4th March 2024 Opinion / PricesExploring the lesser-known costs related to food is the first step toward reducing them – and the key is a method called true cost accounting.
27th February 2024 Opinion / Plant-basedResearchers say there is now a wide range of products for sale with a large variation in nutritional content.
26th February 2024 Coles / Opinion / WoolworthsWhile competition, price gouging, and power asymmetries must be scrutinised, issues of worker and customer surveillance are the other side of the same coin.
15th February 2024 Opinion / RetailThe contactless convenience of robo-retail might be captivating but is important to consider who benefits the most and who gets left behind.
13th February 2024 Opinion / Zest WellnessThe bioactive company’s co-founder shares her key learnings three years into her startup journey.
12th February 2024 Cultivated Meat / OpinionWith consumption of animal products on the rise, developing and implementing systematic strategies for diversified production becomes all the more necessary, says Aleph Farms’ Didier Toubia.
8th February 2024 Opinion / SupermarketsUnless the government steps up to address rising prices, too many Australians will keep struggling to put food on the table, say Deakin University researchers.
7th February 2024 Opinion / Riddet InstituteThe Riddet Institute has analysed the global nutrient trade over time and its impact on health, with interesting results around countries of differing wealth and health.
5th February 2024 Fisheries / OpinionHarmful and unfair fisheries subsidies should be eliminated with priority given to fisheries sustainability and ocean equity, argue researchers.
2nd February 2024 Innovation / OpinionIncreasing concern over climate change and consumer preferences for low-footprint foods, make developing an integrated climate, energy and alternative food plan for NZ seem eminently timely, says University of Canterbury’s Ian Mason.
1st February 2024 Fisheries / OpinionMarine aquaculture must maintain an intense focus on fish health and welfare, technological innovation, and sustainability measures to meet growing demand.
30th January 2024 Food System / OpinionA transformation of food systems is urgently needed and offers enormous economic benefits, according to a four-year investigation by the Food System Economics Commission.
29th January 2024 Opinion / WineThe EU has mandated nutrition labelling on wine with the US expected to follow suit – what effect will this have on consumers and winemakers?
25th January 2024 Opinion / Plant-basedGrowing public awareness of the environmental impacts of the current food system must be harnessed to help foster climate-friendly diets.
24th January 2024 CO2 / OpinionWith the right tools, the problematic gas CO₂ can be turned into a valuable and sustainable raw material in our future food production, say Novozymes and Novo Nordisk Foundation proponents.
22nd January 2024 Climate Change / OpinionNew technologies can play an important role in creating more robust, sustainable and affordable food production ecosystems, according to Fork and Good chief executive and co-founder Niyati Gupta.
11th December 2023 Opinion / Seafood NZSeafood NZ says better information is needed and a wider range of options considered over proposals to restrict bottom fishing.
4th December 2023 Emissions / OpinionInnovations are emerging to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and ensure sufficient food supply.
17th November 2023 Opinion / RSEThe horticulture and viticulture industries want more Recognised Seasonal Employer workers but it is taking a toll on the Pacific Islands, write Massey University researchers.
16th November 2023 Opinion / PackagingThe way food packaging is designed can have a significant influence on what parents buy and children consume, write Australian health researchers.
15th November 2023 Opinion / PackagingDo shoppers favour uncluttered package design and, if so, why? Texas Christian University’s assistant professor of marketing, Lan Anh Nu Ton, takes a closer look.
6th November 2023 Innovation / OpinionFrom developing cutting-edge tech to transform agri, private players are working with industry to disseminate innovation.
1st November 2023 Beer / OpinionTapping into the average person’s concerns over the environment may help spur collective action and beer could be a good test.
30th October 2023 Innovation / OpinionWith AI producing results when it comes to NPD, think tank Te Puna Whakaaronui takes a look at what is happening globally and asks, ‘what should be happening in New Zealand?’
24th October 2023 OpinionNew NZ research found carbon leaching out of existing plastic pollution has a negligible impact on climate change, with the production of new plastics the bigger concern.
16th October 2023 Opinion / PricesOnce a cornerstone for food retailers, brand loyalty is suffering as consumers prioritise cost savings.
12th October 2023 Food System / OpinionTrust Codes COO Emma Wheeler considers the food system challenges that need to be navigated if NZ is to move to a better food system.
11th October 2023 Food Security / OpinionAmid calls for a second ‘green revolution’, Sweet Briar College’s Glenn Davis Stone debunks the standard legend of India’s input-intensive agricultural overhaul, and what it really means for food supplies and self-sufficiency.
10th October 2023 Opinion / SustainabilityInitiatives for decarbonising the food system are spearheaded by large companies, and the proposed measures can often be problematic for farmers.
4th October 2023 Food Waste / OpinionA new study shows value can be created from food waste by turning it into highly desirable nanocellulose.
29th September 2023 Investment / OpinionInvestors who focus on the capital-intensive side of food investment can have a big impact on global food security and affordability, writes UBS’ Darren Rabenou.
27th September 2023 Environment / OpinionUPFs rely on energy-intensive manufacturing processes and long supply chains, which can lead to substantial emissions.
26th September 2023 Opinion / SustainabilitySignificant environmental benefits can be gained by producing affordable, sustainable, and healthy food.
25th September 2023 Non-alcoholic / OpinionZero-alcohol products do not cause the physical harms associated with alcohol, but they are not without risk, according to new research from Monash University.
19th September 2023 Health / OpinionTo solve a complex problem you need subtle and connected changes that are designed with and are acceptable to those with the most to gain.
12th September 2023 Insects / OpinionLike it or not, there are lots of good arguments for eating insects – both in animal feeds and on human plates.
4th September 2023 Opinion / ProduceAs more people consider switching to plant-based diets, the risk of iron deficiency will likely increase, but is NZ ready for iron-fortified foods?
28th August 2023 Opinion / Plant-basedA growing ideological divide over the environment means traditional ways of encouraging people to eat plant-based meat – promoting its green credentials – could be harming sales.
9th August 2023 Opinion / PerspectivesWhen it comes to food values, eaters have splintered into myriad food tribes, each with their own set of values and facts that blur the distinction between objective and perceived reality, writes Mike Lee.
31st July 2023 Opinion / Seafood NZThe govt’s consultation on catch limits for NZ’s largest orange roughy fishery brings the deepsea fish into the spotlight again.
26th July 2023 Opinion / Supply ChainNZ must diversify its food system to build resilience and mitigate national risks from regional events.
24th July 2023 Liquid Death / OpinionLove it or hate it, we are all responsible for the rise of US canned water brand Liquid Death, according to The Future Market’s Mike Lee.
21st July 2023 Opinion / WineSome of our cultural conceptions of wine, including its authenticity, actually stem from the commercial nature of the product, says Université du Québec à Montréal’s Vincent Fournier.
20th July 2023 Opinion / SeafoodImproved guidelines are needed for the safe harvesting of wild foods, as well as more strenuous monitoring to protect people.
18th July 2023 Opinion / ResearchA landmark new report from the WHO focuses explicitly on what the science says about how red and processed meat affects our health – and the health of the ecosystems on which we depend.
17th July 2023 Opinion / WHODoes artificial sweetener aspartame really cause cancer? What the WHO listing means for diet soft drinks.
11th July 2023 Opinion / PerspectivesLooking to future food options available to eaters, the onus is largely on food producers to make sure there are good choices available that appease people, planet, palate, and profit, says Mike Lee.
5th July 2023 Opinion / WHOThe popular sweetener aspartame could be classified as a possible carcinogen by WHO – but there’s no cause for panic, according to Gunter Kuhnle of the University of Reading.
30th June 2023 Cultivated Meat / OpinionLab-grown meat techniques aren’t new but bringing them up to scale to meet demand will require further development, writes Rochester Institute of Technology’s André Hudson.
23rd June 2023 Innovation / OpinionVertical farming offers a sustainable solution that uses 98% less water than traditional agriculture and can help support food security, according to Vertical Future’s founder Jamie Burrows.
19th June 2023 Food Security / OpinionA safe and just Earth will have a food system that regenerates nature, delivers nutritious food to everyone and advances economic well-being along value chains, writes GreenBiz Group’s Seth Olson.
16th June 2023 Health / OpinionEven with the growth of better-for-you brands, there is still a long way to go in loosening the grip that some of the world’s most iconic food brands have on eaters everywhere.
14th June 2023 OpinionWhat is the relationship between climate and food supply, why are some of the world’s most iconic CPG food brands at risk, and what can supply chain leaders do about it?
13th June 2023 Opinion / SproutFollowing the release of AgFunder’s 2023 global AgriFoodTech Investment Report, Sprout gives its take on the key findings, along with how they fit in with what it is seeing in the market.
8th June 2023 OpinionWhile Brexit has added cost and uncertainty for businesses, it has opened the door for the UK to diversify its dairy trade with other partners like New Zealand.
7th June 2023 Food Security / OpinionWith calls emerging for a national food strategy in NZ, there are some lessons about what works and what doesn’t from Canada’s Food Policy, which was introduced in 2019.
6th June 2023 Honey / OpinionThe recent mānuka honey trademark decision highlights how ill-equipped NZ’s laws are for protecting Māori taonga and mātauranga Māori.
1st June 2023 Opinion / RetailWhat does a slowdown in household spending really look like, and which areas of the economy are taking the hardest hit? Infometrics economist Sabrina Swerdloff takes a look.
25th May 2023 Coca-Cola / OpinionThe most effective way to shrink Coca-Cola’s refrigeration emissions may be to shift away from its relentless pursuit to make a Coke within “an arm’s reach of desire”.
22nd May 2023 Health / OpinionWhat do the new WHO guidelines mean for people who have switched to artificial sweeteners for health reasons? Should they just go back to sugar?
16th May 2023 Mintel / OpinionGrowing demand for indulgence means new opportunities for the dairy industry, according to Mintel associate director David Faulkner.
15th May 2023 GM / OpinionThe technology offers great promise but there are valid concerns that must be addressed through responsible research and regulatory frameworks.
11th May 2023 Agriculture / OpinionIt fails to tackle systemic social and political issues and may perpetuate ‘business-as-usual’ in the food system, rather than transform it.
10th May 2023 Opinion / Supply ChainMounting pressure on supply chains is forcing food businesses into choosing the “least worst” option to keep up with production, but this comes with consequences, writes Apollo Foods’ executive chair.
3rd May 2023 Emissions / OpinionIndustry needs to ramp up the use of renewable energy technology to meet the net-zero goal by 2050.
2nd May 2023 Fisheries / OpinionTraceability technologies exist to make opaque seafood supply chains transparent, but new research from Monash University suggests many players in the Australian industry are not interested in change
1st May 2023 Innovation / OpinionCould the future of cooking be 3D-printing? That’s what researchers at Columbia University set out to investigate in a study that involved 3D-printing a seven-ingredient, seven-layer vegan cheesecake.
27th April 2023 Opinion / TransportThe tools and tech to decarbonise freight in NZ are available now, but the problem lies in their integration and the understanding of the trade-offs at stake.
18th April 2023 Cultivated Meat / OpinionLab-grown meat has the potential to make our food system more sustainable, but there also needs to be political will to scale up the technology.
13th April 2023 Cultivated Meat / OpinionLab-grown meat is more likely to result in less protein diversity, and unforeseen social and environmental effects, rather than putting mammoths, dodos and other exotica on the menu, argues James Cook University’s Hallam Stevens.
12th April 2023 Food Fraud / OpinionAs the fight against food fraud intensifies, scientists from Canada’s University of Guelph unveil a new method to test the authenticity of maple syrup – one of the 10 most adulterated foods globally.
3rd April 2023 Aquaculture / OpinionGlobal demand for food from aquatic sources is expected to double by 2050.
28th March 2023 Opinion / Supply ChainThe UK’s food system has shown its vulnerability to all consumers but it has actively failed the poorest in society.
27th March 2023 Fisheries / OpinionA partnership between the MetService, the commercial fishing sector, and scientists from across NZ is gaining insights into how ocean temperatures are changing.
21st March 2023 Food Waste / OpinionCradle-to-grave emissions from food loss and waste represent half of total greenhouse gas emissions from food systems.
15th March 2023 Opinion / RecyclingThe government’s deferral of the CRS will ultimately cost households and communities more – not less – writes Again Again’s Nada Piatek.
9th March 2023 Opinion / PerspectivesMass digitisation is crucial for reversing the vulnerabilities faced by the global food system and ensuring access to nutritious food as a fundamental human right, according to agtech pioneer and Cropin founder, Krishna Kumar.
8th March 2023 Opinion / PerspectivesA separate channel for selling ugly produce would increase profits for growers, lower prices for consumers and boost overall demand for produce, according to new research out of the UK.
1st March 2023 Labelling / OpinionCurrent food nutrition labels are not living up to their potential, write Deakin University academics, who take a look at Australia’s (and, by extension, New Zealand’s) food labelling system and how it could be more effective.
28th February 2023 Climate Change / OpinionBut there are measures the industry can take to mitigate growing climate risk.
16th February 2023 HortNZ / OpinionCyclone Gabrielle highlights the need for food supply and security to be elevated to a far higher level in govt decision making, writes HortNZ’s Nadine Tunley.
9th February 2023 Horticulture / OpinionThe progress and resilience of NZ’s horticulture sector shined bright, writes Horticulture NZ CEO Nadine Tunley.
7th February 2023 Opinion / PerspectivesResearch shows that consuming ultra-processed foods can lead to poorer health but what counts as ultra-processed foods? Melbourne’s Deakin University takes a look.
30th January 2023 Climate Change / OpinionThe extraordinary flood event Auckland experienced on the night of 27 January, the eve of the city’s anniversary weekend, was caused by rainfall that was literally off the chart, writes weather and climate researcher Professor James Arthur Renwick.
27th January 2023 NZFIN / OpinionAn overhaul of the awards judging and categories aims to encourage larger producers to showcase their innovation and send a message that the awards are for products and processes that are truly pushing the envelope, writes NZFIN
25th January 2023 Labelling / OpinionThe Food Compass could help consumers make informed choices about the food they are purchasing.
23rd January 2023 Innovation / OpinionBiotechnology holds solutions to both climate change and meeting the nutritional needs of a growing population, but we are far from fully realising its potential to deliver on the green transition.
20th January 2023 Opinion / PerspectivesThis year will include some stocktake moments that must be seized upon to protect against the inter-related crises of conflict, climate change, and inflation which are threatening the food system, says the WEF.
18th January 2023 Again Again / OpinionThe venture has built a returnable packaging system that works but the bigger problem is changing consumer behaviour, writes founder Nada Piatek.
17th January 2023 Opinion / PricesOngoing food price pressure means governments must consider how to support struggling consumers but also help farmers to maximise what they produce.
8th December 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesA whole raft of new technologies is being developed that make a system-wide revolution in food production feasible, according to University of York academics.
28th November 2022 OpinionThey are critical to meeting the challenge of feeding an additional two billion people by 2050, harnessing rural communities’ resilience, and avoiding increased emissions.
23rd November 2022 GM / OpinionThe regulatory approval of purple tomatoes in the US this September could help sway the perception of the public and policymakers to see genetically modified foods progress from the lab to the market.
31st October 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesA new study offers important possibilities for reusing CO2 that would otherwise be considered waste to help increase the yield of urban farms.
17th October 2022 Food Waste / OpinionWith food security, production systems and the environment under pressure, think tank Te Puna Whakaaronui takes a look at what is happening – or should be happening – in New Zealand.
6th October 2022 Iwi / OpinionDespite increasing engagement in agriculture, the collection of data to inform policies to support communities like Māori is still lacking.
3rd October 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesThe world needs more food but up to 35% of fish removed from the sea is wasted – that is far too much.
30th September 2022 Opinion / Plant-basedFood waste impacts the whole of society, including the field of alternative protein. Nick Cooney, managing partner of Lever VC, explains how companies and investors in the space aim to tackle the global problem.
29th September 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesYou haven’t heard of the NZ Immuno-apple, our avocados that don’t overripen, or our climate-friendly happy animals yet? Instead of waiting a couple of years, KPMG’s Jack Keeys offers a vision of a biotech-enabled future in 2024.
28th September 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesDr Helen Darling considers a new study that analysed more than 57,000 food items to discover which supermarket aisles score the most favourably.
21st September 2022 Food System / OpinionGeopolitical factors are tipping the scales in favour of real transformation in global food systems but current policy frameworks are inadequate.
20th September 2022 Labelling / OpinionFood waste is a complex issue, but one simple change is following the UK and removing “best before” dates.
15th September 2022 Opinion / PricesHow private label and ‘shrinkflation’ allow businesses to cope with rising costs.
12th September 2022 Opinion / Private LabelConsumers are switching to cheaper options, so how healthy are private label options compared with banded products?
31st August 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesThe dairy industry is on the cusp of change with global giants like Fonterra looking to develop fermentation-derived proteins and synthetic milk starting to arrive.
16th August 2022 Opinion / Plant-basedMany consumers believe fake meats are better for health and the environment, but is that true? The view from across the ditch.
11th August 2022 OpinionKiwi Kai’s Atutahi range of beverages are an example of combining mātauranga Māori practices with Western science.
9th August 2022 Biosecurity / OpinionThe agri sector is singled out in “doomsday” scenarios for NZ but overseas experience warns of potentially severe impacts for tourism too.
4th August 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesThe gaps in New Zealand’s food innovation system need to be plugged, writes food and fibre think tank Te Puna Whakaaronui.
20th July 2022 Opinion / RetailThe grocery industry has been transformed by the pandemic and omnichannel is now the rule rather than the exception, writes NielsenIQ.
19th July 2022 Opinion / TradeThe strategic considerations behind the EU agreeing the NZ FTA demonstrate some of its current thinking about the direction of its global trade policy and its international ambitions, according to University of Canterbury’s Serena Kelly and Mathew Doidge.
13th July 2022 Opinion / TechnologyThe renewed interest in space can only benefit agriculture here on Earth by providing new opportunities to improve food.
21st June 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesAfter a decade of food scandals, the blockchain presents itself as a promising technology offering many features to guarantee trust, traceability, as well as product quality and food waste reduction.
20th June 2022 Opinion / Seafood NZThe workings of government can often be opaque but important work for the industry is under way, writes the industry body.
14th June 2022 OpinionThe world needs more diverse, local food production, processing and markets, argues Phoebe Stephens from Canada’s University of Toronto.
10th June 2022 Opinion / Perspectives.Changes are needed to enable better management of existing aquaculture, and the development of open ocean aquaculture, according to Ocean and Fisheries Minister David Parker.
9th June 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesThe end of easy credit combined with falling demand and rising costs means that only the strongest in the increasingly competitive food delivery space will survive.
1st June 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesA study of nitrate pollution looks at the industry’s impact on fresh water.
4th May 2022 OpinionWe soft launched Food Ticker a year ago to gauge interest in specialist NZ food and beverage industry news and insight. We’re pleased to say we’ve been warmly received.
27th April 2022 Opinion / Wednesday LetterThe next chapter of New Zealand’s food-tech enabled future can be built on the shoulders of dairy and the primary industries embracing the ‘and’ ideas over the ‘or’ ideas, argues entrepreneur and Future Food Aotearoa chair Alex Worker.
26th April 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesResearch shows the innate cognitive bias shoppers have towards focusing on price, no matter what.
20th April 2022 Opinion / PricesPeople must consider the impact cheap food has on the environment and whether there are better ways to help struggling families.
13th April 2022 Opinion / Wednesday LetterIn the face of other challenges, some have put their environmental policies on the backburner but that is dangerous short-term thinking, writes Southern Pastures’ Prem Maan.
7th April 2022 Delivery / OpinionLargely overlooked in the recent easing of Covid restrictions has been the unequal impact on marginalised groups such as gig workers, who remain voiceless and vulnerable.
16th March 2022 Opinion / Wednesday LetterNew Zealand’s re-opening of its borders to Australian visitors in mid-April and visa waiver countries in early May will do more than just help tourism, writes the Ticker’s Paul Yandall.
14th March 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesAs ComCom has found, restructuring the country’s duopoly-dominated grocery market is much harder than it looks.
9th March 2022 Opinion / Wednesday LetterDespite the sound and fury, the commission’s final report arrives with a whimper when it comes to competition, writes the Ticker’s Bridget O’Connell.
4th March 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesThe IPCC report highlights that more transformative change is needed from NZ’s food and fibre sector as global temperatures continue to rise.
2nd March 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesDr David Willer writes sardines should replace salmon to keep fish stocks healthy.
16th February 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesStraightforward guidance about ultra-processed foods is rare but action can be taken to ensure equitable access to healthy and sustainable foods.
9th February 2022 Opinion / PerspectivesAGMARDT GM Lee-Ann Marsh on why we need a new mindset that transcends siloed thinking.
23rd August 2021 Opinion / ResearchThere are numerous techniques, technologies and policies that together could help reduce global food waste at every point in the production and consumption process.
16th August 2021 OpinionWith a Covid-19 induced surge in online food delivery potentially harming national health, a group of trans-Tasman academics suggests the time is right to shape the online food environment to promote easy access to healthy and nutritious convenience food.
