NEW TECH FOODS

A new US food-tech company, Lasso, has been launched by the team behind plant-based meat start-up Tender Food, supported by $6.5 million in new funding.

Alt-dairy start-up Climax Foods has rebranded to Bettani Farms; has appointed former Califia Farms CFO, Sandeep Patel, as CEO and chairman; and has raised $6.5 million in Series A funding.

Lallemand Specialty Cultures has inaugurated a new application research and development laboratory in Rennes, France, relocating its operations from La Ferté-sous-Jouarre to a newly built 400 square metres facility.

New analysis reveals that the number of studies published on plant-based foods, cultivated meat and fermentation has tripled over the past five years.

Dutch food-tech company Revyve has raised nearly €24 million in Series B financing to accelerate the rollout of its functional yeast proteins, designed to replace eggs and additives in mainstream food categories.

Finnish biotech company Enifer has obtained self-affirmed GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status in the US for its mycoprotein ingredient Pekilo, following an independent expert panel review.

The European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) has released a new report calling for urgent EU action to accelerate the shift towards sustainable meat alternatives.

New Zealand-based Leaft Foods has entered a strategic partnership with Lacto Japan Co to bring its Rubisco Protein Isolate to Japan’s food manufacturing sector.