Tag: corporates

Bayer CropScience COO: acquisition is exception to rule in startup interactions

November 14, 2019

We caught up with Brett Begemann in London recently to talk glyphosate, Bayer's venture activities, digital ag, gene editing and smallholder farmers.

Dean Foods goes bust thanks to a fatal error: shying away from alt-milk

November 13, 2019

America’s biggest milk producer has just filed for bankruptcy — a newsflash that’s been a bit like hearing thunder after seeing lightning: stunning, but predictable.

From biz dev at Grubhub to Kraft Heinz’s VC arm, Steve Sanger is still selling hard

September 30, 2019

Evolv Ventures launched late last year as the venture arm of ketchup and mac-and-cheese behemoth Kraft Heinz with $100 million to invest in startups. We caught up with Steve Sanger, a partner at Evolv, to find out more about the fund's strategy and his personal shift from startup to investor

Multinationals back UN climate pact to tackle global warming

September 23, 2019

Find out which food and beverage companies are committing themselves to The Paris Agreement ahead of the UN Climate in New York.

As Minneapolis tries to ban drive-thrus, McDonald’s tries to automate them

September 12, 2019

Using different languages to order your food could soon become a moot point at McDonald’s drive-thrus, with the company's acquisition of Apprente — a two-year-old startup that's been making impressive strides in voice recognition software.

“If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” – how crop tech startups like Lavie Bio chart the market

September 10, 2019

The Tel Aviv-based biologicals startup is leveraging an investment from Corteva to introduce and market a new line of biological crop treatments.

PepsiCo says North American potatoes are now 100% sustainably-sourced

September 9, 2019

The global giant has chosen a farmer-to-farmer, business-minded approach for inspiring its proprietary potato growing partners to adopt more sustainable practices.

Why AgFunder thinks Ai Palette will revolutionize $4T FMCG industry

August 22, 2019

Did you know that 85% of new food products fail within two years? We've invested in Ai Palette to reduce that, writes AgFunder founding partner Michael Dean.

Consumers demand sustainability but are they realistic about the timeline?

August 22, 2019

A recent report dubbed Cargill ‘The Worst Company in the World’ on the basis that it failed to live up to its sustainability promises particularly around deforestation. But is vilification really the best way for consumers to support change at the global corporate level?

Is General Mills the only one putting its money where its mouth is on sustainability?

August 21, 2019

The major CPG company has already invested millions in helping farmers understand and adopt regenerative agriculture principles and is now focusing on reducing pesticide use in its supply chain after studies revealed glyphosate residue in 21 of its products.

25 startups innovating with sustainable packaging solutions

August 14, 2019

Companies are feeling public pressure to reduce the amount of plastic they use. A new breed of innovators is responding with eco-friendly alternatives to conventional materials.

FAIRR: Companies Have a Long Way to go to Meet Alternative Protein Demand

July 24, 2019

Major multinational food companies aren’t being proactive enough in offering more alternative protein options, according to investor network FAIRR, but plenty of challenges still lie ahead in alternative protein’s mission to disrupt meat.

Corporate Inaction on Deforestation Amounts to $30bn in Losses – and Counting – new report

July 16, 2019

Corporations with commitments to end deforestation across their supply chains are woefully at risk of failure, according to a report identifying Associated British Foods, The Kraft Heinz Company, and Avon among others at risk.

UK Supermarket Sainsbury’s Chews Over What Food Will Be Like in 2169, And It’s Kind of Bonkers

June 7, 2019

As part of its 150th birthday celebrations this year, the British supermarket giant J Sainsbury has released its Future of Food Report, which chews over what our food systems will be like in 2025, then in 2050 — and finally, with an act of somewhat extraordinary ruminating — in 2169.

China State-Owned Food Group COFCO Partners with Bits x Bites to Accelerate Food Tech Innovation

June 5, 2019

The goal of the partnership is to power the development of agriculture and food tech innovation in China by opening up COFCO's resources to qualifying tech companies.

Spent Grains Upcycler ReGrained on the ‘Powerful Experience’ of Meeting Griffith Foods through TERRA

May 9, 2019

Before applications close on Sunday May 12, TERRA alum ReGrained shares insights about the benefits of working with corporates on scaling the business.

Global Engineering Group Bühler Wants to Tackle Food Safety with A.I. Talent from Asia

April 8, 2019

Over a quarter of the world population eat food each day that’s been through Bühler equipment in some shape or form. And in some food segments, the market share is even higher with 65% of the world’s grain processed through Bühler products.

Q&A: Rabobank’s New Global Co-Head of Innovation and Head of TERRA on Working with Startups

January 14, 2019

Rabobank recently announced the expansion of its food and agriculture innovation team in North America with the appointment of Anne Greven as the global co-head of F&A Innovation. We caught up with her and head of TERRA Eline Boot to find out more about the platform.

Indian Agritech: Accelerate the Adoption of Agritech Innovations By Enabling the Ecosystem

November 13, 2018

There is a weak link in the current ecosystem for Indian agritech entrepreneurs and businesses, and it's the link with corporates, writes Hemendra Mathur.

As Ag Corporates Survey the Territory, Latin American Startups Have the High Ground

September 25, 2018

Ag corporates in Latin America are sitting in the passenger seat instead of behind the wheel when it comes to agtech innovation and investment, writes Emma Cosgrove.