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European rice production in “crisis” amid calls to review trade policies

EU trade organizations warn “rice has no future” in Europe unless existing trade agreements are revised. The developing crisis is driven by rising production costs, strict regulatory requirements, and a significant increase in imports entering the EU market. Europe’s rice sector is warning of structural collapse amid escalating pressures that are pushing the industry to its limits. Furthermore, industry bodies flag how EU rice production is becoming economically unviable and could disappear without policy intervention.
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Vanilla’s adaptive edge: From formulation tool to fermentation frontier
Global food and beverage launches featuring vanilla ingredients recorded a 79% compound annual growth rate between 2023 and 2025, according to Innova Market Insights data, with Europe accounting for more than a third of new products. The growth comes as the vanilla commodity market is in oversupply and bean prices are falling, which is leading to fundamental shifts in how manufacturers are using and sourcing the ingredient.
young woman in supermarket snacks aisle
Synergy Flavours: Shaping future snacking with health, sustainability & flavor
Today’s health-conscious consumers are demanding more than convenience from snacks — they want functionality, sustainability, and nutrition. Traditionally associated with saltiness and greasiness, snack consumption is now viewed as a “value-added, mindful eating occasion,” according to Synergy Flavours.
DuynieTP
DuyGrain®: Cost-efficient proteins & fibres
Protein and fibremaxxing are top trends among consumers. Incorporating them while keeping clean-label, taste and price in mind can be challenging. DuyGrain®, a plant-based protein and fibre-rich ingredient, offers a solution. Download the paper to learn how DuyGrain® enhances both nutrition and margins in bakery, meat and meat alternatives.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Duynie.
Expo West 2026: Kerry reveals flavor strategies for functional food innovation
Expo West 2026: Kerry reveals flavor strategies for functional food innovation

Shannon Coco, senior director of new sales development at Kerry, discusses how the company’s 2026 Taste Charts help brands pair functional nutrition with consumer-preferred flavors. She explains how the Taste Chart Companion combines flavor trends with consumer research to guide innovation around protein, fiber, collagen, and adaptogens. Coco also highlights KerryNow, the company’s digital platform that helps manufacturers accelerate prototype and NPD.

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Expo West 2026 review: Functional nutrition for GLP-1 support, gut health & women’s wellness
At the Natural Products Expo West 2026 trade show (Mar 3–6), the nutrition, food, and beverage industries showcased innovations in functional, tasty wellness products in consumer-friendly formats. In Anaheim, California, US, solutions supporting women’s health, gut microbiome, GLP-1 use, and weight management took center stage. Exhibitors spotlighted nutrient-dense products focusing on protein, postbiotics, probiotics, fiber, natural colors, and clean label solutions. We look back at some of the key innovations and companies at Expo West this year.

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Puratos strikes deal to acquire Dawn Foods in bakery industry shakeup
People eating donuts.
Puratos is poised to acquire global bakery manufacturer and ingredients supplier Dawn Foods in a major move in the bakery ingredients space. The two century-old family companies have been serving professional bakery markets for decades. Earlier this week, they announced a deal for Puratos to acquire Dawn Foods, subject to the usual regulatory approvals.
How lactose-free milk can boost dairy consumption in coffee shops
male barista adding milk to coffee in cafe
The dairy industry has an “untapped opportunity” to increase product consumption through lactose-free milk — especially as consumers continue to show preference for milk or creamers in coffee, a US-based study reveals. However, participating consumers said they want lactose-free milk to match the taste and texture of regular milk, while many were willing to switch to lactose-free milk if options were “readily available and clearly labeled.”
Bacon backlash? UK shoppers ditch nitrite-cured meat amid health fears
elderly woman looking at bacon in supermarket
UK supermarkets are witnessing a decline in nitrite-cured bacon sales, as consumer concerns around the links between these products and cancer risks grow. At the same time, sales of nitrite-free bacon are reportedly rising. According to data compiled by Worldpanel by Numerator and published by the Coalition Against Nitrates, the value of nitrite-cured bacon sales fell from £257 million (US$344 million) to £238 million (US$319 million) (-7.3%) in the three months to January 2025, versus the same period the year before.
Science meets confectionery: Mondelēz and Aston University advance chocolate...
Hands holding Cadbury chocolate bar.
A Mondelēz International collaboration with Aston University (UK) could be set to reveal how scientific advancements in filtration technology can be leveraged to develop high-cocoa chocolate with distinctive flavor profiles and without added sugar. The collaboration is the first to apply the university’s advanced membrane-based filtration technologies for water processing to the food sector. The research will explore how biological membrane proteins can be used to filter food ingredient properties, modifying nutrients, aromas, and flavors.
AI-powered fraud detection tool could transform food safety in EU
Food scientist checking product safety.
The European Commission has introduced an AI-powered tool called TraceMap to revolutionize the way food fraud and foodborne incidents are detected and managed across the bloc. Designed to streamline response times and improve traceability, TraceMap could be an essential asset for national authorities looking to ensure food safety and transparency in the food supply chain.
Lallemand launches Re-Vaya ingredient to boost metabolic health beyond weight...
woman doing sports in the gym

Nutrition Insight

Lallemand Bio-Ingredients has launched Re-Vaya, an ingredient addressing the growing demand for metabolic health, supporting balance through a health-optimization approach. The science-backed ingredient is launched at a time when demand for a typical weight loss narrative is shifting, reshaping the metabolic health landscape beyond single-target weight management. Nutrition Insight sits down with Lallemand Bio-Ingredients’ Annie Tremblay, scientific affairs manager, and Marcia da Silva Pinto, category manager, to discuss the ingredient’s potential for metabolic health amid the GLP-1 era.
Highlighted features
Beyond Meat products in supermarket.
Business News
Beyond faces Nasdaq delisting: What will the plant-based...
Beyond (formerly Beyond Meat) has until August 31, 2026, to save its listing on Nasdaq, after it traded below the minimum US$1 per share price for 30 consecutive business days. We look at how this early plant-based meat pioneer plans to bounce back from long-term sales decline and regain compliance with the US’ second-largest stock exchange. The California-based company received a letter from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department on March 4, 2026, warning that it would be delisted if it failed to trade above US$1 per share for at least ten consecutive business days before the deadline.
Coffee harvest.
Business News
Coffee prices caught between record harvests and Hormuz...
Global coffee prices have fallen sharply from the record highs above US$4.40/lb reached in early 2025, as Brazil’s national supply agency forecasts a record 66.2 million bag harvest and Rabobank projects the first significant global production surplus in five years. But the correction is now facing fresh complications with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war, which is pushing freight rates, insurance premiums, and fuel costs higher just as the supply picture improves.The world’s two largest coffee buyers have laid bare how severe the input cost pressure has been. JDE Peet’s, the biggest pure-play coffee company, absorbed €1.6 billion (US$1.73 billion) in cost inflation in 2025 and passed on 19.5% in pricing to consumers, while Nestlé reported that coffee and cocoa commodity costs drove its underlying trading operating profit margin down 130 basis points. 
Plant-based meat on supermarket shelf.
Food Ingredients News
Plant-based naming dispute: How the EU’s new rules could...
Yesterday saw an EU trilogue discussion about whether plant-based foods can use meat-related names on alternative F&B products — and the result is a mixed bag of bans and restrictions on certain terminology, which will have an impact on farmers, brands, and companies operating in the plant-based space.

Ingredient focus

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Snacking trends in focus: Flavor, protein & fiberMar2026

Innova data shows consumers prioritize protein and fiber when purchasing snacks. However, flavor remains the most important factor in snack choice, driving steady annual growth in product launches fro...

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Lallemand Bio-Ingredients

Product innovation

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Future of food processing Mar 2026

According to Innova Market Insights, attitudes toward ultra-processed foods are changing. Consumers increasingly associate ultra-processed foods with unhealthy indulgence, but their habits are shifting, particularly with a rise in cooking from scratch. This shift means many products require reformulation to deliver the fresh, authentic characteristics consumers seek.

Trend analysis

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Vanilla’s adaptive edge spurs NPDMar 2026

Vanilla is proving its adaptive edge in global F&B innovation. New product launches featuring vanilla ingredients witnessed a large annual growth rate globally between 2023 and 2025, signaling sustained cross-category demand. More than a third of global launches were from Europe.

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Expo West 2026: Kerry reveals flavor strategies for functional food innovation
Video09:30
Expo West 2026: Kerry reveals flavor strategies for functional food innovation

Shannon Coco, senior director of new sales development at Kerry, discusses how the company’s 2026 Taste Charts help brands pair functional nutrition with consumer-preferred flavors. She explains how the Taste Chart Companion combines flavor trends with consumer research to guide innovation...

Expo West 2026 GNT Video Thumbnail: Woman wearing glasses at a trade show booth for plant-based color solutions, with colorful ingredient samples, certification icons, and textured wall displays.
Video04:48
Expo West 2026: GNT explores technical challenges behind plant-based color performance
Pedro Goncalves, Tetra Pak
Video11:38
Expo West 2026: Tetra Pak’s aseptic processing tackles shelf life and food waste challenges
Santiago Vega, Givaudan
Video09:05
Expo West 2026: Givaudan drives flavor innovation to support better-for-you formulations
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