EU rules acorns from three oak species are not novel foods
The European Commission has concluded that acorns from three oak species, Quercus robur, Quercus pyrenaica and Quercus suber, are not novel foods, because they have a history of consumption in the EU. Until now only two acorn types were listed in the EU Novel Foods Catalogue, and one of them was limited to food supplements. The ruling removes regulatory uncertainty for flours, bakery products, drinks and other foods made from acorns. It follows work by the OakFood consortium, funded through Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan, which gathered evidence of consumption before 1997 in several European countries.
Walnut shell and biochar substrate matches coir yield for greenhouse lettuce, with far fewer nitrates
Researchers at the University of Évora tested crushed walnut shells, an agri-food by-product, as part of growing substrates for greenhouse lettuce. In trials at the Mitra experimental estate, a mix of 80% coconut fibre, 12% walnut shells and 8% biochar produced 7.1 kg of lettuce per square metre, comparable to pure coconut fibre. Nitrate levels in the leaves fell by about 61%, from roughly 4,130 to 1,600 mg/kg, and anthocyanin content rose. The team sees a circular-economy use for waste and a way to depend less on imported materials, but says further work is needed on formulations, irrigation and other crops.
ETSA opens Azores hub to collect animal by-products for recycling
The ETSA Group has opened a logistics platform in Ribeira Grande, in the Azores, to collect and route animal by-products for reuse. The region accounts for 20% of the country's cattle rearing and slaughter. The site receives, sorts, freezes and ships category 3 by-products, which then go to the group's industrial plant in Loures. There they are turned into ingredients for animal feed, pet food and biofuels. The company's chief executive, José Santos, framed the investment as a commitment to public health, the environment and efficient use of regional resources. At the opening, ETSA also made a donation to the Cantinho dos Animais dos Açores association.
Viana do Castelo launches tender for €3.66m ocean energy research centre
Viana do Castelo's municipal executive has unanimously approved a public tender to build the SUSTEMARE ocean energy and technology centre. The base price is €3.66 million, with a 365-day construction period. The two-storey building, of about 2,811 square metres, will house laboratories, meeting rooms, offices and open-plan workspaces on the Praia Norte campus, on land belonging to the Polytechnic University's business and technology school. A July protocol between the council, the SUSTEMARE association and the university covers land, construction and equipment. The university will grant the council a 30-year surface right over the building, and SUSTEMARE will run and maintain it once complete.
Rocha pear growers unveil new brand identity in €490,000 export drive
The national association of Rocha pear producers (ANP) has presented a renewed brand identity for the Oeste-region fruit as part of an export project worth about €490,000, co-funded by COMPETE 2030 and running until 2027. Around 60% of output already goes to more than a dozen foreign markets. The plan targets Germany, France, Spain, Brazil and Morocco through trade fairs in Madrid, São Paulo and Berlin, in-store promotions, tastings and digital campaigns. The rebrand also aims to unify how the protected-origin pear is presented abroad, for consumers and trade buyers alike.
