NEW TECH FOODS

The UK government has announced that it will create Europe’s first cultivated meat regulatory sandbox to improve the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) scientific knowledge about the novel food. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced £1.6 million in funding for the FSA and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) – which must conduct a rigorous safety assessment of any cultivated meat product before it can be sold in the UK. The funding will enable the FSA and FSS to make informed decisions about product safety and guide companies on how they can effectively demonstrate that their products and processes are safe, in line with the UK’s existing novel foods regulatory framework. In a statement, the UK government said: "Through the sandbox we will gather rigorous scientific evidence about cell-cultivated products and the technology used to make them. This information will enable us to make well-informed decisions about product safety...As part of the sandbox, we’ll be able to offer pre-application support to CCP companies and address key questions that must be addressed before CCPs can enter the market, for example around labelling. This work will mean we can process CCP applications more quickly and support businesses better in their applications, ultimately providing consumers with a better choice of safe foods. The work achieved by the sandbox will also allow the FSA and FSS to keep pace with emerging technologies and apply new insights when authorising other innovative foods. The programme will reduce delays and costs associated with applying for regulatory approval- estimated at the date of publication to be £350,000-£500,000 per company per product- and will help CCP companies attract the investment they need to scale-up production. The agencies will recruit new staff to work on the sandbox, who will provide support to companies planning to submit applications to sell cell-based meat in the UK. The staff will also work closely with scientists to produce detailed guidance on key questions such as hygiene considerations for production facilities and how cultivated meat products should be labelled. The FSA’s sandbox will be the first of its kind in Europe and follows South Korea’s decision to create a regulatory innovation zone to support the development of novel food regulations and the scale-up of cultivated meat production processes. The Good Food Institute (GFI) Europe says that this could help grow the UK’s cultivated meat sector and ensure consumers have confidence in the safety and nutritional quality of this food. However, the GFI stressed that while the sandbox is likely to improve the regulatory pathway for cell-based meat, it is not a solution to the long-term funding challenges facing the FSA’s regulated product service – responsible for authorising new food products – which ministers must address in the forthcoming multi-year spending review. The FSA has frequently stated that its regulated product system is under-resourced, with authorisations of new food and animal feed taking an average of 2.5 years although the statutory aim is 17 months. What is a regulatory sandbox? Sandboxes are controlled environments usually running for limited periods that enable businesses, academics and regulators to collaborate on designing new rules, standards and guidance. The announcement of a regulatory sandbox follows the FSA’s recent confirmation that the UK government will enact initial reforms to the way a wide range of regulated products – including some alternative proteins – are brought to market. Professor Robin May, chief scientific advisor at the FSA, said: “Ensuring consumers can trust the safety of new foods is one of our most crucial responsibilities. The CCP sandbox programme will enable safe innovation and allow us to keep pace with new technologies being used by the food industry to ultimately provide consumers with a wider choice of safe foods.” Linus Pardoe, UK policy manager at GFI Europe, commented: “This announcement sends a clear message that the new government wants to capitalise on the strong investments made in British cultivated meat research and innovation over recent years by bringing products to market in a way that upholds the UK’s gold standard safety regulations. “Cultivated meat could play a key role in boosting food security, driving growth and helping us hit our climate targets. The sandbox is a welcome measure, but to fully realise the potential of cultivated meat, ministers must also provide a long-term boost to the FSA’s budget, enabling regulators to complete robust risk assessments within statutory timeframes.” Top image: ©UK firm Ivy Farm Technologies' cultivated pork sausage #UK #GFI #regulation

The adoption of cultivated meat offers solutions to critical global challenges, such as feeding a growing population, reducing mass animal slaughter, lowering the risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks and making more land available for ecosystem restoration. Yet, while the industry focuses on a vision of the future, it often overlooks the path to getting there. Public acceptance and regulatory approval remain significant hurdles, and key questions about a fair transition from traditional meat production are still unresolved. Oliver Tufft, founder of Red Tail – a project aimed at empowering farmers to produce cultivated meat and transform conventional agriculture – explores how farmers can play a pivotal role in this evolving landscape. Farmers are integral to our food system, shaping landscapes and rural communities. However, early industry narratives have often alienated them, presenting cultivated meat as a replacement for agriculture. This has led to bans in places like Florida and Italy, with authorities citing concerns for farmers. The industry must shift from box-ticking exercises to genuine engagement with the agricultural sector. Farmers’ expertise, including sourcing food-grade inputs, valorising waste outputs and utilising existing infrastructure can reduce costs and support a circular production system. By partnering with farmers, the industry can decentralise production, enhance food security and build local supply chains, ensuring cultivated meat supports a wider array of consumers and aligns with public and regulatory needs. 🚜 Why do farmers need the industry? A report by AT Kearney predicts that by 2040, only 40% of the meat industry will rely on traditional agriculture, with the rest split between cultivated meat and vegan replacements. For farmers already facing volatile markets, reduced subsidies and unpredictable weather, this shift should sound alarm bells. Farming, a traditionally cash-poor, asset-rich industry, is vulnerable to uncertain cash flows, especially as harvest failures become more common. On-farm cultivated meat production offers farmers a chance to diversify, providing more reliable production, shorter harvest cycles and access to a rapidly growing market. As consumers demand ethical, sustainable meat alternatives, farmers can meet this need while using less land. With government subsidies shifting toward ecosystem services, farmers have the option to restore their land and generate revenue from emerging natural capital markets, if they are able to decouple income from intensive land use. As the cultivated meat industry grows, early engagement offers farmers a chance to secure their livelihoods. Practical steps to integration While the benefits of integrating farmers into the cultivated meat sector are clear, understanding how they can practically participate is essential. There are several tangible ways farmers can actively engage in and contribute to the growth of cultivated meat that would benefit the industry and themselves. On-farm bioreactor facilities: One of the most direct ways for farmers to engage is by establishing on-farm cultivated meat production facilities. Cultivated meat companies can collaborate with farmers to install bioreactors and the necessary infrastructure for producing cultivated meat directly on-site. Farmers could repurpose existing barns, outbuildings or underutilised spaces to house small to medium-scale cultivated meat facilities, lowering capex by reducing the need for new construction. This approach leverages infrastructure that is already in place, minimising financial burden while allowing farmers to use idle assets for profitable purposes. At the same time, farmers can expand their operations without significant upfront costs, as the existing structures can be adapted rather than replaced. Supplying inputs for growth media: Farmers can also play a crucial role by supplying agricultural inputs for the growth media used in cultivated meat production. Currently, cultivated meat growth media is heavily reliant on costly inputs from the pharmaceutical industry. By engaging farmers to grow specific crops that contribute to culture media, cultivated meat companies can reduce their dependence on expensive sources and develop more cost-effective supply chains. Contract farming for cultivated meat: Another way farmers can get involved is through contract farming. This approach has parallels to existing farming models, such as contract pig finishing or poultry production, where farmers raise animals on behalf of larger processors. In this model, farmers would use their land and facilities to produce cultivated meat for a larger company that would provide the necessary bioreactors, cells and media. This model allows farmers to participate without the heavy capex required to purchase all the necessary equipment. Farmers get the benefit of predictable, stable income, while companies avoid the high capital outlays associated with building entirely new production facilities. This model could be particularly attractive for smaller or mid-sized farms looking for low-risk ways to diversify. Partnering in local supply chains: Farmers are experienced in managing logistics and distribution, which cultivated meat companies can tap into to bring products to market more quickly and cost-effectively. Instead of developing entirely new supply chains, cultivated meat companies can partner with local farmers to handle transportation and logistics. By relying on local supply chains, cultivated meat companies can also reduce transportation costs, improve efficiency and decrease their carbon footprint. Farmers benefit by playing an active role in the emerging cultivated meat market, using existing networks to distribute products and increase their income. Developing cooperatives for shared investment: The high capex of bioreactors and cultivated meat infrastructure can be daunting for individual farmers. A cooperative model would allow farmers to pool their resources to invest in shared infrastructure. By spreading the costs of bioreactors and other specialised equipment, farmers can enter the cultivated meat market without shouldering the full financial burden individually. The future of food production is at a pivotal moment and the integration of farmers into the cultivated meat industry is crucial for its success. As the world seeks more ethical, efficient and sustainable ways of producing food, the cultivated meat industry offers a compelling solution to many global challenges. However, it cannot succeed in isolation. Farmers, who have long been the backbone of food production, possess the knowledge, resources and infrastructure necessary to support this transition. For farmers, this partnership provides new opportunities amid the growing challenges of traditional agriculture. Cultivated meat offers more stable income, reduced land use and access to a fast-growing market, while allowing farmers to restore their land and benefit from natural capital markets. A cooperative approach between farmers and cultivated meat is not just mutually beneficial – it’s essential for building a sustainable, equitable future for food production. #farming #RedTail #opinion

Döhler has announced a strategic partnership with Nukoko, a British start-up behind the ‘world’s first’ cocoa-free ‘bean-to-bar’ chocolate. Under the agreement, Döhler and Nukoko will scale the production of Nukoko’s patent-pending chocolate alternative, made from fava beans. The companies expect the partnership to enable the scale up of Nukoko's fermentation process to an industrial level by 2025. Nukoko’s process transforms fava beans into a sustainable chocolate alternative, addressing critical issues in the chocolate industry, including rising cocoa prices, environmental impact and socio-economic concerns surrounding cocoa production. Nukoko’s cocoa-free chocolate is made possible through its patent-pending fermentation technology, which mimics traditional cocoa fermentation to create chocolate’s characteristic flavours from fava beans. Its chocolate alternative reduces carbon emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional cocoa-based products. In addition to its environmental benefits, Nukoko’s fava bean-based chocolate contains 40% less sugar and higher levels of protein, fibre and antioxidants, than traditional chocolate, offering a healthier choice for consumers without compromising on taste. With Döhler’s expertise in fermentation scale-up and ingredient systems, Nukoko expects to transition from pilot-scale production to full industrial-scale batches by 2025. This process will involve producing in 10,000-litre fermentation batches, significantly increasing output while maintaining high efficiency. Döhler’s knowledge in regulatory processes and food safety will also be instrumental as Nukoko approaches its market launch. Rodrigo Hortega de Velasco, representing Döhler Ventures, said: “Nukoko’s technology presents a groundbreaking solution for the food and beverage industry. We are proud to support the scale-up of its cocoa-free chocolate, which aligns with our mission to drive sustainable food innovations.” Ross Newton, co-founder of Nukoko, added: “We are excited by our collaboration with Döhler, one of the world’s leading fermentation experts. Their support is crucial in helping us achieve industrial-scale production and bring our revolutionary chocolate alternative to market.” #Nukoko #chocolate #Döhler #favabean

Australian food-tech company Cauldron Ferm is being supported by the Queensland government to develop a ‘first-of-its-kind’ precision fermentation contract manufacturing facility in the Australian state. The ‘Cauldron Bio-fab’ will be located in Mackay, Queensland, providing the ‘first and largest’ end-to-end contract manufacturer for precision-fermented products in the Asia-Pacific region. It will deploy Cauldron’s ‘hyper-fermentation’ technology, a continuous fermentation process designed to significantly reduce costs. The site will have the capacity to supply a range of sectors, with projected annual production output of more than 1,000 tonnes of bioproducts. It will produce key inputs for the food and nutrition sector alongside materials, beauty, personal care, chemicals and biofuels. As the company expands production from its current 25,000-litre demo facility in New South Wales, the Mackay Bio-fab is the first planned industrial facility for the start-up. In future, it plans to develop a global network of industrial facilities in multiple regions. Queensland government will support the project through its Industry Partnership Programme. It aligns with the government's strategy to develop industries that will be in demand as the world decarbonises. Michele Stansfield, co-founder and CEO of Cauldron, said: “We are honoured to be receiving support from the Queensland Government to develop our first industrial-scale operations in Mackay”. “This funding enables us to scale our innovative technology as a major milestone in our journey to redefine the scope of biomanufacturing. We look forward to developing the critical infrastructure to produce essential bioproducts more efficiently and sustainably to meet growing demand.” Cauldron recently appointed a new chief technology officer  and closed a Series A funding round of over $6.25 million. #Cauldron #Australia #precisionfermentation

Spanish biotech firm Cocoon Bioscience has inaugurated its new plant at the Bizkaia Technology Park in Derio, Spain. The plant will specialise in the manufacturing of Cocoon’s recombinant proteins and is the ‘world’s first’ industrial-scale plant that produces these proteins using living bioreactors. The high-performance growth factors are designed for use in the alternative protein industry, specifically in cell-based meat. Founded in 2022, Cocoon has scaled its unique technology: an automated platform that utilises insects in their chrysalis stage as high-efficiency, low-cost natural bioreactors. This method is more natural, scalable and accessible compared to traditional fermentation methods using bacteria, which relies on stainless steel bioreactors. The new plant is strategically located in Spain’s Bizkaia biotechnology park, in the Basque biotechnology cluster. Spanning 4000-square-metres and with 2300-square metres designated for production, the facility has the capacity to generate an annual output of 5kg of recombinant protein, with the potential to increase capacity beyond 20kg. Cocoon Bioscience's recombinant proteins are an efficient and economically viable alternative for supplying reagents (growth factors) to various industries including cultivated meat, mRNA therapies and vaccines and gene sequencing. Cocoon’s Crisbio technology is based on inoculating a pupae with a baculovirus, which introduces the desired genetic sequence into the insect’s cells. This baculovirus is harmless to mammals and enables the pupae to naturally produce the desired recombinant protein in just three to six days. To manufacture the recombinant proteins, Cocoon Bioscience uses pupae of Trichoplusia ni – a medium sized moth also known as a cabbage looper. Cocoon’s growth factor portfolio offers a range of animal-free proteins, designed specifically to support the cultivated meat industry by providing essential elements for cell growth and tissue development. While it can develop species-specific growth factors, its current portfolio includes: FGF-2 (Fibroblast growth factor-2, bovine): Critical for cell proliferation and tissue regeneration, this growth factor accelerates muscle cell growth, making it essential for cultivated meat production PDGF (Platelet-derived growth factor, porcine): Known for its role in promoting cell growth and differentiation, PDGF is particularly effective in the development of connective tissues, a key component in achieving the texture and structure of real meat TGF-β1 (Transforming growth factor beta-1, bovine): TGF-β1 (which is still in development) regulates cell growth and differentiation, aiding in the formation of tissue by guiding cell signalling processes, ensuring that cultivated meat tissues develop correctly and consistently The firm has also developed human-derived growth factors – including FGF-2 (human), EGF (human), PDGF (human) and is currently developing TGF-β1 (human) – which are primarily designed for biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and cell therapy, and are used to promote human cell proliferation, differentiation and tissue repair. Cocoon Bioscience's CEO, Josh Robinson, said: “The Crisbio technology allows us to produce these recombinant proteins on a more natural, faster and thus more accessible scale. This represents a tremendous advancement for the biopharmaceutical and food industries." Romy Dalton, COO of Cocoon Bioscience, commented: "After years of research and work, seeing that we have been able to scale this up signifies a major achievement in terms of production, and therefore for society, excites us and motivates us even more to continue growing." #CocoonBioscience #Spain #growthfactors #cocoon

British cultured meat firm Ivy Farm Technologies has announced that its chief executive Richard Dillon will step down after more than three years as the firm’s CEO. Dillon will transition to the role of non-executive director on the company’s board. Harsh Amin, currently serving as Ivy Farm’s chief scientific officer, will assume the role of interim CEO. Former CEO Rich Dillon and new interim chief executive Harsh Amin (L-R) During his tenure, Dillon has been instrumental in driving significant technological advancements, developing a robust IP portfolio, managing critical regulatory submissions and building out the firm’s scientific, engineering and commercial team in Oxford, UK. Under Amin’s leadership, Ivy Farm Technologies will prioritise becoming the lowest-cost producer of quality cultivated meat, boosting its technology efforts and leaning into its scientific industry leadership. Through this approach, Ivy Farm aims to accelerate progress towards being the first UK company to achieve regulated and commercial sales of cultivated meat for human consumption. Alasdair Russell, chairman of Ivy Farm Technologies, said: “We are deeply grateful for Dillon's outstanding leadership and are delighted that he has accepted the non-executive director role on the board, ensuring his continued close involvement. We are equally excited to welcome Amin into his new role as Interim CEO. His deep technology expertise stands him in perfect stead to navigate the company’s next phase of growth and development.” #IvyFarmTechnologies #UK #appointment

Umami Bioworks has entered into a strategic partnership with South Korean biotech firm KCell Biosciences and bioprocess solutions provider WSG. Building on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 5 September 2024, the collaboration aims to establish a scalable, sustainable domestic production pipeline for cultivated seafood in South Korea. The collaboration will leverage KCell Biosciences’ expertise in cell culture media, WSG’s bioprocessing technology and Umami Bioworks’ seafood cultivation technology. Working alongside KCell and WSG, Umami will strengthen its capacity to deliver cultured seafood that aligns with local market demands, regulatory frameworks and consumer expectations for both quality and sustainability. KCell will provide advanced cell culture media, while WSG will supply bioreactor hardware essential for scaling production. WSG’s cost-effective bioprocess systems and KCell’s competitively priced media are expected to ensure an efficient and scalable solution for cultured seafood production. Together, the three companies are committed to ensuring the safety and regulatory approval of cultivated products in South Korea. The parties intend to co-invest in a good manufacturing practices-compliant facility in South Korea to serve as a production hub for cultivated eel and other seafood species. We spoke to Mihir Pershad, founder and CEO of Umami Bioworks, to find out more about the strategic partnership: How do you see the partnership with KCell and WSG advancing Umami’s goal of achieving price parity with traditional seafood in the South Korean market? Establishing a scalable production system that achieves parity on price and availability with traditional seafood requires a full supply chain capable of supporting that scale and cost structure. The strategic partnerships we have established with WSG and KCell Biosciences bring their market leading cost and production capabilities to cultivated seafood production to enable us to deliver cultivated products at price parity and with significant capability to scale. Can you provide more details on the first cultivated seafood products that will be produced in South Korea? What challenges do you foresee in adapting these products to local consumer preferences? Our first commercial product will most likely be eel, as it is at an advanced state of production development and regulatory review. We are also working on premium white fish and a couple of other species that can fill market needs in South Korea. We believe that building trust will be critical to adoption. That is why we are partnering with established, trusted brands to bring cultivated products to market in forms and dishes that are familiar to local consumers. Further, cultivated seafood products also offer a compelling value proposition as high protein, high omega-3 seafood that is free from heavy metals, microplastics and parasites. Working with our brand partners to communicate this value proposition to consumers will also be an important step to consumer adoption. With South Korea advancing regulatory approvals for cultivated meat, how does Umami Bioworks plan to navigate and influence the evolving regulatory landscape for seafood in the region? We will work closely with regulators in South Korea to establish the safety of our process and products and to address any emergent concerns they may have. We are currently following a similar process in multiple countries as one of the first cultivated seafood dossiers the regulators are reviewing, and we have seen positive responses from regulators thus far. The partnership is set to both accelerate the introduction of cultivated seafood products to the South Korean market and serve as a model for future partnerships across Asia – it comes after South Korea’s recent advancements of regulatory approvals for cultivated meat and seafood. Umami noted that South Korea presents a significant opportunity for the commercialisation of sustainable and ethical seafood solutions, as it is one of the largest per capita seafood markets globally. The companies expect the Umami-led consortium to pave the way for cultivated seafood regulatory compliance with Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Pershad added: “A critical part of Umami’s ambition to establish a scalable plug-and-play production solution for cultivated seafood is securing partnerships with key strategic suppliers who are capable of supplying critical hardware and inputs at prices and volumes that match our customers' requirements. With WSG and K-Cell's history of delivering high quality bioprocess equipment and culture media, we will work closely together to optimise our production solution and to bring the first cultivated food production facility to South Korea.” Victor Kang, CEO of KCell Biosciences and WSG Group, commented: “It is momentous that the packaged solutions of Umami’s bioprocess system, KCell’s cell-culture media production and WSG’s stainless infrastructure surpass the level of price parity for food companies licensing in the manufacturing of cell-cultivated seafood products. The bioprocess solutions that Umami Bioworks possesses fit perfectly as the missing puzzle piece for us that achieves a commercially viable business model.” South Korea’s role in the global shift towards sustainable food systems positions it as an ideal market for fostering seafood innovation. Some of the biggest headlines from South Korea's cultivated meat sector over the last year: South Korea to introduce regulation-free zone to boost cultured meat production South Korea is accepting applications for the regulatory approval of cell-based meat Bio Future Food Industry: New cell-ag association formed, CEO appointed New Culture enters strategic partnership with South Korea's CJ CheilJedang South Korean researchers develop gelatine-based scaffold for cell-based meat Scientists grow cow muscle cells inside grains of rice #UmamiBioworks #WSG #KCellBiosciences #SouthKorea #seafood

International think-tank network the Good Food Institute has selected Japan as the location for its newest nonprofit entity. Japan will now join existing GFI affiliates in Singapore, India, Israel, Europe, Brazil and the US, which work collaboratively to accelerate food innovation around the world. The development comes as global meat production is projected to increase by more than 50% by 2050 compared with 2012 levels – such pressures are particularly acute in Asia, which accounts for more than half of all protein consumption growth so far this century. GFI Japan’s interim director, Kimiko Hong-Mitsui, said: “Alternative proteins made from plants, microbes and cultivated animal cells have the ability to satisfy Asia’s skyrocketing meat demand in a more secure and sustainable way. Just as Japan developed and exported the cutting-edge technologies that brought solar power and other renewables to the world, we now have an opportunity to pioneer the next generation of alternative proteins – the food equivalent of clean energy.” Japan’s 101st Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, hailed alt-protein technologies, such as cultivated meat as an important part of ‘realising a sustainable food supply’. Kishida’s government has so far awarded tens of millions of dollars in funding to alt-protein companies – in January this year it invested $27.7 million in plant-based egg producer Umami United and cell-based meat biotech firm IntegriCulture. Among GFI Japan’s top strategic priorities are identifying opportunities for greater government investment in alternative protein R&D and commercialisation, including in the national bioeconomy strategy; supporting local regulators’ efforts to develop a clear path to market for cultivated meat; better connecting Japan’s ‘future food’ companies to their international counterparts; providing timely translations of relevant reports and resources; and facilitating new collaborations between Japanese research institutions and alternative protein scientists around the globe. GFI president and founder Bruce Friedrich added: “Reimagining how meat is made is one of humanity’s greatest untapped opportunities. Japan’s world-class R&D ecosystem will play a critical role in supercharging alternative proteins and pioneering the breakthrough technologies our planet urgently needs.” #GFI #GoodFoodInstitute #Japan

US-based biotech company Triplebar has revealed plans to restructure its business to focus on the development of AI-driven models, to drive advancements in genomic research. The firm’s CEO Maria Cho said that, as part of a strategic company initiative to leverage its capabilities to create proprietary genome-wide data linked to cellular function, Triplebar restructure to increase its focus on developing generative AI genomic language models. Cho told The Cell Base: “The Triplebar platform today evolves animal cells to have specific properties that are required for scaling, including things like growing in suspension or low cost media, having fast doubling times, etc. The eventual goal would be to leverage a model to offer predictions for these kinds of phenotypes to make faster progress and to even identify other desirable traits through emergent properties of the model." Cho explained how Triplebar is evolving cell lines with properties that can scale production efficiently. The company aims to bring cell-ag products to price parity or even below the cost of traditional agricultural methods, making them commercially viable. According to CEO Maria Cho, achieving this would be a crucial breakthrough for the industry, allowing cell-ag to compete directly with conventional food systems on cost and scale. A major part of this strategy involves leveraging a generalised learning model (GLM) to streamline the optimisation of cell lines across various types. By using AI-driven technologies like a GLM, Cho believes that Triplebar can accelerate development and achieve significant advancements faster, unlocking widespread growth potential within the cell-ag space. This approach addresses a key challenge in the sector and could be pivotal in driving the industry forward. “The time for AI as a tool in biology is now, and we are uniquely positioned to make a significant impact in this sector with our partners,” Cho said. “We are reorganising the business to position ourselves for this next phase, which involves leveraging our datasets to train genomic language models.” Through the data sets Triplebar generates daily, in combination with the restructuring, Triplebar expects to meet its objective of developing the new AI genomic model by early 2026. Cho likened Triplebar’s tech to natural language models like GPT4, or protein models like those from Alphafold. “Lesser known are genomic language models, which will be our focus,” she added. Triplebar is already creating proteins identical to those found in nature at lower cost and less environmental damage. #Triplebar #US

Pascual Innoventures has invested more than $2 million across the first three editions of Mylkcubator. Mylkcubator is a programme focused on fostering innovation projects in the food sector. Gabriel Torres Pascual, CEO of Pascual Innoventures, said: “The Mylkcubator food-tech ecosystem has already generated a total value of $305 million and raised $104.5 million in investment, underscoring the success and global significance of the programme, which we have launched in collaboration with food-tech accelerator Eatable Adventures.” He continued: “Our goal is to continue identifying and supporting innovative companies that can offer sustainable solutions to the current challenges in the food sector, while strengthening an ecosystem poised to lead the next generation of food technologies". The third edition of the programme broadens its scope from milk to include egg components, coffee, fat and cocoa, employing alternative approaches that combine various technologies and ingredients. It also focuses on the development of sodium and sweetener substitutes as technological enablers, as well as functional ingredients. The five start-ups selected in the next edition are: 🧫 Cultzyme, a Spanish start-up that focuses on cutting-edge bioprocesses, driving advancements in cell growth and fermentation. Its efficient bioreactors integrate hardware for optimised performance. ☕ California Cultured, a US-based start-up that is developing plant cell cultivation technologies to create a new, more scalable and sustainable supply of chocolate and coffee for the planet. 🥚 Onego Bio, a US-Finnish company that specialises in producing an egg white alternative through precision fermentation. 🍄 Nosh.bio, a German company, specialises in the production of new functional and nutritional proteins derived from the fermentation of natural mushroom biomass. 🍄 Innomy, a Spanish-Argentinian company that develops global solutions for the food industry using sustainable biotechnological processes based on mushroom mycelium, while upcycling by-products from various industries as raw materials. Itziar Ortega, senior VP of global operations at Eatable Adventures, added: "[This edition] reaffirms the significant impact of this program on the global food-tech ecosystem. Through its investments, Pascual Innoventures exemplifies the industry’s strong commitment to open innovation models that successfully address major challenges in the food sector. At Eatable Adventures, we are proud to drive these collaborations, promoting the adoption of new technologies and facilitating a sustainable and efficient transition towards a more innovative food system." #PascualInnoventures #EatableAdventures #Spain

US biotech start-up Helaina has raised $45 million in a Series B funding round led by investment firm Avidity Partners. The round also saw participation from Spark Capital, Ingeborg Investments, Tom Williams of Heron Rock, Barrel Ventures, Siam Capital, Relish Works, CF Private Equity and Primary Venture Partners, among other investors and strategic partners. Helaina uses precision fermentation to create human-like proteins for food, such as proteins found in human breast milk, which it uses to create a new type of infant formula. The biotech firm will use the new funding to scale the availability of its effera human lactoferrin, a novel ingredient that can support women’s health, active nutrition and healthy ageing. The firm says effera is 'the first and only’ human equivalent bioactive protein for nutrition to be used in functional foods, beverages and supplements. Effera supports iron homeostasis and metabolism, a balanced immune response and promotes a beneficial microbiome. Helaina sells its effera ingredient to consumer brands and through strategic distribution partners and has plans to launch it into several consumer products, including from Kroma Wellness, The Feed, Levelle Nutrition, Healthgevity and Mitsubishi International Food Ingredients. Laura Katz, CEO and founder of Helaina, said: “This infusion of new capital marks the next phase of growth for Helaina in which we are accelerating the availability of our first ingredient through new partnerships – the result of years of work to drive innovation and scientific rigor within nutrition. At this pivotal moment in our company’s journey, we’re proud to partner with Avidity Partners, an investment firm with an outstanding reputation for supporting best-in-class biotechnology companies rooted in clinically-backed science.” Jacob Garfield, managing director at Avidity Partners, added: “We are thrilled to support Helaina’s innovative approach to nutrition, which aligns with pressing health and wellness priorities, from immune system support to fostering a balanced gut microbiome. We are confident that Helaina’s technology and business model are well positioned to meet the growing demand for high quality nutritional ingredients that promote vitality across all age groups.” #Helaina #US #lactoferrin #precisionfermentation

Cultured meat firm Believer Meats has signed a strategic partnership agreement with GEA. Under the partnership, the companies will co-develop technologies and processes to improve the unit economics and sustainability of cultivated meat production. Together, they will focus on optimising the performance, efficiency and environmental impact of cultivated meat production, initially starting with chicken and expanding to other meat types. The collaboration is set to drive advancements in bioreactor technology, perfusion systems and media rejuvenation while reducing environmental impact through optimised water usage, power consumption and circular economy initiatives like waste stream utilisation. Believer and GEA aim to lower production costs, streamline technology transfer and scale operations efficiently to make cultivated meat more affordable and accessible. GEA will develop and commission proprietary bioreactors for Believer’s cell-cultivation technology, designed to achieve high cell densities and yields. Believer’s CEO Gustavo Burger said: “Believer is on track to overcome the biggest obstacles to scalability. By partnering with GEA – one of the world's foremost engineering and biotech equipment manufacturers – we are taking the next step in innovating state-of-the-art technology and process engineering capabilities needed to produce cultivated meat products at the right cost.” Burger continued: “The partnership with GEA will help maximise production yields efficiently and sustainably, which are top priorities for Believer. The cultivated meat industry is forging a new path that has never been travelled. We are thrilled to partner with GEA and are very optimistic about the future.” Stefan Klebert, CEO of GEA, added: “With the global population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, there is a clear need to feed more people using fewer resources. We share Believer’s vision that cell cultivation technology is the key to making safe, healthy meat broadly available and affordable. We are excited to partner with Believer in the development and scale-up of its operations – a collaboration aligned with our purpose: ‘Engineering for a better world.’” Under the strategic partnership, the firms expect to establish joint commercial ventures that will leverage the strengths and resources of both companies, expand market reach and accelerate the growth of the cultivated meat industry globally. Believer is currently constructing the ‘world’s largest’ cultivated meat production facility in Wilson, North Carolina, US, featuring a high-tech innovation centre and tasting kitchen. Set to be operational at the beginning of 2025, the facility will have the capacity to produce at least 12,000 metric tons of cultivated chicken annually. Central to this collaboration is Believer’s centrifuge-based perfusion and cell media rejuvenation process for its cell lines, which optimises cell performance while saving water, nutrients and resources. This process reduces production costs by removing byproducts and enabling media reuse. The companies will further collaborate on process improvements, equipment optimisation and scaling innovations to support the large-scale production of cultivated meat. It's been a busy year for Believer. In June, Abu Dhabi’s food and water cluster, AGWA (AgriFood Growth & Water Abundance) and Believer Meats announced a new partnership to develop cultivated meat capabilities in Abu Dhabi. Earlier that month, Believer Meats partnered with the Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein at North Carolina State University (NC State). In February, the cultured meat giant updated its executive leadership team with new appointments. #BelieverMeats #GEA