Food and drink news in brief

The latest news from across the global food and drink sector

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Carbery cheeses bring home six golds at the International Cheese Awards 2022

West Cork based international cheese and ingredients producer Carbery Group has been awarded several honours at the world-renowned International Cheese Awards 2022, taking home six gold medals, three silvers and one bronze in total across several cheese categories.

At the event, Carbery received six Gold Awards for Carbery Cracker Mature White, Carbery Lactose Free Cheddar, Extra Mature White Cheddar, Vintage Cheddar and Cheese Extra 14+; three Silver Awards for Mature Cheddar, Vintage Cheddar and Cheese Extra 14+; one Bronze Award for Mature Cheddar; and one Very Highly Commended Award for Red Cheddar with Chilli.

The International Cheese & Dairy Awards are the world’s leading platform to champion world class producers. Held at the Staffordshire Show Ground, the 2022 awards attracted over 5,500 entries from across the world. They are seen as a real measure of quality cheese by cheese-makers and retailers.

Commenting on Carbery’s wins, Commercial Director Barry Fitzsimons said: “We are delighted to have achieved 11 awards across a broad range of our products at this year’s awards. We have focused our efforts on building a portfolio of high valueadded cheese, and delivering high quality products for our customers, and it’s gratifying to see our work pay off here. We are constantly challenging ourselves to innovate for our customers, and I hope these awards show in turn that our focus is on delivering the best products for them.”

Dermot Curtin, Director of Site Operations at Ballineen stated: “The expertise of our cheese-production team is renowned here at Carbery. To achieve these accolades, especially while the whole team also managed a huge expansion project across the Ballineen site, is testament to the commitment and dedication that our team have shown across the last few years. Thanks to the R&D, production and quality teams for all they contribute to making these great products.”

Seamus Corkery, cheese-grader at Carbery, expanded: “We are delighted to have this recognition to bring to our customers and to acknowledge the skill of our team. Thanks to all at ICDA for these awards.”

All cheese produced at the Carbery facility is made with milk from farms within 50km of the production facility. Carbery cows are 95% grass-fed, grazing in pastures outdoors for up to 240 days a year.

Carbery cheese is sold in more than 50 countries around the world and last year Carbery produced more than 64,000 tonnes of cheese. All of this cheese is produced in the Carbery facility in West Cork, which was the site of a recent €80 million expansion with the addition of a third cheese line.

The ICDA is the world’s biggest platform to champion world class producers of cheese and dairy products. Winning one of these prestigious awards means being part of an elite group and 125 year-old tradition of the very best in class. Success brings high profile recognition from independents, retailers and food service companies throughout the world.

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Danone leads $7m funding round for methane-reducing cattle feed additive

Symbrosia, a Hawai’i-based start-up with a seaweed feed additive that reduces livestock methane emissions by over 80%, has closed out its Series A funding round with $7 million. After two years of research on seaweed breeding and cultivation technology, Symbrosia has reportedly developed strains that are significantly more productive, potent and resilient than wild populations. The company said it will use the capital to scale production of these breakthrough seaweed strains by orders of magnitude and bring their livestock feed additive, SeaGraze, to market with the world’s most innovative brands and producers.

The funding round was led by Danone Manifesto Ventures, the corporate venture arm of global food and beverage company Danone. For Danone, the company said this investment aligns with its goal of becoming carbon neutral across its full value chain by 2050. Additional investors in the funding round include previous seed investors, Pacific6 and HATCH, new investor, Presidio Ventures, and new Hawaiian investors, Kamehameha Schools and Mana Up, along with individual local investors, farmers, and seaweed enthusiasts.

Founder and CEO Alexia Akbay, a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient for Social Impact in 2022, said: “During the past two years of research, we pushed the boundaries in seaweed breeding to develop high-performing seaweed strains. This Series A funding round marks a critical inflection point where we shift our focus to bringing this innovation to market at scale, as quickly as possible, with strategic partners in Hawaii, California, and the Pacific Northwest.

“The support from Danone Manifesto Ventures and our other investors, existing and new, will enable us to increase seaweed production by a factor of 1,000, round out our team expertise with strategic hires, and put SeaGraze in the hands of visionary companies and livestock producers to create the world’s most sustainable livestock supply chains. Now is our moment to take action on methane.”

Jean Prevot, Vice President, Operations and Sustainability at Danone Manifesto Ventures added: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Alexia and the Symbrosia team. We are impressed by the drive and passion they have to meaningfully address climate change through the reduction of livestock methane emissions. Given Danone’s leadership in the global dairy industry, this investment also complements our portfolio of strong solutions to help us and our partners achieve carbon neutrality across our value chain by 2050.”

Symbrosia completed the world’s first commercial A. taxiformis trial in 2020, testing SeaGraze on an organic farm in Dover Plains, New York, where they confirmed drastic methane reduction. After this successful proof of concept, with scalable production in mind, the company doubled down on research and technological development. During this phase, Symbrosia developed robust A. taxiformis strains that are a core differentiator, substantially improving the pace and unit economics of SeaGraze production.

With the infusion of capital, Symbrosia plans to max out production in its pilot facility at its headquarters, which sits within the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii (NEHLA) Ocean Science and Technology Park, and build a larger production facility to continue the exponential scale-up. The consistent year-round Hawaiian climate, aquaculture innovation ecosystem, and State support have amplified Symbrosia’s success in Hawai’i.

The latest news from across the global food and drink sector

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Craft brewer Drop Bear Beer Co has become the world’s first certified carbon neutral alcohol-free brewer, bolstering the business’ commitment to combatting climate change.

From day one, the burgeoning brewer has taken measures to reduce its carbon footprint, and it is now celebrating its unique position within the brewing sector.

Drop Bear’s official designation as carbon neutral follows extensive work by the award-winning business to achieve carbon neutrality for the company and its beers. This has been achieved by compensating for CO2 emissions through supporting international, certified carbon offset projects facilitated by ClimatePartner. An example is a clean wind energy project in north east Brazil to implement and operate 14 wind power plants with various social benefits for Brazilian communities.

Since its formation in 2019, the company’s founders – Joelle Drummond and Sarah McNena – have striven to build a business with sustainability and climate change awareness as its bedrock, meaning consumers no longer need to compromise on quality or values.

“Drop Bear takes its responsibility to the environment very seriously and achieving carbon neutrality is the latest milestone towards which we’ve been working for years,” said Joelle Drummond. “Now comes the time for real innovation as we work to reduce our carbon footprint at production stage and reduce reliance on carbon offsetting.”

Drop Bear’s activities will continue to be monitored by ClimatePartner, with annual Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF) and Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) reports on the business’ targets.

On a mission to brew ‘the best 0.5% ABV craft beers and build a better world in which to drink them’, Drop Bear’s carbon neutrality comes just months after becoming Wales’ first B Corporation® brewery. A Living Wage company, Drop Bear’s B Corp™ designation has put it among an elite group of environmentally, ethically, and socially focused UK food and drink businesses.

Earlier this year, Drop Bear announced its plan to build a bespoke brewery on a farm near in Abergavenny, South Wales. If the company’s building plans are realised, then Monmouthshire will become home to the world’s first carbon neutral alcohol-free brewery.

Joelle said: “Having our own brewery is key for this next, exciting stage of our sustainability journey as we take matters into our own hands. Our proposed brewery would implement innovative technologies to reduce energy use, increase efficiencies, reduce waste, reduce food miles, derive power from on-site solar panels, and explore closed loop systems etc. Now that we have completed our analyses, we know where the most impactful changes can be made and frankly, we can’t wait to get stuck in.”

The Drop Bear range currently consists of four beers: Tropical IPA, Yuzu Pale Ale, Bonfire Stout, and New World Lager – all of which are below 0.5% ABV. The award-winning beers are vegan friendly, gluten-free, and low calorie, all whilst creating awardwinning flavours.

Listings include Ocado and Tesco stores in Wales. At the same time, the company has continued to expand its international customer base with the addition of major retailers in Hong Kong and Finland.

Drop Bear core range

Drop Bear Beer Co becomes world’s first carbon neutral alcohol-free brewer

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ReSea Project invites UK food and drink companies to help tackle plastic pollution

ReSea Project is calling on UK food and drink brands and manufacturers to upscale their environmental credentials by signing up to commitments to remove plastic from the planet’s oceans and rivers.

The organisation is on a mission to push the agenda for plasticfree waters and is seeking British food and drink partners to join forces to help tackle consumers’ number one environmental concern – plastic pollution.

ReSea Project is a Danish company which removes plastic from oceans and rivers. Operating out of South-East Asia, it helps brands and service providers embed sustainability and ocean health at the heart of their operations with measurable and documented impact.

Globally, ReSea Project is successfully working with major brands which are able to promote their sustainability credentials to consumers via their websites, on-product and beyond, including The Hidden Sea Wine and Stoli vodka.

This call to action comes as studies show the UK’s supermarkets account for 800,000 plus tonnes of plastic packaging waste a year –with eight million pieces of plastic making their way into waterways every day.

According to a government report, the UK reportedly generates more plastic waste per person than any other country bar the US and currently less than 10% of household plastics are recycled.

Christine Tangdal of ReSea Project said: “We’re already working with a selection of popular brands in the UK and the results have been immediate and impressive, with simple mechanics like for every bottle sold the equivalent of 10 plastic bottles are removed from oceans and rivers.

“We’re open to ideas and initiatives to enable food and drink brands and manufacturers to join in our ocean clean-up activities. Partnerships such as this really chime with the consumer as it’s such a pressing environmental issue – and means companies can lead the way with initiatives that care for the planet and leverage their environmental commitments.”

ReSea Project provides the marketing services needed to communicate the initiative to increase customer engagement and awareness and can work in partnership on social media and PR campaigns.

“Our solution has shown to be a true win-win,” said Ms Tangdal. “Consumers prefer brands that do something positive for the environment and by partnering with ReSea Project our partners get a brilliant chance to show consumers that choosing their brand has a direct and documented impact for our planet. As our movement grows, so does our impact, allowing us to make waves beyond the sea we work in.”

A UN assessment of plastic waste policies determined South-East Asia as the global marine litter epicentre. The international trade in plastic waste and the recent survey in the use of single-use plastics and personal protective equipment during the Covid-19 crisis have also worsened the situation.

DNV certified, ReSea Project’s high level of traceability provides proof of the plastic’s source and its onwards journey to ReSea Project’s sorting station via blockchain technology. From here the plastic waste is sorted into plastic types, bale pressed and distributed for recycling and waste handling purposes.

Ms Tangdal continued: “Our message is clear; we’re in this together. We welcome brands, manufacturers and producers from across the UK food and drink industry to join us – large and small, established and start-ups. We all have a role to play in pushing the agenda for a plastic-free ocean and we firmly believe that only by working together can real change happen.”