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Thousands of researchers will descend on Boston this fall for an event billed as the world's largest gathering of synthetic biologists. The field is evolving so rapidly that even scientists working in it don't agree on a definition, but at its core synthetic biology involves bringing engineering principles to biotechnology.

Nestlé has invested $7 million to transform its milk factory in Modesto, CA to a "zero water" operation to avoid use of local freshwater resources. The project is expected to save around 63 million gallons of water annually and is due to be completed by the end of 2016

Earlier this year, Hershey set a target to source at least 50 percent of its global cocoa supply from certified and sustainable sources by 2015 - a full year ahead of its original schedule. Hershey has committed to source 100 percent certified and sustainable cocoa by 2020.

General Mills has committed to reducing absolute GHG emissions by 28% across its entire value chain over the next 10 years.

Genetically modified crops are making it easier for farmers to embrace low-till agricultural strategies, proponents say. The precise impact of GM crops is hard to quantify, however, with some analyses suggesting that farmers in the U.S. aren't changing their tilling habits

Scotland is banning GMO crops in a bid to protect its "clean and green brand," angering farmers and scientists who say the ban panders to unwarranted consumer concerns and has no basis in science. "Cultivation of GM crops would harm our environment and our reputation," counters Scottish Green lawmaker Alison Johnstone. The Independent (London) (tiered subscription model) (8/9) 

On Thursday, Sunny Delight Beverages Co. (SDBC) released its fifth annual Sustainability Report, detailing its sustainability goals and progress - including an $85 million investment in new production equipment to improve efficiency, reducing the calorie count for its beverages 50 percent, and sustaining zero waste to landfill for the fifth consecutive year

Cereal giant General Mills announced this week that it will no longer use artificial flavors and colors in its cereals. The company said it plans to phase in the changeover and complete it by the end of the year. "Consumers increasingly want the ingredient list for their cereal to look like what they pull out of their pantry," said Jim Murphy, president of General Mills' U.S. cereal business

Clear Lam's holiday container for Jon B. Sanfilippo and Son's Flavor Tree brand of Limited Edition Premium Dark Chocolate Pretzels marks the debut for its PrimaPak technology that offers flexibility, sustainability and recloseability. The packaging is meant to replace cans, bottles, jars and trays, and offers a weight savings of 70% when compared to plastic jars. It is suited to cookies, chips, cereal, coffee, nuts, sliced fruit and vegetables as well as other products, according to the company

, it is making a bold pledge to remove all artificial additives - including coloring and preservatives - from its café menus by the end of 2016.

The most recent corporation to join the growing movement toward deforestation-free palm oil sourcing is ConAgra, whose brands, the company stated, can be found in 99 percent of American households. 

General Mills and Nestlé pledged to not use synthetic vanilla flavoring in their jointly owned Häagen-Dazs products. Proponents of synthetic vanilla argue that it could reduce land impacts associated with vanilla bean production, while opponents maintain that the product could reduce biodiversity by incentivizing new sugarcane production.

The Hershey Company announced plans to switch some of its popular chocolate products to "simpler ingredients," which includes a transition to non-GMO ingredients in its Hershey's milk chocolate bars and Hershey's kisses by the end of 2015.

Kellogg is planning to require its suppliers to curb their greenhouse emissions as part of a broader push to reduce the company's environmental impact. The company also announced new plans to expand its net-zero deforestation pledge to include crops such as soy and sugarcane

By 2015, Unilever aims to have the tea in all Lipton tea bags sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ estates. By 2020, 100 percent of Unilever's tea will be sustainably sourced. This video shows some of the work done in partnership with regional plantation companies and smallholder farmer-based private factories in Turkey in an effort to attain sustainable agriculture practices.

The Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops partnered with The Sustainability Consortium to align the measurement and reporting of on-farm sustainability associated with specialty crops including fruits, nuts, and vegetables.

The Sustainable Rice Platform launched the first global standard for reducing the environmental impacts of rice cultivation. The standard has 46 requirements that address biodiversity, labor rights, worker health, and more.

Panera Bread will transition to 100% cage-free eggs over the next five years, the company said Thursday. Panera will also stop sourcing pork from pigs raised with gestation crates and roasted turkey from birds raised with antibiotics, and boost the amount of beef that comes from grass-fed, free-range sources by the end of this year

The non-GMO labeling movement received a big boost last week when PepsiCo announced that it would begin including the Non-GMO Project's butterfly seal on the Tropicana juice line. "Tropicana Pure Premium is non-GMO, and it always has been," said brand chief Björn Bernemann. "Some consumers, however, are expressing a desire to get beyond what brands are actually telling them, and we felt having external verification would give our consumers assurance."