CAFRE leads reformulation for healthier food products

January 3, 2025 - The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) continues to be a key player in advancing the reformulation of food products, aligning with UK government guidelines to improve public health outcomes.

By collaborating with the Food Standards Agency (FSA), CAFRE has focused on reducing sugar, fat and calorie content in a variety of food products while maintaining the sensory appeal that consumers expect. This work not only contributes to better health outcomes but also supports the food industry in meeting nutritional targets.

One of CAFRE's notable achievements is its involvement in reformulating popular products such as breakfast goods and desserts. These products are traditionally indulgent and calorie-dense, making them ideal candidates for reformulation. Through the use of research, food science and technology expertise and world class facilities, CAFRE has successfully reduced the levels of sugar and fat in these items without compromising taste, texture or overall consumer satisfaction.

The reformulation of scones, for instance, saw significant reductions in sugar content while retaining the buttery, crumbly texture that makes them a favourite among consumers. Cheesecake reformulations replaced traditional high-fat ingredients with lower-calorie alternatives, achieving a creamy texture that rivals their full-fat counterparts. Similarly, ice cream reformulation focused on utilising fibres and natural sweeteners to deliver a reduced sugar treat with the rich, smooth consistency consumers love. These efforts illustrate how innovation in food technology can address health challenges without sacrificing quality.

CAFRE places a strong emphasis on sensory testing, conducting consumer panels to refine formulations and ensure public acceptance. A recent visit by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA afforded him the opportunity to assess the sensory (organoleptic) properties of some product.

CAFRE is currently embarking on an exciting new reformulation project involving pancakes, a staple breakfast item loved across the UK and Ireland. The aim is to develop a healthier version of this classic by reducing the sugar and salt content, while preserving the soft, fluffy texture and delightful taste that makes pancakes so appealing. This project, like its predecessors, is being conducted in collaboration with the FSA, ensuring alignment with government nutritional targets and consumer expectations. The outcomes of the pancake reformulation project are planned to be shared with the public and bakery industry in March 2025.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

Global Environment Facility approves $68 million for agrifood systems solutions

January 3, 2025 - The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has helped 22 countries unlock $68 million in biodiversity loss, groundwater management, climate change, land degradation and pollution.

The projects were approved by the GEF Secretariat and Councils for the GEF Trust Fund, the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) meeting this week in Washington DC. The projects expect to leverage an additional $273 million in co-financing to advance global goals for biodiversity, social inclusion, land and water management and reducing use of hazardous chemicals.

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"The approval of this batch of projects comes at the end of a year of environmental summits that highlighted both the need for finance to unlock transformation of global agrifood systems to this critical agenda," said QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General. "We look forward to supporting countries to meet their biodiversity, climate, land, water and pollution goals through agrifood systems solutions under the overall guidance for the Four Betters."

"These projects will help change the way we produce our food, fuel and fibre to address global environmental crises. They will enhance coherence between agricultural and environmental sectors and support countries and communities to tackle environmental challenges, food insecurity and poverty. With this new financing in place, it is now equally important to their success to effectively communicate their goals and impacts," said Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO and Chairperson, GEF.

Small Grants Program

As part of the funding, the Council approved a $19 million allocation for FAO's first activities as a new implementing agency for the Small Grants Program. The project builds upon 30 years of impact by bringing FAO's expertise in working with smallholder producers to support civil society organisations and community-based organisations in co-designing and delivering locally led initiatives. The project will develop strategies, provide financial and technical assistance and foster South-South Cooperation, with a strong focus on innovation, scalability and social inclusion of women, Indigenous Peoples and youth.

The project will work with local organisations across 14 countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, Cook Islands, Cuba, Guyana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Nicaragua, South Sudan, Tajikistan, Uganda and Venezuela. It aims to restore 20,000 hectares of land, improve practices across 350,000 hectares and benefit 45,000 people. 

Biodiversity

Five projects funded by the GBFF will help mainstream biodiversity in agrifood sectors, foster sustainable livelihoods, and empower Indigenous Peoples. These projects aim to improve the management of 500,000 hectares of protected areas, restore 13,000 hectares of landscapes, improve practices on 2.4 million hectares of land and sea, mitigate 1.2 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and benefit 100,000 people.

The $1.7 million project in Laos will enhance biodiversity through ecosystem restoration and biodiversity-friendly One Health practices. The $6.4 million project in Papua New Guinea will improve ecosystem connectivity and climate resilience with integrated landscape management. In the Solomon Islands, $2.4 million will support community-led management of key biodiversity areas by Indigenous peoples, including through spatial management and other effective area-based conservation mechanisms (OECM). In Cuba, the $3 million project will address unsustainable fishing and agriculture in Northeastern Cuba, and the $1.3 million project in Nepal will help conserve endangered freshwater fish through ecosystem-based fisheries management.

A $8 million project funded by the GEF Trust Fund will enhance biodiversity, ecosystem service and carbon sequestration in Areas Important for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (AIBDES), including areas inside and outside protected areas in South Sumatra and Central Java, Indonesia. The project aims to conserve and restore 91,000 hectares of natural ecosystems that house species such as the Javan Leopard and Sumatran Elephant. The project will also improve practices on 565,000 hectares of land, mitigate 6.2 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and benefit 40,000 people.

Land and Water

A regional project in Kenya and Tanzania will enhance water security and improve climate-resilience in the Mount Kilimanjaro region by improving the management of the shared Kilimanjaro Transboundary Aquifer System. With $7.8 million in GEF financing, this initiative will conserve 40,000 hectares of cloud forest, ensure groundwater use and benefit 100,000 people.

A $5.1 million project will help achieve Liberia's Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) commitments by enhancing soil health and reducing land degradation through sustainable management practices in targeted rice landscapes. The project will restore 25,000 hectares of land, implemented sustainable land management practices across 100,000 hectares, mitigate over one million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and benefit over 60,000 people.

Chemicals

Under the Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management Plus Program (FARM+), FAO will support Gambia to reduce harmful agrochemical use and transition to climate-resilient, agroecological practices in rice, millet and maize production. With $9.6 million from the GEF Trust Fund and the LDCF, the project aims to restore 10,000 hectares of land, improve practices on 120,000 hectares of land and sea, mitigate over 15,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and benefit 240,000 people.

For more information, visit HERE.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

Vitalii Koval and his Syrian counterpart Mohamed Al Ahmad discussed areas of cooperation in the agricultural sector

January 2, 2025 - During his visit to Syria, Vitalii Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, met with Dr Mohamed Al Ahmad, Minister of Agriculture. 

"It was a very constructive meeting with our Syrian counterpart. We discussed a clear list of goods that the country needs. First of all, Syria is interested in livestock products - meat and dairy products. Also wheat, barley, oil, sugar and flour. Under the Assad regime, there were very high duties on the supply of products to Syria in order to control imports and profit from them," Vitaliy Koval said.

According to him, a joint working group will be set up at the level of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine and the Ministries of Economy and Trade and Agriculture of Syria to lift the duties on Ukrainian products and food.

In addition, the ministers discussed logistical ways to supply Ukrainian products to Syria and cooperation in the banking sector. They also identified the tasks that the two sides need to work on to make trade between Ukraine and Syria as comfortable and easy as possible in the field of agricultural supply and food security.

Vitalii Koval noted that Syria is also interested in technology transfer from Ukraine. In particular, in the field of land reclamation and hydraulic engineering, as most of the country's land needs irrigation. In addition, they discussed opportunities for mutual trade. From Ukraine - wheat, barley, oil, sugar and flour. From Syria - nuts and fruits. 

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

New management determined at Ordinary General Assembly of Turkish Grain Suppliers Association

January 2, 2025 - Turkish Grain Suppliers Association (HUBUDER) continues to create an important platform in grain trade by bringing together the leading players of the sector. At the Ordinary General Assembly meeting held on December 21, 2024, the new board of directors of the association was determined. With the new management, HUBUDER's goal and strategies for the future began to take shape.

HUBUDER is an association established with the aim of gathering grain trading companies under a single roof and protecting the interests of the sector. Focusing its activities on both ensuring the international integration of the sector and increasing its competitiveness, HUBUDER also fulfils the important task of ensuring coordination between the public and private sector.

Main agenda items of the Ordinary General Assembly

Held on December 21, the Ordinary General Assembly meeting started with the discussion of various activity reports of the association. The most important agenda item of the meeting was the election of the new board of directors. As a result of the voting, Gürsel Erbap, representative of Doruk Un, was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. MPM Food Representative Pelin Özer Yağar served as Vice Chairman, while Tellioğlu Yen Representative Buse Tellioğlu Altındış Accountant Member, Promaksgrain Representative Safa Yeşilbaş was determined as Secretary member.

In addition, other members who will take part in the board of directors in the new period consist of the following names: Tokay Consultancy Company Representative Hikmet Özkan, Kılıçlar Gıda Company Representative Hakkı Kılıç, Ben Tarım Company Representative Mustafa Bektaş, Erkan Agro Representative Erkan Genç and Aşk Makarna Company Representative Ali İlhan.

HUBUDER is preparing to play a more active role in the sector with the new management. One of the main targets of the new management is for the member companies of the association to have more say in the national and international arena.

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.