Image Credit: New York Times

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

In a groundbreaking move, the UK government has unveiled a landmark £2 billion plan to support the advancement of its biotech ecosystem, with a particular focus on the cultivated meat and fermentation industry. Meanwhile, the New York Times sheds light on the challenging circumstances faced by America’s aging farmworkers, predominantly immigrants, who find themselves on the brink of retirement without the safety net of Medicare or Social Security, despite decades of dedicated service to the country’s agricultural sector.

In other news, we’ve wrapped the first season of our podcast in partnership with AgFunder: New Food Order, a nuanced investigation into the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. Read all about why we launched the podcast, and be sure to subscribe and share!

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

1. UK Government Backs Cultivated Meat and Fermentation in Landmark £2B Plan – Vegconomist

Over the next ten years, the government will fund the necessary activities and reforms to propel the country’s biotech ecosystem, which includes the cultivated meat and fermentation industry.

2. Retirement Without a Net: The Plight of America’s Aging Farmworkers
– New York Times

Immigrants who worked decades on US farms are reaching retirement age in a country that offers them neither Medicare nor Social Security.

3. Silicon Valley’s $445M Robot Pizza Revolution That Wasn’t – Fast Company

The zesty tale of Zume Pizza, one of the biggest flops in Silicon Valley history.

4. Kitchen United Will Sell or Close All Physical Units, Pivot to Software – Restaurant Dive

The ghost kitchen pioneer, which raised $100m last year to fund the expansion of its food halls, said it began to offload its locations months ago. It has already shuttered its Kroger units.

5. A Mushrooming Trend: How Fungi Became An It Food – The Guardian

The mushroom moment of the past few years shows no sign of ending. What’s feeding its enduring popularity?

6. The Next Big Technologies in Food and Agriculture for 2023 – Fast Company

From solar-powered farm equipment to the world’s first vaccine designed for bees, these technologies are bringing much-needed change to our food systems.

7. What a Cheeseburger Reveals About the Human Rights Abuses Hiding in Our Food – Fast Company

From child labor to modern slavery, global food supply chains are worse off than you think.

8. Plant-Based Milk Maker Ripple Foods Raises $49M on Back of ‘Explosive Growth’ in Kids’ Products – AFN

Ripple Foods claims to stand out from other firms making milk from yellow peas by utilizing novel technology that strips out unwanted components from plant protein to yield ‘Ripptein.’

9. Matsmart-Motatos Tackling Food Waste with €40M Investment Led By Circularity Capital – Tech.eu

Matsmart tackles the issue of waste in the food supply chain by procuring and reselling overstock goods that traditional retailers can’t buy.

The post UK’s £2B Cultivated Meat and Fermentation Fund, America’s Aging Immigrant Farmworkers + More  appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Credit: Green Queen

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

South Korea has unveiled a groundbreaking national strategy to foster its plant-based food sector, closely following in the footsteps of a global trend. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a significant culinary worker strike in the United States is sending shockwaves through the nation’s restaurant scene as thousands of workers unite to demand improved wages and protections, potentially heralding a transformation in the restaurant industry landscape.

In other news, we’ve wrapped the first season of our podcast in partnership with AgFunder: New Food Order, a nuanced investigation into the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. Read all about why we launched the podcast, and be sure to subscribe and share!

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

1. South Korea Unveils National Plan to Promote Plant-Based Food Industry – Green Queen

South Korea becomes the second nation in the space of two weeks to announce a national plan dedicated to boosting local plant-based food production and promoting alt-protein consumption.

2. A Culinary Worker Strike Could Reshape the Nation’s Restaurants – Civil Eats

Thousands of food and beverage workers are striking across the country and demanding higher wages and better protections. The outcome could have ripple effects across the US.

3. New FoodPrint Report Exposes Shocking Impact of ‘Forever Chemicals’ on the Food System – Food Tank

“The FoodPrint of PFAS” studies the PFAS crisis in Maine, revealing how these forever chemicals affect farmers and how these stories can spearhead remediation, regulation, and advocacy efforts for protecting public health.

4. The Big Ag Lobby is Influencing EU Politicians to Oppose Pesticide Reduction and Green Policies – Green Queen

A new investigation has revealed the deep ties between ag lobby groups and EU politicians, who are consequently pushing against the bloc’s green agriculture reforms around pesticide use, ecosystem restoration and the Farm to Fork strategy.

5. Thirst and Hunger Grow in Besieged Gaza Amid Israeli Bombardment – New York Times

Residents wait in line for hours for bread and water, with fights sometimes breaking out. The United Nations has called the situation a humanitarian catastrophe.

6. VCs Bet On Ag Biotech & Farmtech As the New Stars of Asia-Pacific’s Agrifoodtech Ecosystem – AFN

Investment in Asia-Pacific agrifoodtech startups reached $6.5b in 2022, a 58% year-over-year decline on 2021’s record-breaking year.

7. Ex-Officials At UN Farming Body Say Work on Methane Emissions Was Censored – The Guardian

Pressure from agriculture lobbies led to role of cattle in rising global temperatures being underplayed by FAO.

8. APAC Startups Developing Plant Fats, Whole Cuts & Cultured Pet Food Backed by Climate-Centric VC Fund – Green Queen

Better Bite Ventures has announced investments in three APAC food tech startups as part of its early-stage First Bite initiative and has opened applications for the next funding round.

9. Consumers Blurring Lines Between In-Store and Online Grocery Shopping – PYMNTS

Consumers are buying their groceries both online and in-store, a phenomenon known as hybrid purchasing, and this reality is set to upend retailers’ strategies.

The post South Korea’s Plant-Based Food Plan, Culinary Workers Strike + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Credit: Fast Company

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Politicians are taking remarkable steps to address environmental concerns and health implications in the food industry. Denmark has unveiled the world’s pioneering national action plan for promoting plant-based foods as part of its climate commitment. Meanwhile, in California, Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of the California Food Safety Act, set to be enforced in 2027, promises to bring significant changes by banning harmful additives like red dye No. 3, affecting various foods and snacks.

In other news, we’ve wrapped the first season of our podcast in partnership with AgFunder: New Food Order, a nuanced investigation into the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. Read all about why we launched the podcast, and be sure to subscribe and share!

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

1. Denmark Introduces World’s First National Action Plan to Promote Plant-Based Foods – Green Queen

Following up on its 2021 climate agreement, the Denmark government has published an action plan to transition to a plant-based food system.

2. These Foods and Snacks Will Be Impacted By California’s Ban on Harmful Additives – Fast Company

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the California Food Safety Act, which will be implemented in 2027. It bans red dye No 3, among other additives.

3. Food Companies Aren’t All Walking the Talk on Regenerative Agriculture, Says FAIRR Investor Network – AFN

Two thirds of publicly-listed agrifood companies that have talked publicly about the potential of regenerative agriculture “have not put in place any formal quantitative company-wide targets to achieve those ambitions.”

4. Oatly Calls for Mandatory Carbon Labeling, Offers ‘Big Dairy’ Free Ad Space to Publish Climate Footprint – Green Queen

Oatly is offering free ad space to dairy producers, challenging them to publish their climate footprint alongside ads displaying Oatly’s footprint.

5. Esencia Foods Debuts Europe’s First Whole-Cut Mycelium Seafood at Major German Food Show – Green Queen

Esencia Foods is hosting Europe’s first tasting of mycelium seafood with its whitefish alternatives at the Anuga gastronomic fair in Cologne.

6. Lidl Germany’s Own-Label Vegan Alternatives Will Now Cost the Same as Meat & Dairy – Green Queen

The grocer will also place these vegan products directly next to their conventional counterparts across all its stores in Germany.

7. How a Fertilizer Shortage Is Spreading Desperate Hunger – New York Times

Across Africa and in parts of Asia, disruption to the supply chain for fertilizer is raising food prices and increasing malnutrition.

8. Gaza Residents Face Food and Water Shortages As They Flee South – Washington Post

Israel urged more than a million residents to evacuate northern Gaza, where Israeli strikes have wiped out families and laid waste to its once-bustling commercial center.

9. Hype Built the Cultivated Meat Industry. Now It Could End It. – Fast Company

Cultivated meat could be key to lowering emissions. But failure to hit optimistic timelines is making the companies in the space look suspect.

The post Denmark’s Plant-Based Roadmap, Regen Ag Greenwashing, CA Bans Harmful Additives + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Credit: IntraFish

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

In recent news, France’s Agriculture Ministry is making headlines with a bold proposal to ban the use of meat-related terms such as ‘Steak,’ ‘Ham,’ and ‘Grilled’ on plant-based products, alongside a stringent condition of vegan protein content. Meanwhile, the ag sector is abuzz about the forthcoming $147 million public debut of container farming startup, Freight Farms, as it plans to go public through a SPAC merger.

In other news, we’ve wrapped the first season of our podcast in partnership with AgFunder: New Food Order, a nuanced investigation into the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. Read all about why we launched the podcast, and be sure to subscribe and share!

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

1. France’s Agriculture Ministry Proposes Labelling Ban for Plant-Based Meat Terms Like ‘Steak’, ‘Ham’ and ‘Grilled’ – Green Queen

The government has also listed over 120 meat-related terms that can be used only if products have a maximum share of vegan proteins between 0.5% to 6%.

2. Container Farming Startup Freight Farms to Go Public for $147M Via SPAC – AFN

Freight Farms sells its modular container farms to other entities that handle the growing and selling of the produce.

3. Netherlands: Leonardo DiCaprio-Backed Mosa Meat Becomes World’s First B Corp Cultivated Meat Company, Eyes Regulatory Approval – Green Queen

The company is planning to apply for regulatory approval in countries across the world.

4. UK: Butternut Box Wolfs Down $354M for Subscription Canine Cuisine – TechCrunch

Butternut Box prepares and ships healthy food and supplements for dogs.

5. Israel: The Kitchen Foodtech Hub Announces $70M Fund, Unveils the Kitchen Labs Innovation Center – AFN

The fund will focus on four verticals: enabling technologies to support players in the alt protein space; alternative ingredients; food as medicine; and food security and food waste reduction.

6. US Plant-Based Meat Sector Worth $2.2B, As Foodservice Sales Reach All-Time High – Green Queen

The foodservice sector saw an all-time high of $730m in sales, while the retail industry flatlined at $1.4b.

7. Carrefour Leads New Plant-Based Food Coalition to Fight France’s Anti-Vegan Labelling Law – Green Queen

The group aims to reach €3b in revenue by 2026.

8. How Momofuku CEO Marguerite Zabar Mariscal Created a $100M Food Empire – Fast Company

After taking over from founder and chef David Chang, Mariscal has grown the company’s Momofuku Goods food brand into a grocery store staple.

9. The Troubles Continue for Uber Co-Founder’s CloudKitchens – Eater

After exploding at the start of the pandemic, Travis Kalanick’s ghost kitchen business is laying off staff and shuttering warehouse locations.

10. Fish, Flies and Algae Outshine Crop Cea in the $600M+ of Novel Farming Systems Funding So Far in 2023 – AFN

This is a 180-degree turn from 2022, when crop CEA startups accounted for 60% of deal numbers. The novel farming systems category has raised $826m so far in 2023.

11. How Essential Workers Are Fighting for Safer Grocery Stores – Forbes

Amidst a wave of violence in grocery stores and pharmacies, retail workers are demanding greater safety measures.

The post French Gov Proposes Labelling Ban for Plant-Based Meat, Freight Farms to Go Public + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Credit: Courtesy

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Aleph Farms, in partnership with Migros, Switzerland’s leading food enterprise, has made strides towards introducing cultivated meat in Europe with a groundbreaking regulatory application. This milestone marks a significant step in navigating Switzerland’s specific approval process for cultivated meat startups. Meanwhile, John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods, has launched a new health startup called Love.Life, aimed at revolutionizing healthcare through a comprehensive approach in an effort to transform how Americans perceive and engage with healthcare.

In other news, we’ve wrapped the first season of our podcast in partnership with AgFunder: New Food Order, a nuanced investigation into the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. Read all about why we launched the podcast, and be sure to subscribe and share!

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

1. Israel: Aleph Farms Takes First Step Towards Cultivated Meat in Europe with Swiss Regulatory Application – Green Queen

Aleph’s milestone application is a collaborative effort with Migros, Switzerland’s largest food enterprise, which has been instrumental in navigating the country’s specific regulatory approval process.

2. John Mackey’s Whole Foods Changed How Americans Eat. Now Mackey Wants To Change Healthcare – Fast Company

John Mackey, Whole Foods cofounder, opens up about Love.Life, his health startup which combines everything from metabolic health coaching to cold-plunge pools.

3. Builders Vision Announces $1.1B in New Climate Solution Investments in Emerging Markets – Builders Vision

The fund will identify $1b in nature-based solution projects and $100m in oceans investments and grants focused on the blue carbon ecosystem and oceans carbon dioxide removal.

4. US Retail Sales of Meat Alternatives Continue Precipitous Decline – AFN

US retail sales of plant-based meats continue to decline, falling 12.6% to $106.8m in the five weeks to July 2, with units down 19.8%.

5. Revolutionary Culinary Collective Ghetto Gastro Is Bringing Its Goods to Target – Fast Company

Ghetto Gastro empowers Black communities through food and storytelling. This Target partnership is bringing that vision to the masses.

6. Who On Earth Is CosMc? B-List McDonald’s Character Gets Name-Checked in Spinoff Chain – Fast Company

McDonald’s Corp CEO Chris Kempczinski said in an earnings call that the burger giant will unveil a spinoff restaurant called CosMc’s.

6. Threatened by Climate Change, Food Chain Workers Demand Labor Protections – Civil Eats

The farm bill has long excluded farmworkers and other food chain workers. Now, workers and advocates are making a case for including their needs in the massive bill.

8. Putin Strikes Ukrainian Ports — and Endangers the World’s Food Supply – Washington Post

Russia is trying to blame the West for weaponizing food supplies, but Moscow’s guilt is evident.

9. Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs Launches Startup to Produce Plant-Based Whole-Cuts Using Breakthrough Innovation – Vegconomist

The breakthrough process mimics the texture of meat by introducing a multi-directional fiber structure that can recreate the muscle consistency of beef, pork, chicken and fish without using additives or artificial ingredients.

10. Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs Launches Startup to Produce Plant-Based Whole-Cuts Using Breakthrough Innovation – Vegconomist

The breakthrough process mimics the texture of meat by introducing a multi-directional fiber structure that can recreate the muscle consistency of beef, pork, chicken and fish without using additives or artificial ingredients.

11. A Climate Warning from the Cradle of Civilization – New York Times

How extreme temperatures and dwindling water are pushing the Fertile Crescent toward the brink.

The post Cultivated Meat Up for European Regulatory Approval, Inside John Mackey, Walter Robb & Betsy Foster’s New Health Startup + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Credit: Forbes

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Two exciting headlines in the food industry have recently caught the food world’s attention. Former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, has launched PLEZi Nutrition, a health-conscious brand. The company’s first product line includes four fruit drinks, aimed at reducing the sugar intake of kids. Meanwhile, Hollywood star Aubrey Plaza recently caused a stir with a parody advertisement for “Wood Milk,” which mocked plant-based milks in support of dairy consumption.

In other news, we’ve wrapped the first season of our podcast in partnership with AgFunder: New Food Order, a nuanced investigation into the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. Read all about why we launched the podcast, and be sure to subscribe and share!

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

1. Michelle Obama Launches Health-Conscious Brand PLEZi Nutrition – Forbes

The company’s first launch is a line of four fruit drinks, a strategic decision made after realizing that added sugar beverages represent the main source of sugar intake for kids.

2. The Controversy Over Aubrey Plaza’s Ad for Big Dairy, Explained – Vox

Plaza was mocking plant-based milk on behalf of the Milk Processor Education Program, the quasi-governmental dairy industry organization administered by the USDA that ran the “got milk?” campaigns of the 1990s and 2000s.

3. Sweetgreen Will Unveil First Automated Kitchen This Week – Restaurant Dive

The chain’s Infinite Kitchen, part of ongoing efforts to improve profitability, will open its first location in Naperville, Illinois, on Wednesday.

4. South Korea’s CellMEAT Debuts Cultivated Osetra Caviar – Green Queen

South Korean startup CellMEAT says it has successfully developed a prototype for cell-based caviar, an alternative to traditional caviar that is sourced from sturgeons.

5. Ben & Jerry’s Cofounder Gets Fully Baked With New Nonprofit Cannabis Company – Forbes

Ben Cohen just launched a weed brand with a high-minded purpose—giving away 100% of its profits to right some of the racial injustices from America’s War on Drugs. Ice cream sold separately.

6. You May Never Eat Inside a Fast Food Restaurant Again – Vox

As diners increasingly turn to delivery, the future of fast food may be one with no human interaction at all.

7. Folium Capital Seeks $500M to Invest in Forestry and Agriculture – WSJ

The specialist firm aims to take advantage of demand for carbon-offset investments and healthy foods.

8. Netherlands: Mosa Meat Opens New Facility in Maastricht, Sees ‘a Clear Path Towards Price Parity’ For Cultivated Meat – AFN

Dutch cultivated meat startup Mosa Meat has opened a new 30k sq ft ‘scale-up plant’ in Maastricht as it edges closer to commercialization.

9. Biggest Grocery Union Opposes $20B Kroger-Albertsons Deal – WSJ

UFCW International plans to raise concerns with antitrust officials about potential divestitures and stores’ future viability.

10. Jenny Craig, the Once-Highflying Weight-Loss Brand, Is Going Out of Business After 40 Years – WSJ

The company was famous for its personalized meal plans and celebrity endorsements.

The post Michelle Obama Launches F&B Brand, Wood Milk + More  appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Credit: Bloomberg

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

GOOD Meat, Just Eat’s cultivated meat unit, just became the second company to receive FDA approval of its cultivated chicken. If USDA approval is granted, then it will be served at one of Jose Andres’s restaurants in Washington, D.C. A new report from the Changing Markets Foundation pinpoints examples of greenwashing across the food sector. The highly anticipated “Green Claims Directive” could force companies to be more transparent about the climate impacts of their products.

In other news, we are excited to spotlight our podcast in partnership with AgFunder: New Food Order, a nuanced investigation into the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. Read all about why we launched the podcast.

And be sure to subscribe and share!

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

1. FDA Clears California Company’s Lab-Grown Chicken as Safe to Eat – WSJ

Good Meat is the second company in the industry to have cleared the regulatory hurdle. If approval from the USDA is granted, the company plans to serve its cultivated chicken at one of Jose Andres’ restaurants in Washington DC.

2. Report Suggests ‘Rampant’ Greenwashing in Food Sector – Bloomberg

From “climate neutral certified” beer to “climate friendly” beef jerky, a report from the Changing Markets Foundation pinpoints examples of dubious climate claims.

3. Moving Beyond Carbon Neutrality in Food & Ag – New Food Order

As we increasingly learn about the industry’s potential to be a solution to reversing climate change through carbon sequestering farming practices, the question quickly became: is carbon neutrality enough?

4. Paraquat, the Deadliest Chemical in US Agriculture, Goes on Trial – Civil Eats

Amid lawsuits filed by thousands of farmers linking the herbicide to Parkinson’s disease, the EPA is reconsidering its analysis of paraquat’s risks.

5. Jimi Biotech Debuts China’s First Cultivated Chicken – Green Queen

The company says it has managed to reduce the cost of the culture medium to around ¥ 100 ($14), which is only 3% of the price of the culture medium on the market.

6. Sweden: Oatly Snaps Up $425 Million In Fresh Funds and European McDonald’s Deal – Green Queen

Following a string of quarterly losses, Oatly has raised new funds to continue its expansion, that now includes a deal with McDonald’s.

7. This Farm Bill Really Matters. We Explain Why. – Civil Eats

As communities struggle with food insecurity and farmers face a range of climate-fueled disasters, lawmakers have a chance to build a farm bill that tackles both in 2023. Will they?

8. PepsiCo to Pump $216M into US Regenerative Ag – AFN

PepsiCo has unveiled plans to pump $216m into regenerative agriculture projects spanning 3m acres of farmland in the US.

9. Miyoko’s Creamery Founder Accuses the Company of Gender Discrimination and Misusing Her Name – Food Dive

Miyoko Schinner claims in a lawsuit her removal as CEO of the business she started was retaliation for complaining to investors and HR that she was unfairly treated because she is a woman.

10. All Eyes on California as Fast-Food Worker Rights Land on the 2024 Ballot – Civil Eats

The state’s landmark law giving fast-food workers a greater voice was set to start in January—until opponents stalled it with a ballot referendum.

11. Sweetgreen Wants to Deliver Your Salads by Drone – Restaurant Business

The fast casual chain has signed on to test delivery by Zipline drones that promise to be quick, quiet and precise.

12. Panera Bread Tests Amazon’s Palm-Scanning Technology in St. Louis – CNBC

Customers can use their palms to pay for their orders and connect to their loyalty program accounts.

The post FDA Green Lights Cultivated Chicken, Rampant Food Sector Greenwashing + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

                             Image Credit: Fast Company

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

The last few months have experienced a shift in the market. Startups that were once overvalued by investors are now being pressured to meet their demands for profitability. This has proven difficult for many brands across all food sectors, and especially true in the realm of vertical farming, where companies are struggling to turn a profit on lettuce. In the CPG space, thousands of people will be descending upon Expo West this week and on the lookout for the brands that will make it or break it in the cutthroat industry.

In other news, we are excited to spotlight our podcast in partnership with AgFunder: New Food Order, a nuanced investigation into the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. Read all about why we launched the podcast.

And be sure to subscribe and share!

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

1. Defining and Scaling Regenerative Agriculture – Part 1 – New Food Order

We explore philosophies of regeneration and ask our guests how they define regenerative agriculture, how we can make sure regenerative farms are actually doing what we need them to, and how do we support farmers while they make the transition?

2. The Vertical Farming Bubble Is Finally Popping – Fast Company

Climate change might make growing produce indoors a necessity. But despite taking in more than a billion dollars in venture capital investment, most companies in the industry seem to be withering, unable to turn a profit on lettuce.

3. FDA Is Redefining ‘Healthy’ and Food Industry Is Pushing Back – Washington Post

Less saturated fat, less sodium, less added sugar; manufacturers say almost no packaged foods would qualify under the agency’s new rules.

4. A Make-or-Break Food Trade Show – Forbes 

The food industry is cutthroat, and Expo West is a proving ground. Chloe Sorvino will be on the lookout for entrepreneurs who are succeeding against the odds as well as the brands that had exhibited in the past and have since called it quits.

5. Soy, Oat and Almond Drinks Can Be Called Milk, FDA Says – New York Times

Plant-based beverage makers hailed the agency’s decision but objected to the recommendation for labels to specify the nutritional differences with cow’s milk.

6. Meati Predicts $1B in Retail Sales in Five Years As It Rolls Out Nationwide at Sprouts – AFN

Meati is seeking to differentiate itself from others with a fungi-based platform capable of producing whole cuts of alternative meat from mycelium.

7. Aleph Farms Strikes Deals in Singapore and Israel to Advance ‘Asset-Light’ Approach to Scaling Cultivated Meat – AFN

The startup has acquired a facility in Israel and related assets from VBL Therapeutics, enabling it to produce larger quantities by late 2024. It should now be able to start production in Singapore in 2025.

8. Miyoko’s Creamery Lawsuit: Case Filed By Plant-Based Dairy Company Against Founder – Green Queen

Plant-based dairy company Miyoko’s Creamery has filed a case against founder Miyoko Schinner alleging breach of contract and company IP misappropriation.

9. Millions Could See Cuts to Food Stamps As Federal Pandemic Aid Ends – Washington Post

For low-income households enrolled in the program, known as SNAP, the cuts could reduce their benefits by an average $182 per month.

10. Nearly Three in Four Consumers Plan to Keep Buying Private Label When the Economy Settles – Food Dive

Manufacturers’ and retailers’ efforts to improve store-branded offerings are paying off, as shoppers make price their most important consideration.

11. The Many Ways AI & ChatGPT Will Disrupt Food Tech – Green Queen

From crop and livestock monitoring to supply chain optimization, a list of use cases for AI across the food tech supply chain.

The post The Vertical Farming Bubble Is Popping, FDA Redefines ‘Healthy’ + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image Credit: Believer Meats

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Believer Meats has broken ground on what it claims to be the world’s largest cultivated meat facility in North Carolina. The 200,000 square foot facility will have the capacity to produce 10,000 metric tons of cultivated meat. Chile-based plant-based food startup NotCo has drawn in $70 million of funding to grow co-branded alliances with other food giants. Meanwhile, instant grocery app Getir has acquired its competitor, Gorillas, for $1.2 billion. Uber Eats has agreed to pay $10 million in a settlement with the City of Chicago for listing local restaurants in its app without permission and charging excess  commission fees.

And this week, we are excited to announce launch of our new podcast in partnership with AgFunder: New Food Order, a nuanced investigation into the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. Read all about why we launched the podcast and check out our first few episodes:

#5: De-Commodifying Carbon and Our Industrial Food Systems
#4: We’re at the Beginning of a Food Revolution, with Sam Kass 
#3: Looking to Our Indigenous Past For a Regenerative Future, with Nathalie Kelley
#2: Is The World Better With Your Business In It? with Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever
#1: Introducing: New Food Order

And be sure to subscribe and share!

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

1. Designing a Climate-Friendly Food Company, with Julia Collins – New Food Order

What would it look like if we completely re-designed the food system, product by product? In this week’s episode, we speak with Julia Collins, Founder and CEO of Planet FWD, a carbon management platform for consumer companies to bring climate-friendly products to market.

2. Believer Meats Breaks Ground on World’s Largest Cultivated Meat Plant – Food Dive

The North Carolina-based facility will be 200k sq ft with the capacity to produce at least 10k metric tons of cultivated meat.

3. Chile: Bezos-Backed Food Startup NotCo Bucks Trend to Raise $70M – Bloomberg

NotCo signed a joint venture with Kraft Heinz in February to manufacture plant-based versions of its products. It will use the funds for similar B2B co-branding licensing agreements.

4. Getir Acquires Grocery App Rival Gorillas in $1.2B Deal – Financial Times

The combined group worth $10b represents a fall in valuation as investors turn against lossmaking tech startups

5. Uber Eats to Pay Millions for Listing Chicago Restaurants without Consent – TechCrunch

Uber has agreed to a $10m settlement with the City of Chicago for listing local restaurants in the Uber Eats and Postmates food delivery apps without the restaurants’ consent, as well as for charging excess commission fees.

6. By the Numbers: The State of the World’s Soil in 2022 – AFN

From widespread soil degradation in Africa to Iowa’s quickly disappearing “black gold,” the numbers show how urgent the world’s soil situation is.

7. Here’s a Map of Starbucks Stores That Voted to Unionize – CNBC

More than 250 stores across nearly 40 states have voted to unionize since 2021.

8. The Future Is Asian: Green Queen Publishes 2022 Edition of Award-Winning APAC Alt Protein Report – Green Queen

A new report by Green Queen Media argues that while plant-based meat sales may be flat in the US and Europe, in Asia Pacific, the alternative protein industry is booming.

9. Group Shaping US Nutrition Receives Millions from Big Food Industry – The Guardian

Newly released documents show an influential group that helps shape US food policy and steers consumers toward nutritional products has financial ties to the world’s largest processed food companies.

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Image source: Civil Eats

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines. This month’s newsletter is sponsored by Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

The highest court in one of India’s 28 states ruled last month that “Mother Nature” has the same legal status as a human being, claiming that the natural environment is part of the human right to life, and that humans have an environmental duty to future generations.

Groups like Los Deliveristas Unidos are organizing delivery workers at Doordash, Uber Eats and other apps who are demanding better working conditions, despite a lack of employee protections—and often being undocumented.

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Indian Court Rules That Nature Has Legal Status on Par with Humans—and That Humans Are Required to Protect It – Inside Climate News

The judge invoked the power of the government to act as a guardian for those who cannot care for themselves.

2. The Next Frontier of Labor Organizing: Food Delivery Workers – Civil Eats

Groups like Los Deliveristas Unidos are organizing delivery workers at Doordash, Uber Eats and other apps who are demanding better working conditions, despite a lack of employee protections—and often being undocumented.

3. Brightseed’s First AI Detected ‘Phytonutrient’ Comes to Market Alongside a $68M B Round – TechCrunch

Brightseed’s machine learning platform Forager identifies and categorizes plant compounds. It has already mapped two million, considerably more than are characterized in scientific literature.

4. Courtney Boyd Myers: A Call to Clean Up the Plant-Based Food Industry – Vegconomist

Methylcellulose, soy lecithin, low erucic acid and tapioca maltodextrin are a handful of the unappetizing ingredients found in plant-based products. Myers calls out brands flooding the market with heavily processed foods and the resulting consumer distrust.

5. Estonia: Gelatex Claims to Have Solved One of Cultivated Meat’s Biggest Scaling Hurdles: Affordable Scaffolding – Green Queen

The company claims that its nanofiber scaffolding system is now able to support the production of 300 tons of cultivated meat per year.

6. Starbucks Plans Wage Increases That Won’t Apply to Unionized Workers. – New York Times

The initiative was announced as labor organizers have won initial votes at more than 50 stores, including several this week.

7. Indian Grocery Startup Zepto Raises New Funds at $900M Valuation – Reuters

The company has raised $200m to further expand, signaling growing investor interest in a sector where companies are luring customers with instant deliveries.

8. White House Will Host First Food Insecurity Conference in 50 Years – CNN

President Biden will convene a conference in September focused on ending hunger and improving nutrition across the nation, as the US sees higher rates of food insecurity amid the pandemic.

9. Diversity and Resilient Food Systems Are Crucial to Avoid Even Worse Global Food Price Crisis – Food Ingredients First

IPES calls for food industry players to build regional grain reserves, diversify food production and restructure trade flows, reduce biofuels, livestock numbers and reliance on fertilizers and fossil energy in food production.

10. Why Have There Been No Great Worker-Owned Restaurants? – MOLD

Few restaurants have turned to worker-ownerships as a means to radically reimagine the industry. Why is it that in conversations about ‘sustainability’ we talk about vegetables but not about people?

11. Sweetgreen to Open First Pickup-Only Location in DC – Restaurant Dive

The dining room-free format features grab-and-go shelves and will only take orders placed on its website, app or third-party marketplaces.

12. Stanford Gets $1.1B for New Climate School From John Doerr – New York Times

The billionaire venture capitalist said the study of climate change and sustainability would be the “new computer science.”

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Join 600+ entrepreneurs, investors, executives, advocates and more to explore strategies and tactics for reducing societal consumption of animal products and ending factory farming at the fourth annual Reducetarian Summit on May 12 – 14, 2022 in San Francisco. The theme of this year’s conference is “inclusivity.” In addition to several moderated panels, lightning talks and fireside chats, the summit will also feature a full expo showcasing delicious plant-based food, skills building workshops and curated networking opportunities.

At the Reducetarian Summit you will:

• Hear from world-renowned speakers
• Attend moderated panels and lightning talks
• Participate in skills-building workshops
• Enjoy networking opportunities (including happy hours and a dance party)
• Learn about the latest plant-based, fermented, and cell-cultured products and services

Hear from 100+ industry leading speakers, including:

• Tim Carman (The Washington Post)
• Alexandr Samocha (Wild Type)
• Ben Williamson (Compassion in World Farming)
• Chloe Sorvino (Forbes)
• Arjan Stephens (Nature’s Path)
• Talib Visram (Fast Company)
• Craig Watts (Farmer)
• Andrew D. Ive (Big Idea Ventures)
• Maisie Ganzler (BAMCO, Bon Appétit Management Company)
• Stephanie Chen (Stray Dog Capital)

Taste foods from top food & beverage brands, including:

• Silk/So Delicious
• Miyoko’s Creamery
• Quorn
• Meatless Farm
• No Evil Foods
• Meati Foods
• Loca
• MeliBio

Use code FoodTechConnect10 for 10% off 

The post Attend the Reducetarian Summit May 12-14 in San Francisco [Sponsored] appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image source: New York Times

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is threatening the global food supply,  specifically for low-income countries that rely on wheat and fertilizer imports from that region already suffering from pandemic-related supply chain disruptions.

Last but not least, chefs and restaurants have hopped onto the NFT train, minting everything from recipes to exclusive dining clubs.

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. What the War in Ukraine Means for the World’s Food Supply – New York Times

After only days of fighting, global commodity markets have been roiled. Shipping in the Sea of Azov was brought to a standstill last week. Wheat futures jumped 12% on the Chicago Board of Trade. This increase topped already inflated prices.

2. Welcome to the NFT Restaurant Boom – Eater

Chefs like Tom Colicchio are minting NFT pizzas, recipes and even limited-edition gin bottles. But is the rest of the food world along for the ride?

3. Weee! Delivers Second Big Funding Round in a Year, This Time Backed by SoftBank – TechCrunch

Coming off of a year where monthly active users grew 150% year over year, multicultural e-grocer Weee! secured $425m in funding, boosting its valuation to $4.1b.

4. 2021 Record Year For Alt Protein Investment, With APAC Showing Significant Funding Growth – Green Queen

Alt protein companies raised $5b worldwide, with $312m invested in APAC. Highlights included a 60% increase in funding into the sector on a global level, with fermentation and cultivated projects claiming more funding than ever before.

5. Starship Technologies Raises Another $42M to Fuel the Growth of Its Fleet of Self-Driving Delivery Robots – TechCrunch

The company plans to expand its current footprint in the US and Europe, double down on more markets and exploring new form factors and a wider range of business models.

6. War In Europe’s Breadbasket Reverberates in an Unlikely Place – Forbes

War in Ukraine, Europe’s breadbasket, may reverberate to an unlikely place: the American organic chicken refrigeration case.

7. Here Comes the Full Amazonification of Whole Foods – New York Times

A newly revamped store in Washington shows how thoroughly Amazon has woven itself into the grocery shopping experience.

8. DoorDash Acquires Restaurant Ordering Platform Bbot – Fast Company

Bbot makes order-and-pay software for restaurants and other hospitality venues. The acquisition is the first since DoorDash bought Wolt for $8b in November 2021.

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The post War in Ukraine Puts Global Food Supply At Risk, NFT Restaurant Boom + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is threatening to cut off international shipments of wheat, spurring shortages and pushing the price of the crop higher amid spiraling inflation and supply chain challenges. The two countries make up nearly a quarter of the world’s global supply of wheat.

Cell-cultured and plant-based meats continue to go head-to-head in the race to dominate the alternative protein market. Both Wildtype and Next Gen Foods raised $100 million for their cultured salmon and plant-based chicken, respectively.

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Ukraine Invasion Threatens Global Wheat Supply – New York Times

Russia and Ukraine together produce nearly a quarter of the world’s wheat, and coming disruptions could fuel higher food prices and social unrest.

2. Can $100M Get Wildtype’s Cell-Grown ‘Sushi-Grade’ Salmon into the Wild? – TechCrunch

The company plans to use funding to begin distributing its product to high-end chefs and grocery stores. It is still currently awaiting FDA approval.

3. Singaporean Plant-Based ‘Chicken’ Maker Snags $100M – Bloomberg

Next Gen Foods plans to expand to the US, starting with major cities, pitting it against Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat.

4. Arizona Starbucks Stores Votes to Unionize, As Reorganizing Drive Gains Momentum Across the US – The Counter

The Mesa Starbucks store is the third company-owned location to vote in favor of unionization since December.

5. Kristen Bell Invests in Cottage Cheese Maker Good Culture’s $64M Round to Build a Sustainable Cultured Foods Platform – Forbes

Cottage cheese makers touting nutrient-dense ingredients and sustainable agricultural practices are staging a massive comeback for the category that was once twice the size of the yogurt market in the US.

6. Kraft Heinz Creates Joint Venture with AI-Powered Foodtech Startup NotCo – Food Navigator

The plan is to combine NotCo’s patented tech and expertise in plant-based formulation with Kraft Heinz’s brand portfolio and scale.

7. Geltor Celebrates Commercial Scale Manufacture of Animal-Free Collagen – Food Dive

The partnership with Arxada increased Geltor’s fermentation production capacity from tens of thousands of liters to millions of liters in just two years.

8. Black Farmers Fear Foreclosure as Debt Relief Remains Frozen – New York Times

Lawsuits from white farmers have blocked $4b of pandemic aid that was allocated to Black farmers in the American Rescue Plan.

9. Moss.Earth Is Using NFTs & Crypto Carbon Credits to Fight Climate Change in the Amazon – AFN

NFTs and other “web 3.0” tools are how the Brazilian startup plans to digitalize carbon credits and preserve the Amazon rainforest.

10. Amsterdam: PlantLabs Nabs $57M As Indoor Farming Funding Surges – Crunchbase

The funds will be used to open more production sites outside the Netherlands, in North America and in Europe.

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The post Ukraine Invasion Threatens Global Wheat Supply, Wildtype and Next Gen Foods Snag $100M + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

Image source: Green Queen

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has published its eagerly awaited national plan. Acting as a blueprint for future developments, innovations and national economic strength, it has specifically included cultivated meat and ‘future foods’ as sectors to actively participate in, paving the way for much-needed funding increases for the sector.

Vertical farming startup Plenty has raised a whopping $400 million dollars. Walmart, who invested in the latest round, will begin to carry its leafy greens in all California stores this year.

A new study has found that plant-based alternatives have the potential to represent 6% of meat consumption by 2030. The sector would need $27 billion investments in infrastructure in order to supply the demand.

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. China’s 5-Year Agricultural Plan to Include Cultivated Meat and ‘Future Foods’ for the First Time – Green Queen

China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has published its eagerly awaited national plan. Acting as a blueprint for future developments, innovations and national economic strength, the plan has specifically included cultivated meat and ‘future foods’ as sectors to actively participate in.

2. Walmart Makes an Investment in Vertical Farming Startup Plenty – CNBC

The investment is part of a $400m round of funding. Walmart plans to carry its leafy greens in all California stores this year.

3. Plant-Based Ingredients Need $27B in Infrastructure Investments to Meet 2030 Demand – Food Dive

The Good Food Institute found that if the segment keeps growing at current rates, these alternatives will represent 6% of meat consumption in eight years.

4. Unovis Asset Management Closes $166M Fund, Warns Alt Protein Investors Should Avoid Ego Driven Valuations – Forbes

Alternative protein-focused VC, Unovis Asset Management, has closed an oversubscribed $166m fund II, but warns ego-driven valuations and the mentality of rushing to exits in the sector could damage founders’ well-intentioned impacts.

5. UK: Zapp Snaps Up $200M to Supersize Its Instant Grocery Play – TechCrunch

China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has published its eagerly awaited national plan. Acting as a blueprint for future developments, innovations and national economic strength, the plan has specifically included cultivated meat and ‘future foods’ as sectors to actively participate in.

6. 3D-Printed Plant Steak Startup Raises Funds to Chase Carnivores – Bloomberg

Israeli startup Redefine Meat has raised $135m in new funding for its roll out of 3D-printed plant-based steaks across Europe. New funds will help build out a factory in the Netherlands.

7. Belgium: Deliverect Raises $150M at a $1.4B+ Valuation to Streamline Online and Offline Food Orders – TechCrunch

The company works with independent and large chains to streamline ordering and delivery. It plans to expand beyond Europe and into the US soon. It has recently begun to offer its services to CPG companies as well.

8. Purely Elizabeth Raises $50M for Expansion – Food Dive

The company said it plans to expand its existing SKUs in nutrient-dense breakfast food categories, as well as launch into a yet-to-be-announced category.

9. Starship Technologies Picks Up €50M from the EU’s Investment Arm to Expand Its Fleet of Autonomous Delivery Robots – TechCrunch

Campus deployments make up a majority of Starship’s business, but signs are pointing to a shift towards grocery.

10. Kula Bio Closes $50M Series A to Further Develop Its Low Emission Biofertilizer – AFN

The startup says its alternative to traditional nitrogen fertilizer is crop-agnostic, non-GMO and cost-effective for farmers.

11. As Regulations Gets Closer, Upside Foods Acquires Cultivated Seafood Company Cultured Decadence – Green Queen

Cultured Decadence has developed cell lines and feed for the creation of high-end crustaceans. It will now adopt Upside’s brand name and bring seafood products to its portfolio.

12. Aavishkaar Capital to Launch $250M ESG Fund to Invest in Asia, Africa – Deal Street Asia

The firm has already made the first close at $55m and plans to raise the targeted capital over the next 2 years.

13. Investigators Probe Alleged Fraud Involving Over $240M in Federal Child Nutrition Dollars – The Counter

A Minnesota non-profit was paid to feed thousands of hungry children every day during the pandemic. Federal investigators allege that the meals never materialized.

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Image source: MeaTech

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

Green Queen editor in chief and alt protein industry veteran Sonalie Figueiras shares alt protein trends for 2022, from Big Food brands getting behind private label plant-based products to regulatory approval. Meanwhile, a blind taste test held by SuperMeat has proven that its cultivated chicken was mistaken for the real thing.

A new report provides startling context about the poverty and food insecurity that grocery workers face. Grocery workers across the country are striking in response, and the time has come for the food industry to reckon with the widespread issue.

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. 12 Alt Protein Trends To Watch: Green Queen’s 2022 Industry Predictions – Green Queen

Green Queen editor in chief and alt protein industry veteran Sonalie Figueiras lists her much-anticipated 2022 food trend predictions.

2. Why Is Food Insecurity So Widespread In the Grocery Industry? – Forbes

The food industry has yet to reckon with the food insecurity, poverty and precarity that are so widespread among grocery workers.

3. Beyond Meat and PepsiCo Team Up to Make Plant-Based Jerky – Bloomberg

The joint venture, Planet Partnership, will bring together Beyond Meat’s product innovations with PepsiCo’s distribution and marketing.

4. Jerky Company Chomps Receives $80M in Private Equity Cash – Bloomberg

High-end jerky maker Chomps now has a valuation between $200m and 300m. Its products use pasture-raised meats and include certifications for the Keto, Paleo and Whole30 diets, as well as animal welfare.

5. Israel: Cultivated Meat Passes Blind Taste Test With Flying Colors – Green Queen

SuperMeat held a blind taste test at its Tel Aviv restaurant. Master Chef judge Michal Ansky mistook the cultivated chicken for the real thing–and delightedly so.

6. Why Are Denver Kroger Workers on Strike? – Forbes

Grocery workers in Denver and Colorado Springs are on strike. A new report provides startling context about the poverty and food insecurity that such essential workers face.

7. Many Restaurants Pay Tipped Workers Next to Nothing. Does that Violate their Civil Rights? – Civil Eats

Advocates have advanced a lawsuit against Darden, the nation’s largest full-service restaurant company, for racial and sexual discrimination as a result of paying tipped workers below the minimum wage.

8. Indian Food Delivery Giant Swiggy Raises $700M at $10.7B Valuation – TechCrunch

The new funding follows a strong year of growth for Swiggy in which the startup nearly doubled its food delivery business’ gross order value. Swiggy has surpassed the valuation of its 13-year-old chief rival Zomato.

9. Most Independent Restaurants Experienced a Sales Decrease of More Than 50% in December – Forbes

Significantly less-capitalized independents have had to navigate dining room shutdowns, shift their operating models, manage patchwork regulations and angry customers and a smaller labor pool.

10. South Korea’s Agtech Startup Green Labs Raises $140M Series C to Accelerate Global Expansion – TechCrunch

The startup offers services including an app that aggregates data using AI, giving more than 500k farmers insight into crop lifecycle, as well as a B2B fresh produce marketplace for over 10k enterprise buyers.

11. Why These 15 Funds Could Transform Agriculture – Koen van Seijen

Billions of investment capital will try to enter the regenerative agriculture space in the next 10 years. Koen van Seijen has compiled a database of soil building funds.

12. US Food Supply Is Under Pressure, From Plants to Store Shelves – Wall Street Journal

Weeks of workers calling in sick have added to continuing supply and transportation disruptions, making grocery store shelves harder to fill.

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The post Alt Protein Trends to Watch, Food Insecurity in the Grocery Industry + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.