Rik Moors

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Articles

‘Investing in women is the biggest part of our success’ – Inez van Oord [Interview]

Dec 3, 2024 | insights.figlobal.com | Rik Moors

A move to Uganda sparked a journey into the food industry for Inez van Oord. She reflects on the challenges and successes of creating economic opportunities for Ugandan women through the jackfruit industry, the impact of sustainable sourcing, and how women are shaping the future of agriculture. “In 2015, I sold my talent development and recruitment company, and my husband, three children, and I moved to Uganda, looking for adventure.
How flavour-boosting peptides enhance cheese, meats, and plant-based foods

Nov 14, 2024 | insights.figlobal.com | Rik Moors

Research is revealing how kokumi peptides – compounds that enhance mouthfeel, depth, and richness – can naturally amplify flavours in foods from aged cheeses to low-sodium meats and plant-based alternatives. These findings suggest kokumi-active compounds may be key to achieving robust flavours in health-conscious foods without added sodium or artificial additives.
Traditional fermented drinks like Uganda’s obushera are introducing probiotics to emerging markets

Nov 10, 2024 | insights.figlobal.com | Rik Moors

Traditional fermented beverages, long valued for their unique flavours and health benefits, are now gaining recognition for their potential as probiotic carriers. In many cultures, these drinks have been dietary staples for centuries. Among them, African fermented beverages show particular promise, with Uganda’s obushera – [NM1] a sorghum- or millet-based drink – emerging as a standout example.
US food regulation faces uncertain future as Trump returns to power

Nov 8, 2024 | insights.figlobal.com | Rik Moors

As Donald Trump is set to return to the White House in 2025, regulatory changes and funding challenges could upend the current regulatory priorities affecting the food industry. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) existing goals – outlined in the 2025 priorities established by the recently launched Human Foods Program – could soon be replaced by a very different approach to food regulation. Plans outlined in the conservative playbook Project 2025, and the likely influential role for Robert F.
In- or outsourcing? Rabobank urges European food processors to rethink their cold chain logistics

Nov 7, 2024 | insights.figlobal.com | Rik Moors

Rising operating costs, labour shortages, and stricter sustainability requirements are driving European food processors to re-evaluate their logistics outsourcing strategies. Rabobank Knowledge’s October 2024 report, Do It or Buy It? European Food Processors to Rethink Logistics Outsourcing Strategies, highlights that companies must now adopt tailored approaches when deciding whether to outsource or insource cold chain logistics operations.
Developing new ingredients from underutilised African crops

Nov 5, 2024 | insights.figlobal.com | Rik Moors

Despite their resilient properties and nutritional benefits, many African crops like sorghum, cowpea, and Bambara groundnut remain underappreciated and underdeveloped – but new research is opening avenues for value addition. The recently concluded InnoFoodAfrica project, which ran from 2020 to early 2024, demonstrated that a range of indigenous African crops have great potential as nutritious and versatile food ingredients for African and European markets.
Electronic tongues and noses are getting more sophisticated

Nov 3, 2024 | insights.figlobal.com | Rik Moors

A machine-learning powered electronic tongue – or ‘e-tongue’ – developed by researchers at Penn State University and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is the latest electronic sensing device with promising commercial applications in the food industry.
Natural pet supplements on the rise as human trends extend to animals

Oct 13, 2024 | vitafoodsinsights.com | Rik Moors

Natural pet supplements are gaining momentum as owners increasingly look for ways to enhance their animal companions’ health and wellbeing, mirroring trends in human nutrition. The market for natural, functional ingredients is also growing, driven by a growing understanding of the connection between nutrition and overall health. Brands are responding with innovative products that incorporate supplements into pet diets, both to support existing health and to prevent future issues.
The essentials of cognitive and emotional health

Oct 6, 2024 | vitafoodsinsights.com | Rik Moors

Mike Hughes, head of research and insight at FMCG Gurus, and Kenn Israel, co-founder of Beyond Brands, sat down last month for a Vitafoods Insights webinar to discuss key trends and strategies that brands can adopt to stay competitive in this evolving market. As more consumers seek to enhance their brain power through supplements and functional foods, brands must focus on innovation, personalisation, and the fundamentals of health to build trust and deliver results.
How health-led brands can benefit from the GLP-1 boom

Sep 25, 2024 | vitafoodsinsights.com | Rik Moors

At Vitafoods Europe 2024 in Geneva last month, a panel of experts and industry leaders agreed that the industry can seize great opportunities if it is ready to accept and understand the full implications of the rise of GLP-1s.