Food+Tech Connect https://foodtechconnect.com News, trends & community for food and food tech startups. Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:51:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 Trump’s Funding Freeze Leaves Farmers Reeling, Olipop Valued at $1.85B + More  https://foodtechconnect.com/2025/02/18/trumps-funding-freeze-leaves-farmers-reeling-olipop-valued-at-1-85b-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2025/02/18/trumps-funding-freeze-leaves-farmers-reeling-olipop-valued-at-1-85b-more/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:51:20 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35774 Image Credit: Politico 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 agricultural sector faces uncertainty as Trump’s funding freeze disrupts efforts to transition farms to regenerative practices, leaving farmers in financial distress. Meanwhile, the food and beverage industry sees a contrasting success story with Olipop, a prebiotic soda brand, now valued at $1.85 billion after raising $50 million in its latest funding round. 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. Trump’s Funding Freeze Creates Chaos and Financial Distress for Farmers – Civil Eats Efforts to transition farms to regenerative agriculture are stalled, and the path forward is unclear.   2. Prebiotic Soda Brand Olipop Valued At $1.85B in Latest Funding Round – CNBC The drink brand is now profitable and saw annual sales of more than $400m last year. It raised $50m in its latest funding round.   3. Food Policy Tracker – Civil Eats USDA and EPA are failing to share details on cancelled contracts; Trump issued an executive order establishing a “Make America Healthy Again Commission”; The Secretary of Ag has signaled more cuts to come at the USDA and more.   4. RFK Jr. Promised to Clean Up the Food Supply – Consumed RFK Jr., confirmed as HHS Secretary, aims to reform FDA’s GRAS loophole on food additives. Challenges include political resistance, industry influence, and limited resources for regulatory overhaul.   5. Only Politics Can End World Hunger – iPES Food  Massive political efforts are needed to tackle the causes of hunger – conflict, poverty, and inequality. Without confronting power, the harvest will never reach the hungry.   6. Coke’s $7B Bet on Milk Hits Big, But Wall Street Wants More – Bloomberg The fast-growing Fairlife brand has become crucial to Coca-Cola’s pivot from sugar, but now the soda giant needs to convince investors there’s more to come.   7. Valentine’s Day Break-up’s. – The Checkout Food workers face exploitation with low wages, high injury rates, and food insecurity. Addressing hunger requires political will, equity and sustainable practices, not just technological fixes.

The post Trump’s Funding Freeze Leaves Farmers Reeling, Olipop Valued at $1.85B + More  appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

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Image Credit: Politico

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 agricultural sector faces uncertainty as Trump’s funding freeze disrupts efforts to transition farms to regenerative practices, leaving farmers in financial distress. Meanwhile, the food and beverage industry sees a contrasting success story with Olipop, a prebiotic soda brand, now valued at $1.85 billion 50 million in its latest funding round.

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. Trump’s Funding Freeze Creates Chaos and Financial Distress for Farmers – Civil Eats

Efforts to transition farms to regenerative agriculture are stalled, and the path forward is unclear.

 

2. Prebiotic Soda Brand Olipop Valued At $1.85B in Latest Funding Round – CNBC

The drink brand is now profitable and saw annual sales of more than $400m last year. It raised $50m in its latest funding round.

 

3. Food Policy Tracker – Civil Eats

USDA and EPA are failing to share details on cancelled contracts; Trump issued an executive order establishing a “Make America Healthy Again Commission”; The Secretary of Ag has signaled more cuts to come at the USDA and more.

 

4. RFK Jr. Promised to Clean Up the Food Supply – Consumed

RFK Jr., confirmed as HHS Secretary, aims to reform FDA’s GRAS loophole on food additives. Challenges include political resistance, industry influence, and limited resources for regulatory overhaul.

 

5. Only Politics Can End World Hunger – iPES Food 

Massive political efforts are needed to tackle the causes of hunger – conflict, poverty, and inequality. Without confronting power, the harvest will never reach the hungry.

 

6. Coke’s $7B Bet on Milk Hits Big, But Wall Street Wants More – Bloomberg

The fast-growing Fairlife brand has become crucial to Coca-Cola’s pivot from sugar, but now the soda giant needs to convince investors there’s more to come.

 

7. Valentine’s Day Break-up’s. – The Checkout

Food workers face exploitation with low wages, high injury rates, and food insecurity. Addressing hunger requires political will, equity and sustainable practices, not just technological fixes.

The post Trump’s Funding Freeze Leaves Farmers Reeling, Olipop Valued at $1.85B + More  appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]> https://foodtechconnect.com/2025/02/18/trumps-funding-freeze-leaves-farmers-reeling-olipop-valued-at-1-85b-more/feed/ 0 The FDA Redefines “Healthy”, Global Food System Funding Declines + More https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/12/23/the-fda-redefines-healthy-global-food-system-funding-declines-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/12/23/the-fda-redefines-healthy-global-food-system-funding-declines-more/#respond Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:17:22 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35768 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. In recent developments, the FDA has modernized its 30-year-old definition of “healthy” for packaged foods, requiring products to include specific amounts from food groups like fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein, while also setting limits on added sugars. This update aims to provide clearer guidance for consumers seeking nutritious options. Meanwhile, despite an increase in global climate finance from 2017 to 2022, funding for the food system has declined to just 2.5%. This reduction highlights a significant gap in supporting sustainable agriculture and addressing food system challenges amid growing environmental concerns. 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. The FDA Has Updated The 30-Year Old Definition of ‘Healthy’ for Packaged Foods – Fast Company Under the rule, products that claim to be “healthy” must contain a certain amount of food from one or more food groups such as fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy and protein. And for the first time, the rule sets certain limits for added sugars.   2. Despite Rise in Global Climate Finance, the Food System’s Share Falls to Just 2.5% – Green Queen While public climate finance increased between 2017 and 2022, the amount flowing to food and agriculture declined during this time.   3. Why FDA’s ‘Healthy’ Update Likely Wont Make Us Healthier – Food Fix It’s been a long road to get here, but even the FDA doesn’t seem to think updating what foods can be labeled as “healthy” will make us much healthier.   4. How Workplace Injuries Spurred the Holiday Strike Against Amazon – Forbes Thousands of warehouse and delivery workers are participating in the largest strike against Amazon in US history.   5. The High Cost of Cheap Food. and the Historic Halting of a Grocery Merger. – The Checkout Federal courts blocked the Kroger-Albertsons merger to protect competition. Meanwhile, GoodSAM Foods highlights the human and environmental costs of cheap global agriculture, urging systemic change.   6. Cocaine Induced Opulence – Snaxshot Trump-era productivity trends, GenZ’s nostalgia for ’80s Wall Street, substance use culture, and provocative insights on modern CEO behaviors.   7. Rebel Foods Secures $210M Series G Funding From Temasek – QSR Rebel Foods operates over 450 cloud kitchens and has a presence in the UAE and the UK.

The post The FDA Redefines “Healthy”, Global Food System Funding Declines + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

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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.

In recent developments, the FDA has modernized its 30-year-old definition of “healthy” for packaged foods, requiring products to include specific amounts from food groups like fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein, while also setting limits on added sugars. This update aims to provide clearer guidance for consumers seeking nutritious options. Meanwhile, despite an increase in global climate finance from 2017 to 2022, funding for the food system has declined to just 2.5%. This reduction highlights a significant gap in supporting sustainable agriculture and addressing food system challenges amid growing environmental concerns.

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. The FDA Has Updated The 30-Year Old Definition of ‘Healthy’ for Packaged Foods – Fast Company

Under the rule, products that claim to be “healthy” must contain a certain amount of food from one or more food groups such as fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy and protein. And for the first time, the rule sets certain limits for added sugars.

 

2. Despite Rise in Global Climate Finance, the Food System’s Share Falls to Just 2.5% – Green Queen

While public climate finance increased between 2017 and 2022, the amount flowing to food and agriculture declined during this time.

 

3. Why FDA’s ‘Healthy’ Update Likely Wont Make Us Healthier – Food Fix

It’s been a long road to get here, but even the FDA doesn’t seem to think updating what foods can be labeled as “healthy” will make us much healthier.

 

4. How Workplace Injuries Spurred the Holiday Strike Against Amazon – Forbes

Thousands of warehouse and delivery workers are participating in the largest strike against Amazon in US history.

 

5. The High Cost of Cheap Food. and the Historic Halting of a Grocery Merger. – The Checkout

Federal courts blocked the Kroger-Albertsons merger to protect competition. Meanwhile, GoodSAM Foods highlights the human and environmental costs of cheap global agriculture, urging systemic change.

 

6. Cocaine Induced Opulence – Snaxshot

Trump-era productivity trends, GenZ’s nostalgia for ’80s Wall Street, substance use culture, and provocative insights on modern CEO behaviors.

 

7. Rebel Foods Secures $210M Series G Funding From Temasek – QSR

Rebel Foods operates over 450 cloud kitchens and has a presence in the UAE and the UK.

The post The FDA Redefines “Healthy”, Global Food System Funding Declines + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]> https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/12/23/the-fda-redefines-healthy-global-food-system-funding-declines-more/feed/ 0 Teen Sues Big Food for Addictive Ultra-Processed Food, A Turning Point for Big Food + More  https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/12/17/teen-sues-big-food-for-addictive-ultra-processed-food-a-turning-point-for-big-food-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/12/17/teen-sues-big-food-for-addictive-ultra-processed-food-a-turning-point-for-big-food-more/#respond Tue, 17 Dec 2024 22:09:05 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35762 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. A growing spotlight is being cast on the role of ultraprocessed foods in America’s health crisis, as public scrutiny intensifies and legal actions emerge. In Pennsylvania, a teenager has filed an unprecedented lawsuit against major industry players like Coca-Cola and Nestlé, alleging their marketing of “addictive” ultraprocessed products is making children ill. Meanwhile, new research indicates that nearly three-quarters of adults in the United States are overweight or obese—figures that are fueling concerns among policymakers, scientists, and consumers alike. With ultraprocessed foods increasingly viewed as key contributors to these troubling statistics, the pressure on Big Food to change may be mounting. 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. Big Food Hit with First-of-A-Kind Lawsuit for Marketing ‘Addictive’ Ultra-Processed Products to Kids – Green Queen A teenager in Pennsylvania has sued major food firms like Coca-Cola and Nestlé for allegedly causing illnesses in kids with ‘addictive’ ultra-processed foods.   2. A Turning Point for Ultraprocessed Foods – NYT A new study has found that nearly three-quarters of American adults are now obese or overweight, and there’s growing concern — among politicians, scientists and consumers — about one potential culprit: ultraprocessed foods.   3. On Ozempic? Big Food Makers Have a New Label for You – WSJ Conagra Brands adding ‘GLP-1 friendly’ to packaging on Healthy Choice frozen meals to woo users of weight-loss drugs.   4. State of Regenerative CPG Report – Regenbrands Our inaugural report synthesizes ReGen Brands’ proprietary learnings from almost three years studying regenerative CPG, including 80 podcast episodes interviewing brand executives and other key ecosystem stakeholders.   5. Why the Kroger-Albertsons Merger Was Blocked – Forbes Federal courts blocked the $25b Kroger-Albertsons merger, a historic antitrust victory protecting consumers, workers, and suppliers from higher prices, weaker competition and corporate consolidation.   6. How Trump’s Plans for Tariffs and Deregulation Could Hurt the US Seafood Industry  – Fast Company The seafood industry, which is international in nature, could be seriously disrupted if Trump imposes a 25% tax on products from Canada.   7. Grubhub Fined $25M for Deceptive Food Delivery Practices – PC Mag Offenses include telling consumers that Grubhub deliveries would be free or only cost $2.49 per order when in reality the app tacked on junk fees that inflated the final price to more than double what was advertised.

The post Teen Sues Big Food for Addictive Ultra-Processed Food, A Turning Point for Big Food + More  appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

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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.

A growing spotlight is being cast on the role of ultraprocessed foods in America’s health crisis, as public scrutiny intensifies and legal actions emerge. In Pennsylvania, a teenager has filed an unprecedented lawsuit against major industry players like Coca-Cola and Nestlé, alleging their marketing of “addictive” ultraprocessed products is making children ill. Meanwhile, new research indicates that nearly three-quarters of adults in the United States are overweight or obese—figures that are fueling concerns among policymakers, scientists, and consumers alike. With ultraprocessed foods increasingly viewed as key contributors to these troubling statistics, the pressure on Big Food to change may be mounting.

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. Big Food Hit with First-of-A-Kind Lawsuit for Marketing ‘Addictive’ Ultra-Processed Products to Kids – Green Queen

A teenager in Pennsylvania has sued major food firms like Coca-Cola and Nestlé for allegedly causing illnesses in kids with ‘addictive’ ultra-processed foods.

 

2. A Turning Point for Ultraprocessed Foods – NYT

A new study has found that nearly three-quarters of American adults are now obese or overweight, and there’s growing concern — among politicians, scientists and consumers — about one potential culprit: ultraprocessed foods.

 

3. On Ozempic? Big Food Makers Have a New Label for You – WSJ

Conagra Brands adding ‘GLP-1 friendly’ to packaging on Healthy Choice frozen meals to woo users of weight-loss drugs.

 

4. State of Regenerative CPG Report – Regenbrands

Our inaugural report synthesizes ReGen Brands’ proprietary learnings from almost three years studying regenerative CPG, including 80 podcast episodes interviewing brand executives and other key ecosystem stakeholders.

 

5. Why the Kroger-Albertsons Merger Was Blocked – Forbes

Federal courts blocked the $25b Kroger-Albertsons merger, a historic antitrust victory protecting consumers, workers, and suppliers from higher prices, weaker competition and corporate consolidation.

 

6. How Trump’s Plans for Tariffs and Deregulation Could Hurt the US Seafood Industry  – Fast Company

The seafood industry, which is international in nature, could be seriously disrupted if Trump imposes a 25% tax on products from Canada.

 

7. Grubhub Fined $25M for Deceptive Food Delivery Practices – PC Mag

Offenses include telling consumers that Grubhub deliveries would be free or only cost $2.49 per order when in reality the app tacked on junk fees that inflated the final price to more than double what was advertised.

The post Teen Sues Big Food for Addictive Ultra-Processed Food, A Turning Point for Big Food + More  appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]> https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/12/17/teen-sues-big-food-for-addictive-ultra-processed-food-a-turning-point-for-big-food-more/feed/ 0 Kroger-Albertsons Merger Blocked, UK & Turkey Ban Use of ‘Milk’ on Plant-Based Labels + More https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/12/10/kroger-albertsons-merger-blocked-uk-turkey-ban-use-of-milk-on-plant-based-labels-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/12/10/kroger-albertsons-merger-blocked-uk-turkey-ban-use-of-milk-on-plant-based-labels-more/#respond Tue, 10 Dec 2024 22:32:24 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35756 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 recent high-profile food industry legal decisions, a US federal judge has blocked the proposed $25 billion merger between supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons following the Federal Trade Commission’s push to prevent potential negative impacts on consumers and workers. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, a UK court has ruled against Oatly and other plant-based dairy alternatives using the term “milk” on their product labels. The judgment represents a significant victory for the dairy industry and may influence global labeling standards. 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. Federal Judge Blocks $25 Billion Kroger-Albertsons Grocery Merger – NYT The Federal Trade Commission notched a victory in its efforts to block the supermarket merger over concerns about harm to shoppers and workers.   2. In a U-Turn, UK Court Bans Use of ‘Milk’ on Oatly & Other Plant-Based Dairy Labels – Green Queen A UK court has dealt a blow to Oatly by ruling that ‘milk’ should not be used on plant-based products, in what is a big win for Big Dairy.   3. Turkey Introduces Regulations for Vegan Product Labeling for the First Time – Vegconomist Using terms such as “milk” for plant-based beverages is prohibited, while traditional or geographical names associated with animal products cannot be used to prevent deceptive food packaging and misleading claims.   4. Trump Won’t Be Able to Save the Struggling US Beef Industry – Bloomberg Even before the Republican’s upcoming return to Washington, the country’s cattle industry has been in a deepening rut.   5. Cargill to Cut Thousands of Jobs Globally as Profits Shrink – Bloomberg The world’s largest agricultural commodities trader will cut 5% of its 164k-strong workforce, owing to corn and soybean prices tumbling and compounded by the smallest US cattle herd in seven decades.   6. Delivery Hero Sees $105M Hit From Making Spanish Riders Employees – Reuters Delivery Hero will hire freelance riders at its Glovo unit in Spain as full-time employees in order to avoid legal uncertainties.   7. More Clues About What the MAHA Agenda May Look Like – Food Fix How Robert F Kennedy Jr’s advisor sees food additives as a ‘rigged system.’ The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee releases its scientific report. USDA mandates broad bird flu testing for milk.

The post Kroger-Albertsons Merger Blocked, UK & Turkey Ban Use of ‘Milk’ on Plant-Based Labels + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

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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 recent high-profile food industry legal decisions, a US federal judge has blocked the proposed $25 billion merger between supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons following the Federal Trade Commission’s push to prevent potential negative impacts on consumers and workers. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, a UK court has ruled against Oatly and other plant-based dairy alternatives using the term “milk” on their product labels. The judgment represents a significant victory for the dairy industry and may influence global labeling standards.

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. Federal Judge Blocks $25 Billion Kroger-Albertsons Grocery Merger – NYT

The Federal Trade Commission notched a victory in its efforts to block the supermarket merger over concerns about harm to shoppers and workers.

 

2. In a U-Turn, UK Court Bans Use of ‘Milk’ on Oatly & Other Plant-Based Dairy Labels – Green Queen

A UK court has dealt a blow to Oatly by ruling that ‘milk’ should not be used on plant-based products, in what is a big win for Big Dairy.

 

3. Turkey Introduces Regulations for Vegan Product Labeling for the First Time – Vegconomist

Using terms such as “milk” for plant-based beverages is prohibited, while traditional or geographical names associated with animal products cannot be used to prevent deceptive food packaging and misleading claims.

 

4. Trump Won’t Be Able to Save the Struggling US Beef Industry – Bloomberg

Even before the Republican’s upcoming return to Washington, the country’s cattle industry has been in a deepening rut.

 

5. Cargill to Cut Thousands of Jobs Globally as Profits Shrink – Bloomberg

The world’s largest agricultural commodities trader will cut 5% of its 164k-strong workforce, owing to corn and soybean prices tumbling and compounded by the smallest US cattle herd in seven decades.

 

6. Delivery Hero Sees $105M Hit From Making Spanish Riders Employees – Reuters

Delivery Hero will hire freelance riders at its Glovo unit in Spain as full-time employees in order to avoid legal uncertainties.

 

7. More Clues About What the MAHA Agenda May Look Like – Food Fix

How Robert F Kennedy Jr’s advisor sees food additives as a ‘rigged system.’ The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee releases its scientific report. USDA mandates broad bird flu testing for milk.

The post Kroger-Albertsons Merger Blocked, UK & Turkey Ban Use of ‘Milk’ on Plant-Based Labels + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]> https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/12/10/kroger-albertsons-merger-blocked-uk-turkey-ban-use-of-milk-on-plant-based-labels-more/feed/ 0 The Great Grocery Squeeze, Trump’s Ag Secretary Pick Threatens MAHA + More https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/12/03/the-great-grocery-squeeze-trumps-ag-secretary-pick-threatens-maha-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/12/03/the-great-grocery-squeeze-trumps-ag-secretary-pick-threatens-maha-more/#respond Tue, 03 Dec 2024 20:36:33 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35751 Image Credit: Table.Media 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 Atlantic examines how a 1980s federal policy shift spurred the rise of food deserts, leaving communities with limited access to affordable, healthy options. Meanwhile, Politico highlights tensions in the Trump administration as the president’s Agriculture Secretary pick signals a preference for industry priorities over Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. 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. The Great Grocery Squeeze – The Atlantic How a federal policy change in the 1980s created the modern food desert.   2. With Ag Secretary Pick, Trump Brushes Back RFK Jr – Politico The decision shows the potential limits of Kennedy’s power to pursue his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda in a Trump administration attuned to the concerns of industry.   3. On Big Pharma, Food and Agriculture, These Are Kennedy’s Unexpected Bedfellows – NYT When it comes to weeding out corporate influence, Robert F Kennedy Jr’s ideas often align best with some of Trump’s loudest critics.   4. As Congress Feuds Over Farm Bill, Growers Are ‘Stuck in Limbo’ – NYT The agriculture and nutrition measure was last updated in 2018 and originally expired two years ago. Farmers fear the Trump administration’s priorities will eclipse theirs next year.   5. Is Unilever’s Sale of the Vegetarian Butcher a Turning Point for Plant-Based Meat? – Green Queen This news has sent ripples through the industry, prompting many to ask: What does this mean for the future of plant-based meat, and how did we get here?   6. Slowdown in Patent Applications for Cultivated & Plant-Based Meat Signals Leveling After Hype Cycle Peak – Vegconomist Patent applications for cultivated meat have plateaued following a period of significant growth, while plant-based meat patent applications have fallen for the first time since 2013.   7. Perfect Day, Every Co, Liberation Labs Among Final Winners of US Govt Biomanufacturing Grants – Green Queen Precision fermentation startups dominate the final round of the US Department of Defense’s first phase of biomanufacturing grants, which will go towards building new facilities in the country.

The post The Great Grocery Squeeze, Trump’s Ag Secretary Pick Threatens MAHA + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

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Image Credit: Table.Media

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 Atlantic examines how a 1980s federal policy shift spurred the rise of food deserts, leaving communities with limited access to affordable, healthy options. Meanwhile, Politico highlights tensions in the Trump administration as the president’s Agriculture Secretary pick signals a preference for industry priorities over Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.

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. The Great Grocery Squeeze – The Atlantic

How a federal policy change in the 1980s created the modern food desert.

 

2. With Ag Secretary Pick, Trump Brushes Back RFK Jr – Politico

The decision shows the potential limits of Kennedy’s power to pursue his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda in a Trump administration attuned to the concerns of industry.

 

3. On Big Pharma, Food and Agriculture, These Are Kennedy’s Unexpected Bedfellows – NYT

When it comes to weeding out corporate influence, Robert F Kennedy Jr’s ideas often align best with some of Trump’s loudest critics.

 

4. As Congress Feuds Over Farm Bill, Growers Are ‘Stuck in Limbo’ – NYT

The agriculture and nutrition measure was last updated in 2018 and originally expired two years ago. Farmers fear the Trump administration’s priorities will eclipse theirs next year.

 

5. Is Unilever’s Sale of the Vegetarian Butcher a Turning Point for Plant-Based Meat? – Green Queen

This news has sent ripples through the industry, prompting many to ask: What does this mean for the future of plant-based meat, and how did we get here?

 

6. Slowdown in Patent Applications for Cultivated & Plant-Based Meat Signals Leveling After Hype Cycle Peak – Vegconomist

Patent applications for cultivated meat have plateaued following a period of significant growth, while plant-based meat patent applications have fallen for the first time since 2013.

 

7. Perfect Day, Every Co, Liberation Labs Among Final Winners of US Govt Biomanufacturing Grants – Green Queen

Precision fermentation startups dominate the final round of the US Department of Defense’s first phase of biomanufacturing grants, which will go towards building new facilities in the country.

The post The Great Grocery Squeeze, Trump’s Ag Secretary Pick Threatens MAHA + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]> https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/12/03/the-great-grocery-squeeze-trumps-ag-secretary-pick-threatens-maha-more/feed/ 0 Denmark’s Meat Tax, Saying Goodbye to Carol Sanford + More https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/11/26/denmarks-meat-tax-saying-goodbye-to-carol-sanford-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/11/26/denmarks-meat-tax-saying-goodbye-to-carol-sanford-more/#respond Tue, 26 Nov 2024 21:09:42 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35746 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. It is with deep sorrow that we share the news that regenerative business pioneer Carol Sanford has begun her transition out of this world.For those who don’t know Carol, she is a visionary leader, teacher, and author who revolutionized the way we think about business, leadership, and sustainability. As a pioneer of regenerative business practices, she dedicated her life to empowering individuals and organizations to create meaningful change in the world. Through her groundbreaking books, workshops, and mentorship, Carol inspired countless people to rethink their roles as stewards of the planet and society. Her profound wisdom, unwavering spirit, and compassionate guidance will continue to influence generations to come. 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. Danish Parliament Agrees Green Deal to Tax Meat Production & Promote Plant-Based Foods – Green Queen After months of negotiations, Denmark’s policymakers have agreed on how to implement the livestock emissions tax they announced in June.   2. Oishii Raises Additional Funding to Close Series B at $150M, Preps First International Expansion – AFN The vertical farmer best known for its strawberries is also gearing up for its first international expansion via a new R&D center in Tokyo.   3. A 12-Year-Old’s Journey Into the World of Ozempic – WSJ A mother found success with a weight-loss drug after a lifelong battle. Noticing her daughter start down the same path, she decided to have her try semaglutide.   4. Gaming Out Key Trump Cabinet Picks — and What Comes Next – Food Fix President-elect Donald Trump has named just over half his cabinet. Who’s left and what’s next?   5. 7-Eleven, the Slurpee and a $47B Takeover Battle – WSJ The convenience chain is at the center of a bidding war between would-be buyers on two continents. Here’s why they’re hungry for it.   6. Blackstone’s Acquisition of Jersey Mike’s Subs: Strategic Partnership – Forbes The $8b sale marks a significant milestone for Jersey Mike’s, a rapidly growing sandwich chain, and demonstrates the increasing interest of private equity firms in the quick-service restaurant sector.   7. Asia-Pacific Agrifoodtech Funding Recovers with 38% YoY Increase to $4.2B So Far in 2024 – AFN APAC agrifoodtech startups have shown resilience against global market headwinds, securing $4.2 billion and 31% of global sector funding.   8. Farms, Meat Plants Brace for Trump Immigration Crackdown – WSJ Agriculture companies and laborers fear raids; 42% of crop farmhands aren’t legally authorized to work in US.

The post Denmark’s Meat Tax, Saying Goodbye to Carol Sanford + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

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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.

It is with deep sorrow that we share the news that regenerative business pioneer Carol Sanford has begun her transition out of this world.For those who don’t know Carol, she is a visionary leader, teacher, and author who revolutionized the way we think about business, leadership, and sustainability. As a pioneer of regenerative business practices, she dedicated her life to empowering individuals and organizations to create meaningful change in the world. Through her groundbreaking books, workshops, and mentorship, Carol inspired countless people to rethink their roles as stewards of the planet and society. Her profound wisdom, unwavering spirit, and compassionate guidance will continue to influence generations to come.

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. Danish Parliament Agrees Green Deal to Tax Meat Production & Promote Plant-Based Foods – Green Queen

After months of negotiations, Denmark’s policymakers have agreed on how to implement the livestock emissions tax they announced in June.

 

2. Oishii Raises Additional Funding to Close Series B at $150M, Preps First International Expansion – AFN

The vertical farmer best known for its strawberries is also gearing up for its first international expansion via a new R&D center in Tokyo.

 

3. A 12-Year-Old’s Journey Into the World of Ozempic – WSJ

A mother found success with a weight-loss drug after a lifelong battle. Noticing her daughter start down the same path, she decided to have her try semaglutide.

 

4. Gaming Out Key Trump Cabinet Picks — and What Comes Next – Food Fix

President-elect Donald Trump has named just over half his cabinet. Who’s left and what’s next?

 

5. 7-Eleven, the Slurpee and a $47B Takeover Battle – WSJ

The convenience chain is at the center of a bidding war between would-be buyers on two continents. Here’s why they’re hungry for it.

 

6. Blackstone’s Acquisition of Jersey Mike’s Subs: Strategic Partnership – Forbes

The $8b sale marks a significant milestone for Jersey Mike’s, a rapidly growing sandwich chain, and demonstrates the increasing interest of private equity firms in the quick-service restaurant sector.

 

7. Asia-Pacific Agrifoodtech Funding Recovers with 38% YoY Increase to $4.2B So Far in 2024 – AFN

APAC agrifoodtech startups have shown resilience against global market headwinds, securing $4.2 billion and 31% of global sector funding.

 

8. Farms, Meat Plants Brace for Trump Immigration Crackdown – WSJ

Agriculture companies and laborers fear raids; 42% of crop farmhands aren’t legally authorized to work in US.

The post Denmark’s Meat Tax, Saying Goodbye to Carol Sanford + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]> https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/11/26/denmarks-meat-tax-saying-goodbye-to-carol-sanford-more/feed/ 0 MAHA, Wonder Acquires Grubhub for $650M, Down From $7.3B + More https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/11/19/maha-wonder-acquires-grubhub-for-650m-down-from-7-3b-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/11/19/maha-wonder-acquires-grubhub-for-650m-down-from-7-3b-more/#respond Tue, 19 Nov 2024 21:52:39 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35737 Image Credit: Consumed 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 food landscape is at a pivotal moment, with contrasting visions shaping its future. The “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda, spearheaded by RFK Jr. under Trump’s endorsement, seeks to tackle harmful chemicals, processed foods, and corporate influence in food systems, facing significant industry and political hurdles. Meanwhile, Wonder’s $650 million acquisition of Grubhub signals a technological shift in dining, aiming to create a “super app for mealtime” that integrates restaurant offerings with its food halls. 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. Will Trump Make America Healthy Again? – Consumed MAHA, led by RFK Jr., aims to reform food systems by targeting harmful chemicals, processed foods, and corporate influence but faces significant political and industry resistance.   2. What’s the Deal With Wonder, the ‘Food Hall’ That’s Suddenly Everywhere? – Eater Wonder just acquired Grubhub for $650m, bringing it one step closer to its goal of becoming the “super app for meal time” by allowing the company to offer Grubhub’s restaurant partners in its app alongside its existing food halls.   3. RFK, Jr To Head HHS: Brilliant Move or Catastrophe? – Food Politics The president-elect’s food and health agenda includes tackling corporate influence, harmful chemicals, and chronic disease, alongside controversial measures like grain bans and raw milk deregulation, sparking debate.   4. Elon Musk Says Beef Has No Impact on Climate Change, Fuelling Pro-Meat Rhetoric Under Trump – Green Queen The world’s richest man and Donald Trump’s “first friend” has disregarded the impact of beef on climate change, hinting at a red meat renaissance in the US.   5. What a Second Trump Administration Could Mean for Your Food – Civil Eats The likely scenarios: higher prices, less nutritious food, and an increased risk of pathogens in the food supply. And that’s not the half of it.   6. The Path Forward for Food and Ag – Civil Eats Leading voices in the food movement respond to a second Trump administration, and discuss where we go from here.   7. Government Interference, Eternal Vigilance. – The Checkout Markets, especially in food, depend on government frameworks, subsidies, and regulation. While imperfect, governments create and enable markets, shaping their structure and ensuring functionality.

The post MAHA, Wonder Acquires Grubhub for $650M, Down From $7.3B + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

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Image Credit: Consumed

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 food landscape is at a pivotal moment, with contrasting visions shaping its future. The “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda, spearheaded by RFK Jr. under Trump’s endorsement, seeks to tackle harmful chemicals, processed foods, and corporate influence in food systems, facing significant industry and political hurdles. Meanwhile, Wonder’s $650 million acquisition of Grubhub signals a technological shift in dining, aiming to create a “super app for mealtime” that integrates restaurant offerings with its food halls.

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. Will Trump Make America Healthy Again? – Consumed

MAHA, led by RFK Jr., aims to reform food systems by targeting harmful chemicals, processed foods, and corporate influence but faces significant political and industry resistance.

 

2. What’s the Deal With Wonder, the ‘Food Hall’ That’s Suddenly Everywhere? – Eater

Wonder just acquired Grubhub for $650m, bringing it one step closer to its goal of becoming the “super app for meal time” by allowing the company to offer Grubhub’s restaurant partners in its app alongside its existing food halls.

 

3. RFK, Jr To Head HHS: Brilliant Move or Catastrophe? – Food Politics

The president-elect’s food and health agenda includes tackling corporate influence, harmful chemicals, and chronic disease, alongside controversial measures like grain bans and raw milk deregulation, sparking debate.

 

4. Elon Musk Says Beef Has No Impact on Climate Change, Fuelling Pro-Meat Rhetoric Under Trump – Green Queen

The world’s richest man and Donald Trump’s “first friend” has disregarded the impact of beef on climate change, hinting at a red meat renaissance in the US.

 

5. What a Second Trump Administration Could Mean for Your Food – Civil Eats

The likely scenarios: higher prices, less nutritious food, and an increased risk of pathogens in the food supply. And that’s not the half of it.

 

6. The Path Forward for Food and Ag – Civil Eats

Leading voices in the food movement respond to a second Trump administration, and discuss where we go from here.

 

7. Government Interference, Eternal Vigilance. – The Checkout

Markets, especially in food, depend on government frameworks, subsidies, and regulation. While imperfect, governments create and enable markets, shaping their structure and ensuring functionality.

The post MAHA, Wonder Acquires Grubhub for $650M, Down From $7.3B + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]> https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/11/19/maha-wonder-acquires-grubhub-for-650m-down-from-7-3b-more/feed/ 0 What Trump’s Win Means for Food & Ag, Cultivated Chicken Hits Price Parity + More https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/11/12/what-trumps-win-means-for-food-ag-cultivated-chicken-hits-price-parity-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/11/12/what-trumps-win-means-for-food-ag-cultivated-chicken-hits-price-parity-more/#respond Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:03:42 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35724 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. A second Trump administration raises concerns about increased deregulation, weakened climate policies, and restrictions on climate-friendly foods, potentially impacting food tech and public health protections. Amid these political shifts, companies like SuperMeat continue advancing sustainable alternatives; SuperMeat’s 100% cultivated chicken has achieved price parity with premium poultry at $11.79 per pound. 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. What Donald Trump’s Election Victory Means for Food Tech in the US – Green Queen Trump’s second term could mean weakened climate policies, heightened regulatory rollbacks, restrictions on climate-friendly foods, and reduced food assistance. The food sector faces instability amid intensified deregulation.   2. What a Second Trump Administration Means for Food and Farms – Union of Concerned Scientists  Trump’s second term may favor agribusiness, undermine public health, reduce farmworker protections, restrict food assistance, and sideline climate and equity initiatives at the USDA.   3. What Food Policy Looks Like In a Trump Administration – Food Fix After Trump’s decisive win on Tuesday, everyone in the food world is trying to figure out what it all means. Here’s a rundown of what we know so far.   4. SuperMeat’s 100% Cultivated Chicken Hits Price Parity with Premium Options at $11.79/lb – Vegconomist The company claims it can produce three pounds of cultivated meat — equal to the amount of edible meat from one chicken — in around two days.   5. World Bank, UN Climate Fund Among Public Banks That Invested $3.3B in Factory Farming in 2023 – Green Queen Over a dozen development banks including the World Bank and the UN Green Climate Fund poured billions into animal agriculture last year, going against their own recommendations.   6. Swiggy IPO Nets $606M From Institutional Investors – TechCrunch Swiggy has raised around $606m from a set of more than 75 anchor investors as part of its $1.35b initial public offering, as the Indian food delivery and quick commerce startup prepares for the country’s second-largest listing of the year next week.   7. Now what? – Expedite Considering the future of hospitality under another Trump presidency.

The post What Trump’s Win Means for Food & Ag, Cultivated Chicken Hits Price Parity + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

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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.

A second Trump administration raises concerns about increased deregulation, weakened climate policies, and restrictions on climate-friendly foods, potentially impacting food tech and public health protections. Amid these political shifts, companies like SuperMeat continue advancing sustainable alternatives; SuperMeat’s 100% cultivated chicken has achieved price parity with premium poultry at $11.79 per pound.

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. What Donald Trump’s Election Victory Means for Food Tech in the US – Green Queen

Trump’s second term could mean weakened climate policies, heightened regulatory rollbacks, restrictions on climate-friendly foods, and reduced food assistance. The food sector faces instability amid intensified deregulation.

 

2. What a Second Trump Administration Means for Food and Farms – Union of Concerned Scientists 

Trump’s second term may favor agribusiness, undermine public health, reduce farmworker protections, restrict food assistance, and sideline climate and equity initiatives at the USDA.

 

3. What Food Policy Looks Like In a Trump Administration – Food Fix

After Trump’s decisive win on Tuesday, everyone in the food world is trying to figure out what it all means. Here’s a rundown of what we know so far.

 

4. SuperMeat’s 100% Cultivated Chicken Hits Price Parity with Premium Options at $11.79/lb – Vegconomist

The company claims it can produce three pounds of cultivated meat — equal to the amount of edible meat from one chicken — in around two days.

 

5. World Bank, UN Climate Fund Among Public Banks That Invested $3.3B in Factory Farming in 2023 – Green Queen

Over a dozen development banks including the World Bank and the UN Green Climate Fund poured billions into animal agriculture last year, going against their own recommendations.

 

6. Swiggy IPO Nets $606M From Institutional Investors – TechCrunch

Swiggy has raised around $606m from a set of more than 75 anchor investors as part of its $1.35b initial public offering, as the Indian food delivery and quick commerce startup prepares for the country’s second-largest listing of the year next week.

 

7. Now what? – Expedite

Considering the future of hospitality under another Trump presidency.

The post What Trump’s Win Means for Food & Ag, Cultivated Chicken Hits Price Parity + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]> https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/11/12/what-trumps-win-means-for-food-ag-cultivated-chicken-hits-price-parity-more/feed/ 0 Trump’s Food Economy, Tech Valuations Lead to More Farm Failures + More https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/11/04/trumps-food-economy-tech-valuations-lead-to-more-farm-failures-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/11/04/trumps-food-economy-tech-valuations-lead-to-more-farm-failures-more/#respond Mon, 04 Nov 2024 22:29:13 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35715 Image Credit: Snaxshot 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 food industry faces contrasting challenges, from high-profile failures in tech-driven agriculture to policy pressures under a potential Trump administration. Bowery Farming, once valued at $2.3 billion, joins Smallhold in folding despite massive investment, reflecting volatility in the ag-tech sector. Meanwhile, Errol Schweizer’s analysis in The Checkout highlights potential economic and labor strains, including mass deportations and Project 2025’s impacts on workers, underscoring how policies and market forces are reshaping food supply chains. 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. Tech Valuations Lead to More Farm to Failures – Snaxshot  Once valued at $2.3b,Bowery Farming will be ceasing all operations. The company would have turned 10 years next year, it raised a total of $700M and at its peak employed around 500 employees. The news follows Smallhold’s bankruptcy earlier this year.   2. Notes On a Trump Food Economy. – The Checkout Errol Schweizer critiques economic and policy challenges impacting food supply, labor, and retail, highlighting mass deportations, economic strain, Project 2025’s worker impacts, and Target’s grocery success.   3. Don’t Be Fooled By ‘Make America Healthy Again’ – The Hill During his term as president, Trump sold out the health of the American people and the livelihoods of family farmers to pad the profits of his cronies in the junk food, factory farming, pharmaceutical and pesticide industries.   4. How Will Trump and Harris’ Diverging Agendas Impact Food, Trade and Public Health? – AFN Both candidates could have far-reaching impacts on food cos, from Trump’s plans to let RFK ‘go wild’ to Harris’ corporate tax rate increase.   5. Trump’s Immigration Policy Would Make Food Inflation Even Worse – Bloomberg If the US were to deport the 1.7m undocumented workers who help power its food system, trips to the supermarket will only get more expensive.   6. Under Six Months and No Term Sheet? SCiFi Foods’ Guide to a ‘Graceful Exit’ – AFN SCiFi Foods’ founders highlight lessons from their failed startup: prepare for acquisitions early, manage stakeholders transparently, prioritize deep early cuts, budget closure, and consider strategic alternatives.   7. Food Delivery Firm Swiggy Eyes $1.35B IPO Next Week – Bloomberg Indian food-delivery platform Swiggy is seeking to sell shares for as much as 390 rupees each in an initial public offering that may raise $1.35b.

The post Trump’s Food Economy, Tech Valuations Lead to More Farm Failures + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

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Image Credit: Snaxshot

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 food industry faces contrasting challenges, from high-profile failures in tech-driven agriculture to policy pressures under a potential Trump administration. Bowery Farming, once valued at $2.3 billion, joins Smallhold in folding despite massive investment, reflecting volatility in the ag-tech sector. Meanwhile, Errol Schweizer’s analysis in The Checkout highlights potential economic and labor strains, including mass deportations and Project 2025’s impacts on workers, underscoring how policies and market forces are reshaping food supply chains.

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. Tech Valuations Lead to More Farm to Failures – Snaxshot 

Once valued at $2.3b,Bowery Farming will be ceasing all operations. The company would have turned 10 years next year, it raised a total of $700M and at its peak employed around 500 employees. The news follows Smallhold’s bankruptcy earlier this year.

 

2. Notes On a Trump Food Economy. – The Checkout

Errol Schweizer critiques economic and policy challenges impacting food supply, labor, and retail, highlighting mass deportations, economic strain, Project 2025’s worker impacts, and Target’s grocery success.

 

3. Don’t Be Fooled By ‘Make America Healthy Again’ – The Hill

During his term as president, Trump sold out the health of the American people and the livelihoods of family farmers to pad the profits of his cronies in the junk food, factory farming, pharmaceutical and pesticide industries.

 

4. How Will Trump and Harris’ Diverging Agendas Impact Food, Trade and Public Health? – AFN

Both candidates could have far-reaching impacts on food cos, from Trump’s plans to let RFK ‘go wild’ to Harris’ corporate tax rate increase.

 

5. Trump’s Immigration Policy Would Make Food Inflation Even Worse – Bloomberg

If the US were to deport the 1.7m undocumented workers who help power its food system, trips to the supermarket will only get more expensive.

 

6. Under Six Months and No Term Sheet? SCiFi Foods’ Guide to a ‘Graceful Exit’ – AFN

SCiFi Foods’ founders highlight lessons from their failed startup: prepare for acquisitions early, manage stakeholders transparently, prioritize deep early cuts, budget closure, and consider strategic alternatives.

 

7. Food Delivery Firm Swiggy Eyes $1.35B IPO Next Week – Bloomberg

Indian food-delivery platform Swiggy is seeking to sell shares for as much as 390 rupees each in an initial public offering that may raise $1.35b.

The post Trump’s Food Economy, Tech Valuations Lead to More Farm Failures + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]> https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/11/04/trumps-food-economy-tech-valuations-lead-to-more-farm-failures-more/feed/ 0 Inside te Chaos at Boar’s Head, Restaurants and Farms Weather Climate Shocks + More https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/09/30/inside-te-chaos-at-boars-head-restaurants-and-farms-weather-climate-shocks-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/09/30/inside-te-chaos-at-boars-head-restaurants-and-farms-weather-climate-shocks-more/#respond Mon, 30 Sep 2024 21:01:02 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35707 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. The Boar’s Head deli meat empire is facing significant turmoil as it grapples with multiple crises, including a fatal listeria outbreak, the shutdown of a key plant, and internal conflicts between its founding families. These challenges have cast uncertainty over the billion-dollar brand’s future. Meanwhile, restaurants across the country are navigating their own struggles, as climate change causes supply disruptions and ingredient shortages. Restaurateurs are adapting by reconsidering staple ingredients, fostering stronger relationships with suppliers, and finding innovative solutions to rising food costs to remain resilient in an increasingly unpredictable food supply chain. 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. Inside the Chaos at Boar’s Head – Forbes How a fatal listeria outbreak, a plant shutdown and a nasty beef among the founding families has left the billion-dollar deli meat empire in peril.   2. Weathering Climate Shocks: How Restaurants Survive Supply Disruptions – Civil Eats To overcome ingredient shortages and high food costs, some restaurateurs are rethinking their staple ingredients and strengthening their relationships with suppliers.   3. Asheville Restaurants Jump Into Action After Hurricane Helene’s Massive Destruction – Eater How to help communities in Western North Carolina recover from the storm.   4. Helaina Raises $45M to Launch Effera Human Lactoferrin with Kroma Wellness, Mitsubishi & More – Green Queen The company describes the ingredient as the first bioactive protein to be used in functional foods, beverages, and supplements. It is said to boost iron homeostasis and metabolism, and promote a balanced immune response and beneficial microbiome.   5. Israel’s DairyX Foods Unveils ‘Self-Assembling’ Animal-Free Casein Micelles, Eyes 2027 US Launch – Green Queen To deliver stretchy, melty cheese and firmer, creamier yogurt free from cows, DairyX Foods has come upon a novel solution for its precision fermentation technology.   6. Global ‘Slow Food’ Movement Embraces Agroecology – Monga Bay Edward Mukiibi emphasizes the need to unite farmers globally through networks like Slow Food Farms, promoting agroecological practices to reduce dependency on harmful, input-driven agriculture.   7. California Becomes First State to Ban “Sell By” Dates on Packaged Foods – CAW Recycles Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 660, which bans the use of consumer-facing “Sell By” dates and requires the use of standardized food date labeling terminology.   8. FDA Looks to Check Up On Food Chemicals, But Where’s the Money? – Food Fix State bans and consumer uproar have put pressure on FDA to review the safety of numerous chemicals already in the food supply. The agency now has a plan to step up oversight, but warns it lacks the resources to carry it out.

The post Inside te Chaos at Boar’s Head, Restaurants and Farms Weather Climate Shocks + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

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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.

The Boar’s Head deli meat empire is facing significant turmoil as it grapples with multiple crises, including a fatal listeria outbreak, the shutdown of a key plant, and internal conflicts between its founding families. These challenges have cast uncertainty over the billion-dollar brand’s future. Meanwhile, restaurants across the country are navigating their own struggles, as climate change causes supply disruptions and ingredient shortages. Restaurateurs are adapting by reconsidering staple ingredients, fostering stronger relationships with suppliers, and finding innovative solutions to rising food costs to remain resilient in an increasingly unpredictable food supply chain.

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. Inside the Chaos at Boar’s Head – Forbes

How a fatal listeria outbreak, a plant shutdown and a nasty beef among the founding families has left the billion-dollar deli meat empire in peril.

 

2. Weathering Climate Shocks: How Restaurants Survive Supply Disruptions – Civil Eats

To overcome ingredient shortages and high food costs, some restaurateurs are rethinking their staple ingredients and strengthening their relationships with suppliers.

 

3. Asheville Restaurants Jump Into Action After Hurricane Helene’s Massive Destruction – Eater

How to help communities in Western North Carolina recover from the storm.

 

4. Helaina Raises $45M to Launch Effera Human Lactoferrin with Kroma Wellness, Mitsubishi & More – Green Queen

The company describes the ingredient as the first bioactive protein to be used in functional foods, beverages, and supplements. It is said to boost iron homeostasis and metabolism, and promote a balanced immune response and beneficial microbiome.

 

5. Israel’s DairyX Foods Unveils ‘Self-Assembling’ Animal-Free Casein Micelles, Eyes 2027 US Launch – Green Queen

To deliver stretchy, melty cheese and firmer, creamier yogurt free from cows, DairyX Foods has come upon a novel solution for its precision fermentation technology.

 

6. Global ‘Slow Food’ Movement Embraces Agroecology – Monga Bay

Edward Mukiibi emphasizes the need to unite farmers globally through networks like Slow Food Farms, promoting agroecological practices to reduce dependency on harmful, input-driven agriculture.

 

7. California Becomes First State to Ban “Sell By” Dates on Packaged Foods – CAW Recycles

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 660, which bans the use of consumer-facing “Sell By” dates and requires the use of standardized food date labeling terminology.

 

8. FDA Looks to Check Up On Food Chemicals, But Where’s the Money? – Food Fix

State bans and consumer uproar have put pressure on FDA to review the safety of numerous chemicals already in the food supply. The agency now has a plan to step up oversight, but warns it lacks the resources to carry it out.

The post Inside te Chaos at Boar’s Head, Restaurants and Farms Weather Climate Shocks + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]> https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/09/30/inside-te-chaos-at-boars-head-restaurants-and-farms-weather-climate-shocks-more/feed/ 0 Unlocking Demand for Regenerative, The Hidden Environmental Costs of Food + More https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/09/24/unlocking-demand-for-regenerative-the-hidden-environmental-costs-of-food-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/09/24/unlocking-demand-for-regenerative-the-hidden-environmental-costs-of-food-more/#respond Tue, 24 Sep 2024 19:02:49 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35697 Image Credit: Smoketown 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. Smoketown’s “Unlocking Demand for Regenerative” offers a crowdsourced blueprint to boost consumer demand for regenerative agriculture. Meanwhile, governments are beginning to address the hidden environmental costs of food production. Traditionally, these costs aren’t reflected in food prices, but experimental policies aim to expose the broader environmental damage caused by what we eat, encouraging more sustainable choices for the future. 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. Unlocking Demand for Regenerative – Smoketown A crowdsourced blueprint for accelerating consumer demand for regenerative agriculture.   2. The Hidden Environmental Costs of Food – NY Times Damage to the natural world isn’t factored into the price of food. But some governments are experimenting with a new way of exposing the larger costs of what we eat.   3. Spice it Like Beckham – Snaxshot  Gen Z is embracing premium, aesthetically pleasing grocery items, with celebrity-backed brands like Brooklyn Beckham’s Cloud23 and Mr. Beast’s products gaining popularity. Cloud23 highlights the rise of Gen Z-founded CPG brands focused on style and quality.   4. General Mills and Ahold Delhaize Team Up to Transition 70K Acres to Regenerative Agriculture – AFN The two companies will co-invest in “priority supply sheds” — geographic regions where they source ingredients — by helping farmers in those areas transition to regenerative agriculture.   5. What’s Next After Farm-to-Table? – Eater Just because food is grown locally doesn’t mean it’s climate-friendly. But for chefs looking to emphasize the latter, it still starts at the source.   6. AI Integration Reduces Energy Use in Indoor Agriculture by 25% – Tribu Cornell University engineers have discovered that incorporating artificial intelligence into environmental control systems could reduce energy consumption in indoor agriculture by up to 25%.   7. Why Is Tupperware Bankrupt? Food Storage Brand’s Chapter 11 Filing Reveals How It Failed to Change with the Times – Fast Company Once a staple household product for midcentury families, Tupperware said in a court filing that its focus on direct sales ultimately became a weakness.   8. German Speedy Grocery Company Flink Raises $150M – Sifted Flink is currently active in 80 cities in Germany and the Netherlands and plans to open 30 new locations in these countries over the next 12 months.

The post Unlocking Demand for Regenerative, The Hidden Environmental Costs of Food + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]>

Image Credit: Smoketown

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.

Smoketown’s “Unlocking Demand for Regenerative” offers a crowdsourced blueprint to boost consumer demand for regenerative agriculture. Meanwhile, governments are beginning to address the hidden environmental costs of food production. Traditionally, these costs aren’t reflected in food prices, but experimental policies aim to expose the broader environmental damage caused by what we eat, encouraging more sustainable choices for the future.

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. Unlocking Demand for Regenerative – Smoketown

A crowdsourced blueprint for accelerating consumer demand for regenerative agriculture.

 

2. The Hidden Environmental Costs of Food – NY Times

Damage to the natural world isn’t factored into the price of food. But some governments are experimenting with a new way of exposing the larger costs of what we eat.

 

3. Spice it Like Beckham – Snaxshot 

Gen Z is embracing premium, aesthetically pleasing grocery items, with celebrity-backed brands like Brooklyn Beckham’s Cloud23 and Mr. Beast’s products gaining popularity. Cloud23 highlights the rise of Gen Z-founded CPG brands focused on style and quality.

 

4. General Mills and Ahold Delhaize Team Up to Transition 70K Acres to Regenerative Agriculture – AFN

The two companies will co-invest in “priority supply sheds” — geographic regions where they source ingredients — by helping farmers in those areas transition to regenerative agriculture.

 

5. What’s Next After Farm-to-Table? – Eater

Just because food is grown locally doesn’t mean it’s climate-friendly. But for chefs looking to emphasize the latter, it still starts at the source.

 

6. AI Integration Reduces Energy Use in Indoor Agriculture by 25% – Tribu

Cornell University engineers have discovered that incorporating artificial intelligence into environmental control systems could reduce energy consumption in indoor agriculture by up to 25%.

 

7. Why Is Tupperware Bankrupt? Food Storage Brand’s Chapter 11 Filing Reveals How It Failed to Change with the Times – Fast Company

Once a staple household product for midcentury families, Tupperware said in a court filing that its focus on direct sales ultimately became a weakness.

 

8. German Speedy Grocery Company Flink Raises $150M – Sifted

Flink is currently active in 80 cities in Germany and the Netherlands and plans to open 30 new locations in these countries over the next 12 months.

The post Unlocking Demand for Regenerative, The Hidden Environmental Costs of Food + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]> https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/09/24/unlocking-demand-for-regenerative-the-hidden-environmental-costs-of-food-more/feed/ 0 You Can’t Eat Technology, New Financing Models for Food Transition + More  https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/09/17/you-cant-eat-technology-new-financing-models-for-food-transition-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/09/17/you-cant-eat-technology-new-financing-models-for-food-transition-more/#respond Tue, 17 Sep 2024 21:49:55 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35693 Image Credit: Smallhold 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. Smallhold’s rise and fall highlights the challenges of scaling tech-driven food ventures, despite VC backing, as it emerges from bankruptcy a shadow of its former self. Bain emphasizes the need for new, faster financing models to build resilient, climate-smart food systems. 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. “You Can’t Eat Technology.” – Adam DeMartino Lessons from Smallhold’s VC-fueled rise and fall, following its emergence out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy as shadows of the company that was once envisioned.   2. Faster by Design: New Models for Financing the Food Transition – Bain We know how to build more resilient, climate-smart, and nature-positive food systems, but we must move faster. New models can help.   3. The Weight Loss Hacks That Claim to Work Like Ozempic – NY Times Kourtney Kardashian’s new “GLP-1 Daily” pill is the latest product to capitalize on the weight loss drug craze.   4. Many Consumers Are Not Familiar with Regenerative Agriculture – The Packer  A Purdue University survey found that most US consumers are unfamiliar with regenerative agriculture, and support for the practice declines when higher costs are involved.   5. Retail and Wholesale Fees and Upcharges 101. – The Checkout The grocery industry exploits fees and upcharges, benefiting large retailers and wholesalers at the expense of suppliers, small brands and consumers, reinforcing market concentration.   6. Foxtrot Prepares For Its Second Act – Nosh The retailer will be aligning more closely to a coffeeshop aesthetic while still offering curated CPG food, beverages, beer and wine.   7. Restaurant Math Isn’t Working – Eater Six chefs and restaurant owners from across the country explain why restaurants feel so expensive right now, and how they’re coping with high prices and customer complaints.   8. Formo Raises $61M Series B, Launches Cheese Alternatives Featuring Koji – AFN Formo has raised a $61m Series B round and launched cheeses featuring koji protein at REWE, BILLA, and Metro stores across Germany and Austria.

The post You Can’t Eat Technology, New Financing Models for Food Transition + More  appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]>

Image Credit: Smallhold

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.

Smallhold’s rise and fall highlights the challenges of scaling tech-driven food ventures, despite VC backing, as it emerges from bankruptcy a shadow of its former self. Bain emphasizes the need for new, faster financing models to build resilient, climate-smart food systems.

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. “You Can’t Eat Technology.” – Adam DeMartino

Lessons from Smallhold’s VC-fueled rise and fall, following its emergence out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy as shadows of the company that was once envisioned.

 

2. Faster by Design: New Models for Financing the Food Transition – Bain

We know how to build more resilient, climate-smart, and nature-positive food systems, but we must move faster. New models can help.

 

3. The Weight Loss Hacks That Claim to Work Like Ozempic – NY Times

Kourtney Kardashian’s new “GLP-1 Daily” pill is the latest product to capitalize on the weight loss drug craze.

 

4. Many Consumers Are Not Familiar with Regenerative Agriculture – The Packer 

A Purdue University survey found that most US consumers are unfamiliar with regenerative agriculture, and support for the practice declines when higher costs are involved.

 

5. Retail and Wholesale Fees and Upcharges 101. – The Checkout

The grocery industry exploits fees and upcharges, benefiting large retailers and wholesalers at the expense of suppliers, small brands and consumers, reinforcing market concentration.

 

6. Foxtrot Prepares For Its Second Act – Nosh

The retailer will be aligning more closely to a coffeeshop aesthetic while still offering curated CPG food, beverages, beer and wine.

 

7. Restaurant Math Isn’t Working – Eater

Six chefs and restaurant owners from across the country explain why restaurants feel so expensive right now, and how they’re coping with high prices and customer complaints.

 

8. Formo Raises $61M Series B, Launches Cheese Alternatives Featuring Koji – AFN

Formo has raised a $61m Series B round and launched cheeses featuring koji protein at REWE, BILLA, and Metro stores across Germany and Austria.

The post You Can’t Eat Technology, New Financing Models for Food Transition + More  appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]> https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/09/17/you-cant-eat-technology-new-financing-models-for-food-transition-more/feed/ 0 UK Approves Cultivated Meat in Pet Food, F&B Innovation Plummets 50% in 2024 + More https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/07/22/uk-approves-cultivated-meat-in-pet-food-fb-innovation-plummets-50-in-2024-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/07/22/uk-approves-cultivated-meat-in-pet-food-fb-innovation-plummets-50-in-2024-more/#respond Mon, 22 Jul 2024 21:52:22 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35674 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. The UK has become the first European country to approve lab-grown meat, starting with Meatly, a cultivated chicken pet food product. Meanwhile, innovation in the global food and beverage industry has dramatically declined, with only 35% of new CPG launches in 2024 being genuinely new products, marking the lowest rate of innovation since Mintel began tracking in 1996. 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 First European Country to Approve Lab-Grown Meat, Starting with Pet Food – The Guardian Regulators approve Meatly pet product, cultivated chicken made from growing cells, the world’s first for pet food.   2. Food and Beverage Innovation Plummets Nearly 50% in 2024 – Nosh Only 35% of global CPG launches spanning the food, drink, household, health and beauty industries in 2024 have been genuinely new products – the lowest rate of innovation since Mintel began tracking new products in 1996.   3. The State of CPG – Elly Truesdell There has been a major shift in enticement from investors and retailers – now more cynical – and we’re coming down from an intense high. It can’t be overstated just how much of a hangover we’re experiencing.   4. Republican Plans for Ag Policy May Bring Big Changes to Farm Country – Civil Eats Project 2025 and the Republican Study Committee budget both propose major changes to how the government supports commodity farmers. They might face strong opposition from ag groups and their farm constituents.   5. The World’s Largest Mozzarella Producer Bags Global Rights for Fooditive’s Animal-Free Casein – Green Queen US cheese giant Leprino Foods has signed an exclusive licensing agreement to commercialize the precision-fermented casein produced by Dutch startup Foodtive Group.   6. BevNET & Nosh Insider Benefit: Q2 Data Report in Partnership with FABID – BevNET Despite three previous consecutive quarters of increasing investment, Q2 saw a marked decline, tempering excitement and confidence in a VC rebound.   7. ADM Targets 5M Acres of Regenerative Farmland by 2025 – AFN ADM has transitioned more than 2.8m of its acres to regenerative agriculture in partnership with more than 28k growers.   8. US Government Issues First-Ever National Strategy to Combat Food Waste – Green Queen The White House has introduced a national strategy to fight the US’s mounting food waste problem, which includes extending the shelf life of products and upcycling foods into other commodities.

The post UK Approves Cultivated Meat in Pet Food, F&B Innovation Plummets 50% in 2024 + 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.

The UK has become the first European country to approve lab-grown meat, starting with Meatly, a cultivated chicken pet food product. Meanwhile, innovation in the global food and beverage industry has dramatically declined, with only 35% of new CPG launches in 2024 being genuinely new products, marking the lowest rate of innovation since Mintel began tracking in 1996.

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 First European Country to Approve Lab-Grown Meat, Starting with Pet Food – The Guardian

Regulators approve Meatly pet product, cultivated chicken made from growing cells, the world’s first for pet food.

 

2. Food and Beverage Innovation Plummets Nearly 50% in 2024 – Nosh

Only 35% of global CPG launches spanning the food, drink, household, health and beauty industries in 2024 have been genuinely new products – the lowest rate of innovation since Mintel began tracking new products in 1996.

 

3. The State of CPG – Elly Truesdell

There has been a major shift in enticement from investors and retailers – now more cynical – and we’re coming down from an intense high. It can’t be overstated just how much of a hangover we’re experiencing.

 

4. Republican Plans for Ag Policy May Bring Big Changes to Farm Country – Civil Eats

Project 2025 and the Republican Study Committee budget both propose major changes to how the government supports commodity farmers. They might face strong opposition from ag groups and their farm constituents.

 

5. The World’s Largest Mozzarella Producer Bags Global Rights for Fooditive’s Animal-Free Casein – Green Queen

US cheese giant Leprino Foods has signed an exclusive licensing agreement to commercialize the precision-fermented casein produced by Dutch startup Foodtive Group.

 

6. BevNET & Nosh Insider Benefit: Q2 Data Report in Partnership with FABID – BevNET

Despite three previous consecutive quarters of increasing investment, Q2 saw a marked decline, tempering excitement and confidence in a VC rebound.

 

7. ADM Targets 5M Acres of Regenerative Farmland by 2025 – AFN

ADM has transitioned more than 2.8m of its acres to regenerative agriculture in partnership with more than 28k growers.

 

8. US Government Issues First-Ever National Strategy to Combat Food Waste – Green Queen

The White House has introduced a national strategy to fight the US’s mounting food waste problem, which includes extending the shelf life of products and upcycling foods into other commodities.

The post UK Approves Cultivated Meat in Pet Food, F&B Innovation Plummets 50% in 2024 + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]> https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/07/22/uk-approves-cultivated-meat-in-pet-food-fb-innovation-plummets-50-in-2024-more/feed/ 0 Agrifoodtech Funding Drops 12.5% YoY, The De-Evolution of the Alt-Meat Revolution + More https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/07/09/agrifoodtech-funding-drops-12-5-yoy-the-de-evolution-of-the-alt-meat-revolution-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/07/09/agrifoodtech-funding-drops-12-5-yoy-the-de-evolution-of-the-alt-meat-revolution-more/#respond Tue, 09 Jul 2024 18:34:43 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35666 Image Credit: Food Navigator 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 the first half of 2024, agrifoodtech startups experienced a 12.5% year-on-year drop in funding, securing $7 billion across 427 deals. Concurrently, the alt-meat industry is seeing waning enthusiasm for “bleeds-like-meat” products as consumers, investors, and companies shift towards simpler, more natural ingredient formulations, reflecting a broader trend in consumer packaged goods. 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. Agrifoodtech Funding Drops 12.5% YoY in H1 2024 – AFN Agrifoodtech startups have raised $7b across 427 deals so far in 2024.   2. The De-Evolution of the Alt-Meat Revolution – Nosh The novelty of a “bleeds-like-meat” burger seems to have worn off for consumers, investors and the industry alike. As CPGs at-large turn to formulate with simpler and shorter ingredient decks, the meat alternative category is following along.   3. Seaya Closes €300M Climate-tech Fund, Southern Europe’s Biggest Investment Vehicle for Impact-driven Companies – EU Startups  With twelve years of experience in climate tech, Seaya has set up ‘Andromeda’ to invest in impact-driven growth companies specialized in energy transition, decarbonization, sustainable food value chain, and circular economy.   4. Consumers Don’t Want Cheap Plant-Based Meat and Dairy – Food Navigator Conventional wisdom would suggest if a product is priced lower, consumers would be more willing to purchase it. But when it comes to plant-based, Europeans are bucking the trend.   5. A Fully Edible Robot Could Soon End Up On Our Plate, Say Scientists – Techxplore Robotic food could reduce electronic waste, help deliver nutrition and medicines to people and animals in need, monitor health and even pave the way to novel gastronomical experiences.   6. Costco and Sam’s Club Aisles Are Full of Gen Z Shoppers – WSJ With food prices still high, shoppers look for ways to team up with roommates, neighbors and family.   7. AI Drive-Thru Ordering Is on the Rise — But It May Take Years to Iron Out Its Flaws – CNBC Artificial intelligence is closer than ever to taking down drive-thru orders, but fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s show that the tech still needs time.   8. The Health Trends That Are Defining 2024 – NY Times “Hurkle-durkling” is in, along with gut health and floor time.

The post Agrifoodtech Funding Drops 12.5% YoY, The De-Evolution of the Alt-Meat Revolution + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]>

Image Credit: Food Navigator

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 the first half of 2024, agrifoodtech startups experienced a 12.5% year-on-year drop in funding, securing $7 billion across 427 deals. Concurrently, the alt-meat industry is seeing waning enthusiasm for “bleeds-like-meat” products as consumers, investors, and companies shift towards simpler, more natural ingredient formulations, reflecting a broader trend in consumer packaged goods.

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. Agrifoodtech Funding Drops 12.5% YoY in H1 2024 – AFN

Agrifoodtech startups have raised $7b across 427 deals so far in 2024.

 

2. The De-Evolution of the Alt-Meat Revolution – Nosh

The novelty of a “bleeds-like-meat” burger seems to have worn off for consumers, investors and the industry alike. As CPGs at-large turn to formulate with simpler and shorter ingredient decks, the meat alternative category is following along.

 

3. Seaya Closes €300M Climate-tech Fund, Southern Europe’s Biggest Investment Vehicle for Impact-driven Companies – EU Startups 

With twelve years of experience in climate tech, Seaya has set up ‘Andromeda’ to invest in impact-driven growth companies specialized in energy transition, decarbonization, sustainable food value chain, and circular economy.

 

4. Consumers Don’t Want Cheap Plant-Based Meat and Dairy – Food Navigator

Conventional wisdom would suggest if a product is priced lower, consumers would be more willing to purchase it. But when it comes to plant-based, Europeans are bucking the trend.

 

5. A Fully Edible Robot Could Soon End Up On Our Plate, Say Scientists – Techxplore

Robotic food could reduce electronic waste, help deliver nutrition and medicines to people and animals in need, monitor health and even pave the way to novel gastronomical experiences.

 

6. Costco and Sam’s Club Aisles Are Full of Gen Z Shoppers – WSJ

With food prices still high, shoppers look for ways to team up with roommates, neighbors and family.

 

7. AI Drive-Thru Ordering Is on the Rise — But It May Take Years to Iron Out Its Flaws – CNBC

Artificial intelligence is closer than ever to taking down drive-thru orders, but fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s show that the tech still needs time.

 

8. The Health Trends That Are Defining 2024 – NY Times

“Hurkle-durkling” is in, along with gut health and floor time.

The post Agrifoodtech Funding Drops 12.5% YoY, The De-Evolution of the Alt-Meat Revolution + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.

]]> https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/07/09/agrifoodtech-funding-drops-12-5-yoy-the-de-evolution-of-the-alt-meat-revolution-more/feed/ 0 Denmark Introduces Carbon Tax, House Reps Reintroduce Bill to Ban Federal Funding of Cultivated Meat + More  https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/07/01/denmark-introduces-carbon-tax-house-reps-reintroduce-bill-to-ban-federal-funding-of-cultivated-meat-more/ https://foodtechconnect.com/2024/07/01/denmark-introduces-carbon-tax-house-reps-reintroduce-bill-to-ban-federal-funding-of-cultivated-meat-more/#respond Tue, 02 Jul 2024 00:05:40 +0000 https://foodtechconnect.com/?p=35660 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. Denmark is set to introduce the world’s first carbon tax on agriculture later this year, with each cow costing $100 per year, as part of its efforts to meet climate goals. In the United States, a group of lawmakers has reintroduced the REAL Meat Act, aiming to ban federal funding for the cultivated meat industry. These policy moves signal significant shifts in both environmental and agricultural sectors. 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 to Impose World’s First Carbon Tax on Agriculture, with Each Cow Costing $100 Per Year – Green Queen Denmark will introduce a tax on carbon emissions from agriculture later this year to meet its climate goals, becoming the first country to do so.   2. House Representatives Reintroduce Bill to Ban Federal Funding of Cultivated Meat – Green Queen A group of lawmakers have reintroduced the REAL Meat Act, this time targeting federal investment in the cultivated meat industry.   3. Over 100 Organizations & Experts Ask FAO to Retract ‘Inappropriate’ COP28 Livestock Report – Green Queen In an open letter, academics and organizations from across the world have asked the FAO to withdraw a livestock emissions report that they claim contains “significant methodological errors”.   4. AgFunder Assumes Management of Blue Horizon’s $100M Growth Fund – AgFunder Taking on Blue Horizion’s growth fund elevates AgFunder’s assets under management to $300m and introduces a growth-stage portfolio to the firm.   5. Bezos Earth Fund Opens Alternative Protein Hub at Imperial College London, with Next Centre Set for Asia – Green Queen A month after it unveiled the first Center for Sustainable Protein in North Carolina, the Bezos Earth Fund has opened its second alternative protein hub at Imperial College London. It plans to open a third centre in Asia soon.   6. The Race to Make Plant-Based Meat More Affordable – Green Queen An often insurmountable price barrier is keeping many people from buying plant-based alternatives to beef, pork and chicken.   7. What Is Specialty Food? – The Checkout Specialty foods, while “special”, still exist and depend on an industrial food system. The contradiction to specialty food, indeed that which is necessary to truly define it, is commodity food.   8. India: Zepto, a 10-Minute Delivery App, Raises $665M at $3.6B Valuation – TechCrunch Zepto sells and delivers everything from grocery items to electronic gadgets to consumers in urban Indian cities within a short time frame.

The post Denmark Introduces Carbon Tax, House Reps Reintroduce Bill to Ban Federal Funding of Cultivated Meat + 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.

Denmark is set to introduce the world’s first carbon tax on agriculture later this year, with each cow costing $100 per year, as part of its efforts to meet climate goals. In the United States, a group of lawmakers has reintroduced the REAL Meat Act, aiming to ban federal funding for the cultivated meat industry. These policy moves signal significant shifts in both environmental and agricultural sectors.

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 to Impose World’s First Carbon Tax on Agriculture, with Each Cow Costing $100 Per Year – Green Queen

Denmark will introduce a tax on carbon emissions from agriculture later this year to meet its climate goals, becoming the first country to do so.

 

2. House Representatives Reintroduce Bill to Ban Federal Funding of Cultivated Meat – Green Queen

A group of lawmakers have reintroduced the REAL Meat Act, this time targeting federal investment in the cultivated meat industry.

 

3. Over 100 Organizations & Experts Ask FAO to Retract ‘Inappropriate’ COP28 Livestock Report – Green Queen

In an open letter, academics and organizations from across the world have asked the FAO to withdraw a livestock emissions report that they claim contains “significant methodological errors”.

 

4. AgFunder Assumes Management of Blue Horizon’s $100M Growth Fund – AgFunder

Taking on Blue Horizion’s growth fund elevates AgFunder’s assets under management to $300m and introduces a growth-stage portfolio to the firm.

 

5. Bezos Earth Fund Opens Alternative Protein Hub at Imperial College London, with Next Centre Set for Asia – Green Queen

A month after it unveiled the first Center for Sustainable Protein in North Carolina, the Bezos Earth Fund has opened its second alternative protein hub at Imperial College London. It plans to open a third centre in Asia soon.

 

6. The Race to Make Plant-Based Meat More Affordable – Green Queen

An often insurmountable price barrier is keeping many people from buying plant-based alternatives to beef, pork and chicken.

 

7. What Is Specialty Food? – The Checkout

Specialty foods, while “special”, still exist and depend on an industrial food system. The contradiction to specialty food, indeed that which is necessary to truly define it, is commodity food.

 

8. India: Zepto, a 10-Minute Delivery App, Raises $665M at $3.6B Valuation – TechCrunch

Zepto sells and delivers everything from grocery items to electronic gadgets to consumers in urban Indian cities within a short time frame.

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