Manufacturing company Valmont Industries has entered into an $85 million supply agreement to provide mechanised irrigation equipment and technology for multiple agricultural development projects in Africa. The agreement will utilise the solutions of its Valley Irrigation company, to help meet demands “for more efficient and reliable food production”. Valley Irrigation will also support national investments in agriculture to feed growing populations and address ongoing food security concerns. Josh Dixon, Valley Irrigation president, said: “This new engagement is a testament to our technology leadership and ability to secure large-scale projects that address the critical need by many countries to increase food production while decreasing dependence on grain imports”. He continued: “...This supply agreement validates the continuing strength of our international project pipeline, and we are very excited about the momentum this opportunity provides heading into 2023”. Using remote monitoring and controls, the project will aim to maximise crop yields and minimise inputs, while conserving approximately half the water used by traditional irrigation methods. Project shipments are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2023.

UK-based gut health food brand, Bio&Me, has launched two new gluten-free granolas, Cashew & Almond and Berry Burst. The cashew and almond flavour is high in fibre with no added sugar and is packed with 12 vegetables, wholegrains, fruits, legumes, nuts and seeds. The berry burst variety contains 15 diverse plant-based ingredients including freeze-dried cherries, strawberries and blackcurrants. Bio&Me’s co-founder, Dr Megan Rossi, said: “At Bio&Me, we’re on a mission to make looking after your gut health not only deliciously easy but more accessible. Everyone’s gut is different, and our new gluten-free granolas will help give even greater choice to consumers who avoid gluten, whether that be because they have coeliac disease or gluten intolerance.” According to the company, Bio&Me is the only brand to carry the European Food Safety Agency-approved ‘Good for your Gut’ health claim. The new granolas are available at Holland & Barrett and Sainsbury’s, in-store and online.

FrieslandCampina has partnered with specialist biotechnology company, Triplebar Bio Inc, to scale up production of cell-based proteins using precision fermentation. California-based company Triplebar uses software, biology and biochemistry to develop products and biological production systems “that replicate and accelerate evolution found in nature”. Through precision fermentation, the two companies will produce microbial cells that can create bioactive proteins that support nutrition in early life and adulthood, with the ambition of producing high-quality proteins with a limited land, water and energy footprint. Maria Cho, CEO of Triplebar, commented: “We need to leverage science and technology to make high-quality food affordably and sustainably. Biotechnology can reduce pressure on traditional food production systems while making the food system more robust and boosting nutrition for everyone, from babies to adults. Through this multi-year, multi-product and multi-country agreement with FrieslandCampina Ingredients, we will help make this ambition a reality.” Anne Peter Lindeboom, managing director of innovation at FrieslandCampina Ingredients, said: “Together, I’m certain that FrieslandCampina Ingredients and Triplebar will accelerate the use of precision fermentation as a nutritious and sustainable source of protein. By offering a full range of dairy and alternative proteins side by side, we aim to give people access to the nutritional solutions they need now and for generations to come.” In a statement, FrieslandCampina said: “The partnership reaffirms the commitment of both companies to develop innovative and futureproof protein solutions that improve human health”.

Heinz has launched a new range of bean-shaped nuggets designed for children, called Magical Beanz Nuggetz. Magical Beanz Nuggetz is available in three flavours: Original Nuggetz, which contains tomato and sweetcorn and Curried Nuggetz, features parsnip, carrot, coconut and mild curry spices and Cheesy Nuggetz, filled with cauliflower and cheddar cheese. The range is said to contain no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. Sophie Higgins, head of growth platform at Heinz New Ventures, said: “We know that parents want quick, easy meals that their kids will eat – but they also want them to be delicious and without any nasties. We’re also seeing more parents opting for meat-free options at least once a week. And, of course, if we can help parents get some extra veggies into their kids’ mealtimes, we know that’s a bonus too.” Heinz Magic Beanz Nuggetz is available to buy at Asda stores, and online on Ocado, for an RRP of £2.75.

NuZee-owned single-serve coffee brand, DripKit, has collaborated with coffee roaster Rival Bros. Coffee, to launch the Rival Bros. Dripkit. The Rival Bros. Dripkit is a quality, easy-to-use single-serve pour-over, available in two medium roast flavour profiles. The new single-serve packs produce a 10oz cup of coffee, using 17 grams of roasted and ground coffee, in a just-add-water format, creating a freshly ground coffee drink in two minutes. Dripkit founder and CEO, Ilana Kruger, said: "I founded Dripkit with the belief that delicious, pour-over coffee can be an accessible and quick luxury. Our partnership with Rival Bros. enhances the flavour of our brand and offers another delicious way to enjoy our unique coffee format.” The flavours include Whistle and Cuss, with beans from Latin America, Indonesia, and Africa that feature notes of malted dark chocolate and Bourbon Barrel Aged, a blend with smoky, caramel notes, crafted with Brazilian beans and aged for up to two weeks prior to roasting in oak barrels. The single-serve drinks are priced between $17.50-$18.75 per 5-pack.

Puratos has released its first carbon-neutral chocolate product after its Chocolanté 60Days chocolate was awarded a Carbon Neutral certification. Belgian climate consultancy CO2logic independently assessed the greenhouse gas emissions of all production activities for 60Days chocolate, including the purchase of ingredients, transportation and energy consumption during manufacturing and packaging. The chocolate, created in Vietnam by joint venture Puratos Grand-Place Indochina (PGPI), was found to meet the requirements of the carbon-neutral standard. Gricha Safarian, managing director at PGPI, said: “We believe a great chocolate product must not only taste good but must also be produced in an environmentally-friendly way as far as possible. That is why we pursued carbon-neutral certification. Safarian continued: “Achieving it is a part of our wider sustainability commitments and a great stride towards achieving our carbon-neutral objective. At Puratos, our purpose is to move the planet forward together with our customers and this is a key step for the industry.” The chocolate combines fermentation in wooden acacia boxes with slow roast methods to create ‘tree to bar’ chocolate in 60 days. This process is said to generate lower emissions, thanks to its close-to-source production and short transition time. From a taste and quality perspective, consumers can expect a “fresher and more flavoursome product” with low sugar content. Chocolanté 60Days is currently available in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, France, and Belgium and will be available soon in Italy.

Curious Brewery has reached an agreement to acquire Wild Beer Co for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition of Wild Beer Co will double the capacity of the existing Curious operation, which is located in Ashford, Kent. According to the company, it currently produces five million pints per year with the potential to expand upwards of 15 million pints. Curious chairman, Mark Crowther, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with some of the original team from Wild Beer Co to maintain the original innovative and creative spirit of that business. Adding their delicious craft beers to our stable of award-winning premium brands, Wild Beer Co’s range fits perfectly alongside our existing portfolio, delivering a range of interesting and differentiated beers." He continued: “The Wild Beer Co acquisition brings a lot of positives, including high-quality beers and distinctive brands, impressive distribution in both the on and off-trade, as well as a significant direct-to-consumer e-commerce operation. This new chapter for Wild Beer Co will bring some stability, placing the business on a sure footing. For Curious, this is an important step in our journey to become one of the UK’s leading brewers of specialist, premium beer and ciders.” In 2021, UK wine producer Chapel Down sold Curious to private equity firm Risk Capital Partners.

Siemens has unveiled plans to collaborate with indoor vertical farming company, 80 Acres Farms. 80 Acres Farms currently holds five production farms in southwestern Ohio, a new farm in Florence, Kentucky and R&D facilities in Arkansas and the Netherlands. The two companies have partnered with the goal of applying innovative technology within the agriculture industry by “fostering sustainable, healthy, traceable, and more productive farming practices”. Siemens US president and CEO, Barbara Humpton, said: "We sometimes hear that food is medicine. Vertical farming is an opportunity to turn this concept into a reality, and 80 Acres Farms' use of technology is now modelling the path forward for this transformative approach to food production." She continued: "In this moment of change and disruption – and in a world becoming increasingly 'glocal' – what I see at 80 Acres Farms represents both the purpose and the power of the industrial technologies now readily available to us – the capability to invent anywhere, then to scale our world-changing solutions everywhere." Siemens' full-scale collaboration involves the optimisation, automation and control of 80 Acres' facilities and processes. Working with the company's technology subsidiary, Infinite Acres, Siemens will support the industrialisation and scaling of its Loop platform – a solutions programme for crop management software and algorithms, environmental controls, robotics, and automation. Tisha Livingston, co-founder of 80 Acres Farms and CEO of Infinite Acres, commented: "Infinite Acres has built the Loop platform through collaboration with best-in-class technology partners such as Priva, Ocado, and Signify. Our new partnership with Siemens takes our collaboration and technology platform to a new level through the 360° approach across software and connected hardware solutions — from digital twins to advanced controls.” Siemens’ ‘Smart Infrastructure’ is said to be providing power distribution equipment and monitoring fire and life safety, security and power distribution systems all from a single interface. Siemens plans to install a “suite of advanced industrial automation technologies and edge devices to help automate the production line, while edge devices and human-machine interfaces monitor and update the farms' control systems”. Siemens says it is currently developing a “digital twin” that simulates the farm, plant growth and the production process to predict plant growth under diverse conditions..

UK-based cheese and butter wholesaler, Millbrook Dairy, has secured £4 million in funding to expand its business in Europe. The funds, secured through Santander bank, will support Millbrook's plans to increase sales. Millbrook's cheese and butter products are sold to cheese specialists, manufacturers and retailers in the UK and Europe – mostly in the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Germany and Poland – and around 20% of its sales come from its overseas exports, which the company plans to double over the next three years According to Millbrook, the expansion growth plans are being propelled by an increase in sales from its office in the Netherlands, which sources cheeses locally and sells to Dutch and other European markets. Kevin Beer, Millbrook Dairy co-owner and director, said: “We are delighted to be working with Santander UK as our banking partner as we embark on the next exciting phase in our journey. The £4 million funding package it has provided will enable us to amplify and accelerate our growth, allowing us to expand our range, volumes and market reach both domestically and in our export markets overseas.” Steve Tyers, relationship director at Santander UK, added: “We are proud to have become Millbrook Dairy’s banking partner, supporting the next phase of its growth strategy. Our funding package will help this entrepreneurial business expand further in the European and UK markets, and we look forward to working together to deliver growth globally.”

Stora Enso has acquired the Netherlands-based company De Jong Packaging Group, a corrugated packaging producer in the Benelux countries. The acquisition, with an enterprise value of approximately €1,020 million, was closed on Friday following regulatory clearances and employee consultation. Stora Enso says the purchase will strengthen its presence in European packaging markets and its entry into the corrugated packaging market in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the UK. With the acquisition, Stora Enso's Packaging Solutions division will “increase its corrugated packaging capacity by approximately 1,200 million m2 to more than 2,000 million m2, including De Jong Packaging Group's ongoing expansion projects”. Commenting on the acquisition, Annica Bresky, president and CEO at Stora Enso, said: "I am pleased to officially welcome De Jong Packaging Group as part of Stora Enso. This acquisition advances Stora Enso's strategic direction by accelerating revenue growth and building market share in renewable packaging in Europe." De Jong Packaging Group's full-year 2022 sales are estimated at approximately €1 billion.

Easter candy brand Peeps has launched a variety of new products ahead of the holiday, including collaborations with Mike and Ike and Dr Pepper. Peeps has joined forces with Mike and Ike to launch Peeps Mike and Ike Flavoured Pop which will include four flavours including lemon, lime, orange and strawberry. The confectionery brand has also teamed up with Dr Pepper to introduce Dr Pepper Flavoured Peeps Chicks, that combine marshmallow with the drinks’ classic flavour. Peeps has also launched new Peeps Kettle Corn Flavoured Marshmallow Chicks, available only at Kroger stores.

US-based food brand, Tattooed Chef, has entered the refrigerated section with the launch of its new functional oat butter bars. The new snacks combine the convenience of bars with the emerging trend of functionality. Each bar contains adaptogens including ashwagandha, holy basil, reishi and vitamin D3, to promote vitality and focus, improve performance and stabilise mood. Each gluten-free bar contains 12-14 grams of plant-based pea protein with zero added sugars and zero soy. Tattooed Chef’s founder and chief creative officer, Sarah Galletti, said: “We are thrilled to finally introduce our Oat Butter Bars as our first step out of the freezer aisle. Mental health is an extremely important part of my life and throughout the last few years, I leaned into holistic remedies like adaptogens. After seeing and feeling the benefits of them myself, I was inspired to create a line of plant-based bars to help consumers easily incorporate functional foods into their routines in a product that tastes fantastic.” The oat butter bars come in Chocolate Chip, Brownie, Peanut and Graham flavour varieties. They are available in select US retailers for an RRP of $2.99.