Sustainability

Should vanilla production be stopped? GettyImages/Diana Miller

Should vanilla production be stopped?

By Donna Eastlake

Vanilla is one of the most common flavours for sweet treats around the world. But is the farming of this much-loved spice sustainable? And, if not, should we be consuming it at all?

The European Union's deforestation regulation is set to come into force on 31 December 2024. Pic: WCF

EUDR

European Union to delay ‘high risk’ element of deforestation bill

By Anthony Myers

The European Union (EU) has signalled its intent to delay the most controversial parts of its anti-deforestation regulation (EUDR) after protests by governments in Asia, Africa, and Latin America described the low, standard, or high-risk benchmarking...

Food swaps to stop biodiversity loss. GettyImages/RealPeopleGroup

Food swaps to stop biodiversity loss

By Donna Eastlake

We’ve all heard of the rallying World War Two cry, ‘Dig for Victory’, urging citizens to combat food shortages by growing fruits and vegetable in their allotments and gardens. Well, now people are being urged to make food swaps to stop biodiversity loss....

Is macauba a rainforest-friendly alternative to palm oil? GettyImages/MEDITERRANEAN

Is macauba a rainforest-friendly alternative to palm oil?

By Donna Eastlake

Palm oil is cheap to produce in large quantities but unsustainable production methods, notably deforestation, means the bad can far outweigh the good. As a result, brands are increasingly distancing themselves from the use of irresponsible palm oil in...

As the clock ticks on the application of the EUDR, there were still plenty of unanswered questions in Amsterdam surrounding its guidelines. Pic: WCF

WCF Partnership Meeting 2024

How ready is the EU Commission to implement its deforestation regulation?

By Anthony Myers

Apart from farmer income/poverty, the most discussed topic on day one of the World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting in Amsterdam was the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) that will be implemented at the end of this year.

Amsterdam Cocoa Week takes place in the city's historic stock exchange, Beurs van Berlage from 5-11 February. Pic: Equipoise

Sustainability

Cocoa sector set for ‘epic’ week in Amsterdam

By Anthony Myers

Amsterdam Cocoa Week promises an ‘epic collaboration’ when it opens on Monday 5 February at the Beurs van Berlage, the city’s former stock exchange building, where joining forces under one roof will be high-level sustainability conferences Chocoa, the...

Study of bees reveals environmental vulnerability and exposes threat to future of food production GettyImages/no_limit_pictures

Bee study reveals environmental vulnerability and food production threat

By Donna Eastlake

Research revealing bees’ ability to synthesise specific nutrients, to support the colonisation of their gut bacteria, offers insights into the symbiotic relationship they have with their gut microbiota. But changes to their habitat is placing this delicate...

The European Union's deforestation bill is triggered at the end of 2024. Is the cocoa sector ready? Pic: EU

Free-to-listen webinar - Speakers Announced!

Time’s up: EUDR webinar - speakers announced - how ready is cocoa?

By Anthony Myers

ConfectioneryNews will be presenting a special live webinar on Tuesday 23 January 24 at 17:00Paris / 10:00AM Chicago to discuss the new requirements for market access for cocoa and chocolate suppliers into the European Union.

Fedima looks at its achievements over the past year in the bakery ingredients market in Europe.

Fedima releases Baking Europe Ingredients Market Report 2023

By Gill Hyslop

The report - the third annual collab between the association and Media Energy - includes Fedima’s Annual Industry Update, with pieces on Front-of-Pack nutrition labelling, responsible sourcing and communication trends.

Prioritising mental health, personalised nutrition and clean labels are some of the leading consumer trends expected for 2024. Pic: GettyImages

FMCG Gurus’ top trends for 2024

By Gill Hyslop

Markets have been shaped by a prevailing theme of uncertainty and worry - war, pandemic, price inflation and growing pressures on food systems - resulting in a sharper consumer focus on protecting their physical and emotional wellbeing.

Consumers are increasingly opting for cashews and hazelnuts for their taste and perceived nutritional benefits, yet the farmers producing these nuts don’t always have the means to meet their own health and nutrition needs. Pic: ofi

ofi ticks up the milestones in first Nuts Trails impact report

By Gill Hyslop

The global ingredients supplier provided health and nutrition support for 105,000 people in its cashew and hazelnut supply chains last year - one of several achievements listed in its impact report that looks back over the past 12 months.

With sites in Lincoln, Scotland and the South West, Branston is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of potatoes. It has launched trials into net zero production through sustainable fertilisers.

Branston’s race to net zero in the potato supply chain

By Oliver Morrison

Branston, one of the UK’s largest suppliers, has begun trials to assess the viability of creating net zero potatoes. Field Technical Manager Andrew Blair shares his insights into the methods the company is following and how it hopes to establish a process...

Women from the  COOPAAPROMAN community in Cote d'Ivoire organise their Village Savings Loans. Pic: Magnum

Sustainability

AWA by Magnum supports more female cocoa farmers in Cote d’Ivoire

By Anthony Myers

To mark World Cocoa & Chocolate Day (which took place on 1 October) Magnum ice cream has released more details on its female empowerment programme, upscaling the work to reach thousands of additional women throughout cocoa communities in the West...

The programme outlines a working definition of and framework for regenerative agriculture. Image Source: JohnnyGreig/Getty Images

SAI releases definition of and framework for regenerative agriculture

By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Regenerative agriculture currently has no legal definition at an EU level. However, the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) platform, a group of companies that includes Danone, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and Unilever, has released a definition of its own,...

The guide will help cacao producers communicate the quality of their cacao. Image Source: Ilka & Franz/Getty Images

Cacao guide aims to help producers communicate the quality of their cacao

By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

For a long time, there has been no commonly agreed way of assessing and communicating the quality of cacao, the seed from which stems cocoa and chocolate. Now, however, a new initiative has been unveiled that will aim to do just that, with contributions...

Generation Africa's agripreneurs are a testament to Africa’s innovative vision in action. Pic: Generation Africa

The groundbreaking innovations coming out of Africa

By Gill Hyslop

The ‘Kraken’ - the world’s most advanced palm nut de-sheller; scaling up Madagascar’s spice and herb value chains to benefit poor households; and a disease-free potato strain to combat Africa’s potato shortage are among the winners of Generation Africa’s...

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