All PFN ARTICLES

Fonterra, New Zealand’s dairy colossus and global cream-of-the-crop exporter, has just made its most serious move yet into the future of milk, without the cow. Its startup investment Vivici, a precision fermentation outfit co-founded with Dutch dsm-firmenich, has launched into the US market, bringing with it a cow-free version of whey protein looking, functioning, and tasting just like the original - except it’s brewed.

At a jaw-clenching $638 billion and climbing, China’s wellness economy isn’t quietly evolving, it’s erupting. And the world’s most populous nation isn’t waiting around for anyone else’s version of clean living. It’s building its own - a hybrid of ancient belief systems, cutting-edge tech, and wellness formats feeling distinctly local, modern, and commercial.

You’d be forgiven for thinking palm oil is in everything, because, well, it pretty much is. From your lip balm to your snack bars, this slick and versatile oil is the invisible engine of modern convenience. But there’s blood in the oil. Every year, tens of thousands of hectares of Indonesian forest are bulldozed for palm plantations. The cost? Around 50 orangutans killed every week, either starved out, pushed out, or hunted as pests.

Did you know that the humble shawarma, the Middle East’s undisputed king of street food, is getting a plant-based makeover in Dubai? No, this isn’t some hipster café gimmick. It’s coming from Malak Al Tawouk, one of the region’s most beloved Lebanese fast food chains, in collaboration with local plant-based disruptors Switch Foods.

While the New Zealand economy takes a hammering and export sectors search for footing, the horticulture industry has quietly strapped on a jetpack and Auckland Airport is feeling the blast.

Meet WunderEggs by Crafty Counter. The name might be playful, but the impact is deadly serious. At a time when egg shortages have sent prices spiraling and shoppers scrambling, these plant-based doppelgängers have strutted into the spotlight like they were born for it. No feathers. No cholesterol. Just creamy, yolky satisfaction built from almonds, cashews, and coconut milk. Not a chicken in sight.

Wellness culture is always moving and the compass is now pointing to your gut. Gen Z has quietly sidelined protein powders in favour of probiotic fizz, prebiotic fibres, and fermented everything. According to data from TikTok’s own trend tracker, #guthealth and #hotgirlswithIBS have clocked over a billion views combined. The message? Gut is the new gold.

Another plant-based breakthrough just landed on British shelves and it’s not just another meatless Monday stunt. Juicy Marbles, the cult brand behind the world’s first marbled plant-based steak, has secured major national placement for its new Meaty Meat: Pork-ish cut across 534 UK Tesco stores.

What do you get when a bunch of surf-town mycophiles decide to take on the billion-dollar brain game? You get MYND, a bold, homegrown foray into the turbo-charged world of nootropics, straight out of Raglan, New Zealand.

China’s mushroom industry has exploded 700-fold since 1978 and the next wave could be even bigger for those paying attention. Mushroom industry specialist Zlatko Vidmar from Sylvan Inc. says what started as a modest 60,000 tons a year has now soared to a staggering 42 million tons annually. That’s a $55 billion sector employing over 25 million people, more than 2% of China’s entire population. Mushrooms, it seems, are no longer just a side dish in China. They’re an economic e

If you think India’s future food scene is all about lab coats and Silicon Valley suits, think again.The next big biryani, the next luscious kebab, the next cheesy naan might be made with zero cows, zero chickens, and zero guilt and it’s all happening in kitchens and labs you’ve probably never heard of. This isn’t just about trendy food swaps or eco-virtue signalling. It’s about survival.

When it comes to plant-based innovation, New Zealand’s not just punching above its weight- it’s starting to cross oceans. LILO Desserts, the sweet little Kiwi brand crafting low-allergen, 100% New Zealand fruit treats, has just landed at #32 on RangeMe’s Top 50 Brands list, putting it squarely in the sights of major US retailers and consumers hungry for cleaner, smarter snacking.