While alternative protein products are generally considered more environmentally friendly than animal-based products, there are a few ingredients in this plant-based space that raise concerns. Tropical oils like coconut and palm oil, which are commonly used as the fat alternatives to animal-based products, have become notorious for being a cause of deforestation and habitat destruction…
Alternative protein news has been dropping in faster than fall leaves, and so we’ve gathered some of this week’s top stories, including Revo Foods’ product launch, Aquacultured and Daring Foods’ funding rounds, and Brave Robot’s new cake mix. Revo Foods launches plant-based salmon in Austrian grocery stores This week, plant-based seafood startup Revo Foods launched…
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Over the summer, McDonald’s announced that it was trialing automated ordering at 10 Chicago, Illinois locations. Now, it appears that we will be seeing automated ordering at more locations sooner than later. Today, IBM announced that it has partnered with McDonald’s to continue to develop automated drive-thru orders and acquired its proprietary McD Tech Labs.…
Many plants and trees rely on natural phenomena like bees and wind to be pollinated and produce fruit. However, bee colony collapse and climate change threaten the ability of these crops to be pollinated. An Israeli ag-tech start-up called Edete Precision Technologies addresses this mounting concern using robots and artificial pollination technology. This week, the…
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Despite my few years of working as a barista in the past, I definitely don’t consider myself a coffee expert of any sort. In fact, I am someone who loves the flavor of a generic-tasting dark roast. What is important to me, however, is the quality of the coffee I’m drinking. I am willing to…
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Government programs around the globe are increasingly getting more involved in the alternative protein space. This month, the Danish government allocated 1.25 billion kroner (~$194 million USD) for research into plant-based proteins. A few weeks ago, the USDA awarded Tufts University $10 million to establish “a cultivated protein center of excellence”. Most recently, a European…
On planet Earth, we face the challenge of feeding a rapidly growing population that is set to reach 9.7 billion people by 2050. In space, we face the challenge of feeding astronauts traveling through the galaxy for an extended period of time. Novel and innovative food technology could offer viable solutions in both realms. For…
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Americans have a problem: we consume way too much sugar (about 57 pounds a year on average) and not nearly enough fiber (only about 5 percent of the population ingests enough). The Supplant Company aims to offer a solution to this issue with its sugar made from the fibers of agricultural side streams like corn,…
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The Omakase Berry is a varietal of strawberry grown in Japan known for its creamy texture, level of sweetness, and aromatic qualities. Courtesy of Oishii, a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) company that grows strawberries, Omakase Berries are coming to Los Angeles. Oishii currently has two indoor farm locations on the East Coast in New York…
With 41 percent of all households purchasing non-dairy milk, a carton of almond milk is no longer a fringe product but a mainstream staple. So it’s no surprise that the alternative milk category is now the largest in the plant-based space. One of the most recent companies to join this space is Texas-based Lifestock. Lifestock…