© MISTA

Startups, Accelerators & Incubators

MISTA Growth Hack Selects Biomass Fermentation as Key Theme for 2024

A unique collaboration of 14 early-stage food tech startups, eight leading global food companies, and key partners, including Accenture, the Good Food Institute, and SOSV, will be part of the 2024 MISTA Growth Hack. MISTA, a food innovation platform, and a Givaudan entity, aims to bring new sustainable ingredients and technologies to life to feed the planet. This year’s Growth Hack aims to develop integrated, nutritious, affordable, and sustainable foods, …

more

mycorena whole cut

© Mycorena

Fermentation

Mycorena Acquired by Biomass Fermentation Firm Naplasol, Member of Animal Protein VEOS Group

After facing significant financial challenges, mycoprotein pioneer Mycorena filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, seeking new ownership to build upon its innovations and market presence. Today, Naplasol, a VEOS group member, announces the acquisition of the Swedish company. Naplasol specializes in biomass fermentation to produce mycoproteins and offers various ingredients for food applications. VEOS Group, founded in 1974 and headquartered in Belgium, is a global leader in the animal protein …

more

Brevel cheese

Image supplied by Brevel, credit Eldad Shatz

Algae, Microalgae & Seaweed

Biomass Fermentation Leader Brevel Inaugurates Commercial Plant for Affordable, Nutritious Microalgae Protein

Israel’s Brevel, a biomass fermentation startup using microalgae protein to create sustainable ingredients, announces the grand opening of its first commercial plant. Last July, the company secured $18.5 million in seed funding led by NevaTeam Partners and backed by the European Union’s EIC Fund, facilitating the current phase of commercial-scale production and global expansion. Located in Israel’s desert periphery, the new site covers 27,000 square feet (2,500m²) and includes headquarters, …

more

MicroHarvest pilot plant opening

MicroHarvest Lisbon team © MicroHarvest

Fermentation

MicroHarvest Becomes Food Fermentation Europe’s First Biomass Fermentation Member

German biotech MicroHarvest announces that it has become the first biomass fermentation company to join Food Fermentation Europe‘s efforts to create more sustainable food systems by unlocking the potential of fermentation-enabled food production. Food Fermentation Europe (FFE) was established in 2023 by Better Dairy, Formo, Imagindairy, Onego Bio, and Those Vegan Cowboys, which leverage precision fermentation to produce animal-free food products. Standing Ovation, Vivici, and Bon Vivant, have also joined the alliance. Precision fermentation involves modifying microorganisms …

more

Brevel's is ready to operate its FOAK facility to showcase its fermentatio tech for producing microalgae proteins.

Image courtesy of Brevel

Algae, Microalgae & Seaweed

Brevel Launches FOAK Facility to Demonstrate Microalgae Protein Fermentation at Commercial Scale

Israel’s Brevel, a biomass fermentation startup producing microalgae proteins, announces that it has completed the construction of its demonstration facility and secured two commercial agreements with leading F&B companies. The startup inaugurated a new site in Southern Israel this June, featuring headquarters, R&D space, and proprietary industrial-scale fermenters. The facility has been designed to implement a First-Of-A-Kind (FOAK) strategy to showcase the fermentation process at a commercial scale for the first …

more

Superbrewed Food

© Superbrewed Food

Company News

Superbrewed Food’s Strategic Partnership with Dairy Group Fonterra Explores Uses of Biomass Protein

New Zealand-based multinational dairy cooperative Fonterra and US fermentation startup Superbrewed Food have entered into a strategic partnership to explore applications and further develop Superbrewed’s biomass protein platform. Leveraging Superbrewed’s Postbiotic Cultured Protein, a non-GMO, allergen-free bacterial biomass protein, which recently received FDA approval for the US market, the partnership aims to address growing demand for “sustainable” dairy, and will also explore applications for precision-fermented derived animal-free dairy, as well …

more

The PHW Group will establish a new subsidiary focusing on traditional and precision fermentation to develop ingredients for alternative products.

© PHW Group

Fermentation

Poultry Giant PHW Enters Precision Fermentation Ingredients With New Subsidiary 

PHW Group, the largest poultry producer in Germany known for the Wiesenhof brand, will establish a new subsidiary later this year, focusing on traditional and precision fermentation to develop ingredients for alternative protein and blended products. The firm, which has invested millions in its plant-based meat brand Green Legend, intends to integrate plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation technologies under its roof to position itself as a critical player in the sector. …

more

fermentation

© nordroden - stock.adobe.com

Market & Trends

Report Identifies 5 Disruptive Technologies to Shake Up Fermentation Industry

Following a comprehensive review of the fermentation sector, Lever VC, a leading venture capital firm specializing in alternative protein investments, announces the release of its latest report highlighting the top technologies that could advance the production of fermented food and ingredients. Lever VC argues that despite notable advancements in CRISPR gene editing, AI and machine learning for bioinformatics systems, and high-throughput screening technologies, challenges remain in scaling up biological processes and …

more

GFI 2023 State of the Industry Reports

Image by Cultivated X

Studies & Numbers

2023 GFI Reports: Cultivated Meat and Fermentation Industries Growing Despite Drop in Investments

The Good Food Institute has released the 2023 State of the Industry Reports for the alt protein industry. These annual reports provide a global analysis of each sector’s commercial landscape, investments, scientific progress, and government and regulatory developments. The following are the top highlights in cultivated meat and fermentation for 2023, providing an overview of the key developments in these industries. The complete reports can be found here. Cultivated Meat …

more

Image courtesy of Swan Neck Bio

Manufacturing & Technology

Swan Neck Bio Launches FlexCell for Fast and Affordable Fermentation Scaling

Swan Neck Bio, a spin-off from White Labs Copenhagen, a global leader in fermentation since 1995, has officially entered the market to unlock the biomanufacturing capacity of precision fermentation and biomass companies. Headquartered in Copenhagen, with supporting labs and production capabilities in the USA (California and North Carolina), Swan Neck Bio leverages a patented “breakthrough” technology developed by White Labs.  Called FlexCell, the technology allows companies to trial, validate, and scale …

more