In a guest post, Lore De Valck, program manager at early-stage investment firm biotope by VIB, explores how AI is reshaping foodtech innovation behind the scenes, from accelerating strain and seed development to sharpening the process economics that investors now expect from biotech startups.

Food tech startup Nutrition From Water has made an equity investment in Portugal’s PhycoFerm, formalizing a joint R&D collaboration to accelerate microalgae strain generation. 

Maltotriosyl erythritol is a new, modified sweetener made from erythritol. While it may offer better taste, stability, and gut or dental benefits, most proof is inferred from related sugars. More human trials are needed to verify its safety, prebiotic power, and health claims.

Researchers from Qingdao demonstrate that wakame, an important seawood crop for China, can be grown in subtropical Fujian province, opening new opportunities for seaweed aquaculture.

Hyderabad has built one of India's strongest culinary identities. Nevertheless, the city came in dead last among India's major metros in a program designed to help consumers identify food establishments that have undergone an independent assessment of their hygiene practices.

Polylactic acid as a biodegradable plastic seems eco-friendly, but heat and humidity break it down into microplastics and toxic chemicals. These leak directly into food, causing gut, immune, and oxidative health issues. Current laws ignore this; we need safer design and strict chemical limits.

From the products shoppers are adding to their carts to new items on store shelves, food trends continue to influence the grocery business. Here are five that are pre-eminent in 2026.

A court ruled that a correlation between the rise in ultra-processed foods and an increase in childhood diseases does not amount to causation.

Food security in Africa relies not only on agricultural production but also on logistics, policy, and private-sector investment. Singapore's Olam Agri has worked to strengthen domestic value chains and support food security through local processing and manufacturing for more than 35 years.