Insight Food Technology_Jan-Feb 2023 Edition

Dates: 14-17 | February 2023

Venue: Nürnberg, Germany.

Dates: 17-20 | September 2023

Venue: Riyadh International Exhibition Centre, Saudi Arabia..

Dates: 7-9 | November 2023

Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre.

Dates: 20-24 | February 2023

Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre.

Dates: 19-22 | September 2023

Venue: Crocus Expo, Moscow.

Dates: 7-9 | November 2023

Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre.

Dates: 18-20 | March 2023

Venue: Metropolitan Expo, Greece.

Dates: 11-14 | September 2023

Venue: International Convention Centre Sydney, Australia.

Dates: 7-9 | November 2023

Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre.

Dates: 23-25 | May 2023

Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre.

Dates: | September 2023

Venue: Expo Centre, Lahore.

Dates: 7-9 | February 2024

Venue: Messe Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Dates: 6-9 | September 2023

Venue: TUYAP Fair & Congress Center, Istanbul Turkey.

Dates: 7-9 | November 2023

Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre.

Dates: 19-22 | March 2024

Venue: Cologne, Germany.

Dates: 6-8 | September 2023

Venue: Asia World Expo, Hong Kong.

Dates: 7-9 | November 2023

Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre.

Dates: 12-15 | November 2024

Venue: Hannover, Germany.

GULFOOD 2023 PREVIEW

Editors Page

Dear readers,

In January/February 2023 edition of Insight Food Technology®, we are pleased to present a comprehensive coverage of Gulfood 2023, the largest annual global food and beverage sourcing event in the world, Gulfood, will take place from 20-24 February 2023. Bringing together F&B communities from across the world in Dubai to chart the way forward for this rapidly evolving sector, the 28th edition of the show is set to be 30% larger than the previous years, with 1,500 of the 5000+ confirmed exhibitors new to the show. Gulfood 2023’s record scale is due in part to the introduction of Gulfood Plus, a brand-new bespoke hall, where first-time exhibitors will showcase product innovations across 10,000 m2 of added floorspace.

Another event to discuss this year is the leading trade show for the global fruit and vegetable business returns to Berlin for its most international edition ever on 8-10 February 2023, with around 2,600 exhibitors from 92 countries and all parts of the fresh produce value chain. Last year, FRUIT LOGISTICA was postponed to April because of the pandemic. Now, in its 30th anniversary year, it returned to February – an ideal moment for the entire fresh fruit and vegetable industry to meet ‘All in One’. The show’s motto could not be more relevant, in a world where saving time and money is increasingly important. In 2023, an opportunity for the entire business to meet in one place is all the more valuable.

Since, the COVID pandemic the world is already in a global reset and it is very much the case for agricultural sector as well. The introduction of smart technologies in agriculture is the grand overhaul in the sector with advance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone technology being an important part of it. Although drone technology has been around for nearly half a century its application has rapidly expanded over the last decade, sectors from logistics, ecommerce to military has seen a massive surge in drone tech usage. Most recently the field of agriculture has rapidly adopted drone tech for multiple task, with an aim to improve overall efficiency of sector.

Imran Shah Editor & Publisher

Strategic partnership of European biotech experts for the production of animal-free milk protein

BRAIN Biotech AG and Formo Bio GmbH are launching a strategic collaboration to further advance the production of animal-free milk proteins. BRAIN Biotech is a leading industrial biotechnology company, Formo is a pioneering food-tech startup in the space of alternative milk protein. As experts in their field, the two biotech companies are powering European innovation.

Formo will scale up their bioidentical milk protein production with a genome editing technology, leveraging BRAIN Biotech’s expertise and its proprietary BEC platform. The strategic alliance aims to optimize the microorganisms to further expand novel and sustainable protein production for commercial use through precision fermentation.

Formo is introducing an entirely novel product category alongside both animal-derived products and plantbased alternatives: The Berlin-based startup develops identical milk proteins with specialized microorganisms. As the first European company, Formo

strives to revolutionize the $700 billion dairy market while cutting down on gigatons of CO2 emissions. Formo builds on the increasing demand for sustainable food among consumers: Recently, the company conducted a consumer survey confirming that 79 percent of consumers are willing to try animal-free cheese products.

“We are proud to be partnering with BRAIN; such a renowned company with which we share our passion for biotechnology and the mission to foster sustainability: using precision fermentation, we can remove the cow from the dairy supply chain, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 91 to 97 percent,” said Dr. Britta Winterberg, Cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer at Formo. “With the expertise of top-notch scientists in our team and with a dedicated partner in strain engineering, our products can be the first of their kind produced on an industrial scale and offered at competitive prices. By partnering with BRAIN, we can

establish our role as a global market leader at a more rapid pace.”

“We are looking forward to providing Formo with our genome editing expertise and proprietary BEC nuclease to support their strain development for the production of animal-free cheese products. Precision fermentation is an example of how genome editing technology can be used to generate a protein that is nature-identical but can be produced more sustainably than animal protein,” said Dr. Michael Krohn, Head of R&D at BRAIN Biotech AG.

“Formo is a pioneer in many respects. Their agile decision-making processes, their candid approach to negotiations and their clear ideas on how to market their products in Europe make Formo an ideal strategic partner for BRAIN. Combined with our technological expertise, this results in a unique partnership,” said Dr. Martin Langer, EVP and Head of Business Development at BRAIN Biotech AG.

Dubai Municipality’s Mobile Food Testing Lab continues inspections to assure food quality and safety in Global Village

Dubai Municipality’s Mobile Food Testing Lab is continuing to conduct inspections to guarantee food safety and quality in the Global Village. This comes as part of the Municipality’s efforts to develop the food safety system in the Emirate of Dubai and boost its position as a global role model and achieve its vision of becoming a pioneering municipality for a global city.

The Mobile Food Testing Lab is one of the leading initiatives of the Dubai Central Laboratory, which has an advanced system for gathering and analyzing samples, for the purpose of ensuring the quality and safety of food

at events hosted in the Emirate of Dubai throughout the year. It employs various innovative and modern technologies for carrying out microbiological tests of food products to provide rapid and accurate results, in addition to guaranteeing that the food products adhere to the approved standards.

The Mobile Food Testing Laboratory is one of the leading laboratories in the region, containing advanced technical features and a unique design. Additionally, the lab is the first mobile food laboratory to receive accreditation from the Emirates International Accreditation Centre in

accordance with ISO /IEC 17025: 2017, which is related to the general requirements for the efficiency of testing and calibration laboratories. This accreditation has allowed the lab to establish a prominent presence in the field of food inspections.

The Mobile Food Testing Lab has conducted food safety inspections for numerous events held in Dubai, including Expo 2020 Dubai, Dubai World Cup, Dubai Air Show, Dubai Food Festival, and Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament, where it played a proactive role in protecting from food risks.

Purpose Report 2022 reveals Tate & Lyle’s removal of 4 million tonnes of sugar from people’s diets

Tate & Lyle PLC (Tate & Lyle), a world leader in ingredient solutions for healthier food and beverages, is pleased to announce the publication of its Purpose Report 2022. This interactive report showcases how Tate & Lyle is Transforming Lives through the Science of Food and details progress against the targets and commitments set out in 2020 in areas such as sugar reduction, community support, and tackling the climate emergency.

Nick Hampton, Chief Executive, of Tate & Lyle, said: “We are living in an immensely challenging economic environment and life is getting harder for people everywhere. That’s why our

purpose of Transforming Lives through the Science of Food, and through it the positive impact we can have on healthier living, our people and local communities, and the planet, has never been more important to us.”

Tate & Lyle’s purpose is lived through three pillars: Supporting healthy living; Building thriving communities; and Caring for our planet.

In 2020, Tate & Lyle set targets for the following 5 and 10 years under each pillar, against which good progress is being made. For example:

Supporting healthy living: Through its low-and no-calorie sweeteners and fibres, and the expertise of its food scientists, Tate & Lyle has

taken 4 million tonnes of sugar1 out of people’s diets against a target of 9 million tonnes by 2025. Building thriving communities: Tate & Lyle has helped its food bank partners around the world provide around 3 million1 nutritious meals for people in need. In addition, in line with Tate & Lyle’s commitment to reach gender parity in leadership and management roles (around 500 people) by 2025, 42%2 of these roles are now held by women.

Caring for our planet: 91%3 of waste generated across Tate & Lyle was beneficially used in 2021 against a target of 100% beneficial use by 2030. In 2022, Tate & Lyle also committed to be net zero by 2050.

UK to increase trade and investment in Pakistan: Sarah Mooney

Deputy High Commissioner and Trade Director for Pakistan

Sarah Mooney has said the UK is working to increase trade and investment in Pakistan so that the country could achieve the place it should have. Sarah Mooney, UK’s Deputy High Commissioner and Trade Director for Pakistan.

She said that we must go forward to change the style of the partnership between Pakistan and the United Kingdom which should be a genuine partnership where we bring investment and expertise to Pakistan and to take benefit from the expertise in Pakistan.

She added that the High Commission is researching to identify those products which can get significant success in the UK’s market and after identifying those products, we would come back to Pakistan’s business community. She was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

She said we have 96% duty-free products coming from Pakistan and are working on the rest. She said that education is our priority area where we want to collaborate with Pakistani

institutions and enhance cooperation and we are also keen to support education below the university level. The other which we are interested in is sustainable growth, green energy, and infrastructure development. Lastly, healthcare is our other priority area.

LCCI President Kashif Anwar and Senior Vice President Chaudhry Zafar Mahmood also spoke on the occasion while Executive Committee Members were also present.

The Deputy High Commissioner said that the floods caused devastation and disaster for Pakistan. I am very encouraged to see that British citizens have contributed around 100 million pounds to the flood relief efforts. The British government has a disaster relief fund and the UK citizens are contributing to that fund.

LCCI President Kashif Anwar said that Lahore Chamber always attaches great value to having good working relations with British High Commission for the sake of exploring ways to further strengthen the bilateral ties.

He said that the United Kingdom has been one of its major trading partners of Pakistan and is currently the

fourth-largest export market for Pakistani products.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan statistics, Pakistan’s Exports to the UK were around $2.2 billion in 2021-22 compared to around $2 billion in 2020-21. On the other hand, our imports from the UK were $869 million in 2021-22 as compared to $780 million in 2020-21.

“It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan’s exports to the UK are dominated heavily by textiles. We are of the view that the bilateral trade volume which currently stands around $3 billion should be taken to at least $10 billion,” he added.

LCCI President said that a heavy percentage of Energy is still generated from expensive imported fuel which has resulted in steep tariff hikes and huge circular debt. We cannot afford to sustain with that anymore.

He said that LCCI is particularly concentrating on the development of SMEs with a special focus on Women Entrepreneurs. We would certainly like to collaborate with British High Commission for attaining the desired results.

BIOMETiC Q Eye Smart vegetable and fruit sorter

BIOMETiC presents Q Eye Smart at FRUIT LOGISTICA, the only quality scanner for the fruit and vegetable industry entirely based on artificial intelligence (BIOMETiC Ai).

Nominated for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award.

With more than 40 years of experience in real-time biometric scanning solutions and high-speed process optimization, BIOMETiC is a reliable provider of innovative solutions for the fruit and vegetable industry. The South Tyrolean company helps to increase the added value of your fresh produce and ensure your international customers’ success and satisfaction.

The new BIOMETiC Q Eye Smart is the only quality scanner for fruits and vegetables fully based on an artificial intelligence platform (BIOMETiC Ai).

This state-of-the-art, unique technology from BIOMETiC gives you a more precise and efficient sorting

process that ensures the highest quality of your products while reducing costs and waste.

Q Eye Smart’s BIOMETiC Ai platform uses learning algorithms to allow customers to build a personalized quality database based on their specific fruit or vegetable varieties. This ensures you have an optimized and customized sorting process that is flexible, constantly updated, and responsive to any market-driven requirements.

Q Eye Smart is equipped with other state-of-the-art technologies, including image processing algorithms and CROMETiC cameras designed and developed in-house. These ensure the comprehensive analysis, with several types and varieties of fruit and vegetables analyzed 360°.

These sophisticated analysis algorithms enable the most accurate location and identification of complex

fruit defects, including calyx and peduncle areas. The BIOMETiC Ai platform thus allows continuous improvement in fruit quality detection by adding fruit features according to grower needs.

With BIOMETiC, you can streamline your sorting and traceability processes and ensure regulatory compliance while guaranteeing your customers high-quality produce.

BIOMETiC participates in the prestigious FRUIT LOGISTICA, the annual trade fair held in Berlin for the global fresh fruit and vegetable industry.

There, the South Tyrolean company presents its most innovative solutions and systems to a worldwide audience, highlighting the benefits of its products through live demos for the fruit and vegetable industry.

ADM named as a top employer 2023 in Europe, China and Singapore

ADM, a global leader in nutrition and agricultural origination and processing, has been named Top Employer 2023 in Europe, China and Singapore by the Top Employers Institute, in recognition of the company’s dedication and excellence to the improvement of people practices.

Top Employers Institute awards organizations based on the participation and results of their HR Best Practices Survey. This survey covers six HR themes, consisting of 20 topics, including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, well-being, and more. This award follows ADM’s recognition as Top Employer Europe last year, where ADM was certified in Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Spain, and the Netherlands. ADM was also most recently named a Diversity Leader in the Financial Times’ ranking of 850 European companies on diversity and inclusion.

“We are honoured to be awarded Top Employer Europe 2023 for the

second consecutive year in Europe. ADM’s people and great teams are key contributors to the success of our company, where we strive to build a culture of care and continuous learning. We prioritize the well-being of employees and focus on building diverse and inclusive teams where everyone feels they belong and has equal opportunities to excel,” said Mayka Van Acht, VP of Human Resources, EMEA. “Talent development and leadership will also remain important priorities, and we will strive to ensure positive working conditions as we navigate what lies ahead in a post-pandemic world,” she concluded.

“In China, Singapore, and the rest of Asia-Pacific, we have introduced a variety of initiatives to support, retain and advance women so this award is a great recognition of all our efforts in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. Our female leadership representation continues to grow each year, and we look forward to strengthening our gender diversity, complementing our ability to innovate and drive growth across the region,”

said Alyssa Wang, Director, Human Resources, Asia-Pacific.

To foster diversity in the team, ADM utilizes the Kenexa Diversity Tracker to ensure diverse candidate slates and interview panels for all salaried open positions. The company also adopted a software platform to focus on jobspecific competencies and mitigate unconscious human bias in the hiring process. In 2022, ADM achieved a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Equality Index, a benchmarking tool on corporate policies, practices and benefits that relate to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.

“Exceptional times bring out the best in people and organisations. And we have witnessed this in our Top Employers Certification Programme this year: exceptional performance from the certified Top Employers 2023. These employers have always shown that they care for the development and well-being of their people. By doing so, they collectively enrich the world of work,” says David Plink, CEO, of Top Employers Institute.

More than 240 visitors learn about the sustainable processing and packaging of alternative proteins

Alternative proteins have succeeded in making the leap from niche products to the mainstream. But the entry into this growth market is challenging. What are the trends in products and the market? How do I produce a tasty and healthy product? And how can I design my production to be efficient, sustainable and safe? These and many other questions were addressed in the "Future Proteins" conference, which MULTIVAC and Handtmann held from 1 - 3 February 2023 in Wolfertschwenden.

More than 240 visitors from around the world convened on Wednesday at MULTIVAC headquarters to take part in the "Future Proteins" conference. They were all united in their interest in food products from alternative protein sources - for example Camembert

alternatives made from cashew milk, shrimps made from soya, and cutlets made from chickpeas. Food products, which are often particularly delicate, and which consequently have to be processed and packaged in a very gentle way. “The event was a unique opportunity for the participants to learn not only about the current trends in alternative proteins, but also about the latest sustainable and efficient solutions for processing and packaging these products,”says Dr Tobias Richter, Director and CSO of the MULTIVAC Group.

“I was very impressed to see the wealth of ideas, which inspire this forward-looking sector, as well as the range of products that arise from these

alternative protein sources, and also how great the demand is for sustainable processing and packaging. In short: The "Future Proteins" conference has shown, that we are on the right path.”

Talks, podium discussions, networking - The participants developed solutions for the pressing questions of the future

Over three days the organisers, MULTIVAC and Handtmann, offered the visitors a full program, which was supported by the Industry Association of Alternative Protein Sources (BALPro). This included presentations by outside speakers from the spheres of science, research and industry, which were then followed by podium discussions - on

subjects such as product trends, opportunities for market positioning, and ways of reducing the CO2 footprint of packaging over the entire life cycle. Between the talks the conference visitors exchanged views over finger food and refreshments, while also making visits to the Market Place. There the organisers, together with various players - from ingredient suppliers to film manufacturers - along the entire added value chain, presented a wide range of solutions for the manufacture, processing and packaging of alternative proteins. Events in the evening provided opportunities for networking over communal meals, and

these rounded off the daily program of sessions.

“The feedback from the conference participants was outstanding,” said Harald Suchanka, CEO of Handtmann. “The visitors appreciated the opportunity to expand their horizons, to network with experts and likeminded people, as well as to develop solutions together for the pressing questions of the future in a relatively new growth market.” Also highly popular was the "Meet the Experts" format. Here more than 60 experts were available for half an hour of individual discussion with the conference participants.

Deep dive sessions: Demonstrations of real machine solutions for processing and packaging alternative solutions

It was the highly practical aspect above all, which made the conference unique. Deep dive sessions in MULTIVAC's Innovation Center offered the more than 240 visitors the opportunity to observe machines and lines at work. The demonstrations ranged from semi-automatic individual machines right up to fully automatic, industrial-scale line solutions from MULTIVAC and Handtmann, all of which featured the processing and packaging of sliced, minced and formed products, as well as other items such as convenience foods and spreads.

“We have now completed more than 100 projects in the alternative proteins sector,” says Klaus Deniffel, Project Manager for Alternative Proteins at MULTIVAC. Experienced project managers accompany customers at every stage - from the first idea and design of the concept right up to the final efficiency adjustments by the digital MULTIVAC Smart Services. “Each individual solution is configured independently, so that every manufacturer is supported during the challenges in their transformation of proteins.”

Krones wins two German Design Awards in 2023

Krones has scored yet again in terms of design excellence – presenting not just one but two innovations: Both the Contiform stretch blow-moulding machine and the Mobile Production Robotics system won the German Design Award in the Excellent Product Design Industry category. The German Design Award is one of the most prestigious design competitions worldwide, and enjoys an enviable reputation far beyond specialist circles. By definition, the winner of this distinguished competition ranks among the best of the best.

Prize-winners: the new Contiform generation and Mobile Production Robotics

Sometimes it is the small changes or ideas which have the greatest impact. The Krones Contiform family of

stretch blow-moulders is used to produce PET bottles and is now in its fourth generation, which is in a class of its own. The focus in this latest evolution was on sustainability and digitalisation – two issues currently preoccupying all players in the industrial sector. Intelligent features such as Contiloop AI, Air Wizard Triple and Skipand-Run combine to reduce the new generation’s CO2 emissions by 16 per cent. Thanks to a synergised symbiosis of human-centred operating options, any malfunctions are displayed not only on the control panel but also on mobile terminals.

The second prize-winner, a mobile robotics system, supports operators in supplying materials to the filling and packaging lines. In one such

application, it is used for the automatic refilling of film reels in packers. By automating activities previously performed by hand in this way, line owners can reduce operating costs and render their production more flexible. Thanks to its integrative, no-frills design, the robot accurately meets all relevant standards in the food and beverage industry.

The top-flight international jury of the German Design Award was equally impressed by both solutions. Krones has already won a number of design awards at regular intervals and has now written yet another chapter in its success story, proving once more that excellent solutions and sustainable technology can be optimally combined with superior design.

Krones has won the German Design Award in the Excellent Product Design Industry category for its Contiform stretch blow-moulding machine and the Mobile Production Robotics system.

Sidel acquires Makro Labelling to expand offering in labelling machines

The Sidel Group expands its offering in state-of-the-art labelling technologies and broadens its reach in key market segments. This will ignite a further phase of international development for Makro Labelling Srl, an innovator and leader in the field.

We are excited to be able to offer enriched labelling expertise and even greater flexibility to our customers, strengthening our position in labelling solutions and broadening our reach in dynamic markets such as wine, spirits, food, home and personal care. We will capitalize on the success already reached by Makro Labelling built on expertise, innovation and operational agility. The low and medium-speed modular labelling machines made by Makro will complement our leading higher-speed technologies that are manufactured in our factory in Mantova, Italy and integrated into Sidel’s packaging lines. We extend a

very warm welcome to all Makro Labelling employees now joining the Sidel Group”, said Monica Gimre, CEO & President at Sidel.

Sidel has been developing labelling solutions for the past 40 years. It is present in Mantova with its own labelling plant where it has advanced its labelling technologies, reaching speeds of 90,000 containers per hour, that are well-integrated into Sidel’s complete lines and Super Combi series.

New phase of development and growth

“Joining forces with Sidel is an opportunity for further development and growth for Makro Labelling. After the acquisition, Makro will maintain its full autonomy as a unit of the Sidel Group and will continue to operate independently from its current headquarters. At the same time, we will be able to leverage and develop

interesting synergies, exchange best practices, and offer an even richer experience for our employees and a broader portfolio to our customers. We are excited to embark on this new chapter of our adventure”, said Simone Marcantoni, Managing Director at Makro Labelling.

Makro Labelling is a modular labelling machine company that was founded in 2009 by five partners who are still forerunners in the company today and bring 30 years of experience to the table. Makro's machines can label up to five items per bottle in cold glue, hot glue, self-adhesive, and combination versions. Sidel’s pairing with Makro, a company which has grown rapidly with worldwide reach, offers a key opportunity for both parties. The company is based in Goito (Mantova, Italy) and employs over 120 people.

Drone Technology revolutionizing agriculture industry

by Faizan Ali.

Food is a basic necessity of every human being living on the planet, and is the prime objective for which human continuously operate in some sort of professional capacity with in the society. Growing food is a challenging task as it requires a whole load of inputs as well as utter dedication and care from growers at the same time.

The world population currently stands at about 8 billion and out of this nearly 10% (about 800 million) of the people go to bed without a proper meal in the day. This can be attributed to several logistics challenges and operational hick-ups resulting in decaying of food, leaving it unfit for the human consumption.

At the same time a major barrier is the on field challenges that limit the yield potential of crops and reduces corresponding production outputs. Global outlook for food industry is already quite fragile, with new prevailing challenges like increase in the global population, resource constraints and climate fluctuations, the situation can easily lead to horrific outcomes for everyone across the globe.

The world is currently facing massive challenges in form of water scarcity crisis, drought, heat waves, food shortages and several political challenges adding to the overall agony. All this in light of rising population

forecast a haunting scenario for global food security in neat future. Right now, the agricultural sector is single largest consumer of fresh water resource, and despite of this huge figure many food growing sectors are facing acute water stress and with population rise this issue is meant to get more complex as domestic pressure will also weigh on fresh water resources deteriorating situation for agriculture sector even more. Shrinking fresh water can also trigger political or even military conflicts among countries sitting on the edges of such water related global fault lines.

An ongoing global conflict between two European nations has

already raised food security risk in the world, indicating any armed conflict between countries can disrupt global food supply chains and with water like commodities at stake, onset of any conflict will wreak havoc on global food system. This certain challenge demand for more creative and innovative solutions, that will tend to resolve rising challenges of the sector while balancing the resource constraint (especially water resource) problem at the same time.

Since, the COVID pandemic the world is already in a global reset and it is very much the case for agricultural sector as well. The introduction of smart technologies in agriculture is the grand overhaul in the sector with advance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone technology being an important part of it.

Although drone tech has been around for nearly half a century its application has rapidly expanded over the last decade, sectors from logistics, e-commerce to military has seen a massive surge in drone tech usage. Most recently the field of agriculture has rapidly adopted drone tech for multiple task, with an aim to improve overall efficiency of sector.

A prime application of drone tech is the field assessment for diseases, nutrition deficiency and water stress, normally surveying and assessment of field is a time consuming, laborious process, especially for large sized fields where the risk of error is quite high and can be costly for the growers by the end of season. For these assessment purposes drones are mounted with specific hyperspectral-multispectral imaging sensor that tend to assess reflected wavelengths of light from plant leaf surface and judge the health of the plant as healthy plant reflects a different type of wavelength in comparison to diseased one.

Similarly, UAV based imaging sensors can also be utilized for water stress assessment as dehydrated and

hydrated plants shows different light reflectance profile. These drone-based imaging in combination with satellitebased imagery data gives a better view of entire field and enable more efficient study and management of prevailing disease or stress related challenges. Furthermore, LIDAR (light detection and ranging) based drones provide a 3D view for the entire field that can distinguish between plants, weeds, trees, so that nutrient and other resources are effectively applied on to targeted portion of the field.

The tech can be useful in assessment of disease present in a filed as well as broader surveillance of disease pathogen that might try to flow from an infected field to a healthy one. Research team at Virginia Tech is now developing strategies to capture airborne spores of pathogen well before the land on new host plant, and thus enabling active surveillance of disease flow which in return can provide us an effective strategy development for disease containment and avoiding of an epidemic. Another potential application of drone tech comes in form of mechanically assisted pollination with start-ups initially focusing on pollinating almond, cherry and apple orchards (with more than 60% rise in pollination activity claimed in company reports).

Existing value of global drone industry is about $28 billion and according to a PwC assessment the potential total addressable value of drone-powered solutions in all sectors worth about $127 billion (with potential in agriculture sector being about $32 billion).

As the global population marches towards 10 billion mark the need for more productive and innovative approaches is more crucial than ever. Advance drone tech application in agriculture field can enable robust solution of these rising challenges and given high economic potential associated with the technology, growers should embrace this revolutionary strategy for food production in a productive and sustainable manner. This will ultimately take place in an environment where UAV drones working in a hybrid system with ground based sensors will generate large data sets for better understanding of field challenges and enable effective solution development.

How to significantly reduce the Carbon Footprint of your Compressed Air System

by Imtiaz Rastgar.

Imtiaz Rastgar graduated from the University of the Punjab, Lahore in 1966. He is founder and Chairman of Rastgar Engineering Company Pvt Limited as well as Rastgar & Company. He also headed the Engineering Development Board of Pakistan from 2004-2007. Insight Food Technology® is thankful to Mr. Imtiaz Rastgar for contributing an article based on his decades of experience.

As global temperatures rise and the effects of climate change become more acute, companies are becoming more

and more focused on every part of the manufacturing process to lower its impact on our planet’s environment.

This shift towards sustainability also represents an opportunity. Green manufacturing offers the chance to introduce new technology, improve efficiency, and lower operational costs, all while helping the planet and meeting CO2 reduction targets.

If compressed air is a part of your manufacturing process, reducing your carbon footprint and increasing efficiency can save your company money, reduce machine downtime, and help raise your profit margin. Explore how a Tamturbo compressor can help your organization reduce its carbon footprint and save money.

Carbon Footprint and Sustainability in Industry

Last summer in Europe was the hottest in nearly 500 years. Across the world, from stronger monsoons in South and South East Asia to droughts in the Andes Mountains, the effects of climate change have become more acute. More than just climatic conditions, the impact on human populations, including climate-based migrations due to desertification, will have enormous and still not fully understandable effects on nations worldwide.

There remains a question as to how to adapt to this evolving climate and how to continue to be successful without compromising sustainability and customer demands. For companies, the changes can affect operational efficiency and bottom lines.

Likewise, companies must adapt to rising energy and raw material prices as shortages increase, making it necessary to get the maximum economic output for every input. These changes have become too great to ignore, and it is crucial

that every industry steps up and does its part to help reach the United Nations’ climate goals. Tamturbo’s proprietary magnet-based technology eliminates the need for polluting oil and uses electricity more efficiently due to a lack of electricity-consuming friction. This approach makes Tamturbo’s air compressors the greenest available on the market today and an excellent way to reduce your company’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Green Tech Equals Greater Efficiency

Tamturbo is committed to manufacturing the most sustainable and efficient air compressors on the market. Today, air compressors consume approximately 5% of all electricity generated worldwide, corresponding to an enormous amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. It is nearly 28,466(*) terawatt-hours in 2021 or 12,314,229,427 million metric tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) equivalent to emissions from 30,943 natural gas-fired power plants in one year (**).

APSP Crude oil ($/bbl), Index Coal Index, Index Natural Gas Index, Index

Figure 1: Global energy price index change. Source: International Monetary Fund.

This is primarily due to inefficiency in air compression technology. Most electricity consumed is lost in the compression process and transformed into waste heat. Only 12-15% of electricity consumed is used for its intended

purpose of compressing air. This misstep represents an enormous waste of electricity and puts a strain on global resources.

With Tamturbo heat recovery, 80-85% of wasted heat can be recovered, which results in enormous environmental and monetary savings. By using the recovered heat, companies can reduce the costs of operation and significantly reduce the energy consumption generated worldwide that goes to air compression processes.

Tamturbo’s Touch-Free™ technology represents an improvement in compressed air technology. Using proprietary, Active Magnetic Bearings, a Tamturbo compressor can produce compressed air using frictionless rotation and self-levitating parts that eliminate metal-tometal friction and mechanical losses.

How the Tamturbo Solution is Different

Tamturbo’s oil-free touch-free technology represents a leap forward in air compression innovation. All air compressors create heat, a natural byproduct of the compression process; however, it is always a big challenge how to manage high temperatures during the compression.

Above 260℃, the plastic or Teflon based sealing components of pistons, screws, and turbo begin intensively wear and decompose, so the compressor’s design is focused on keeping temperatures low to preserve the components in the compressors. However, these lower temperatures make waste heat more challenging to reuse as the operating environments are too cold to run other heat-based appliances like boilers.

Tamturbo uses self-levitating compression elements made from titanium in a frictionless, oil-free environment that can handle significantly higher temperatures than piston or screw air compressors. Energy recovery devices allows waste heat to be used to heat boilers, for example.

The liquid coolant leaving a Tamturbo machine can be as high as 90℃. The coolant gives industrial users a wide range of applications for this heated fluid, allowing them to get the maximum output from their electricity input, save money, increase efficiency, and help lower the company’s carbon footprint.

Better Technology Means Less Maintenance

While 80% of a compressor’s carbon footprint may come from electricity use, excessive maintenance can add up to large carbon output. The standard air compressor design requires frequent intensive maintenance. Some may need care every 2,000 hours, while others may need it after every 4,000 or 8,000 hours.

At these intervals, companies must have parts brought to the facility where the air compressor is located, requiring

Figure 2: TT325 with Boost Heat Recovery provides 90C water for process needs.

Figure 3: Tamturbo® proprietary Active Magnetic Bearings (AMB) are the key to the Touch-Free™ technology. By providing friction-free rotation with zero drag or metal-to-metal contact, their components won’t ever wear or break down.

Figure 4: All Tamturbo® Touch-Free™ Technology air compressors are direct driven high-speed VSD centrifugal compressors that produce 100% oil-free compressed air for industrial customers.

carbon-intensive shipping. Quite a number of machine parts, like seals, filters, oil, elements of the valves, and other rubber accessories, may need replacing. These parts are manufactured in energy and resource-intensive processes, which adds to the overall environmental impact of the air compressor.

If we take into account this continual maintenance for a compressor’s 15-20 year lifespan, it will result in loss in terms of downtime for the machine, a substantial cost of replacement parts, and carbon emissions. Over only three years, for example, a machine might require six maintenance sessions, costing your company a significant amount of money.

Tamturbo’s Touch-Free and Oil-Free technology does not require this kind of maintenance. With Tamturbo, there is no need for oil seals or filters as the machines do not need oil. The parts levitate on a magnetic field preventing wear or friction, and wear-prone parts like impellers are made from sturdy titanium. This technology allows Tamturbo compression elements to run maintenance and oil-free for years, saving your company time and money.

Efficiency and Cost Savings Through Design

Tamturbo accomplishes unmatched efficiency and cost savings using its state-of-the-art design. Each out of three

stage compression elements are mounted on constant magnet motor’s shaft and levitating in the magnetic fields using constant magnetic bearings. This unique design allows the motor to function without friction as there is no direct contact between parts.

These levitating parts allow the machine to work through its entire lifespan without maintenance. All components are designed and fabricated using materials that can stand up to decades of use without replacement.

Tamturbo machines use a high-speed permanent magnet motor and active magnetic bearings with an integrated control system that doesn’t require any maintenance over the machine’s entire lifespan because there is no wear and tear.

Remote Monitoring for Extended Longevity

Tamturbo machines have 24/7 remote monitoring and control that observes the device’s functioning and makes it possible for technicians and customers to interact with the compressor. Qualified specialists at Tamturbo can make realtime adjustments to the machine, do remote intervention on various parts, and control parameters to ensure maximum efficiency.

Tamturbo uses expert human technologies and integrates AI-augmented machine learning algorithms to

collect an enormous amount of operational data. This data is then used to keep compressors running at a very high intensity and give variable, on-demand compressor performance to match the ever-changing needs for compressed air in a manufacturing facility.

The process allows the machine to work at peak efficiency in a variable-need environment.

AI and human monitoring also allow for predictive maintenance that very rarely or almost never possible in a traditional air compressor. The machine’s status is constantly monitored, and users can be notified of its faults long before it becomes a problem and requires full servicing or expensive replacement parts.

This system prevents many failures that plague traditional machines and allows 80-90% of all servicing to be done remotely without any compressor downtime.

Tamturbo is Changing History

Compressed air has long been a part of industrial production. People used water to move millstones and power looms from the Middle Ages through the early Industrial Revolution. Compressed air came to replace water and was often used to replace electricity to power machines. This technology was safer and easier to use and became an industry standard.

Compressed air usage is growing with an ever-expanding list of applications, both high-tech like semiconductor fabrication and lower-tech like use in fabric drying at clothing factories. Despite this, air compressors have long been inefficient and produce excess non-usable heat energy, negatively impacting companies’ operational efficiency, cost of the final products and our environment.

Tamturbo’s innovations have revolutionized the air compression industry. Their Touch-Free, Oil-Free, and Care-

Free compressors uses the latest technology to save companies money and help reduce carbon emissions.

Their innovative compression technology eliminates friction, lowering initial energy demand, and their use of high-temperature materials like titanium allows the machine to run at a higher temperature allowing companies to use excess heat for other industrial applications like heating boilers.

The magnetic levitation of the compressor core does not require maintenance over the machine’s lifespan. The AIbased monitoring system not only allows for precision optimization of compressed air outflows but also for preventative steps to ensure the machine runs at peak efficiency.

Switch to a Tamturbo Air Compressor Today

Tamturbo’s innovative air compression technology can help your company save on operational expenses and have a more beneficial impact on the environment. We offer solutions for multiple industries where compressed air is in use, including pulp and paper, electronics, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and medical companies. We also work with textile, automotive, and manufacturing businesses.

Contact Rastgar Air Compressors today to learn about their cutting-edge technology, references and start saving money on electricity, maintenance bills and improving your company’s environmental impact today

(*)(https://www.statista.com/statistics/270281/electricitygeneration-worldwide/)

(**) https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gasequivalencies-calculator#results.

FRUIT LOGISTICA more international and more valuable than ever

The leading trade show for the global fruit and vegetable business returns to Berlin for its most international edition ever on 8-10 February 2023, with around 2,600 exhibitors from 92 countries and all parts of the fresh produce value chain. Berlin is ready to welcome the world’s most international gathering of fresh produce industry professionals. On 8-10 February 2023, leading trade exhibition FRUIT LOGISTICA opens its doors to buyers and trade visitors from over 140 countries. Across 27 halls, they can connect with 2,610 exhibitors from 92 countries, and discover products and services from every link in the industry’s global value chain.

Last year, FRUIT LOGISTICA was postponed to April because of the pandemic. Now, in its 30th anniversary year, it returns to February – an ideal moment for the entire fresh fruit and vegetable industry to meet ‘All in One’. The show’s motto could not be more relevant, in a world where saving time and money is increasingly important. In 2023, an opportunity for the entire business to meet in one place is all the more valuable.

All inspired

"As FRUIT LOGISTICA, we bring the right people together, provide the industry with the latest information, and offer a platform for the latest innovations,” says Kai Mangelberger, the event’s director. Fresh produce companies face major difficulties right now – supply chain disruption, cost

inflation, high energy prices, and lower consumer spending – and that closeness is an invaluable way to overcome such challenges. “We are the place where the industry not only comes together under one roof, but also moves closer together.”

The presence of around 40 country pavilions means the exhibition area at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2023 exceeds even pre-pandemic levels. And Spain underlines its position as a leading exporter, with more companies present than ever: 279 exhibitors cover more than 11,000 square meters in four halls this year, while several others are located elsewhere as part of themed exhibition segments.

All innovative

On the first two days of the fair, buyers and trade visitors can head to a

special area between Halls 20 and 21 to vote for one of ten nominees for the FRUIT LOGISTICA Innovation Award, the industry’s most important prize. The Innovation of the Year winner will be announced in the same place at 14:30 on Friday, 10 February 2023.

In Hall 3.1, innovative smart agriculture companies present a range of digital solutions, which include AIassisted harvester robots, precision sprayer drones, advanced irrigation concepts, and autonomous field vehicles.

Then on 10 February, under the theme Disrupt Agriculture, the FRUIT LOGISTICA Start-up Day transforms Hall 2.1 into the go-to place for breakthrough technologies. There, twenty of the world’s most innovative start-ups present their products, projects and ideas in the Start-up Area.

All informed

Five event stages, a hundred top speakers, and every key industry topic covered. This sums up the event

programme for FRUIT LOGISTICA 2023. In just three days, trade visitors to the Fresh Produce Forum, the Future Lab, the Logistics Hub, the Tech Stage and the Start-up Stage can gain a new understanding of the industry that will help them throughout the year.

And, with the European Statistics Handbook and the Trend Report, FRUIT LOGISTICA provides two vital documents to help companies in the fresh produce business make informed commercial decisions.

The European Statistics Handbook contains a wealth of detailed data to illustrate statistical trends across different product categories in Europe’s various markets.

This year’s Trend Report, meanwhile, asks the question: ‘What next for fresh produce? Key trends for the fruit and vegetable business in 2023’. It consists of interviews with experts on crucial topics such as cost inflation, ethical trade, food waste, climate change and new technologies.

Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has announced the largest annual global food and beverage sourcing event in the world, Gulfood, will take place from 20-24 February 2023. Bringing together F&B communities from across the world in Dubai to chart the way forward for this rapidly evolving sector, the 28th edition of the show is set to be 30% larger than the previous years, with 1,500 of the 5000+ confirmed exhibitors new to the show. Gulfood 2023’s record scale is due in part to the introduction of Gulfood Plus, a brand-new bespoke hall, where first-time exhibitors will showcase product innovations across 10,000 m2 of added floorspace.

Leading global brands exhibiting include: Unilever, GMG, Americana, Agthia, Fonterra, McCain, Monin, USAPEEC, Hunter Foods, ASMAK, Minerva Foods, U.S. Dairy Export Council, Frinsa Group, Emirates Snacks Foods and Al Rabie to name a few; as well as newcomers including Brazilian food processing company: BRF Global and Agricultural, and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

Globally, a series of world events are causing inflation and a rise in the cost of consumer goods, food, utilities, and fuel. The food industry has a huge role to play in helping reverse these trends and moving towards healthier, more resilient food systems. With the UAE preparing to host COP 28 in 2023, Gulfood will serve as a critical opportunity to convene the global F&B industry at the start of the year, and continue the shift towards more

Mega event Gulfood to play a leading role in tackling global food challenges, kick-starting a pivotal year for the UAE in 2023

sustainable food production and consumption.

“With the ongoing food crisis, combined with climate shocks, and rising costs of food, 2023 will be an important year for turning the corner and getting back on track while elevating healthy and diversified diets that are sustainable for people and the planet. Gulfood and the UAE will be at the heart of many of these conversations and have a unique vantage point from which to lead the way” commented Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre.

The source of the world

With the UAE acting as the central hub of all these changes, Gulfood will be at the heart of the business community, the source of propelling sector conversations from agenda to action, bringing the industry together

to convene in the first key F&B industry event of the year, unveiling new products and innovations, and creating an international platform for business opportunities including 125 country pavilions with first time participants: Armenia, Cambodia and Iraq, and welcoming back returning pavilions from South Africa and Australia.

Sustainability at the fore

Launching in 2023 Gulfood presents: Gulfood Green - a new global sustainability initiative, to ignite and continue conversations within the wider F&B community to create a momentous shift towards more resilient and sustainable food production and consumption. The objective being to raise visibility and influence key strategic food industry champions for sustainable food systems transformation in the lead up to COP28 and set a precedent for the future.

As part of the initiative Gulfood has also launched its own Gulfood Global Forest, an international tree-planting campaign and nature-based solution to the events’ sustainability commitments, to conserve, restore and grow trees across the globe to help curb climate change.

The food industry is known to be a major carbon emitter and the Gulfood Forest will enable stakeholders of the event from exhibitors and visitors, to speakers, chefs and the wider public to get involved and plant trees to help restore global forests.

Gulfood Green has already started planting in four countries: UAE, Uganda, Ecuador and Indonesia, with fruit bearing trees planted in a number of the locations to enable families and local communities to become selfsufficient. The trees already planted will support 2000 families and sequester 1 million kg of CO2 over the trees’ lifetime.

Gulfood Greens’ commitment is to quadruple the number of trees and country expansion by COP28.

The theme of sustainability will be carried through multiple verticals of the event, with topics being discussed at the conference including: Working towards zero food waste and making the dairy industry less carbon intensive, to building and securing viable, sustainable food business. Speakers include: Paul Newnham – Executive Director of SDG2 Advocacy Hub; Carlos Frunze Garza, advocate for sustainability and Executive Chef of Teible; Kylie Woodham – General Manager of Magners Farm; and Kamesh Ellajosyula - President and Chief Innovation & Quality Officer of Olam Food Ingredients. Gulfood will also put the spotlight, for the very first time, on global chefs spearheading biodiversity in the restaurant industry, with masterclasses and workshops by top

chefs creating real change, through sustainability and zero waste initiatives including: Rasmus Munk of Alchemist in Copenhagen and Peeter Pihel, sustainable restaurant advocate and Head Chef of Fotografiska.

The Gulfood Green Awards will also take place this year, with submissions open to the industry, in five categories: Green Foodservice Industry Award, Waste Management Award; Green Food Innovation Award; Sustainability Professional of the Year and Sustainability Company of the Year. The Gulfood Green Awards Celebrate excellence in sustainability and encourage green best practice across the Food & Beverage Industry.

Impactful conversations to spur change

The Gulfood Inspire Conference will champion core themes of: Sustainability, Quality and Access.

Ministers, global F&B value chain leaders, entrepreneurs, civil society and industry experts will lead a series of keynotes, panel discussions and showcases, addressing timely topics including: Sustainable Food Production; Food Security and Sovereignty; Agri-Food and Food Tech Investment; Innovations and Web 3 Opportunities; Nutrition Education and Access; Waste Reduction; Securing International Supply Chains; and Food Services Trends, Challenges and Innovations. Confirmed first time speakers include: Yazen Al KodmaniHead of Operations of Emirates Bio Farm; Alessio D'Antino - Co-founder & CEO of Forward Fooding; Neha SoodUAE Market Lead for Zomato; Rajiv Warrier - CEO GCC of Choithrams and Ruben Brunsveld, Deputy DirectorEMEA, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.

Gulfood has partnered with global award-winning market intelligence agency, Mintel, to curate a thought leadership programme for the F&B

industry. As the events’ Strategic Knowledge Partner, the agency has undertaken exploratory interviews with leaders across the food & drink industry, covering topics including sustainability and inflation. Experts and leaders from around the globe, have shared challenges and priorities as food & drink professionals with the aim of collectively looking to understand the key challenges the food & drink industry faces and the solutions businesses are adopting to overcome them.

The results from the research will be shared in a whitepaper in the weeks leading up to Gulfood 2023 and to be more widely used across the industry to provide guidance and inspiration to businesses at this critical time.

Dubai World Cuisine Movement

Gulfood Plus will be the home of Top Table this year, where the world’s best curators of award-winning dining experiences will showcase their signature dishes. Gulfood 2023 will

launch the ‘Dubai World Cuisine’ Movement, which aims to provide a platform for homegrown chefs to collaboratively shape the cultural identity of Dubai and establish it on the world’s culinary map.

For 2023, Singapore has been selected, for the nations vibrant and diverse culinary scene from Michelinstarred restaurants to UNESCO-recognised street food. The programme will see 6 iconic chefs from Singapore hosted in 6 restaurants in Dubai in February with masterclasses and fringe dinners outside of the event, across the city. 2 months later in May, the Dubai chefs will then be hosted in Singapore for 6 dinners under the umbrella of Dubai World Cuisine by Gulfood.

A star-studded lineup of internationally renowned Michelin star chefs participating in the programme include: Melbourne born Michael Wilson of Marguerite in Singapore, Winner of the Michelin Guide Young Chef of the Year, Louis Han of Nae:um;

and hailing from Liguria, Italy, Daniele Sperindio of Art in Singapore. Michelin star homegrown talent includes: Gregoire Berger of Ossiano, Salam Dakkak of Bait Maryam and Saverio Sbaragli of Al Muntaha - all participating in Gulfood for the very first time. Alongside Top Table, Chef Talks will offer insights and inspiration from global chefs, food editors and influencers in the culinary world.

The leaders of tomorrow

As the first-of-its-kind launch-pad for empowering promising F&B talent with a career changing experience, the Gulfood YouthX Challenge grand finale winners, competing at Gulfood 2023, will be rewarded for their contribution to the region’s influence on the global gastronomic scene with a career changing internship at an international 3-Michelin star restaurant.

In another event first, YouthX Academy Acceleration has been created to provide a pathway for culinary students to fast-track their

career in the world of professional gastronomy, the YouthX Academy Challenge will see teams of talented young chefs from top international culinary schools compete with each other for the chance to secure a fulltime position at one of the most coveted restaurants in the region.

Foodverse

Also taking place at the new Gulfood Plus - the Food Metaverse on the blockchain will give visitors the chance to discover the incredible opportunities that the food ecosystem is presented with through Web 3.0, and learn about emerging technology trends that will pave the way for future innovations in the F&B industry.

Gulfood Innovation Awards

The Gulfood Innovation Awards are bestowed to the industry's revolutionary pioneers, honouring excellence in new product development and championing ground-breaking new products,

launched within the past calendar year. Thousands of entries have already been submitted in 10 categories including: best beverage product, best organic product, best frozen product, best packaging design and best plant-based product.

Enabling Global Connections

Gulfood will create a platform for companies in the food industry to present their products, services, and solutions to influential buyers from across the globe, facilitating intercontinental business deals and serving as the ultimate focal point for the world of food and beverage sourcing. Over 10,000 meetings have already been scheduled and confirmed via the show’s meetings programme.

*Tickets for Gulfood are currently on sale at a special rate of AED 295 for a 5day pass (instead of regular full price of AED 495) for a limited period only. Tickets can be purchased at www.gulfood.com.

Beyond Meat debuts revolutionary Plant-based Beyond Steak

Beyond Meat, Inc., a leader in plantbased meat, today announced the launch of Beyond SteakTM, a new innovation designed to deliver the juicy, tender and delicious bite of seared steak tips with the added nutritional and environmental benefits of plant-based meat. Beyond Steak is launching at Kroger and Walmart stores nationwide, as well as at select Albertsons and Ahold divisions and other retailers across the country.

As the brand continues to popularize plant-based meat through a portfolio of industry-leading products, Beyond Meat enables consumers to eat the foods they love without having to compromise on taste, nutrition or sustainability. Seared to perfection and chopped into bite-sized pieces, Beyond Steak provides a flavorful and satisfying experience for meat lovers and flexitarians alike. Packed with 21 grams of protein per serving, Beyond Steak delivers the tender bite and savory taste consumers crave while offering nutritional benefits, including being low in saturated fat and having 0 mg of cholesterol with no added antibiotics or hormones.

“Beyond Steak is a highlyanticipated expansion of our popular beef platform and we’re proud to introduce this innovative product to consumers nationwide,” said Dariush Ajami, Chief Innovation Officer, Beyond Meat. “Beyond Steak delivers the taste and texture of sliced steak in a way that is better for both people and the planet.”

As sustainability remains top-ofmind for consumers, Beyond Meat is committed to providing high-quality products with a lower environmental impact — and all while making them incredibly delicious and convenient. Beyond Steak offers a better-for-you frozen option that is easy-to-cook, portionable and, above all, satisfying. Perfect for quick and easy meals, Beyond Steak can be prepared in a skillet or air fryer in just five minutes and adds craveable flavor to popular dishes, from fajitas and tacos to stir fries, sandwiches and salads.

Advancing Human Health Through Rapid & Relentless

Innovation: The launch of Beyond Steak comes as part of Beyond Meat’s

rapid and relentless innovation efforts to meet consumers’ growing demand for delicious, nutritious and sustainable plant-based meat made without GMOs.

Last year, Beyond Meat announced the establishment of the Plant-Based Diet Initiative Fund at the Stanford University School of Medicine to create a repository of cutting-edge research that will help drive and inform additional breakthrough product innovation to advance human health. In a previous clinical study that was conducted at Stanford University and published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers evaluated the impact of replacing animal based meat with Beyond Meat’s plant-based meat over an 8-week period on cholesterol levels (including LDL), heart disease risk factors including TMAO levels, and body weight, and found improvement in key health metrics when participants replaced animal-based meat with Beyond Meat’s plant-based meat.

IFFCO launches “GCC’s First 100% Plant-Based Meat Venture” in UAE

IFFCO Group has announced the launch of THRYVE, claimed to be the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC’s) first 100% plant-based meat venture.

IFFCO is an international UAE-based group that manufactures and markets FMCG brands such as Noor, Rahma, Al Baker, Hayat, and Savannah. The company plans to commission its first plant-based meat factory by early 2023, accelerating the shift towards sustainable and healthy food sources.

Investing in the future

THRYVE will be an innovative plantbased food hub that aims to develop, manufacture, and market a sustainable, healthy plant-based meat and alternative foods portfolio. The venture plans to blend new food research and technology with local cuisine and deep-rooted traditions to create

products tailored to the region’s demand for sustainable foods.

“Our plant-based venture launch is guided by IFFCO Group’s vision, ‘Investing in the Future,’ where building a resilient and sustainable food chain is fundamental. We have embarked on our journey by investing in cuttingedge food technology and are committed to catalyzing a sustainable shift in the food system in the Middle East,” said Andrey Dribny, CEO-Culinary at IFFCO Group.

The UAE plant-based market

Business Wire reports that the UAE meat substitutes market is expected to grow with a considerable CAGR through to 2028. Increasing awareness regarding personal health and wellbeing is driving market growth.

Several initiatives in the UAE are now working on alt proteins. In 2021, Sprout, a children’s plant-based food startup, raised USD 200,000 in funding from Bahrainbased FA Holding. That same year, one of the UAE’s biggest supermarkets, Spinneys, launched the Power of Plants initiative to encourage customers to adopt a more sustainable and healthy diet.

“Our actions today impact how we can THRYVE™ tomorrow. IFFCO’s action today is to seed a movement of change towards healthier, more sustainable eating in the Middle East and spark a local, regenerative, greener food value chain. THRYVE is on a mission to restore a balanced cycle by inspiring people to express their abundant love for and desire to nurture themselves, their loved ones, their communities, and the planet,” said Valeria Krynetskaya of IFFCO Group.

Stingless Bee Honey: A Treasure of Malaysia at Gulfood 2023

Malaysia's finest treasure, stingless bee honey, will be showcased at the upcoming Gulfood 2023 on natural and organic products. The exhibition aims to promote the benefits of organic products and their importance in leading a healthy lifestyle.

Stingless bee honey, also known as "Madu Kelulut," is a popular natural health product in Malaysia. It is harvested from the stingless bees of the genus Heterotrigona, which are native to the region.

These bees produce high-quality honey that is rich in antioxidants,

vitamins, and minerals, making it a highly sought-after product for healthconscious individuals.

This unique honey has a distinct taste and aroma, which sets it apart from other types of honey. It is believed to have numerous health benefits, including boosting the immune system, aiding digestion, and promoting healthy skin. Furthermore, research has shown that stingless bee honey has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-cancer properties.

At Gulfood, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the benefits

of stingless bee honey and how it is produced. There will also be tastings of various types of honey from different regions of Malaysia, highlighting the unique flavors and characteristics of each variety.

Gulfood is expected to attract a large audience of health-conscious individuals, nutritionists, and organic food enthusiasts from around the world. The presence of stingless bee honey at the exhibition is sure to be a highlight of the event, showcasing the unique and valuable product that Malaysia has to offer.

US Cranberries - America’s Original Superfruit Showcased at Gulfood Show 2023

US cranberries have already imprinted their versatility in Asian markets and are becoming a favorite among discerning consumers in countries like China and India.

To showcase dried US Cranberries and cranberry juice to international trade including importers, distributors, retailers and food processors, the Cranberry Marketing Committee participated in Gulfood Show in Dubai from February 20-14, 2023.

Gulfood is one of the world’s largest food exhibitions. Mr. Danny Raulerson, Executive Director, Cranberry Marketing Committee, was present at

the Show. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Raulerson, remarked “We are happy to participate in Gulfood show and looking to reach out to importers and processors especially in India. US and India share a long tradition of food. I am delighted to see US Cranberries in India and how it has gained popularity. I am particularly happy to see how US cranberries are being integrated into traditional Indian foods.”

Speaking on the market campaign for US Cranberries in India, Mr. Sumit Saran, In-Country Marketing Representative of CMC remarked, “India is a growth market for US Cranberries.

We have seen tremendous demand for both dried US cranberries and cranberry juice in India. The demand is going to only increase as more Indian consumers find out about this amazing berry. Dried cranberries are not only being used as an anytime snack but also as an ingredient in various western and ethnic dishes. US cranberries are commonly available both with dry fruit retailers and all major e-commerce platforms,” Saran added.

For further information, please contact: Sumit Saran Email: ssaran@ssassociates.co.in

Clark + Hopkins launch Ukraine Hot Sauce Mission

Clark + Hopkins, a Virginia-based artisan hot sauce company, announced they will release a Ukrainian-inspired hot sauce designed to raise awareness and more than $1 million for World Central Kitchen (WCK) to aid in their Ukrainian efforts. Ukraine Hot Sauce, an original recipe from Clark + Hopkins, captures the native tastes of the Ukraine by utilizing flavors and ingredients authentic to the region.

One hundred percent of the profits from the first 50,000 units sold, and $1.00 thereafter, will be donated to WCK , a non-profit organization dedicated to providing fresh meals around the world to those in crisis, including those in and fleeing Ukraine.

“We were devastated to learn about the crisis in Ukraine and passionate to help in any way we could,” explains Chef Brandon Clark, co-founder of Clark + Hopkins.

“We found our inspiration in the humanitarian efforts of Chef Jose

Andres and his team at World Central Kitchen as they mobilized on the ground, providing warm and delicious meals to those fleeing Ukraine. We are humbled to support Chef Andres and WCK in their vital work, and we hope Ukraine Hot Sauce can introduce a new audience to WCK’s mission and provide donations to their cause.”

Ukraine Hot Sauce meshes flavors unique to the culture – particularly beets, caraway and dill – with the heat from an orange habanero. The result is an authentic, borscht-esque taste of the Ukraine, and an easy path for food lovers to aid in this crisis.

“People relate to each other through commonalities, and there is no universally-shared experience like food,” Clark says.

“Through foods, we can gain a greater understanding and appreciation of each other. And at Clark + Hopkins, we strive to capture the authenticity of those location-specific

tastes and ingredients, then put them into a bottle for all to enjoy. With Ukraine Hot Sauce, people will have the chance to both support the Ukraine cause, but also better understand the tastes of the Ukrainian people.”

The mission on behalf of Ukraine further accentuates the local/global philosophy of Clark + Hopkins, the brainchild of Clark, along with partner and co-founder Don Hopkins. The niche culinary business was founded on the principles of world unity and the importance of celebrating the uniqueness of different cultures through culinary exploration. Their current lineup includes 13 individual sauces representing many different regions of the world, including various locations within the United States, India, Ethiopia, South-East Asia, Italy and Mexico. Their sauces can be used as both a topical food additive and as an integral flavor in creating an entire meal with only a few ingredients.

Russian Crab Group will present its products at Gulfood 2023

Russian Crab Group, the largest crab fishing company in the Russian Far East, will take part in the 28th International Food Exhibition Gulfood 2023. At the Russian Crab stand will be presented cookedfrozen products of red king, blue king and snow crab. All products are produced of crab caught in cold waters of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea.

These species are considered the most valuable in the gastronomic sense and belong to the category of

delicacies. Russian Crab products are known by consumers all over the world. It is distinguished by high quality and absolutely natural ingredients.

On the vessels of the Russian Crab Group the crab is boiled in purified sea water immediately after catch. No added salt, preservatives or other additives are used in the preparation process.

The Russian Crab brand product is a valuable component of a healthy diet,

since it contains pure natural protein. Crab meat protein contains all essential amino acids in amounts exceeding their content in an ideal protein, which indicates a high biological value of the product. You can try Russian crab, get acquainted with the full product line and discuss the terms of cooperation from February 20 to 24 at Za’abeel Plaza hall booth ZP-41. We invite distributors, wholesalers, retail and HoReCa representatives.

Milkio Foods’ Ghee Powder has been shortlisted as one of the best dairy products

Milkio Foods is a New Zealand-based company engaged in grass-fed ghee and allied ghee products manufacturing and export.

Currently, the company has established its market presence in 18+ countries worldwide; however, it has aimed to increase its market reach in at least 30+ countries worldwide within a stipulated timeframe of 2025.

Presently, the company deals in grass-fed ghee products like grass-fed cow ghee, organic grass-fed cow ghee, A2 Ghee products, Grass-fed sheep ghee, Buffalo ghee, and the award-winning product of Milkio Food—ghee powder.

Milkio products are Halal-certified, lactose, casein, and gluten-free, suitable for Keto, Paleo, and gluten-free diets. All Milkio products, including Ghee powder, are shelf-stable, and you can store them in your kitchen without freezing support.

Besides Milkio branded products, Milkio Foods offers label ghee manufacturing support - in this B2B segment, the private label ghee and ghee contract manufacturing service have created a worldwide niche for Milkio as 3rd party ghee manufacturer.

In the Gulfood 2023 venue, Milkio’s Ghee powder (the dry form of grass-fed

ghee) has already been recognized as one of the best dairy products in the best dairy products category in the Gulfood Innovation Awards 2023 contest.

Milkio stand will be set at T-A14 in the Pavilion Hall of the Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, from 20th February to 24th February 2023 to provide the latest Milkio products updates and sample products and offer face-to-face business discussion opportunities with Milkio officials.

Philippine halal-certified food products set to steal the spotlight at Gulfood 2023

A delegation of 18 Philippine companies will showcase premium halalcertified food products through a country exhibit at the Gulf Food Hotel and Equipment Exhibition and Salon Culinaire, or Gulfood, to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates from February 20 to 24, 2023.

Led by the Center of International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the Philippines’ hybrid participation will consist of manufacturers and exporters of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables; processed marine products; ethnic and gourmet products; nonalcoholic beverages; confectionary, biscuits, and pastries; and other food and beverage categories.

The Philippine participation will highlight small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with halal certification and high-value and innovative products under the banner of the country's collective food promotion program, FOODPhilippines.

CITEM seeks to strengthen the Philippines’ presence in the Middle East

and Africa (MEA) region through its participation in Gulfood.

“We want to position the Philippines as a reliable source of fresh, healthy, and natural food products and ingredients to match the trend toward healthier and more sustainable diets. The Philippines' participation in Gulfood 2023 is extremely strategic because the MEA region is one of the biggest markets for halal food, which often overlaps with organic and plant based food," said Trade Promotions Group (TPG) Assistant Secretary Glenn G. Peñaranda.

The UAE remains an attractive market for Philippine produce and goods as food exports to the country have remained steady amid the pandemic, according to the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Dubai. It is also the most important import market for halal products in the Middle East along with Saudi Arabia.

“The Philippines' participation in Gulfood is critical to increasing our share of the halal food market. Because

of the large population of Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates, there's also a growing demand for Filipino food products. We are confident that this year's participation will yield positive results and aid in the mainstreaming of Philippine food products and ingredients in the long run,” said Dr. Edward L. Fereira, Ph. D., CITEM Executive Director.

The country’s participation in Gulfood 2023 will benefit from the agency’s updated lead generation and digital promotion platforms for the food industry. This year, CITEM aims to enhance the country’s hybrid participation by providing a “365 sourcing experience” with a strategic combination of physical and digital components. The Philippine pavilion will be located at booths R152 and R174 of the Sheikh Rashid Hall. The Philippines' hybrid participation is organized by the Department of Trade and Industry’s export promotion arm, CITEM, in partnership with PTICDubai.

Korean retail giant Lotte buys Qld’s Sandalwood feedlot

The deal arguably represents the biggest feedlot asset sale seen in Australia since the divestment of Myola feedlot to Bindaree Beef in 2016. While Japanese businesses have made a number of Australian feedlot acquisitions over the past 40 years, the Sandalwood sale is believed to be the first such investment by a Korean company.

Lotte Mart is a giant east Asian hypermarket chain with 200 stores in South Korea, plus smaller divisions in China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The company has been a long-term customer for Australian export beef, mostly grainfed. It is well known that Lotte has been a substantial user of custom-feeding services at Sandalwood feedlot for the past five years, with its grain-finished export

cattle processed at the John Dee export abattoir at Warwick.

Since its establishment in 1986, Sandalwood has been one of Australia’s best-known feedlot businesses, relying primarily on custom-feeding of other owners’ cattle.

The yard feeds a range of types from domestic yearling through to shortfed and mid-fed export, and has fed Wagyu in large numbers since 1993. ased on Beef Central’s earlier Top 25 Lotfeeders report, Sandalwood is ranked the fifteenth largest feedlot business in Australia, with 15,290 standard cattle units.

In practical terms when lighter cattle are factored in, that means the one-time operating capacity is between 17,000 and 18,000 head. Sandalwood’s array of

seven Harvestore towers used to produce high-moisture reconstituted grain have a capacity of 4000t of dry grain One of the yard’s key points of difference is that it is one of very few Australian feedlots employing the highmoisture reconstitution grain treatment process, instead of steam-flaking.

A bank of seven large navy blue Harvestore towers, with a capacity of 4000t of dry grain, are a defining feature of the infrastructure around the yard, providing the ability to reconstitute grain on a large scale. The sale includes the feedlot, milling, storage and stock handling infrastructure plus five adjoining parcels of farming country totalling around 1500ha used mostly for silage and hay production.

BMMI to join Bahrain’s pavilion at Gulfood ’23

The BMMI Group has announced its participation at Gulfood Exhibition for the first time. The expo will be held at Dubai World Trade Centre from February 20th to the 24th with food and beverage companies from all over the world in attendance. During the exhibition, BMMI will be showcasing various products including two of its own brands, Purely and Nature’s Origins.

The Purely brand offers customers with consistent, high-quality, and ethically sourced food products at great value. The brand’s tagline, ‘the right choice’, highlights BMMI’s belief that great value should not mean sacrificing on high-quality or on ethical sourcing. Through Purely, BMMI is committed to great taste, great value and greater care for the planet. The Purely range showcased at Gulfood will include pantry staples such as canned fava beans, white beans, green peas, hummus, and more.

Nature’s Origins, the second brand BMMI is presenting at the exhibition, provides the market with farm-to-shelf spices, with an emphasis on ethical and sustainable sourcing. With Nature’s Origins, a wide range of organic and conventional products are picked from

the ideal origins, with a focus on quality and adherence to international standards.

Some of the brand’s products that will be showcased at Gulfood include cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, and cloves amongst others. BMMI works to a model of vertical integration across the Group’s value chain allows BMMI to source efficiently from manufacturing sources and farm gates. “Through our direct management of process steps and reducing supply associated risks to major manufacturers, BMMI manages the value chain from farm-gate to consumers,” said Mr Robert Smith, BMMI’s Chief Supply Chain Officer.

“In this way, we generate long-term trust with manufacturers, farmers, process owners, and logistics and shipping entities all the way through to end customers.”

BMMI is looking forward to participating in Gulfood for the first time and presenting its product ranges that highlight the Group’s commitment to exceptional quality, sustainability, transparency, and ethical practices, added Mr Smith.

With extensive experience in the food and beverages and sourcing and supply industries, as well as a long history tracing back to 1883, BMMI truly understands its customer requirements and, accordingly, provides assurance for traceability, sustainability, and ethical practices by managing the endto-end value chain.

The BMMI Group represents a dynamic portfolio of global household brands and is a leader in the wholesale distribution, retail and production of food and beverages fortified by its endto-end supply chain solutions and services related to logistics, procurement, integrated facility management and shipping. The Group’s capabilities and its operations in six countries in the Middle East and Africa, and extended network in the region, allows BMMI to serve a varying range of international clients, from governments to organisations. At the exhibition, BMMI will be able to secure new partnerships to help the company further strengthen its regional and global ties and customer base.