress factors and respond by activating the body's defense mechanisms. If the stress continues at a higher level for a longer period, it can lead to chronic inflammation. The animal then uses an increased share of its energy and nutrients for the immune system rather than for beneficial activities, such as growth and performance, sometimes for months or years. Female animals are particularly stressed by reproductive processes anyway. Consequently, production efficiency decreases and the animal's ecological footprint increases” explains Evonik Animal Nutrition department. Evonik has worked on the natural anti-inflammatory effect of flavonoids in PhytriCare® IM in association with Dr. Eckel. Some of these secondary plant constituents, numbering around 8,000, have been shown to influence certain biochemical processes in animals that are associated with inflammation. Since the prophylactic use of antibiotics has been banned in Europe, many farmers are looking for alternative solutions to keep their animals healthy and productive. In addition to probiotics, various other product classes have become established, including phytogenics. Evonik Animal Nutrition adds plant-based PhytriCare® IM to its probiotics-based Gut Health Solutions portfolio. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/574/three-trends-that-will-shape-asias-dairy-industry-in-2023-a-dksh-analysis.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/574/three-trends-that-will-shape-asias-dairy-industry-in-2023-a-dksh-analysis.html Thu, 02 Mar 2023 13:11:18 +0530 Asia will likely continue its path to being the fastest-growing market for the dairy category in Asia, with projected growth in the mid-single digit range over the next five years, reports DKSH statistics. DKSH, (DiethelmKellerSiberHegner) the Swiss holding company specializing in market expansion services, having its exclusive presence and deep rooted connectivity in Asia-Pacific recently presented its analysis report around the trends in APAC dairy industry for the CY 2023. DKSK expert research analysis indicates that China, with more than 40 percent contribution will continue to be the largest dairy market in Asia, followed by India and Japan. These three markets alone constitute over 75 percent of Asia’s total dairy market. The other markets projected to see healthy growth are Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.  Protein-Rich Consumers A key factor driving this increasing demand is the conscious increase in consumer preference toward a protein-rich diet, including milk and milk-based products. The demand is driven by the nutritional and functional properties of milk, along with the growing preference for probiotic drinks such as sour milk drinks, drinkable yogurt, and flavored and fermented milk The COVID-19 pandemic has positively accelerated the demand for food and beverages that help boost our immune system and overall health. There are also more government-sponsored nutrition drives across Asian markets that are geared towards boosting awareness and uptake of milk and milk-based products. One example is the school milk programs introduced in China for the population to consume at least 300 ml of milk or equivalent amounts of other dairy products daily. The accelerated growth of middle-income consumers in China, South Asia, and Southeast Asia will be a major contributor to driving demand for dairy and dairy derivatives. Coupled with this, rapid urbanization of the population will also contribute positively with a projected 40 percent urban population in India and China significantly boosting the demand for dairy products. Better Market Access The existing and emerging preferential and free trade agreements between Asian markets will continue to help improve market access for businesses across the region. “Glocalization” or the adaptation of globally marketed products and services into local markets is another big trend in the dairy category in Asia. Furthermore, the dairy product growth in China is projected to propel the growth of imports from Europe to China. Product Innovation In the coming years, we expect consumers to be more inclined toward more innovation for dairy food products, from added nutritional value to functional benefits and bolstering flavors. Among the trends that will drive innovations include non-local taste-based and novelty products like drinking yogurts in China, cheese wafers in Indonesia, yogurt ice cream in South Korea, and even cheese tea in some Asian markets. Innovation and product novelty will be the key drivers of dairy products in Asian markets over the next few years ahead. As the market demand for dairy-based food and ingredients continues to grow in Asia, DKSH is well-placed to continue helping food manufacturers and dairy brands to create or expand into markets across Asia. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/542/si-ware-introduces-neospectra-feed-analysis-solutions-to-the-dairy-industry.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/542/si-ware-introduces-neospectra-feed-analysis-solutions-to-the-dairy-industry.html Mon, 20 Feb 2023 11:31:47 +0530 Partners with Cargill Animal Nutrition to adopt precision on-site analysis of forages, feeds, and feed ingredients in dairy farms Si-Ware Systems is collaborating with Cargill Animal Nutrition to provide the NeoSpectra platform to Cargill’s North American dairy teams for use in on-site analysis of forages, feeds, and feed ingredients.  The NeoSpectra platform uses cutting-edge spectroscopy techniques and machine learning technology to quickly and accurately analyze the nutrient content of dairy industry feed and feed ingredients in real-time. Following the agreement, Si-Ware's NeoSpectra platform will be utilized by Cargill's market, research, and technical expertise in dairy farm nutrition to provide accurate and reliable data. By accurately and instantly determining the nutrient content of feeds and feed ingredients, farmers, consultants, and nutritionists can increase yield and efficiency on the farm. "Our near-infrared solutions will be marketed by Cargill and their Dairy Team. Our solutions will help Cargill ensure the nutritional value of their feed products, providing their customers with the information they need to make accurate and informed choices on the spot" said Mostafa Medhat, VP of Product & Customer Happiness at Si-Ware Systems. With NeoSpectra by Si-Ware, businesses can bring their lab to the field with an all-in-one, universal material analysis solution platform built on single chip FT-NIR spectrometers and achieve high returns on investment anywhere. The portable analyzers claims to have unprecedented performance and accuracy. It is also a secure place to discover and download test methods developed by FT-NIR technology. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/506/evonik-invests-e25-mn-in-methionine-intermediates-production-plant-in-germany.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/506/evonik-invests-e25-mn-in-methionine-intermediates-production-plant-in-germany.html Mon, 06 Feb 2023 15:12:31 +0530 The investment will safeguard the long-term supply of MMP to the European methionine production hub Germany-based Evonik has invested €25 million in developing and expanding its methylmercapto-propionaldehyde (MMP) production plant in Wesseling, Germany, in the latest move to strengthen its world-scale global methionine production network. MMP is integral in the production of MetAMINO (DL-methionine) which is used in animal feed to improve the performance of livestock farming. The precursors of this essential amino acid have been produced in Wesseling for more than 50 years. Dr Gaetano Blanda, head of the Animal Nutrition business line, said, "With this investment, Evonik is strengthening the European methionine network to safeguard the long-term supply of MMP to our MetAMINO production hub in Antwerp, Belgium. The move underscores our commitment to serving and expanding the global DL-methionine market and secures the best possible supply security for our customers.” The conversion and expansion of the plant in Wesseling have been made possible by the development of a new production process, that will allow for the avoidance of the storage of chemical intermediates, such as acrolein, at the site. Commenting on the plant upgrade, Dr Jan-Olaf Barth, head of the Essential Nutrition product line, said, “Evonik is known for its innovative approach and world-class technology, and in Wesseling, we have now developed a process that increases efficiency and, with Responsible Care in mind, further enhances safety at the site." He added, “This investment is a building block of our global methionine asset strategy with the clear goal of being the cost and technology leader in all regions and the reliable partner for our customers.” ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/500/global-food-prices-decline-further-in-january.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/500/global-food-prices-decline-further-in-january.html Mon, 06 Feb 2023 11:33:14 +0530 The FAO Food Price Index averaged 131.2 points in January, 0.8 per cent lower than the previous month and 17.9 per cent below its peak reached in March 2022. The benchmark index of international food commodity prices declined in January for the tenth consecutive month, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.The FAO Food Price Index averaged 131.2 points in January, 0.8 per cent lower than the previous month and 17.9 per cent below its peak reached in March 2022. The index tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities. The price indices for vegetable oils, dairy and sugar drove the January decline, while those for cereals and meat remained largely stable.In January, the FAO Cereal Price Index was essentially unchanged (up a mere 0.1 per cent) from December and stood 4.8 per cent above its level of one year earlier. International wheat prices declined by 2.5 per cent as production in Australia and the Russian Federation outpaced expectations. World maize prices rose marginally due to strong demand for exports from Brazil and concerns over dry conditions in Argentina. International rice prices, however, jumped by 6.2 per cent from December, influenced by tighter availabilities, strong local demand in some Asian exporting countries and exchange rate movements.The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index declined by 2.9 per cent in January. World prices of palm and soy oils dropped amid subdued global import demand, while those of sunflower seed and rapeseed oils declined due to ample export availabilities.The FAO Dairy Price Index averaged 1.4 per cent lower than in December, with prices trending down for butter and milk powders on lighter demand from leading importers and increased supplies from New Zealand. World cheese prices rose slightly, driven by a recovery in food services and retail sales in Western Europe following the New Year holiday, as well as currency movements.The FAO Meat Price Index moved fractionally in January (edging down just 0.1 per cent from December), as ample export availabilities weighed on poultry, pig and bovine meat prices, while ovine export prices rose due to stronger import demand.The FAO Sugar Price Index dropped by 1.1 per cent from December. Strong harvest progress in Thailand and favourable weather conditions in Brazil outweighed the impact on prices due to concerns over lower crop yields in India, higher gasoline prices in Brazil, which support demand for ethanol, as well as the Brazilian real’s appreciation against the United States dollar. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/498/australias-rumin8-enters-new-zealand-with-two-cattle-trials.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/498/australias-rumin8-enters-new-zealand-with-two-cattle-trials.html Fri, 03 Feb 2023 14:41:23 +0530 The trials – one on beef cattle and one on dairy cattle – seek to test Rumin8’s product integration in the New Zealand pasture-based systems. Australian climate technology company Rumin8 has commenced two safety and efficacy trials of its methane-reducing feed supplements in New Zealand. The trials – one on beef cattle and one on dairy cattle – seek to test Rumin8’s product integration in the New Zealand pasture-based systems. Rumin8 identifies naturally occurring compounds that have anti-methanogenic properties, but instead of harvesting and extracting them from plants, is able to reproduce them in a highly efficient, low-cost, scalable, and high-quality process to feed to livestock in order to reduce their emissions. The trials will use different measuring methodologies – both recognised and validated in the field. The beef trial utilises a methane measuring facility, which provides continuous measurements over 48 hours, while the dairy trial utilises Greenfeed systems which measure methane emissions throughout the duration of the trial taking short burst measurements throughout the day. The first trial is a dose-response trial run by DairyNZ in Hamilton. Lactating dairy cows on a pasture-based diet will be offered the methane-reducing feed supplement three times per day over 45 to investigate the methane reduction potential in a pasture-based system. As with all our ongoing trials, animal health will be closely monitored to validate the safety of our product. Blood samples are analysed for markers of animal health, behaviour is monitored and feed intake is measured each day. A further range of measurements and analyses will be undertaken, including methane production, methane intensity (methane per kg milk), milk production, milk components, feed conversion ratio, feed intake, and residues in milk and tissue. The beef trial, using dairy-beef heifers, will be conducted by AgResearch at Palmerston North, where the NZ Ruminant Methane Measurement Centre is located. In this trial, four doses will be offered to the cattle to determine the minimum effective dose required. Rumin8’s product will be mixed with a small ration of pellets, while the main diet component will be freshly-cut pasture. At the conclusion of the trial, the beef heifers will spend 48 hours in a methane-measuring facility, where methane production is continuously measured, as well as live weights and samples of blood and tissue will be collected for analysis. David Messina Rumin8 Managing Director said New Zealand “New Zealand farmers have a strong track record of innovation adoption and desire to minimize their environmental footprint.” Rumin8 was required to seek Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines approval prior to the commencement of the trial. Other trials are currently underway in Australia and Brazil. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/485/vinamilk-becomes-asias-first-purity-award-2022-winner.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/485/vinamilk-becomes-asias-first-purity-award-2022-winner.html Wed, 01 Feb 2023 16:34:51 +0530 Vinamilk Green Farm and 100% Organic are also the first fresh milk products in the world to achieve the Clean Label Project certification Vinamilk, Vietnam's leading dairy brand, announces that Vinamilk Optimum Gold - manufactured in Vietnam, is the first dairy formula milk product in Asia that was awarded the Clean Label Project Purity Award 2022. This is a testament to Vinamilk's pioneering efforts to keep pace with the world's highest standards and demonstrates its persistence with the uncompromising philosophy of quality for Vietnamese children's products. Vinamilk's representative also added that the company is currently submitting evaluation documents for other Vinamilk products to raise the quality standards of its entire children’s products portfolio.  "Prestigious awards, such as the Purity Award, require our production not only to adhere to strict ingredient end-to-end safety standards from raw materials to the final products but also to ensure full packaging information transparency. This achievement is a great encouragement to Vinamilk in striving towards its commitment to bringing nutritional products of international standards to Vietnamese people, especially children," shared Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Executive Director of R&D at Vinamilk. Jaclyn Bowen, Executive Director of Clean Label Project, further explained, "The awards are given by CLP to brands whose products emphasise the purity of ingredients. We greatly appreciate the efforts of businesses like Vinamilk in setting higher standards for milk products for children." In addition, two other fresh milk products, Vinamilk Green Farm and 100 per cent Organic are also the first fresh milk products in the world to achieve the Clean Label Project certification for brands that not only have increased transparency but are also forthright in product labelling. With these, Vinamilk is now the first brand in Asia that owns both fresh milk and baby formula with certifications and awards from the CLP. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/484/malaysian-retailer-wins-praise-for-new-animal-welfare-policy.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/484/malaysian-retailer-wins-praise-for-new-animal-welfare-policy.html Tue, 31 Jan 2023 13:33:37 +0530 The policy will require animal protein suppliers to end the use of cages and crates as well as meet additional standards set by animal welfare experts Malaysia-based retail chain AEON Co. (M) Bhd (AEON) won praise for publishing a comprehensive new animal health and welfare policy that protects the Five Freedoms of animals in the company’s supply chain, from egg-laying hens to cows, chickens and fish. The Company believes that animal welfare is deeply related to the relationship human beings have with animals and agrees that it is every retailer’s duty to ensure all animals are treated humanely, responsibly, and with respect. The policy, drafted with the support of the international NGO Lever Foundation, will require animal protein suppliers to end the use of cages and crates, limit stocking densities, provide suitable environments as well as meet additional standards set by animal welfare experts. AEON is working closely with its suppliers to ensure the new standards and guidelines are met within the next 12 – 18 months. AEON noted that the new animal health and welfare policy is an essential step towards protecting farm animals in its supply chain, thus meeting the growing expectations of customers who demand higher standards of animal welfare. “We applaud AEON Malaysia for this new holistic set of standards that will further improve the welfare of egg-laying hens, chickens, cows, fish and other animals in the company’s supply chain,” said Vilosha Sivaraman, Sustainability Program Manager at Lever Foundation, which worked closely with AEON on drafting the policy. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/478/after-east-coast-success-rumailah-farm-set-to-expand-across-uae.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/478/after-east-coast-success-rumailah-farm-set-to-expand-across-uae.html Mon, 30 Jan 2023 15:19:40 +0530 The new Rumailah Farm outlets are slated to be up and running within the first quarter of 2023. Rumailah Farm, the UAE’s top manufacturer of dairy products, is making the leap from a regional to a national brand. After the tremendous success of its East Coast locations, it’s now planning to open another two outlets – this time in Dubai and Qidfa.  “Our recent ventures to expand across the UAE are the result of years of hard work and dedication,” Abdullah Taleb Rumailah Farm General Manager says. “By maintaining the highest quality standards and sticking to our values, we’re quickly outstripping the competition.” Rumailah Farm made a name for itself with its flagship locations on the Fujairah corniche, at the Fujairah Umbrella Beach resort complex, and in Dibba. Along with offering top-quality dairy products, its chain of popular coffee shops proved a hit with local residents and visitors alike. Rumailah Farm is now expanding its presence across the entire UAE, with brand-new locations set to open in both scenic Qidfa and luxurious Dubai within the next two months. “Our brand is growing, and so is our physical presence across the country,” Taleb explains. “The undreamt-of success of our Fujairah locations prompted us to expand even further, with the ultimate aim of bringing farm-fresh dairy products to the UAE’s western coast.” The Qidfa location marks Rumailah Farm’s latest project on the dynamic East Coast, where it achieved its initial successes and already enjoys high brand recognition. The second location in Dubai’s upscale Jumeirah neighbourhood will be the company’s first venture on the UAE’s fast-paced western coast, where it hopes to tap into an entirely new – and potentially lucrative – market. Both of the new Rumailah Farm outlets are slated to be up and running within the first quarter of 2023. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/449/new-zealands-m-bovis-programme-confirms-properties-continue-to-decrease.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/449/new-zealands-m-bovis-programme-confirms-properties-continue-to-decrease.html Fri, 20 Jan 2023 13:53:03 +0530 The number of active confirmed properties has decreased this week with two properties now cleared of M. Bovis and preparing to return to farming without restrictions. The Mycoplasma Bovis Programme, led in partnership with MPI, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand, continues to make good progress towards eradicating the disease from New Zealand. All properties in the high-risk area in Wakanui, under a Controlled Area Notice (CAN), have now been cleared of cattle. Testing will be underway shortly on the properties in the surrounding area. The CAN is on track to be lifted in mid-March. The number of active confirmed properties has decreased this week with two properties now cleared of M. Bovis and preparing to return to farming without restrictions. There is one new farm infected with M. Bovis which has well-established links to another already infected property. "This brings the current number of Confirmed Properties to 5 (compared to 40 at the height of the outbreak), and we expect all of these farms to be cleared within the first half of 2023," said Simon Andrew M. Bovis programme director. "While this progress is great news for farmers, there is still work to be done before New Zealand can transition to the next stage of the eradication effort which will primarily focus on Bulk Tank Milk, and Beef and Drystock Cattle surveillance. "Over time, this will provide us with the necessary information for us to be confident the country is absent of the disease. It is expected that more infected properties may be identified before this shift." The newly confirmed infected farm is a dairy grazing operation in the Banks Peninsula. It is linked through ownership and animal movements to a Confirmed Property in the Wakanui area. "We are working closely with the farmer to depopulate the new confirmed property as quickly as possible before the milking season to minimise the disruption to the farmer’s business." Andrew said as well as the progress made towards clearing the Wakanui area of infection, the investigation into the second strain identified from a Confirmed Property in Canterbury in October 2022 is ongoing. "This includes testing semen and tracing all forward and backtraces on and off the infected farm. To date, none has been found on any farm that supplied the infected property with cattle, nor on properties that received cattle from this farm." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/426/tibets-agri-output-hits-record-high-in-2022.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/426/tibets-agri-output-hits-record-high-in-2022.html Mon, 16 Jan 2023 16:03:27 +0530 The region's grain output hit 1.07 million tonnes in 2022, vegetable output climbed to 930,000 tonnes. The agricultural output of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region surged to a record high in 2022, according to the Xinhua News Agency. The region's grain output hit 1.07 million tonnes in 2022, vegetable output climbed to 930,000 tonnes, and the output of meat, eggs and milk reached 880,000 tonnes, said the report released at the first session of the 12th People's Congress of Tibet Autonomous Region. Meanwhile, the region's output of green and organic foods and farm products as well as those with indigenous marks increased by 30 per cent year on year in 2022, as the region has attached importance to the security and quality of its farm products. Tibet allocated subsidies for the protection of cultivated land around 172 million yuan (about $25.6 million) in 2022. By the end of 2022, Tibet's planting area of improved varieties of highland barley, a long-established Tibetan grain, had grown to about 135,000 hectares, and that of high-yield farmland totalled 260,000 hectares.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/414/world-food-prices-dip-in-december.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/414/world-food-prices-dip-in-december.html Thu, 12 Jan 2023 12:22:12 +0530 FAO Food Price Index ends 2022 lower than a year earlier The index of world food prices dipped for the ninth consecutive month in December 2022, declining by 1.9 per cent from the previous month, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) reported.The FAO Food Price Index averaged 132.4 points in December, 1.0 per cent below its value a year earlier. However, for 2022 as a whole, the index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities, averaged 143.7 points, 14.3 per cent higher than the average value over 2021.“Calmer food commodity prices are welcome after two very volatile years,” said Maximo Torero FAO Chief Economist. “It is important to remain vigilant and keep a strong focus on mitigating global food insecurity given that world food prices remain at elevated levels, with many staples near record highs, and with prices of rice increasing, and still many risks associated with future supplies”Vegetable oil world quotations led a decrease, with the FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index down 6.7 per cent from November to reach its lowest level since February 2021. International quotations for palm, soy, rapeseed and sunflower seed oils all declined in December, driven by subdued global import demand and prospects of seasonally rising soy oil production in South America as well as declining crude oil prices.The FAO Cereal Price Index decreased by 1.9 per cent from November. Ongoing harvests in the southern hemisphere boosted wheat exportable supplies, while strong competition from Brazil drove down world maize prices. Conversely, international rice prices rose, buoyed by Asian buying and currency appreciation against the United States dollar for exporting countries.The FAO Meat Price Index in December dropped by 1.2 per cent from November, with lower world prices of bovine and poultry meats outweighing higher pig and ovine meat prices. International bovine meat prices were impacted by lacklustre global demand for medium-term supplies, while more-than-adequate export supplies pushed down poultry meat prices. Pig meat prices rose on the back of strong internal holiday demand, especially in Europe,The FAO Dairy Price Index increased by 1.2 per cent in December, following five months of consecutive declines. Higher international cheese prices, reflecting tightening market conditions, drove the monthly increase in the index, while international quotations for butter and milk powder declined.The FAO Sugar Price Index also rose, increasing by 2.4 per cent from November, mostly due to concerns over the impact of adverse weather conditions on crop yields in India and sugarcane crushing delays in Thailand and Australia.As noted, the FAO Food Price Index averaged over 2022 was notably higher than the previous year, which on top of large increases in 2021 catalysed significant strains and food security concerns for lower-income food-importing countries and the adoption, inspired by FAO, of a “Food Shock Window” lending facility by the International Monetary Fund.World prices of wheat and maize reached record highs over the year. The average value of the FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index for all of 2022 reached a new record high, while the FAO Dairy Price Index and Meat Price Index marked their highest full-year levels since 1990. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/407/egypt-releases-172000-tonnes-of-fodder-raw-materials.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/407/egypt-releases-172000-tonnes-of-fodder-raw-materials.html Tue, 10 Jan 2023 18:07:06 +0530 The release included 146,000 tonnes of corn at a value of $58.4 million and 26,000 tonnes of soybeans at a value of $19.2 million. Egypt released 172,000 tonnes of fodder raw materials from the ports, including corn and soybeans, at a value of $81 million, recently. El-Sayed El-Kosayer Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation revealed that this was done in coordination with the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) and through the banking sector. This came within the framework of the state’s efforts to make special arrangements for the successive release of all goods in the ports. Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly announced that goods worth about $300 million were released. El-Kosayer explained that the release included 146,000 tonnes of corn at a value of $58.4 million, 26,000 tonnes of soybeans at a value of $19.2 million, and feed additives worth $3.4 million. According to the Egyptian minister, the total released fodder raw materials, during the period from October to December, amounted to about 1.427 million tonnes, at a value of $713 million, including 971,000 tonnes of corn, and 456,000 tonnes of soybeans and feed additives. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/384/uae-university-cooperates-with-university-of-malaya-in-agri-research-projects.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/384/uae-university-cooperates-with-university-of-malaya-in-agri-research-projects.html Wed, 04 Jan 2023 16:09:47 +0530 The UAE University exerts efforts to support 11 joint research projects including 3 in the field of food and agriculture. The United Arab Emirates University builds bridges of positive and constructive cooperation to enhance the international reputation of the university. The UAE University has recently made several partnerships with educational institutions in Malaysia, especially with the University of Malaya, in areas of national priority. Prof. Ahmed Murad - Associate Provost for Research - said that this cooperation reinforces the quality of scientific research through distinguished contributions. He also added that the UAE University exerts efforts to support joint research projects between the two universities, and there are 11 research projects between the two universities in several fields, including 3 research projects in the field of food and agriculture, for example: a research entitled "Postharvest technologies to improve the nutritional quality and  Storage life of fig fruit (Ficus carica L.) produced under greenhouse and open field condition in UAE”, and another research entitled “Characterization, Antioxidant, Anticancer and Immunomodulatory Activities of Exopolysaccharides (EPS) Produced by New Probiotic Bacteria and Its Rheological Impact in Camel Milk Products (Fermented Milk and Cheese)”. In addition to 5 research projects in the field of water and energy, examples of which are research entitled "A Generalized Soft Computing Model for Groundwater Levels and Quality in Arid and Tropical Zones" and another research entitled "Development of a Saltwater Based Powered Generator System". In addition to 3 research projects in the field of information technology and engineering, entitled " Intelligent Clustered Body Language Analysis of Healthcare Patients ", and entitled " Two-Handed Static and Dynamic Arabic Sign Language Translation System Integration Using Spatiotemporal and Machine Translation Models ", and entitled " Investigation of Monostatic Radar Cross Section (RCS) for Military Communication System using a Composite Meta surface integrated with Antenna ". He also said that we have accomplished 4 research projects entitled " Cognitive Mirroring by Continual Lifelong Learning: Robot-Avatar Therapy to Access Autism Spectrum Disorder " in the field of information technology, and three research projects entitled " Mitigation of deposition on heat exchanger surfaces by nanoparticle additives and conductive polymeric coatings”, and entitled “Development and Testing of Novel Nonlinear Stochastic Wave Excitation Force Estimators – Simulation and Experimental Study” and entitled “Hierarchical Control Strategy for Coordinating the Operation of Point Absorber Wave Energy Converter Farm Equipped with Hybrid Energy Storage System: A Simulation and Experimental Studies " in the field of water and energy. He also added that during the period between 2017 and 2022, faculty members and researchers at the United Arab Emirates University published 105 research papers in cooperation with researchers from the University of Malaya, mainly in computer sciences, environmental sciences, medicine and engineering. Moreover, 5 new projects have been recently funded in cooperation with the University of Malaya in the fields of water, energy and mobility research, which will start in February 2023. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/368/chinas-agriculture-related-industries-account-for-16-05-of-gdp.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/368/chinas-agriculture-related-industries-account-for-16-05-of-gdp.html Mon, 02 Jan 2023 12:26:21 +0530 The added value of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery accounted for 47.2 per cent of the total. The added value of agriculture and related industries in China was 18.44 trillion yuan ($2.65 trillion) in 2021, up 10.5 per cent over the previous year (not excluding price factors). It accounted for 16.05 per cent of GDP, the National Bureau of Statistics said. According to the Xinhua news agency, in a breakdown, the added value of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery accounted for 47.2 per cent of the total. The added value of processing and manufacturing of edible agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery products accounted for 20.9 per cent of the total. The added value of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery and related product circulation services accounted for 14 per cent of the total.  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/355/chinasyangxin-boosts-beef-cattle-industry.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/355/chinasyangxin-boosts-beef-cattle-industry.html Wed, 28 Dec 2022 17:41:07 +0530 Yangxin has 136 beef cattle farms and 76 slaughtering enterprises, with an annual output of 280,000 cattle and slaughtering capability of 1.2 million cattle. Yangxin county in China's Shandong province has striven to transform beef cattle into a pillar industry in an effort to drive development, increase local farmers' incomes and maintain an ecological environment. The county authority has steadfastly pushed forward the integration of the beef cattle industry and rural vitalisation. It has issued several policies to enhance support of beef cattle breeding and slaughtering, as well as brand promotion. Now Yangxin's three beef and cattle brands have been approved as certification trademarks with geographic indications. With a focus on ‘internet + beef cattle’ technology, Yangxin has worked to propel the digital development of the beef cattle industry, using ear tags and smart collars for automated individual cattle identification and precise feeding of cattle at different growth stages with an intelligent centralised feeding system. In partnership with universities and institutes such as China Agricultural University and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yangxin has launched a beef cattle research centre, an agriculture internet of things centre, an experimental station and an industrial technology research institute. Meanwhile, the county has put equal emphasis on recycling and utilisation of livestock excrement, building a series of ecological cycling projects with each one able to make 240,000 metric tons of livestock excrement into 50,000 tons of organic fertiliser, 200,000 tons of biogas fluid fertiliser and 3 million cubic meters of natural gas annually. Now Yangxin has taken the lead in the country in terms of the scale of its beef cattle industry. It has 136 beef cattle farms and 76 slaughtering enterprises, with an annual output of 280,000 cattle and slaughtering capability of 1.2 million cattle. In addition, Yangxin has developed cultural creative products including a cattle hair brush, cattle bone china, and cattle bone carvings. To improve the supply of cattle, the county also has spared no efforts to import quality cattle. In July 2022, it unveiled a cattle industrial park which features functions of customs clearance, intelligent cold-chain logistics, data collection, standard production and comprehensive inspection. Once fully operational the park will greatly improve customs clearance efficiency, help companies save costs of 36 million yuan ($5.16 million) annually and bring 1,500 jobs. It is expected to become a pioneer and leading area for the beef cattle industry. Yangxin has fostered a complete industry chain covering forage planting, calf breeding, beef cattle fattening, slaughtering and processing, cold-chain logistics, a restaurant chain, leather manufacturing, cattle bone carving, cattle by-products processing, and organic fertiliser production, and by doing so has created nearly 120,000 jobs. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/324/fao-gets-funding-from-japan-to-boost-food-security.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/324/fao-gets-funding-from-japan-to-boost-food-security.html Tue, 27 Dec 2022 11:09:35 +0530 Resources to fund a 12-month emergency project beginning January 2023 The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) receives notice of additional funding of more than $1.85 million from the Government of Japan to improve access and availability of nutritious food for vulnerable and food-insecure smallholder households in Afghanistan as well as protect their livestock. The resources will fund a 12-month emergency project beginning January 2023. It will support 42,700 people from Kapisa province (Hissa-e-Awali, Kohistan and Nijrab districts) and Panjshir province (Rukha and Darah districts) who are food insecure and depend on livestock and poultry as source of food and income. “We are pleased to announce additional funding from the Government of Japan to FAO to continue supporting the most vulnerable livestock keeping households in Panjshir and Kapisa Provinces to be food and nutrition secure,” said Takashi Okada, Japan Ambassador to Afghanistan. Livelihood protection This new project will protect key productive livestock assets and sustain subsistence production of nutritious food to ensure greater availability of dairy and meat products for households and communities as well as to mitigate the adverse impacts of recent multiple shocks including drought, floods and economic crisis, whilst enhancing household food and nutrition security and building the resilience of farmers against future shocks.   It will bolster both availability and access to nutritious food for vulnerable and food insecure smallholder households by protecting their vital livestock–based livelihoods through the distribution of nationally produced quality feed. The project will also provide farmers with key technical training and increase their access to local veterinary extension services.  Backyard poultry packages, including chicken, feed and coops, will also enable households to improve their nutritional food intake, help generate vital cash incomes, and stimulate local food markets.  “We welcome the timely and continuous support of the Japanese Government in our work to secure Afghanistan’s food future. Responding to the deep food insecurity crisis with short-term emergency assistance is vital. But at the same time, now is the time to start laying foundations for the longer-term sustainable production of nutritious food for current and future needs, enabling households to re-build productive livelihood assets and stimulate local markets,” said Richard Trenchard, FAO’s Representative in Afghanistan. In 2022, the Government of Japan contributed $14 million to FAO in Afghanistan to provide direct humanitarian assistance to over 550,000 food-insecure people in 11 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces in cooperation with Japan International Cooperation Agency. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/332/israel-to-conduct-cattle-census-in-january.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/332/israel-to-conduct-cattle-census-in-january.html Wed, 21 Dec 2022 10:30:26 +0530 This move is necessary in order to give breeders modern tools to carry out operations independently, while controlling the number of cattle and their location, and to enable the reduction of the spread of diseases. Israel’s Agriculture Ministry will be conducting a cattle census in early January 2023. The census will be carried out over the month and will be used to document and register the heads of cattle living in the State of Israel. The census will be done using a form that will be sent to each breeder, containing the current documentation that exists in the system, and the breeder will update the form according to the changes in the herd. According to the ministry, more than 710,000 cattle in Israel, out of which 300,000 cattle live in dairy farms, 295,000 are imported for fattening and slaughter and around 110,000 heads graze in pastures. Each breeder is obligated to pay a separate fee for every government processing of his or her cattle (marking, registration, and transport permits). The ministry wants to reduce red tape and collect a unified, fixed fee for the services it provides, based on the number of cattle heads owned by each breeder. A breeder who does not participate in the census will be forced to pay the fee according to the most recent government registration of the herd. Dr Tamir Goshen, Director of Veterinary and Health Services at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said, "This move is necessary to give breeders modern tools to carry out operations independently, while controlling the number of cattle and their location, and to enable the reduction of the spread of diseases. Through this move, the bureaucracy involved in raising cattle in the State of Israel today will be reduced, which will facilitate their daily conduct, without compromising public health and the health of the animals." ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/330/israeli-cows-to-get-biometric-id-cards.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/330/israeli-cows-to-get-biometric-id-cards.html Tue, 20 Dec 2022 17:09:42 +0530 Real-time monitoring of the cows in the barn will be created out of the need to monitor and document the feeding times and location of each individual cow. A new facial recognition and the biometric system will be introduced in various dairy farms in Israel. It will be used to identify complications of the animal. These data, new studies and a lot of information about the industry will be presented at the annual cattle and sheep science conference which is taking place soon. The conference is organised by the Department of Cattle and the Department of Sheep in the Training and Professional Service (SHAM) with the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation and the Directorate of Agricultural.  Real-time monitoring of the cows in the barn will be created out of the need to monitor and document the feeding times and location of each individual cow. In the precision livestock farming lab at the Volcani Institute Precision Livestock Farming Lab (PLF), Prof. Noam Bergman together with Prof. Yitzhak Itzhaki from Ben Gurion University, and Prof. Ilan Halhami are developing an innovative biometric identification system, Which can use as a unique and fast AI algorithm for facial recognition of cows. Cameras will be installed in barns. Each camera is able to monitor up to eight cows eating at the same time. In this way, the system can break down each video file into individual frames and within each frame identify with great precision the face of each individual cow by itself. In addition, the system is able to identify each cow using biometric characteristics based on its face alone. The system’s unique characteristics offer high precision at maximum speed.Real-time monitoring of the cows in the barn was created out of the need to monitor and document the feeding times and location of each individual cow.  These data can contain insights into the well-being of cows, prediction of distress situations, different eating behaviours, estimates of food consumption and more. Another advantage of the state-of-the-art system is that all the execution of its operations takes place remotely - that is, without any physical means on the cow itself, and in fact without her knowledge at all. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/325/yak-industry-booms-in-chinas-gannan-region.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/325/yak-industry-booms-in-chinas-gannan-region.html Tue, 20 Dec 2022 11:57:20 +0530 As a major source of revenue for herding households, the yak industry accounts for 42 per cent of the average disposable income of local farmers and herders. China’s Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture has developed yak husbandry as one of its leading industries. The yak population there now exceeds 1.2 million, accounting for some 7.5 per cent of the national total, according to Wang Wei, director of the animal husbandry technical services centre in Gannan. According to the Xinhua news agency, as a major source of revenue for herding households, the yak industry accounts for 42 per cent of the average disposable income of local farmers and herders. However, traditional breeding methods were not only inefficient but also caused serious grass degradation. Almost every household in the region raises yaks. The soaring numbers of cattle and sheep have affected the quality of the grass and reduced incomes in the long run, In 2014, with the support of the local government, Lhagyl set up a breeding cooperative in Luqu County, which is equipped with modern facilities. The cooperative now manages nearly 700 yaks. During the summer, workers herd yaks in the pasture, while the yaks are bred in sheds during the winter. The semi-intensive breeding and grazing method has more benefits than just being environmentally friendly, which also helps increase efficiency. The yak industry has gained support from the government of Gannan. The local government has encouraged enterprises to extend industrial chains for goods such as yak meat, milk and leather. At a yak milk trading centre in Gannan, a huge screen shows real-time information on yak milk prices and stocks in regions such as Gansu and Sichuan provinces. Trucks carrying fresh yak milk collected from herders can often be seen entering the centre established by Hualing Dairy Co., Ltd. The milk is then processed into various dairy products, such as milk powder, milk candy and casein. The production lines have increased the incomes of nearly 30,000 households in Gannan. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/323/veolia-extends-water-reuse-process-for-qatari-dairy-producer-baladna.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/323/veolia-extends-water-reuse-process-for-qatari-dairy-producer-baladna.html Mon, 19 Dec 2022 16:26:07 +0530 The treatment capacity of reusable water on a larger scale reduces freshwater consumption by more than 50 per cent. Qatar’s leading dairy producer Baladna renewed its trust in Veolia Water Technologies to extend the wastewater treatment capacity at its farm in Al Khor, north of Doha. Baladna is home to over 24,000 cows that is spread over 2.6 million square meters, and will now recycle 22,000 m3/day of wastewater. Committed to ecological transformation, Veolia Water Technologies is working with Baladna Food Industries to support its sustainability plan and recycle its wastewater. The partnership started in 2020 with the design and construction of a 6,000 m3/d wastewater treatment plant, allowing for the treated water to be reused for irrigation within the farm and, following further treatment by reverse osmosis, to spray and cool the cows during hot summer months. Based on this successful project, Baladna decided to go further in 2021 by tripling the treatment capacity to 22,000 m3/d. The system includes an initial separation step with a capacity of 22,000 m3/day. 12,000 m3/day will be recirculated for flushing barns, with the remaining 10,000 m3/day further treated in an MBR system followed by a polishing reverse osmosis step to produce water to replace the potable water currently used in the soaking and misting systems of the farm. Piet Hilarides CEO Baladna said, “After a first successful project with Veolia, we strengthened this partnership in line with Baladna’s commitment to sustainable water management. The holistic approach to reusing treated wastewater and the limited environmental impact of open lagoons are key developments. We are enthusiastic to expand the treatment capacity of reusable water on a larger scale, reducing our freshwater consumption by more than 50 per cent. This project marks a major milestone on the sustainability journey of Baladna and will significatively contribute to improving the environment for the surrounding  Al-Khor area.” Thierry Froment, CEO Veolia Water Technologies Middle East said, “This project will reduce the strain on freshwater resources while eliminating the need for huge water treatment lagoons and the visual and odour pollution caused. This collaboration also highlights a significant achievement in the sustainability plan of Baladna and, in line with Veolia’s purpose of ecological transformation, showcases a holistic way to reuse treated wastewater. We are extremely proud of the relationship between Baladna and Veolia in Qatar.”  ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/314/vietnamese-agencies-cooperate-in-cattle-breeding-with-nigerian-partners.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/314/vietnamese-agencies-cooperate-in-cattle-breeding-with-nigerian-partners.html Mon, 19 Dec 2022 11:15:44 +0530 Vietnamese agricultural and economic experts will be sent to Nigeria for implementing the cooperation project. The Vietnam Africa Economic Cooperation Alliance (VAECA) and The Institute for Africa and Middle East Studies (IAMES) have signed a cooperation agreement on livestock farming development in Nigeria with Nigeria Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NVCCI) and Nigeria's EkitiKete Livestock Development Co., Ltd.  The Nigeria-Vietnam Investment Facilitation Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will provide a necessary foundation for further cooperation between the two countries in the future said Oye Akinsemoyin Chairman of NVCCI. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Phuoc Minh, Director of IAMES, said that he has high expectations for cooperation with African countries, especially in agriculture, adding that the partnership with Nigeria is one of the promising projects. Dr. Le Quy Kha, who represents VAECA, said IAMES and VAECA and their livestock partners in Vietnam will immediately map out a specific action plan to carry out the agreement in Nigeria.  Specifically, Vietnamese agricultural and economic experts will be sent to Nigeria for implementing the cooperation project, Kha said.  The IAMES is a research agency under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. Besides research tasks, it has engaged in technology transfer and economic cooperation activities between Vietnam and African and Middle Eastern countries. The VAECA is an organisation of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA). It groups economic and technical experts specialising in many fields, with the aim of supporting economic development in African countries. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/303/adb-approves-62-9-mn-package-to-cambodia-for-food-security.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/303/adb-approves-62-9-mn-package-to-cambodia-for-food-security.html Wed, 14 Dec 2022 15:12:55 +0530 The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Cross-Border Livestock Health and Value Chains Improvement Project will directly benefit at least 40,000 households. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $62.9 million package to help Cambodia enhance food security and promote inclusive economic growth by improving livestock health and value chains, and the formal trade of livestock and livestock products. The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Cross-Border Livestock Health and Value Chains Improvement Project will directly benefit at least 40,000 households in Kampong Cham, Otdar Meanchey, Prey Veng, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Takeo provinces by boosting investments in critical infrastructure, institutional and technical capacities, and enabling policies. It will also develop infrastructure in Kandal, Kampong Thom, and Pursat provinces to meet nationwide needs for veterinary vaccines and artificial insemination. The project will enhance the productivity and resilience of the livestock subsector by reducing risks from transboundary animal diseases, zoonoses, and antimicrobial resistance; build up animal health monitoring and service delivery; improve food safety; and promote subregional cooperation in the GMS. The project will be financed by a $50 million loan from ADB’s concessional resources, a $12 million Asian Development Fund (ADF) grant, and a $900,000 grant from the Climate Change Fund (CCF). The ADF provides grants to ADB’s poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries (DMCs) while the CCF aims to strengthen support for low-carbon and climate-resilient development in DMCs. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will provide a $43 million loan to the project, which will be partly administered by ADB. “The livestock subsector is crucial to sustainable rural livelihoods and food security in Cambodia, and it offers many opportunities for smallholder farmers, including women, and small- and medium-sized agribusinesses,” said Ancha Srinivasan ADB Principal Climate Change Specialist for Southeast Asia. "Nearly all cattle and buffaloes are owned by smallholder farmers, although pig and poultry production is increasingly becoming commercialized. ADB’s assistance will enable the subsector to tap into high growth potential brought about by increasing domestic meat consumption resulting from economic growth, urbanization, population expansion, trade opportunities, and progressive improvement in disease control and animal nutrition.” The project is in line with the government’s national development plans and ADB’s country partnership strategy for Cambodia, 2019­–2023. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/301/vietnams-hung-nhon-and-netherlands-dutch-royal-de-heus-group-signs-mou-for-agri-partnership.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/301/vietnams-hung-nhon-and-netherlands-dutch-royal-de-heus-group-signs-mou-for-agri-partnership.html Wed, 14 Dec 2022 12:57:12 +0530 According to the MoU, De Heus and Hung Nhon are expected to establish and develop a number of agricultural projects in collaboration Vietnamese Hung Nhon Group and Netherland’s Dutch Royal De Heus Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing strategic collaboration and partnership in agriculture. The signing event was witnessed by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh as well as Vietnamese and Dutch ministers and department heads. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is on an official visit to the Netherlands. According to the agreement, De Heus and Hung Nhon plan to cooperate, construct, and develop projects in agricultural fields such as poultry and livestock breeding, development of raw materials (corn and cassava) for feed production, and high-tech agricultural production value chain based on the Dutch cooperative model in Vietnam. In the field of high-quality cattle and poultry breed production for the Vietnamese market, the two parties would promote a high-tech model of livestock value chain between 2022 and 2030. Hung Nhon will invest in the construction of large-scale, modern cattle farms that meet international standards. De Heus will supply animal farms with high-quality, internationally-standardised pig and poultry breeds. The capacity is expected to reach 7,500 Great Grand Parents (GGP) breeding swine in the Central Highlands region; 30,000 commercial sows in the Southeast, South Central, and Central Highlands, 58 million breeder chickens and 25 million broiler chickens in Tay Ninh; and 58 million breeder chickens and 25 million broiler chickens in Tay Ninh. Annual revenue is anticipated to approach $2 billion. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/295/production-of-primary-crops-in-the-world-up-by-52-from-2000-to-2020-fao.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/295/production-of-primary-crops-in-the-world-up-by-52-from-2000-to-2020-fao.html Tue, 13 Dec 2022 13:42:22 +0530 Global pesticide use peaked in 2012 and began declining in 2017, reveals FAO's Annual Statistical Yearbook The production of primary crops in the world, such as sugarcane, maize, wheat and rice, grew by 52 per cent from 2000 to 2020 to reach 9.3 billion tonne, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) annual Statistical Yearbook. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) published its annual Statistical Yearbook. FAO Yearbook stated vegetable oil production increased by 125 per cent over the period, with palm oil output growing by 236 per cent. Meat output, led by chicken, grew by 45 per cent, while the growth rate for fruits and vegetables was 20 per cent or below. Sugarcane is the world’s largest crop by volume, with 1. 9 billion tonnes annually. Maize is next at 1.2 billion tonnes. Global food exports have risen to $1.42 trillion, up by a factor of 3.7 since 2000. Worldwide, the largest food-exporting countries in gross terms are the United States of America, the Netherlands and China. The largest exporters in net terms were Brazil, by far, followed by Argentina and Spain. The largest net importing countries were China, Japan and the United Kingdom. Some 4.74 billion hectare of the planet’s surface is agricultural land, including meadows and pastures as well as crops. That figure is down 3 per cent from 2000, but down six times as much in per capita terms, with Africa again in the lead. Worldwide pesticide use peaked in 2012 and began declining in 2017. The countries with the highest pesticide application per hectare are Saint Lucia, Maldives and Oman. According to the report, Dietary energy supply, a key indicator for food security, went up in all regions since 2000 and did so the most in Asia. The world average is now 2 960 calories per person per day, up 9 per cent, with the level peaking at 3 540 calories per day per person in Europe and North America. Today, some 866 million people work in agriculture, more than a quarter of the global workforce, and produced $3.6 trillion in value-added. Compared to 2000, those figures represent a 78 per cent increase in economic value, produced by 16 per cent fewer people, with Africa posting double that pace of growth. The report says the Average temperature in 2021 was 1.44 °C hotter than the average from 1951 to 1980. Europe has had the highest temperature change, followed by Asia, with Oceania reporting by far the least change. Greenhouse gas emissions on agricultural land declined by 4 per cent between 2000 and 2020, with 70 per cent of them generated within the farm gate. Cattle and sheep meat account for most carbon dioxide emissions, with cattle averaging 50 times more than chicken. The emissions intensity of cereals is much lower, although rice emits more than five times more than wheat and coarse grains. The rate of greenhouse gas emissions changes significantly across regions, reflecting large differences in efficiencies of production. For instance, the emissions intensity of cattle meat in Africa is almost four times as great as in Europe. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/263/new-zealands-food-and-fibre-export-revenue-to-grow-55-b.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/263/new-zealands-food-and-fibre-export-revenue-to-grow-55-b.html Mon, 05 Dec 2022 15:12:37 +0530 Dairy export revenue is projected to grow 6 per cent to a new high of $23.3 billion New Zealand’s record food and fibre export revenue is projected to reach new record highs, helping protect New Zealanders from the sharp edges of the global downturn says Damien O’Connor, Minister of Agriculture The Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) released by the Ministry for Primary Industries, shows food and fibre export revenue is forecast to grow to a record level of $55 billion this year. “Accelerating our export growth is a major cornerstone of the Government’s economic recovery plan, and today’s report shows further evidence that plan is working,” Damien O’Connor said. "Despite the global economic storm gathering, the latest SOPI results show our food and fibre export revenue continuing to climb. “The forecast increase of 4 per cent in the year to June 30, 2023 is on top of our record export revenue achieved last year, and $2.9 billion higher than earlier forecasts made in June 2022. “Dairy remains our largest export, with revenue forecast to grow 6 per cent to a new high of $23.3 billion. Our sheep and beef sector remains strong, with red meat and wool revenue tipped to increase to a record $12.4 billion. “Horticulture export revenue is expected to grow 5 per cent to $7.1 billion, and strong demand for our processed food and other products is expected to drive 3 per cent growth to $3.3 billion. “We also expect arable export revenue to grow 5 per cent to $265 million. “The six new trade agreements and upgrades we’ve secured since 2017, alongside the successful trade missions led by the Prime Minister across five countries, will drive growth of our food and fibre sector into the future. “We know this is a tough time for Kiwis who are experiencing cost of living pressures and rising interest rates but continuing our export growth means New Zealand is even better placed in a challenging global environment,” Damien O’Connor said.  Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker said the seafood sector’s hard work was expected to pay-off with an increase in seafood export revenue. “Seafood export revenue is forecast to increase 4 per cent to $2 billion this year, which is a new record and higher than pre-pandemic levels,” David Parker said. “Our seafood export revenue took a substantial hit at the start of the pandemic, as food service shut its doors around the world, but hard work, combined with strong demand from food service and tourism reopening, is seeing a swift and continued recovery in export revenue.” Forestry Minister Stuart Nash said forestry export revenue was expected to increase this year, despite the tough global economic environment. “Forestry export revenue is set to increase to $6.6 billion in the year to 30 June 2023,” Stuart Nash said. “This result is to be commended and the forestry sector should be acknowledged, especially over a tough year and in the face of a global slowdown in construction and corresponding lower demand for our logs.  It shows remarkable resilience.” Associate Minister of Agriculture Meka Whaitiri said Māori agribusinesses play an increasingly vital role in Aotearoa’s food and fibre sector. “Total exports by Māori businesses have grown by 38 per cent from $630 million in 2017 to $872 million in 2021, with the majority from the food and fibre sector. Our new Rautaki mo te Taurikura action plan will only continue to drive that growth in the years to come,” Meka Whaitiri said. Damien O’Connor said the success of the food and fibre sector was being guided by the Fit for a Better Worldroadmap, which the Government developed with the sector.  “The draft Food and Beverage Industry Transformation Plan launched for consultation will drive the long-term success and prosperity of our food and beverage producers, our rural communities, and our economy,” Damien O’Connor said. “We must also acknowledge the international cost pressures impacting our farmers and growers here at home. While they’re easing in some areas, we need to continue supporting farmers where we can, to grow the value of our exports and maintain our competitive edge. “As we head into the festive season, I’d like to acknowledge the more than 360,000 people working in our food and fibre sector and what they’ve achieved for New Zealand over the past year. Their efforts brighten our future,” Damien O’Connor said. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/237/bangladesh-to-form-dairy-development-act.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/237/bangladesh-to-form-dairy-development-act.html Wed, 30 Nov 2022 14:43:18 +0530 A dairy development board will be established to take decisions on dairy development. Bangladesh Government formulating Dairy Development Board Act to overhaul the dairy sector. After formulating the act a dairy development board will be established to take decisions on dairy development. According to the local media, the board will also look into the issues including government cooperation, market management and monitoring, organising farmers, and creating an environment to sell dairy and dairy foods at fair prices. The proposed act has been sent to the law ministry for vetting after it got an initial nod from the cabinet. In the last four years, the price of milk at the consumer level has increased by 48 per cent, but dairy farmers have not received a fair price. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/159/saputo-to-shut-dairy-plants-in-australia.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/159/saputo-to-shut-dairy-plants-in-australia.html Wed, 09 Nov 2022 16:21:40 +0530 Saputo Inc. announced that it is undertaking further consolidation initiatives intended to enhance its operational efficiency and strengthen its competitiveness in Australia. As part of the Optimize and Enhance Operations pillar of the Company’s Global Strategic Plan, these initiatives include the intention to permanently close its Maffra, Victoria, facility. Additionally, while the sites will remain operational, the Company will streamline activities at its facilities located in Leongatha, Victoria, and Mil-Lel, South Australia. Many of the impacted production and packaging functions at these three facilities will be absorbed or integrated into the Company’s other Australian facilities, increasing capacity utilization and reducing costs. Approximately 75 employees will be impacted and where alternative roles are not available, these employees will be provided with severance and outplacement support. These initiatives in the Company’s International Sector are expected to result in annual savings and benefits gradually, beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, and reaching approximately CDN$14 million (CDN$10 million after tax) by fiscal 2025. Costs related to the consolidation initiatives outlined above will be approximately CDN$26 million after tax, which includes non-cash asset write-downs of approximately CDN$20 million after tax. These costs will be recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/139/arab-authoritys-investment-in-uae-projects-worth-1-55-b.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/139/arab-authoritys-investment-in-uae-projects-worth-1-55-b.html Fri, 04 Nov 2022 12:20:39 +0530 Mohamed bin Obaid Al Mazrooei, President and Chairman of the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID), said that the total value of the authority’s investments in current projects in the UAE is valued at US$1.55 billion while lauding the progress of the smart projects launched in the country’s agricultural and food industry sectors. Al Mazrooei said these investments include the establishment of the Al Rawabi Dairy Company in 2001, which is the first project in the UAE that received investment from the authority. The authority has cooperated with investors from the private sector to engage in agricultural projects related to irrigation in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as fish farming projects in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, he added. The authority is currently involved in six fish farming projects, including new ones in the UAE. He explained that under this framework, the authority is evaluating several investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia, including investing in the expansion of a pioneering company involved in fish farming that would improve its current work, increase its production capacity by about 5,000 tonnes and add new types of fish. Al Mazrooei also spoke about the authority’s focus on a wide range of food products, most notably grains, meat, dairy products, vegetable oils and sugar. He added that wheat is an important grain crop, so the authority has jointly launched agriculture projects related to wheat with small-scale farmers. Some 13,000 hectares of wheat will be planted during the winter season in 2022 and 2023 in the fields of small-scale Sudanese farmers, he further said. In addition, the authority has launched an initiative to deal with shortages of key food products in the Arab region, including wheat. He then highlighted the importance of wheat to Arab communities since it is a critical crop that offers essential nutrition, helps maintain stability, and contributes to eradicating poverty and diseases. Al Mazrooei commended the UAE’s keenness to establish agricultural projects based on comprehensive food management by applying sustainability standards to double food production. He highlighted the Food Tech Valley project launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and the Bustanak project. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/59/ever-ag-broadens-on-farm-dairy-solutions-with-acquisition-of-cainthus.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/59/ever-ag-broadens-on-farm-dairy-solutions-with-acquisition-of-cainthus.html Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:11:53 +0530 The addition of Cainthus to the Ever.Ag portfolio will provide dairy farmers and their advisors new insights from passive data collection Ever.Ag, a leading agtech provider dedicated to empowering supply chains to feed a growing world, has acquired Cainthus, a company that offers artificial intelligence-enabled cameras for analyzing dairy operations. The addition of Cainthus to the Ever.Ag portfolio will provide dairy farmers and their advisors new insights from passive data collection. Ever.Ag CEO Scott Sexton commented, “We believe precision agriculture, now in the dairy barn, is the future. We are committed to growing, expanding, and embedding Cainthus technology into our software suite that spans the supply chain.” The acquisition of Cainthus delivers on Ever.Ag’s mission and continues its decades-long tradition of partnering with the dairy industry from farm to fork. Additionally, as consumers become more focused on purchasing environmentally friendly and sustainably produced goods, the data it collects can validate responsible farming practices throughout the supply chain. Ever.Ag plans to enhance the offerings of its My Dairy Dashboard product and producer portals ― which integrates data from milk pickups, feed delivered, recorded cow events, milk schedules, and pay information. Cainthus will use the operational data to associate and visually validate herd performance in the barn. Both Ever.Ag and Cainthus are leaders in data digitisation for dairy farm operations and their animals. Ever.Ag solutions are designed, developed, and produced by a global team with a passion for agtech, client sustainability, and mutual prosperity. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/58/dvara-e-dairy-raises-2-m-pre-series-fund.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/58/dvara-e-dairy-raises-2-m-pre-series-fund.html Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:10:30 +0530 The fund will be utilised to expand into newer geographies, scale up operations and invest in technology Agri-fintech firm Dvara E-Dairy Solutions has raised pre-Series A funding of $2 million (around Rs 15.4 crore) from Axilor and Dvara Venture Studio, an initiative of Dvara Holdings. The funds will be used to expand into newer geographies, scale up operations and invest in technology. “The investment will propel us forward in our mission to enhance the livelihoods of millions of small and medium dairy farmers across the country,” said Ravi KA, CEO of Dvara E-Dairy Solutions. ]]> https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/57/amul-achieves-turnover-of-rs-61000-cr-in-its-75th-year.html https://www.agrospectrumasia.com/news/5/57/amul-achieves-turnover-of-rs-61000-cr-in-its-75th-year.html Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:09:15 +0530  Company’s milk procurement has increased by a phenomenal 190 per cent over the last 12 years. Amul cooperative movement celebrated its 75th anniversary by achieving group turnover of Rs. 61,000 crores, further consolidating its position as the largest food and FMCG brand in India. Needless to state, Amul, which is currently ranked as the 8th largest dairy organization in the world, added another Rs. 8000 crores to its group turnover in 2021-22, growing even faster than its 12-year compounded average growth rate, on the back of rapid post-pandemic recovery in out-of-home consumption and demand from restaurants, catering, travel and hospitality segment. After the 48th Annual General Body Meeting of GCMMF (the organization that owns and markets products under brand Amul), held on 19th July 2022, Shamalbhai Patel, Chairman, GCMMF, informed that the cooperative achieved 18.46 per cent growth in turnover in 2021-22, which was even higher than 16 per cent CAGR in turnover over the last 12 years. The Chairman also emphasized the fact that “Over the last 12 years, our milk procurement has increased by a phenomenal 190 per cent. This impressive growth was a result of the high milk procurement price – which has increased by 143 per cent during this 12-year period – paid to our farmer-members”. The Chairman also added that the highly remunerative price helped us retain farmers’ interest in milk production; and better returns from dairying have motivated them to enhance their investments in this sector He further emphasized, “Our expansion plans are based on our milk procurement projections. Generally, every year there is capacity expansion through an investment of approximately Rs. 800 crores to Rs. 1,000 crores. We are also expanding in fresh products (milk, curd and buttermilk). A new dairy plant, with an investment of Rs 500 crores, will come up in Rajkot. Within two years, large dairy plants will also come up in Baghpat, near Delhi, Varanasi, Rohtak and Kolkata”. The Vice-Chairman of GCMMF,  Valamji Humbal, stated that “ We recently built Asia’s biggest milk powder plant. We are also working on a technology which can store perishable Indian milk-based sweets and desserts for up to 45 days & beyond”. R S Sodhi, Managing Director of GCMMF, informed, “Our milk-based beverages business grew by 36 per cent in value terms, despite the peak summer season of 2021 being impacted by the second wave of Covid. Our ice-cream business also saw a sharp revival with a more than 50 per cent value growth in 2022. Our flagship brand Amul Butter grew by 17%, while our Ghee business grew by more than 19 per cent, both in value terms. We achieved 17% value growth in Amul long life milk, 44% value growth in Amul Cream, 24 per cent value growth in Amul Dahi, 18% value growth in fresh Buttermilk and impressive 12% value growth in our largest product category, Amul fresh milk.” ]]>