All PFN ARTICLES

Rabobank's Succession 2050 report signals biotechnology, precision fermentation and value-added nutrition are moving from the fringe to the centre of New Zealand's food future economy.

One of the world's most respected food judging panels has again recognised a growing number of plant-based products at the 2026 UK Great Taste Awards, reinforcing a trend that is becoming increasingly difficult for the wider food industry to ignore.

Vietnam's plant-based food industry is increasingly targeting a consumer who wants more than affordability. The latest plant-based milk launches from Nutifood combine nutrition, convenience and beauty-focused ingredients, reflecting a broader shift towards functional foods designed for busy urban lifestyles. The move highlights how plant-based innovation in Asia is evolving well beyond traditional soy beverages into premium wellness products.

The race to reinvent one of the world's oldest foods is accelerating, with US food innovator Crafty Counter launching its new WunderEggs™ Protein Scramble into Whole Foods Market stores nationwide. The ready-to-eat breakfast cup delivers an eye-catching 36g of plant-based protein and 14g of fibre using a proprietary blend of hemp hearts and fava beans, signalling how quickly the alternative egg category is evolving beyond simple substitutes into high-performance nutrition.

A mould-ripened vegan Camembert has claimed the highest honour at the 2026 New Zealand Vegan Cheese Awards, reinforcing a broader story emerging across the country's food innovation sector: New Zealand's plant-based cheese industry is no longer experimenting—it is maturing.

In a market the size of New Zealand, every new product launch is effectively a conversation with consumers. For artisan food producer Janin de Conti, founder of One Love Planet, that conversation led directly to a complete rethink of one of the company's products.

Japan’s decision to invest ¥1 trillion (US$6.2 billion) in “new food” is about far more than alternative proteins. It reflects a broader strategy to prepare the country for a future shaped by an ageing population, labour shortages and increasing pressure on food security.

Most New Zealand food companies heading offshore begin with distributors, trade missions and sizeable marketing budgets. EatKinda has chosen a very different path. Co-founder Mrinali (Milli) Kumar has been doing what many founders only talk about, packing samples, attending startup events, fronting tasting tables, and personally introducing Americans to an idea initially sounding quiet absurd - cauliflower ice cream. Yet, as the smiles from Target's recent Brand Discovery Da

The NanoBrew project is investigating how beer waste - brewers' spent grain- can be converted into nanocellulose, an ultra-light, high-strength biomaterial increasingly used in medical dressings, sustainable packaging, cosmetics, filtration systems and advanced composites. The project will represent New Zealand at this year's international iGEM synthetic biology competition in Paris.

Growing international attention surrounding ready-portioned cheesecake is less about cheesecake itself and more about a broader shift taking place across the global food industry. Rather than producing ever larger products, manufacturers are increasingly embracing a strategy best described as "downsizing to upscale" - creating smaller, premium products delivering greater value through quality, flavour, sustainability and experience.

New Zealand's journey towards producing its own peanuts has taken another step forward, with scientists preparing to evaluate a new cultivar specifically selected for Northland's climate. Researchers from the Bioeconomy Science Institute say several years of commercial-scale trials undertaken alongside Pic's Peanut Butter, Northland Inc and industry partners have produced encouraging results. Crops experienced very low pest and disease pressure, required no insecticides or fu

Global packaging company, Tetra Pak has moved deeper into the NextGen Food economy with the launch of its first industrial bioreactor, signalling a major shift for a company best known globally for food cartons and processing systems.