Sprout Dynamics’ Post

Food security: one of the most basic essentials for sustainable humanity. Identifying food security by two factors: * food production through strategic innovative solutions to address specific agricultural challenges. * sustainability based approach: leveraging strategic methods that are holistically impactful to the environment, people and economy, in the present and in the future. Thank you Peter Hegedüs and team for leading this visionary drive on both fronts. What other way can we revolutionize agriculture?

This week's 'Impact Startups to Watch' are leveraging #ocean farming for sustainable food & materials. Seaweed cultivation – particularly kelp, a nutrient-rich superfood high in protein, low in fat, and packed with vitamins and minerals – is emerging as a powerful solution for sustainable food production and climate change mitigation. Expanded seaweed farming can directly address global food insecurity. Plus, it offers a plastic-free bio-packaging alternative - seaweed bioplastic is biodegradable within six weeks, potentially reducing the nearly 8 million metric tons of plastic polluting our oceans annually. These startups are using seaweed to tackle global food security, fight climate change, and ditch plastic packaging: POSEIDONA develops sustainable proteins from algal waste and invasive biomass to create the tastiest, mouth-watering food products. FlexSea is redefining single-use plastic packaging with an innovative seaweed-derived material. Algapelago is developing a range of seaweed-based, animal feed supplements and plant fertilizers to address sustainable food systems for our growing population. Seatrients is a startup from Sweden that produces a nutritious power beverage using Sea Moss - a gelatinous type of seaweed found in the Caribbean islands, known for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Origin by Ocean is a Finnish startup that aims to detoxify the chemical industry by offering sustainable, algae-based alternatives to traditional oil-based solutions and lead the way to a future industrial-scale algae refinement plant. #ImpactEntrepreneurship #SustainableFood #OceanFarming

As we already dive deeper into June, let’s take a moment to recap the exciting developments within the FoodLabs portfolio from #May! 🌱 Over the past month, our portfolio companies have been busy with numerous updates and partnerships, all highlighting their dedication to shaping a brighter future for food, agriculture, and climate. Here are some of the standout highlights: ▶ PoLoPo has officially submitted its molecular farming platform for USDA approval. PoLoPo is the first Israeli molecular farming company to submit for such approval, marking a significant milestone towards clearing the company’s plants of any pest or environmental risks, propelling it closer to commercialization. Maya Sapir-Mir Raya Liberman-Aloni ▶ Klim has partnered up with MILES, enabling its subscribers to easily offset their car emissions. Through this exciting partnership with Klim, each 0.85ct per kilometer you contribute directly supports farmers in Germany adopting regenerative agriculture practices. Robert Gerlach Nina Mannheimer ▶ Tupu®‘s fresh, locally grown mushrooms are now available at knuspr.de, a company that shares Tupu®’s passion for fresh, regional produce. In May, the company also launched its brand-new plastic-free packaging, which is 100% biodegradable in 24 weeks. Eldad Arnon Daniel Lock ▶ Terraa has been selected as a semifinalist of the HackSummit’s FoodTech World Cup, powered by Givaudan - Taste & Wellbeing. The winner will be crowned at the HackSummit on 13-14 June in Lausanne. Youssef Benkirane ClimateHack Laura Hodgkiss Arman Anatürk ▶ Bright Biotech Installs its First Lab-Model S for Molecular Farming Protein Production. This marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey towards redefining the landscape of molecular farming. With its innovative fogponic technology in Bright Biotech Manchester laboratory, the team will improve plant biomass yield and quality while cutting down on energy and water use. Mohammad Khalil El Hajj, PhD ▶ Searo Labs showcased its seaweed-based flexible films in examples of polybags, oil sachets, laundry pods and flow-wraps at the Rethinking Materials event in London. By harnessing the power of seaweed, the company is redefining what's possible in the fight against plastic pollution. Francis Field Ayca Dundar ▶ Kynda started construction of its new large-scale production facility, where its plug-and-play bioreactors will ferment 2,500 tons of Kynda meat every year. The facility near Hamburg will feature two 720 m² halls on a 6,200 m² site. 🍄Daniel MacGowan von Holstein 🍄 Franziskus Schnabel ▶ myota’s clinical trial results have been published in the prestigious British Journal of Nutrition, which demonstrate the potential of myota prebiotic blends, acting via the microbiome, in preventing chronic diseases. It showed significant improvement in insulin sensitivity, inflammation reduction, and significant improvements in glycated haemoglobin levels. Thomas Gurry #portfolionews #foodtech #agtech #climate

Check out our recent paper from the #SIPATH project. Nice work led by Tim Williams!

Pioneering the Plant-Based Revolution: Dutch going Danish? --> Bridging Sustainable Futures Last week marked a significant stride in the journey towards a more sustainable future, as we embarked on the Protein Transition Mission to Denmark. We shared visions, where enhancing sustainable and smart farming practices, including the rise of plant-based foods, was the collective goal. --> Denmark's Green Strategy Denmark is on a mission to become a global leader in plant-based and green proteins, with a keen emphasis on organic production. The Danish government's unified strategy, backed by a multi-year development fund, is a testament to their commitment to education, research, export. The Danes are progressively embracing plant-based alternatives, signaling a shift in dietary trends. The synergy between cooperatives, companies, startups, and educational institutions is creating a fertile ground for green jobs and innovation, attracting talent & investment to scale new developments. --> KeyGene's Ambitious Value Chain in Denmark KeyGene is at the forefront of the plant-based protein transition. We've crafted a bean2consumer value chain (KeyGene-Agrifirm-EbroFoods-MEAT-Upfield) in The Netherlands, which is set to yield its first prototype products by 2025. The challenge has always been to breed bean proteins that cater to modern human consumption needs, and we've risen to the occasion by developing food-grade faba bean proteins that require minimal processing and offer superior taste and food qualities. Such value chains are not just growth engines but also beacons of inspiration that can be replicated across Europe. --> Networking: A Wealth of Connections The mission's itinerary was rich of encounters and experiences, meticulously woven together by Amsterdam Trade & Innovate, OostNL, Province of Noord-Holland, Embassy of the Netherlands in Denmark and Food & Bio Cluster. Visiting FoodExpo, Agrofoodpark Arhus, Food & Bio Cluster, Arla Foods, Meelunie GPI, Bio Innovation Institute. Each visit provided invaluable insights into the Danish perspective. The journey was punctuated with food and discussions that allowed us to align our views and ambitions, strengthening the Dutch-Danish partnership. Rinske van den Barg Miranda Ebbekink Bart Grobben Sharon de Miranda  Tom van Duijn Nienke Trooster Maureen de Haan Arjan van Dijk Benjamin Maclean Jaëla Arian Jan Sikkema Jeroen Willemsen Huiberdien Sweeris Lieske van der Waals Floor Severens Rieks Smook Andres Jara Watze van der Zee Ellen Poolman Roland de Bes Arielle de Jong Ir. Ingrid Mans Emma Teuling Maartje Nelissen Kees Pieters Janny van der Heijden Daniëlle Lieuwen Joanne de Mooij Gerrit de Boer Dennis Favier Michael Luesink Rogier Scherpbier Nicky Buizer Bart Klaassen Belqis Askaryar Jans Hoekman Tessa de Boer Harold Zoet Kirsten Peeters Susanne Baden Jørgensen

Considering the growing #cellularagriculture ecosystem in the state, it’s promising to see that the first Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein by the Bezos Earth Fund was announced in North Carolina. In addition to the announced industry partners for its North Carolina center (Believer Meats, Atlantic Fish Co, Jellatech, and Wild Earth), other #cellag companies based in North Carolina include BIOMILQ, a cell-based #dairy startup, and Tiamat Sciences Corp., a #molecularfarming startup. In December 2022, Believer Meats became the first cultivated meat company to announce that it was breaking ground on a commercial-scale facility in Wilson County, North Carolina. At the time, Believer Meats shared that it selected the location due to the highly qualified talent pool in the area. In addition, Wild Earth CEO Ryan Bethencourt previously shared with CellAgri (link in comment) why he believes North Carolina can become a key biotech and future food hub beyond California. As more companies work towards scaling up their production processes, research and commercialization centers can provide access to the resources required to address the key challenges of building the cultivated meat supply chain. #cellag #futureoffood #cultivatedmeat #cellbasedmeat #culturedmeat #scaling #ecoystem

🌍 🚜  Which European regions are leading in agri-food sustainability transitions, and where are the strongest lock-ins to industrial paradigms? Our study maps the landscape of #sustainability #transitions in #AgriFoodSystems 🥑 📊  How does your region fare?  https://lnkd.in/eK8m2rHn 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬: 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤-𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 🔓  We identified key factors that both inhibit and enable change from currently dominant food systems. Inhibitors include factors such as corporate concentration in the value chain, farmer indebtedness, input intensity, and lack of diversity in regional production systems. Together, these can drive deep lock-ins. Enablers of transitions include existing alternative food networks (farmers' markets, CSAs, organic agriculture), sustainability-oriented consumer values, and partnerships and innovations in the supply chain. 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬! 🌐  Perhaps unsurprisingly, these factors differ considerably across Europe. We found that Northern and Western Europe face stronger "lock-ins," potentially making the transition to sustainable agri-food systems more challenging compared to Southern Europe. However, we found a general lack of data in many Southern and Eastern European regions. This emphasises the need for public policies to be tailored to regional contexts, as well as for more extensive data collection on alternative agri-food networks. 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 💡  Our research characterises two distinct network types that may foster agri-food sustainability transitions. One involves market-based innovations that integrate "multifunctionality" into formal value chains (i.e., non-economic qualities of food and agriculture). The other involves community-led innovations that create trade relations outside regular markets. Due to Europe's strong geographic diversity, we argue that different regions are positioned to grow different kinds of networks. 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 🎭  The different network types face distinct sustainability challenges. We found that lock-ins are strongest in livestock-dominated regions, and these regions also have higher GHG emissions and excess nitrogen levels. Alternative food networks are currently strongest in wealthy regions with younger farmers, and these regions also can face sustainability challenges. Again, this calls for context-sensitive policy that is tailored to address local challenges. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 📣  Farmers are not the only actors impacting agricultural sustainability! Our study highlights the need to target actors and leverage points in the broader agri-food networks. Systemic food system policy is thus needed to increase collaboration between actors and enable sharing of values and knowledge on alternative production, trade, and consumption practices.

At the start of June, the Bezos Earth Fund announced the launch of its first Center for Sustainable Protein at the North Carolina State University (NC State) in the US. Called the Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein, the Bezos Earth Fund awarded NC State $30 million over five years to lead a center of excellence to create a research and biomanufacturing hub for alternative proteins, including the precision fermentation and cultivated meat industries. According to the announcement, the center will engage with partners from academia and industry to research, create, and commercialize new technologies. The Bezos Earth Fund also shared that it will support open-access research at its centers to develop a strong foundation for the broader field. The Bezos Earth Fund also announced that Believer Meats, Atlantic Fish Co, Jellatech, and Wild Earth will be industry partners for its North Carolina center. While several states in the US and European countries seek to ban cultured meat, the new Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein continues the emergence of research and commercialization centers focusing on the future of food. As more companies work towards scaling their production processes, particularly for cultivated meat, these research and commercialization hubs can provide access to the resources required to address the critical challenges of building the cultivated meat supply chain. Moving forward, the Bezos Earth Fund shared plans to establish further centers of excellence for sustainable proteins in Europe and Southeast Asia. https://buff.ly/3VLnlIK #cellag #futureoffood #research #ecosystem #cultivatedmeat #precisionfermentation #altprotein #cellbased

Imagine "endless miles of rainforests" worldwide being flattened and burned to create palm oil plantations. Regions along the equator that are vital to biodiversity are especially susceptible, driving some animal species near extinction like the Sumatran orangutan. But that could be about to change.   Startup companies are revolutionizing palm oil production. Using fermentation technology, palm oil alternatives are produced from yeast, offering eco-friendly solutions. While not yet approved for food, these innovations promise sustainable practices for many palm oil products.   This technology has the potential to revolutionize multiple industries, offering alternatives for cheese, fish oils, and more. Check out the article here. Courtesy of the New York Times #deforestation #palmoil #sustainability #biodiversity #rainforest #climatechange #nxtgen #oneplanetmedia https://lnkd.in/gB-VPcPm

🌍Yesterday, Digiotouch represented ZeroW at EU Enough Project’s industry workshop, "𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴." Fernanda D'Acosta presented ZeroW’s contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by optimizing the food supply chain data collection while considering three core principles: Prevention, Reduction, and Valuation of food loss and waste. Alongside two other sister projects, we explored innovative solutions to tackle this global challenge and highlighted the work done through this great event. 💡We’re proud to be part of the agents of change and share our insights from this project on this critical topic to improve the planet's quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ♻️It is important to create solutions, evaluate the impact from all viewpoints, raise awareness about the FLW problem, engage all stakeholders, and continuously assess and adapt our approaches. https://lnkd.in/eyKfAB6i KU Leuven Agro2Circular Flanders' FOOD Inlecom Commercial Pathways Wageningen University & Research TNO South East Technological University BioSense Institute ILVO (Instituut voor Landbouw, Visserij- en Voedingsonderzoek) SAFE - Safe Food Advocacy Europe Food & Bio Cluster Denmark vltn ITA · Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón   Konnecta Systems ITENE Transilvania IT Cluster AgroTransilvania Cluster CTA (Technological Corporation of Andalusia) AgriFood Lithuania SINTEF Tilburg University Novamont @MarineTraffic Research Labs Multiscan Technologies ART21 Lithuanian food exporters association (LitMEA) F6S Allmicroalgae Universidade do Minho ICLEI Univerza v Mariboru Aldelís Termoformas SVZ #Digiotouch #ZeroW #ENOUGH #Sustainability #GreenhouseGasReduction #FoodSupplyChains #ClimateSolutions