The biggest stories in plant- and cell-based business, week of 20 January 2025
vegconomist - the vegan business magazine
vegconomist reports on the global vegan economy. Market reports, interviews, new products, startups and more.
??DOE funds food decarbonization
The US Department of Energy has allocated over $136M to 66 low-carbon projects, including groundbreaking food innovations. Tender Food secured $5.4M to scale its energy-efficient fiber-spinning tech for plant-based proteins, while Ginkgo Bioworks received $2.4M for sustainable lactoferrin production using waste-derived carbon.
??Cheese without cows
Hochland teams up with Those Vegan Cowboys to create animal-free cheese using precision-fermented casein, cutting emissions by 80% and eliminating methane. The market launch is set for 2025.
??What consumers really think of precision fermentation
A GFI and Accenture study reveals how consumers in five markets view precision fermentation. Clear messaging—like comparing the process to brewing beer—boosts interest, with “animal-free” emerging as a winning term.
??Emirates elevates vegan inflight dining
Emirates unveils new vegan dishes, including kid-friendly options like pizza and chocolate pudding, to meet growing demand. The airline served 450,000 vegan meals in 2023 alone.
??C-Label: New standard for cultivated foods
V-Label launches C-Label, the first certification for cultivated foods, with UK startup Meatly earning the inaugural license for its cultivated chicken. The certification aims to boost transparency, trust, and sustainability in cell-based food production.
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??Pluri invests in the future of cacao
Pluri secures $6.5M funding and acquires a 71% stake in Kokomodo, a cultivated cacao producer, to drive sustainable food innovation, positioning the company as a leader in cell-based cacao technology.
??Mosa Meat seeks EU approval for cultivated fat
Mosa Meat has filed for EU market authorization of its cultivated fat, designed to enhance plant-based products. If approved, the ingredient could bring cultivated meat closer to European plates.
??Ex-Nike exec joins UNCAGED
Former Nike CSO Noel Kinder joins UNCAGED Innovations’ board to advance BioFuze, its grain-based leather alternative, bolstering UNCAGED’s efforts to revolutionize sustainable materials for footwear and fashion.
??Project Eaden secures €15M
Berlin’s Project Eaden raises €15M to launch fiber-spun plant-based ham at REWE supermarkets in 2025. The climate tech startup’s innovative textile-inspired technology aims to produce ultra-realistic whole cuts.
??Willicroft bids farewell amid fundraising challenges
Dutch plant-based cheese maker Willicroft closes its doors, citing fundraising challenges. Founder Brad Vanstone reflects on the brand’s impact and the difficulties of scaling sustainable food ventures.
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We absolutely love ?? having Noel Kinder join our team! This is a huge step forward for sustainable materials in fashion and footwear ??????