Australia

Eclipse Ingredients

Siobhan Coster. © Eclipse Ingredients
Fermentation

Eclipse Ingredients Emerges From Stealth, Raising $7M AUD for Human Lactoferrin Made With Precision Fermentation

Australian biotech startup Eclipse Ingredients (not to be confused with US-based alt-dairy brand Eclipse Foods) has emerged from stealth after raising $7 million AUD in funding. Eclipse Ingredients aims to provide widespread access to previously inaccessible health ingredients, starting with human lactoferrin — a protein found throughout the body, including in breast milk and immune cells. The startup will achieve this with precision fermentation technology, using engineered yeast to sustainably produce the ingredient at an industrial scale. Traditional lactoferrin extraction reportedly requires 10,000 litres of cow’s milk to produce just one kilogram, and bovine lactoferrin is structurally different from what human bodies produce. Research indicates that lactoferrin can fight inflammation and infection, support immune health and the microbiome, and boost iron absorption, but currently the …

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Love BUDS

© Love BUDS
Company News

Aussie Plant Based Co. Rebounds with Major Retail and Foodservice Partnerships

After entering liquidation in October 2024, Aussie Plant Based Co. has re-established its presence in the Australian market, securing new national listings. The company announced that its Love Buds brand will be available in Coles supermarkets, while Betty’s Burgers has also added the brand to its menu across the country. The company’s recovery has been led by Raghu Reddy, who took over after the business faced financial difficulties. Reddy has managed to restructure the company without external funding, focusing on regaining key partnerships and rebuilding its product offering. Reflecting on the turnaround, Reddy said, “What we’ve achieved in the past nine months has been one of the most challenging and rewarding journeys of my career. We’ve worked hard to rebuild trust with our partners, and …

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Umami House makes donations to end factory farming

© Umami House
Charity & Campaigns

How Non-Vegan Restaurants Could Help to End Factory Farming

Umami House, a new “stealth-impact” restaurant in Sydney, Australia, has announced a partnership with FarmKind, a nonprofit working to end factory farming. Through the collaboration, Umami House will make a donation to high-impact farming reform charities each time a beef or bacon order is sold. FarmKind’s Compassion Calculator has been used to determine the donations needed to account for the welfare impact of each order, and the costs are paid entirely by the restaurant without being passed on to the consumer. Each donation is directed by FarmKind to expert-recommended causes. The model is said to provide a solution for restaurants that want to help move the food system in a more ethical direction, without compromising on providing consumers with their favorite products. “Umami House is …

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Vow receives regulatory approval for cultivated quail

© Vow
Approvals

Cultivated Meat to Launch in Australia as Vow Receives Regulatory Approval

Cultivated meat is set to hit the Australian market for the first time after Sydney-based startup Vow received regulatory approval for its cultivated Japanese quail. Within weeks, the quail will be available at dozens of Australian venues, including NEL in Sydney and Bottarga in Melbourne. Additionally, chef and restaurateur Mike McEnearney will work with the brand to showcase the cultivated quail at his Sydney restaurant Kitchen by Mike, along with the soon-to-open 1Hotel in Melbourne where he serves as executive chef. McEnearney is one of the first official Australian ambassadors for Vow’s brand, Forged. “The first time I visited [Vow’s] purpose-built facility here in Sydney, I was taken aback — not just by the technology, but by the care and obsession with flavour that runs …

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Magic Valley tasting at NSW Parliament

© Magic Valley
Fairs & Events

Australia’s Magic Valley Hosts Cultivated Meat Tasting at NSW Parliament

Australian cultivated meat producer Magic Valley has conducted an exclusive tasting of its lamb meatballs and pork dumplings at the Parliament of New South Wales. Members of Parliament were invited to the Rooftop Garden to sample the cultivated products, with Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Minister for Innovation Anoulack Chanthivong among the guests. “It was delicious,” said Alex Greenwich MP, Independent Member for Sydney. “This type of meat is guilt-free: no animal cruelty, no deforestation, and saves water and CO2 emissions.” “I have no doubt that cultivated meat will change the world,” added event host Emma Hurst MLC, an Animal Justice Party representative. “There is a real economic opportunity for NSW and indeed Australia to become a leader in the production, sale, and export of cellular …

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Mililk_lifestyle shot

© Veganz
Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

Veganz Partners With Jindilli Beverages, Bringing Printed Plant-Based Milk to North America, Australia and New Zealand

German plant-based food producer Veganz has partnered with US-based Jindilli Beverages to bring products made with its Mililk® technology to the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Mililk consists of 2D-printed sheets that can be blended with water to form plant-based milk. The new collaboration includes the production of oat and almond Mililk at Veganz’s facility in Ludwigsfelde, Germany. It also includes the export and distribution of 1-liter Mililk packs in Tetra Pak format for retail, along with 5-liter Mililk packs and the new Creamer Drops (a plant-based coffee creamer) for food service. The products will be launched via Jindilli’s established plant-based milk brand Milkadamia, which has a strong presence in the food service sector and at over 13,000 retail stores in the US. Milkadamia …

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Wide Open Agriculture lupin

© Wide Open Agriculture
Company News

Australia’s Wide Open Agriculture Appoints Univar as Exclusive Distributor of Its Lupin Products in Mainland China

Australian regenerative food and agriculture company Wide Open Agriculture (WOA) has signed an offtake and distribution agreement with the chemical and ingredient distributor Univar Solutions China. Through the agreement, Univar will become the exclusive distributor for WOA’s lupin protein products in mainland China for an initial six-month term. The period of exclusivity may be extended, subject to performance. Univar commits to purchasing at least 50 tonnes of lupin protein isolate over the 12 months following the initial six-month market preparation period. This takes the total length of the agreement to at least 18 months, and the term can be extended by mutual agreement. Pricing is still to be agreed. “We are excited to cooperate with WOA on its unique plant proteins,” said Will Wang of …

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Nourish Ingredients has unveiled Tastilux, a new animal-free fat

Image courtesy of Nourish Ingredients
Ingredients

Nourish Ingredients Increases Production Capacity by 1700% for Plant-Based Fat

Australian FoodTech company Nourish Ingredients has completed a successful commercial production run of its plant-based fat, Tastilux, in collaboration with its partner, Cabio Biotech of China. The production run marks a significant milestone, as the companies claim to be the first in the industry to achieve commercial-scale validation of a plant-based fat with a low cost of production. Nourish Ingredients’ chief technical officer, Anna El Tahchy, described the achievement as a “breakthrough” for the company, as reported by Food & Drink Business. The company has now increased its production capacity by 1700%, meeting the demand for 170,000 tons of end product. This leap in scale has been made possible by the low inclusion rates required for Tastilux, a key factor in its cost-efficiency. Flavor stability …

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Vow cultivated quail foie gras

© Vow
Approvals

Vow’s Cultivated Quail Receives Approval From Food Standards Australia New Zealand

Australian cultivated meat company Vow is one step closer to launching cultivated quail in its home country after the product received approval from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). FSANZ completed a first round of statutory public consultation regarding the cultivated quail in February 2024, receiving 40 submissions and one late comment. After considering the feedback and reviewing the evidence, FSANZ undertook a second round of statutory public consultation between November 12 2024 and January 12 2025. The organization sought submissions on two new draft standards, one new draft schedule, and draft consequential variations to other provisions of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. 22 submissions were received. FSANZ approved the draft standards, schedule, and other variations with some amendments on March 26, before …

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Australian Plant Proteins facility

Image supplied.
Investments & Acquisitions

Australian Plant Proteins Acquired by My Co. After Entering Voluntary Administration in 2024

Australian Plant Proteins (APP), a producer of high-quality protein isolates, has been acquired by My Co., the investment vehicle of the Paule Family Office. APP is known for its patented fractionation technology, which enables the production of protein isolates from faba beans, yellow peas, lentils, mung beans, and other pulses through a unique extraction process. The clean, non-solvent method produces a highly functional protein isolate containing over 85% protein. APP entered voluntary administration in July of last year after experiencing financial difficulties. My Co. says the acquisition is a strategic move that will support local farmers, protect jobs, and reinforce Australia’s status in the global plant-based food market. “This acquisition opens doors to numerous possibilities for APP,” said Vicky Pappas, CEO of My Co. “With …

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COYO

© COYO
Products & Launches

COYO Introduces “Australia’s First” Oat and Coconut Dairy-Free Yoghurt

Sunshine Coast-based company COYO has launched a new dairy-free yoghurt in Australia, combining oat and coconut milk for the first time in the local market. The new product will be available nationwide at Woolworths and Independant stores from March 2025. COYO’s Dairy-Free Oat & Coconut Yoghurt is made with 74% oat milk and 17% coconut cream, crafted to deliver a balance of creamy texture and nutritional value. The product is designed to appeal to health-conscious consumers, featuring live cultures that support gut health. It is also free from artificial additives, flavours, or preservatives, and is produced using sustainably sourced coconut and Australian-grown oats. COYO has been a pioneer in the dairy-free space, having previously introduced the “world’s first” dairy-free coconut yoghurt. According to Sandra Gosling, …

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Magic Valley

© Magic Valley
Investments & Finance

Australian Government Backs Magic Valley with $100K to Advance Cultivated Meat

Australian cultivated meat company Magic Valley has received a $100,000 grant from the federal government’s Industry Growth Program (IGP). The funding, part of a broader $400 million initiative, is intended to help startups expand into fully operational enterprises. Magic Valley is known for its animal component-free cultivated meat, produced using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This technology enables continuous cell growth without the use of fetal bovine serum, something that has been a key challenge in cultivated meat production. The company gained attention in 2022 when it became the first to produce cultivated lamb using iPSCs. In the following years, it introduced cultivated pork mince and hosted a tasting event featuring cultivated pork bao buns in Brunswick, Melbourne. The funding will support scaling production, optimizing …

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Cultivated meat in Australiav George Peppou, CEO, Matt Kean, NSW Treasurer, Tim Noakesmith, Cofounder

George Peppou (left) Matt Kean, and Tim Noakesmith (right) © Vow
Company News

Vow Reduces Workforce by One-Third as It Seeks Fresh Investment Amid Regulatory and Market Challenges

Sydney-based cultivated meat startup Vow has announced the layoff of 25 employees, accounting for nearly a third of its workforce, as the company seeks to secure new funding to extend its operational runway into 2027. Startup Daily reports that the redundancies, described as a “painful but necessary decision” by CEO George Peppou, reflect the broader challenges faced by startups operating in the cultivated meat sector, which requires navigating complex regulatory landscapes and securing investor confidence in a tightening funding environment. Despite its growing international footprint, Vow has yet to receive regulatory approval to serve its products in its home market of Australia. The company submitted its application to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) in 2023, with FSANZ launching a second round of public consultation …

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cultivated quail

© Vow
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Public Consultation Seeks Feedback on Potential Approval of Cultivated Quail in Australia

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has opened a second round of public consultation regarding the regulatory approval of cultivated quail as a food. The application has been submitted by Australian cultivated meat company Vow, which hopes to use cultivated quail cells in conjunction with other ingredients to make products such as logs, rolls, and patties. FSANZ previously concluded last year that cultivated quail is safe to eat, following a comprehensive scientific assessment. The first round of public consultation began in December 2023, with FSANZ proposing several labelling requirements for cultivated products to avoid consumer confusion. After considering the evidence and submissions, the originally suggested approach has been modified; rather than approving cultured quail cells as a novel food, a standards-based approach will be used, …

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Researchers develop super-yogurt made from lupins and oats

© Monash University
Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

Researchers Develop “Super-Yogurt” Made From Australian Sweet Lupins & Oats

Researchers at Australia’s Monash University have developed a new “super-yogurt” that is said to rival the taste and texture of dairy yogurt while providing more nutrition than typical plant-based yogurts. Made from Australian sweet lupins and oats, the formula has been analyzed in a study published in the journal Food Hydrocolloids. Researchers fermented the yogurt with various combinations of probiotic strains, then refrigerated it for seven days to determine how different probiotic mixtures influenced yogurt quality. The best performer was a combination of Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium probiotics. In conjunction with the high protein and fiber content of lupins, these probiotics created a thick and creamy consistency and an impressive texture. The yogurt is said to be the first one ever made from raw lupins …

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a baby bottle filled with milk

© All G
Fermentation

All G Secures China’s First Approval for Animal-Free Lactoferrin

Australia’s All G (previously All G Foods), which is now focused on precision fermentation-derived milk proteins, announces it has received regulatory approval to sell animal-free lactoferrin in China. All G claims to be the country’s first company globally to reach this significant milestone for a recombinant bovine lactoferrin protein. All G, founded in 2020 by CEO Jan Pacas in Sydney, develops high-value, animal-free, and human proteins for functional foods, medical nutrition, and infant nutrition. The company has raised AUD 45 million and plans to launch its first lactoferrin product in 2025. “This approval is a great moment for All G as we lead the way in precision fermentation technology,” said Pacas. “Lactoferrin is one of the most valuable and functional proteins in the world.” A …

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Nourish Ingredients has unveiled Tastilux, a new animal-free fat

Image courtesy of Nourish Ingredients
Fermentation

Precision Fermentation Industry Could Generate $30Bn Annually for Australia, Says New White Paper

Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) has released a new report exploring the challenges, economic impact, and sustainability of the country’s precision fermentation industry. More than 70 authors from industry, government, and academia contributed to the white paper, highlighting precision fermentation as a crucial technology to transform the food system with tailored and sustainable proteins, fats, and other compounds beyond alternative proteins. The comprehensive paper outlines key recommendations to boost the sector, including forming a national food plan and appointing a food minister. It highlights regulatory frameworks as essential to promote innovation while ensuring safety and maintaining public trust. Other recommendations include establishing common international standards, boosting investment in large-scale manufacturing, and standardizing methods to assess environmental impact. “Our primary recommendation is to develop a …

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Investment Climate Podcast Bygen

Investment Climate Podcast

Investments & Finance

Investment Climate Podcast: Lewis Dunnigan of Bygen, How to Get Funded in 2024

In this podcast series, Alex Shandrovsky interviews investors about benchmarks for funding alt proteins in 2024 and uncovers the investment playbooks of successful climate tech CEOs and leading VCs. Podcast Host Alex Shandrovksy is a strategic advisor to numerous global food tech accelerators and companies, including alternative proteins and cellular agriculture leaders. His focus is on investor relations and post-raise scale for agrifood tech companies. Series 2, Episode 4:  Lewis Dunnigan of Bygen In this episode, Alex talks to Lewis Dunnigan, Co-Founder & CEO of Bygen, which has developed a unique new technology called ‘low-temperature activation’ (LTA) that enables the production of sustainable and high-quality activated carbon. The discussion highlights the strategic considerations for startups navigating licensing agreements and the importance of aligning interests between …

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© vEEF
Investments & Acquisitions

Smart Foods Acquires The Aussie Plant-Based Co From Liquidation

Last week, it was announced that The Aussie Plant-Based Co had entered liquidation due to cash flow difficulties. Today it is revealed that the company has now been acquired by Gold Coast-based food manufacturer Smart Foods. Food & Drink Business reported that Smart Foods has agreed to purchase the company’s plant and equipment, stock, intellectual property, and the vEEF and Love Buds brands. Some assets will be sold, allowing for the retention of around half the company’s workforce. Fënn Foods, previously the parent company of vEEF, will cease to operate as an entity after the acquisition. Following the agreement, operations have already restarted at The Aussie Plant-Based Co’s facility on the Sunshine Coast. Smart Foods reportedly hopes to expand distribution across Australia, securing listings at …

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The Aussie Plant-Based Co. has been recently liquidated due to cash flow issues.

© The Aussie Plant-Based Co.

Company News

The Aussie Plant-Based Co. Liquidates Amid Financial Struggles

Exactly a year ago, two Australian brand leaders in the plant-based meat category — Fënn Foods‘ vEEF and All G Foods‘ LOVE BUDS — announced they were merging to form a new company called The Aussie Plant-Based Co. The strategic move aimed at achieving a massive expansion to cater to the growing demand for alternatives. However, in an unfortunate turn of events, the Aussie Plant-Based Co. has been recently liquidated due to cash flow issues, as reported by local media. Following a general meeting of the company’s members, it was decided to appoint liquidators and have open discussions with parties interested in restarting the business. Anticipated synergies At the time of formation, there were anticipated synergies between the two brands, with vEEF present in multiple locations …

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