Weekly Roundup: Nestlé to boost Chinese agriculture, “Avozilla” hits Tesco shelves

11 Sep 2020 --- This week in industry news, Nestlé China revealed its intention to boost sustainable agriculture and production with a CHF 53 million (US$58.4 million) investment. Cargill and Ecolab joined forces with a farm-to-fork accelerator and Corteva Agriscience, among others, created an alliance that aims to strengthen dairy production in Kenya. Meanwhile, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed that it would provide US$530 million to support the US seafood industry.

In brief: Moves in sustainability 
Nestlé’s investment in China will promote local grain cultivation in Heilongjiang Province, with an initial focus on organic grains. This will be done through the new Nestlé Grain Competence Center (GCC), the multinational’s first facility of this kind worldwide. It will also complete the Nestlé Dairy Farming Institute (DFI) expansion and upgrade, strengthening its role in dairy farming training and as a sustainable source of high-quality local milk, especially for Nestlé's A2 milk products. 

Cargill and Ecolab have announced the latest class of entrepreneurs to join the Techstars Farm-to-Fork Accelerator. The 2020 participants, the program’s first “virtual” class, will engage with mentors through an entirely digital experience due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digitization across many sectors, including food and agriculture, says Techstars Farm-to-Fork Accelerator managing director Brett Brohl. “The food system has changed more in the last six months than it has over the entire five years I have been investing in the space,” says Brohl. In its third year, the Techstars Farm-to-Fork Accelerator involves early-stage entrepreneurs seeking to effect positive change across the food system, including food security and safety, ag-tech and supply chain management.

Tyson Foods is working to verify sustainable beef production practices on more than 5 million acres of cattle grazing land in the US. This would be the most extensive beef transparency program in the US. Tyson Foods will source cattle from Beefcare-verified beef producers through working with Where Food Comes From, the largest provider of certification and verification services to the food industry.

Martin Bauer has acquired Core Botanica. Pictured; a Core Botanica facility.Corteva Agriscience, Land O’Lakes Venture37, Bidco Land O’Lakes, Forage Genetics International (FGI) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) have revealed an alliance that aims to strengthen dairy production in central Kenya. The project will help advance the sustainable farming practices of more than 5,000 women smallholder dairy farmers and ease the country’s annual 2.2 billion L shortage of dairy products. This group of the private sector will engage in a two-year program designed to increase the supply of nutritional dairy products available to local communities and guide women smallholder farmers in methods that bolster nutrient-rich forages production – providing reliable feed for dairy cattle, improving milk production and reducing the production cost of those dairy products.

Chinese F&B company Master Kong, also known as Tingyi Holding Corp, has signed an agreement with China Space Foundation (CSF) to launch China's first kind of space instant noodles. The CFS has injected aerospace elements into Master Kong’s corporate development, says Wu Jiexuan, chairman of the CSF, at the signing ceremony, adding that the two parties will strive to expand the scope for future cooperation and jointly contribute to China’s aerospace development. 

In brief: Recognition & awards
UK retailer Tesco is selling avocados pegged as the “Avozilla,” which are up to 50 percent bigger than previous avocados. Thanks to a great harvest in their native South Africa, the Avozilla are on sale exclusively at Tesco stores weighing in at an average of 1.5 kilos. When the fruit first went on sale in the UK in 2013, it caused a major high street stir as it was five times bigger than a regular avocado. According to Tesco, this year’s crop will be up to ten times bigger. 

In brief: Acquisitions
The Martin Bauer Group has acquired Core Botanica, a manufacturer of customized mint leaf products in North America. The acquisition expands the group’s portfolio of raw materials and botanical ingredients, servicing the food and dietary supplement industries, along with the tea and beverage markets. The acquired company will continue to operate as Core Botanica, while instantly benefiting from the active support of the Martin Bauer Group’s agricultural team. 

In brief: Appointments & retirementsJonathan Thompson, CEO at Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. 
Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has appointed Jonathan Thompson as CEO. Most recently, he was general manager for the Isopure Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Glanbia Performance Nutrition. During his tenure, he led Isopure through a business turnaround, returning the brand to growth and establishing major retail outlets throughout the US and internationally. Before Isopure, Thompson held other executive roles at Glanbia Performance Nutrition and Optimum Nutrition and held various roles at Danone and Mars/Masterfoods.

In brief: Other highlights
DuPont Animal Nutrition has announced a partnership with Proteon Pharmaceuticals to bring the emerging bacteriophage technology to poultry producers in selected countries, strengthening DuPont’s gut health solutions that help to mitigate antimicrobial resistance. The threat of antimicrobial resistance sparked recent investment into bacteriophage technologies. Modern analytics and omics technologies have enabled screening and identification of bacteriophage candidates for a specific bacterial challenge, with significant feed and food safety implications. This emerging technology is already used in the animal food industry.

US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced the USDA will provide approximately US$530 million to support the US seafood industry and fishermen impacted by retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments. The funding will be provided through the Seafood Trade Relief Program and funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation, administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency.

By Elizabeth Green

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