MeliBio’s Bee-Free Honey Technology Acquired by Swiss Foodtech FoodYoung Labs
MeliBio, a California-based developer of plant-based honey alternatives, has been acquired by FoodYoung Labs, a Switzerland-headquartered foodtech company specializing in vertically integrated food innovation. The acquisition includes MeliBio’s Mellody® brand, along with its Generation 1 technology and associated intellectual property. FoodYoung Labs operates an innovation facility in Balerna, Switzerland, focusing on the development of snack bars, chocolates, spreads, baked goods, and frozen products. The company maintains a portfolio of house …
TurtleTree Becomes First to Receive FDA Clearance for Precision-Fermented Lactoferrin
California-based biotech company TurtleTree has secured a “No Questions” letter from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its precision fermentation-produced lactoferrin, referred to as LF+. This correspondence indicates that the FDA has completed its review of TurtleTree’s Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) dossier without raising any safety concerns, allowing the ingredient to be used in food products within the United States. The FDA’s assessment of LF+ encompassed genomic, …
Canadian Food Innovation Network Backs Student-Led Projects with $50K in Foodtech Funding
The Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) has awarded a total of $49,982 to five student-led food technology ventures through its NextGen Food Innovators program. The funding supports early-stage food innovations that address key issues such as food safety, waste reduction, and sustainability in the Canadian food sector. The NextGen Food Innovators program is designed to support students developing food technologies that have clear commercial applications. The program helps advance innovations …
Indiana Enacts Two-Year Ban on Cultivated Meat, Set to Begin in July 2025
Indiana has enacted a two-year ban on the sale, production, and labeling of cultivated meat, a decision signed into law by Governor Mike Braun on May 6, 2025. The moratorium, which will take effect on July 1, 2025, and remain in place until June 30, 2027, comes as part of House Bill 1425. The law prohibits the sale of lab-grown meat unless it adheres to strict labeling requirements, including a …
BioWell Assumes Control of Texas BioTechnology’s Pilot Facility to Address Biomanufacturing Gaps
BioWell, a nonprofit accelerator based in Houston, has officially assumed control of the Texas BioTechnology pilot facility in Richmond, Texas. The 33,000-square-foot plant is now the largest publicly accessible industrial biomanufacturing facility in the US, offering critical resources for scaling up biotechnological processes. With 13,000 liters of fermentation capacity, the facility provides contract development and manufacturing services, along with advanced laboratory spaces and bioprocessing equipment. Veronica Breckenridge, founder of BioWell …
Vivici Secures US Production for Precision-Fermented Dairy Protein via Liberation Labs Deal
Vivici, a Dutch precision fermentation company, has secured a manufacturing partnership with US-based Liberation Labs for the production of its beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) protein ingredient, Vivitein™. The agreement will see Vivici’s product manufactured at Liberation Labs’ new facility in Richmond, Indiana, with commercial-scale output expected to begin in 2026. The Richmond site is Liberation Labs’ first commercial-scale biomanufacturing facility, currently under construction. It will feature 600,000 liters of fermentation capacity and …
France’s Faircraft Secures VitroLabs’ Patent Portfolio Through US Asset Acquisition
French biotechnology company Faircraft has acquired key assets from VitroLabs, a California-based firm specializing in the development of lab-grown leather. The acquisition includes a portfolio of 30 patents and expands Faircraft’s intellectual property and technological capabilities in preparation for industrial-scale production. Founded in 2016 in Silicon Valley, VitroLabs was among the first companies to produce viable samples of lab-grown leather targeting the luxury market. Its early research centered on engineering …
Balletic Launches Precision-Engineered Protein Blend That Can Be Turned Into Meat Alternatives
US-based food tech company Balletic has announced the launch of Balletic Nova, a line of high-performance protein ingredients engineered for nutritional impact. Made using fermentation, the range includes Balletic Meat, a blend that can be combined with water and seasonings then shaped into patties, cutlets, meatballs, or crumbles. Designed to hold its structure when cooked, the product is said to deliver over 32g of complete protein per 40g serving and …
UPSIDE Foods Wins First-Round Victory in Court After Challenging Florida Cultivated Meat Ban
After filing a lawsuit against Florida’s cultivated meat ban in August of last year, UPSIDE Foods has been granted an important first-round victory by Chief Judge Mark Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. The ruling denies an attempt by the government to dismiss the legal challenge, meaning the case will progress in the trial court. UPSIDE’s lawsuit alleges that Florida’s cultivated meat ban violates …
Nova Scotia Launches Large-Scale Bioinnovation Centre with Global Fermentation Capacity
Nova Scotia has opened a new bioinnovation facility in Dartmouth that is expected to play a central role in the development of Canada’s bioindustrial sector. The Neptune BioInnovation Centre, a 51,000-square-foot facility, is designed to support large-scale precision fermentation and spray drying, addressing commercial-scale needs in areas such as biotechnology, agriculture, and alternative proteins. The provincial government has allocated $5 million to convert the facility into a multi-user space equipped …