Future Food 🎙️: Soylent CEO on shift towards middle America & the future of plant-based
Soylent meal replacement drinks, reportedly beloved of some entrepreneurs and VCs, have proven somewhat controversial in the podcast’s ‘hot or not’ rounds.
Soylent meal replacement drinks, reportedly beloved of some entrepreneurs and VCs, have proven somewhat controversial in the podcast’s ‘hot or not’ rounds.
The US startup is growing a plant that can help to reduce the carbon footprint of animal agriculture and become a new ingredient for alt-proteins.
The Ireland-based startup says it offers a more scalable and accurate way of measuring the carbon footprint of the agriculture and forestry industries.
“You will probably see more strategic partnerships and acquisitions from Semios,” Michael Gilbert tells AFN.
It has completely overhauled its go-to-market strategy after bringing on a former Dow AgroSciences CEO as an investor and board member.
While mega-deals involving seven Chinese e-Grocery startups accounted for $3.8 billion of H1’s figure, funding to other countries is still on track to outpace 2020 levels, according to the latest data from AgFunder.
The US startup uses “rapid epigenetics” to stimulate crops’ root zones and enhance the performance of synthetic fertilizer, while reducing usage.
Apeel’s core technology is a plant-based ‘peel’ that can be applied to the surface of fresh produce to maintain its freshness for longer.
The ag biotech company, which uses the RNA tech made famous by Covid-19 vaccines, will list on the Nasdaq – eventually providing an exit for investors including AgFunder, S2G Ventures, and Continental Grain Company.
This is Deere’s second major automation acquisition in the past four years.
Conservis provided an exit to its investors 12-years after its founding and the “odd” deal showcases a key way forward for digital adoption on the farm.
“We’ve reached an inflection point on climate adaptation, and there’s a growing sense of urgency around preparing supply chains,” said CEO Himanshu Gupta.
The Portland-based firm has closed its second indoor agriculture fund well beyond its $500 million target.
It claims to be the US’s largest indoor farming operation to be certified organic by the USDA – and the country’s leading supplier of fresh herbs.
Fund VII takes Flagship’s total assets under management to $14.1 billion.
Oatly appears to fit squarely into an ESG portfolio for public market investors, especially in comparison to many companies being touted as ESG bets.
Danone has been enthusiastic in exploring environmentally beneficial food production methods, often around regenerative agriculture – but also plant-based dairy alternatives.
As part of the announcement, John Mackey, the CEO of Whole Foods, announced he was an investor in the company.
California’s ImpactVision has developed hyperspectral imaging tech which will allow Apeel’s clients to see ‘inside’ their fresh produce to better understand its quality.
Dr Robb Fraley, former CTO of Monsanto, has joined the board of directors at soil health diagnostics startup Trace Genomics.
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International Fresh Produce Association launches year 3 of its produce accelerator