August in review: Chemical engineering, tariffs and major acquisitions

Last month, we spoke with Cargill about the growing role of chemical engineering in the F&B sector, US President Donald Trump imposed a fresh round of tariffs that sparked global concern, and Keurig Dr Pepper secured the acquisition of JDE Peet’s in a US$17.4 billion deal.

Meanwhile, we spoke with ADM about its growth in the plant-based sector, and Arla Foods explained why it is lobbying the UK government to address dairy farm labor shortages. 

Here, we recap the most significant stories of the month to ensure you stay informed about key F&B industry developments and insights. 

Cargill CTO: How leveraging chemical engineering can solve the food industry’s biggest problems

Chemistry is playing a central role in modern food innovation — from fermentation to regenerative agriculture. Cargill CTO Florian Schattenmann sat down with us to reflect on his journey from academic chemist to leading global food R&D at Cargill, and discussed what’s next for chemistry-driven advancements in the F&B industry.

Coffee, dairy and dining out in the spotlight as F&B firms brace for Trump’s tariffs

From coffee and dairy to alcohol and meat, the F&B sector braced for the impact of a new round of global US tariffs. We examined reactions across various F&B industries following US President Donald Trump’s announcements.

Alcohol industry urges EU-US tariff exemption as €29.8B export market set for severe blow

The US enacted a 15% tariff on EU alcohol imports, impacting a €29.8 billion (US$24.7 billion) sector, 30% of which is sold to the US and supports millions of jobs. We spoke to industry representatives and looked at reactions from both sides of the Atlantic.

Arla calls for government action on dairy farm labor shortages

Keurig Dr Pepper made a US$17.4B acquisition deal.Arla Foods urged the UK government to take faster and more practical steps to address on-farm labor shortages, warning that the issue threatens national food security. The call followed the company’s fifth annual survey of its 1,900 British farmer owners, which found that around 84% of those trying to fill vacancies had few or no qualified applicants, up from 79% in 2021. We spoke to the company to learn more. 

WUR study shows oil palm is the most land-efficient crop despite higher emissions

Palm oil, one of the world’s most traded vegetable oils, has been a controversial food ingredient due to its links with deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. However, a new study by Wageningen University & Research revealed that it outperforms soybean and rapeseed oils across critical sustainability metrics. We spoke to the researchers to find out more.

Vegan growth: ADM explores new opportunities with diverse protein solutions

Across plant-based product categories, health and nutrition remain primary consumption motivators, although animal welfare concerns still top the list, according to ADM. Formulation advancements to support improved taste and texture are also critical drivers among plant-forward consumers. Jacquelyn Rodenkirch-Schuh, global senior director of product marketing, went into more detail.

Agri-food industry raises serious doubts over latest EU-US trade pact agreements

The EU and US took the next steps to formalize their trade pact, detailing plans for tariffs across the agri-food industry in an updated framework agreement. The deal brings “improved market access” for the sale of US agricultural goods that the EU needs, according to the US government and European Commission, but several agri-food industry stakeholders were not convinced. 

Keurig Dr Pepper secures acquisition of JDE Peet’s in US$17.4B deal

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) announced it will acquire JDE Peet’s in an all-cash deal valued at €15.7 billion (US$17.4 billion). The agreement sets the stage for KDP to later split into two publicly traded companies, creating a dedicated global coffee business and a separate North American beverages company.

Registrar Corp expert: How MAHA food regulation policies are reshaping the US food industry

The “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement is shaking up the US food industry with bans on synthetic dyes, tighter ingredient rules, and sweeping changes to GRAS determinations. With big brands pledging reform, we spoke with Registrar Corp’s Anna Benevente about ongoing legislative changes and their implications for the industry.

Dubai’s GigaFarm project: Scottish businesses prepare to build world’s biggest vertical farm

Scotland-based agri-tech manufacturer Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) is set to begin building the world’s largest vertical farm, the GigaFarm, in Dubai. We spoke with IGS CEO Andrew Lloyd about the project’s circular model and its potential to be replicated in urban areas worldwide.