Food Tech

  • Benson Hill
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Benson Hill

    ADM, Benson Hill partner to scale high-protein soy

    By marrying the agribusiness giant’s scale with the food tech firm’s gene editing capabilities, the companies believe soybeans can reach their full potential as a plant-based ingredient.

    By • Aug. 11, 2022
  • Tastewise founders Eyan Gaon and Alon Chen, wearing shirts with their company name, sit on a round bench in an office.
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    Courtesy of Tastewise

    How Tastewise uses artificial intelligence to bridge the gap between consumers and food trends

    The Israeli company’s recent $17 million funding round is helping it expand the social, recipe and restaurant data it looks through to determine what consumers truly want.

    By • Aug. 8, 2022
  • Tablet computer displaying Afresh interface
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    Courtesy of Afresh Technologies

    Food waste tech firm Afresh raises $115M

    The Series B funding round will scale the technology, which helps retailers avoid ordering excess food, to “thousands” more stores.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • Aug. 8, 2022
  • White trucks in parking
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    the.epic.man via Getty Images
    Sponsored by Tive

    Solving the unique challenges of shipping perishable foods

    A strategy to prevent loss and ensure compliance in perishable shipping is more critical than ever.

    Aug. 8, 2022
  • A large package of Beyond Meat burgers sits in a shopping cart.
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    Courtesy of Beyond Meat

    Beyond Meat cuts outlook and employees as sales and earnings disappoint

    As higher prices and inflation lead consumers to trade down at the grocery store, CEO Ethan Brown said the company is focusing on reducing its operational expenses.

    By • Aug. 5, 2022
  • A group of people pose with a giant pair of red-handled scissors cutting a blue ribbon in front of Firmenich's new building
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    Courtesy of Firmenich

    Firmenich and IFF open high-tech facilities to speed product development

    The Switzerland-based company’s new plant in California strengthens its U.S. presence, while IFF’s culinary design center in Denmark is part of its Re-Imagine Protein Innovation Program.

    By • Aug. 4, 2022
  • A headshot of Motif FoodWorks CEO Michael Leonard
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    Courtesy of Motif FoodWorks

    Motif FoodWorks names new CEO

    Michael Leonard, the company’s longtime chief technology officer, takes the helm immediately while former leader Jonathan McIntyre transitions to an advisory role.

    By • Aug. 4, 2022
  • A pair of hands works with fermentation equipment in Paleo's lab.
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    Courtesy of Paleo

    How Paleo is using biochemistry to bring plant-based mammoth meat to consumers

    The European startup uses precision fermentation to create heme commonly found in beef, chicken, pork, lamb and tuna — in addition to the long-extinct mammal — to make analogs taste more like the animal proteins they replace.

    By • July 28, 2022
  • A blue Air Up water bottle sits on a brown seat next to a window.
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    Courtesy of Air Up

    Flavor by a nose: How Air Up uses scent to make water taste better

    The European company, which just launched in the U.S., uses its specially designed water bottle and pods containing natural fragrances as a way to get consumers to hydrate.

    By • July 28, 2022
  • A box of Fruit Punch Capri Sun on a blue background with a juice pouch in the foreground.
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    Courtesy of Kraft Heinz

    Capri Sun cuts sugar 40% by reformulating with monk fruit

    The largest renovation in the juice pouch brand’s history will put Kraft Heinz more than halfway toward its goal of significant portfolio-wide sugar reduction.

    By • Updated July 27, 2022
  • A person slices a Meati Crispy Cutlet on a white cutting board that sits on a coral-colored counter.
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    Courtesy of Meati Foods

    Meati nets $150M investment for expansion as products hit store shelves

    The funding will help the mycelium-based meat analog company complete its “Mega Ranch” facility, which will supply all Sprouts Farmers Market stores later this year. Chipotle’s venture fund was among the investors.

    By • July 21, 2022
  • candy
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    Christopher Doering/Food Dive
    Deep Dive

    Small candy makers forced to rethink their business strategies

    Sweets manufacturers, many of them family owned, are doing away with long-time traditions in order to survive amid labor shortages, high costs and unreliable deliveries of some ingredients.

    By • July 18, 2022
  • A palette of Phytolon's natural colors made through precision fermentation.
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    Permission granted by Phytolon

    Phytolon raises $14.5M, led by Royal DSM's venture arm

    The fermented natural colors maker plans to expand its products globally, with the help of leaders in the biotech space.

    By • July 14, 2022
  • A scientist stands to the right of Brevel's microalgae ingredient culturing equipment, made up of metal tanks and glass chambers with yellow substances..
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    Permission granted by Brevel

    Why Brevel says its microalgae will become the most popular alternative protein ingredient

    The inexpensive powder with a mild taste and high level of nutrition will eventually topple today’s standards of soy and pea in plant-based foods, the Israeli company’s CEO says.

    By • July 14, 2022
  • Hands hold a hybrid plant-based and cultivated meat burger cut in half.
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    Courtesy of SCiFi Foods

    SCiFi Foods reduces the cost of cell-based beef 1,000-fold

    The company, which plans to make hybrid plant-based and cultivated meat burgers, used bioengineering technology to make cells that can grow in higher densities.

    By • July 13, 2022
  • Hands hold white protein powder made by Superbrewed Food.
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    Permission granted by Superbrewed Food

    Bel Group teams with Superbrewed Food to make postbiotic cheeses

    The French company is the first CPG to partner with the fermented protein ingredient maker. New products from the collaboration could be introduced next year.

    By • Updated July 12, 2022
  • A collection of different snacking "berries" made by Foodberry.
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    Courtesy of Foodberry

    Foodberry brings its tech to a sweet spot: fresh and packaging-free snacking

    After 10 years, two rebrands and a short-lived consumer line, the company is ready to bring its reverse-engineered fruit skins to new applications.

    By • July 11, 2022
  • None
    Image attribution tooltip
    acprints via Getty Images

    Tropic Biosciences raises $35M to develop climate-resilient tropical crops

    Sustainable food venture group Blue Horizon led the funding round, which the biotech firm will use to apply gene editing to crops beyond bananas, coffee and rice.

    By • July 7, 2022
  • President of Benson Hill Seeds, Jeff Johnson, and one of our farmer partners on a soybean farm
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    Permission granted by Benson Hill Inc
    Sponsored by Benson Hill

    Transforming our food system through nature and technology

    Unlocking genetic diversity to get nutritious, sustainable, plant-protein ingredients to market faster

    July 5, 2022
  • Sweet Victory's gum
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    Courtesy of Sweet Victory

    Givaudan partners on gum targeting kids' sugar cravings

    The ingredients company helped Israeli food-tech startup Sweet Victory mask the bitterness of an herb that blocks sugar receptors on the tongue for its new treat.

    By • June 30, 2022
  • A box ordered from Beyond Meat's direct to consumer site
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    Courtesy of Beyond Meat

    Beyond Meat to launch plant-based steak, CEO says

    Speaking at The Wall Street Journal’s Global Food Forum this week, Ethan Brown said the product would replicate a whole cut of meat.

    By • June 30, 2022
  • Perfect Day animal-free dairy powder and milk
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    Courtesy of Perfect Day

    Why precision fermentation is in the Non-GMO Project's crosshairs

    The group dedicated June to educating consumers about the dangers of what it called “synbio dairy” — using genetically modified cells to create proteins identical to those in cow-produced milk.

    By • June 29, 2022
  • A person holds a pint of Eclipse Cookie Butter ice cream
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    Courtesy of Eclipse Foods

    Eclipse Foods scoops up more than $40M to invest in plant-based dairy

    The ice cream maker’s signature ingredient blend can enable an entire non-milk platform, and additional products will launch next year.

    By • June 28, 2022
  • None
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Atomo Coffee

    Atomo raises $40M for molecular coffee and launches RTD products

    The beans-free startup will begin shipping cold brew and latte products that aim to deliver a similar taste as traditional options, but with improved sustainability.

    By • June 28, 2022
  • Wine grapes on a vine in a winery
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    Courtesy of Crush Dynamics

    How CrushDynamics upcycles wine waste into a nutritious ingredient

    The Canadian company uses fermentation to make polyphenol-rich blends that can enhance flavor, reduce salt, block bitterness and extend shelf life, and plans to take its tech to winemaking regions worldwide.

    By • June 23, 2022