According to the Association of Vanilla Exporters of Uganda Limited (VANEX), the country exported a record 604 metric tons of natural vanilla in 2024. This comes at a time when government involvement in market-leading vanilla countries like Madagascar and tariff uncertainty in the United States are driving food and beverage brands to expand the scope of their vanilla sourcing. Uganda offers a sturdy primary or complementary source of vanilla — helping fortify supply chains while maintaining a consistent taste experience. Uganda shares the same creamy vanilla cultivar, Vanilla planifolia, with Madagascar, though Ugandan vanilla is often noted for imparting subtle flavor nuances like buttery cacao and fig in sweet goods, beverages, ice cream, and more. “Brands want to diversify their sourcing,” said Henry Todd, vice president of international operations for flavor supplier Virginia Dare, in a statement. “When the world relies too heavily on a single origin, it creates price and supply volatility that ultimately impacts the end consumer. That kind of instability can drive brands toward synthetic alternatives, which compromises the premium flavor experience that natural vanilla provides. Virginia Dare is proud to offer Ugandan vanilla — our customers love its sweet, creamy taste with subtle notes of cacao and leather.” 

IminoTech Inc. announced new clinical research demonstrating that Q-actin, its patented cucumber (Cucumis sativus) extract standardized to greater than 1% ido-BR1, significantly improves sleep quality and finger dexterity in healthy older adults. The 12-week randomized and placebo-controlled study was published recently in “Frontiers in Nutrition.” “Sleep disturbances are increasingly common with age and often managed with pharmaceuticals that can have undesirable side effects,” said Dr. Amanda Lloyd, lead author of the study, in a statement. “Our findings suggest that Q-actin offers a gentle, effective, and natural alternative by supporting the body’s own melatonin pathways.” Q-actin has already been clinically validated for joint comfort and mobility. This new research expands its portfolio of benefits to include sleep and cognitive wellness. Study participants experienced increases in urinary melatonin metabolites and meaningful improvements in neuromuscular function. “We’re excited to see Q-actin demonstrate such broad potential across physical and mental wellness,” said Shil Kothari, CEO of IminoTech, in a statement. “A natural ingredient that supports joint, sleep, and cognitive health from a single low daily dose of just 20 milligrams opens exciting formulation opportunities for supplements and functional beverages.” 

PURE Bioscience Inc., creator of the patented non-toxic silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) antimicrobial, announced an innovative application method for membrane treatment in the dairy and beverage industry using its flagship product, PURE Hard Surface. This solution addresses common membrane fouling and sanitization challenges, delivering outstanding results that enable operators to restore throughput and sanitize the membrane without damage or oxidation, the company says. Tom Myers, executive vice president of technology and development at PURE Bioscience, stated: “The introduction of PURE Hard Surface to the Dairy and Beverage industry represents a significant advancement in membrane treatment technology. This product delivers unmatched efficiency and enhances filtration operation and longevity.” PURE Hard Surface effectively removes fouling, restores flow, and delays the need for membrane replacement without compromising membrane integrity, it shares. In practical applications, our treatment has shown complete membrane penetration within 5 minutes for reverse osmosis (RO) systems, effectively scrubbing away fouling and restoring throughput. Similarly, our ultrafiltration treatment (UF) systems resulted in immediate penetration and unmatched restoration of throughput while sanitizing to meet stringent quality specifications.