NEW TECH FOODS

Leaft Foods, a food-tech start-up based in New Zealand, has debuted a new plant-based performance nutrition drink, Leaft Blade, made with protein from green leaves. The product’s key ingredient is rubisco – an abundant protein present in every green leaf, which Leaft has now been able to successfully extract at commercial scale. Historically, the company said this has been a huge challenge for food scientists to do without destroying Rubisco’s delicate structure and unique functional properties. Each 100ml serving of Leaft Blade contains 17g of leaf rubisco protein which is said to outperform whey in amino acid profile, digestibility and functionality while generating 97% lower carbon emissions. The enzyme protein digests faster than other proteins and offers a complete amino acid profile, unlike some other plant-based varieties. The protein is extracted from 50,000 green leaves per serving of Leaft Blade, engineered for ‘rapid nutrition precisely when your body and brain need it’. The product also contains l-tyrosine to support brain function, leucine for muscle growth, and tryptophan to restore balance. It is designed to be taken before or during exercise, with early adopters – including professional athletes – taking it 20 minutes before workout sessions. Leaft said this has enabled them to experience how it delivers key amino acids ‘up to six times faster than traditional proteins…at the peak of the anabolic window or in critical moments requiring intense focus and clarity’. The company moved into a 30,000-square-foot commercial facility last year, producing one tonne of products per week. Leaft Blade is its first consumer offering, with Leaft already selling commercial-grade ingredients to B2B customers. Leaft Blade is now available, initially online, to New Zealand and US consumers.

India has inaugurated its first Animal Stem Cell Biobank and Animal Stem Cell Laboratory at the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) in Hyderabad, a facility aimed at advancing regenerative medicine and cellular therapies for livestock. The facilities, inaugurated by science and technology minister Jitendra Singh, cover 9,300-square-feet and were built at a cost of ₹1.85 crore (approx. $212,000). They include a stem cell culture unit, 3D bioprinter, bacterial culture lab, cryostorage, autoclave rooms, advanced air-handling systems and uninterrupted power backup. Research will focus on disease modelling, tissue engineering, reproductive biotechnology and the expansion of biobanking of animal stem cells with support from the National Biopharma Mission of DBT–BIRAC. Alongside the biobank opening, the minister laid the foundation stone for new hostel and staff quarters at NIAB, approved at a cost of ₹19.98 crore (approx $2.3 million), to support researchers and faculty. Singh also launched five veterinary diagnostic tools developed at NIAB to improve animal health management: a rapid detection kit for brucellosis; mastitis detection technology for dairy cattle; a portable antimicrobial sensitivity testing device; a toxoplasmosis detection kit; and a Japanese encephalitis detection strip for surveillance in animals and humans. According to the minister, these innovations are expected to improve livestock productivity, strengthen veterinary disease prevention and contribute to agricultural growth. He described the developments as part of a broader “Evergreen Revolution” in the animal husbandry sector. Singh said “I’m glad the entire Department of Biotechnology, under the leadership of Rajesh Gokhale, is contributing to making India future-ready. We will not lag behind when the next industrial revolution – driven by biotechnology – takes over. The economy will shift from manufacturing to regenerative and genetic processes, and India has already initiated this transition. This is one of the best times, with enabling support from policymakers, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who understood the long-term relevance of initiatives like the Bio E3 policy.” Singh noted that agriculture accounts for 18% of India’s GDP and employs around 60% of the workforce, stressing that investment in veterinary science and biotechnology could yield significant economic benefits. He also urged farmers to adopt modern diagnostic tools to improve disease management and farm incomes. The minister highlighted India’s growing biotechnology sector, pointing to initiatives such as the BioE3 policy and the recently announced ₹1 lakh crore Anusandhan National Research Foundation fund to boost private sector R&D. He added that India’s biotechnology research is increasingly linked with fields such as space medicine and physiology through collaborations with the Department of Space. Commending NIAB director Taru Sharma for leading the project, Singh said India previously had stem cell banks for humans but none dedicated to animals. “The best of NIAB, and the best of Indian biotechnology, is yet to come,” he added.

UK-based biostimulant developer SugaROx has raised £1 million in a seed round extension to accelerate field testing of its Trehalose-6-Phosphate (T6P) product. The funding includes a £400,000 strategic investment from fertiliser producer The Mosaic Company, with the remaining £600,000 from existing investors Future Planet Capital, Regenerate Ventures and UK-based angel investors. T6P is a proprietary biostimulant designed to improve plant growth by regulating sugar signalling. It works by inhibiting SnRK1, an enzyme that triggers a plant’s energy-conservation mode under stress, allowing crops to maintain growth and productivity in challenging conditions. Safety tests completed earlier this year indicated a positive regulatory outlook for T6P, prompting potential commercial partners to request samples for trials. The partnership with Mosaic will provide SugaROx with access to US trial sites and the company’s TruResponse digital platform to monitor and analyse field data. Mark Robbins, chief executive officer of SugaROx, said: “In response to increasing demand for product samples, we decided to accelerate our manufacturing timeline, fast‑tracking the shift from in‑house lab production to a pilot facility. The Innovate UK grant and additional investment allows us to do that”. “Our existing investors were quick to subscribe to the seed round extension, which we are delighted to complete with Mosaic as a strategic partner. We have the ambition to transform the biostimulants industry with science-based solutions – something that is only achievable in collaboration with other players.” SugaROx plans to launch its T6P wheat biostimulant in the UK in 2027 and the EU in 2028, with soybean and maize trials underway in preparation for entry into the US and Brazilian markets.

Area 2 Farms, a US start-up specialising in soil-based, hyper-local farming, will open a new sustainable urban farm in Fairfax City, Northern Virginia, by the end of 2025. The facility, located at 9571 Fairfax Boulevard, is being developed in partnership with Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED) under a ten-year lease agreement. The project was made possible through a zoning amendment approved in 2024 and supported by $25,000 in Fairfax City Economic Development Authority funding. Area 2 Farms plans to convert the long-vacant site through adaptive reuse, including exterior upgrades and a public mural at the Fairfax Circle intersection. The farm will offer fresh, organic produce year-round through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programme and will include the company’s first farm stand for walk-in purchases. Fairfax City's mayor, Catherine Read, said: "It's ironic that we had to amend our zoning code to allow this type of agricultural use in a city and a region that was once rolling fields of farmland. It demonstrates the need for local governments to regularly reimagine land use in ways that support our priorities today and into the future." "Our community cares about issues of environmental sustainability and educating consumers about the sources of the foods they eat. Area 2 Farms brings us a project that aligns with our core values on many levels and is a welcome addition to our city." The Fairfax site follows the success of Area 2 Farms’ pilot in Arlington, which has delivered more than 20,000 harvests and hosted over 1,500 student visits. Founder and CEO Oren Falkowitz commented: "We are incredibly excited to bring Area 2 Farms to Fairfax and to partner with a city that shares our vision". "This project perfectly embodies our mission to 'move the farm, not the food,' turning an underutilised space into a thriving hub for fresh, healthy produce and community engagement. The leadership shown by FCED officials in facilitating this project ushers in a new chapter of abundance for the local community." In addition to supplying greens, microgreens, root vegetables, herbs and speciality items, Area 2 Farms will work with local schools and civic organisations to promote agricultural education and community Christopher Bruno, CEO and director of FCED, added: "This project is a testament to what's possible when vision meets partnership. We didn't just fill a vacant lot; we challenged everyone to think differently about how space, sustainability and community intersect." "In doing so, FCED is showing that even a small city can lead with bold ideas. The result is more than an investment in a single property. This project represents an investment in education, health, the creation of place and the kinds of collaborations that push the boundaries of what local government and business can achieve. Top image: © Area 2 Farms’ Instagram

BASF, Corteva Agriscience and MS Technologies have signed a trait licensing agreement to introduce BASF’s nematode-resistant soybean (NRS) trait into Enlist E3 and Conkesta E3 soybean varieties for farmers in Brazil. The NRS trait is the first biotechnology-based solution for controlling root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus brachyurus) and soybean cyst nematodes, both of which can significantly reduce yields. BASF said the trait has shown over 90% control of root lesion nematodes in more than 160 field trials conducted over seven years. Adolfo Vitorio Ulbrich, regional R&D seeds director at BASF Agricultural Solutions in Latin America, said: “This novel trait has demonstrated more than 90% control of root lesion nematodes in more than 160 field trials over the past seven years. We are excited to cooperate with Corteva and MS Technologies to bring to Brazilian farmers the first commercially available biotechnology trait for soybeans to provide a critical management tool against nematodes.” Enlist E3 soybeans are tolerant to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides, offering multiple weed control options. Conkesta E3 soybeans also include two Bt proteins (Cry1F and Cry1Ac) for caterpillar pest management. “We’re pleased about the opportunity to combine our Enlist E3 and Conkesta E3 soybean technology with the NRS trait from BASF to offer growers across Brazil a critical new tool to help protect against Pratylenchus brachyurus and soybean cyst nematode,” commented Christian Pflug, licensing director for Brazil and Paraguay at Corteva. Joe Merschman, president of MS Technologies, added: “Pairing Enlist E3 and Conkesta E3 genetics from M.S. Technologies with this new NRS trait developed by BASF represents a step change in value protection for soybean growers in South America.” Commercial varieties combining the NRS trait with Enlist E3 and Conkesta E3 soybeans are expected to be available in Brazil by the end of the decade or early next decade, pending regulatory reviews and field testing. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Nourish Ingredients has received ‘generally recognised as safe’ (GRAS) status from the Flavour and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) for the use of its proprietary Mortierella alpina biomass (S11) as a flavouring in food. The biomass is the main ingredient in Tastilux, an animal-free fat designed to replicate the flavour of meat. The FEMA Expert Panel’s determination allows immediate commercial sales of Tastilux in the US and opens opportunities in additional international markets. Tastilux is produced via fermentation and is intended to improve the flavour and aroma of plant-based, hybrid protein and other food products. When cooked, it enables the Maillard reaction that creates meaty taste and aroma profiles similar to chicken, beef or pork. The ingredient is aimed at addressing taste and labelling challenges in the plant protein sector and is suitable for use at low inclusion rates across multiple categories, including snacks, ready meals and tallow replacements. The FEMA GRAS programme evaluates the safety of flavour ingredients based on scientific data and expert review. Recognition under the scheme is considered a key benchmark for safety in the flavour and food industries. Nourish Ingredients has partnership agreements in place across the Middle East, US, Australia and New Zealand, with plans for a wider commercial rollout. James Petrie, founder and CEO at Nourish Ingredients, said: “We’re already trialling our ingredients with key partners in the US and globally, and this FEMA GRAS status accelerates bringing Tastilux to the US market as soon as possible". “This regulatory milestone represents a major commercial breakthrough for our proprietary potent fats and technology, enabling us to deliver a true-to-meat experience that has been missing in the market.”

Colorcon Ventures, the corporate venture fund of Colorcon, has invested in Israeli start-up Phytolon, which develops natural food colourings using precision fermentation of modified baker’s yeast. The funding forms part of Phytolon’s bridge round, joined by existing investors including NextGen Nutrition, Arkin Capital, Trendlines, EIT Food, Yossi Ackerman, Steve Dubin, Rich’s and Ginkgo Bioworks, as well as another strategic investor that will be announced at a later stage. Phytolon is moving towards commercialisation, with plans to expand its natural colouring technology beyond the food sector into nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications. Colorcon said its formulation and regulatory expertise would support this transition. Kelly Boyer, VP of film coatings and strategic business development for Colorcon, said: “Colorcon is proud to make an investment in Phytolon, as they are well aligned with our focus on continued innovation and emerging technology". "Since our founding, Colorcon has become a true leader in color science and colour matching for film coatings in both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. We applaud Phytolon for their innovative work, which has the potential to deliver high-performing, sustainable natural colours at scale, which would be a win for the industry.” Halim Jubran, Phytolon’s co-founder and CEO, said, “We are excited to have Colorcon Ventures join our existing strategic partners, including Rich's, Ginkgo Bioworks and others, as we move to the commercialisation stage. Colorcon’s strong formulation and regulatory expertise will be crucial as we validate expansion beyond the food sector into addressable markets, such as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.” Top image: © Phytolon

Cropin has been awarded a €700,000 contract under EIT Food’s Impact Funding Framework to roll out an AI-powered initiative aimed at promoting regenerative potato farming across Europe. The project – called FIRST Potato (Field Intelligence for Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainability in Potato Farming) – will bring together food processors, research institutions and sustainability organisations to accelerate the shift from conventional to regenerative agricultural practices. Cropin’s decision support system (DSS) uses crop-specific intelligence, real-time field data from sensors, satellite imagery, weather stations and IoT devices, alongside predictive analytics, to provide plot-level daily advisories tailored to each farm’s soil and microclimate. The system is designed to optimise irrigation, input use and residue management, helping farmers improve soil health, reduce environmental impact and maintain yields. The initiative will be piloted on farms in Denmark and in partnership with two potato processors in Germany and the UK. Aarhus University will conduct scientific validation of the platform’s performance. Krishna Kumar, CEO and founder of Cropin, said: “As regenerative agriculture gains momentum, the absence of verifiable, measurable outcomes poses a real challenge to meaningful, scalable impact. Without robust digital systems, farmers struggle to consistently uphold regenerative principles. Through AI, data intelligence, and real-time decision-support, we are bridging this critical gap, bringing precision, accountability, and scale to regenerative agriculture. With FIRST Potato, our goal is to help farmers adopt climate-smart practices that are both profitable and scientifically validated.” Potato processors typically seek high solid content to improve the quality of chips and fries, but regenerative practices can initially reduce yields. Cropin says its technology can address this by optimising inputs and improving both yield and quality, while restoring soil health. The company is in advanced talks with several agri-food brands in the UK and Europe and expects to launch further regenerative agriculture pilots before the end of the financial year.

Singapore-based food tech start-up Prefer has raised $4.2 million in an oversubscribed funding round and launched its first commercial products: Soluble coffee and cocoa powders made from food manufacturing byproducts such as rice and soy. The round, which brings Prefer’s total equity raised to $6.2 million, was led by At One Ventures and Chancery Hill Capital, with participation from existing investor Forge Ventures. Prefer uses a proprietary fermentation and roasting process to develop flavours that replicate the taste and functionality of coffee and cocoa. The company says its coffee has up to 85% lower emissions and costs 50% less than traditional Arabica. It supplies to FMCG brands, food manufacturers, private label retailers and flavour houses. The startup has secured its first international commercial partnerships. In Thailand, Prefer is working with Ajinomoto Co (Thailand) on sustainable coffee beverage innovations. In Australia and New Zealand, it has partnered with The Coffee Ferm, which will license Prefer’s flavour IP for local manufacturing and distribution. Prefer’s coffee products are already available through Singaporean foodservice channels, including Melvados. The company plans to scale production through toll manufacturers in key markets, continue cocoa flavour R&D and expand its partnerships in Asia. Jake Berber, co-founder and CEO, said: “With the support of our new partners, the quality of our new products and the grit of this team, we’re in a unique position to ensure coffee and cocoa are accessible to the masses while respecting our planet". Helen Lin, partner at At One Ventures and board member at Prefer, added: “We’re in the early stages of a food system transformation, one that decouples beloved consumer products from environmentally harmful supply chains".

Dutch food-tech company Plantible Foods has announced that its first commercial facility in Eldorado, Texas, US, is now fully operational and entering a new phase of expansion. Known as ‘Ranchito,’ the facility represents a key step forward in Plantible’s mission to ‘reshape global food production by harnessing the power of plants’. Located in rural West Texas’ Schleicher County, the production plant now houses a growing network of greenhouses, upgraded protein filtration systems and a newly introduced, higher-yield strain of the aquatic plant used to produce Plantible’s flagship ingredient, Rubi Protein. Rubi Protein is made from lemna, a member of the duckweed family also known as water lentils. Lemna is a resilient and sustainable protein feedstock that can be grown in harsh environments with ten times less water than soya and no arable land requirements, while having a doubling rate of 2-3 days. Plantible aims to replace synthetic and ‘environmentally taxing’ components in commercial food products through producing high-quality, functional ingredients. The Ranchito site is expected to produce thousands of metric tons of biomass annually – enabling delivery of hundreds of metric tons of protein per year. According to Plantible, this output will contribute to nearly 8,000 metric tons in potential CO2-equivalent emissions reductions annually, by replacing animal-based protein and synthetic ingredients in food supply chains. © Plantible Foods As part of the facility’s expansion, Plantible has integrated modern filtration equipment that it says has ‘significantly’ reduced production costs while increasing throughput. This enhances Plantible's ability to achieve cash flow positivity at the facility and produce Rubi Protein at scale. Plantible is currently working with key customers, including ICL, to integrate Rubi Protein into a range of consumer products. Rubi Protein is a neutral-tasting, allergen-free, complete protein (PDCAAS 1.0), able to provide emulsifying, gelling and binding functionalities. Formulators can use the ingredient to improve texture and stability, while delivering a nutritional profile comparable to animal proteins. Paul Peterson, global alternative proteins leader at ICL, said: “Plant-based protein formulators have been searching for years for a clean label, highly functional replacement for chemically derived binders, such as methylcellulose”. “In partnership with Plantible Foods, we have been able to leverage our deep knowledge of proteins to create a market-leading binding solution that allows plant-based food manufacturers to meet the needs of even the most demanding consumers.” Plantible is actively conducting trials on additional strains that could further accelerate Rubi Protein unit economics, scalability and affordability. Chris Phillips, VP of research at Plantible, said: “With at least 35 species in the duckweed family and more than 1000 strains, Plantible has excelled in identifying strains that are best adapted for growth in the local climate. We then tailor our growth conditions to further maximise protein production and product quality.” Additionally, the company is working on securing additional financing to continue building out the Ranchito to Rancho scale, increasing capacity by threefold. With scalable production now underway, it plans to continue investing in expanding its footprint and hiring locally within Eldorado.

H2Ok Innovations has secured $12.42 million in Series A funding led by Greycroft, with additional investment from 2048 Ventures and Construct Capital. Founded in 2021, the Massachusetts-based startup develops patented inline sensors and AI software designed to optimise factory operations, including reducing Clean-in-Place (CIP) and product changeover times. Its technology can be integrated into existing industrial piping systems and processes one million data points per second, providing real-time monitoring and automated control. The company’s customers include Unilever, AB InBev, The Coca-Cola Company and Danone. AB InBev is expanding H2Ok’s technology across all six of its global regions and breweries. H2Ok's CTO, David Lu, reported that the company's systems can reduce CIP and changeover times by 15% and cut water, energy and chemical usage by 10-20%. The technology is currently used in sectors including consumer packaged goods and hyperscale data centres. The funding will support product development and international scaling. As part of the investment, Greycroft partner Jim Moffat, former global CEO of Deloitte Consulting, will join H2Ok’s board. Annie Lu, CEO of H2Ok Innovations, said: "Post-Covid food and beverage manufacturers are besieged by supply chain constraints, rising costs, evolving safety standards and shifting consumer demands. Our turnkey solution gives manufacturers production time back to address these macro challenges and still drive innovation. We’re excited to bring science-backed proprietary sensors and industry-focused AI that delivers both the sustainability and speed that manufacturers need to thrive in today’s environment.”

Switch Bioworks has appointed two senior executives and moved into a new corporate headquarters and R&D facility in San Carlos, California, as it advances its biotechnology-based fertiliser development. Steve del Cardayre has been appointed chief technology officer. He has more than 25 years’ experience in microbial engineering and industrial biotechnology, most recently as co-founder and CTO of Zero Acre Farms. His previous roles include senior positions at Renewable Energy Group, Codexis, Maxygen and LS9, where he co-developed microbial production methods for fuels and chemicals. Brett Boghigian has joined as chief business officer. He previously served as SVP at Mori and spent over a decade in the Flagship Pioneering ecosystem. At Indigo Ag, where he helped scale the business and launch more than 20 microbial products used on millions of acres worldwide. L-R: Steve del Cardayre and Brett Boghigian "Fertiliser is the bedrock of crop production, supporting food security worldwide," said del Cardayre. "Switch is uniquely positioned to transform this industry with biotechnology – helping farmers earn more, feed more people and care for their land and the planet we all rely on. I'm thrilled to join this exceptional team and support the scaling and delivery of this technology to the field." Boghigian added: "Our R&D team's achievements have set a powerful foundation, and Switch is now entering a new chapter of customer-driven innovation. I'm eager to expand strategic partnerships across the value chain and work closely with growers to advance our product development." The company’s move to the San Carlos site triples its R&D footprint and brings fermentation capacity, plant grow rooms, laboratories and offices together under one roof. Switch Bioworks' headquarters Tim Schnabel, founder and CEO of Switch Bioworks, commented: "Our new home isn't just more space – it's a launchpad for our mission-driven team, platform and products. With Steve and Brett on board, we have the leadership, experience and spirit to accelerate the development of next-generation fertilisers that society depends on to grow enough food, sustainably and affordably."