Beyond The Headlines: EFSA declares “no critical concern” over glyphosate use, Lantmännen flags Swedish grain harvest decline

07 Jul 2023 --- In this week’s industry news, the European Food Safety Authority’s assessment of the impact of glyphosate on the health of humans, animals and the environment did not identify critical areas of concern. DSM-Firmenich’s Animal Nutrition and Health business unit launched an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) initiative, while Lantmännen flags that the Swedish grain harvest is expected to be significantly lower than usual.

In brief: Sustainability move
The assessment of the impact of glyphosate on the health of humans, animals and the environment did not identify critical areas of concern, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Some data gaps are reported in EFSA’s conclusions - as issues that could not be finalized or outstanding issues – for the European Commission and member states to consider in the next stage of the renewal of the approval process. These are the main findings of EFSA’s peer review of the risk assessment of glyphosate carried out by authorities in four member states.

DSM-Firmenich’s Animal Nutrition and Health business unit has launched a new Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) initiative to provide credible Scope 3 reporting to help customers reach emissions commitments. The EPDs, provide technical documents that communicate the full environmental footprint per kilogram of Dsm-Firmenich products across 19 impact categories, from raw material sourcing to manufacturing, in line with the EU Product Environmental Footprint methodology. The company says that offering transparent and credible data supports the industry’s need for greater transparency and sustainability in animal protein production, empowering customers to make informed choices that reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable industry. 

Food awareness organization ProVeg US and 160 other non-governmental organizations are calling on US President Joe Biden to issue an Executive Order that will promote the public procurement of healthy, plant-based foods in federal facilities. 

In brief: Other highlights
This year’s Swedish grain harvest is expected to be significantly lower than a normal year. In large parts of the country, the lack of rain has negatively impacted the harvest, according to Lantmännen. However, the situation is better than the extreme drought year of 2018, thanks to a higher proportion of autumn-sown crops and more favorable temperatures during the early summer. Lantmännen’s forecast amounts to 4.6 million tons of grain. This is significantly lower than both last year’s harvest of 5.8 million tons and a normal year corresponding to 5.6 million tons.

A select group of diners in Washington enjoyed a historic meal of charcoal-grilled cultivated chicken this week, marking the first-ever sale of Good Meat in the US. The landmark dinner at China Chilcano by José Andrés honored the late Willem van Eelen, widely known as the “godfather of cultivated meat,” and would have celebrated his 100th birthday on July 4, 2023.

Spanish chef José Andrés cooking charcoal-grilled cultivated chicken.The dinner of cultivated chicken marinated with anticucho sauce, native potatoes and ají Amarillo chimichurri comes two weeks after Good Meat, the cultivated meat division of food technology company Eat Just, Inc., received full U. regulatory approval to sell its chicken in the US.

The FDA and the Federal Trade Commission have issued warning letters to six companies for illegally selling copycat food products containing Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as delta-8 THC. These products can easily be mistaken for traditional foods like chips, cookies, candy, gummies or other snack food items. The FDA is concerned that these products can be accidentally ingested by consumers, including children, or taken in higher doses than intended. The warning letters were issued to: Delta Munchies, Dr. Smoke LLC (also known as Dr. S LLC), Exclusive Hemp Farms/Oshipt, Nikte’s Wholesale LLC, North Carolina Hemp Exchange LLC and The Haunted Vapor Room.

Three new sites in Asia are the latest to have been formally recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), underlining the importance of the continent’s centuries-old agricultural practices in feeding the world’s growing population and combating climate change and biodiversity loss. The sites - a unique rain-fed fig-growing region in Iran, an area famous for using fallen leaves as compost for agriculture in suburban Tokyo and a system breeding beef cattle with unique genetic preservation practices in western Japan - were designated this week by the FAO. 

In brief: Business moves
Givaudan has expanded the Protein Hub at its flagship Zurich Innovation Centre in Kemptthal, Switzerland, to support the growth of dairy alternatives. The expanded Hub offers specialized expertise, digital technologies, and an integrated portfolio of solutions designed specifically for dairy alternatives to accelerate new product development and co-create exciting new food experiences in collaboration with customers.

Bunge and Chevron’s Renewable Energy Group, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, acquired Chacraservicios S.r.l., based in Argentina, from the Italian-based Adamant Group. This latest investment in novel seeds adds a new oil source to Bunge and Chevron’s global supply chains and will help both companies meet the growing demand for lower-carbon renewable feedstocks. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

By Gaynor Selby