News on Food Trends from Europe

PepsiCo is trialling new multipack packaging for their Snack A Jacks range. Packs on shelves in Tesco stores across the United Kingdom will now use 86% less plastic on their outer packaging when compared with the previous multipack design.

All over the world, huge quantities of crop protection agents are sprayed to control potato blight (Phytophthora infestans). European researchers find out more on the ongoing battle between the plant and its invader.

On Thursday, September 14, 2023, potato breeder Royal HZPC Group B.V. became a target of a form of cybercrime. A large amount of money was transferred to a bank account of criminals.

Serenade is a biological fungicide based on a living bacterium derived from nature. In extensive trials, Bayer identified a number of positive effects on the potato crop.

The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 121.4 points in August 2023, down 2.6 points (2.1 percent) from July, reversing the rebound registered last month and pushing the index as much as 38.3 points (24.0 percent) below its peak reached in March 2022.

Veg of Lund continued its international expansion plans and launched the DUG brand plant-based milk in Germany, Poland, Japan, and Italy.

The Netherlands' development as an agricultural country and retaining enough farmland. And ensuring potatoes remain in Dutch consumers' minds.

Scientists confirmed this week that summer 2023 was the hottest season the world has ever seen by a large margin. Europe is warming almost twice as fast as the global average, at about 2.2C above pre-industrial times.

Toxic datura and nightshade weeds are more often harvested with crops such as green beans and baby leaf spinach, with the risk of getting into the final product. Today, advanced sorting technology is capable to deal with these challenges

Agristo is planning to set up a production unit for frozen potato products in France, creating 350 jobs and requiring an investment of €350 million. Today, Tereos has signed an MOU with Agristo, enabling this project on the site of its former sugar factory in Escaudœuvres, in the North of France.

B-hive Innovations, a cutting-edge, agri-tech research and development business is embarking on a new collaborative programme that aims to reduce the risk of potato bruising and develop technologies that could reduce supermarket waste.

Solynta's potato variety was the only one to survive the high late blight pressure in the field among three other commercial varieties planted alongside.

A biostimulant brand that is increasingly popular with potato growers will make its debut at this year’s British Potato show in Harrogate. Algifol, which is a seaweed-based biostimulant, will be on stand 123A in Hall 1 at the November event.

Earlier in July, the World Potato Congress was honored to receive an invitation to deliver an address during the 43rd session of the FAO Conference in Rome, Italy.

Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) announced the release of its flexible API for the Trimble Agriculture Cloud, an industry cloud that streamlines farming operations.

The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 123.9 points in July 2023, up 1.5 points (1.3 percent) from June but remaining 16.6 points (11.8 percent) below its value in the corresponding month last year.

Dutch Potato Starch cooperative Royal Avebe has been awarded a gold medal by Ecovadis, a global collaborative platform that helps companies assess sustainability performance throughout the supply chain.

The Golden Flake factory in Birmingham has made its final potato chip, ending a historic run as one of Alabama’s favorite snack foods made in the state. So, who ate, or is about to eat, the last Golden Flake potato chip made in Birmingham?