Alternative Proteins

‘It’s time to legislate’: EU seafood sector crabby about plant-based ‘fishy’ labelling

04-Dec-2023 By Flora Southey

Is the labelling of Nestlé’s plant-based ‘Vuna’ product too similar to conventional tuna? This was up for debate recently in Brussels, where stakeholders met to discuss ‘fishy’ labelling for plant-based alternatives.

Futureproofing the Food System

How AI and digital transformation are influencing the food and beverage industry

23-Oct-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Manufacturers and retailers are improving their technology stack through digital transformation strategies and AI to improve operations and address historical food and beverage challenges from ingredient shortages and reformulations to predicting current...

VWS Pathfinder 2023 pitch competition announces top 10 finalists

10-Oct-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The virtual pitch competition on Nov. 1, 2023 is an opportunity for women founders in the plant-based and animal-free industries to gain more visibility and funding.

Bridging the gap between conventional meat and alternative proteins

27-Sep-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Alternative proteins offer myriad potential solutions to curb the effects of climate change and public health risks, while creating space for partnerships with corporate meat producers, panelists said during the Good Food Conference last week in a session...

ENOUGH prepares to double mycoprotein production: ‘We’re the largest new protein facility built this decade’

21-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

Mycoprotein supplier ENOUGH has raised €40m to scale up production in the Netherlands. And if global demand increases, the company will look to replicate its model further afield, CEO Jim Laird tells FoodNavigator.

Food and beverage businesses should focus on the consumer, invest in tech, says Numerator

15-Aug-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The intrinsic connection between consumer preferences and market dynamics will be shaped by a once limited and now more stable supply chain, improved inflationary pressures and a departure from COVID-19 concerns, giving brands more clarity on how to develop...

Joyful Venture launches fund focused on sustainable food technology startups

11-Jul-2023 By Deniz Ataman

"We're not just passively investing in promising sustainable food technology startups," said co-founder and general partner Jennifer Stojkovic in a press release. "Our team is fully committed to leveraging our expertise, powerful network,...

The four factors driving the alternative protein ecosystem

27-Jun-2023 By Gill Hyslop

While food security, health and sustainability continue to shape the food landscape, consumers are still demanding a sensory experience, which means there is a growing need for expanded protein choices that can be incorporated into bakery and snacks....

MyForestFoods secures funding to expand mycelium portfolio across East Coast

08-Jun-2023 By Deniz Ataman

MyForestFoods recently raised $15 million in Series A-2 funding to support the growth of its portfolio across the East Coast, including its mycelium bacon aptly called MyBacon, which was featured at the Vegan Women Summit in New York City May 19. The...

Mycoprotein and fungal proteins – The sustainability potential

06-Jun-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Mycoprotein and fungal proteins take up less land than animal farming, and can be used to aid in regenerative agriculture, explains mycoprotein major Quorn - perhaps the best-known manufacturer of mycoprotein-based meat substitutes.

WATCH: Working with fungi to ‘break the plant-based ceiling’

17-May-2023 By Flora Southey

Libre Foods is working with both fungi fruiting bodies and mycelia to boost diversity, functionality, and taste in meat-free offerings, CEO Alan Iván Ramos tells FoodNavigator.

Liberation Labs moves closer to easing precision fermentation bottlenecks with $30m in equipment funding

14-Apr-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Startup Liberation Labs is one step closer to easing crippling capacity constraints holding back precision fermentation – one of the most promising technologies in the fast-growing alternative protein market – with an infusion of $30m in equipment financing...

Aqua Cultured Foods’ hooks $5.5m to fast-track plant-based seafood from biomass fermentation

06-Apr-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Food-tech startup Aqua Cultured Foods’ plant-based, whole-muscle seafood made through biomass fermentation will launch in select restaurants this summer thanks in part to an infusion of $5.5 million in seed funding led by Stray Dog Capital announced this...

Upcycling food waste to grow ‘highly nutritious’ mycelium protein

21-Feb-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Israeli food tech start-up Mush Foods claims it is propelling the “meat-plus” movement to the mainstream of foodservice and food retail.

Beyond the ‘obsession’: Are alternative proteins truly the best path to a sustainable food supply?

20-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

Creating a sustainable food supply to meet population demands will require more than just a focus on growing the alternative proteins sector despite its current hype, according to industry experts.

Alt protein brand Meati Foods spreads its roots, opens ‘Mega Ranch’

26-Jan-2023 By Ryan Daily

With the opening of a new facility, dubbed the “Mega Ranch,” fungi-based startup Meati seeks to place its mushroom-root-based, sliced meat product in “tens of thousands of stores” in 2023, company co-founder and CEO, Tyler Huggins, told FoodNavigator-USA

Cargill appoints new CEO: 'He’s a person of action and results...'

23-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Cargill has elevated its chief operating officer (COO), Brian Sikes, to CEO effective Jan. 1, 2023.

Novozymes ramps up investment in alternative proteins: ‘Our journey has just begun’

19-Sep-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Novozymes is increasing its investment into alternative proteins, specifically its portfolio of enzyme solutions that can be used for the production of alternative protein food and beverage products, which it is expecting to become a significant driver...

Where’s the smart money going in food tech? From precision nutrition to enabling tech for alt meat, dairy. In conversation with PeakBridge

14-Sep-2022 By Elaine Watson

Where’s the smart money in food tech? Tackling food waste? Precision nutrition? Cell-cultured meat? And where can investors have the biggest impact on human and planetary health… and make a return? FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Nadav Berger and Yoni...

Where next for meat alternatives? Stakeholders weigh in: ‘Building a food company is not like going live on an app… it takes patient capital’

01-Sep-2022 By Elaine Watson

Have we reached peak alt-meat? Or is the weakening performance in US retail merely reflective of inflationary pressures (plant-based meat is more expensive than conventional, although the gap is narrowing) and well-publicized issues at some of the publicly-listed...

Future Meat Technologies unveils cultivated lamb, aims to break ground on US facility early 2023: ‘Price parity has to be the goal’

25-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

Future Meat Technologies is finalizing the site selection process for a large-scale cultivated meat plant in the US, with plans to break ground early next year and start manufacturing in 2024. However, it hopes to get products from its pilot plant in...

Stray Dog Capital: ‘Truly astonishing’ innovations afoot in alternative proteins, after you sort through me too products

16-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

It’s easy to see the grim P&L figures at Beyond Meat and Oatly and the recent lackluster performance of some refrigerated meat alternatives in US retail as proof that the entire ‘alt protein’ space is a busted flush, but the real picture is more nuanced,...

Trendspotting at IFT First 2022: Alt proteins… is it time to under promise and over-deliver?

22-Jul-2022 By Elaine Watson

So-called ‘alternative proteins’ – from upcycled barley and canola protein to animal-free whey made in fermentation tanks using genetically engineered microbes – were a hot topic at IFT First in Chicago. But with US retail sales of some meat alternatives...

Will next generation animal-free technology disrupt dairy?

22-Jun-2022 By Katy Askew

From fermented dairy proteins to cellular agriculture and molecular farming, Spanish dairy major Pascual has its finger on the pulse when it comes to innovation in next generation dairy. But why should a traditional dairy processor invest in this space?

Smallfood targets alt seafood market with ‘wholefood’ marine organism combining high quality protein, omega-3 EPA+DHA, and seafood flavor

03-May-2022 By Elaine Watson

Halifax-based Smallfood is targeting the alternative seafood market with a novel marine-based whole food ingredient high in protein “with an amino acid profile similar to beef” and meaningful levels of the coveted long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and...

‘Proudly genetically modified…’ Moolec ‘molecular farming’ co gears up to launch meat proteins from GM crops

25-Apr-2022 By Elaine Watson

Moolec Science – which has developed a ‘molecular farming’ platform to produce plants that express animal proteins – is developing genetically engineered peas and beans containing bovine and porcine proteins that it claims can improve the taste, texture,...

The EVERY Company raises $175m to expand ‘animal-free’ protein platform

07-Dec-2021 By Elaine Watson

'Animal-free’ protein startup The EVERY Company - which deploys synthetic biology to genetically engineer microbes to produce high-value ingredients such as egg proteins (without chickens) via precision fermentation - has closed a $175m series C...

InnovoPro expands meat alternative toolbox with textured chickpea protein launch

06-Oct-2021 By Elaine Watson

Israeli firm InnovoPro – which recently launched a US subsidiary in Chicago – has unveiled a textured vegetable protein (TVP) combining chickpea and pea protein that it claims will enable food manufacturers to expand the ingredient toolbox for plant-based...

How is Kroger viewing the plant-based meat opportunity? Join us October 13 in part I of FoodNavigator-USA’s Disrupting the meat and dairy case broadcast series

30-Sep-2021 By Elaine Watson

Do plant-based meat products deliver the kind of productivity on shelf to warrant their space in retailers’ regular meat counters? How are consumers shopping the category? Is this still a time of experimentation? And what are buyers looking for from new...

The Urgent Company and Perfect Day unveil 2nd animal-free dairy brand: Modern Kitchen cream cheese, as Perfect Day raises $350m, with an 'eye toward eventual strong public market performance'

30-Sep-2021 By Elaine Watson

The Urgent Company – best known for Brave Robot ‘animal-free’ ice cream– is moving into new territory with the launch of Modern Kitchen lactose-free cream cheese, its second brand featuring Perfect Day’s animal-free dairy proteins (made with microbes,...

GALLERY: Alternative protein startups to watch at the GFI Good Food Conference

29-Sep-2021 By Elaine Watson

From 'whole cuts' of seafood from fungi, to plant-based lamb, to highly functional proteins from brewers' spent grains, here's a quick snapshot of some of the alternative protein startups participating in a virtual pitch slam at last...

Good Food Institute calls for massive public funding into alternative proteins R&D

24-Sep-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Addressing the lack of public investment in the alternative proteins space, the Good Food Institute (GFI) is awarding nearly $5m to 22 research projects that the organization says will get closer to unlocking “the holy grail” of alternative proteins:...

Introducing the FoodNavigator-USA broadcast series: Disrupting the meat and dairy case -- from plant-based bacon to ‘real’ cheese (minus the cows)

16-Sep-2021 By Elaine Watson

Interested in meat, dairy, and seafood alternatives? Is all the hype - and the wads of cash - truly justified? Are some formulations (think plant-based cheese and yogurt) really ready for prime time? Are the purchase drivers for plant-based seafood the...

Join Noblegen, Plantible Foods, Superbrewed Food, Mattson and Lever VC to discuss the future of protein

WEBINAR: Protein 2.0 from plant-based to fungi, lemna, bacteria, and more...

16-Aug-2021 By Elaine Watson

Plant-based proteins such as soy and pea continue to dominate the so-called ‘alternative protein’ category, but they’re not the only game in town. New options are now emerging from ‘animal-free’ collagen and whey to a novel set of proteins produced naturally...

Nature’s Fynd raises $350m in Series C to build nutritional fungi protein platform, gears up for late 2021 launch

19-Jul-2021 By Elaine Watson

Nature’s Fynd - a Chicago-based startup growing protein-packed food from microbes with a fraction of the environmental footprint of meat or dairy – has raised $350m in a Series C round (taking its total financing to >$500m) as it gears up to launch...

Wanted: Chicken or fish alternatives that 'replicate or outperform' animal products... XPRIZE unveils semi-finalists in $15m global 'Feed the Next Billion' competition

14-Jul-2021 By Elaine Watson

From Air Protein - a startup manufacturing protein out of thin air*; to Meati Foods and Atlast Foods - fungi-fueled firms making whole cut ‘meats’ from mycelium; to a flurry of cell-cultured meat players including BlueNalu, GOOD Meat, and Wildtype; 28...

Quorn looks to new extrusion technology solution to crack whole meat cut conundrum

02-Jul-2021 By Oliver Morrison

The meat alternatives company has given its latest innovation challenge award to a French start-up with new technology that differs from conventional extrusion.

GUEST ARTICLE: The Alternative Future of Meat

23-Jun-2021 By Matthew Walker, managing director, S2G Ventures

A market with a variety of alternative meat sources provides ultimate flexibility for the consumer, and several emerging technologies have a role to play in the meat supply chain of the future.

Nature’s Fynd receives GRAS no questions letter from FDA for ‘Fy’ nutritional fungi protein

18-Jun-2021 By Elaine Watson

Nature’s Fynd has received a coveted 'no questions’ letter from the FDA in response to its GRAS safety determination for its ‘Fy’ fungi ingredient (Fusarium strain flavolapis*), a protein-packed naturally-occurring micro-organism with origins in...

Motif FoodWorks raises $226m in Series B, gears up for launch of ingredient to transform flavor and performance of plant-based meat

16-Jun-2021 By Elaine Watson

Motif FoodWorks – a Boston-based startup focused on high-impact ingredients that can be added to plant- based meat and dairy formulations in small quantities but make a significant difference to the eating experience – has raised $226m in Series B* funding,...

Introducing Rhiza: The Better Meat Co completes construction of 'substantial' mycoprotein production facility in Sacramento

08-Jun-2021 By Elaine Watson

The Better Meat Co – a startup best-known for providing plant-based meat enhancers – has completed construction of a “substantial mycoprotein fermentation facility” in Sacramento that will produce fungi-based meat alternatives that “work phenomenally...

Cell-cultured milk: Tech fantasy or a liquid goldmine? BioMilk goes public

23-Apr-2021 By Elaine Watson

Visitors to BioMilk’s website are asked a simple question: ‘What is milk?’ a question that - until relatively recently - had a pretty obvious answer: the white stuff lactating mammals produce. Today, however, there’s plant-based milk; there are products...

Quorn and Roquette call for solutions to alternative protein shape, texture and taste challenge

07-Apr-2021 By Oliver Morrison

The companies have tasked start-ups, via the next Future Food-Tech innovation challenge, to make products that can mimic whole meat cuts and deliver newer gastronomic experiences to consumers.

‘2020 was a breakout year for plant-based foods…’ GFI, PBFA, SPINS, unveil 2020 retail sales data

06-Apr-2021 By Elaine Watson

Sales of plant-based foods that directly replace animal products - including meat, seafood, eggs, dairy, condiments and meals containing plant-based alternatives - grew by 27% to $7bn in measured channels in the year to December 27, 2020, according to...

Eat Beyond Global Holdings gains US stock listing

01-Feb-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

US investors can now buy and trade stocks of Eat Beyond Global Holdings and its growing portfolio of alternative protein brands from plant-based ingredients firms to cell-based agriculture companies, under the ticker symbol EATBF.

'Plentify' novel single cell protein ‘ludicrously efficient’ to produce vs animal protein, claims startup

20-Jun-2020 By Elaine Watson

A new player has emerged in the burgeoning alternative protein space touting a novel protein sourced from a bacterium found in the human microbiome, which it claims can give traditional animal and plant proteins a run for their money.

GUEST ARTICLE: Lessons that novel proteins should learn from biofuels

18-Feb-2020 By Mark Warner, founder, Warner Advisors LLC

Can 60% of current meat consumption be replaced by novel vegan meat replacements and cultured meat in the next 20 years? That is what AT Kearney has recently projected, but the analysis does not outline a path for achieving the forecast. Is reaching...

Euromonitor: Where next for plant-based eating and alternative proteins in 2020?

17-Dec-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Consumers are still seeking a balance of animal and plant-based foods in their diet, says Euromonitor, which says plant-based meats are currently in the 'honeymoon period,' but could evolve over time as consumers demand less processed plant-based...

Tyson Foods talks seasonal eating trends: 'Blended burgers and nuggets will be the new hot kids’ menu items'

27-Jun-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Consumers' eating patterns tend to shift during the summer months, becoming more experimental and experiential with new items taking center plate such as meat-less burgers, blended proteins, ‘standalone’ side dishes, and all-day snacking, says Tyson...

WATCH: The times they are a changin’ when it comes to protein production, says Bond Pet Foods

05-Apr-2019 By Elaine Watson

Bond Pet Foods – one of 15 startups pitching at Rabobank’s FoodBytes! event in San Francisco last month - deploys microbes as tiny factories to produce proteins for pets in fermentation tanks. FoodNavigator-USA caught up with founder Rich Kelleman before...