Oobli Gains FDA Nod for Sweet Protein Monellin, Expands Portfolio of Zero Glycemic Impact Sweeteners
US sweet protein developer Oobli (formerly Joywell Foods) announces that it has received the FDA’s first “no questions” letter for its monellin sweet protein, produced via precision fermentation. With the letter, the FDA confirmed that Oobli’s monellin is safe to use as a sweetener in food and beverages. The acknowledgment follows a previous FDA approval of brazzein, another sweet-tasting protein. Monellin is originally found in the serendipity berry of the …
Cradle Secures $73M to Revolutionize Planetary Health with AI-Driven Protein Engineering
AI biotech company Cradle has raised $73 million in a Series B funding round led by IVP and backed by Index Ventures and Kindred Capital, bringing its total funding to over $100 million. Based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Zurich, Switzerland, Cradle was founded by ex-Googlers Stef van Grieken (CEO) and Daniel Danciu (CTO) in 2021 to make biology engineering more accessible and efficient with AI. Its team comprises machine learning …
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 …
Finnish Alternative Protein Firms Secure €10M for Collaborative R&D Projects From Business Finland
Business Finland has granted two Finnish projects — FoodID and FinBioFAB — 10 million euros in R&D funding to create alternative proteins and materials through research collaboration. The Finnish projects were accepted into the Global Centers program led by the US National Science Foundation (NSF), operated jointly by six countries aiming for breakthrough solutions to global challenges. This year’s funding call focused on the bioeconomy, with the main themes being biofoundries …
Fermtech Raises Over £325,000 in Crowdfunding for Zero-Carbon Protein Trialed by Major Food Companies
Fermtech, an Oxford-based startup developing what it claims to be a zero-carbon protein, has raised over £325,000 in a crowdfunding round launched on the Crowdcube platform last month. The company has already surpassed its initial funding goal, yet the campaign remains open for another week. Using solid-state fermentation, the fungus Aspergillus oryzae — known as koji and widely used in foods — and spent grains from local breweries as feedstock, …
Bezos Earth Fund Establishes Sustainable Protein Research Hub at National University of Singapore
The Bezos Earth Fund has announced the establishment of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at the National University of Singapore (NUS), marking its first initiative of this kind in Asia. The centre, which is backed by a US$30 million grant, will focus on advancing sustainable protein research and the commercial development of alternative proteins in the region. The NUS centre will focus on key areas such as biomass fermentation, …
The World’s Most Sustainable Protein ‘Solein’ Achieves GRAS Status, Heads for US Debut
Solar Foods announces that it has achieved self-affirmed Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status for its air-based protein Solein in the USA. This milestone will allow the company to introduce the novel ingredient, offering a new alternative to animal and plant proteins. Claimed as the most sustainable protein in the world, the company expects its debut by the end of 2024. The biotech explains that it conducted large-scale scientific research, …
UK Government Invests £15M to Establish Alternative Protein Innovation Centre With Global Reach
Two UK government funding bodies — the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Innovate UK — have announced a £15 million investment into a new innovation centre for plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation-derived foods. The National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC), which will be hosted at the University of Leeds, will also receive £23 million of investment from public and private sector partners. The centre will be co-led with …
Unexpected Demand for Affordable Patatin Pushes Molecular Farming Startup PoLoPo to Prioritize Product Launch
Molecular farming startup PoLoPo announces that it will start supplying one of its flagship proteins, patatin, for F&B products to commercial clients, pending USDA’s regulatory approval. The Israeli startup has developed a platform to grow the egg protein ovalbumin, widely used in the food industry, and patatin in large volumes in potato tubers, securing a lower cost. As explained by the startup, patatin, the native protein of potatoes, is expected to …
Ajinomoto to Launch Two Products Made With Solar Foods’ Air-Based Protein in Singapore
Solar Foods has announced the launch of two new products made with its air-based protein, Solein, through a partnership with Japanese food manufacturer Ajinomoto Group. The products, Traditional Flowering Mooncakes and Ice Cream Sandwiches, will launch in Singapore under Ajinomoto’s new conscious brand, Atlr.72™. Solein replaces dairy in the products, providing protein, a rich consistency, and a reduced environmental impact. The other ingredients have also reportedly been chosen for their …