IN THIS ISSUE: ...The race is on....Food fraud - a growing issue...Protein powder power...
the Race is on
At the International Dairy Federation's summit last month Fonterra reinforced its intention to achieve a 30% reduction in emissions by 2030. But does the industry have the tools it needs to meet the Government’s ‘world first’ 2025 deadline for agricultural methane emissions? Some in the industry believe New Zealand research has fallen well behind the big players in this field, US, Canada and Australia.
The New Zealand dairy and beef sectors are waiting to see how soon the Boaver® feed additive from Dutch company DSM, already used in over forty countries, will be marketed here. The product reduces enteric methane or ‘cow burps’, gaining NZ EPA approval in August. Extensive trials demonstrate consistent reductions in methane emissions of 30% in dairy cows. French field trial data released last week showed a reduction of 29-42%.
But can this product, which suppresses methanogenic enzymes released by the animals’ rumen be applicable in a grass-fed environment? Its short efficacy period makes it more suitable for supplement fed systems. Ireland, with a similar dairy system to New Zealand has been working with DSM on Boaver® trials to develop a slow release version, it is expected to take two years before commercial release.
New Zealand start-up, Ruminant Biotec has been working on a methane-inhibiting capsule for the last two years, receiving a $1.8m boost in April from the government/commercial partnership, the Centre for Climate Action Joint Venture. Their product isn’t expected to reach market until at least 2025.
Other New Zealand bovine methane reduction initiatives won’t be ready by the 2025 deadline:
- the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre is undertaking vaccine research, a product is years away;
- artificial breeding co-operative LIC is working to put low-methane dairy cow genetics in-market by 2026;
- a supplement derived from the red seaweed species Asparagopsis has been researched over a number of years with mixed reviews;
- the Centre for Climate Action Joint Venture has just announced a NZ$4.1 million investment into US company Hoofprint Biome to support development of a probiotic feed additive.
Overseas:
- a Canadian dairy industry field test of new low methane genetics expects its first calves in April, genetics company Semex hopes to reduce methane emissions from the national dairy herd by 20%-30% by 2050;
- the Irish government is supporting tests of feed additives with the potential for use in pasture-based systems;
- last week Australian Provectus Algae announced the commissioning of a plant to scale up Asparagopsis feed additives;
- Australian Rumin8 has begun trials of its feed supplements in New Zealand to test product integration in NZ pasture-based systems;
- Australian feed supplement, Mylo®, used to lift weight gain and improve health in calves, has also been shown to reduce methane emissions;
- Last week the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded US$4.5 million grant to BiomEdit to accelerate research and development of novel microbiome-based solutions.
With 1.5 billion cattle globally, and each cow emitting 95kg pa of methane, finding cost-effective enteric methane management solutions will be a global game-changer. Will the first country out of the inhibitor blocks have a clear market advantage?
Food fraud a growing issue
Food fraud, intentionally mislabelling food, substitution of food products, food dilution and sales of products of poorer quality and/or expired items is estimated to impact about 1% of the global food industry at a cost of $10 to $15 billion every year. Food crimes present a health safety risk to consumers and a financial and reputational loss to food producers.
The Cost of Food Crime study released last month by the University of Portsmouth estimated a UK impact of £410m-1.96 bn per year. Early this year the British Farmers Weekly revealed a food manufacturer passing off tens of thousands of tonnes of sub-standard foreign pork as British. The news came at a time when the declining homegrown pig industry was under pressure from Danish manufacturers setting up shop in the UK. Last week the UK National Food Crime Unit launched an investigation into claims a poultry company has been ‘misrepresenting' housed birds as free range.
Track and trace through blockchain use is growing internationally. Walmart was an early adopter, corporations such as Nestlé, Dole, Tyson Foods and Unilever have followed suit, even small-scale African avocado collectives are onboard. Consultants McKinsey believe that, internationally, agriculture could realise US$500 billion in additional value by 2030 through increased use of connectivity and technology.
According to the World Resources Institute, one-third of all food produced globally by weight is lost between farm and fork. Blockchain systems can mitigate the waste. Global grain management provides an example of successful blockchain tech adoption, it is improving supply chain management through blockchain systems such as the Australian AgriDigital, digitising grain management for thousands of global customers.
Some countries have taken a strategic approach to preparing for blockchain use over a number of years. In New Zealand work in the digital economy space focuses on building national IT competency as well as standardising farm data and developing a digital identify framework. Trust Alliance NZ is working to create prototype digital farm wallet to trial sharing verified farm data. Beef+LambNZ is working to progress systems, and companies like Dunedin based Oritain are offering verification services to the food and fibre sector. However, some rural areas are still without broadband services.
Moving towards digital traceability and blockchain verification has a financial cost, it will create system disruption and require a skills uplift – but using the new tech is essential to maintain and grow markets. How can New Zealand move forward?
postbiotic powder power
This week packaging company, TetraPak, announced a collaboration with AB Biotek Human Nutrition & Health on a range of postbiotic food solutions. The postbiotics can be seamlessly integrated to food processing systems as a powder at the mixing stage of Ultra High Temperature (UHT) products: beverages, dairy products, ice cream and cheese. The inclusion of postbiotic powder in a recipe requires minimal investment and does not require additional specialised machinery, making for responsive customer product.
The first postbiotic product will launch In Italy - Inalpi, a cheese protein slice. Producers claim the innovation is not solely in response to demand, but also a product of their ambition to keep ahead of fast-moving market trends. TetraPak is currently exploring an array of postbiotic food concepts, including high-protein ambient yogurt, high-protein tea and reduced-sugar juice. AB Biotek, see potential to unlock new opportunities for food producers to offer fortified products in categories such as tea, plant-based beverages, sports drinks and more.
Postbiotics refers to the waste left behind after your body digests both prebiotics and probiotics. Healthy postbiotics include nutrients such as vitamins B and K, amino acids, and substances called antimicrobial peptides that help to slow down the growth of harmful bacteria. Other postbiotic substances called short-chain fatty acids help healthy bacteria flourish. Typically conscious consumers have increased the amount of useful postbiotics in their system via fermented foods, such as kefir, tempeh, and kimchi.
This collaboration comes at a pivotal moment for the health and wellness market, which is estimated to grow from today’s $124.26 billion to $232.46 billion by 2030, representing an annual growth rate of 9.33%, according to the Global Research and Markets 2023. This week Protein Industries Canada released The Road to $25 Billion, an updated roadmap for Canada’s ingredient manufacturing, food processing, and bio-products sector.
With New Zealand’s unique dairy sector knowledge is there an opportunity to exploit?
We have been looking at...
- In the US sales soar for probiotic-containing soft drinks.
- Global food, beverage, health, biosciences, and scent producer, IFF, opened its first dedicated food and beverage lab in South Korea, where it plans to deliver “the best-in-class innovations to customers” in the country.
- Taiwanese fruit product manufacturer Baigong Food unveiled a line of functional fruit jellies made with a base of konnyaku, a starchy plant native to southwest China, including probiotic and lutein versions for gut and eye health.
- Europol has drawn attention to an increasing trend of food fraudsters relabelling expired goods after operation OPSON seized €30 Million Worth of Illicit Food Products, Many re-labeled Expired Goods
- Oatly is racing an old US milk truck to poke fun at outdated dairy habits, but sales data shows plant-based has its own challenges. Are the wheels falling off for plant-based?
- How do consumers’ perception of healthy drive their purchase habits and product development?
- FoodNavigator USA: Futureproofing the Food System Digital Summit explored Food Tech in Focus; Food as Medicine and The Circular Economy. REGISTER FOR FREE, watch on demand.
- A new portable technology has been developed to measure on-farm methane emissions from cattle.
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada launch new agricultural methane reduction challenge.
- Supermarket giant Coles has cut a deal with Dutch nutrients firm dsm-firmenich to reimburse suppliers for the cost of the methane-reducing feed additive.
- Fight over cow burps looms as farmers face forced emissions cuts.
- Australian beef exports may face consumer backlash in Europe if they don't set a more ambitious emissions reduction.
Published by Te Puna Whakaaronui. Not government policy.