South Africa – Page 295

July 12, 2022

Sophi.io Welcomes Global News as Latest Customer

TORONTO, July 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global News, one of Canada’s leading news organizations, has chosen Sophi.io, an AI-powered automation, optimization and prediction platform developed by The Globe and Mail, to automate their website content curation. Following their strong value of innovation, they will be using Sophi Site Automation to autonomously place digital content across their website.

Global News is extremely innovative in their approach to culture and has worked intensively with Sophi to drive culture change so much so that their editorial team sees the value of bringing AI into the newsroom and is looking forward to working with this new technology.

Sophi Site Automation analyses all of their content, from video to text, and shuffles each piece of content to place the most valuable content in the most valuable places on their digital properties in order to ensure their content helps them achieve their business goals.

Sonia Verma, Editor-in-Chief at Global News, said, “Our innovative and data-driven editorial team is looking forward to working hand in hand with Sophi to bring automation into our newsroom and drive powerful decisions that will help us better serve our audiences.”

Gabe Gonda, VP at Sophi.io, commented, “Global News, one of Canada’s preeminent news and information companies, is a phenomenal addition to our customer base. We are excited to help them marry their high level of talent with state-of-the-art ML technology that will help drive significant business results.”

About Global News

Global News offers Canadians from coast to coast a host of news and information—from breaking news in their community to deep, engaging content that puts complex world issues in perspective. Global News remains committed to serving audiences with fact-based, accurate, and comprehensive news coverage. Canadians can turn to Global News as a trusted source of information on television, radio and online including the flagship newscast Global National and daily local newscasts across the country. Global News is a Corus Entertainment network.

About Sophi.io

Sophi.io (https://www.sophi.io) was developed by The Globe and Mail to help content publishers make important strategic and tactical decisions. It is a suite of AI and ML-powered automation, optimization and prediction solutions that include Sophi Site Automation, Sophi for Paywalls and Sophi for First Party Data. Sophi also powers one-click automated laydown of template-free print publishing. Sophi is designed to improve the metrics that matter most to your business, such as subscriber retention and acquisition, engagement, recency, frequency and volume.

Contact Us

Jamie Rubenovitch
Head of Marketing, Sophi.io
The Globe and Mail
jrubenovitch@globeandmail.com
416-585-3355

July 12, 2022

BANGE Bank is the first bank to issue UnionPay-GIMAC co-branded cards in the CEMAC Region

YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The National Bank of Equatorial Guinea BANGE and UnionPay International jointly announced today, the first issuance of UnionPay International-GIMAC co-branded debit cards in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC Region). This significant development will offer the public affordable international financial payment access to a world-class payment network. While BANGE Bank is the first bank to issue UnionPay-GIMAC co-branded cards, UnionPay International was the first to partner with GIMAC by offering cutting-edge digital-based payments services in the region.

The UnionPay-GIMAC co-branded cards provide a hybrid solution in which the local and regional transactions are processed by GIMAC whilst international transactions are processed by UnionPay International.

GIMAC (Groupement Interbancaire Monétique de l’Afrique Centrale), payment switch is fully UnionPay international certified to directly issue UnionPay International cards and offers digital payment solutions to members in six countries in the CEMAC region comprising Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

The partnership between UnionPay International and GIMAC was initiated in 2016. Phase one of the partnership was to establish payment infrastructure and an ecosystem for the CEMAC region, including ATM, Point of Sales, Contactless and E-commerce acquiring. The phase is to embark on the issuance of co-branded UnionPay-GIMAC cards within the territory, accelerating financial inclusion of the region. The third phase comprises the rolling out of various innovative payment solutions to accelerate digital transformation and satisfy consumers’ changing needs in the region.

Mr. Valentin Mbozoo, the General Manager of GIMAC stated, “We are excited about the opportunities the UnionPay International partnership brings to the region and further payment innovations to support local financial inclusion. This partnership paves the way for local banks in the CEMAC zone to offer international cards to their customers in a cost-effective manner.”

“GIMAC is a significant partner of ours, to extend our business in the CEMAC region, the fastest-growing economic zone in Africa,” said Mr. Asad Burney, Head of UnionPay International Africa Region. “We are the first in this market to partner with GIMAC and offer cutting-edge digital-based payments in the region. UnionPay as a global payment network is looking forward to participating in developing this economy,” he added.

With over 180 million UnionPay cards issued in 75 countries and regions outside mainland China, UnionPay has expanded its global acceptance network to 180 countries and regions in recent years. At present, UnionPay cards are widely accepted in Africa across all sectors, effectively meeting the diverse purchasing needs of UnionPay cardholders visiting and living on the continent. UnionPay cards are issued in 13 African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa, eSwatini, Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius. The Nilson Report (Issue 1154) shows that UnionPay ranks first among all card schemes in card issuance and transaction volume worldwide. UnionPay International has launched various innovative payment products in Africa in response to the worldwide digital transformation and financial inclusion.

July 12, 2022

VISION IMPACT INSTITUTE JOINS ONESIGHT ESSILORLUXOTTICA FOUNDATION

Bringing Diverse Expertise With Unified Approach To Eliminate Poor Vision In A Generation

DALLAS, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Vision Impact Institute has announced it is joining the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation. Its current staff and assets will form the Advocacy and Global Partnerships focus area of the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, whose ambition is to eliminate poor vision in a generation.

This combination brings together the best of both organizations. “Our commitment to creating a world where everyone can see well couldn’t be better matched,” says Kristan Gross, current Global Executive Director, Vision Impact Institute. “Including the knowledge and advocacy expertise of the Vision Impact Institute in the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation will collectively increase impact to a level we could not have achieved independently.”

“Our goal to eliminate poor vision in a generation will require a collective effort,” says Anurag Hans, Head of Mission, EssilorLuxottica and Head, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation. “Over the years the Vision Impact Institute has proven that evidence-based advocacy and strategic partnerships are crucial to make the case for good vision and equip leaders to action in order to ensure their populations see well. We look forward to significant progress together to reach the goal that has been set before us – good vision for all.”

The Vision Impact Institute’s existing research database of 700+ research studies and reports, assets and content will continue to be available at https://onesight.essilorluxottica.com/our-work.

About the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation

The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation (formerly Essilor Social Impact) is a French registered charitable organization (endowment fund) reflecting the commitment and values of EssilorLuxottica to eliminate uncorrected poor vision in a generation. It was rebranded in 2022 to bring together EssilorLuxottica’s philanthropic, advocacy actions and investments including: Vision for Life, Essilor Vision Foundations in North America, India, Southeast Asia and China, Fondazione Salmoiraghi & Viganò in Italy as well as the Company’s long term global partners OneSight and the Vision Impact Institute. It is headquartered at 147 rue de Paris, 94220 Charenton-Le-Pont, France. https://onesight.essilorluxottica.com/

Contact:
Andrea Kirsten-Coleman
Global Communications Manager
andrea.kirsten@visionimpactinstitute.org

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July 11, 2022

Vietnam’s leading dairy company Vinamilk commits to sustainable development with “Green farm” – the ecological dairy farm system at Global Dairy Congress

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — At the 15^thGlobal Dairy Congress held from June 14-16 in France, Vinamilk, representative of Vietnam’s dairy industry, shared about sustainable development direction with Vinamilk Green Farm model and the green value chain.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.prnasia.com/mnr/Vinamilk_202206.shtml

Vinamilk's CMO presented at Global Dairy Congress

Coming from Southeast Asia, a region with limited advantages in dairy farming, thus the topic of “Green Farm – Vietnam and South East Asia’s next big step towards sustainability in dairy sector” from Vinamilk received much attention from representatives of other countries at the conference.

“Sustainable development is not just a destination, but a requisite journey that we destined to move forward. Preserving and initiating sustainable values have enable Vinamilk to create and bring to customers products that are not only nutritious but also friendly to the environment” Nguyen Quang Tri, Vinamilk’s CMO, shared with the audience.

Having built the Vinamilk Green Farm during the last two years despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Vinamilk’s endeavor demonstrates the brand’s strong commitment in implementing sustainable development strategies.

“I’ve learned a lot about the Green Farm concept during this conference and I’m very impressed that Vinamilk is clearly a world class company. It’s doing things which are among the best in the world available today and I wonder when every farm in Vietnam and Asia will become a green farm because I think that it’s a great concept,” Mr. Richard Hall – Chairman of Global Dairy Congress commented on Vinamilk’s sharing.

Vinamilk Green Farm – a model of sustainable dairy farm development adapting to local natural conditions with regenerative farming techniques, is developed by Vinamilk following 3 major pillars:

Selective sourcing: The 3 Green farms are situated in 3 selective regions of Vietnam, where cow herbs are purebred imported and their feed is meeting GlobalG.A.P standard. These 3 farms are strategically connected to nearby factories to preserve the freshness and quality of raw milk during transportation.
Adopting regenerative farming practices to minimize the impact on the environment and communities, such as: utilizing renewable energy, preserve soil & water resources, reduce methane emissions and orders by atomic carbon,…
Sustainable practices with innovative technologies throughout the whole process, from breeding to production in order to ensure product quality, animal welfare and environmental goals.

Additionally, the farms and factories in the production chain have created sustainable values for the community, including employment for thousands of locals, improving the laborer skills through training and increased access to modern technology.

The Green Farms also drive local economic development through sustainable agriculture, specifically by purchasing corn and grass for cow feed from local farmers and supporting them by providing organic fertilizers, which plays a significant role in improving their household income.

Furthermore, Vinamilk also gives trainings and encourages farmers to practice sustainable farming methods that compliance with Global G.A.P standard.

Vinamilk has set sustainable development as one of four criteria in its 2022-2026 development strategies to participate in realizing Vietnam’s “Net-Zero” commitment by 2050 as outlined at COP26.

About Vinamilk:

Founded in 1976, Vinamilk is the leading dairy company in Vietnam which is listed among Top 40 largest nutrition companies in the world by revenue and Top 10 of the world’s most valuable dairy brands. Vinamilk’s production and processing units include 16 factories and 14 dairy farms in Vietnam and overseas. Its products have been exported to over 57 countries globally.

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July 11, 2022

Vinamilk, la principale entreprise laitière du Vietnam, s’engage en faveur du développement durable avec « Green farm », le système de ferme laitière écologique, lors du Congrès mondial de l’industrie laitière

HÔ CHI MINH-VILLE, Vietnam, 11 juillet 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Lors du 15e Congrès mondial de l’industrie laitière, qui s’est tenu du 14 au 16 juin en France, Vinamilk, représentant de l’industrie laitière vietnamienne, a partagé la direction du développement durable avec le modèle de la ferme verte Vinamilk et la chaîne de valeur verte.

Pour consulter le communiqué de presse multimédia, veuillez cliquer sur le lien ci-après : https://www.prnasia.com/mnr/Vinamilk_202206.shtml

Venant de l’Asie du Sud-Est, une région aux avantages limités en matière de production laitière, le sujet « Green Farm – Vietnam and South East Asia’s next big step towards sustainability in dairy sector » de Vinamilk a donc suscité beaucoup d’attention de la part des représentants des autres pays présents à la conférence.

« Le développement durable n’est pas seulement une destination, mais un voyage nécessaire que nous destinons à l’avenir. La préservation et la mise en place de valeurs durables ont permis à Vinamilk de créer et de proposer à ses clients des produits non seulement nutritifs mais aussi respectueux de l’environnement », a déclaré Nguyen Quang Tri, CMO de Vinamilk, à l’assistance.

Ayant construit la ferme verte de Vinamilk au cours des deux dernières années malgré les défis posés par la pandémie de COVID-19, l’effort de Vinamilk démontre l’engagement fort de la marque dans la mise en œuvre de stratégies de développement durable.

« J’ai beaucoup appris sur le concept de la ferme verte au cours de cette conférence et je suis très impressionné par le fait que Vinamilk soit clairement une entreprise de classe mondiale. Elle fait des choses qui sont parmi les meilleures au monde aujourd’hui et je me demande quand chaque ferme au Vietnam et en Asie deviendra une ferme verte parce que je pense que c’est un grand concept », a commenté M. Richard Hall, président du Congrès mondial de l’industrie laitière, à propos de la participation de Vinamilk.

Vinamilk Green Farm, un modèle de développement durable d’une ferme laitière s’adaptant aux conditions naturelles locales grâce à des techniques agricoles régénératrices, est développé par Vinamilk selon 3 piliers majeurs :

Approvisionnement sélectif : Les 3 fermes vertes sont situées dans 3 régions sélectionnées du Vietnam, où les herbes des vaches sont importées en race pure et leur alimentation est conforme à la norme G.A.P. mondiale. Ces 3 fermes sont stratégiquement reliées aux usines voisines afin de préserver la fraîcheur et la qualité du lait cru pendant le transport.
Adopter des pratiques agricoles régénératrices pour minimiser l’impact sur l’environnement et les communautés, telles que : l’utilisation d’énergies renouvelables, la préservation des sols et des ressources en eau, la réduction des émissions de méthane et des commandes par carbone atomique, …
Des pratiques durables avec des technologies innovantes tout au long du processus, de l’élevage à la production, afin de garantir la qualité des produits, le bien-être des animaux et les objectifs environnementaux.

De plus, les fermes et les usines de la chaîne de production ont créé des valeurs durables pour la communauté, notamment en créant des emplois pour des milliers de personnes, en améliorant les compétences des travailleurs grâce à la formation et en facilitant l’accès aux technologies modernes.

Les fermes vertes favorisent également le développement économique local par le biais de l’agriculture durable, notamment en achetant du maïs et de l’herbe pour l’alimentation des vaches auprès des agriculteurs locaux et en les soutenant par la fourniture d’engrais organiques, ce qui joue un rôle important dans l’amélioration du revenu des ménages.

En outre, Vinamilk dispense également des formations et encourage les agriculteurs à pratiquer des méthodes d’agriculture durable conformes à la norme G.A.P. mondiale.

Vinamilk a fait du développement durable l’un des quatre critères de ses stratégies de développement pour la période 2022-2026, afin de participer à la réalisation de l’engagement « Net-Zero » du Vietnam d’ici 2050, comme indiqué lors de la COP26.

À propos de Vinamilk :

Fondée en 1976, Vinamilk est la première entreprise laitière du Vietnam. Elle figure parmi les 40 plus grandes entreprises de nutrition du monde en termes de revenus et parmi les 10 marques de produits laitiers ayant le plus de valeur au monde. Les unités de production et de transformation de Vinamilk comprennent 16 usines et 14 fermes laitières au Vietnam et à l’étranger. Ses produits ont été exportés vers plus de 57 pays dans le monde.

Photo : https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1843989/GDDH_MKT_chia_s__v____nh_h__ng_ph_t_tri_n_b_n_v_ng_v_i_m__h_nh_Trang_tr_i_sinh_th_i_Vinamilk_Green_F.jpg
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July 8, 2022

Conagen commercializes scalable sweetness enhancers from nature

Teams up with pipeline partner Sweegen for bridging natural solutions with mainstream taste.

Bedford, Mass., July 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Conagen, the Massachusetts-based biotech firm, announced the commercialization of an expansive portfolio of natural sweetness enhancers for taste modification in sugar reduction solutions for food and beverages. The enhancers are made with precision fermentation, a technology that has led to the innovation of an extensive platform of phenolic antioxidants.

Sweetness enhancers in the market today are made by chemical synthesis or by using an organic solvent extraction method, both of which are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and environmentally unfriendly. Conagen’s precision fermentation method is a preferred, clean, and sustainable method for developing sweetness enhancement compounds.

“These unique molecules are yet another example of how Conagen leverages its molecular platforms and precision fermentation capabilities to create useful ingredients for food and beverage applications. Our ability to rapidly scale modern, clean and sustainable sweetness enhancers provides additional and better options for taste modulation and sugar reduction beyond those enabled by the non-caloric sweeteners already on the market,” said Casey Lippmeier, Ph.D., vice president of innovation at Conagen.

Conagen’s sweetness enhancers belong to a group of natural product molecules called phenolic compounds, found extensively in many plant species. Phenolic compounds are commonly found in vegetables and fruits and are a significant part of the human diet. They are biosynthesized by plants and lichens as secondary metabolites and comprise a diverse group of phytochemicals.

Increasing consumer awareness of chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes sparks the market pull trend toward zero sugar and low-to-no calorie food and beverages and is expected to continue upward. The health trend drives the growth in new sweetness enhancer technologies for an ever-demanding sugar reduction solutions market. Consumers are seeking ways to improve their diets and are increasingly interested in natural and clean ingredients.

Conagen and its pipeline partner Sweegen, a global leader in wellness-based sugar reduction solutions, have previously teamed up to develop modern natural sweeteners that can replace up to 100% sugar in particular food and beverage applications and bitter blockers to mitigate up to 80-100% bitterness in consumer trending products, such as energy drinks, sauces, and confectionery products with low to no sugar.

“Together, with Conagen, we’re building a bridge of natural solutions with mainstream taste,” said Casey McCormick, head of global innovation at Sweegen. “These new molecules can modulate mouthfeel and boost the sensation of the sweetness of other sweeteners and flavors in food and beverages, leading to a significant reduction in sugar usage.”

McCormick further stated, “Conagen is an ideal innovation partner for Sweegen to continuously build our robust and powerful portfolio and pair it with our first-class sweetener systems. The more sweetness enhancers in our toolbox, the better our exploration and discovery of new ways for food and beverage brands to make healthier products that taste great and resonate with consumers.”

Sweegen has a long-standing partnership with biotechnology innovator Conagen. Conagen focuses on developing sustainable, nature-based ingredients that improve existing options in the market or represent completely novel ingredient solutions.

About Conagen
Conagen is a product-focused synthetic biology R&D company with large-scale manufacturing capabilities. Our scientists and engineers use the latest synthetic biology tools to develop high-quality, sustainable, nature-based products by precision fermentation and enzymatic bioconversion. We focus on the bioproduction of high-value ingredients for food, nutrition, flavors and fragrances, pharmaceutical, and renewable materials industries. www.conagen.com

About Sweegen
Sweegen provides sweet taste solutions for food and beverage manufacturers around the world.

We are on a mission to reduce the sugar and artificial sweeteners in our global diet. Partnering with customers, we create delicious zero-sugar products that consumers love. With the best modern sweeteners in our portfolio, such as Bestevia® Rebs B, D, E, I, M, and N, and brazzein, along with our deep knowledge of flavor modulators and texturants, Sweegen delivers market-leading solutions that customers want, and consumers prefer. Well. Into the Future.

For more information, please contact info@sweegen.com and visit Sweegen’s website, www.sweegen.com.

Attachments

Ana Arakelian, head of public relations and communications
Conagen
+1.781.271.1588
ana.arakelian@conagen.com