Saskatoon is known for its high-calibre food scene, so it’s no surprise it’s hosting this year’s FCC Food and Beverage Summit.

You’re invited to come experience the newest ideas and innovations in Canadian food and beverage on Tuesday, September 23 at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon. Samples included! There will be 35 food and beverage vendors exhibiting their products to over 300 attendees, including buyers and distributors.

Get a sneak peek at what could be the next food and beverage trends to hit grocery store shelves in Canada. The FCC Food and Beverage Summit brings together the top Canadian minds behind the businesses and ideas that affect everyone from producers and distributers to sellers and consumers.

FCC is excited to welcome to this year’s summit. Contact us at the email below to pre-book an interview.

Date:          September 23, 2025
Location:   Prairieland Park, 503 Ruth Street West Saskatoon, SK
Time:          8:00 am – 5:00 pm CST

TALLINN, Estonia (September 16th, 2025) , an Estonian biotechnology company developing sustainable, non-animal fats and non-vegetable oils through innovative precision fermentation processes, has successfully completed its first full-scale production run of its encapsulated oil product, reaching a volume of 1 tonne. The milestone represents a 300-fold increase from the company's laboratory capabilities, positioning ÄIO to address the growing demand for more natural alternatives to unsustainable, environmentally polluting, and potentially harmful ingredients that have long been used throughout the cosmetics and food manufacturing industries.

ÄIO uses biomass and precision fermentation to transform industrial side streams into nutrient-rich oils and fats. The company’s encapsulated oil, high in proteins, fibres, and functional lipids, offers an eco-conscious alternative to palm and coconut oil, eggs, and even cocoa powder. In cosmetics formulations, it provides nourishing properties with additional bioactive benefits, acting as a natural alternative to petroleum-derived mineral oils, which can be harmful to the skin and cause environmental pollution. In food applications, it delivers an umami taste and a versatile texture profile, making it suitable for a wide range of products, from meat-free patties to confectionery.

“This is not just a production milestone, it’s a validation of a dream,” says Nemailla Bonturi, ÄIO's CEO and co-founder. “As a scientist, I’ve been developing this fermentation process since 2013. Seeing something that I started in a small lab in Brazil now being produced at this scale in Europe is incredibly rewarding. This first tonne is the first of many to come, and crucially, it proves our process can scale beyond pilot settings and validates the commercial potential we’re working toward.”

The production run, completed between late 2024 and mid-2025, comes as industries face mounting pressure to reduce environmental impact. For example, reports indicate that , while the  that current food production systems have contributed to a 70% decline in terrestrial biodiversity since 1970.

In the cosmetics sector, manufacturers are under increasing pressure to seek natural alternatives to commonly used petrochemical ingredients. Reports indicate that the beauty industry  due to the , also known as “forever chemicals," which are already restricted in the US. 

"The fundamental economics have shifted," Bonturi explains. "Five years ago, sustainable alternatives carried a significant price premium. Today, supply chain disruptions and regulatory pressures have created conditions where precision fermentation can achieve cost parity with conventional oils while eliminating environmental and ethical concerns. For manufacturers, ecologically conscious ingredients are no longer a ‘nice-to-have’, they’re a necessity."

With the tonne-scale milestone achieved, ÄIO is now preparing for its next major goal: establishing a commercial production facility capable of producing 2,000 tonnes annually. The company has completed pre-engineering concept work for this facility and is developing partnerships with companies involving feedstock supply, distribution, and off-take agreements.

"Scaling the production closer to commercial levels allows ÄIO to validate and optimize our production technology and its efficiency,” says Martin Mets, CFO at ÄIO. “We have already reduced our unit costs by 80% in the last years, through scale and optimization, and we expect to continue with a similar cost reduction curve for the foreseeable years. The one tonne milestone highlights the great progress our team has made in realizing fermentation technology that is a feasible and cost-competitive alternative to current unsustainable sources."

ÄIO has already begun sharing product samples with manufacturers in both food and personal care, with initial interest from producers seeking to reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining product performance. The company also plans to launch a new fundraising round by late 2026 to accelerate its expansion and capture growth in the alternative fats and oils market, .

“We’re now showing that the commercial viability for plant-based alternatives to traditional oils is very real. We’re ready to bring these benefits to the world, proving that our technology can deliver sustainable alternatives at the scale needed to make a real impact on global food systems and other industrial applications across entire product categories,” Bonturi concludes.

Iselin, New Jersey, September 15, 2025

• Brenntag will now supply Food & Nutrition customers in North America with the Lallemand Nutrilife® baking enzyme specialty range
• Exclusive agreement expands current Europe collaboration into North America

Brenntag, the global market leader in chemicals and ingredients distribution, today announced an additional expansion of the exclusive business collaboration for food enzymes with Lallemand Bio-Ingredients Food Enzymes in North America. Through this expanded agreement, Lallemand—whose Nutrilife® baking enzyme range is renowned for its ease of use, high performance and formulation flexibility, will collaborate with Brenntag Nutrition & Food to deliver commercial and technical expertise and direct access to a comprehensive and growing baking enzyme portfolio for Brenntag’s U.S. and Canada customers.

Lallemand is a leading global provider of fermentation-based enzymes for the food industry. The company emphasizes clean-label and sustainable innovation, serving applications in baking, plant-based foods and other functional food systems. Brenntag originally began its exclusive collaboration with Lallemand in 2024, covering Europe.

Kevin Hack, Regional President Nutrition North America, Brenntag Specialties, commented: “We are thrilled to announce our new collaboration with Lallemand in North America, designed specifically to bring cutting-edge enzyme innovations to the baking industry. By integrating these advanced solutions into our portfolio, we aim to better support our customers in creating more sustainable, functional and high-quality baked goods.”

“Our expanded partnership with Brenntag offers a strategic platform to extend Lallemand’s baking enzyme innovations to a wider customer base. With Brenntag’s robust distribution network and technical support, combined with our century-long expertise in fermentation and microorganisms, this collaboration is a natural synergy. Together, we aim to deliver high-performing, user-friendly solutions driven by global innovation and tailored to local needs,” added Lars Asferg, President, Lallemand Bio-Ingredients.

Gaia Biomaterials has entered into a distribution agreement with Dubai-based RA International for its compostable plastic alternative, Biodolomer, in the GCC region. The material, based on limestone, can be used for both soft and rigid applications across almost all plastic conversion technologies.

The Gulf countries consume large volumes of packaging materials and single-use plastics, creating a growing environmental challenge. Authorities in the region are moving rapidly toward more sustainable solution, with the UAE committing to zero waste to landfill by 2030 and Saudi Arabia targeting 100% diversion under Vision 2030.

“When we learned about Gaia’s Biodolomer, it was clear that it would be perfect for the region,” says founder and CEO, Soraya Narfeldt.

“As there is little recycling infrastructure in place, a compostable material makes a lot of sense. Over the past six months, we have spoken to many stakeholders in the field, and the interest is very strong.”

Biodolomer is certified compostable in both the EU and the USA. It does not generate microplastics and contains no PFAS or added chemicals. The resulting compost, rich in calcium, is well-suited for landscaping. The patented material was invented and is produced in Sweden.

The distribution agreement covers all GCC countries, and the initial focus will be on the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

“Entering the GCC region is very exciting,” says Gaia Biomaterials CEO, Peter Stenström.

“We have received many inquiries over the past years, but RA International has conducted research in a way that is unique. They also demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainability and have deep knowledge of the region.”

RA International is a leading provider of services to remote locations in Africa and the Middle East. The company has around 1,300 employees in more than 15 countries and specializes in construction, integrated facilities management, and supply chain services. Its customers include UN agencies, Western governments, and global corporations. The new agreement with Gaia Biomaterials will lead to the establishment of a dedicated business unit.

“Through our work in remote locations, we have gained many years of experience in waste management,” Narfeldt adds.

“We understand the complexities and the need for new solutions, and with Gaia and Biodolomer we found exactly that. With our base in Dubai, we are also ideally located from a logistics perspective.”

The agreement took effect on September 1. First customer deliveries are expected in Q1 2026.