The Latest Developments in Alternative Protein and AgriFoodTech
In another piece of encouraging news for the alternative protein sector, French biotech startup Nutropy has successfully raised funds this week. The company is setting its sights on launching its animal-free cheese within the next couple of years, marking a significant step forward for the industry.
Meanwhile, the Bezos Earth Fund announced a $30 million “challenge” aimed at AI solutions for tackling climate and nature-related issues. In Europe, the EU has reversed its previous decision regarding the upcoming deforestation law, reflecting a renewed commitment to environmental policies. Additionally, a historic seed deposit of African crops was made at the “doomsday vault” in Norway, further emphasizing the importance of biodiversity preservation.
Funding News
As the alternative protein landscape continues to evolve, several startups are making headlines:
- 🇩🇰 MATR Foods has secured $47 million to scale its next generation of alternative meat through solid-state fermentation. AgFunderNews
- 🇫🇷 Nutropy has raised $8 million and aims for a 2027 launch of its animal-free cheese. Green Queen
- 🇺🇸 Plastomic has raised $5.8 million to advance its crop trait editing technology. St. Louis Inno
- 🇴🇲 KitchenomiKs has secured $3.2 million to expand its presence across the GCC. Wamda
- 🇮🇳 Fragaria Fruits raised $2 million in seed funding for its high-tech berry farming initiatives in India. iGrow News
- 🇬🇧 Elbow Beach invested £1.5 million into UPP to automate broccoli waste-to-protein technology. Tech Funding News
- 🇮🇳 Asha Ventures and BII have invested in the snack brand Wonderland Foods. Deal Street Asia
- 🇺🇸 Symrise is investing in Cellibre’s advanced precision fermentation platform. Vegconomist
M&A, IPOs & Partnerships
- 🇺🇸 AgZen has partnered with Corteva to enhance spray efficiency in agriculture. AgFunderNews
- 🇬🇧 Fieldwork Robotics is collaborating with a Portuguese Research Centre to innovate in agri-tech. Hort News
Funds, Grants & Accelerators
- 🇺🇸 Bezos Earth Fund has unveiled a $30 million AI Grand Challenge Awards initiative. Bezos Earth Fund
- 🇨🇮 An additional $14 million has been unlocked for Africa’s smallholders as part of a $200 million private-sector finance initiative. AgFunderNews
- 🇬🇧 Lidl GB plans to invest £30 billion to support British food and farming. FoodBev Media
People Moves
- 🇮🇱 Incredo has appointed a new CEO and chair. Snack and Bakery
- 🇨🇦 Tyler Groeneveld is the new CEO of Protein Industries Canada. Vegconomist
- 🇺🇸 Ricky Stevens has joined RESERVOIR as Head of Technology Partnerships. LinkedIn
Other News
- 🇧🇪 Brussels has reversed its delay on the anti-deforestation law. Politico
- 🇺🇸 The plant-based cheese startup Stockeld Dreamery has shut down as the flexitarian trend fizzles out. AgFunderNews
- 🇳🇴 The Arctic ‘doomsday vault’ has made a historic seed deposit of Africa’s forgotten crops. AgTechNavigator
- 🇺🇸 MycoWorks is closing its factory to refocus on sourcing efforts. Eco Textile[Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor in MycoWorks.]
- 🇺🇸 Little Leaf Farms has announced the largest Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) leafy greens facility. The Packer
- 🇺🇸 Agtonomy is accelerating its global expansion with AI-powered autonomous fleets in Southeast US and Australia. Agtonomy
The week in AgriFoodTech has been eventful, with groundbreaking achievements and funding opportunities promising a brighter future for sustainable food production and technology. Keep an eye on these developments as they unfold.
The post The Week in AgriFoodTech: Bezos Earth Fund sets up $30m AI ‘challenge,’ Nutropy nets $8m appeared first on AgFunderNews.
