Plant-based nutrition brand Kate Farms has expanded its High Protein Nutrition Shake range with a new vanilla flavour, targeting consumers looking for convenient plant-based nutrition with a higher protein content. The new creamy vanilla shake contains 25g of protein, 6g of fibre and 160 calories per carton. It is made with organic pea protein and is designed to provide a convenient option for consumers looking to increase their daily protein intake. The launch adds a sweeter flavour profile to Kate Farms’ High Protein Nutrition Shake portfolio, with the company positioning the product around both taste and nutritional functionality. The shake is dairy-free and gluten-free, while being designed for easy digestion. The product is made with organic pea protein, providing a plant-based alternative for consumers seeking high-protein nutrition without dairy. The company is targeting a range of consumption occasions, including busy lifestyles, everyday protein intake and supporting muscle health. The vanilla launch forms part of Kate Farms’ wider focus on making plant-based nutrition more accessible through convenient ready-to-drink formats. The new Vanilla High Protein Nutrition Shake is available to purchase from Kate Farms, with the company also selling its products through major US retailers including Walmart and Target. It is priced at $55 per case of 12 cartons, available online.

Australian ingredients company Wide Open Agriculture (WOA) has signed a non-binding framework agreement with plant protein producer Proeon Foods for contract manufacturing of its lupin-based ingredients. Proeon was chosen by WOA due to its manufacturing footprint and expertise in developing, manufacturing and marketing functional plant protein isolate ingredients sourced from mung bean and peanut. It was founded in 2018 and specialises in next-generation plant protein solutions, headquartered at the Delft Biotech Campus in the Netherlands with production operations in Pune, India. Proeon supplies food and beverage brands across Europe, North America and Southeast Asia. Its production facility in India aligns with WOA’s intention to secure an Asia-based manufacturing and marketing partner to reduce production costs. The agreement protects WOA’s intellectual property (IP) and sets out principles for a future contract manufacturing deal covering WOA’s lupin-based ingredients. It follows a period of mutual due diligence undertaken by both parties under NDA, WOA said. The deal forms part of WOA’s ambitions to shift to a lower-cost, capital-light contract manufacturing model and improve production economics. It also grants Proeon exclusive rights to distribute WOA’s lupin products in India, conditional on WOA’s approval of commercial production. WOA is not required to commit to minimum order volumes or exclusivity with Proeon and said it continues to progress discussions with additional prospective partners. Craig Swan, CEO of WOA, said: “With our intellectual property protected, we can now start working closely with Proeon, jointly progressing technical and commercial objectives, running trials, and building the kind of understanding that only comes from working together.” Kevin Parekh, founder of Proeon Foods, added: “We've long admired what WOA has built with lupin protein. It's a genuinely underused crop, and WOA's technology is some of the most interesting we've seen in the plant protein space.” “Signing this term sheet lets us start working closely together, sharing information and exploring what a manufacturing and marketing partnership with WOA could look like, and we're looking forward to seeing where that leads.” Top image: © Wide Open Agriculture

Vertical farming business leaders will take stock of the sector’s future at the 7th Vertical Farming World Congress on 5-7 October in central London, after a demanding year of heightened financial pressure despite the technology's evident climate benefits. Hosted at the Bloomsbury Ballroom, the three-day Congress will bring together vertical farming operators, investors, suppliers, academics and advisers to review business models, commercial strategies, market opportunities and the latest in crop and technology innovation for the industry’s only dedicated annual international forum. Over 20 speakers have already been announced from as far afield as Chile and Singapore, Mexico and Taiwan, alongside contributions from the main associations in Africa, Japan and the United States. There will also be an opportunity to visit Fischer Farms Technology’s manufacturing site in Birmingham and Harvest London’s Plant Room, the city’s largest vertical farm. “All governments are now facing the combined disruptions of climate change, military conflict and trade unpredictability,” commented Richard Hall, Chair of event organisers FoodBev Media. “Many are developing policies to improve national food self-sufficiency and nutrition quality. Vertical farming can play an increasingly important role, with renewable energy sourcing, consistent year-round production, no floods, no droughts and no pesticides. “This year’s theme of ‘Rising to the Challenge’ is designed to explore how vertical farming can best help strengthen food supplies and public health, while improving sustainability and achieving competitiveness,” he concluded. For more information and to register, visit www.foodbevevents.com/event/vertical-farming-world-congress-2026. Discounts are available for start-up businesses and for online attendance.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed making notifications for Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) substances mandatory, marking a significant shift in how food ingredients are overseen in the US. The proposed rule, announced by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), would require manufacturers to notify the FDA whenever they conclude that a substance added to human or animal food meets the criteria for GRAS status. The proposal would replace the current voluntary notification framework under which companies can independently determine that an ingredient is GRAS without informing the FDA. HHS said the changes are intended to increase transparency and give the FDA greater visibility into substances entering the US food supply. Kyle Diamantas, acting FDA commissioner, said: “By proposing mandatory GRAS notifications, we are closing critical information gaps and giving the FDA greater visibility into substances entering the food supply.” The GRAS exemption was established by Congress in 1958 and allows substances whose safety is generally recognised by qualified experts to be exempt from the food additive approval process. While the FDA has operated a voluntary GRAS notification programme for years, manufacturers have not previously been required to submit a notification when making an independent GRAS determination. Under the proposed rules, any party introducing a substance into interstate commerce under the GRAS provision would have to notify the FDA of the basis for its conclusion. However, the proposal would not introduce a requirement for pre-market approval. Companies would still be able to market a substance before submitting a GRAS notice, during FDA review and after submission, provided the substance meets the statutory GRAS criteria. The FDA has proposed that failure to submit a notification would be considered when prioritising substances for post-market review. However, non-notification alone would not automatically mean that a substance is adulterated or that the FDA has determined it is not GRAS. The proposed framework would also establish a streamlined route for substances already on the market based on independent GRAS conclusions. Manufacturers would have a limited period to provide the FDA with information about existing uses. Under the proposal, the streamlined submission window would remain open for one year after the final rule takes effect. The FDA would initially require identifying information rather than the full underlying safety dossier through this pathway. However, the agency would retain the ability to subsequently require a full GRAS notification or a food additive petition. The proposal includes several exceptions for human food, including certain substances covered by existing FDA ‘no questions’ letters, substances already listed or affirmed as GRAS in FDA regulations, some historical-use substances and uses reviewed through established FDA consultation processes. The FDA is also proposing the ability to revisit, update or rescind previous ‘no questions’ letters where new information raises questions about the underlying GRAS conclusion. The proposed mandatory system could significantly increase the regulatory and administrative burden for food and ingredient manufacturers, particularly companies with large portfolios of substances that have historically relied on independent GRAS determinations. This includes food-tech start-ups launching ingredients made via advanced fermentation, like precision fermentation, and other novel alternative protein ingredients. Legal firm Venable said the proposal means manufacturers should begin reviewing their existing GRAS uses and assessing whether they fall within any of the proposed exceptions. It also advised companies to preserve evidence documenting when independently concluded GRAS uses entered interstate commerce, which could become important when using the proposed streamlined pathway. The proposed rule is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register today (11 August 2026), with the FDA proposing a 120-day consultation period with comments expected to be due in December. If finalised the mandatory notification provisions would have a compliance date of 18 months after the effective date of the final rule. The final rule would itself take effect 60 days after publication. The proposed changes form part of the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again agenda, which is also behind efforts to establish a federal definition of ultra-processed foods. HHS and the US Department of Agriculture have separately submitted the federal government’s first proposed definition of UPFs for final review. HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr said the measures would bring “greater transparency to what’s in our food,” and strengthen the scientific basis of federal nutrition policy.

Plant-based dairy alternatives brand Malk has today (10 August 2026) announced the launch of Whole Malk – a clean-label, organic plant-based milk containing 12g of protein per serving. The brand, headquartered in Texas, is rolling out its new offering across the US from today at Whole Foods, Target and Sprouts stores. Designed to be a ‘true everyday dairy replacement that works for the entire household,’ the drink is USDA-certified organic and contains no gums, oils or filler ingredients. It is made from a blend or coconut, cashew, soy and pea protein, and is fortified with vitamins and minerals. According to Malk, its latest offering is suitable across a range of uses including coffee, cereal, smoothies, cooking and baking. It comes after the brand reported surpassing $94 million in sales and selling more than 1.4 million units last year. Building on this momentum, Malk is focusing on expanding its portfolio while continuing to align with its clean-label philosophy, centred around simple and natural ingredients. The alt-dairy producer unveiled a line of coconut-based creamers, available in three flavours, earlier this year, responding to demand for sweet and barista-worthy options that remain free from gums, oils and ‘mysterious natural flavours’.

US biotech company Dyadic Applied BioSolutions has announced the expansion of its commercial non-animal dairy pipeline through a new development and commercial license agreement with a European company for additional precision-fermented dairy proteins. Dyadic, based in Florida, develops recombinant protein solutions across the life sciences, food and nutrition, bioindustrial and biopharmaceutical markets. Its latest announcement marks the growth of its food and nutrition pipeline, aligning with its strategy of developing recurring revenue opportunities through strategic development partnerships, licensing and commercial participation. The new programme builds on Dyadic’s growing portfolio of non-dairy proteins and enzymes, including the commercial launch of recombinant bovine chymosin through Denmark-based company Inzymes and the ongoing development of recombinant bovine alpha-lactalbumin with Dutch group Brig Bio. The programmes showcase how Dyadic’s Dapibus precision fermentation platform can repeatedly generate dairy proteins and enzymes that can serve multiple food and nutrition markets. Dapibus is designed to rapidly develop and manufacture recombinant food proteins and enzymes using established microbial fermentation processes and existing industrial fermentation infrastructure, aiming to support efficient, scalable and cost-effective production. Under the agreement, Dyadic is eligible to receive development and commercial payments, licensing-related revenues and other potential economic participation tied to successful commercialisation, creating multiple pathways for future revenue generation. Amid growing demand for high-quality animal-free dairy ingredients, the proteins being developed are intended for a wide range of applications supporting improved functionality, texture and nutritional performance. The programme will now advance through strain optimisation, process development and commercial scale-up activities as Dyadic continues expanding its food and nutrition portfolio with strategic partners. Joe Hazelton, president and chief operating officer of Dyadic Applied BioSolutions, said: “Together with the commercialisation of recombinant bovine chymosin through our partnership with Inzymes and our ongoing bovine alpha-lactalbumin collaboration with Brig Bio, we are building a diversified pipeline of precision-fermented dairy proteins and enzymes”. “Each new programme further strengthens the Dapibus platform as a repeatable engine for commercial growth.”

US food-tech company Plantible Foods has received a new loan from X-Caliber Rural Capital, a US Department of Agriculture (USDA)-backed lender, to significantly expand production of its plant-based Rubi Protein ingredient. The $25 million loan, in addition to a $10 million equity investment from RA Capital and existing investors, will allow Plantible to quintuple annual production capacity for Rubi protein at its ‘Ranchito’ facility in Eldorado, Texas. Rubi Protein is made from RuBisCO protein derived from Lemna (also known as duckweed, or water lentils) and has already been proven at the company’s 100-acre enclosed aquafarm site. The company’s technology uses an aquatic, controlled crop cycle, limiting exposure to seasonal volatility and extreme weather events to allow steady harvests and stable income for local, rural communities. According to the start-up, the debt and equity financing will allow it to build up to 50 new greenhouses and increase annual production capacity to over 1,000 metric tons. The funding win follows a series of commercial and regulatory milestones for the company. In February, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues a ‘No Questions’ letter confirming Rubi Protein’s Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status – the first US government approval for isolated RuBisCO protein in food applications. Customers including ICL Food Specialties are already using Rubi Protein as a binding agent in formulations. The ingredient aims to meet growing demand for stable and clean-label plant-based proteins, providing manufacturers with a functional ingredient that contains all nine essential amino acids, vitamin B12, and a neutral taste with no known allergens. Plantibel said the funding will enable its expansion into new markets and support fulfilment of its existing customer pipeline. Maria Buitron, a principal at investor Piva Capital, said: “Plantible has translated breakthrough science into consistent, scalable production, and this expansion is the next proof point”. “Reducing water consumption and expanding protein production is a holy grail for an industry that is facing consistent constraints on available, healthy protein alternatives.” X-Caliber Rural Capital provided the $25 million in debt financing through its USDA OneRD Business & Industry Program, with the loan originated by vice president Sean Stehr. Anna West, president of X-Caliber Rural Capital, noted that innovative companies often face financing challenges as they scale – despite clear long-term potential. “USDA's Business & Industry Loan Guarantee Program helps bridge that gap, and we're proud to provide the maximum financing available under the program to support Plantible Foods' continued growth and investment in rural America,” she added.

In a challenging commercial environment, Edera Labs' Chiara Molena highlights how today's food-tech start-ups must look beyond technical validation in order to demonstrate commercial maturity and see success. In this piece, she explores how companies can communicate this more clearly to manufacturers, R&D teams, procurement leads and corporate innovation partners. Chiara Molena Most food-tech start-ups, especially those working with very novel or cutting-edge technologies, prioritise proving that their technology works through means such as testing, validation and life-cycle analyses. While vital to securing funding and coming naturally to scientist-heavy founder teams, an excessive focus on technical proof alone fails to align with the questions downstream buyers – the ultimate focus of any food-tech start-up – ask when evaluating potential new ingredients, the security of supply, cost of incorporation and compatibility with existing manufacturing processes. In a cut-throat environment, food-tech start-ups must be willing to look beyond communicating only their technological uniqueness and to demonstrate that they – and their product – are right for downstream buyers, and provide relevant solutions to solve these buyers' pain points. Edera Lab recently co-authored a white paper with Dutch agri-food accelerator StartLife, drawing on the experience and expertise of food-tech investors, start-ups, incubators and buyers to understand how start-ups can best communicate within the industry. Technical validation is not the same as buyer confidence Technical validation is an essential milestone for food-tech start-ups, but in practice, most manufacturers are not buying innovation or sustainability. They are evaluating the ingredient or solution against a far wider range of criteria: whether they can integrate smoothly into existing production environments without creating unnecessary disruption or uncertainty, the impact on cost, and the ability of the start-up to reliably supply the ingredient on time and in the quantities (and quality) needed. Cost-in-use matters more than ingredient price A common misconception among start-ups is that corporate buyers evaluate costs merely by looking at the price-per-kilo of the ingredient. The reality is far more complex, with buyers considering the overall impact of incorporating the new ingredient. Adding a new ingredient can affect the cost in many ways: the cost of changes that need to be made to the manufacturing process, any changes to the shelf life of the finished product, and the impact of consumer trends. If a novel ingredient costs less per kilo but makes the overall manufacturing process less efficient, reduces the product shelf life or is unlikely to appeal to consumers, buyers are unlikely to use it. Start-ups must therefore place improvements to the wider value proposition at the centre of their communications strategy. An innovative fat solution, for example, may offer little savings in cost-per-kilo, but may reduce the need for other ingredients such as emulsifiers or flavourings while improving qualities like emulsification, mouthfeel and melting characteristics to the benefit of consumers. Start-ups should be sure of these qualities and willing to emphasise them. Communicating commercial maturity Just as buyers want to be able to understand how a new ingredient will benefit them cost-wise, corporate buyers also need confidence that the start-up is operationally credible, commercially aware and capable of supporting long-term partnerships. This is why communicating commercial maturity is very important. Buyers want to understand how a solution fits into existing manufacturing processes, whether supply can scale reliably and how implementation will be supported. Providing high-quality and easily readable technical documentation with industry-focused terminology that is consistent with what is used on marketing decks, websites and social media strengthens buyer confidence. But equally important is making the move from selling vision and innovation at the early stage to conversations around operational reliability and cold commercial logic as the start-up matures. By sourcing ingredients from a start-up, especially novel ingredients, buyers are taking a risk. Every breakthrough, success or opinion piece in media helps to create an image of a company that is well-run and making reliable progress, and that buyers are taking less and less of a risk in doing business. Consistent visibility that builds a story of reliability With buyers, partners and investors all monitoring industry news to see which companies are making breakthroughs and achieving milestones, constant visibility is more than just a vanity or an ego boost for the founders. Announcements like funding success, partnerships, technical achievements, pilot announcement and customer traction all send positive signals to buyers that the company can be trusted to deliver what they need. At a fundamental level, start-ups need industry stakeholders to know that they exist and where they stand. Even during a period when a company has little news to communicate, they can still maintain visibility and constantly remind stakeholders of their presence through an effective social media strategy and seeking non-breakthrough coverage in industry media. Contributed pieces or interviews with key figures in the company tells stakeholders that the start-up is run by industry experts whom they can trust. The importance of transparency Buyers, operating against internal KPIs and facing real consequences in the event of failure, want to be able to trust the start-ups with whom they work. While many founders are rightly proud of what they have created and want to spread the message, their credibility as a company depends on being transparent and honest about their limitations. Earning a reputation for overpromising, or concealing areas of uncertainty or unreadiness, does far more to harm a start-up’s reputation as a reliable partner than freely admitting that there are areas of imperfection or requiring further development. Buyers understand the constraints within which start-ups operate and are usually willing to tolerate them, even if it means waiting for the start-up to mature further. The price of doing nothing In a crowded start-up ecosystem, competition for the attention and custom of corporate buyers is cut-throat. In this environment, being able to communicate ideas effectively is essential for keeping a start-up in the minds of those with decision-making power. Poor communication can be less immediately obvious than a poor technological proposition or business model, but it can manifest itself over time through weaker buyer engagement, reduced investor confidence and ultimately the delayed adoption of the startup’s ingredients. When there are direct competitors with a similar offering, the success or failure of a particular start-up can hinge on their ability to remain top of mind for buyers, investors and other ecosystem stakeholders. In food-tech, innovation alone rarely guarantees adoption. Corporate buyers are not only evaluating whether a technology works, but whether the company behind it can become a reliable long-term partner. Start-ups that communicate commercial maturity clearly, through transparent messaging, operational credibility, application readiness and consistent visibility, are often better positioned to build trust across long and complex sales cycles. In a period of intense competition for the sector where several high-profile foodtech start-ups have recently failed, communication is becoming more than a marketing function. It is part of how buyers assess risk, credibility and readiness. The start-ups most likely to succeed commercially may not necessarily be those with the most groundbreaking, spectacular or sustainable technologies, but those able to demonstrate clearly how their innovation integrates into the realities of food manufacturing, procurement and consumer expectations.

UK flavour house I.T.S has launched a new caramelised banana flavour solution, tapping into the rise of what it calls ‘one of summer’s biggest flavours’. The company highlighted Tastewise data showing that in the UK, social media conversations about caramelised banana rose by 24% between June 2024 and June 2026, while banana product launches with protein have seen 103% yearly growth and with fibre, 129%. I.T.S pointed to the success of Starbucks’ Caramelised Banana Matcha Latte in fuelling the summer flavour trend, noting that caramelised banana is one of its current most requested flavours from customers connecting banana to health and wellness – even in indulgent categories such as bakery and desserts. The new flavour solution blends sweet, ripe banana with ‘gooey’ caramel and warm cooked notes, creating a rich and indulgent flavour profile suitable for a wide range of applications. These include flavoured milk and milk-based drinks as well as plant-based alternatives, bakery, ice cream and desserts, porridge and breakfast foods, protein powders, shakes and snack bars. Paschalina Papadogkona, senior performance, health and wellness specialist from I.T.S, commented: “With their well-known nutritional benefits, bananas are having a renaissance, but consumers are increasingly seeking flavours that take banana into a more indulgent space. These include roasted banana, baked banana, banana bread and, the most requested from food and drink manufacturers, caramelised banana.” She added that I.T.S wanted to keep banana “at the heart of the profile” but with added depth, warmth and richness, aiming to provide “a much more sophisticated option than Banoffee” that works well across many applications. Banana flavours are also gaining traction in the US, with plant-based beverage brand Califia Farms recently launching new Banana Crème Almond Milk Latte and Organic Banana Crème Almond Milk Coffee Creamer products in response to the trend. The brand noted that banana-flavoured lattés and café-inspired at-home recipes are growing in popularity on social media platform TikTok, bringing a 'fun and fresh twist' to coffee and creamer aisles.

Beyond Meat has released its financial results for the second quarter ended 27 June 2026, reporting net revenues of $68.8 million. The company – also known by the name Beyond The Plant Protein Company, following its diversification into functional beverages earlier this year – saw revenues decrease by 8.2% year-over-year. Despite the continued decrease, the figure represents a less steep decline than the 13.5% fall in revenue reported in Q1. Beyond said the decrease in net revenues was mainly driven by a 9.5% decrease in volume of products sold, partially offset by a 1.3% in net revenue per pound. The volume decrease was driven primarily by lower sales of burger and chicken-style products to Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) in the international foodservice channel. The company also cited weak category demand and reduced distribution points in both the foodservice and retail channels in the US. However, in international retail, net revenues increased 16.5% to $18.5 million in Q2, with an 8.2% increase in volume of products sold. This was mainly driven by higher sales of burger products and chicken products in European markets and the UK, while sales of ground beef-style products increased in Canada. Loss from operations was $30.8 million, or an operating margin of -44.8%, compared to loss from operations of $37.5 million, or operating margin of -50%, in the year-ago period. Net income was $16.4 million, compared to net loss of $31.8 million in the year-ago period. The increase in net income was primarily driven by a $57.7 million non-cash gain on debt extinguishment in connection with conversions of a portion of Beyond Meat’s 2030 notes. Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $27.7 million, compared to an adjusted EBITDA loss of $24.7 million in the year-ago period. Ethan Brown, CEO and president of Beyond Meat, said the results show “directional progress,” with improvements in net revenue, gross margin and operating expenses, and the company’s top line “comfortably exceeding” the high end of its guidance. “We continue to work to stabilise our plant-based meat business, with highlights including growth in international retail and the US retail debut of Beyond Steak Filet, and to build upon this core as we reposition around Beyond The Plant Protein Company to pursue faster-growing adjacent categories,” he commented. “The exciting launch of Beyond Immerse represents the first output of this expanded aperture, and we expect more to come as we execute our plan to deliver the superpowers of plants to a broadening group of consumers.” The company’s third quarter outlook remains in the range of $60 million to $65 million, with Beyond highlighting the continued uncertainty and volatility within its operating environment. Beyond recently appointed Brijesh Krishnaswamy, currently chief commercial officer for North America at Olam Food Ingredients (OFI), as its new chief operating officer. Krishnaswamy is expected to take up the COO role on a part-time basis from 24 August 2026, before converting to full-time employment from 30 September 2026.

Simona Mrakic-Sposta, of the Italian National Research Council, recently published a human study in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients looking at how beetroot-derived nitrate supplements affect the body in endurance athletes. In this exclusive piece, she explores how the science is still catching up with the category, and how brands can approach formulation of plant-based sports nutrition products in a more evidence-based way. Simona Mrakic-Sposta The sports nutrition industry has an evidence challenge The sports nutrition sector has evolved significantly over the past decade. Once focused primarily on elite athletes, the category now reaches recreational runners, cyclists, gym-goers and a growing population of consumers seeking products that support active lifestyles and long-term wellbeing. At the same time, expectations around scientific substantiation have changed. As interest in active nutrition continues to grow, there is increasing focus on understanding not only whether ingredients produce measurable outcomes, but also the physiological pathways through which those outcomes occur. For plant-based performance ingredients in particular, mechanistic understanding is becoming an increasingly important part of building product credibility. Why nitric oxide has become a focal point for innovation Few physiological pathways have attracted as much attention in sports nutrition as nitric oxide metabolism. Nitric oxide (NO) is a signalling molecule involved in vascular function, blood flow regulation, mitochondrial efficiency and oxygen delivery. Because of its role in exercise physiology, ingredients capable of increasing nitric oxide bioavailability have become a major area of interest for formulators and manufacturers. This has contributed to growing interest in nitrate-rich ingredients, particularly beetroot-derived formulations used within sports nutrition and active wellness products. However, discussion of these ingredients frequently centres on performance outcomes such as endurance, exercise efficiency or recovery, while paying less attention to the broader physiological systems involved. From a biological perspective, nitric oxide does not act independently. It interacts with multiple biological mediators involved in vascular and metabolic regulation, and is closely connected with oxidative stress pathways, inflammatory signalling and cellular adaptation mechanisms. Understanding these interactions may help provide a more complete picture of ingredient functionality than outcome measures alone. The difference between ROS signalling and oxidative damage One of the most common misconceptions in both sports nutrition and wider wellness discussions is the assumption that increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) are inherently negative. In reality, ROS have a dual role. While excessive ROS production can contribute to cellular damage, reactive oxygen species also act as important signalling molecules involved in adaptation and physiological regulation. Exercise itself provides a useful example. Physical activity naturally induces light oxidative and inflammatory responses within the body. However, these responses are not necessarily indicators of harm. In many cases, they form part of the physiological signalling processes associated with adaptation to exercise. The challenge for researchers is therefore not simply identifying whether ROS production occurs, but determining whether that activity remains within a physiological range or progresses towards measurable cellular damage. This distinction is particularly important when evaluating performance ingredients designed to influence nitric oxide pathways. What recent nitrate research is beginning to reveal Against this backdrop, our recent pilot study published in Nutrients was designed to explore how beetroot-derived nitrate supplementation influences nitric oxide metabolism and oxy-inflammatory biomarkers in amateur endurance athletes. Using a randomised cross-over design, the study evaluated a beetroot-based nitrate formulation developed by Gensan, combining nitrate sources with nitric oxide precursors and supportive compounds, over a seven-day supplementation period. The findings showed a significant increase in nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) in both plasma and urine, with nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) increasing by approximately 155% in plasma and urine. At the same time, increases were observed in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), biomarkers commonly associated with oxidative and inflammatory responses. Importantly, however, no significant increase was observed in lipid peroxidation, under the conditions studied. It is important to note that this was an exploratory pilot study involving a relatively small cohort and did not directly assess performance outcomes. Larger studies will be required to further explore the functional implications of these findings. These findings, however, highlight an important concept that is often overlooked within discussions around sports nutrition ingredients: biological activation and biological damage are not the same thing. An increase in oxidative or inflammatory signalling does not automatically indicate a harmful physiological response. In some contexts, these changes may reflect adaptive biological processes rather than pathological stress. Understanding that distinction is critical if the industry wishes to develop a more sophisticated approach to ingredient evaluation. What this means for formulators and ingredient suppliers For manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, these findings highlight the value of incorporating mechanistic evidence alongside outcome-based measures when evaluating plant-based performance ingredients. As the active nutrition category becomes increasingly competitive, scientific credibility is likely to become a more important differentiator. Consumers are asking more sophisticated questions about efficacy, bioavailability and long-term physiological impact. At the same time, brands are under increasing pressure to support claims with robust evidence. This creates an opportunity to move beyond formulation strategies built primarily around outcomes and towards approaches grounded in biological understanding. For nitrate-based products, that means looking beyond whether an ingredient increases nitric oxide production and considering how it influences broader physiological systems. From a formulation perspective, this points to several important questions: whether an ingredient meaningfully supports relevant physiological pathways, whether this is supported by human biomarker data, and whether claims reflect the strengths and limitations of the available evidence. Importantly, this approach is not limited to nitrate supplementation. The same principles apply across the wider landscape of plant-based performance ingredients. Whether the ingredient is beetroot-derived nitrate, polyphenol-rich extracts or emerging botanical compounds, the industry increasingly needs evidence that explains not only what an ingredient does, but how and why it does it. Building the next generation of evidence-backed products The future of sports nutrition will not be defined solely by new ingredients. It will also be shaped by the quality of the science supporting them. As the category continues to mature, there is an opportunity for greater emphasis on mechanistic research, human biomarker data and scientifically robust communication. Plant-based performance ingredients remain one of the most promising areas of innovation within active nutrition. However, unlocking their full potential will require the industry to move beyond performance claims alone and embrace a deeper understanding of human physiology. Ultimately, the most successful products of the future are likely to be those supported not only by outcomes, but by evidence that explains the biological and molecular pathways responsible for them.

Plant-based nutrition brand Huel has expanded its portfolio in the US with the addition of a new Mixed Berry flavour to its Black Edition Ready-to-Drink (RTD) line-up. Launching exclusively in Walmart stores, the new flavour provides a ‘refreshing, berry-inspired taste with a smooth, lightly sweet finish’. It aims to bring a ‘vibrant and approachable’ option to the Black Edition range, designed for consumers seeking a convenient and nutritionally complete meal replacement option with a ‘fruit-forward’ flavour. The drink contains 35g of plant-based protein as well as a blend of 27 vitamins and minerals, 6g of fibre, and 400 kcal per bottle.