SBL continues to push the boundaries of the classic supply chain model and commits to minimizing the company's carbon footprint within five years.

CLIFTON, N.J. (PRWEB) March 16, 2020

On March 13, 2020, Glenn Langberg, CEO of Seaman's Beverage and Logistics (SBL), announced that the company would be carbon neutral by 2025. As a rapidly growing logistics and outsourcing provider, SBL has become increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of modern logistics operators.

Recently named to the NJBIZ Fast 50 for the third consecutive year, the Entrepreneur 360 list, and the Inc. 500 in 2019, SBL continues to challenge the classic supply chain model. Last year, Seaman's had a shipping accuracy rate of 99.9%. Adept at leveraging and broadening producer relationships, streamlining costs, and growing profitability for its clients throughout the United States, Seaman's is also a market leader in outsourcing services. The company's commitment to green logistics is a natural evolution for its premier logistics, warehousing, back-office, outsourcing, and last mile services in the New Jersey and New York regions.

The carbon-neutral initiative by Seaman's Beverage and Logistics will include the installation of photovoltaic solar panels, a transition to energy-efficient lighting, a complete migration to electric vehicles, and the transformation of the current warehouse to a Net Zero energy building able to supply and sustain its own power over the course of a year.

"We want Seaman's Beverage and Logistics to be a differentiator in its industry, distinguished by a first-class logistics strategy and active membership in the global business community," said Langberg. "SBL is fully committed to adopting environmentally responsible and sustainable practices that will complement its commitment to operational excellence."

For the original version on PRWeb visit: https://www.prweb.com/releases/seamans_beverage_and_logistics_sbl_announces_the_company_will_be_carbon_neutral_by_2025/prweb16982653.htm

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Seaman's Beverage and Logistics (SBL) Announces the Company Will be Carbon Neutral by 2025 - Benzinga

However, you only need to read a few trading reports coming out of multi-national organisations, observe the chaos in the travel industry, and see your own stocks and shares rapidly plummet in value to appreciate the level of turmoil that COVID-19 is having on the economy. I work with over a thousand challenger food brands where many of the founders are understandably concerned about the impact of the pandemic on their business and livelihoods.

As I type this, I receive an email from Propel info news with the subject line Coronavirus hits high-street football by 26% as if to prove the point.

At Young Foodies we are facing the challenge head on so we can help our brands through what may be a difficult few months ahead. We have already kicked off crisis planning with regular community calls and webinars, ensuring small businesses feel supported and are given up-to-the-minute expert guidance.

Things are volatile right now and the mood in the community is that of understandable concern, but the very entrepreneurial spirit that brought them into business in the first place, is what is truly shining through. And its wonderfully inspiring.

There is an unbelievable amount of noise in the market at present and so what we need now more than anything else is positivity and collaboration. As a community we share an upbeat, positive outlook. In fact I see a few positive longer term impacts:

Accelerating online growth We are already seeing online delivery and e-commerce demand go through the roof as more of the population works from home and stockpiling restrictions come into play. We are hearing through our network that online demand has increased by over 100% in one week in some cases.

This poses major operational challenges for many of the online grocers, marketplaces, and logistics providers supporting them. As an example, Ocado has had to take down its app and other online retailers are experiencing delivery delays. Observing this stress-test is painful right now but we will need to wait to see the longer-term uplift for these operators. The message here is that if you sell through online channels, or are considering creating a new online channel, now is the time to make the most of it but you will need to ensure you have the delivery capability to cope with the execution. In the longer term, if done well, e-commerce could become a highly successful DTC sales strategy.

The rise of the responsibly built business I feel like Ive been preaching for years about the need to build solid businesses, not just building them at speed. It is at times like these that those brands built on weaker foundations may struggle most. Use this unprecedented market challenge as the catalyst for more positive behaviours and procedures. The pursuit of revenue over profit and businesses that require excessive external financing to remain a going concern may be encouraged to critically assess their business operations to release margin points and reduce overheads. Although some of this may involve the difficult decision to make the business leaner by reducing head count where necessary, the long-term view is a more stable well-run business ready to capitalise on opportunities when the time comes.

Trust jumps into the driving seat Whilst traditional shopping habits have temporarily been abandoned for panic-driven stockpiling, trust that they will return to a more stable state. Trust plays an increasingly important role in buying decisions. The evolution of the conscious consumer has forced brands to demonstrate their business beliefs outwardly and demonstrate authenticity in their statements.

With the ubiquitous fear and anxiety now gripping global populations, trust and loyalty will be even more important for those looking to prosper when the dust settles.

Ultimately, the consumer is still there, they are just behaving differently for the time being, so its not time to be reactive and completely change strategy, but rather re-direct, re-purpose and be prepared for all eventualities. Fortunately for the community, Young Foodies Brexit preparations will prove useful as we have already conducted risk assessments based on uncertainty.

Originally posted here:
How small brands are rising to the Coronavirus challenge | News - Speciality Food

Kids dressing habits in India have witnessed a paradigm shift. What used to be regular, basic outfi ts a few years ago have now transformed into full fashion lines, often of premium luxury. IMAGES Business of Fashion takes a look at the market dynamics of one of the fastest growing sectors of fashion retail kidswear.

Growth Drivers

From a basic need-based industry dominated by unorganised retail, kidswear in India has traversed a long trajectory to become an evolving fashion and style category. This paradigm shift, in the recent past has been triggered chiefly by the increase in income and changing lifestyle of modern parents; the result being a perpetual desire to keep kids in sync with latest trends. When it comes to kidswear, India is bestowed with a long list of unique, innate advantages. Along with a promising economic outlook, the nation has the distinct advantage of a growing kids population which, coupled with an increasing discretionary spending on kids has been successful in making India the global hotspot for kidswear fashion. Today, the market for childrens fashion is fast becoming one of the most profitable segments in the entire fashion retail industry in India. The opportunities in the Indian kidswear industry has also attracted a long list of international retail bigwigs, all who have rushed in to grab their share of the market pie.

Changes in the composition and structure of Indian families have also been instrumental in boosting the growth of this industry. The rise of the nuclear family in urban India with a double income has resulted in increased disposable income and hence enhanced purchasing power, with parents willing to shell out money to buy clothes for their children. This has given immense opportunity to retailers at all levels and geographical regions to expand their market and what has largely been an unorganised retail sector is slowly organising and modernising itself at a rapid pace.

In India, about 78 percent of the kidswear market is still unorganised and this is where the scope lies for the segment in coming years. Kidswears share will grow rapidly as the segment increasingly gets organised. Innumerable factors like the average age of the India population, global exposure, spending power and increasing number of working women will influence the Indian kidswear market to a large extent in coming years, says Kavita Mallick, Head of Business, MiniKlub.

Modern parents and children are much more aware and conscious of what they are wearing and how they look when they step out of the house. Along with the growth in Indias purchasing power, there has been a steady rise in the number of image conscious parents who want to dress their children as per their definitions of fashion.

The kidswear market in India has witnessed seismic changes in the last few years both product and consumer wise. The growth of the kidswear category is primarily due to an increase in the income and changing lifestyle of modern parents parents want their kids to stay on trend. This has given retailers an opportunity to expand their market across various geographies and demographics. Changes in the composition and structure of Indian families have also been instrumental in boosting the growth of this industry. The rise of the nuclear family in urban India has resulted in increased purchasing power, with parents now willing to spend more, reveals Manish Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer, Pepe Jeans India.

Frequent socialising and the influence of Social Media facilitated by the penetration of the Internet in the country too has been instrumental in bolstering the aspirations of progressive parents, which in turn has helped the entire segment with impetus.

Additionally, with changing lifestyles, there is also a need-based demand stemming from more frequent socialising amongst new age parents. Movies/music and easy to access social media platform are also influencing their tastes. As families travel often and have increased fashion awareness, the tastes of parents and kids are evolving, adds Manish Kapoor.

Kids are Decision Makers

Parents brand awareness and inclination towards high quality apparel has even trickled down to the kids as well, who have now emerged as a new independent buyer group altogether. The modern generation of kids is no more like their erstwhile peers; they are righteously more demanding and exhibits an increasing say in purchase decisions.

Children today are increasingly becoming aware of their needs, prevailing trends and have their own say when it comes to buying decisions. They are perhaps more demanding and are not interested in merely functional outfits or hand me downs from older siblings. Kids as young as three years are not only curious about fashion choices but also like to have a say on what they would like to wear. This evolution of kids as consumers have changed the way brands perceived and operated in this space and has given way for newer trends the Mini Me trend and character-based apparel being the foremost, says Manish Kapoor.

Echoing similar sentiments Kavita Mallick states that kids cross the age group of 5-6 years are actively influencing the purchase decision all across the globe. Alok Dubey, CEO, Lifestyle Brands Division, Arvind Lifestyle Brands Limited the Indian partners of The Childrens Place, the largest pure-play childrens specialty apparel retailer in North America credits this awareness to the rampant penetration of mass media.

Todays kids are smart and are highly aware about the latest trends. They are outspoken in their wants and needs and fashion is no exception. The advent of TV and mobiles has exposed them to the latest styles and owing to greater purchasing power, parents have no qualms in complying with these needs, he explains.

This evolution of kids as consumers have changed the way brands perceived and operated in this space and has given way for newer trends.

A Pricing Sensitive Segment

India has always been a price sensitive market and this disposition has never been more apparent than when consuming kidswear. Kids outgrow their clothes considerably fast and hence, parents have always preferred to stick to the southern end of the price spectrum.

Indian market is a price sensitive one. Our pricing strategy definitely takes this into consideration. We consider The Childrens Place as a masstige brand and ensure that theres something available for everyone at our stores. The starting price of our products is Rs 399 and we intend to keep the pricing inclusive to all, confirm Alok Dubey.

Yes absolutely, India is a price sensitive market and especially in kidswear, we have noticed that price sensitivity among parents changes as per kids age. Nevertheless, we have to ensure affordable product pricing for our consumers. We off er multi-pack for infants to add value to purchase and off er sets and single to make it affordable for babies and kids range, says, Kavita Mallick.

Predatory pricing and deep discounting has, without a doubt, heralded a thorough transformation in Indias consumer landscape in the recent years. The feeding frenzy that deals, sales coupons, app discounts, et al., has become today stands as a testimony to the monumental influence of discounting as a strategy in India. And for new and emerging players in the game, the proverbial race to off er the lowest price possible has now become a tradition.

Parents are definitely discount conscious. The recent e-commercetrend of deep discounting has made the customer attuned to promotions and off ers. That being said, given the rise of image conscious middle-class parents, weve seen great response and increased sales during non-promotion period too, i.e., season launch or new collection launch as well, affirms Alok Dubey.

Entry of International Brands

This promising nature of the kidswear segment has attracted many international brands into India. And considering the fact that an inherent part of an Indians genetic makeup is his affinity towards anything foreign, we can only wonder what it is for domestic businesses at the butt end of this uncanny phenomenon.

International brands are able to off er better quality, globally trending styles and aspirational products to customers at great prices. These factors have contributed to greater affinity towards international brands. In order to grow, domestic brands will have to focus on quality, designs and pricing to compete against international players, states Alok Dubey.

On the other hand, most domestic brands have the advantage of understanding the countrys climatic conditions and an appreciation of regional choices. Home grown brands always leverage on the understanding that they have of the diverse taste of the Indian consumer. This is always is an advantage and can potentially be a big differentiator in winning the market, says Kavita Mallick.

A fair section of experts also believe that the entry of these brands has been instrumental in high expansion of the overall market and bolstering efficiencies of the domestic players. And, of course, the biggest beneficiary has been the Indian consumer, who, over the long term, will get better quality products at lower prices in a better shopping environment.

Absolutely! These international brands have pushed homegrown brands to up their game to compete with them thereby helping the market flourish as a whole, adds Kavita Mallick.

Conclusion

In this digital age, small clothes have proven to be big business. Owing to the growth potential of the kidswear segment, many international brands have entered India in last few years.With emergence of e-commerce, markets that were unknown or unreachable have opened up, thus boosting growth of kidswear in India. As kids are graduating into consumers earlier than before, brands now increasingly want to shimmy up to them, engendering hitherto unseen growth opportunities for all players across the sector right from brand owners, suppliers, to distributors and retailers. Brands that are steadfast on getting it right will have to do so with the right product assortment, distribution channels, better visual merchandising, and focused advertising and promotional strategies.

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The coming of age of kidswear retail in India - India Retailing

The prolific Lord Fellowes returns with this six-part adaptation of his own novel (for ITV), a niftily-wrought yarn (originally issued in online instalments) about the old aristocracy and the rise of new money in the early 19th Century. Some are inevitably calling it the new Downton, but it really isnt.

Fellowes, the assiduous social historian, has planted his story firmly in factual soil. It opens at a pivotal moment in the Napoleonic Wars, when the Duchess of Richmond held her celebrated ball at her temporary home in Brussels on 15 June, 1815. This was days before the battle of Waterloo, which finally kiboshed the great expectations of the Little Corporal and in due course ushered in a new age of peace and prosperity.

The seeds of the ensuing drama are sown in the feverish preparations for the climactic battle, as the Duke of Wellington (a convincingly imperious Nicholas Rowe) is forced to cut short his supper to meet the threat of Napoleons forces, advancing at unexpected speed towards Brussels. He briskly summons his officers, as well as James Trenchard (Philip Glenister), his esteemed victualler (or quartermaster), and sets off to prepare for battle. Wellington, much impressed with Trenchards skill in keeping his army fed and watered, refers to Trenchard as the magician, and predicts a bright future for him in the post-war world though he adds a warning that Trenchard should not let himself be distracted by the frivolous geegaws of society life (pictured below, Nicholas Rowe, Tamsin Greig and Philip Glenister).

Fellowes loves a bit of class friction, so much more nuanced than actual warfare, and the motor of his story here is the corrosive effect of social overreach. Trenchard and his wife Anne (Tamsin Greig, bang on the money) represent the rise of the middle classes (shes a schoolmasters daughter). While James has a thick skin and a robust, can-do attitude that enables him to barge through social barriers (Glenister describes his character as a cross between Donald Trump and Del Boy), Anne is acutely conscious of where the social tripwires lie. She is particularly concerned for the welfare of her daughter Sophia (Emily Reid), who has tumbled into an infatuation with handsome young cavalry officer, Lord Bellasis (Jeremy Neumark Jones). Sophia thinks its a mutual love-match. Anne thinks her daughter is being taken for a ride.

Fast-forward 26 years, and James has formed a spectacularly successful partnership with the master builder Thomas Cubitt, with whom he has helped to create such defining icons of Londons evolution as Gordon Square, Tavistock Square and the titular Belgrave Square (this spangled city for the rich, as Harriet Walters Lady Brockenhurst would have it). Its a new age of affluence and galloping social expansion, but our characters (for all their apparent success) are living in the shadow of misjudgements and a particularly cynical con-trick carried out all those years ago.

Fellowess sense of the way great sorrows follow us around like a suffocating shroud is keenly drawn, and the encounters between Anne Trenchard, Lady Brockenhurst and the elderly Duchess of Bedford (Naomi Frederick), looking back at a past in which their experiences overlapped far more than theyd realised, were powerfully affecting. And that was only episode one...

Read the rest here:
Belgravia, ITV review - when the toffs and the nouveaux riches collided - The Arts Desk

Commenting on the latest CPI Basket of Goods and Services Annual Review from the ONS,Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer markets at KPMG, said: The changes in the ONS basket of goods and services offers up a fascinating look at how the consumer landscape is evolving. Whilst not explicitly reflective of increased spend in any particular product or service, the metric seeks to capture consumer price inflation more accurately.

The inclusion of gluten free cereal echoes the growing prominence of health conscious consumers, as well as efforts to increase product diversification. Im sure weve all walked around the supermarket to see that specialist healthier alternatives have been given a more prominent position in recent years. Testament to the growth potential being chased by many consumer businesses and the efforts to diversify product ranges, KPMGsown analysisrevealed that that the health and wellness segment continues to outperform the wider food and drink sector, in terms of both margin and corporate deals activity.

The balance between convenience and more eco-conscious consumption also get a look in this year. On one hand, we saw the addition of reusable bottles and mugs, reflective of consumers looking to cut down on single-use plastic. But stressing the fact that convenience is still highly prised in certain categories, we saw cocktails in a can make it to the checkout. The pressure on consumer-businesses to offer up convenience whilst doing so in an environmentally-friendly manner will be a key playing field in the coming years. Winning businesses will be those that can find a great solution, not an uncomfortable compromise.

In terms of technological changes, its unsurprising that items continue to shift quickly such is the lifespan of tech these days. More effort has been made to capture computer games more accurately, given how volatile their pricing is. Whats more, it varies considerably across gaming platforms too, so the ONS has now defined games by platform. Not only does this illustrate how pricing around tech can be hard to pin down over time, but its also reflective of a wider shift within consumer markets the move towards the platform or ecosystem mentality.

In terms of removals, it is unsurprising to see MP4 players replaced with a more widely-defined portable music player. Todays consumers hardly distinguish between their smart phone and a separate music player. Similarly, it was unsurprising to see shifts in what meat cuts made it into shopping baskets. Imported legs of lamb were removed to reflect low expenditure, whilst beef roasting joints were replaced with beef topside joints due to issues in distinguishing between meat cuts. This is also reflective of the fact that consumers are open to a wider variety of meat cuts, no doubt prompted by celebrity chefs. Meanwhile, the preference for locally sourced will undoubtedly have muted demand for imported items wherever possible.

The evolution of consumer shopping habits is critical for all consumer-focussed businesses. While these changes might be more reflective of the efforts to capture inflation more accurately, they send a clear message illustrating that consumer demand and taste are what ultimately determines growth.

Of course all of this pre-dates Covid-19, and the consumer desire to simply feed and look after the family in times of uncertainty is playing out strongly.No doubt, if the current buying trends continue, this will create a seismic shift in the next ONS Basket of Goods.

More:
Health, convenience and the environment shape the latest CPI basket of goods and services - Retail Times

By Robert Bernstein

SEC - A Viral Lecture: Understanding the World of Viruses and Outbreaks - Dr. Carolina Arias, Assistant Professor, UCSB Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology 3-11-20.

Dr Carolina Arias specializes in virus-host interactions in her UCSB research lab. We were fortunate that she was able to speak to us at the Science and Engineering Council about the current situation with the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Here are my photos from her talk.

Arias explained that we are exposed to viruses every day. They are constantly traveling the world. She expressed frustration that diseases like measles are on the rise due to misinformation by "anti-vaxxers".

She noted that Ebola is still happening. And she reminded us of the harm done by the Zika virus during its peak 2015-2017.

"Don't Panic!" That was her message that she took from "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and wanted to convey to us.

Panic can be more damaging than the disease and it can make people do crazy things. We are seeing this now with the bizarre hoarding behavior in stores of items like toilet paper.

Arias offered this quote from two times Nobel Laureate Marie Curie: "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."

Unfortunately, at this time we don't understand much. The situation is rapidly evolving. This virus was first discovered in December 2019.

So, what is a virus? Arias noted that she has two young children and they are constantly carrying them! A virus is a bit of genetic material encased by proteins.

She offered an image of an influenza virus.

Viruses are not living organisms. The Oxford English Dictionary says, "Life is the condition that distinguishes us from inorganic matter. The capacity for growth, reproduction and continual change preceding death."

Viruses need a host. Viruses are "obligate intracellular parasites". The virus hijacks the host cell to turn it into a virus factory. They are "pirates" of the cell and often kill the cell when they are done with it.

Viruses infect all kinds of organisms. Farm plants and animals, included. China last year had a pig virus that killed most of the pigs in China.

Have you ever seen a blue "roly poly" bug (or pillbug)? The blue is caused by an iridovirus that forms crystals on the surface.

Viruses can infect tobacco, yeasts, amoebas and bacteria. We are full of viruses that infect the bacteria in us. They outnumber the bacteria by ten to one.

Not all viruses cause disease.

Some viral diseases are common. For example, the common cold and herpes. Arias studies a specific herpes virus that infects the eye. The average adult gets 2-3 cases of the common cold each year. More for children.

We don't die of colds or herpes simplex.

Other viruses are rare. For example, rabies or West Nile Virus.

Sometimes, disease numbers rise in a certain area. This is called an "outbreak".

Last year there was a measles outbreak in Los Angeles County. One person exposed 500 people in a couple of classrooms. 100 of those could not show they had been vaccinated. It was controlled after it was identified.

Outbreaks can expand. An infected person may not be identified and may not seek medical attention.

An epidemic is defined as "an outbreak of disease that spreads quickly and affects many individuals at the same time." A pandemic is an epidemic that has affected an entire country or the entire world.

As of March 11 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19 is officially a pandemic. The day before it was officially calling it just an "outbreak"! Arias said that the delay in calling it a pandemic was more political than scientific.

What are coronaviruses? Coronaviruses are a large family that includes mild viruses like some common colds all the way to serious viruses like MERS.

20-30% of common colds are due to coronaviruses.

Despite some rumors, COVID-19 was not engineered in a lab! But some coronaviruses will mutate naturally.

The 2002 SARS outbreak was the first realization that coronaviruses could be serious. SARS had a 10% death rate. There were 8,000 cases of SARS. After containment there were no other cases except some sporadic ones.

The 2012-13 MERS outbreak was 30% fatal. There were 2,000 cases. Because it was so damaging to patients, most were in the hospital. They were able to infect some health care workers in the hospitals but they had little access to infecting others outside the hospitals.

COVID-19 is a bigger challenge because people can walk around infected for awhile without knowing they have it. Thereby infecting other members of the public.

This virus started out being called the "Wuhan Virus" because of where it was first observed. It was then called "Novel Coronavirus 2019". It is now called COVID-19, but the full official name is SARS-CoV-2. It is related to SARS. But it did not evolve naturally from SARS.

Coronaviruses can be spread by animals. COVID-19 started in an animal market in Wuhan, China. It began in bat populations. They don't die from it. They can in turn infect other animals that humans come in contact with more often.

In the case of SARS, the more common animal that was the intermediary was the civet cat in China. This animal was often eaten for food. The sale of civet cats was banned, but it continued in the black market.

MERS resides in dromedary camels. Human adult males are most likely to get MERS because of their interactions with these camels.

The current COVID-19 origin is still a mystery. We know it came specifically from the Wildlife Market in Wuhan. But the specific animal is not known. There was a rumor that pangolins were involved. That is now known to be incorrect.

COVID-19 is known to be carried by bats. That version is 96% similar to the human version. But the intermediary reservoir animal is not known.

The outbreak started close to New Year's Eve on December 31, 2019. It was observed to be a form of pneumonia with no known cause. The genome was sequenced and it was known in days to be a new coronavirus.

Looking back, we know that the first appearance of the first symptoms occurred in a patient in early December 2019.

Arias presented this timeline showing how fast this has happened: December 31 That mystery pneumonia January 7 Isolated with genome January 11 41 were known to be infected January 20 First US case January 30 WHO declared a Global Emergenc

Arias showed graphs of cases in China and outside China. Cases in China plateaued due to massive action there. But in the rest of the world it is still on the rise.

February 26 was the first US case of unknown origin, in California. This is worrisome because it means that people may carry it with little or no symptoms.

February 29 was the first US death.

March 6 Trump signed an $8 billion emergency spending bill. This should have happened earlier according to Arias.

The availability of tests affects reported cases. Testing will be based on symptoms, not on demand. Numbers are clearly not accurate now since so little testing has been done in the US.

COVID-19 is an RNA virus. This is error prone every time it replicates. Viruses don't care if lots of mistakes are made because so many are made. This makes it easy to trace by observing mutations. The rate of these mutations allows determination of how long it has been in a given population.

It is possible to look at the outer package of the COVID-19 virus to identify it.

California is one of the most affected states so far. Mostly in the north of the state so far. Washington State and New York State are also very much affected. It will keep spreading. As of the time of her talk, there were 1,000 US cases. 31 deaths. And 15 people who recovered.

The symptoms are fever, cough and shortness of breath. That is not very descriptive. Common influenzas have the same symptoms.

2-14 days after being infected the symptoms appear.

It can be caught by being within 3-6 feet of someone with an active fever for more than two minutes. It is spread by droplets from coughing from deep in the lungs.

Just touching someone is not immediately a problem. It has to enter your body through eyes, nose or mouth. This is why it is important to wash hands frequently. Hand sanitizer is an alternative if hand washing is not possible. We unconsciously touch our faces and that is the problem. It helps to make a conscious effort not to touch our faces, but hand washing is more effective in practice.

Droplets will settle on surfaces and can spread from there. Think of it like a bad version of influenza. Surfaces can be sanitized with Clorox or Lysol.

The main complication of COVID-19 is pneumonia.

Why is it so severe? Most viruses thrive in the upper respiratory tract. This is true for the common cold and most versions of influenza.

But COVID-19 only thrives deep inside the lungs, in the alveoli. That is what it targets. This is by definition a form of viral pneumonia. Antibiotics do nothing to help.

So far COVID-19 seems to have a 2% mortality rate. In comparison SARS was 9.6% and MERS was 34%.

Pre-existing conditions make a big difference in the mortality rate for COVID-19. It is just 0.9% with none. Being old is itself a risk factor in addition to specific conditions.

There are no vaccines for this virus, nor for most viruses. Nor are there any antiviral agents for this one. In the case of influenza, it is possible to take the antiviral Tamiflu within 48 hours and it will shorten the case by about one day. There are also antiviral agents for HIV, herpes and hepatitis C.

There is an attempt now to repurpose antivirals for this disease. One that is being studied is Remdesivir. But it won't be soon enough to stop the spread for now. It has to be studied to determine if it works. If it does anything bad. And if it can be used prophylactically or if it can only be used as a treatment.

A vaccine will take a year or more to develop.

There are "super responder" patients who get the disease quickly but also clear it quickly from their bodies. It is good to study such people to get a clue about treatment. This helped with Ebola.

With regard to face masks, she advises against using them if you are healthy. You will end up putting your hands to your face more often if you are wearing a mask. That actually increases your risk of infection. Masks can be helpful if they are worn by those who are already infected to keep them from infecting others.

"Social Distancing" is effective. Avoid being close to other people. Avoid hand shaking and other unnecessary contact.

If you have a fever you should contact your health care provider. 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is the threshold of concern. If you have a fever, please stay home.

She trusts what Anthony Fauci is saying at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The CDC also offers advice on how to survive while staying home during a quarantine.

Children will be OK if they get this disease. But it is important to make sure they don't pass it along to older people who are at risk. The Swiss government opted to keep schools open so the kids are not going to stay with their grandparents!

There are many unknowns right now. We don't know how long it can be transmitted after a person has had it. It takes days to get test results even if one can get tested. It is not even known if getting the disease gives permanent immunity. And we don't know what are the long term effects on the lungs or the rest of the body from getting this disease.

Someone asked Dr Arias if she had a favorite science fiction movie that was related to epidemics. She said that in fact the movie "Outbreak" got her into the field!

In summary, she said: Wash your hands Protect others by staying home if you are sick Wear a mask to protect others Avoid groups and unnecessary touching of others And Don't Panic!

I will add that this presentation was provided by the Science and Engineering Council of Santa Barbara. They host monthly talks on local technical innovation as well as providing scholarships and other services to encourage young people to go into science and engineering careers.

Here is more information about the Science and Engineering Council:https://www.scieng.org/

See the rest here:
Understanding the World of Viruses and Outbreaks - Santa Barbara Edhat

FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA (CJI) MN VENKATACHALIAH needs no introduction. He served as the 25th CJI from February 12, 1993 to October 24, 1994. His tenure was marked by efforts to reduce pendency. An avid champion of human values and rights, he served as the chairman of the National Human Rights Commission. In 2000, he headed the national commission to review the working of the Constitution where he gave many valuable suggestions. Justice Venkatachaliah was conferred the Padma Vibhushan in 2004. Currently, he is the patron and guiding light of India Legal. He imparted his wisdom on many topicsthe judiciary, religion, Ayodhya, upbringing of childrento RAJSHRI RAI, MD, India Legal and Editor-in-Chief, APN NEWS. Excerpts from the interview:

People call you Non-age Narayan, a person who doesnt age. Once you told us that the secret of your youth is green tea and omega fatty acids. How do you keep yourself young and vibrant?

Once Sir Winston Churchill was asked what was the secret of his durability. He said enduring qualities of alcohol and tobacco. (laughs) I dont take alcohol, but this is perhaps pure Gods blessing that has given me longish life. Thats all I can say.

When you retired, you refused to take up any position offered to you by the government. Instead you said that you will study Indian spiritualism and religion. Tell us about that decision of yours.

I said I will study the Upanishads. I didnt want to take paid assignments or arbitration because I thought that the chief justice of India has some restrictions about his post-retirement options. I was sounded by the then prime minister whether I will accept the vice-presidentship of the country. One of his minister came here. I told him that the moment I signed this offer, I would bring the edifice of the Supreme Court several notches down. Therefore, I pleaded my inability to respond to that offer. Other judges can do arbitration. They are good people. But the CJI should keep away from it. This is my personal conviction.

As a patron of India Legal, how do you see its role in the field of legal journalism and what is your take on the current state of legal journalism in India?

Legal journalism has come of age. In England once photograph of three judges was published upside down and captioned three-old fools. That sort of journalism was always there in the West. The Indian press was very deferential to the judicial system. Punch, the comic journal of UK, never touched the judges except one or two occasion. In this country judiciary was treated as a sacred cow. Now judiciary is more open to scrutiny. That is good.

Do you think that India Legal is maintaining the standards of legal journalism?

Sometimes I think that India Legal is practising that virtue in excess. (laughs) Thats good. As long as it is bonafide. As every institution, the judiciary must also be open to external assessment. The judiciary must be open to assessment of its social relevance and utility.

Your tenure is best remembered for your initiative to enforce judicial accountability. You famously said that no one can watch a watchman. You said that the judiciary has to adopt a culture of accountability. Please elaborate.

My impression is judiciary down the years in India has been treated as a holy cow. but respect shouldnt generate immunity from criticism. This will bring irresponsibility in the system. We should constantly guard against it. If the judicial system fails, the whole democratic system fails. The problem in judiciary is in the lack of speed in the disposal of cases. We concentrated on the problem during my tenure. My team of judges did enormous work. They worked half an hour more daily. The result is for all to see.

From 1991 to 1998 in eight years the backlog of cases fell from four and a half lakhs to 19 thousand. People said that it is the most commendable work of any post-Independence institution. That was the collective work of all the judges. There were great judges in our time. I am not in touch with the system now but I can say that those years were very productive.

Pendency is a major problem facing Indias judicial system. We are badly understaffed in terms of judges. Now, with the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other high-end technologies, will the judiciary embrace it to solve pendency?

Pendency is a serious problem plaguing our judicial system. There are 22,764 subordinate courts in the country. Each court lists around 60 case per day. Around one case per day is decided. There are 250 footfalls on the either side of advocates and clients. Multiply 22,764 by 300 footfalls everyday and then multiply that by 290 days of work. Then you will know the enormity in terms of loss of productivity and man hours. If you calculate it at the rate of Rs 300 per head, per day, it may amount to a lakh and fifty thousand crore rupees per year. This is the notional loss in addition to the actual expense involved in it.

Talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI), the scanner can read some four-lakh pages in about three to four minutes. But the language platform must be compatible with the material available in courts. Only then the advantage of AI solutions will accrue. AI has some limits but it can be done.

You were part of the group formed to review the working of the Constitution. What changes are you looking for in the Constitution?

We were part of the group which was formed to assess the Constitution. It was called the National Commission to Review the Working of the Indian Constitution. The Constitution provides the framework and if there is good and responsible governance, then the results of growth and development are visible. Take the example of Kerala where social indices have dramatically improved. For example, social welfare is exemplified in maternal mortality figures which have come down significantly.

You once said that you were the most unpopular chief justice ever. What did you mean by it?

A judge is unpopular in every sense. His views and world pictures somehow influences his decisions. Sometimes prejudices enter into his principles. So greater wisdom is expected of judges than mere technical knowledge and details. He should have an idea that into what kind of society he is administrating, what kind of system. We coin beautiful slogans, use expressions borrowed from foreign experience and try to incorporate them in our system. Indian predicament is totally different. It requires different solutions and one size doesnt fit all. There are regional differences, regional imbalances and what is needed is a kind of pervasive wisdom which can assess the utility of any system appropriate to any situation. That instinctively should develop in a judge. It is very difficult to straitjacket everything everything in one formula.

Somebody asked what does it take to be a Lord Chancellor. The answer was first and foremost he must be a gentleman. It doesnt matter if he knows a little also. So the importance of technical knowledge is being emphasised today. That also is important. Law is increasingly becoming a junior branch of economics. Economics is increasingly becoming a junior branch of technology. When explosion of technology is witnessed then all other systems also have to change to suit the demands of innovation. Thats why every institution requires introspection. Because the world is changing rapidly. It should also suit the mindset of the present generation. According to me, the present generation of Homo Sapiens is not a genetic descendent of caveman. It is a new specie in itself. It has immense potential. We are not able to imagine the magnitude of potential of the human brain. This is my take on how system should change to suit the present generation.

India is essentially a religious country. Does inculcation of scientific temper as envisaged in our Constitution preclude its religious ethos and practices?

You cant eliminate religion through scientific thinking. Science cant replace religion. Both have a unique place and can mutually coexist. Religious values are of paramount importance and we shouldnt abandon them. We should expose our children to religious values and traditions. Development of a scientific temper doesnt in any way rule out embracing religious values.

India is a land where diverse faiths have flourished. But now with modernisation and rapid social change, religious practices are being freely questioned and challenged in courts of law. Womens rights and essential religious practices are at odds. Sabarimala is a case in point. What is your view about it?

Cases involving questions of religion, essential religious practices and constitutional rights are being brought to courts more frequently. Its being seen as the rule of law versus tradition and cultural practices. Courts have been adjudicating such matters for some time now. Arguments in such cases should be televised live and people, especially children, should watch these proceedings. The bottomline is that we should value everything for the common good.

Our political system is under tremendous strain. Deviant political behaviour and electoral malpractices have created havoc in the system. What solution do you prescribe for the ills affecting the political system so that it becomes healthy once again?

BR Ambedkar once said: Democracy in India is only a top-dressing on an Indian soil, which is essentially undemocratic. Democracy is a new soil and it has to be nurtured carefully. In India, strict electoral reforms are needed in order to overhaul the political system. Laws for the formation of political parties, funding and public scrutiny of the workings of political parties are needed. I worked along with a group to draft a model legislation to this effect. Sources of political funding should be revealed by proper audit. Cash and caste are a dangerous mix, and if used wrongly can ruin democracy. Dynastic politics should be done away with. Holding party presidentship on account of heredity is a crime. We have to bring changes in these areas. By political reform, we can nurture the soil of democracy and make it healthy and whole.

Today, the country is embroiled in controversies and conflicts related to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, sedition laws and the National Population Register. What is your take on these controversies?

Every nation has its laws and is free to enact them. If some apprehension has crept into the minds of a section of people regarding some law, then these fears need to be addressed. This can be best addressed by debate and discussion. You have to use the power of persuasion to show that nothing is intrinsically wrong with the laws. The apprehension that laws will be applied discriminately is probably creating problems.

We today operate in a polarised atmosphere. Conflict is common and often leads to violence. In such a strife-ridden atmosphere, the role of the police is often under the scanner, and when matters relating to communal conflict reach courts, questions get raised on the judgments. How justified is this?

We have to trust our judiciary and accept its decisions on critical issues. If we dont trust the judiciary, we will lose confidence in it and also in democracy. Judges are aware of both sides of the matter. They know what is horrific for the nation. Dont substitute their wisdom with your impositions. Let the system work.

The judiciary must interpret the law and apply the rule of law. It should do so without taking sides or taking personalities into consideration. That is the only way in which it can gain public confidence. We shouldnt depend on the judiciary for everything. It is a mark of a weak society. This will prevent people from settling disputes democratically. For the protection of human and fundamental rights, the judiciary is the best institution and we should trust it.

In times when executive action is found wanting in important areas of public concern and policy matters, the judiciary takes on a proactive role. This is often termed as judicial activism. This has been on the rise, and in many cases, led to a face-off with the executive. What are your views on this?

Judicial activism is a slippery slope. You are acting in an area where legislators or administrators should be doing their duty. You see somewhere and somehow some institutions are not performing their constitutional duties and obligations. Then the courts have to intervene. Someone else has to do the job so that the demand of the Constitution is met. The government has no choice. It has to take the decision of the court in a gracious way and work out democratic equality.

Going back in history, you were criticised for not acting to stop the appointment of a multi-member Election Commission and for allowing the symbolic kar seva in Ayodhya. Given a chance, would you have acted otherwise?

I dont think so. There are limits of judicial intervention. The courts can only instruct and set goals. It is the executive that has to execute the action plan. The court sets the objective, for example, protect the structure, but the executive has to perform, taking into account all the ground realities.

The Ayodhya judgment has now become a case study of sorts. It was not only one of the longest-running legal battles, but the judgment touched upon the sensitive issue of faith versus rule of law. How do you see the verdict in retrospect?

This case didnt turn on pure legal logic, but on the broader issue of national conciliation and consensus. There is a power peculiar to the Supreme Court under Article 142. It empowers the Court to pass such decree or order as may be necessary for doing complete justice between the parties. This power was invoked during the Ayodhya judgment. It was a broader exercise and not limited to mere determining of the legal rights of the land. It wasnt an emotional judgment, but based on wisdom.

You have given so many ideas to bring about reforms in the social, political, judicial and constitutional arena. Now, when optimism has become a political war cry and Prime Minister Modis slogan achhe din has been hailed as a game-changing mantra, when do you think the wait for better days will come?

For the judiciary, there will always be achhe din. This is because they take the responsibility to resolve tensions and help people carry on with their lives. They make the world a better place to live in. Its not their technicality but wisdom which we should respect. We should trust the Supreme Court.

In the past and in recent times, inter-community strife has led to bloodshed. Politicians indulging in hate-mongering have been let off without punitive action. In this context, the political class needs to be more responsible and responsive.

Political parties have the responsibility to evolve systems that go beyond their interests. They should sit together and evolve systems to improve electoral politics. Though the executive and the civil servant work in tandem, pressure is often brought on the bureaucracy by the political class to serve its interests. Hence, the executive and the civil services should be separate and there should be a buffer between them. Civil servants shouldnt be misused by the political class.

EVMs are seen as tools to correct electoral malpractices. Now a question mark is being raised over them also. Do you think EVMs are a good solution?

There is an expansive message in the paper trail of EVMs. By collaborative evidence, model statistical analysis and big data analysis, we can assess the degree of divergence. It is working quite well and the results are coinciding with exit polls. It is one of the tests. You cant achieve perfection in assessment but EVMs are better than paper ballots. I have seen bunches of paper ballots being manipulated. They are not reliable and are more open to mischief than EVMs. The paper trail analysis is significant. Some margin of error is all right.

Swami Vivekananda said that if you are very logical, you cant be spiritual. What is your view on this?

Vivekananda says so many things beautifully. He talks about evolution and not revolution. He talks about diversity of religious traditions and the need for coexistence. Vivekananda stresses unity of religious values and their integration. He doesnt talk about one religion for all, rather, to each according to his own is his motto. This is relevant for our times.

The new generation is very attached to the internet which has become the primary mode of knowledge transmission and interaction. However, the State has clamped down on the internet in troubled times. In this context, the Supreme Court recently held that access to the internet is a fundamental right.

We are now thinking of its ill-effects and potential for misuse. The internet is one of the greatest inventions mankind has seen, almost next to the railroad. If the question is how to protect children from its ill-effects, the answer lies in the fact that the internet is a protection against itself. There lies a way in which the internet can be manipulated to prevent unwanted information reaching children or vulnerable groups. AI is exciting. It is based on logic and logic is a friend of justice. Humanity has a lot to look forward to. Spirituality and human evolution are taking an upward course.

Can you expand on the underpinnings of the judgment on internet access and its importance?

Times have changed. Access to the internet is equated with the right to information, the right to knowledge. It is an attribute of the human being or human personality. Internet access can be abused, but then everything can be abused.

Social media has the potential for misuse. With current cyber laws, are we ready to regulate the internet?

No, we are not conscious of the magnitude of the problem or the ill-effect it can produce. Take a kitchen knife. It can cut vegetables and it can injure a human being. Science is like that. The nuclear bomb killed millions but when nuclear science was used for medicine or constructive purposes, it enhanced the quality of life. How to minimise bad effects and maximise good effects depends on the genius of the man.

Religion seems to have become a divisive tool and much hatred is being generated in its name. Is the political system to be blamed for this?

Religion per se doesnt divide. No religion says that. Some religious practices are peculiar to a certain social context and when seen without that context, they are construed to be divisive. Nothing should be seen outside context. When we understand this, then the message of religious traditions is properly understood. We should also assess the potential of science and governance. Today, human dignity is coming centre-stage. The great challenge before todays political leadership is how to mobilise positive forces for the good of one and all. Political leadership has the immense task of synthesising the positive forces and taking it forward. That can be done by the right-thinking sections of society. It is possible that some day, science will lead to that. Internet, AI will do that. Perhaps God will be made manifest by the scientist. Scientists will place before us the conception of God.

Today, everyone has a mobile phone and this can cause mischief. Have we not properly harnessed the mobile phone revolution?

A hand-held mobile phone is a symbol of immense social and technological change. We not only communicate through it but also access information and control devices. The responsibility to use it correctly lies with the individual.

Finally, what message would you like to give our readers?

Give kindness and understanding to one and all. Admire people who do good and can change the world. Take care of children. Make them good citizens with beautiful, blossoming minds. Give them positive thoughts. I am the founding chairman of Sarvodaya International Trust. It is a beautiful institution. We encourage that each Hindu boy should have a Muslim friend and vice versa. The families of boys meet every three months and this promotes mutual understanding and communal harmony. It is this spirit which we should promote in society. Be positive. Things will happen. There is so much of beauty and goodness in the world.

You are the patron of India Legal. What would you like to say to us?

India Legal is providing substantial leadership and it will contribute in making a better future. It is examining critically every issue. Critical analysis is the foundation of progress. The India Legal conclaves are beautifully arranged. People who have participated in them are eminent personalities. The thoughts expressed by them are so relevant. There is no negative thinking about the society. Thirty thousand years back, we were cavemen. Now we are civilised. We are constantly evolving as human beings. People who constitute India Legal have great responsibility for bringing an era of peace, contentment and progress. We should aim for a society where everybody is happy and well looked after. We should aim for creating a society where everyone gets the best opportunity to develop ones higher self. India Legal should aid this process.

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The Judiciary Makes the World a Better Place to Live In: Former CJI MN Venkatachaliah - India Legal

Roundup Here's a handy little roundup of all the bits of AI news that you may have missed.

Uh oh, another surveillance company has secretly been purloining data from social media: Banjo, the AI startup that believes its software can detect and surface crimes and other activities in real-time from all kinds of data feeds, also scraped information from peoples public social media profiles.

However, it wasnt as brazen as Clearview, the controversial upstart known for downloading over three billion photos from Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and more to put together a massive dataset for facial recognition. Banjo apparently created a shadow company called Pink Unicorn Labs, according to Vice.

Pink Unicorn Labs went on to develop three apps directed at fans of things like the British boyband One Direction, EDM music, and Formula One racing. These apps asked users to connect and sign-in using their accounts on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus, FourSquare, as well as VK and Sina Weibo, commonly used in Russia and China. Linking the Pink Unicorn Labs Apps to peoples accounts makes it possible to scrape those netizens' data, such as images or location history.

Code across all the three apps contained links to Banjos website. Both companies were registered at the same address in Redwood City, California and headed by Banjos CEO Damien Patton.

Pink Unicorn Labs apps were removed from the Google Play Store in 2016. Even though data might be publicly posted on peoples accounts, scraping them to use for commercial purposes is against the terms of service of these platforms.

AI helps historians read messages carved on ancient bones: Researchers from Southwest University in China used a convolutional neural network to classify and read ancient scripts carved on bones dating back to more than 3,000 years between 1600 to 1046 BC.

The Chinese characters written in Yi script, the oldest examples show it was used in the Middle Kingdom from the 15th century. Studying these ancient texts is difficult; not only does it require extensive knowledge of the language and its history, but the messages imprinted on these bones are cracked and worn out over time.

Heres where the machine learning bit comes in. A convolutional neural network was trained on images of these texts where each character was labelled so it could recognize scripts carved on other types of bones, according to a paper published in IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications.

The researchers used a dataset consisting of 1,476 tortoise shell rubbings and 300 ox bone rubbings, from which they chose one-third as the test set and two-thirds as the training set. Experiment results show the proposed method reaches a level close to that of oracle experts, Synched explained this week.

As I said, classification is the first step,Shanxiong Chen, first author of the paper and an associate professor of computer and information science, told Synched.

This study specifically focused on telling between animal bones and tortoise shells, and were continuously working with Capital Normal Universitys Center for Oracle Bone Studies on further classifying different types of animal bones.

ICLR 2020 goes virtual: Tech conferences are dropping like flies amidst the current outbreak of the coronavirus. Now, the International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR), a top academic machine learning conference, has decided to cancel its physical event due to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, next month.

Due to growing concerns about COVID-19, ICLR2020 will cancel its physical conference this year, instead shifting to a fully virtual conference, it announced this week. We were very excited to hold ICLR in Addis Ababa, and it is disappointing that we will not all be able to come together in person in April.

Organisers have called all academics with accepted papers to create a five minute video as presenting their work part of its virtual poster session. For those that were invited to give a talk, that video will be extended to 15 minutes and information should be conveyed in a series of slides. Workshops are a little trickier to put together; ICLR is currently contacting speakers to coordinate.

All registration fees and travel purchased for the conference will be reimbursed. Now, the price to attend the digital conference has dropped down to $50 for students and $100 for non-students.

New TensorFlow library! If youre bored at home and social distancing from all your friends, family, and colleagues then try this: TensorFlows latest library that allows you to build quantum AI models.

Your brain will probably turn to mush trying to understand and combine both quantum computing and machine learning. The library known as TensorFlow Quantum (TFQ) was built by folks over at Google, the University of Waterloo, X, and Volkswagen, to give developers tools to process data that could, theoretically, run on quantum computers.

We announce the release of TensorFlow Quantum (TFQ), an open-source library for the rapid prototyping of quantum ML models, the Chocolate Factory said this week. TFQ provides the tools necessary for bringing the quantum computing and machine learning research communities together to control and model natural or artificial quantum systems.

Sponsored: Webcast: Why you need managed detection and response

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TensorFlow gets its quantum of solace, lid lifted on 'all-seeing crime-detecting' AI upstart, and more - The Register

The "Brazil Organic Food Market, By Product, By Distribution Channel (Store-based Retail, Non-Store-based Retail and Direct/Institutional Sales), By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Brazil organic food market is projected to reach $ 4.4 billion by 2025, exhibiting a CAGR of more than 20% until 2025.

The Brazil organic food market is showing higher growth due to increasing product innovations; rising disposable income; and a growing number of people becoming more aware of healthy eating practices and the side effects of using chemically processed food products. Earlier, organic food products were mainly popular among the older generation but now these products are gaining popularity among the youth as well, which is driving the market in the country.

Increasing availability of organic food products through various e-commerce platforms is also contributing to the growth of Brazil organic food market. This trend is expected to gain further traction in the coming years, which would result in higher sales of organic food via online channels in Brazil over the course of next five years.

Brazil organic food market is segmented into product type, distribution channel and region. Based on the product type, the market is categorized into organic fruits and vegetables, organic processed food, organic meat, poultry & dairy, organic cereal and food grains, organic beverages, organic spices & pulses and other organic food products. Among them, the organic fruits and vegetables segment dominated the market until 2019, and the segment is forecast to maintain its position in the coming years as well, which can be attributed to their regular consumption among a broad section of consumers.

Years considered for this report:

Objective of the Study:

Researchers performed both primary as well as exhaustive secondary research for this study. Initially, researchers sourced a list of organic food producers across the country. Subsequently, conducted primary research surveys with the identified companies. While interviewing, the respondents were also enquired about their competitors. Through this technique, researchers could include the market players which could not be identified due to the limitations of secondary research. Researchers analyzed the distribution channels and presence of all major players across the region.

The author calculated the market size of Brazil organic food market by using a bottom-up approach, wherein data for various segments was recorded and forecast for the future years. They sourced these values from the industry experts and company representatives and externally validated through analyzing historical data of these product types and applications for getting an appropriate, overall market size. Various secondary sources such as company websites, news articles, press releases, company annual reports, investor presentations and financial reports were also studied.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Organic Food: An Introduction

2. Research Methodology

3. Executive Summary

4. Global Organic Food Market Overview

5. Brazil Organic Food Market Outlook

5.1. Market Size & Forecast

5.1.1. By Value

5.2. Market Share & Forecast

5.2.1. By Product Type (Organic Beverages; Organic Cereal and Food Grains; Organic Meat, Poultry & Dairy; Organic Spices & Pulses; Organic Processed Food; Organic Fruits and Vegetables; Other Organic Food Products)

5.2.2. By Distribution Channel (Store-based Retail; Non-store based Retail; Direct/Institutional Sales)

5.2.3. By Region

5.2.4. By Company

5.3. Market Attractiveness Index

6. Brazil Organic Fruits and Vegetables Market Outlook

6.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.1.1. By Value

6.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.2.1. By Distribution Channel

6.3. Pricing Analysis

7. Brazil Organic Processed Food Market Outlook

8. Brazil Organic Meat, Poultry and Dairy Market Outlook

9. Brazil Organic Cereal and Food Grains Market Outlook

10. Brazil Organic Beverages Market Outlook

11. Brazil Organic Spices and Pulses Market Outlook

12. Brazil Other Organic Food Products Market Outlook

13. Import and Export Analysis

14. Market Dynamics

14.1. Drivers

14.2. Challenges

15. Market Trends and Developments

16. Policy and Regulatory Landscape

Story continues

17. Brazil Economic Profile

18. Competitive Landscape (Company Profiles)

18.1. Usina Sao Francisco S.A.(Native)

18.2. Otsuka Holdings Co Ltd- (Jasmine Products Alimenticios LTDA)

18.3. Korin Agropecuaria Ltda,

18.4. Unilever Brasil Ltda (Me Terra Produtos Naturais Ltda),

18.5. Camil Alimentos SA.

18.6. Jatob Produtos Agroecolgicos

18.7. Apis Vida Indstria e Comrcio de Produtos Farmacuticos Ltda

18.8. Be Ingredient

18.9. Carrefour S.A.

18.10. Itaja Organico

19. Strategic Recommendations

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/20mkj2

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200313005328/en/

Contacts

ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

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Brazil Organic Food Market is Projected to Reach $4.4 Billion by 2025, with a CAGR of More than 20% to 2025 - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Yahoo Finance

Jessica Sturzenegger, CEO and founder, Amara Organic Baby Food, scored $2 million in seed funding ... [+] from institutional investors

Theres no shortage of competition in the burgeoning organic baby food business, but Jessica Sturzenegger, the 30-year-old CEO of San Francisco-based Amara Organic Foods clearly has that optimism gene all good entrepreneurs possess. She is betting her newbie brand, which she developed with cofounder and chef Vicki Johnson, offers consumers something special.

Like many of the newer entrants into the baby food market appealing to Millennial parents, her line of fresh, plant-based baby food is free of preservatives, GMOs and additives. But unlike its competitors, the meals, which come in powder form, are also shelf-stable, requiring no refrigeration or freezing. That makes them easy to store and to carry on the go. (You just mix it with a liquid, such as water, breast milk or formula.) And the low price point per mealless than $3makes it affordable and accessible to more families than some of the other brands. Currently, her product is aimed at children six months to two years old, but she hopes to expand into toddler foods later this year.

For me, its important were not a niche brand, Sturzenegger tells me. Everybody deserves access to better food.

The products first launched in Whole Food Markets northern California region in 2017. Sturzenegger expanded its distribution from 100 to 1,000 stores, including some Targets, in 2019 alone, but the company couldnt cope with all the demand. We realized we couldnt just grow organically. People were paying attention to the category and we had so many people reaching out we couldnt keep up with production, she says.

That could soon change. The three-employee company will announce today that it has raised more than $2 millionthe round was slightly over-subscribed and some investors had to be turned away. The investors in the seed round include the ex-chairman of Hersheys CPG conglomerate, health and beauty e-commerce distributor Pharmapacks and Moses Ventures, the Connecticut-based investment fund started by Danny Moses.

Sturzennegger spent three years working with food scientists, nutritionists and engineers to develop her patent-pending technique, which she calls pressure protection.

What we do is is actually apply pressure to fruits and vegetables, grains and plant-based proteins and we take out the water, explained Sturzenegger. The dried food is then ground into a powder. It retains all the texture of fresh. Oats and berries has a totally different texture than the peas and carrots.

Amara offers fresh organic fruits, veggies, grains and plant-based protein for babies in a ... [+] shelf-stable powder that's mixed with liquid.

The funding will go toward hiring new employeesthere are just three right now and expanding distribution in stores and online.

The gold standard for moms is homemade baby food, said Sturzenegger. But the reality is a lot of them are working, and making homemade baby food is very time consuming, especially if you dont normally cook. We just saw this gap.

Sturzenegger, who always wanted to be a chef, was born in Switzerland and mostly raised in the U.S. She grew up in a French-speaking family with a stay-at-home mom who fed her family fresh homemade meals. She likes to tell the story of the school chum who had never tasted a fresh pea until she ate dinner at her house.

I had to understand why she was going crazy over it, Sturzenegger says. It was because it was fresh. In the 1980s, people cooked from cans.

Sturzenegger says that healthy eating needs to start with the youngest generation. Research shows that children form their food preferences before age 3.

The way you tell good food, is you look at the smell, the taste, the texture, says Sturzenegger.

And it should be the same for baby food. For her part, shes a big fan of Amara Oats N Berries. I eat it almost every day on the road, she says.

Read more here:

Organic Baby Food Startup Amara Raises $2 Million Seed Round To Expand Its Reach - Forbes