The Protein Digest

Crespel & Deiters launches high-protein plant crisps for snacks and bars. The Lory IsoCrisp range includes a fava bean crisp with 50.5 grams of protein per 100 grams and a wheat crisp with 65.4 grams, both positioned as soy-free alternatives to dairy-based crisps for bar, snack, and cereal manufacturers. (Protein Report)

VTT-led Finnish project charts path to profitable plant ingredient production. The €3 million RETHINK project, involving VTT and seven Finnish food companies, developed patented processing methods and a spin-off company to demonstrate that full raw-material utilization—not just protein extraction—is essential for commercially viable plant ingredient supply chains. (prnewswire.com)

Maple Leaf Foods relaunches Yves Veggie Cuisine in Canadian grocery stores. The Mississauga-based company acquired the brand from Hain Celestial after it was shut down in mid-2025 and is initially returning six refrigerated products to shelves, manufacturing them at its existing U.S. facilities as part of a restructured plant-protein operation. (retail-insider.com)

Lidl warns UK diets far exceed sustainable and healthy eating benchmarks. Research commissioned by the retailer found UK consumption of high-fat and high-sugar foods is 60% above EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet recommendations, while fruit, vegetable, and plant protein intake falls well short. A consumer survey of 2,000 adults identified affordability as the leading barrier to healthier eating. (ingredientsnetwork.com)

Giract launches seventeenth round of European flavor research PhD awards. Seven industry sponsors, including Givaudan, PepsiCo, and Kerry, back bursaries and a thesis prize for doctoral candidates in flavor science, with applications open until October 2026. (Protein Report)

Ayana Bio acquires 300,000 liters of fermentation capacity for $75,000 from Meati Foods auction. The twelve 25,000-liter fermentation tanks, acquired jointly with India's Zenfold Sustainable Technologies from former mycelium-based food company Meati Foods, will be relocated to India to establish a pilot facility for plant cell culture development, with operations expected by early 2027. (agroempresario.com)

Cellular Agriculture Australia names Joanne Tunna as new CEO. Joanne Tunna, the organization's first employee and current chief program officer, succeeds Sam Perkins as CAA expands its policy, investment, and ecosystem work following its integration with Food Frontier. (Protein Report)

BeneMeat warns UK-EU trade deal could undermine Britain's cell-cultured meat edge. The Czech biotech, which has paused its own UK market plans, argues in an open letter that ceding regulatory autonomy over novel foods would drive investment and expertise elsewhere. (foodanddrinktechnology.com)

MSU researchers use hydrogel optical fibers to boost algae growth sixfold. The hydrogel fibers scatter natural sunlight deeper into cultivation systems, boosting photosynthetic capability up to sixfold without external energy consumption, according to a study published in PNAS. (greatlakesecho.org)

Montana confirms second HPAI case of 2026 in Ravalli County poultry flock. The Montana Department of Livestock identified HPAI in a small commercial chicken flock, the state's second case this year, and urged heightened biosecurity during fall migration season. (news.mt.gov)

Screwworm confirmed in New Mexico horse as U.S. prepares to reopen livestock trade. The USDA confirmed the state's second case in Grant County, near the Mexican border, just a day after the agriculture secretary announced plans to reopen the Santa Teresa port to livestock imports on September 24. (fresnobee.com)

USDA to stop using dairy checkoff funds for ESG initiatives after lawsuit. A consent motion filed in federal court confirms the agency will direct the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board to stop spending assessment funds on ESG frameworks, net-zero, and climate-neutrality programs, following a lawsuit by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty on behalf of three dairy farmers. (wispolitics.com)

Ohio dairy manager sentenced for wastewater discharge that killed thousands of aquatic animals. Teunis Jan Willemsen, who managed Heartland Dairy, received 15 months of probation and a $25,000 fine after pleading guilty to negligently discharging ammonia-laden wastewater into a Maumee River tributary, killing thousands of fish and other aquatic animals. (richlandsource.com)