Clean Label, Clear Choice: The Future of Food Ingredients
“Starches for your Life" episode 8 with Pierre Caron, Key Account Manager for West Europe.
In this episode the spotlight is on one of the fastest-growing trends in food production - Clean Label. While the term isn’t officially defined, it’s become a powerful consumer-driven movement focused on transparency, natural ingredients, and sustainability.
Pierre Caron explains how clean label starches, like their AGENAPURE range, help food manufacturers create creamy, stable, and great-tasting products without artificial additives. From sauces and yogurts to baked goods, these starches deliver on performance and consumer expectations.
The episode also dives into the real-world challenges of switching to clean label ingredients like cost, functionality, and labeling -- especially in demanding markets like France, where transparency and traceability are key values.
Looking ahead, clean label starches are expected to grow rapidly, with exciting innovations in texture, sustainability, and expansions in applications. It's clear: clean label is more than a trend—it's the future of food.
Discover AGRANA’s AGENAPURE clean label starches here.
Sources: Innova Market Insights, Mintel
Shaping the future of organic manufacturing
“Starches for your Life" episode 7 with Leopold Schönauer, CEO of Marroquin Organic International.
In this podcast we share insights into the dynamic organic food market. Marroquin Organic is a key player in distributing organic ingredients across North America, with over 30 years of expertise to provide innovative solutions, including organic starches, oils, yeast, and hydrocolloids. We discuss health-focused and sustainable trends, the ongoing impact of clean label demand, and the challenges posed by supply chain disruptions and environmental factors.
Furthermore, we compare the US and European organic markets, noting differences in certifications, consumer priorities, and market maturity. As the organic sector evolves, Marroquin Organic International continues to lead with customer support for transitioning to organic, while focusing on growth areas like bakery, snacks, and infant formula. Tune in to discover how the future of organic food will be shaped.
Food industry in Spain and Portugal
"Starches for your Life" episode 6 with Yolanda Nuñez Gallegos, Head of Nutrition Europe at HELM Ibérica, our distributor in Spain and Portugal.
Yolanda Nuñez Gallegos joins us in this episode to discuss the current influences on the food market, particularly for Spain and Portugal.
The food market is affected by global trends and challenges: Factors such as the need for healthier, vegan and also sustainable options on one hand, but also factors such as weather conditions, energy crises and supply chain issues impact the market.
We also talk about future influences, the organic food market, clean label alternatives and potential innovations and market opportunities.
Quality management in focus
“Starches for your Life” episode 5 with Stefan Reisinger, Head of Quality Management.
In this episode, we talk to Stefan Reisinger about the role and responsibilities of quality management, the standards and certifications at AGRANA Starch, as well as the challenges and trends in quality management.
A good network within and outside the industry enables quality management to always be up to date and to meet the increasing customer requirements for standards and certifications. In addition, the growing interest in sustainability is also reflected in quality management.
Find out how quality is defined at AGRANA Starch, why a quality strategy is essential and how digitalization is also influencing quality management.
SPECIAL NUTRITION SOLUTIONS: From infant nutrition to lifecycle nutrition
"Starches for your Life" episode 4 with Tamara Ranzenberger-Haider, Head of Sales & Business Development for Special Nutrition Solutions and Infant Nutrition.
In this podcast we talk about AGRANA Starch as a contract manufacturer and supplier for infant nutrition, high quality standards and the importance of high-quality raw materials and customized solutions adapted to customers needs.
In addition, learn more about the new “Special Nutrition Solutions" area. The knowledge gained from decades of experience in the field of infant formula, e.g. valuable ingredients, is now also being used for other age groups.
We also talk about trends in the market, such as “Vegan", “Human milk oligosaccharides" (HMO) for infant formula, “Organic" and the development of “Life cycle nutrition" solutions.
Focus on plant based & gluten-free
“Starches for your Life” episode 3 with Lea Steinwender, project manager for Starch Food at the AGRANA Research & Innovation Center.
In this podcast, we talk about “plant-based”, especially plant-based proteins for meat-alternatives are in the focus and we answer the question on how to develop a plant-based meat-alternative that is methylcellulose-free.
Furthermore, we get a glimpse of latest trends for gluten-free products, review the introduction of two concepts for gluten-free baked goods at the Food Ingredients Europe 2023 and answer the question on how to optimize your gluten-free products in organic quality and clean label.
In addition, we discuss the current trends for “plant-based” in the industry.
The future of biodegredable materials
"Starches for your Life" episode 2 with AGRANA Research & Innovation Center team lead of the working group bioplastics at the Starch Non-Food department and thermoplastic starch expert Barbara Fahrngruber.
In this podcast, we talk about starch in bioplastics, and how thermoplastic starch can help to make packaging more sustainable. Learn more about the complexity behind the production of thermoplastic starch, why you need a compound, and what solutions can be offered. Furthermore, get inspired for the future and see what is possible with biodegradable materials.
Let's talk about snacking
"Starches for your Life" episode 1 with AGRANA Starch product manager as well as organic, clean label, and plant-based food specialist Andrea Hochstöger.
In this podcast, we talk about the “Snacking” trend. Snacking nowadays is indispensable, an unbroken trend in the food industry with an increasing importance due to several changes in the modern diet. Megatrends like “Health”, “Eating-on-the-go” and “Snackification” – snacks instead of meals, play an important role in the success of snacking products. We will get to the bottom of these trends and talk about changes in the industry, key ingredients for snack products, and take a look into the future.
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