Image Credit: Fast Company

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Politicians are taking remarkable steps to address environmental concerns and health implications in the food industry. Denmark has unveiled the world’s pioneering national action plan for promoting plant-based foods as part of its climate commitment. Meanwhile, in California, Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of the California Food Safety Act, set to be enforced in 2027, promises to bring significant changes by banning harmful additives like red dye No. 3, affecting various foods and snacks.

In other news, we’ve wrapped the first season of our podcast in partnership with AgFunder: New Food Order, a nuanced investigation into the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. Read all about why we launched the podcast, and be sure to subscribe and share!

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1. Denmark Introduces World’s First National Action Plan to Promote Plant-Based Foods – Green Queen

Following up on its 2021 climate agreement, the Denmark government has published an action plan to transition to a plant-based food system.

2. These Foods and Snacks Will Be Impacted By California’s Ban on Harmful Additives – Fast Company

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the California Food Safety Act, which will be implemented in 2027. It bans red dye No 3, among other additives.

3. Food Companies Aren’t All Walking the Talk on Regenerative Agriculture, Says FAIRR Investor Network – AFN

Two thirds of publicly-listed agrifood companies that have talked publicly about the potential of regenerative agriculture “have not put in place any formal quantitative company-wide targets to achieve those ambitions.”

4. Oatly Calls for Mandatory Carbon Labeling, Offers ‘Big Dairy’ Free Ad Space to Publish Climate Footprint – Green Queen

Oatly is offering free ad space to dairy producers, challenging them to publish their climate footprint alongside ads displaying Oatly’s footprint.

5. Esencia Foods Debuts Europe’s First Whole-Cut Mycelium Seafood at Major German Food Show – Green Queen

Esencia Foods is hosting Europe’s first tasting of mycelium seafood with its whitefish alternatives at the Anuga gastronomic fair in Cologne.

6. Lidl Germany’s Own-Label Vegan Alternatives Will Now Cost the Same as Meat & Dairy – Green Queen

The grocer will also place these vegan products directly next to their conventional counterparts across all its stores in Germany.

7. How a Fertilizer Shortage Is Spreading Desperate Hunger – New York Times

Across Africa and in parts of Asia, disruption to the supply chain for fertilizer is raising food prices and increasing malnutrition.

8. Gaza Residents Face Food and Water Shortages As They Flee South – Washington Post

Israel urged more than a million residents to evacuate northern Gaza, where Israeli strikes have wiped out families and laid waste to its once-bustling commercial center.

9. Hype Built the Cultivated Meat Industry. Now It Could End It. – Fast Company

Cultivated meat could be key to lowering emissions. But failure to hit optimistic timelines is making the companies in the space look suspect.