Mycorena's mycelium meat

© Mycorena

Protein

The Role of Science-Driven Alt Protein Startups in Addressing Global Food Security

A recent review article published in Nature Communications explored an ecosystem of alternative protein startups and their science-powered innovations, exploring the potential market penetration of products and their impact on addressing the food security challenge — doubling protein demand by 2050 without relying on animal agriculture. Elena Lurie-Luke and her team at the Department of Biosciences at Durham University, UK, utilized science-driven startups as a data source to assess progress in alternative proteins, emphasizing their agility and innovative capabilities. Translating innovation to the market The researchers categorized the startup ecosystem based on their product development approach to create alternatives to meat and fish proteins into three groups: Replace, Modify, and Make. The study used already-developed products as examples to analyze the potential of products to …

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VEGEPOLYS VALLEY International

© VEGEPOLYS VALLEY International

Agriculture / Agribusiness

Plant Innovation Cluster Vegepolys Valley: 679 Members & €2.2 Billion in Investments Since 2019

France’s Vegepolys Valley is the fourth largest competitive cluster in the country in terms of members, with 679 actors from the plant sector — from genetics to products — innovating for a more competitive, qualitative, environmentally, and health-friendly agriculture. Flavie Delattre, the new president of Vegepolys Valley, told La Tribune in an interview that in 2023 alone, the membership count saw a substantial increase with the addition of 130 new players (reaching 645), indicating a genuine commitment to advancing plant-based innovation, even amid challenging circumstances. The cluster’s operations are implemented across four French historical regions — Pays de la Loire, Auvergne Rhône Alpes, Bretagne, and Centre Val de Loire. The members’ profiles are diverse, encompassing a range of plant-related companies, including VSEs/SMEs, startups, large corporations, …

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Alt protein innovation centre to be built at Wageningen Campus

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Protein

ADM & Marel to Open Alt Protein Innovation Centre in the Netherlands

ADM has announced that it will be partnering with food processing solutions provider Marel to build an alt protein innovation centre. The centre will be based at Foodvalley’s Wageningen Campus in the Netherlands. It will allow food manufacturers, scientists, and culinary professionals to develop and manufacture new alternative protein products, with pilot production capacity available for novel techniques. Trainings and workshops will also be held on site, helping to inspire more alt protein solutions. The innovation centre is expected to open in 2024, with ADM occupying a temporary laboratory in Wageningen Campus’ Plus Ultra II building until then. The future of food “The future of alternative proteins doesn’t stop with plant proteins. We’re exploring mycoprotein, cultivated meat, and precision fermentation as technologies which could play …

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Ian Carroll from Kerry Group

Ian Carroll. © Kerry

Company News

Our Business Year in Review: Kerry Group

In 2018, Kerry Group announced its ambition to become a plant-based leader. True to its word, the taste and nutrition company has since innovated extensively in the plant-based sector, from vegan cheese to meat alternatives. In the past year, Kerry has extended its alt protein capabilities with the strategic acquisition of two biotech companies — German precision fermentation company c-LEctra and Mexican enzyme manufacturer Enmex. The company has also continued to innovate by launching its own range of vegan cheeses under the Pure brand. We spoke to Ian Carroll, Strategy Director at Kerry, to find out more about the company’s progress in 2022 and plans for the new year. What plant-based innovations did you introduce in 2022?  In 2022, we have worked with our customers …

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