European Union Arrives to Promote Products at Winter Fancy Food Sho w

BY A.J. FLICK

An official delegation of the European Union to the United States attended the Winter Fancy Food Show to kick off the U S launch of its ambitious, two-year plan to acquaint the world with the bounty of European products

Michael Curtis, deputy ambassador/deputy chief of mission, and Silke Boger, first counselor of the Agriculture Trade and Agriculture Section at the D C -based delegation stressed that the goal is not to promote certain products over others, but to share the quality and policy behind European products

They acknowledge the big task ahead of catching American consumers ’ attention, since the U S market is so diverse

The EU has produced a cookbook, “Sensational! Cooking with great European products,” to familiarize us with products and how they are used in traditional dishes

Is Plant-Based Meat Beyond Impossible?

Earlier this year, one sensational headline from Bloomberg Businessweek raised eyebrows, drew cheers and even some jeers from the industry

“Fake Meat Was Supposed to Save the World It Became Just Another Fad” the Jan 18 headline stated “Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods wanted to upend the world’s $1 trillion meat industry But plant-based meat is turning out to be a flop,” according to the subhead

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“Europe has an immensely rich and diverse culinary history and heritage,” according to the book’s introduction “The reason for this, of course, is not just because Europe is such a vast continent It is also thanks to the traditions that are passed down from generation to generation

“In this book, Renowned European chefs have suggested how unique products with geographical

Days later, Just Food cautioned, “Patience – and innovation –needed as U S plant-based meat market slows

“There have been concerns about the growth prospects for plant-based meat in the U S , ” the Jan 24 article began “Advocates remain optimistic but underline significant innovation is needed to truly convince the real target market – meat eaters

“The recent pressure on plantbased meat sales in the U S has prompted questions about the prospects for the sector and further innovation, including in ingredients, is needed, say experts, to persuade flexitarian consumers

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USDA’s NIFA Invests $70M in Sustainable Agriculture Projects

The U S Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture is investing $70 million in sustainable agricultural projects that integrate research, education and Extension efforts

The goal is to establish robust, resilient and climate-smart food and agricultural systems

The investment comes under NIFA’s Sustainable Agricultural Systems program that focuses on a broad base of needed research, education and Extension solutions – from addressing labor challenges and promoting land stewardship to correcting climate change impacts in agriculture and filling critical needs in food and nutrition The Sustainable Agricultural Systems program area is part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, designed to improve plant and animal production and sustainability and human and environmental health

AFRI is the nation’s leading and largest competitive grants program for agricultural sciences

These grants are available to eligible colleges, universities and other research organizations

“These research investments will help transform the U S food and agricultural system to increase production in sustainable ways as the United Nations projects a world population of 9 8 billion by 2050,” said Acting NIFA Director Dr Dionne Toombs “These visionary projects will improve the supply of affordable, safe, nutritious and accessible agricultural products, while fostering economic development and rural prosperity in America ”

Examples of the seven projects newly funded under NIFA’s AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems program area include Auburn University’s controlled environment agriculture project, Michigan State University’s study of shocks to the agri-food system and the University of Missouri’s project to create climate-smart agriculture goals

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