During this peculiar time when so many aspects of life are uncertain, assessing the present moment is difficult.

Nature's Fynd, a food tech company producing a protein from a microbe originally discovered in the geothermal springs of Yellowstone's ancient volcano, has raised $80 million in new funding.

Pam deVries, General Manager, PROVA Inc., announced that the company has hired Julia Decruz to be the company’s new director R&D/applications, effective immediately. 

As coronavirus spreads nationwide, a recent survey by First Insight found that news of the virus is impacting the shopping behavior of 75% of respondents, up from 45% (a 70% increase) when comparing to a survey fielded in late February. The survey by First Insight, Inc., a leading technology company transforming how retailers make product investment and pricing decisions, also pointed to significant swings in behavior by women and Baby Boomers over the last three weeks. 

Global food and beverage manufacturers can now create and collaborate on exploring sugar reduction solutions with SweeGen in its newly launched Food and Beverage Application Centers located in four global regions --- North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

In a letter to its community, the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) announced the cancellation of its annual trade show. The show was scheduled to take place May 31 to June 2 in Indianapolis. 

The organizers of Hi & Fi Asia-China indicate that the 2020 expo will go ahead as planned from June 22-24 at the National Exhibition & Convention Center, Shanghai.

US soybean farmers principally are price takers in the existing soybean supply chain, without transparent access to market signals originating from end users. Similarly, the complexity of the value chain makes it difficult for end users to buy raw materials that meet their needs.

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) announced that it will transition the IFT20 Annual Event and Food Expo, slated for July 12-15 at McCormick Place in Chicago, to a virtual event experience. The move comes in an effort to prioritize the health and safety of participants and the broader community throughout current and anticipated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Political and economic unease, here and abroad, has been growing well before the onset of COVID-19.  What the spread of COVID-19 has caused, is an amplification and acceleration of the Tide that was already rolling in.  It's no less significant for its abruptness and shock value, but pandemics can have the effect of shaping and altering the trajectory of already identified trends.