The Freshagenda Blog

Freshagenda’s blogs offer insights from our team of specialist consultants with extensive expertise in interpreting trends in the food industry

Fun trade facts of 2022

Fun trade facts of 2022

Freshagenda’s annual summary of global trade shows trade slowed 2.2% in MSE terms in 2022, 2.6% below the record peak in rolling annual terms reached in September 2021. In MSE terms, global trade recorded a 4-year low. Annual WMP trade fell 16% in 2022 which is the...

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SVB fall-out will challenge policy

SVB fall-out will challenge policy

The financial markets fall-out from the collapse of two large US banks has weakened the US dollar, on speculation that the impact might cause the US Fed Reserve to pause interest rates rather than carry on with their crusade against inflation. The Fed seems torn now...

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Australian exports continue to slide

Australian exports continue to slide

There were negative trends in Australian exports in January, with cheese shipments down 42.1% for the month and 18% lower for the season to date. Weaker exports to Japan, SE Asia and China & HK accounted for most of the contraction in the latest month, with...

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Irish dairy exit scheme confirmed

Irish dairy exit scheme confirmed

Irish agriculture minister Charlie McConalogue has confirmed a voluntary exit scheme in which dairy farmers are compensated to give up dairy cows will likely begin in 2024. Details of the scheme are to be firmed up in late summer or early autumn with 2022 as a...

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Russia puts conditions on new grain deal

Russia puts conditions on new grain deal

Russia has put conditions on an extension of the Black Sea grain deal, allowing grain to be safely exported from Ukraine ports as the current deal is set to expire on 18 March. On the sidelines of the G20 meeting in New Delhi, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov...

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Glanbia to sell out of cheese JV

Glanbia to sell out of cheese JV

Glanbia is selling its stake in mozzarella-maker Glanbia Cheese to its US partner Leprino Foods Company, receiving €160m with the possibility of an additional consideration of up to €25m over the next three years, dependent on performance. The deal includes Glanbia...

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Remilk defers new facility

Remilk defers new facility

After announcing it would build “the world’s largest full-scale precision fermentation   facility” within The Symbiosis Project in Kalundborg, Denmark Remilk is putting the plan on ice. When the construction project was announced, Remilk had attracted US$120m in...

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FDA: Plant milk is milk

FDA: Plant milk is milk

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a proposal suggesting beverage producers responsible for making plant-based milk alternatives should be allowed to use the term “milk” to describe their products despite having no actual dairy content. The FDA...

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Dairy market outlook firming

Dairy market outlook firming

According to our February 2023 Global Dairy Directions update while commodity prices have lifted in most regions, driven by butter and SMP, little has changed in the underlying fundamentals other than a feeling butter demand will improve at lower retail prices and...

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After x3 La Niña, what lies ahead?

After x3 La Niña, what lies ahead?

After the three previous triple La Niña event, a drier than average year followed according to Agriculture Victoria climate agronomist Dale Grey. Ample soil moisture reserves meant that grain growers would be able to cope with drier than average conditions. "There has...

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Danes suggest huge emissions tax

Danes suggest huge emissions tax

In a recent report, the Danish Climate Council has recommended a farming emissions tax of US$107/t CO2e which will help the country meet its climate target, while promoting more climate-friendly agricultural production. The Council suggests the tax will incentivise...

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A low key renovation

A low key renovation

Last year, Kraft Heinz announced it would be removing artificial colouring from its macaroni and cheese products due to public pressure, including a petition signed by 365,000 people. However, no marketing campaign about the new wholesome product was launched, and...

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