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China has issued its first-ever approval for Fusarium venenatum as a new food raw material, marking an historic milestone for the country’s future-food roadmap. This approval elevates mycoprotein from “alternative” to “strategic ingredient,” offering clarity on safety, production parameters, and mandated labelling for children, pregnant women, and those with fungal allergies.

A hypothetical, Zespri-managed second tier could convert unmanaged volume into structured value while keeping SunGold untouched.

New Zealand’s horticulture engine fired on all cylinders this year, with fruit exports surging 42 percent to $5.68 billion. Kiwifruit led the charge, up 45 percent on 2024, as global demand for gold varieties strengthened. The overall produce export value of $6.85 billion confirms the sector’s strong recovery trajectory and alignment with national export-growth objectives.

China’s forthcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) cements bio-manufacturing as part of its “advanced industrial base”, blending foodtech with national security and demographic resilience. New language connects nutrition and biotech, while the Pinggu Action Plan (2025–27) anchors the country’s first state-endorsed alternative-protein cluster. These moves transform cultivated, fermented, and functional proteins from experimental to strategic.

Chile’s Global AG and Global Talsa Fresh have made social commerce the centrepiece of their 2025–26 Chinese cherry launch, using TikTok as a direct-to-consumer outlet for their new AG2 variety in China. The model fuses genetic innovation with influencer-led price modulation, the more buzz, the higher the yield, both online and off, turning cherries into clicks.

China's functional wellness economy has surged to an estimated $638 billion, driven by a fusion of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), technology, and consumer demand for functional, personalised health solutions. The market emphasises products offering tangible benefits, such as mood enhancement, digestive health, and beauty support, reflecting a shift towards holistic well-being. McKinsey & Company

Summary: China's industrial mushroom boom has scaled massively — from 60,000 tons in 1978 to over 42 million tons annually. It now represents a US$55 billion market, employing 25 million+ people. With 966 identified edible fungi (90 cultivated at scale), the sector is diversifying rapidly into functional food,