Westchester, Ill.-based Ingredion Inc. reported second quarter 2020 results indicating that although net sales were down 13 percent from 2019 due to adverse impacts from COVID-19, the company anticipates demand for food consumed in the home to remain elevated, increasing volumes for ingredients that are part of the recipes for these meals.

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.-based SweeGen recently announced its joint venture with the China Commercial Foreign Trade Group (CCFT) as the strategic partner to distribute Bestevia next-generation non-GMO zero-calorie stevia sweeteners through its distribution channels in China. The joint venture will transform the sugar market by providing food and beverage manufacturers in China with the highly sought-after sugar reduction solutions from Sweegen.

Momence, Ill.-based FutureCeuticals, a division of Van Drunen Farms, has released its acerola powder. Acerola has a standardized ORAC value of 800 umoleTE/gram, meaning the 100 percent natural powder provides a concentrated source for antioxidant benefits, the company says. The powder also provides significant levels of vitamin C, magnesium, pantothenic acid, potassium, vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and iron.

Tricia DiPersio has joined the executive team at Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Folium Biosciences as the company’s first executive vice president of quality, compliance and customer relations. Prior to joining the Folium team, DiPersio oversaw quality and compliance for food, beverages and supplements at Wild Oats Markets (now Whole Foods), among other regulatory positions.

New York-based IFF Health, part of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. and DolCas Biotech, have partnered on the sales and marketing of Curcugen, a next-generation, all-natural turmeric extract for the dietary supplement and food and beverage industries, the companies say. Curcugen is a highly concentrated and highly dispersible curcumin ingredient, with a turmeric base and a 50 percent curcuminoid concentration produced by a patent-pending technology, it says.

Boston-based Phenolaeis formulated its Palm Fruit Bioactive complex (PFBc) ingredient into functional coffee crystals, adding the benefits of cognitive, cardiovascular and sports nutrition support while enhancing and smoothing the flavor of coffee, it says. The functional crystals are suitable for glass bottle packaging, single-servings, stick packs, box, bags, and sachets, as well as mixed into roasted and ground coffee, and liquid, the company says.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada-based Merit Functional Foods announced a new partnership with international agribusiness and food company Bunge Ltd., which has made a $30 million (CAD) capital investment in Merit to give the global ingredient supplier a minority interest in the Canadian-based company. The partnership will expedite the construction of Merit’s state-of-the-art plant-based protein production facility in Manitoba, where it will produce novel pea and canola protein ingredients. The plant is on track to be operational by December, it says.

Vernier, Switzerland.-based Givaudan announced it is evolving the name of its Flavour and Fragrance divisions to reflect its expanded product offering to its customers; the Flavour Division now will be known as Taste & Wellbeing. The Fragrance Division will become Fragrance & Beauty, it says.

Newport Beach, Calif.-based Layn Natural Ingredients has named Jim Rosa as its chief scientific advisor. In this role, Roza will lead science, research and innovation efforts for nutraceutical, supplement and personal care applications at Layn USA.