FoodNavigator Reveals Top 30 Food-Tech Innovators of 2025
FoodNavigator has released its list of the 30 most innovative food-tech companies, selected from 78 entries in its 2025 Global Food Tech Awards. The selection reflects a strong focus on technological responses to challenges such as supply chain instability, nutritional deficits, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation. Fermentation and artificial intelligence dominated the field, alongside a growing emphasis on bioactive functionality in ingredients. The awards examined companies across three regions—EMEA, the …
The Protein Brewery: “We’re the First Novel Fungal Biomass Mycoprotein Ever to Receive a Positive EFSA Opinion”
Thijs Bosch is the CEO of The Protein Brewery, a Dutch scale-up pioneering sustainable food ingredients made from mycelium. Appointed in June 2025, he brings over 15 years of leadership experience in the B2B food ingredients and protein sectors, including senior roles at Cosun and Fonterra. Thijs is now leading the commercialization of Fermotein, The Protein Brewery’s minimally processed, nutrient-dense, mycelium-based ingredient designed for active nutrition and healthy aging. In …
Solar Foods to Test Innovative Protein Production Technology in Space
Solar Foods has entered into a partnership with OHB System AG, a European space technology company, to develop a pilot project for testing its Solein® gas fermentation technology in space. The project, supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) under its Terrae Novae Exploration Programme, focuses on adapting the Solein production system for microgravity environments, such as the International Space Station (ISS). The project, named HOBI-WAN (Hydrogen Oxidizing Bacteria In …
Fork & Good Consolidates Cultivated Beef and Pork Production with Orbillion Acquisition
Cultivated meat company Fork & Good has acquired Orbillion Bio, consolidating operations focused on pork and beef cell cultivation. The combined company will operate across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, with production continuing at Fork & Good’s pilot plant in Jersey City and Orbillion’s UAE-based subsidiary. Pork and beef tech combined The acquisition brings together two technology stacks: Fork & Good has developed a system for cultivating …
APAC-SCA and Beyond Impact VC Launch Initiative to Support the Future of Food and Cellular Agriculture
The APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture (APAC-SCA) has formed a partnership with Beyond Impact VC and the Beyond Animal investment platform to advance funding in the cellular agriculture and future food sectors. As part of the collaboration, Peter Yu, Program Director of APAC-SCA, will take on the role of advisor to Beyond Impact VC. In this capacity, Yu will provide guidance on potential investment opportunities within the growing cellular agriculture …
Checkerspot and Huvepharma Develop Algal Oil Simulating Human Milk Fat for Infant Formula
Checkerspot, a biotechnology firm focused on renewable oils and fats, has entered into a partnership with Huvepharma, a global leader in fermentation technology, to scale production of a novel nutritional oil derived from microalgae. This high sn-2 palmitate algal oil is designed as a direct alternative to palm oil, particularly for use in infant formula, where it mimics the triglyceride structures found in human milk fat. The collaboration follows successful …
AltProtein.Jobs Transitions to Non-Profit Model Amid Market Challenges
AltProtein.Jobs, a prominent talent platform serving the alternative protein sector, has announced a shift to a non-profit model in response to ongoing challenges in the food technology industry. The change comes after the sector has faced a downturn in venture capital funding and other key growth indicators, prompting the company to rethink its business strategy. Founded by Pia Voltz, the platform originally operated under a for-profit business model as part …
Webinar Recap: Rethinking Food: APAC as a Living Lab for the Future | update #15
The recording of our recent webinar, “Rethinking Food: APAC as a Living Lab for the Future,” is now available on the vegconomist YouTube channel. This session explored the transformative role the APAC region is playing in the future of food innovation. Moderated by Nadine Filko, the webinar brought together a diverse panel of experts: Megumi Abigail Yoshitomi, President of the Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture; Byron Perez, Programme Doctorate at …
Investments in Alternative Proteins Total $443 Million in First Half of 2025
The alternative protein sector saw notable investment activity in the first half of 2025, with 54 deals totaling $443.45 million. These investments spanned multiple technologies and product categories, reflecting a broad interest across the industry. The two main technology categories, plant-based and fermentation, attracted the largest share of funding, with cultivated protein remaining a smaller segment. Investment breakdown by quarter and technology Investment in alternative proteins showed variation across the …
Seven Startups Chosen for Big Idea Ventures’ Latest Global Food Innovation Fund Cohort
Big Idea Ventures (BIV) has announced the addition of seven new startups to its Global Food Innovation Fund II (GFIF II). These companies are focusing on various aspects of food technology, including sustainable ingredients, new preservation techniques, and alternative oils and fats. Each of the selected startups will now have access to BIV’s extensive mentorship, R&D resources, and commercialization opportunities. The latest cohort is diverse in its approaches, addressing issues …