As the primary global food value chain initiative for sustainable agriculture, SAI Platform has more than 90 members representing different parts of the value chain, including cooperatives, traders, retailers, processors and brand companies, and addressing all dimensions of sustainable agriculture globally. The SAI Platform is a member-driven organization that draws on the experience and expertise from its members to ensure that sustainable agriculture establishes itself as the answer to one of today’s important challenges.

Consumers want assurance that food has been grown in a responsible and sustainable manner – one that respects people, animals and the planet. This is important for business as well because food companies rely on the planet’s resources for the ingredients in their products.

Through a three-year agreement that took effect April 1, the company has made a commitment to renewable energy through Westar Wind, a Green-e certified program offered by Westar Energy. As a result, total electric usage at MGP’s facilities in Atchison, Kan., and Lawrenceburg, Ind., will be offset by green energy provided by Westar’s wind resources in Kansas.

Cocoa For Good is expected to impact the lives of thousands of farmers in cocoa-growing regions with a focus on West Africa where about 70% of the world’s cocoa is grown.

Kerry surveyed more than 700 consumers to understand their opinions on nutrition, ingredients and sustainability and how these factors influence their opinions of clean label. The consumers were behaviorally segmented into five specific groups, each with a unique outlook on clean label. The report details the five segments and their respective demographics, adoption stage, relationship with clean label, their ingredient focus and avoidance patterns.

The SAI Platform was created in 2002 by the food industry to actively promote the worldwide development of sustainable agriculture, involving different stakeholders of the food chain. The SAI Platform supports sustainable agricultural practices including the efficient production of safe, high quality agricultural products, in a way that protects and improves the natural environment, the social and economic conditions of farmers, their employees and local communities, and safeguards the health and welfare of all farmed species. 

That landscape lay in the Ashanti region of Ghana, which was where I found myself late last November, a guest of Zürich-based Barry Callebaut, one of the world’s largest cocoa producers. The company had invited more than a dozen journalists to this part of West Africa to impress upon us the challenges it faces as it tries to secure a stable, sustainable supply of quality cocoa for the world’s delectation.

The move is a unique opportunity to develop the future of the industry by combining the expertise of one of America’s largest food company with the energy, innovation and entrepreneurialism of startup culture.

Just Scramble will be rolling out first in San Francisco and expanding to additional locations and cities in 2018.

Health and wellness was one of the top trends driving new product innovation in 2017. 2018 won't be drastically different. Instead, these movements will become more mature and specialized—and inspire beverages that are hyper-personalized to give consumers a range of options.