Agriculture & Plant Protein
Protein trade and feed systems emerge as geopolitical flashpoints for India and China. India's rising protein demand is colliding with import dependence on pulses and edible oils, prompting tariff shifts and exposing the intersection of trade policy, animal feed systems, and antimicrobial resistance within a One Health framework. via orfonline.org
Beyond Meat earns first climate solution designation for plant protein products. Beyond Meat's Beyond Burger IV and Beyond Steak are the first plant protein products to earn climate solution status under the ERI framework. via investors.beyondmeat.com
Beyond Meat shares slide after weak Q1 outlook and CEO's cultural critique. Beyond Meat guided Q1 revenue well below expectations as CEO Ethan Brown blamed societal trends and pseudoscience for the company's struggles. via sherwood.news
American Heart Association advises plant proteins over meat. AHA recommends plant proteins over meat, opposing RFK Jr.'s dietary guidelines. via scientificamerican.com
Ambienta secures majority stake in The Bridge plant-based group. Ambienta acquires a majority stake in The Bridge, an Italian plant-based dairy group, to expand its global reach. via finance.yahoo.com
Microbial & Biomanufacturing
Nutricircle partners with CSIR-CFTRI on fermented chickpea protein research. Nutricircle Limited has engaged CSIR-CFTRI in a six-month sponsored research project to develop fermented chickpea ingredients with improved protein digestibility and functional properties. via scanx.trade
Fermentation techniques reshape metabolic profiles of lupin beverages. Study finds fermentation method significantly affects the biochemical composition and nutritional profile of lupin-based beverages. via nature.com
All G secures FDA clearance for microbial fermentation lactoferrin. All G receives FDA "no questions" letter for its microbial fermentation-derived lactoferrin, enabling U.S. commercialization of the functional protein ingredient. via investegate.co.uk
Cell Culture & Tissue Engineering
Chitosan mesh scaffold advances cell-cultured meat tissue structure. A team of researchers published a study in Scientific Reports describing a chitosan-gelatin mesh scaffold that promotes muscle cell alignment and proliferation, advancing efforts to replicate the structure of natural meat in cell-cultured production. via nature.com
JBS invests $37m in cell-cultured protein R&D center in Brazil. JBS opens a $37m biotech R&D hub in Florianópolis to develop cell-cultured protein supplements for food applications. via valorinternational.globo.com
Mississippi becomes first U.S. state to ban cell-cultured dairy. Mississippi signed HB 1153 into law, becoming the first U.S. state to ban the manufacture, sale, and distribution of cell-cultured dairy products. via agri-pulse.com
Algaculture & Algal Protein
KAUST researchers turn chocolate factory waste into high-value blue pigment using algae. KAUST scientists used red algae to convert chocolate factory waste into C-phycocyanin, a valuable blue pigment used in food, cosmetics, and pharma. via azocleantech.com
Seaweed and yeast proteins target cleaner labels in beverages and snacks. Marine Biologics and Angel Yeast debuted clean-label protein ingredients—seaweed stabilizer and yeast protein—at Future Food-Tech San Francisco. via foodnavigator-usa.com
Livestock & Animals
U.S. congressional hearing targets China's illegal fishing and forced labor in seafood. The CECC is convening witnesses to examine China's role in illegal fishing and the use of forced labor—including Uyghur and North Korean workers—across the global seafood supply chain. via cecc.gov
Mexico designs first national policy to end livestock-driven deforestation. The FAO-led, GEF-financed initiative targets Mexico's livestock sector, which drives nearly three-quarters of the country's deforestation, with plans to align policy, financing, and traceability systems across six key states. via mexicobusiness.news
French study links meat reduction readiness to lower dietary emissions. A Nature Food study of over 13,000 French adults found that those furthest along in reducing meat intake lowered their diet-related greenhouse gas emissions, though not enough to meet national climate targets. via nature.com
French study links willingness to cut meat with lower emissions, but not enough to meet climate targets. A Nature Food study of over 13,000 French adults found that those further along in reducing meat consumption lowered their diet-related greenhouse gas emissions, though levels still exceeded France's national climate targets. via nature.com
Protein supply chains emerge as a geopolitical and planetary policy challenge. An Observer Research Foundation essay argues that protein supply, trade, and animal health are now deeply intertwined policy questions, with India's import dependence and China's feed reforms illustrating the global stakes. via orfonline.org
JBS Greeley workers end three-week strike without a new contract. UFCW Local 7 members at JBS's Greeley, Colorado, plant will return to work Tuesday after the company agreed to resume face-to-face contract negotiations in April, though no new deal has been struck. via cbsnews.com
Broiler meat in South and Southeast Asia shows high antimicrobial residue levels. A study found 3.7%–8.6% of broiler meat samples in Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam exceeded EU antimicrobial residue limits. via nature.com
Canada recalls 30 poultry deli meat products over off taste and smell. Canada's CFIA has recalled 30 poultry deli meat products from Sofina Foods over off taste and smell, affecting major retailers nationwide. via montrealgazette.com
California raw cheese maker recalls products amid E. coli outbreak. Raw Farm recalls cheddar cheese varieties after FDA links its raw dairy products to an E. coli outbreak sickening nine people, including children. via abcnews.com
UK moves to ease planning rules for intensive poultry farms after industry pressure. UK ministers propose planning reforms easing approval of intensive poultry farms after sustained industry lobbying, drawing criticism over environmental risks. via theguardian.com
Michigan subsidizes livestock digesters that worsen pollution, critics say. Public funds for livestock digesters in Michigan may incentivize herd growth and worsen air and water pollution, a local farmer argues. via bridgemi.com
Washington court upholds state ban on marine net pen aquaculture. A Washington State court upheld the state's ban on commercial net pen aquaculture after industry challengers dismissed their own lawsuit. via global-agriculture.com
Federal court finds agencies violated Endangered Species Act over livestock grazing in Arizona monument. A federal court ruled U.S. agencies violated the Endangered Species Act by failing to stop illegal cattle grazing damage in Arizona's Agua Fria National Monument. via biologicaldiversity.org
Hong Kong halts poultry imports from Italy and US amid avian flu concerns. Hong Kong suspends poultry imports from Italy and US due to avian flu. via info.gov.hk
JBS workers strike over labor practices and safety concerns. JBS workers in Colorado strike over unfair labor practices and safety concerns. via forbes.com