AFRICA – The Bill & Melinda Gates Agricultural Innovations (Gates Ag One) has awarded a U.S$35 million grant to a Cambridge University-led project to create self-fertilizing crops for African farmers. The U.S$35 million grant will fund the Engineering Nitrogen Symbiosis for Africa (ENSA) research program over the next five years. ENSA is a Cambridge-led international partnership with partners from University…
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FDA approves cell-based chicken in U.S kicking off a new phase in cultured meat industry
U.S – The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Upside Foods the first “No Questions” letter it has ever issued for cultivated meat, poultry, or shellfish, confirming the safety of its cultivated chicken for consumption. Upside Foods grows meat, poultry, and seafood directly from animal cells. These products are not considered vegan or vegetarian but meat made without…
READ MOREGrain handlers in Uganda urged to observe quality
UGANDA – The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) officials and non-governmental organization Feed the Future, have stressed the importance of producing high-quality grain to meet requirements for facilitating local and regional trade during talks with farmers in the Mbale and Bulambuli regions. The Principal Public Relations Officer of UNBS, Ms. Sylvia Kirabo, claimed that most grain traders lack an…
READ MORECommittee finalizes review of Northern Ireland Beef and Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Scheme
IRELAND – The Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC), under the guidance of the FQAS Standard Setting Committee, has finalized the review of the Northern Ireland Beef and Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (NIBL FQAS) expected to take effect from November 1, 2022. The formal review process, which began last autumn, saw the committee complete a root and branch review of…
READ MOREFlavonoids from sorghum may protect corn from fall armyworm
U.S – Flavonoids produced by sorghum leaves have shown promising results in combating fall armyworm larvae, Penn State researchers report in a new study. Fall armyworm is an invasive insect pest that damages corn crops around the world, significantly limiting yields. It often feeds on the younger corn leaves inside the whorl where it grows and when the whorl opens,…
READ MORECold Chain Federation elects Paul Bennell as new Vice President
UK – The Cold Chain Federation (CCF), the voice of the temperature-controlled supply chain in the UK, has elected Paul Bennell, Managing Director of Samworth Brothers Supply Chain (SBSC)as its new Vice President. Vice President Paul will work closely with CCF’s President Tim Moran, Lineage Logistics SVP Operations Europe, who continues his term leading the organization. Paul became Managing Director…
READ MORECodex Committee on Contaminants in food convene 15th session
GLOBAL – More than 400 delegates have gathered online for the opening of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF) which is taking place from 9 to 24 May 2022, hosted by The Netherlands from Utrecht. The committee regulates substances that have not been intentionally added to food by setting maximum levels to avoid levels of contamination that would…
READ MOREFAO validates 2021 Rapid Food Consumption Survey in Gambia
GAMBIA – The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and partners have validated the 2021 Rapid Food Consumption Survey at the International conference center in Bijilo. As a pre-requisite in assessing the potential nutritional impact of food fortification and biofortification programs, FAO through the European Union-FAO co-funded project titled “Improving food security and nutrition in The Gambia through Food…
READ MOREMarket leader in food-grade gases attains FSSC 22000 certification
SOUTH AFRICA – African Oxygen (Pty) Limited (Afrox), sub-Saharan Africa’s market leader in gases and welding products, has culminated a two-year project to certify its Western Cape and Gauteng gas production and filling facilities to meet the FSSC 22000 Food Safety Management Standard (FSMS). The Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) is the comprehensive certification scheme for food safety management that…
READ MORESaudi FDA crowned 2021 winner of UN Inter-Agency Task Force Award
SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has been named champion of the United Nation’s (UN) award for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It was honored for its efforts to prevent and control these diseases through nutrition-related legislation. In line with the Vision 2030 Quality of Life Program, the authority set out in 2018…
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