Food & Beverages

Mondelēz International, Inc. announced that applications are now open for the second year of its CoLab Tech program. This accelerator program, led by Mondelēz’s global R&D team, seeks early-stage companies that have developed innovative technologies in nutrition, ingredients, packaging, and sustainability.

CoLab Tech plays an important role in Mondelēz’s growth strategy to accelerate innovation in its core categories of chocolate, biscuits, and baked snacks The selected cohort will provide the R&D team with early access to new capabilities that can help in the development of breakthrough products and platforms.

“Our R&D team is at the forefront of Mondelēz’s commitment to empowering people around the world to snack right,” said Ian Noble, VP of R&D at Mondelēz International. “As consumers increasingly prioritize personal well-being, planet positive choices, and more interesting eating experiences, we need to look to groundbreaking entrepreneurs who have developed new tools and technologies that enable us to continue leading the future of snacking.”

This year’s CoLab Tech priority areas are:

• Packaging: Materials that are recyclable, high performing, and flexible; can enable a low environmental impact; and can support premium products.
• Ingredients: Enable innovation in core categories of chocolate, biscuits, and baked snacks with clean, ‘free from’ ingredients; sugar and calorie reduction; plant-based positive nutrition; functional actives; and elevated sensorial experiences.
• Sustainability: Can reduce environmental impact through water and energy optimized ingredient mixing and product forming solutions; more efficient and sustainable heating processes; efficient selective concentration and recovery of compounds; and novel bio-gas generation and supply solutions.

Paula Hemerly, CoLab Tech Program Manager, said the first CoLab Tech cohort has already demonstrated the value of ‘big and small’ working together to accelerate the promise of food technology.

“Last year’s cohort really opened our eyes to what’s possible in snack innovation,” Hemerly said. “We are already collaborating with some of the participants to put their technologies into practice and are very excited about what this new class will bring.”

The eight-week CoLab Tech curriculum consists of virtual sessions, 1:1 mentoring, and has the potential for proof-of-concept testing.

GEA has begun construction of its technology center for alternative proteins in Janesville, WI (USA). Scheduled to open in 2025, the center will scale up the production of novel plant-based, microbial, and cell-based foods. Here, GEA aims to support manufacturers in meeting the demand for complementary proteins and ingredients to traditional animal-based products.

“This investment underscores our commitment to innovation and sustainability in the food industry,” said Arpad Csay, who leads GEA’s new food activities in North America, at the groundbreaking ceremony on May 8, 2024. The center will house pilot lines for cell cultivation and precision fermentation, bridging the gap between benchtop and commercial production of alternative proteins. “The technology center will offer foodtech businesses a platform to develop and derisk their processes to ensure technological and commercial viability. It helps startups in the sector implement a business strategy that requires little upfront investment. This way, we help accelerate the development of market-ready products.”

Educational cluster for food technology and the local economy

Senior GEA representatives have emphasized the importance of this project as an engine for future growth and innovation in the Midwest, a region with a strong agricultural tradition. Arpad Csay: “Novel food production methods are going to gain prominence in the coming decades. This development will require a diverse pool of skilled professionals from operators in the plants to bioprocessing engineers designing production systems and scientists pushing boundaries through research and development. Our technology center will help develop this future workforce by educating students and young professionals about the underlying biology and bioprocesses. We are excited to work with community colleges and universities to build these competencies in the region.”

Pioneering project aligned with sustainability goals

All of the energy needed for the 1,200-square-meter building will be obtained from renewable sources. For instance, heat pumps and systems powered by electricity will replace the natural gas conventionally used for building technology and process equipment. A ground-mounted photovoltaic system is to generate 290 MWh of electricity per year, exceeding the energy requirement by at least a quarter. The surplus energy will be fed into the grid. This photovoltaic system is expandable, so that green energy can continue to be generated when process demands increase in the future. This setup underscores GEA’s strategy to become a net-zero operation by 2040.

Ongoing commitment to resource-efficient food tech

The new plant, which will complement an existing production facility in Janesville, underscores GEA’s commitment to innovative, sustainable technologies. It is slated to be fully operational in 2025. By diversifying the industries based locally, the center is expected to strengthen the grassroots economy as well as enhance the region’s attractiveness for collaborative research projects and other services. As a scaling partner for market players in this field, GEA will contribute to reducing the environmental impact of food production and improving food security.

Huntr has released a slew of generative AI tools for job seekers. From a world-class resume builder with job-specific prompts to mock interview questions and possible answers specific to your resume and job posting, job seekers can now better optimize their job search to help them land more interviews faster.

"We've poured months of labor into creating job search products that will help more job seekers find roles. With so many layoffs happening right now and more hiring managers turning to AI to screen candidates, job seekers need to be equipped with the tools that will get them into the interview pile. We've built several game-changing tools, such as an AI-powered resume builder, job-tailored resumes, AI-powered cover letter generator, mock interview questions and answers, resume grader, and more," stated Rennie Haylock, Founder of Huntr.

Unlike other AI tools, Huntr uses innovative prompts to generate action-driven bullet points that accurately describe your work experiences. The AI tools create an all-in-one platform to streamline the job search process.

For six years Huntr has been known as the number one job search tracker on the web supporting more than 300k in their search in over 180 countries. Huntr is also leading the way in creating a collaborative job search experience. Over the past three years, Huntr has developed over 100 partnerships with code bootcamps, schools, and universities worldwide to assist in job placement and career services.

Since launching Huntr Pro with AI functionality, the platform has seen double-digit month-over-month growth.

Career Education Review (CER) recently named Kevin Quinn, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts chef instructor as a recipient of its Exceptional Educator Awards. The Award recognizes outstanding career college faculty, administrators, and leaders who have demonstrated unparalleled dedication, commitment, and excellence in teaching and learning.

After a rigorous evaluation process, the CER Editorial Board meticulously reviewed more than 150 nominations, ultimately selecting Chef Kevin Quinn as one of the 25 remarkable individuals to receive this prestigious accolade. The profiles of winners are prominently featured in the latest edition of Career Education Review, providing a comprehensive look at their achievements, and serving as a source of inspiration for educators throughout higher education.

"Chef Kevin's genuine passion for educating others inspires students to explore, question, and discover while learning," said Kathleen Ahearn  M.Ed., CEC, CCE and Escoffier's vice president of academic affairs. "His sense of humor engages students and encourages them to understand the "why" behind lessons. This Exceptional Educator Award is a tribute to his remarkable dedication to his students," added Ahearn.

"The Exceptional Educator Awards serve as a tribute to educators who consistently surpass expectations, leaving a lasting impact on students' lives," said Jenny Faubert, Editor of Career Education Review. "These awardees have not only inspired and empowered their students but have also made significant positive contributions to the field of career education."