Didier Toubia aleph farms

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Cultivated Meat

Future of Foods Podcast: Didier Toubia on Aleph Farms’ Strategy for Cultivated Meat

In a recent Future of Foods interview, Alex Crisp, spoke to CEO and founder Didier Toubia on the progress of Aleph Farms. The company, which has been at the forefront of the cultivated meat industry, now has permission in at least one jurisdiction to sell its cultivated beef (Aleph Cuts) is doubling down on efficiency, market alignment, and looking at scalability. “Cultivated meat is a new animal protein category that is actually meeting expectations for a more sustainable, healthier, and delicious new experience,” Aleph Farms explains. “Instead of farming the whole animal, slaughtering them, and then harvesting meat from their carcass, we’re able to directly grow the developed part of the animal—the interesting products out of its whole body.” One of the biggest milestones for …

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cows

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Opinion

Op Ed: Alex Crisp, Host of Future of Foods Interviews – Why I Believe in Cell-Cultivated Meat and Dairy

Alex Crisp is a prolific writer with a background in law, education, and activism. He hosts a podcast called Future of Foods Interviews, in which he discusses the food landscape in the near and distant future with academics, business leaders, and industry influencers. In this opinion piece, Alex reflects on his early experiences growing up on a dairy farm and makes a compelling case for the adoption of cell-cultivated dairy. Alex explores how this revolutionary biotechnology could liberate animals from the food chain, address ethical dilemmas, and create a more compassionate and sustainable future — without asking humans to sacrifice the foods they love. Why I Believe in Cell-Cultivated Meat and Dairy By Alex Crisp host of Future of Foods Interviews I grew up on a dairy …

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Future of Foods Interviews EIT Food

Future of Foods Interviews

Startups, Accelerators & Incubators

Future of Foods Podcast: Marie Brueser of EIT Food on Exciting Technologies and Innovation in the Space

Alex Crisp, writer and host of Future of Foods Interviews speaks to Marie Brueser from EIT Food on this latest podcast episode. EIT Food is charged with accelerating and driving innovation in the EU by using all the means at its disposal – including significant early-stage investment, and is described as a pan-European organization dedicated to driving innovation and entrepreneurship across the food sector to create a more sustainable and healthy food system. Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), EIT Food brings together stakeholders from across the entire food value chain—including agritech startups, industry giants, research institutions, and universities. Brueser highlights exciting areas including generative AI for food data applications, advancements in plant genetics for faster breeding, and precision fermentation, notably …

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Future of Foods Podcast

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Investments & Finance

Future of Foods Podcast: Anthony Chow, Co-Founder of Agronomics on Funding the Cellular Agriculture (r)Evolution

Alex Crisp, host of Future of Foods Interviews, speaks to Anthony Chow, co-founder of Agronomics, about the future of cellular agriculture and the negative press surrounding the cultivated meat and plant-based industries. He also discusses the challenges faced by plant-based products, particularly regarding their pricing, health concerns, and the need for innovation to attract conventional meat consumers. Agronomics is a leading UK listed investment company with a portfolio of more than 20 companies operating in cellular agriculture, precision fermentation and biotechnology. Here is a clip from the podcast: Display “Future of cellular agriculture with Anthony Chow – Agronomics” from YouTube Click here to display content from YouTube. Learn more in YouTube’s privacy policy. Always display content from YouTube Open “Future of cellular agriculture with Anthony Chow …

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Future of Foods Interviews Senara Foods

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Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Future of Foods Podcast: Svenja Dannewitz Prosseda, CEO of Senara, is Producing Cell-Cultivated Milk

Alex Crisp, host of Future of Foods, Interviews Svenja Dannewitz Prosseda, CEO and founder of German company Senara which is developing a better way of feeding the world. Senara says it is the first company in the EU to develop and produce cell-cultivated milk. Founded in 2022 in Freiburg by Dr. Svenja and Dr. Philipp Prosseda, Senara claims to have developed a cost-effective platform for cultivating “real” milk at a pilot scale. Instead of using animal samples, Senara selects the best milk cells and grows them in bioreactors through a continuous, high-throughput process that reduces production costs. The final product is real milk, not a plant-based alternative, which contains essential nutrients like lactose, casein, whey, and micronutrients. It’s also free from bacteria and yeasts and …

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Alex Crisp discusses eggs with Maija from Onego Bio

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Egg Alternatives

Future of Foods Podcast: Maija Itkonen, CEO of Onego Bio Produces Bio-Identical Egg Proteins Without Chickens

Alex Crisp, host of Future of Foods Interviews, talks to Maija Itkonen, CEO and co-founder of Finnish precision fermentation company Onego Bio, about manufacturing real egg white protein, entirely without the use of chickens, which as Maija explains, are the most abused animal in the world. Onego Bio produces Bioalbumen, which the company says is bioidentical ovalbumin, the most important protein in egg white, delivering the nutritional and functional qualities of traditional eggs. The product was a winner in Fast Company’s 2023 World Changing Ideas Awards, with Bioalbumen named the Winner of the Food category and a Finalist in the Agriculture category. This April, the company raised $40 million in one of the largest Series A rounds in the Nordics, with the fresh funds being …

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Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Future of Foods Podcast: Mark Warner, CEO of Liberation Labs

Alex Crisp, Host of Future of Foods Interviews, talks to Mark Warner CEO of Liberation Labs about building massive capacity for producing ‘hero’ proteins without using animals. Going forward much of our milk and eggs could come from precision fermentation facilities such as those being constructed by Liberation Labs. The Indiana-based biomanufacturing firm says that it “works with biotechnology’s visionaries to commercialize the bioproducts of the future – foods, materials, and yet to be discovered breakthroughs that will make all of our lives better.” Liberation Labs received $10 million from Agronomics this April for its previously announced commercial-scale biomanufacturing facility in the Midwest Industrial Park in Richmond, Indiana. The plant is due to be fully completed by the end of this year, explains Warner, who …

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Sandhya Sriram on Future of Foods podcast

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Cultivated Seafood

Future of Foods Podcast: Sandhya Sriram, Co-Founder, Shiok Meats

Alex Crisp of the Future of Foods podcast here interviews Sandhya Sriram, co-founder of Shiok Meats. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Singapore, Shiok Meats specializes in cell-cultivated shrimp, crab, and lobster, aiming to address the environmental and ethical concerns associated with traditional seafood harvesting. In March of this year, it was announced that Shiok has merged with UMAMI Bioworks, also of Singapore, to establish a combined entity that will bring cultivated seafood closer to commercial viability. In the full podcast, they discuss: regulatory approvals for cultivated meat; promotion of meat-free events; political dynamics and meat consumption; challenges for politicians and entrepreneurs; supportive environment in Singapore; business strategy and government support; resistance from traditional farmers; and collaboration between traditional and cultivated meat producers. This is …

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Future of Foods interview Laine Clark

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People

Future of Foods Podcast: Laine Clark, Corporate Engagement Manager at the Good Food Institute

Alex Crisp of the Future of Foods podcast here interviews Laine Clark, Innovation and Corporate Engagement Manager at the Good Food Institute about trends in investments across the different sectors of alt protein including precision fermentation, plant-based, and cultivated meat. Laine sees a positive future for the sector, believing that for the sake of the future, “it has to succeed”. She stresses that alternative proteins are a nascent industry, and when asked if this is a bubble, Laine stresses, “No, this is definitely not a blip or a bubble. And the reason it’s not is that we have to shift the food system. It’s just not sustainable. “And the hype around the burst bubble, I think is just that – it’s hype – it makes …

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Future of Foods podcast with Celeste Trujillo of Better Butchers

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Cultivated Meat

Future of Foods Podcast: Celeste Trujillo, Food Science, Product Development at The Better Butchers

Alex Crisp of the Future of Foods podcast here interviews The Better Butchers, a Canadian company headed by Mitchell Scott previously of The Better Food Company, which intends to create hybrid cultivated meat products. The interview with Celeste Trujillo from The Better Butchers was carried out in September 2023. Since then the following updates have taken place and are reported by the company. We have launched a new line of products to start generating revenue and build our brand: three mycelium-based crumble SKUs, an original unflavoured, a chorizo and an Italian. We launched just two weeks ago and we have sold out and are scaling to grow and meet demand. We have a minimal ingredient list, we season with spices and herbs and don’t add …

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Shiru

© Shiru

Ingredients

Shiru Launches AI-Driven Plant-Based Ingredients for the Future of Clean Label Foods

Shiru, an AI-driven ingredient discovery company, has commenced the commercial production of two new plant-based ingredients, uPro™ and OleoPro™, following successful development and customer feedback. These ingredients, both designed to address key challenges in food formulation, are now available for commercial orders. uPro™ is a structured protein derived from potato protein, offering texturizing and emulsifying properties suitable for a wide range of food applications. OleoPro™, a protein-based fat alternative, delivers a substantial reduction in saturated fat content, while maintaining the functional properties of traditional fats. Dr. Jasmin Hume, founder and CEO of Shiru, explained, “uPro™ and OleoPro™ demonstrate how AI can rapidly identify natural ingredients to solve critical formulation challenges. Our Flourish™ platform’s ability to analyze millions of proteins quickly and precisely means food companies …

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Happy Ocean Foods

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Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Future Ocean Foods Expands Membership, Welcoming 17 New Companies

Future Ocean Foods, the only global association dedicated to alternative seafood, has announced the addition of 17 new members to its growing network. The organization, which was established to promote food security, human health, environmental sustainability, and ocean conservation, now represents 53 companies across 17 countries. The new members include firms working in plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated food sectors. Marissa Bronfman, founder and executive director of Future Ocean Foods commented, “I am incredibly proud of the passionate, collaborative community we have built, and I am thrilled to welcome these 17 new innovative companies to our group. It’s an honor to work alongside so many brilliant, pioneering people working tirelessly to feed the planet and save our oceans.” Urgent need for sustainable protein sources There is …

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Voyage Foods founders

Founders Adam Maxwell and Kelsey Tenney. © Voyage Foods

Investments & Acquisitions

Voyage Foods Secures $52M for Future-Proof Allergen-Free Foods, Bringing Total Raise to $94M

Californian food innovation company Voyage Foods has secured $52 million in a funding round, bringing the total amount it has raised to $94 million. The round was co-led by Level One Fund and Horizons Ventures, with participation from SOSV, Collaborative Fund, and Nimble Partners. Voyage Foods is working to recreate popular products and flavors without the top nine allergens. The company has already developed peanut-free and hazelnut-free spreads, both made using roasted seeds; in the fall of 2023, the spreads launched at Walmart stores US-wide, in an unusual success for a startup. Additionally, Voyage Foods is addressing issues such as climate change and deforestation by creating alternatives to foods with a large environmental impact. These include bean-free coffee made from roasted chickpeas and rice hulls, …

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Marissa Bronfman Future Ocean Foods

Marissa Bronfman © Future Ocean Foods

Interviews

Future Ocean Foods: “We See Innovation and Entrepreneurship as Main Drivers of Meaningful Change for Our Oceans”

Future Ocean Foods (FOF) was launched in November 2023 by Marissa Bronfman, serial entrepreneur and business advisor within the plant-based food space, with the aim of supporting and accelerating the alternative seafood industry worldwide. The organization currently represents a coalition of 36 pioneering companies from 14 countries, encompassing a range of technologies including plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated food and technology, united in a mission to promote food security, human health, environmental sustainability, and ocean conservation. It was a pleasure to catch up again with Marissa, who outlines some of the key areas in which FOF is working to create meaningful change. Change that we urgently need as our population increases to a catastrophic number of human beings while the population of our oceans hits crisis …

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Young man eating hamburger

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Opinion

Op Ed: Declan Rooney, Plant-Based Protein Growth Platform Manager, Ingredion, on the Future & Evolution of Plant-Based Foods

In the past decade, Veganuary has been instrumental in transforming the food industry, encouraging millions to eat vegan foods throughout January and beyond. The movement has significantly influenced consumer habits and the food market, creating a surge in the availability and variety of plant-based foods. In this article, Declan Rooney, Plant-Based Protein Growth Platform Manager, Ingredion, explores the trends that will shape the next decade of the plant-based market, and explains why pulse proteins will be key to meeting evolving consumer demand. The ongoing success of Veganuary highlights the growing importance of plant-based products. The market is diverse: some consumers seek alternatives that mimic traditional meat and dairy, like plant-based burgers that replicate the experience of a traditional beef burger. Other consumers look for natural …

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Azuma Foods has launched a new plant-based fish lineup --- Just Like Fish Series.

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Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Azuma Foods Launches Plant-Based Seafood Range “Future Fish” in Japan

Azuma Foods, a Japanese food manufacturer with over 50 years of experience creating innovative Japanese cuisine, has launched a new plant-based seafood lineup, Future Fish, under its brand Green Surf. The new range comprising tuna, salmon, and squid aims to offer alternatives made without animal ingredients to lessen the strain on marine resources caused by fishing while helping consumers reduce their seafood consumption, says the Japanese food manufacturer. The Azuma Foods R&D team crafted the new plant-based fish alternatives using konjac (a starchy root vegetable) flour, salt, locust bean gum (seeds from the carob tree), and trehalose (a type of sugar) to mimic the authentic taste and texture of real fish. The fishless products come refrigerated and sliced. They can be used in multiple recipes, including sashimi, marinated fish …

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red algae close up

Red algae ©Danita Delimont

Ingredients

Coloring the Future of Plant-Based: v2Foods’ Color-Changing Algae, Exberry’s Realistic Red for Alt Meat, and ADM’s Pistachio Greens

What will future plant-based foods look like? Here we highlight v2food‘s new red algae-derived ingredient that changes color while it cooks; EXBERRY‘s Compound Red which creates realistic color changes in the cooking process of plant-based meat; and ADM’s color and flavor trends for 2024. v2food’s color-changing algal tech Plant-based meat company v2food has unveiled RepliHue, a new color system made from red algae for plant-based meat at Australia’s renowned discovery stage South by Southwest. According to v2food, RepliHue’s red algae is produced sustainably, capturing carbon dioxide and harnessing light as an energy source. RepliHue is a new type of ingredient that is said to be capable of mimicking the color of meat during different cooking timings. It reacts to heat exposure, displaying different pink and brown shades …

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Steakholder cultivated steak on plate

image credit Shlomi Arbiv

Company News

Steakholder Foods Submits Patent for Immortal Bovine Cell Line, Says “It’s a Paradigm Shift” for Future Food

Israeli deep tech Steakholder Foods Ltd., known for its 3D printing technology, yesterday announced it had submitted a provisional patent for immortal bovine cell lines, with the purpose of providing a stable, renewable source for generating different tissues. Steakholder announced back in August 2022 that it was working on the development of cultivated pork products using a new line of porcine stem cells. It states that this current move represents a “significant step in making commercial-scale cultivated meat production a reality”, claiming it paves the way for scale, repeatability, and growth. The patent is said to present immortal cell lines that can generate a broad array of tissues including both muscle and fat, and to enhance the growth capacity of bovine cells resulting in immortalization …

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Future Foods installs fermentations units near farms to transform food waste into high-protein food

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Agriculture / Agribusiness

Future Foods Reveals Protein Fermentation Units to Combat Food Waste

Future Foods, which has been working on a trade secret micro fermentation unit, has officially launched its website and services, revealing an innovative strategy to reduce food waste and develop high-quality protein food and animal feed. Dr. Darren Burke, a science-based entrepreneur and the visionary behind Future Foods, claims he has developed fermentation protocols that transform “cosmetically rejected” vegetables into valuable food products to empower the next generation of sustainable farmers. Calling its solution “from farm to ferment,” Future Foods provides farmers with micro fermentation units, installed in upcycled shipping containers, fully equipped with everything needed to turn discarded vegetables into alternative protein. The company describes it as a simple, convenient, and sustainable solution to address food waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and the economic struggles …

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Nobell Foods Pizza Futures

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Marketing & Media

Nobell Foods Launches Campaign Exploring Impact of Climate Change on the Future of Pizza

Nobell Foods, a US-based producer of cheeses made with animal-free dairy proteins, has launched a new campaign exploring how climate change could affect the production of pizza. Called Pizza Futures, it consists of a report, limited-run magazine, and public service campaign designed to create change by using pizza as a symbol of how current lifestyles could be threatened by issues such as crop failure. The campaign explores 30 data-driven scenarios of how the future of pizza could look, some where the challenges of climate change have been responded to and others where they have not. The scenarios include solutions such as cultivated ingredients and pizza vending machines that recycle food waste, but these are contrasted with a future where pizza is an expensive luxury item …

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