Handtmann

© Handtmann

Handtmann to Showcase Food Processing Innovations at IFFA 2025

Handtmann, a German manufacturer of food processing technology, will present its latest developments at IFFA 2025 under the theme “The Taste of Innovation.” The company’s exhibition, located in Hall 12.0, Stand C80, will highlight advancements in processing technology for both conventional meat and alternative proteins. IFFA is the world’s leading trade fair for the meat and alternative proteins industry, held in Frankfurt from May 3 to May 8, 2025. At the fair, Handtmann aims to connect industry professionals with the latest advancements in food processing, providing a platform for collaboration and discussion on the future of alternative protein production. Spanning approximately 2,200 square meters, the Handtmann stand will serve as an interactive platform for industry professionals. The company plans to showcase new developments in sustainable …

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BIOFACH

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BIOFACH 2025 Showcases Vegan Agriculture, Sustainable Packaging, and Ethical Chocolate

BIOFACH, the world’s largest trade fair for organic food and agriculture, is set to take place from February 11-14, 2025, in Nuremberg, Germany. The event will feature over 2,700 exhibitors and attract approximately 46,700 trade visitors from around 130 countries. The event will provide a platform for industry stakeholders to explore the latest developments in organic food and sustainability. From plant-based agriculture and compostable packaging to vegan product innovation, the event showcases the shifting landscape of the organic sector and its adaptation to environmental and consumer demands. Biocyclic Vegan Farming: Expanding sustainable agriculture Biocyclic Vegan International will present its approach to organic agriculture, which excludes animal husbandry and animal-derived fertilizers. Instead, the method leverages plant-based cycles, composting, and humus buildup to maintain soil health. The …

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Plant-Based Foods of Canada Third Annual Conference

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PBFC Annual Conference 2025 to Explore Growth and Innovation in Plant-Based Foods

Plant-Based Foods of Canada (PBFC) is set to host its 3rd Annual Conference on February 13, 2025, at the Maple Leaf ThinkFOOD! Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. Under the theme “Cultivating Community: Collaborative Growth in the Plant-Based Foods Industry,” the event will bring together over 125 industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to discuss the future of plant-based foods in Canada. Insights on innovation and market growth in plant-based foods The Conference will feature a keynote speech by Dave Donnan from Northwestern University, who will explore innovation, scaling, and unmet needs in the plant-based sector. Other notable speakers include Michael LeBlanc, who will discuss evolving retail trends, and Murad Al-Katib, who will highlight future opportunities for plant-based foods in Canada. The event will also host panel discussions …

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Daiya crustbuster pop up

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Daiya Hosts 90s-Themed Pop-Up to Promote Dairy-Free Pizza in NYC

Dairy-free cheese leader Daiya organized a 90s-themed pop-up event last Friday in New York City to promote its dairy-free pizza offerings. Dubbed “Crustbuster,” the event took place at SoHo’s Upside Pizza and attracted more than 500 attendees, including food influencers and local comedians. The event was designed to address what the company has termed “FOMOO” — the “fear of missing out on dairy.” According to Daiya, skepticism about taste remains a primary obstacle for consumers considering dairy-free options. To counter this, the company showcased its revamped pizza line made with the Daiya Oat Cream™ Blend, which it claims replicates the taste and texture of traditional dairy-based pizzas. John Kelly, chief marketing officer at Daiya, explained the purpose of the event, stating, “We’ve worked tirelessly to …

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Session 9 of the ‘update’ Webtalk Series: Foodservice – Gateway to Changing Consumer Habits

The international business webtalk series ‘update’ discusses the most pressing issues of the ongoing protein transition. Based on the latest news, data, and facts, the future of the industry will be put forward and discussed with key market players in this series of talks. Foodservice – Gateway to Changing Consumer Habits February 20th, 10:30 AM CT (CHICAGO) | 5:30 PM CET (BERLIN) | 4:30 PM GMT (LONDON) >> Register now! The foodservice sector holds immense potential as a gateway to driving the global transition toward a more sustainable and plant-based food system. As a critical player in shaping consumer habits and preferences, the industry has the power to transform the game—but how is it leveraging this influence? What strategies are currently being deployed by key players? Where are …

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Bright Green Partners

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Bright Green Partners Hosts Side Stream Valorization Webinar

Bright Green Partners is hosting a webinar on “Side Stream Valorization – Profit From Co-products” on 30th January 2025. This virtual event is all about actionable insights and valuable connections for professionals exploring the potential of side stream valorization. Key details about the webinar Date: January 30th, 2025 Time: 4PM-5.30PM CET Format: Virtual webinar with a networking session Link to register: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/1f811b7f-6a53-4515-9780-aac285b66557@4dd55d20-a2d1-4d0d-a480-d93e5a9df7f4 Who should attend: This event is for corporate leaders in B2B food ingredients, side-stream valorization start/scale-up founders, and investors looking to stay at the forefront of innovation. Why this is a key topic In today’s AgriFood Tech sector, many B2B food ingredient companies are creating value by transforming co-products into new ingredients, incorporating upcycled ingredients, or collaborating with innovative side-stream valorization ventures. Long-term value shifts of food …

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ProVeg announces winners of Food Innovation Challenge

Image courtesy of ProVeg

Self-Heating Plant-Based Beef & Rice Box Wins ProVeg Food Innovation Challenge

ProVeg has announced the winners of its fifth annual Food Innovation Challenge, held in conjunction with major food companies and open to students across the Asia-Pacific region. In first place is a self-heating plant-based food box containing “Hanwoo beef”, rice, and vegetables. Created by students from Australia’s Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Netherlands’ Wageningen University, the invention has won a $3000 prize. It was developed on behalf of Korean company CJ Foods, which challenged students to create a sustainable and convenient alternative to Hanwoo beef (one of the most expensive beef cuts due to its high marbling). Four other teams received a $1000 prize: Students from Bogor Agricultural University in Indonesia developed a plant-based chocolate for health-conscious women on behalf of Mars. A …

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Bridge2Food 2024 the hague

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Bridge2Food Europe 2025: Industry Gathering for Alternative Proteins in The Hague

From June 3 to 5, 2025, the Bridge2Food Europe 2025 conference will once again invite industry experts to the Fokker Terminal in The Hague, Netherlands. Under the theme “From Hype to Reality: Navigating Through a Shifting Landscape,” the event will focus on innovations, strategic partnerships, and knowledge transfer in the alternative protein sector. Building on the success of the 2024 event, which brought together over 600 professionals from R&D, technology, and innovation, the 2025 edition promises to offer an even larger platform for exchange and collaboration. A key highlight is the continued integration of Course Europe and Summit Europe, two formats that combine technical expertise with strategic discussions. A platform for collaboration  The program is designed to enable participants to expand networks, share ideas, and forge …

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overview upcoming update webtalk sessions 2025

Announcing the 2025 Schedule of the Vegconomist Webtalk Series ‘Update’

We are excited to announce the 2025 schedule for our international business webtalk series, ‘update,’ where we delve into the most pressing issues of the ongoing protein transition. Each session brings together key market players to discuss the future of the industry, backed by the latest news, data, and insights. Here is the schedule of upcoming topics and dates for 2025 January 16, 2025 10 Years Veganuary: Lessons, Leads, and Learnings with Toni Vernelli (International Head of Policy and Communications at Veganuary), Denise Schmidt (Brand Activist at The Vegetarian Butcher), Nadine Filko (Moderation) >> Register here! February 20, 2025 Foodservice: Gateway to Changing Consumer Habits Guests to be announced >> Register here! March 20, 2025 AI Food System: Driving Change Through Intelligent Systems Guests to …

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Danone Silk cereal liar

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Silk Investigates Dairy Preferences With Polygraph Taste Test in NYC

Silk, one of North America’s leading plant-based beverage brands, is questioning breakfast loyalties with an unconventional campaign aimed at settling a long-standing debate: Is dairy milk truly the best choice for cereal? According to the company, during a recent national taste test, 7 out of 10 dairy drinkers said they preferred Silk Vanilla Almondmilk in their cereal. Now Silk is taking its case directly to skeptics in a high-profile New York City event.  The campaign, dubbed “Cereal Liar,” invites participants who claim to prefer dairy milk to take a lie detector test while sampling both Silk and dairy options with their cereal. The event, set for January 9—two days before National Milk Day—is designed not just to promote Silk’s product but to challenge perceptions about …

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Future Food Systems

Image supplied by Future Food Systems

Future Food Systems 2025: London Event Brings Together Key Industry Innovators

The annual Future Food Systems event, hosted by Independent Forums, is set to take place in London on 6 February 2025, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders from the food and beverage sector. The conference will address pressing challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and evolving consumer demands, with a focus on sustainable practices, technological innovation, and collaboration. Dr. Sally Uren OBE, chief executive of the international sustainability nonprofit Forum for the Future, noted the urgency of the initiative in a 2024 keynote, quoting author William Gibson: “The future is already here – it’s just not evenly distributed.” This sentiment underscores the event’s mission to foster equitable and sustainable food systems worldwide. Themes and agenda The conference will feature a range of discussions …

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Beyond Meat IV

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Beyond Meat, Konscious & Banza Among the Winners of peta2’s Libby Awards 2024

peta2, the youth-oriented US subsidiary of animal rights charity PETA, has revealed the winners of its annual Libby Awards, which recognize brands and celebrities with a commitment to animals. Here are all the winners and top nominees in the food categories: Favorite Nondairy Product Winner: Aldi Barissimo Non-Dairy Oat Milk Cold Foam Other nominees: Tabitha Brown for Target Sweet Pea & Basil Ravioli Icelandic Provisions Vanilla Bean Oatmilk Skyr. Bored Cow Pumpkin Spice Animal-Free Milk Favorite Vegan Frozen Option Winner: Banza Vegan Margherita Pizza Other nominees: Strong Roots Chipotle Mac Daring. Buffalo Plant Chicken Wing Trader Joe’s Kimbap Favorite Vegan Meat Winner: Beyond Burger Avocado Oil Plant-Based Patties Other nominees: Trader Joe’s Vegan Pepperoni Oscar Mayer Bun Length Plant Based Not Hot Dogs MorningStar Farms …

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Session 8 of the ‘update’ Webtalk Series: 10 Years Veganuary – Lessons, Leads and Learnings

The international business webtalk series ‘update’ discusses the most pressing issues of the ongoing protein transition. Based on the latest news, data, and facts, the future of the industry will be put forward and discussed with key market players in this series of talks. 10 Years Veganuary – Lessons, Leads and Learnings January 16th, 10:30 AM CT (CHICAGO) | 5:30 PM CET (BERLIN) | 4:30 PM GMT (LONDON) >> Register now! Campaigns are a powerful force for shaping mindsets and spreading ideas. While traditional industries often use them to counter transformational movements, progressive companies and organizations come together every year to champion one of the most impactful campaigns for food system change: Veganuary. But here’s the question: Is food system transformation primarily speaking to flexitarians? Campaigns like Veganuary …

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Paul McCartney

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The O2 Arena to go Veggie with Linda McCartney Foods for Paul McCartney’s Final Shows of 2024

McCartney and his late wife Linda became vegetarians and animal rights activists in the 1970s, and Linda went on to start a successful meat-free food company in 1991. On the 18th and 19th December, it’s not just McCartney’s music that will rock but McCartney foods will also be sharing the stage. The O2 Arena is teaming up with Linda McCartney Foods to give concert goers a plant-powered extravaganza as their food stands get a plant-based upgrade. A 4:2 veggie-to-meat ratio will be on offer at all food stands, while the Van on the Run food truck (inspired by the Paul McCartney and Wings album Band on the Run) will be outside the arena offering a range of meals made with Linda McCartney products. The options …

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Kern Tec

© Kern Tec

BettaF!sh and Kern Tec Among the Winners of EIT Food’s Marketed Innovation Prize 2024

EU-supported food innovation community EIT Food has announced the winners of its Marketed Innovation Prize, which recognises food startups that have successfully brought products or services to market. The prize grants €10,000 to the best-marketed innovations in each of three regions (North-East, West, and South), and €5,000 to the best-marketed innovation in five subcategories. It aims to reward startups that are supporting the transition to a more healthy, sustainable, and resilient food system. The winners BettaF!sh, a producer of fish alternatives made from regeneratively cultivated seaweed, has received the prize for Best Alternative Protein-based Solution. Meanwhile, the company’s Managing Director and co-founder Deniz Ficicioglu has received the Woman in Innovation award. Kern Tec GmbH, which upcycles waste fruit pits into high-value ingredients, was named Best …

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Webtalk Recording: Reflecting on 2024 and Future Prospects – What’s Next in the Alt Protein Industry?

Rewatch the conversation as leading experts with years of experience in the alternative protein industry discuss the most pressing questions facing the sector and the lessons we’ve learned for the future. Do we need to speak the language of politicians and Wall Street? How can we grow beyond a system that hides so many external costs? Could climate change even serve as a catalyst for systemic change and create a level playing field for the alternative protein industry? Expert panel Ira van Eelen, Cofounder & CEO of KindEarth.Tech, Cofounder of RESPECTfarms Sebastion Joy, President at ProVeg International, Serial Social Entrepreneur Elysabeth Alfano, CEO & Food/Climate Entrepreneur, Global Food Systems Speaker Nadine Filko, Moderation Watch the replay Explore the discussion in depth by viewing the entire …

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veg-net team

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veg-net to Return for a Second Year With Expanded Networking Event

veg-net, a networking and growth event for the plant-based industry, is set to take place for the second time on June 4 2025 at Radisson Blu London Stansted Airport. The inaugural veg-net event, which took place earlier this year, successfully enabled plant-based brands to connect with buyers and industry experts. Next year’s event will be even bigger, with the aim of fostering more meaningful connections and opportunities in the plant-based industry. Attendees will benefit from ten 20-minute meetings with buyers from the retail and food service sectors, along with keynote speeches from industry leaders. There will also be expert-led clinics on topics such as investment, brand building, and the UK and EU retail markets. Tangible results When veg-net’s inaugural event was announced in late 2023, …

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Webtalk Recording: Cultivating a New Food System – Products, Processes and People

Rewatch the conversation as leading experts in cellular agriculture delve into the rapid and dynamic advancements shaping the industry. From breakthrough innovations to emerging solutions set to transform the sector faster than expected, this discussion explores the future of sustainable food production. Expert panel Dr. Cornelius Lahme, Marketing & Communications at Bluu Seafood Deepika Rajesh, Chief Scientific Officer at Roslin Technologies Florentine Zieglowski, Co-founder RESPECTfarms Jordi Morales-Dalmau, CTO & Co-Founder at Cultimate Foods Nadine Filko, Moderation Watch the replay Explore the discussion in depth by viewing the entire session below. Display “Cultivating a New Food System: Products, Processes and People” from YouTube Click here to display content from YouTube. Learn more in YouTube’s privacy policy. Always display content from YouTube Open “Cultivating a New Food System: …

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The Cultured Hub opening event

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The Cultured Hub Facility Finally Opens, Positioning Switzerland as a Leader in Scaling Cell-Based Foods

The Cultured Hub has launched a “scale-up as a service” facility for cell-based foods in The Valley in Kemptthal, Switzerland, and celebrated its opening yesterday with the State of Play Cultured Foods 2.0 event. The Cultured Hub is a joint venture between three Swiss industry giants — Migros, Givaudan, and Bühler Group as first announced in 2021 —  that aims to leverage their extensive food processing and product development experience to accelerate the production of cultivated meat and other cell-based foods. The new “state-of-the-art” biotech facility features advanced labs and fermentation capabilities to help startups scale from lab to pilot operations (up to 1,000 liters), facilitating a quicker market entry. It can host three companies simultaneously, each in separate suites, encouraging collaboration and innovation without the …

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ProteinDistillery ceremony for opening of protein centre

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Political Figures and Celebs Celebrate ProteinDistillery’s Upcoming Facility, Set to Produce Upcycled Protein at Large Scale

German food tech innovator ProteinDistillery recently broke ground at its new Protein Competence Centre set to open by Q2 2025, with the event attended by Germany’s Agriculture and Education Minister Cem Özdemir, known for his outspokenness on vegetarianism and environmentalism, Member of Germany’s Green Party Zoe Mayer, and former goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand, owner of the vegan restaurant vhy. The Protein Competence Centre will serve as a centre for research, development and production of pioneering plant-based proteins and promote collaboration between science and industry and will enable large-scale production of Prew:tein®, a sustainable, animal-free protein derived from brewer’s yeast, a beer industry by-product. Prew:tein® offers functional properties like emulsification and gel formation, rivalling animal proteins without additives. The Heilbronn facility will produce up to 200 tonnes …

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