Dried oyster mushrooms

© Smithy Mushrooms

Studies & Numbers

Danish Scientists and Michelin-Starred Chefs Explore New Mycelium From Oyster Mushrooms for Meat Alternatives

Scientists from the Technical University of Denmark, collaborating with chefs from the Michelin-starred restaurant Alchemist in Copenhagen, have found that mycelium from oyster mushrooms (P. ostreatus) has excellent potential and acceptance as an alternative to meat and seafood. Although oyster mushrooms are widely consumed, the culinary qualities and food safety of their root structure have thus far never been explored. But, as part of a project funded by the Good …

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Hamburg-based Infinite Roots announces the retail launch of the first mycelium-based products developed in partnership with South Korea's leading food manufacturer, Pulmuone.

Image courtesy of Infinite Roots

Products & Launches

Infinite Roots Brings Mycelium-Based Meat to South Korea Via Pulmuone After Hitting Regulatory Roadblock in EU

Hamburg-based Infinite Roots (formerly Mushlabs) announces the retail launch of its first mycelium-based meat products developed with Pulmuone, one of the three leading South Korean food manufacturers along with CJ CheilJedang and Daesang Corporation. The initial line offered by this strategic partnership consists of mycelium-based meat burger patties and meatballs, which have launched under Pulmuone’s recognized Earth Diet line. The collaboration was initiated earlier this year to introduce a wide …

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MicroHarvest pilot plant opening

MicroHarvest Lisbon team © MicroHarvest

Protein

MicroHarvest Scales Microbial Protein Production to 10 Tons Daily in New Trial

German biotech MicroHarvest, the developer of one of the fastest protein production technologies in the world, announces it has reached a significant scaling milestone in a new large-scale trial. The startup claims it has expanded its production process to 10 tons per day in a single vessel, representing a ten-fold increase over its current capacity. MicroHarvest states that this significant progress validates its ability to deliver sustainable proteins in quantities …

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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 …

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Finnish biotech company Enifer announces that it has applied for regulatory approval from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to sell its flagship ingredient, PEKILO, in the EU market.

© Iiro Muttilainen

Fungi, Mushrooms & Mycelium

Enifer Breaks New Ground as First Nordic Firm to Seek Novel Food Approval for Mycoprotein

Finnish biotech company Enifer announces that it has applied for regulatory approval from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to sell its flagship ingredient, PEKILO, in the EU. The company claims to be the first Nordic company to apply for a mycoprotein under novel foods. This regulatory step marks a significant milestone in the company’s commercialization efforts, which recently secured funding to build a €33 million production facility, scheduled for …

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© 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, …

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Brazil’s Typcal, a startup based Paraná pionering mycoprotein in Latin America, has been selected by the Paraná Anjo Inovador to receive a R$250,000 in funding.

Eduardo Sydney and team © SEI-PR

Fungi, Mushrooms & Mycelium

LATAM’s Mycoprotein Innovator ‘Typcal’ Secures R$250K From Brazilian Government

Brazil’s Typcal, a startup pioneering mycoprotein in Latin America, has been selected by the Paraná Anjo Inovador to receive R$250,000 in funding. A spinoff of Fungi Biotechnology, the startup was founded in 2021 by bioprocess engineer Eduardo Sydney (CTO) and food industry entrepreneur Paulo Ibri (CEO) to leverage biomass fermentation to develop a mycoprotein ingredient for food applications. Typcal was one of the 68 selected in the program’s first call …

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Swedish foodtech startup Mycorena announces the discontinuation of its large-scale factory project in Sweden for scaling its mycoprotien Promyc

© Mycorena

Fungi, Mushrooms & Mycelium

Mycorena Pauses Large-Scale Mycoprotein Facility: “Investors are Hesitant to Back Projects with Heavy Capital Requirements”

Pioneering mycelium-based solutions company Mycorena announces it is discontinuing its large-scale factory project in Sweden for Promyc, its flagship mycoprotein ingredient. Planned in 2022 and designed with Tetra Pak, the large-scale production factory aimed to supply the then “booming” plant-based market with volumes of mycoprotein: 5,000 tons by the end of 2023, with a total production volume of up to 100,000 tons in multiple stages. Despite significant growth and raising …

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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, …

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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 …

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