Better Brand, Inc., an innovative food tech startup marking a new era of nutrition by leading innovation in the multi-trillion-dollar refined carb space, announced plans to launch its first product, The Better Bagel – turning one of the most carb-heavy foods into the carb equivalent of ½ of an orange, or 1/5th of a banana.

Australian Plant Proteins (APP), which launched its first commercial processing plant in Horsham last year, has secured AU$45.7m in investment from global leading agri-food company Bunge.

CP Kelco, a global leader of nature-based ingredient solutions, now offers a multi-media resource spotlighting its capabilities in action. Filled with value-creating ideas and nature-powered innovation, "Innovation… Powered by Nature" aims to help manufacturers in the food, beverage, home and personal care segments understand market trends and navigate a changing industry landscape through problem-solving and collaboration.

A natural brilliant blue coloring has been discovered by an international team of researchers including chemists at the University of California, Davis. The new cyan blue, obtained from red cabbage, could be an alternative to synthetic blue food colorings such as the widely used FD&C Blue No. 1. The work is published April 7 in Science Advances.

To continue the high level of service to customers, Bell has bolstered its internal operations with promotions in its accounting, environmental health and safety, finance, information technology, maintenance, purchasing and R&D departments.

The renovations and new installations will increase reliability, volume output, productivity and efficiency and, just as important, advance the sustainability of the production process. Completion of the project is expected in the third quarter.

Plant-based omega-3 pioneers Qualitas Health, Ltd., (doing business as “iwi”) is now partnering with Spain’s Grupo Indukern, Barcelona, and Sweden’s Gullspång Re:food VC, Stockholm. Officials say these strategic partnerships help Qualitas Health accelerate company growth through development of innovative, algae-centered products and increase its footprint in the plant-based products market.

Idaho Milk Products promoted Pratishtha Verma to the position of research & development (R&D) scientist. In her new role, she will be working on ingredient applications aimed at increasing the protein load as well as developing new application areas for milk ingredients. She will also be assisting Idaho Milk Products’ customers with any application-related challenges and issues.

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., the agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 farmer families, announced it has named two new officers to its senior leadership team. Monisha Dabek has joined Ocean Spray as the company’s new chief commercial officer, USA, and Sarah Evans has joined as the new chief human resources officer.

Consumers have been trying foods, ingredients, and substances that help them build immunity, prevent inflammation, aid their digestive health, and relieve stress and anxiety, according to NPD’s Health Aspirations and Behavioral Tracking Service, which continually tracks consumption habits linked to wellness goals and identifies long-term, mainstream trends.