Gas-Based Butter, Tastier Cultivated Meat, and Gas-Based Proteins
Also: What can the alt protein industry learn from EV companies?
Hi, welcome to issue #68 of the Better Bioeconomy newsletter. Thanks for being here!
Here’s my favourite quote that I came across while working on this week’s issue:
"The success of electric vehicles shows how fast public and private investment can catalyze green innovation. Forward-thinking governments and food companies now have the opportunity to replicate that success for alternative proteins."
- Lewis Bollard, Program Director for Open Philanthropy
Let’s dig into the latest developments in biotech, shaping the future of food! 🍽
BIO BUZZ
🧈 Savor developed a butter prototype made from CO2 and hydrogen, mimicking dairy butter's taste and functionality
The thermochemical method used by the Californian startup extracts CO2 from air and hydrogen from water, heating and oxidizing them into fats like butter. It’s an agriculture-free process that emits minimal GHGs and uses less than a thousandth of the water for crops.
Savor’s approach promises lower production costs and reduced scale-up risks by using existing commercial-scale chemical processes.
The startup plans to expand its technology to create sustainable alternatives for milk, ice cream, cheese, meat, and tropical oils.
Source: vegconomist
🧫 Yonsei University researchers created a gelatin-based hydrogel scaffold that mimics Maillard reaction flavors and aromas in cultivated meat
This scaffold includes "switchable flavour compounds" (SFCs) that release meaty aromas and flavours when cooked, simulating the Maillard reaction. Maillard is a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars, creating the unique flavors of browned food when heated between 140°C and 165°C.
The scaffold aims to address the taste aspect of cultivated meat, which previous efforts have overlooked. It will make the product more appealing by enhancing flavour profiles such as roasted meat, coffee, and onions.
The research includes plans to adapt the SFCs for various flavour profiles and to move towards an almost entirely animal-free process by replacing animal-derived gelatin.
Source: Green Queen
🍄 The Better Meat Co received the FDA’s GRAS approval letter for Rhiza mycoprotein
The Better Meat Co. received a "no further questions" letter from the FDA. Rhiza mycoprotein, made from Neurospora crassa, is the first mycoprotein outside the Fusarium genus (one used by Quorn) to receive such approval.
Rhiza mycoprotein offers nutritional benefits with 30g of fiber and 45g of protein per 100g, and a protein digestibility score of 0.87-0.96.
The Better Meat Co has signed multiple agreements with major CPG brands in the US and Asia and is working with Hormel Foods and Maple Leaf Foods to develop meat analogues.
Source: Green Queen
MACRO STUFF
⚡️ What can the alternative protein industry learn from EV companies?
Currently, plant-based meat accounts for only 1% of meat dollar sales in US retail. Achieving a 50% market share for alt proteins could mitigate 5 gigatons of CO2 equivalents annually.
EV sector received $40B in subsidies in 2022, far more than the $635M for alt proteins. Governments and private investors need to increase support for alternative proteins, similar to how they did for EVs.
Alt proteins must match or exceed animal proteins in taste, texture, price, and convenience. Successful adoption relies on overcoming consumer trust issues and delivering products that fulfill core food needs.
Source: BCG
APAC Agri-Food Innovation Summit
🤝 Meet 1000+ global leaders who are accelerating climate-adaptation strategies for food security in Asia
Better Bioeconomy is excited to be a media partner for the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit, taking place at Marina Bay Sands on November 19-21!
As the anchor event of Singapore International Agri-Food Week (SIAW), in collaboration with Temasek, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), and Enterprise Singapore (ESG), the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit will bring together over 1000 global leaders to identify the strategic priorities as we build greater capacity, security, and resilience in Asia’s agri-food system.
🙌🏾 Use my discount code BIO10 to save 10% – offer ends Thursday, August 29.
BIO BUCKS
💨 NovoNutrients raised $18M in Series A funding to bring gas-based proteins to human and pet food
NovoNutrients uses microbial fermentation to convert CO2 and hydrogen into protein, initially targeting livestock and fish feed, now expanded to human nutrition and pet food.
The startup’s pilot facility will use unique looped cylinders instead of big tanks, reducing energy requirements for gas mixing, serving as a testbed for future commercial-scale equipment.
NovoNutrients operates through a B2B model, selling microbes and licenses to build, operate, and maintain facilities.
Source: Green Queen
💰 The Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Tech Hub received $51M in federal funding
The funding will support infrastructure expansions, including a $40 million upgrade to the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL) to a 1500 L capacity.
Consortium members Primient and Synonym will expand fermentation capacity to 13,000 L, and ADM will upgrade its Decatur facility to 80,000 L.
The grant aims to make Central Illinois a global leader in biomanufacturing, fostering economic growth, job creation, and enhancing national security.
Source: vegconomist
SOCIAL FEAST
📈 The best early-stage startups hire adaptable scientists with growth potential over specific technical skills
Successful high-growth scientists are comfortable engaging with science outside their primary expertise, showing flexibility in problem-solving as company strategies evolve.
Scientists who demonstrate enthusiasm for self-improvement and proactivity are crucial, as they are more likely to grow with the company and take on leadership roles.
A relentless passion for the startup’s mission is essential for long-term motivation and energy, often signaled by volunteer work or compelling personal stories in applications.
Credits: Katie Bashant Day
💪🏾 Food innovations that help build resilient food system during wartime
Innovative solutions like container farms, hydroponic setups, and aquaponics systems (e.g., Freight Farms, Grow Pod Solutions, and AquaSprouts Inc.) offer modular, transportable food production that can be rapidly deployed in crisis zones to provide fresh produce.
Companies like GreenOnyx and Tupu® develop systems for growing nutrient-dense food and mushrooms in urban environments, using minimal resources and integrating advanced technologies like robotics and AI for high-yield production.
Solutions such as LiVA® Bio-Protection Technology and Too Good To Go focus on extending produce shelf life and reducing food waste, promoting sustainability through innovative prebiotic blends and consumer apps connecting surplus food with buyers.
Credits: Maya Pritsker Ben Ami
Innovate with Taste Like
Taste Like, an advanced ingredient intelligence and alternative protein product comparison directory, is seeking partnerships and data access agreements to enhance its AI-driven value proposition using our comprehensive dataset.
Their database is a crucial resource for sustainable and functional food developers, featuring categorized data on:
1,200+ plant-based and fermentation-based CPG products
200+ ingredients and nutritional parameters
17 allergens
100+ global companies in 10+ countries: But with a primary focus on US alternative protein CPG products
Comparison data: Macronutrients and ingredients compared within the same category and against conventional analogs
and more!
For more information, visit www.taste-like.com for more details on the data available for use or contact them at info@taste-like.com
MORE ON BETTER BIOECONOMY
💬 My conversations with bioeconomy innovators
Biotech consultant and ex-CSO of Vow, James Ryall: Bridging Science and Business to Support Startups Using Biomanufacturing
Synonym's co-founder, Joshua Lachter: Financing and Developing Infrastructure for the Bioeconomy
Bioshyft's founder, Gerrit Feuerriegel: Connecting Innovators, Investors, and Incumbents to Drive the Bioeconomy
Terra Bioindustries’s CMO, Rebecca Palmer: Turning Agrifood Byproducts Into Nutrient-Rich B2B Ingredients
That’s a wrap. Thank you for taking the time to read this issue!
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