This week in business, Symrise successfully obtained the FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certification for ingredients derived from forest products and the European Dairy Association (EDA) has welcomed the conclusion of a political agreement on trade between the EU and Mexico. Plans for a new Dairygold facility are underway, in Cork, Ireland, which will significantly increase production capacity of Jarlsberg cheese up to 20,000 tons annually. Meanwhile, Nestlé UK and Ireland have taken the wrapping off a £3 million (US$4.1 million) upgrade to its head office site in York and Nestlé has also inaugurated a US$120 million pet food factory in Teno, Chile.

In brief: Sustainability & traceability
Symrise has successfully obtained the FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certification for ingredients derived from forest products. This eco-credential breaks new ground by considering environmental and social responsibility for users of fragrances and flavors derived from the forest. Continuing with its approach of sourcing its key raw materials sustainably and working closely with FSC, Symrise spent almost a year in building a robust framework upon which consumers can feel confident they are using fragrances and flavors derived from sustainable sources.

Danone has introduced a set of nine long-term goals for the company and its brands. Aligned with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development agenda, the Danone 2030 Goals embed the business, brand and trust models of the company to drive long-term sustainable value creation and deliver the company’s ‘One Planet. One Heath’ vision. As a founding act for its goals, Danone is launching ‘One Person, One Voice, One Share’, an innovative employee engagement program and governance model for all of its 100,000 employees to co-own the company agenda, actively participate in defining roadmaps to bring the goals to life, and deepen their ownership mindset.

In the UK, Marks & Spencer has launched a new, summer-long food marketing campaign that shines a spotlight on what M&S claims are "unrivaled beef traceability standards." As highlighted in the campaign, M&S says it is the only national retailer in the UK that can trace every piece of beef it sells – whether it’s in a prepared meal, a sandwich or a prime cut – all the way back to every farm and animal from which it is sourced.

In brief: Business
The European Dairy Association (EDA) has welcomed the conclusion of a political agreement on trade between the EU and Mexico. “The dedication of EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström and EU Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan in promoting trade has been shown since the beginning of these re-negotiations with Mexico,” says EDA secretary general Alexander Anton. “The 2000 agreement did not include agriculture products. We already see that this new agreement will grant us better market access.” Both economies value the importance of their dairy sector. To underline this, EDA published its Dairy Trade Focus on Mexico showcasing both industries. The Mexican and EU dairy industry have both increased their milk production between 2010-2016, with + 7 percent and +11 percent respectively. Mexico is 82 percent self-sufficient in dairy products and has a strong interest in importing EU dairy products like cheese and butter. Mexico appears poised to enact new restrictions on the use of common cheese names such as “parmesan,” “munster” and “feta” for products sold in Mexico, a development that runs counter to existing trade agreements with the US, according to preliminary reports on the European unio (EU)-Mexico free trade agreement. Full details of the agreement have not yet been released, but early information indicates Mexico will force cheese marketers from Mexico and the United States to phase out the use of some generic names, yielding to the EU’s desire to monopolize those cheese markets.

Kemin has announced the launch of a new business unit, Kemin AquaKulture. Kemin AquaKulture will direct the expertise of Kemin in inspired molecular solutions and consumer insights toward aquatic species and aqua feed. Kemin will use its 50-plus years of experience, expertise and innovation to apply its pioneering animal nutrition and health products and solutions to the aquaculture industry.

Dairygold has welcomed a planning authority green light whcih grants permission for the development of state of the art facilities for the manufacture of Jarlsberg cheese in Mogeely, Co. Cork, Ireland. The proposal involves a commercial partnership between Dairygold and TINE SA, Norway’s largest farmer-owned dairy Co-Operative and owner of the Jarlsberg cheese brand. Under the proposal, TINE SA will invest in the development while Dairygold‘s investment in the project which it says will provide a Brexit-proof route to market for locally produced milk. This new dedicated Jarlsberg factory will significantly increase production capacity with a potential to produce up to 20,000 tons annually. The cheese produced at the new facility will be exported to Europe, the US and further afield.

Nestlé UK and Ireland has taken the wrapping off a major GB£3 million upgrade to its York head office site as employees get their first glimpse of a brand new reception, restaurant and meeting area. The work, which began in 2017, has taken around nine months to complete and transforms the entire ground floor of Nestlé House, on the city’s Haxby Road, home to several of the company’s key functions as well as its confectionery headquarters. Meanwhile, Nestlé has also inaugurated a state-of-the-art pet food factory in Teno, Chile. The factory will produce high-quality pet food for dogs and cats, meeting growing demand from pet owners in Chile. With an investment of US$120 million, the factory is claimed to be among the most modern in the world, ensuring the highest standards of quality and food safety. The new site will directly employ 154 people, more than 70 percent of whom come from neighboring areas and 40 percent of whom are less than 30 years of age. Also this month, Nestlé joined together with partners across the food industry to submit a public comment to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supporting the Clean Power Plan, which regulates greenhouse gas emissions.

In brief: Other highlights
DSM CEO Feike Sijbesma has been named among the world’s 50 greatest leaders in Fortune Magazine’s annual list. He is number 44 on the list, and the only Dutch person to be included.

ADM Chief Compliance Officer Ben Bard has been named to Compliance Week’s Top Minds 2018. Each year, Compliance Week highlights the best and brightest in the governance, risk, ethics, and compliance profession with the Top Minds award. The rigorous selecion process takes into consideration experience in the field, overall professional stature and individual achievements, among other factors. Honorees, who come from a wide range of disciplines, exemplify four qualities: they are effective, collaborative, constructive and visionary.

Finally, dairy company Edlong, has been honored as one of the 100 Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business.