VWR deal will create more diversified company - Avantor
Avantor is to acquire VWR for $6.4bn to boost its position in the ‘high-growth’ life sciences sector.
Archives for May 4, 2017
Japan revises law to allow imports of organic feed
Japan now accepts the use of imported organic certified animal feed from countries that share an organic equivalency arrangement with it, according to the USDA.
Big chicken company reports first-quarter profit
Pilgrim’s Pride, which claims to be the world’s second-largest chicken producer, made over $90m profit in the first quarter of 2017, down by a fifth year-on-year.
Cherkizovo finalises takeover of major grain producer
Russia’s Cherkizovo has acquired one of Russia’s leading grain producers Napko, in a deal that appears to be the largest single merger in the country’s agriculture sector over the past few years.
Covance: Increased interest in method harmonization
There has been an increased interest in harmonization of methods and quality systems across laboratories in recent years, according to a contract testing lab.
Global meat prices grow despite overall food decline
Most global food commodity prices have continued to decline in 2017 but meat has again bucked this trend, claims the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).
Make all agriculture and nutrition data available: says GODAN
A call for open and accessible data will be made at the Global Forum of Innovation in Agriculture (GFIA) next week, by Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN).
Orkla Food Ingredients buys northern German ice cream company
Norwegian company Orkla Food Ingredients has, through its wholly owned subsidiary Eisunion GmbH, signed and completed an agreement to purchase 100% of the shares in the German sales and distribution company Eis Ludwig Gräbner GmbH (“Eis Gräbner”).
Inspecto among winners at UNECE awards
A company that has developed a handheld scanner to detect pesticides in fresh foods has scooped a prize at a start-up competition.
PepsiCo seeks novel protein sources with 'easy to pronounce' names and 'a good sustainability story'
PepsiCo is seeking “new and novel protein sources for snacks and beverages," while Mondelēz International is looking for new technologies to improve the freshness and texture of fruits and veggies in Philadelphia cream cheese.
Can water give soil a run for its money? Hydroponics is on the up, says Suncrest, 'but it's all about scale'
Right now, hydroponic and indoor grown lettuce account for around 4-5% of lettuce production in the US, but that figure will rise “substantially” in the coming years as more growers prove that water can give soil a serious run for its money, predicts...
Brexit could pose GM headache for UK
The UK’s food sector will face “enormous challenges” following Brexit, both in relation to trade with Europe and within its own borders, according to a report by the House of Lords EU energy and environment subcommittee.
Interpack 2017
APRIL Robot Chef signs autographs at Interpack
OAL’s APRIL (Automated Processing Robotic Ingredient Loading) Robotic Weighing Station created a buzz at Interpack this week (May 4-10) signing autographs for guests.
Safety fears of synthetic colour additives dispelled by IACM studies
The safety of synthetic colour additives used in soft drinks, cereals and baked goods, were confirmed in a trio of studies as findings appear to back up recent EFSA and US authority findings.
Nature’s Path facility receives third ‘zero waste’ certification
Canadian cereal company Nature’s Path received yet another Zero Waste certification from a sub-organization of Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), known for its LEED certification in architecture.