Weekly Update: Innovations and Investments in Food Technology

This week marked significant developments in the food technology sector, with mycoprotein pioneer Quorn receiving an £18 million ($24 million) cash injection from its parent company, and Provectus Algae securing fresh funding to expand its seaweed-growing platform aimed at reducing livestock methane emissions. Additionally, Mara Renewables has raised capital to enhance algae-based omega-3 production.

In other news, chocolate giant Barry Callebaut is exploring the potential of cocoa produced through plant cell culture, while Coca-Cola unveiled plans to launch a cola sweetened with US cane sugar. Meanwhile, Pepsi has introduced a prebiotic cola to its product lineup.

Finally, Beyond Meat is set to roll out its innovative mycelium-based steak filet to more restaurant locations.

Funding News

🇬🇧 Quorn turnaround makes progress as owner injects £18m in fresh funds The Grocer

🇦🇺 Provectus Algae nets fresh funds to scale methane reduction seaweed tech platform AgFunderNews

🇨🇦 Mara Renewables secures US$9.1 million from S2G to scale algae-based omega-3 production Protein Production Technology

🇬🇧 British NZN raises €5.6 million for biofertiliser solution delivering a ‘green discount’ for farmers EU Startups

🇬🇧 Win-Win Raises $4M for Cocoa-Free Chocolate & Notches Martin Braun-Gruppe Collab Green Queen

🇳🇱 Agritech Solynta lands EU-backed financing to advance disease-resistant potato varieties Tech.eu

🇨🇦 AWAKE Chocolate, Leading Functional Chocolate Brand, Lands $8 Million CAD Investment PR Newswire

🇪🇸 Néboda Secures €1.84 Million Seed Round to Advance Indoor Vertical Farming iGrow News

🇪🇪 Estonian Govt Pumps $1.1M in Äio to Scale Up Yeast-Based Palm Oil Alternative for Cosmetics Green Queen

Mergers & Acquisitions

🇺🇸 Bonsai Robotics acquires farm-ng to herald new era of ‘AI-first machines that will transform crop management’ AgFunderNews

🇪🇸 Ambienta enters Spain with Agronova Biotech acquisition PE Hub

🇺🇸 Generous Brands to Acquire Health-Ade Kombucha Business Wire

People Moves

🇪🇺 The Coca-Cola Company Names New Leader for Europe Operating Unit Business Wire

🇺🇸 Walmart taps Instacart exec for AI role Grocery Dive

🇬🇧 Former Henkel and JBT-Marel Executive Jan Agter Appointed as CEO of Mycoprotein Producer ENOUGH Vegconomist

Other News

🇨🇭 World’s Largest Chocolate Supplier to Explore Cell-Based Cocoa Green Queen

🇺🇸 Exclusive: Alt meat company Planetarians is shutting down, seeks buyer looking for ‘de-risked, market-validated technology’ AgFunderNews

🇺🇸 Beyond Meat Debuts Whole-Cut Mycelium Steak Filet at US Restaurants Green Queen

🇺🇸 Gas fermentation startup Novonutrients calls it quits, seeks buyer for assets: ‘The technology’s potential remains unchanged’ AgFunderNews

🇺🇸 More EPG customers share tales of woe in David Protein, Epogee litigation AgFunderNews

🇬🇧 UK launches inquiry into science’s role in feeding a growing global population Protein Production Technology

🇸🇪 With trials underway in multiple markets, OlsAro takes salt-tolerant wheat closer to market AgFunderNews

🇺🇸 GEA Celebrates Grand Opening of $20M Tech Hub for Precision Fermentation and Cultivated Foods Vegconomist

🇺🇸 10 million servings per run: Helaina scales human lactoferrin production AgFunderNews

🇺🇸 Coca-Cola to launch Coke with cane sugar in the US after Trump post The Guardian

🇺🇸 PepsiCo Launches First Ever Prebiotic Cola in Traditional Cola Category PR Newswire

🇨🇦 Lactalis Canada to Shut Down Sudbury Plant-Based Beverage Facility in December Vegconomist

🇺🇸 Mission Barns secures USDA green light for cultivated fat, plans Q3 launches AgFunderNews