The European Parliament building with flags in front.

NGT update: European Parliament adopts deregulation rules and rejects seed patent amendments

Yesterday (June 17), the European Parliament adopted contested rules deregulating plants made with new genomic techniques (NGTs), and rejected amendments that would have curbed patents on seeds. Meanwhile, the organic sector and civil society groups continue to warn that the vote and soon-to-be law open the door to corporate control of Europe’s genetic resources.
Couple shop for dairy products in the grocery store.
Dairy alternatives mature as protein and hybrid trends accelerate
A few years ago, much of the discussion around dairy alternatives was framed as plant-based versus dairy, but many companies are now taking a more flexible approach. This is happening against a backdrop of consumers increasingly identifying as flexitarian and seeking out a mix of dairy and plant-based products. Success in the alternative dairy space is no longer measured by replacing dairy entirely, as the market is evolving toward diversification of protein sources.
The Ingredion team spotlighting clean label solutions.
Ingredion talks clean label evolution and transparency-led strategies for F&B
Clean label has become one of the defining trends shaping F&B innovation across Europe. What was once a niche positioning focused on shorter ingredient lists has evolved into a broader consumer expectation centered on transparency, recognizable ingredients, nutrition, sustainability, and trust.
DuyGrain functional nutrition bread with sliced whole grain loaf and Duyvis branding on a teal and yellow product banner
DuyGrain® functional & nutritional benefits in bread
DuyGrain® enhances nutrition, shelf-life freshness, sustainability, and margins in breads. Solving challenges faced by many bakeries globally; tight margins, growing consumer expectations for tasty, nutritious and clean label breads, while retailers demand lower wastage and sustainability commitments. Download the paper to learn how your bakery benefits from DuyGrain®.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Duynie.
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Nutrition solutions for healthy aging: Physical health & cognitive function
This science-driven webinar explores how targeted nutrition can support the evolving health needs of an aging population. Join industry experts as they discuss the role of advanced whey protein ingredients, including whey protein isolate, alpha-lactalbumin, glycomacropeptide, and other functional whey components, in supporting key aspects of healthy aging. Learn how these ingredients contribute to physical and cognitive health, including cardiovascular and metabolic health, cognitive function, sleep health, and gut health. The session will highlight emerging research behind these functional ingredients and their relevance across the aging lifecycle. Together, we will explore how this research can be translated into practical, evidence-based nutrition strategies aimed at maintaining strength, resilience, and overall wellbeing in the aging population.
Anka Golde, Ardent Mills
Ardent Mills: How “Fibermaxxing” is shaping food innovation

As the “fibermaxxing” trend gains momentum, Anke Golde, senior director at Ardent Mills Research and Development, shares how R&D teams are enhancing fiber in grain-based foods, while maintaining taste. Golde explains why fiber is central to today’s benefit-stacking nutrition trends.

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US study finds “handmade food halo” creates food safety concerns in deli meats
hand picking up packed meat in supermarket
Consumers usually associate hand-prepared food with freshness, and authenticity —  but human handling can actually create a food safety blind spot, a US-based study highlights. The findings show that safer F&B options must feel as authentic and cared for as handmade foods to win consumer trust, and targeted messaging can significantly change purchase intentions.
Australian rare sugars project targets high-value F&B sweetener opportunity
male scientist in lab coat with white powder
Researchers in Australia are using fermentation to produce low-calorie rare sugars from cane syrup, which could potentially open a higher-value, healthier future for the country’s sugar industry. The approach could give F&B manufacturers an alternative to table sugar that delivers fewer calories while retaining the sweetness, texture, and baking performance consumers expect.
Organic farmers fear patents will undermine biodiversity wins in new seed law
Basket of fresh tomatoes
EU policymakers are looking to cap off more than three years of negotiations following a final trilogue agreement on the new Regulation for the production and marketing of plant reproductive material (PRM), on June 15, 2026. While the organics sector, represented by IFOAM Organics Europe, celebrates friendly new seed laws for biodiversity and organic seed registration, its stakeholders voice concerns about their potential restrictions on farmer seed exchanges and seed patenting. Proposed in July 2023, this major legislative overhaul consolidates ten outdated directives — some of which have not been updated since the 1960s — into a single, modernized framework that governs the production and marketing of seeds, tubers, and cuttings across the market.
Yum Brands sells Pizza Hut for US$2.7 billion in split deal
A Pizza Hut sign in front of a Pizza Hut Restaurant.
Yum Brands reveals it will sell Pizza Hut for US$2.7 billion. The deal will split one of the world’s largest pizza chains in two, sending the brand outside mainland China to a private equity firm, LongRange, and the mainland China business to the company’s 2016 spin-off, Yum China. The company and its subsidiaries franchise or operate over 63,000 restaurants in 155 countries and territories worldwide.
EU lawmakers reach deal to modernize seed and plant material rules
Farmer planting seeds in a field.
EU lawmakers have reached a provisional agreement on sweeping reforms to the bloc’s rules governing the production and marketing of plant reproductive material, marking one of the most significant updates to the framework in decades.
Kyowa Hakko’s Cognizin Citicoline shows acute cognitive benefits in...
EEG scan

Nutrition Insight

A new proof-of-concept research on Kyowa Hakko’s Cognizin Citicoline reveals an acute, single-dose effect of the ingredient on brain wave activity and cognitive performance in healthy adults. Nutrition Insight discusses the results and next steps for Kyowa Hakko USA with its senior manager of scientific affairs, Katie Emerson, Ph.D. candidate at the US Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions and registered dietitian. 
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FAO director-general Qu Dongyu at the 181st Session of the FAO Council.
Regulatory News
Strait of Hormuz crisis: UN FAO warns of “increasingly...
The greatest risk of the Strait of Hormuz closure for the agri-food industry is not an immediate food shortage, but a fertilizer and production shock. This was the opinion of the UN FAO’s director-general, Qu Dongyu, speaking at the 181st Session of the FAO Council (June 8–12). As the crisis hit its 100-day mark, he said the effects of the crisis on farmers globally are “increasingly visible.”
PepsiCo collaborates with local chefs.
Food Ingredients News
How PepsiCo is creating new consumption occasions beyond...
PepsiCo is increasingly exploring how its snack brands can move beyond the packaged foods aisle and into full culinary applications, using chef collaborations, restaurant concepts, and localized menu development to create new meal occasions for consumers. The global snacks and beverages giant highlights a series of restaurant and experiential dining initiatives across China, Spain, Mexico, and the US that position brands, such as Lay’s and Tostitos, as ingredients within chef-led dishes and foodservice formats, rather than standalone snacks.
Tate & Lyle logo on smartphone.
Business News
Tate & Lyle board backs Ingredion’s £2.7B cash offer to...
Tate & Lyle’s board has unanimously recommended Ingredion’s cash offer for the UK-headquartered specialty ingredients business, valuing its share capital at approximately £2.7 billion (US$3.6 billion). The proposed transaction implies an enterprise value of approximately £3.7 billion (US$5 billion) and would create a scaled global ingredient solutions provider spanning texture, sugar reduction, mouthfeel, sweetening, and fortification.

Ingredient focus

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Sensory innovation spurs emulsifier demandJun2026

Innova Market Insights data show that consumers link rich sensory experiences, such as creamy textures, with indulgence in food and beverages. This perception is fueling growth in emulsifier launches,...

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Product innovation

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Consumers prioritize health in F&B choices Jun 2026

Data from Innova Market Insights shows a growing global focus on health when selecting food and beverages. Consumers are increasingly seeking products fortified with health-supporting ingredients — such as added vitamins, omega-3s, minerals, fiber, and protein — underscoring the rising importance of nutrient-rich, wellness-focused offerings.

Trend analysis

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Dairy-free alternatives on the riseJun 2026

According to Innova Market Insights, consumers increasingly choose dairy alternatives for their perceived health benefits. From April 2021 to March 2026, high-protein dairy alternatives grew by 5%, reflecting strong interest in nutrient-rich options. Dairy alternative milks dominate new product launches and represent the fastest-growing subcategory, highlighting significant opportunities for innovation in this space.

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Anka Golde, Ardent Mills
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Ardent Mills: How “Fibermaxxing” is shaping food innovation

As the “fibermaxxing” trend gains momentum, Anke Golde, senior director at Ardent Mills Research and Development, shares how R&D teams are enhancing fiber in grain-based foods, while maintaining taste. Golde explains why fiber is central to today’s benefit-stacking nutrition trends.

Oterra video thumbnail: Blue pancakes topped with blueberries beside a circular portrait of a man on a blue graphic background
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Oterra: Navigating natural color innovation amid blue and white challenges
Vanessa Adamson, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
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AHDB: GLP-1 weight loss drugs set to reshape UK meat demand
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Cargill: Cocoa-free innovation to complement traditional chocolate portfolios
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