PoLoPo raises $1.75M to develop animal-based proteins from plants Vegconomist Israeli molecular farming startup PoLoPo has successfully raised a $1.75M pre-seed funding round to continue developing its proprietary technology, which uses potatoes as plant biofactories to produce animal proteins. Nestlé recalls infant formula in North America  Just Food  Nestlé’s Gerber-branded infant-formula products have been recalled in North America after they were linked to potential bacteria contamination. Tyson Creates Climate Smart Beef Program Food Industry Executive Tyson Foods has launched a ..read more

By Bunmi Olayanju MBA CFA While the headlines have been awash with talk of a venture capital winter, it’s crucial to understand that it’s merely a season, not a barren period. The data shows that while the pace of fundraising might have decelerated in the past year and a half, there’s still a robust ecosystem of deals being struck across stages. For founders who can present their businesses credibly and compellingly, now could be an opportune time to secure the capital they need. Let’s delve into why the current fundraising climate holds promise: Abundance of Dry Powder: Latest data from Q1 20 ..read more

Food insecurity, the inability to access or afford enough food or enough nutritious food for one’s overall health and well-being, is a serious problem in both developing and developed nations. According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, more than one in five (21.6%) adults in the United States reported household food insecurity in the summer of 2022, an increase of more than 6% from April 2021.  One of the major contributors to food insecurity is colossal food waste. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that 30 – 40 percent of the annual US food supply is wasted. It ..read more

In the second article in our mid-year series, we turn our focus to collaboration in food innovation. Here at FoodNiche, we are firm believers in the power and importance of the collaborative effort of all key stakeholders to drive food innovation. It takes broad-based cooperation across the spectrum to create a healthier, sustainable food future. As Bill Gates pointed out in his book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, “the food system is one of the most important areas where we need to collaborate. We need to find ways to produce more food, while using fewer resources and reducing our impact on ..read more

Ansa Creates Coffee Roaster That Utilizes Radio Waves The Spoon This new technology allows people to have the coffee beans roasted right before brewing. This new roaster, called the e23, accomplishes more than just giving people fresh-roasted coffee, it is better for the environment. Traditional coffee bean roasting methods consist of roasting the beans over gas-powered flames, which are both very energy-intensive and produces a lot of CO2. Vegan Alternative Food Company Naturli’ Vegeconomist Naturli’ is a leading plant-based company focused on captivating an American audience with its product ..read more

Fish Startup Bluu Seafood Raises $17.5 Million Green Queen The German biotech firm has received 17.5 million dollars in a Series A funding round. The startup is focused on using this newly acquired funding to gain regulatory approval in the United States for its first two products, fish fingers, and fish balls. Mars Buys Kevin’s Natural Foods Food Drive Mars has signed an agreement to acquire the nutritious meal company for an undisclosed amount. This is an interesting move by a company best known for less-healthy confections such as M&M’s, Twix, and Snickers. ADM Acquires Praire Pulse Foo ..read more

Many Plant-Based Food Alternative Companies Are Failing as Hype and Money Fade – Bloomberg The once extremely popular sector appears to dying off as funding has begun to dry up. Unreal Food has ceased pursuing the eggless egg. Remasted Foods has stopped working on its vegan bacon. With consumers put off by the nutritional value, taste, and excessive processing, many of these companies are shutting down. Dreamfarm Develops Plant-Based Cheeses Made From Almonds – Vegconomist This Italian startup is set to enter the dairy alternative market with its plant-based cheese products ..read more

Food Tech Startup BetterBrand Reaches $170M Valuation After 6 Million Dollar Series A Funding – Forbes BetterBrand, a food tech startup best known for its line of low-carb, high-protein bagels produced with special IP-protected Grain-changing Technology, has now scored a record-breaking valuation of 170 million dollars, surpassing some of the biggest tech firms such as Meta and Tesla. Tony’s Chocolonely Secures Extra €20M From Shareholders  – FoodBev Media This extra funding will aid the company in rapidly expanding and will also contribute to the growth of the company’s pl ..read more

Image via Pixabay. Beyond Good, a sustainability and social impact chocolate company, is focused on providing products consumers enjoy that are 100% traceable and transparent. The company produces its chocolate at source in Madagascar, combining social impact with food production. Farmers  benefit from the company’s approach to supply chain, as they receive a living wage by selling their cocoa directly to Beyond Good bypassing the middle-man. This ensures that farmers are able to earn premium prices for their cocoa beans. Beyond Good is also making a positive environmental and conservatio ..read more