Weekly Roundup: Firmenich, Givaudan and Symrise recognized for sustainability, Tech to spot a happy cow

12 Feb 2021 --- This week in industry news, Firmenich, Givaudan and Symrise were accredited for their environmental sustainability efforts, ranking in CDP’s Supplier Engagement Leaderboard for 2020. Tyson Foods bought a 49 percent stake in the poultry segment of Malayan Flour Mills Berhad, and New Age Meats secured an additional US$2 million in seed extension funding. Meanwhile, Diana Food launched a range of organic and animal welfare poultry solutions developed to meet the rising demand for ethical food and beverages.

In brief: Sustainability
Firmenich has been ranked on the CDP Supplier Engagement Leaderboard 2020. The leaderboard highlights the top 7 percent of companies that engage with their global supply chains on climate reporting and managing carbon emissions via CDP. This is Firmenich’s fourth recognition from the gold standard in corporate environmental reporting this year, adding to the group’s third consecutive CDP Triple “A” score in climate, water and forest management.

Givaudan was included once again in CDP’s Supplier Engagement Leaderboard. Its inclusion places it in the top 7 percent of companies out of more than 9,600 who disclose their environmental data through CDP annually. The certification follows Givaudan’s recent CDP double-A rating for climate and water leadership, announced last December.

Firmenich has been ranked on the CDP Supplier Engagement Leaderboard 2020.Symrise had already achieved a best-in-class triple-A rating within the three categories of water, forest and climate targets. The Supplier Engagement Rating (SER) now also recognizes the commitment of the company. 

In brief: Business highlights
Tyson Foods and Malayan Flour Mills Berhad announced a partnership in which Tyson Foods will invest in the Malaysia-based company’s vertically integrated poultry business, adding more supply flexibility for both companies. The transaction is subject to approval by the shareholders of Malayan Flour Mills Berhad, among others. 

Tate & Lyle completed the acquisition of an 85 percent shareholding in Chaodee Modified Starch Co, a tapioca modified food starch manufacturer located in Thailand. The signing of a conditional agreement for this acquisition was announced last October.

New Age Meats, a cultivated and plant-based meat start-up in Berkeley, California (US), with an initial focus on pork, has netted an additional US$2 million in Seed extension, adding to funds raised post-Seed announced late last year. In total, the company has raised US$7 million and now turns its sights toward a Series A in the coming months. The additional funds allow New Age Meats to continue constructing a team experienced in bringing products from inception to mass market. The company reports that its first products, pork sausages and dumplings, replicate the taste, aroma and mouthfeel of conventional pork.

In brief: Animal welfare highlights
Waitrose is rolling out a new mobile application that will help the retailer assess and begin to understand its farm animals’ emotional well-being. The first of its kind, the app aims to manage and improve opportunities that animals have to experience a good and enriching life. This process Waitrose hopes will help lead to further improvements to animal welfare standards across the UK.Diana Food has launched a range of organic and animal welfare poultry solutions developed to meet the rising demand for ethical food and drink.

Diana Food has launched a range of organic and animal welfare poultry solutions specifically developed to meet the rising demand for ethical food and drink among consumers worldwide. They can add a boiled or rotisserie note, a fatty, juicy meat note, or an umami note to their creations. This new line also has performance benefits in terms of solubility, turbidity and mouthfeel. Diana Food’s range of chicken products comprises two types of offerings: organic solutions with hen broth and hen bone broth in liquid and dehydrated forms; organic hen meat powder; and organic hen fat. In the animal welfare offer, products include liquid and dehydrated free-range chicken extracts, free-range hen meat powder and free-range chicken fat.

Honey bees and native pollinators will find more forage in California’s almond orchards this spring due to the almond community’s five-point Pollinator Protection Plan. Announced one year ago by the Almond Board of California, this plan expands the industry’s long-standing commitment to researching, protecting and improving bee health. One of the five tenets of the Pollinator Protection Plan – increasing floral diversity on farms – led the Almond Board to create and fund the Bee+ Scholarship program, which provides grants to farmers to help offset the cost of planting forage and habitat in and around their orchards. 

In brief: Miscellaneous 
In March 2022, International Food & Drink Event (IFE) will feature a new show section dedicated to highlighting the extensive range of plant-based and vegan products in the market, in partnership with the Vegan Trademark. This area will allow suppliers to showcase products, provide tastings and network with buyers searching for inspiring plant-based and vegan products for their businesses.

By Elizabeth Green