Better Bioeconomy Weekly - Aug 7th 2023
Better Bioeconomy Weekly - Aug 7th 2023
Cultivated meat turns 10 🎂
BIO BUZZ
🇬🇧 Aleph Farms has filed for regulatory approval to introduce its cultivated steak on restaurant menus in the UK
Aleph is the first cultivated meat company to seek regulatory clearance with the UK's Food Standards Agency. The company plans to start production in the UK within the coming years and is currently engaged in discussions with potential commercial partners.
Post-Brexit, the UK's novel food regulation changes may accelerate approvals for cell-based and precision fermentation products. However, the UK still relies on the European regulatory framework.
The EU is advised to develop a clear strategy and transparent processes to support the sustainable protein sector and embrace cultivated meat's potential benefits.
Read full article - Green Queen
🇩🇪 1 in 5 Whoppers and 1 in 4 Long Chicken burgers are sold with plant-based patties at Burger King Germany
Burger King Germany is actively expanding its plant-based offerings and aims to become a pioneer in the fast-food industry. Burger King is committed to making 50% of its menu plant-based by 2030.
Customer response to increased vegan options has been positive, with plant-based products gaining popularity since its 2019 launch. In 2021, the world’s first plant-based Burger King restaurant in Cologne was launched.
Burger King Germany sees a strong democratization of nutrition with more people embracing flexitarian, vegetarian, or vegan diets, leading to a significant rise in the market for plant-based meat alternatives and alternative proteins.
Read full article - vegconomist
📢 Beyond Meat has launched a new advertising campaign to combat misinformation about plant-based meat products
The campaign introduces consumers to a fifth-generation farmer named Steven, showcasing North Dakota fava beans used as a base ingredient in Beyond products.
Beyond's campaign highlights the "goodness" of its products and its clean ingredient deck, featuring Beyond Steak with American Heart Association approval.
Beyond also references a 2020 study conducted with Stanford University, showing the health benefits of Beyond products compared to conventional meat consumption.
Read full article - Fast Company
💣 America needs a Manhattan Project for food security
The current agricultural system is highly vulnerable due to monocultures, chemical dependency, and intensive animal agriculture, facing disruptions from various factors like disease, climate change, and supply shocks.
Feeding a growing global population requires disruptive breakthroughs in agriculture, which historically have emerged from dedicated institutions like startups, universities, and government labs.
To address the challenges, a "Manhattan Project for Food" is proposed, similar to successful tech innovation labs like DARPA, to support disruptive technologies and secure the future of agriculture through sustainable and resilient practices.
Read full article - Fifth Industrial
🇨🇳 Haofood introduces vegan dumplings with peanut meat mimicking the traditional pork mince filling of xiao long bao
The world's first company to use peanut protein to make plant-based chicken expands its portfolio with a new vegan product: black truffle flavour dumplings filled with peanut meat and soup.
The company's extrusion technology and formulations allow them to replicate the texture and characteristics of steamed pork mince using peanut protein, making it one of the first vegan options for pork mince in the market.
In addition to dumplings, Haofood has successfully launched a range of chicken alternatives, such as patties, pulled chicken, and satay nuggets, all of which provide an excellent protein source, high dietary fibre, and zero trans-fat.
Read full article - vegconomist
🍗 Next Gen Foods is rebranding to TiNDLE Foods and is expanding into new product categories
TiNDLE Foods will serve the development, production, and sales of vegan chicken, plant-based sausages, and dairy products, aiming to cover all meals of the day.
The company acquired London-based vegan dairy startup Mwah! to enhance its expertise in dairy product development and will offer a range of plant-based milks and gelato flavours.
TiNDLE Foods is adopting a multi-ingredient approach for plant-based milks, focusing on creating the right consistency and creaminess to mimic the flavour and texture of dairy products.
Read full article - Green Queen
🇺🇸 Cultivated meat is on sale in the US. How will the market develop?
US regulators' approval of cultivated chicken sales is a game changer and presents an opportunity for companies to target premium customers interested in trying the product for curiosity or environmental reasons.
Companies will gain valuable insights and data on customer preferences and dislikes as people try lab-grown meat, helping them develop successful branding, labelling, and product strategies.
Significant investment is required, and public sector support can play a crucial role in accelerating the growth of the sector. Moreover, cultivated meat companies must demonstrate sustainability, renewable energy use, and address negative perceptions.
Read full article - BCG
🎉 A decade of cultivated meat: Progress and perspectives with Dr. Mark Post of Mosa Meat
The cultivated meat industry may require government funding for support, considering the discussions about energy transition and major changes in other industries seeking government support.
Large meat companies' involvement and potential acquisitions of small startups suggest that running out of money before proving the technology might not be a major concern.
The challenge lies in messaging to consumers to understand that cultivated meat is a replacement for conventional meat, and investment in specialized equipment and cost reduction strategies is crucial for scaling up the production process.
Read full article - AgFunder
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BIO BUCKS
🇮🇱 Flora Ventures has launched an $80M fund, becoming the largest Israeli-based Agrifood VC
The firm focuses on investing in early-stage start-ups within Israel and Europe to create a more sustainable and resilient Agrifood system while supporting global expansion.
The co-founders, Gil Horsky and Esther Barak Landes, aim to address technology gaps in food security, digitization, sustainable agriculture, and food as medicine to build the next generation of Agrifood unicorns.
The fund has already completed its first investment in Arrakis Bio, an Israeli startup developing technology for animal-free human collagen and gelatin production.
Read full article - Green Queen
🍣 Frozen vegan sushi brand Konscious Foods raised $26M in seed funding
Konscious Foods offers a world-first frozen plant-based sushi, with 10 products across three ranges: sushi rolls, onigiris, and poke bowls, targeting both retail and foodservice sectors.
The funding will be used to expand its presence in the US where it’s be available in 4,500 stores by the end of 2023. Additionally, it will support production in Vancouver and implement nationwide retail marketing initiatives.
The company's products represent a shift in the plant-based food space, offering meat alternatives that are not highly processed, unnatural, or more expensive.
Read full article - Green Queen
🌱 The LIVEKINDLY Collective has acquired Alpha Foods, marking the sixth food brand in its portfolio
This strategic acquisition allows LKC to enter the ready-to-eat breakfast and burrito snacking categories and strengthen its position in the competitive plant-based food market.
Alpha Foods will benefit from LKC's extensive distribution network and global infrastructure, which will help expand its reach in the US and beyond.
The deal holds promising potential for new product development, as LKC plans to leverage its innovation pipeline and food tech knowledge to benefit Alpha Foods.
Read full article - Green Queen
💰 Agrifood systems contribute ~30% of GHG emissions, yet receive less than 5% of global climate investment
Crucial components for climate mitigation, such as food loss, waste, and low-carbon diets, receive less than 1% of climate funding.
Agrifood systems received an average of $28.5B per year, but need at least $212B annually to meet the Paris Agreement's targets.
Geographic discrepancies exist in climate finance, with East Asia and the Pacific receiving the most funding, while Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, vulnerable regions, receive significantly less.
Read full article - Green Queen
🍳 Global plant-based egg market is expected to grow to $9B by 2030 at a CAGR of 20%
Demand is driven by the rise of veganism and increased awareness of the environmental impact of animal agriculture. Technological advancements will contribute to product improvement and scaling up.
Challenges in the market include limited availability of plant-based eggs in many areas and their higher cost compared to conventional eggs.
North America currently dominates the plant-based egg market, but the APAC region is expected to experience the highest growth rate due to increased government support for food R&D and more players entering the market.
Read full article - vegconomist
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SOCIAL FEAST
📈 1H 2023 alt protein investment update by Alternative Proteins Global
1H 2023 saw 95 investment deals totalling $1 billion across the alternative protein industry.
The total investments in the alternative protein industry in 2022 amounted to $2.709 billion USD, distributed across 208 investment rounds.
Over the past 18 months, the industry has seen substantial investment activity, with 303 deals totalling $3.717 billion USD.
Read full article on LinkedIn - Nicholas Dahl, Founder and CEO of Alternative Proteins Global
🤔 A decade of cultivated meat: Rating progress in cost, product, funding, and availability
The cost of cell-cultivated meat has significantly decreased over the past decade but remains more expensive than conventional meat or plant-based alternatives.
The variety and complexity of cell-cultivated meat products have expanded, offering options beyond the initial ground beef prototype, including chicken, steak, salmon, and foie gras, though some products are still hybrids.
Significant venture capital investment, with >$3 billion invested in 100+ startups globally, driving progress in the field. But its availability to consumers remains limited, with only three restaurants in the world serving small amounts currently.
Read full article on LinkedIn - Michal Klar, GP of Better Bite Ventures
🕌 Exploring the Halal considerations for cultivated meat
Halal considerations for cultivated meat involve three aspects: the structure of the scaffold, the use of serum, enzymes, growth factors, and nutrients, and the source of stem cells.
The scaffold used in the cultivation process must not contain any non-halal elements. Gelatine can be used as a scaffold if derived from halal slaughtered animals, but using animal serum is not allowed as it is considered equivalent to blood from an Islamic perspective.
The type of stem cells used in the production process is crucial for determining whether the cultivated meat is halal. Stem cells from meat are permissible if the meat is slaughtered first, while stem cells from chicken eggs are halal as eggs are already permissible to consume.
Read full article on LinkedIn - Mohammad Naqib Hamdan, Senior Lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
EAR FOOD
🌊 Turing the tide for tuna with Impact Food’s Kelly Pan
Show: Business for Good
Guest: Kelly Pan, Co-Founder & CEO at Impact Food
Tuna are essential apex predators for oceanic health, but their numbers have been declining due to human actions.
Impact Food, founded by UC-Berkely grads in 2021, aims to recreate whole muscle seafood without using fish to help conserve tuna and improve oceanic health.
The company has raised $1 million in venture backing, secured placements on menus in California, including a major poke chain, and is now raising a seed round to expand its alt-tuna product to menus nationwide.
💼 Careers in alt protein: Transforming science into solutions for cultivated meat with Multus’ Anirvan Guha
Show: Cultivating Careers in Alternative Proteins
Guest: Anirvan Guha, Head of Formulations at Multus
Multus is a London-based company specializing in custom ingredients and growth media for cultivated meat companies. Anirvan holds a master's degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan and a PhD in Physics from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland.
Anirvan's work on designing artificial systems resembling nature has been published in prestigious scientific journals such as Nature and Advanced Materials.
His advice for aspiring professionals is to identify the necessary skills in the cultivated meat industry and focus on developing those skills to make a significant impact in the field.
VISUAL DELIGHT
🍗 How cultivated chicken is made
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