Better Bioeconomy Weekly - Jun 12th 2023 🌏
Better Bioeconomy Weekly - Jun 12th 2023 🌏
Where there's meat, there's JBS
BIO BUZZ
📈 World's largest meat processing company starts building a cultivated meat factory
JBS, the Brazilian meat processing conglomerate, announced that its subsidiary BioTech Foods has begun constructing the lab-grown meat plant in Spain. BioTech Foods is the Spanish subsidiary of JBS which the company acquired a 51% stake in 2021.
The plant, set to be completed by mid-2024, aims to produce over 1,000 metric tons of cultivated beef per year initially, with the potential to expand to 4,000 metric tons in the future.
The move into lab-grown meat could position JBS to lead the industry and tap into the growing demand for cultivated protein, with key markets identified as Australia, Brazil, the EU, Japan, Singapore, and the US.
“With the challenges imposed on global supply chains, cultivated protein offers the potential to stabilize food security and global protein production,” said BioTech Foods co-founder and CEO Iñigo Charola.
Read full article - Reuters
🤏🏾 Today’s bioreactor capacity is not enough to feed even 0.01% of the global population
Scaling up bioreactor capacity to produce cultivated meat at a meaningful scale (to feed even 1% of the population) will require a significant infrastructure buildout, comparable to historic transformations such as the switch from horses to cars.
Cultivated meat has the potential to satisfy global meat consumption using significantly less land and resources compared to conventional agriculture, highlighting its efficiency and sustainability.
The capacity of bioreactors, equivalent to about 60 billion liters, would be sufficient to meet the worldwide demand for meat consumption. This volume could fit into a space equivalent to 460 New York City blocks.
Read full article - Ark Biotech
🌱 Consumption of plant-based food surges in the Middle East
The Middle East is seeing increasing demand for plant-based food due to health concerns, obesity rates, and the pandemic. Local startups are emerging, and more plant-based options are being introduced in retail and restaurants.
Israel and the UAE are emerging leaders in the Middle Eastern plant-based market, with Israel's vegan population and impactful startups, and the UAE's promotion of plant-based diets for sustainability.
The Middle East and Africa's plant-based market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.35% from 2021 to 2028, with obtaining kosher and halal certifications identified as crucial for market penetration.
Read full article - Stray Dog Capital
🤝 India’s Fermbox Bio and Dyadic International announced a global partnership for sustainable bio-alternatives
The collaboration aims to design, manufacture, and commercialize sustainable and economically viable alternative proteins and biomaterials.
Fermbox Bio specializes in biomaterials manufacturing, while Dyadic International Inc. focuses on microbial platforms for protein bioproduction.
The collaboration could position India as a potential global supplier in the alternative protein sector, leveraging India's scientific talent, manufacturing capacities, and expertise in gene expression and low-cost manufacturing.
Read full article - Green Queen
🪰 Future Fields is using fruit flies as a manufacturing platform for recombinant protein production
Genetically engineered fruit flies could be a promising alternative to traditional microbial fermentation for protein production due to their scalability and cost-effectiveness.
Fruit flies offer advantages in terms of protein quality and production speed. They possess superior internal machinery compared to bacteria or yeast cells, making them suitable for producing complex animal proteins used in cell culture media.
With $11.2 million from a recent funding round, Future Fields is constructing a facility to produce recombinant proteins at a kilogram scale. They specialize in growth factors for cultivated meat and are expanding into human recombinant protein products.
Read full article - AgFunder
🇩🇪 BettaFish launches vegan canned tuna as it hits a conservation milestone
Since its launch in 2021, the company has prevented the consumption of 122 tons of tuna and 124 tons of bycatch and contributed to the preservation of marine resources.
The company's newest product, the Tu-Nah can, provides a sustainable and plant-based alternative to traditional tuna, addressing the unsustainable practices associated with the global tuna market.
Through seaweed cultivation and collaborative efforts with partners like Seaweed Solutions, BettaFish has contributed to the restoration of marine ecosystems, absorbed 1.32 tons of CO2, and conserved 1.25 million liters of freshwater.
Read full article - Green Queen
🇭🇰 Green Monday launches OmniSeafood dishes and discounts to celebrate world ocean day
Green Monday has partnered with restaurants and supermarkets in Hong Kong to offer OmniSeafood dishes and product discounts for a month, encouraging consumers to switch to plant-based seafood and protect marine life.
Green Common, the company's online platform combining retail, distribution, and dining service with stores in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore, is providing retail deals and dinner options to further promote the initiative.
The OmniSeafood series includes products like Classic Fillet, Golden Fillet, Ocean Burger, and Omni Tuna. Omni Tuna has been awarded the best vegan fish gold medal by UK’s Vegan Food & Living.
Read full article - vegconomist
🥓 Unilever's plant-based meat brand, The Vegetarian Butcher, has launched a new plant-based bacon
The new plant-based bacon is called "NoBacon 2.0" and features a new patented fat tissue technology that mimics the texture, oil release, and translucency of real bacon.
NoBacon 2.0 has 20 times more fat release than previous iterations, allowing it to be fried without the need for additional oil. It also offers improved texture, with easily separable strips and superior crispness when cooked.
The new technology enables the "fat" in the plant-based bacon to turn translucent while cooking, enhancing the overall cooking experience and replicating the behavior of fat in animal meat.
Read full article - vegconomist
🥯 Oatly launched an oat-based cream cheese in the US
The cheese comes in two flavours - plain and chive & onion. Oatly’s food scientists spent a year developing the product using Oatly's proprietary oat base to achieve a great taste and function without dairy.
The new product offers a rich and creamy texture, making it suitable for use as a spread, recipe enhancer, or condiment.
In addition, Oatly has partnered with Minor League Baseball, becoming the first national, plant-based sponsor of a sports league in the US.
Read full article - vegconomist
🇮🇳 Indian plant-based protein label Shaka Harry is expanding into Singapore, its first entry into the international market
Shaka Harry plans to introduce 15 innovative products at Mustafa Centre Singapore and has arranged marketing activities like in-store demonstrations, social media campaigns, and collaborations with local influencers.
The company aims to establish partnerships with local restaurants and food service providers to incorporate their products into menus.
Singapore is recognized for its commitment to promoting plant-based diets, and Shaka Harry believes its products will appeal to the growing number of individuals embracing flexitarian diets and seeking sustainable food options.
Read full article - Green Queen
BIO BUCKS
🏴 Uncommon secures $30M in Series A funding for RNA-driven cultivated meat
Uncommon, formerly Higher Steaks, uses RNA tech to produce meat products from a single animal cell sample. This allows them to create appetizing meat alternatives that are cost-competitive, scalable, safer, and healthier without the need for gene editing.
The company aims to capture a 5% share of the global pork market by 2035 through its cultivated meat products. With the $30 million the company plans to scale up production, expand its team, and lower the cost of goods.
Uncommon's cultivated meat uses fewer resources than traditional livestock farming, reducing carbon emissions. They prioritize sustainability and provide a more eco-friendly meat production solution.
Read full article - Green Queen
🍄 MyForest Foods secured $15 million in Series A-2 funding and appointed a new CEO
MyForest, previously Atlast Food Co, raised $40 million in a Series A round in 2021. The company plans to use the $15 million to expand its retail presence and food service reach, focusing on the Eastern Seaboard, including New York City.
MyForest's MyBacon, a mycelium-based bacon alternative, is popular in 100+ retail locations, satisfying the demand for sustainable, plant-based options. MyForest is preparing to launch MyJerky, a mycelium-based beef jerky analogue.
Greg Shewchuk, a food industry veteran, has been appointed as the new CEO, bringing his expertise in marketing and CPGs to help the company scale and expand its market presence.
Read full article - Green Queen
💰 Nestlé invests in Latin American agrifood tech startups via partnership with Yield Lab Latam (YLL)
YLL is a venture capital firm that supports early-stage agrifood tech startups in Latam. This partnership enables Nestlé to achieve its sustainability commitments by leveraging the innovative technologies and processes of startups.
Nestlé aims for net zero emissions by 2050, plans to halve emissions by 2030, and plans to advance regenerative agriculture by planting 20 million trees annually for the next 10 years.
Nestlé recognizes the importance of technological innovation in the agrifood sector to address sustainability challenges. The investment in YLL and collaboration with startups align with its goals of reducing emissions and increasing biodiversity.
Read full article - AgFunder
👩🏽💼 Sentient Ventures invests £2M in female-founded companies disrupting the food system
Sentient Ventures, an impact fund in the UK, has made its first three investments, all in female-founded companies: La Fauxmagerie, Purezza, and Rebellyous.
Female-founded companies in the UK receive only 1p for every £1 of venture funding, highlighting the chronic underfunding they face compared to male and mixed-gender founder teams.
The investments made by Sentient Ventures aim to accelerate the removal of animals from the food system, supporting female founders who are disrupting the current system to bring humane, healthier, and more sustainable products to market.
Read full article - vegconomist
SOCIAL FEAST
😳 A $14 trillion burden: The hidden costs of our broken food system
Our food system incurs significant costs in terms of health and ecosystem damages, amounting to $14 trillion, which is equivalent to 17% of global GDP.
Shifting away from animal-sourced foods could lead to substantial savings, potentially reaching $7.3 trillion, in terms of health burdens, ecosystem degradation, and carbon emissions.
Removing red meat alone would already result in significant reductions in externalities and greenhouse gas emissions, amounting to $4.0 trillion and 2.3 Gt CO2e respectively.
Read full post by Irina Gerry - LinkedIn
🐮 Why is one of the leading causes of climate change still underreported by the media?
Animal agriculture's role in climate change is underreported by the media, creating a lack of awareness among the general public.
Motivating people to reduce meat consumption remains a challenging task despite the agreement on the impact of livestock emissions on the climate crisis.
Journalists have a responsibility to explicitly connect food and climate, focusing on providing information on the "what" rather than just the "why."
Read full post and watch video by Green Queen Media - LinkedIn
🌏 The misunderstood tofu: The role of culture in food development
Tofu is often misunderstood in Western society, with many people claiming to dislike it without being aware of the different types available.
In Asia, there is a wide variety of tofu, including silken tofu, extra firm tofu, and fried tofu.
The cultural significance of foods like tofu highlights the importance of recognizing and appreciating the culinary traditions of different cultures.
Read full post by Del Afonso - LinkedIn
EAR FOOD
🏀 Plant-based goes default, China Gen-Zers like dairy, and LeBron's UNINTERRUPTED is endorsing "The Game Changers" sequel
Show: Green Queen Alt Protein Weekly Live
Flash Coffee in Singapore is making a sustainable move by replacing dairy with OATSIDE's oat milk, showing its commitment to helping customers take a small step forward in reducing their environmental impact.
MyFOREST Foods secures $15M investment in Series A Extension to scale mycelium-based pork bacon and beef jerky. CEO change signals growth and strategic development.
LeBron James' UNINTERRUPTED endorses "The Game Changers" sequel, promoting plant-based diets and sustainable food choices in sports. Partnership signals growing recognition of alternative proteins' positive impact.
💼 Careers in alt protein: Angel Li's commitment to the planet, people, and animals
Show: Cultivating Careers in Alternative Proteins
Guest: Angel Li, Plenitude Project Manager & Policy at ENOUGH
Angel has plenty of experience managing a sustainable protein project and leading community initiatives to encourage a shift towards plant-based diets.
With her expertise as a GRI-certified sustainability professional and a master's degree in Sustainable Development, Angel aims to influence food policy and collaborate with various partners to transform the food system.
She emphasizes the importance of expressing ideas and opinions on social media and continuously upskilling to stay abreast of industry developments.
VISUAL DELIGHT
🎙 City University of Hong Kong webinar on cultivated meat: Where do we stand? With Sandhya Sriram
Despite initial expectations of more challenges and downs, the cultivated meat and seafood industry, particularly in Asia, has experienced positive growth, significant funding, and investor interest.
The industry is entering a phase of market correction and consolidation, where companies need to focus on realistic projections and avoid over-promising. Survival of the fittest will determine success.
Traditional seafood companies in Asia are recognizing the need for technology and disruption in order to meet future demand. They are investing in cultivated meat companies as a means to innovate and secure their long-term business prospects.
Prefer reading instead? Read part of the interview here - Green Queen
🌍 Africa's agritech innovators shaping the continent's green economy
Africa has significant potential in the agricultural technology space due to its abundant arable land, young population, and talent.
The food and beverage market in informal retail in Africa is worth around $700 billion and 50% of Africa's disposable income is spent on food, indicating a major opportunity for growth and investment.
Climate change, rainfed agriculture, and smallholder farmers in Africa are interconnected and pose challenges that need to be addressed through innovative solutions with a human touch and adaptability.
That’s all for this week. Take care and have an awesome week! 🙌🏾
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