Last Week in Foodtech - Week of June 3, 2024

Open Forum
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There is so much innovation happening in the food and beverage world today that it's often hard to keep up. That's why each week we'll be bringing you highlights of the latest research and developments in food technology, new products, and food and beverage trends affecting the industry in Canada.

Here's a few stories you should know about:

Climate change is threatening the future of chocolate. By 2050, most of the planet's equatorial growing regions are projected to be inhospitable to cocoa farming. Israeli start-up Kokomodo is emerging from stealth mode and eager to scale up its cell cultivated cocoa products to sustain future production of this globally beloved commodity.

  • Kokomodo's first product is a cell cultivated cocoa powder designed for use as an input for food, beverage, and supplement products.

  • Compared to cultivated meat or dairy, cocoa cells are relatively simple to grow and require less complex growing media, making it significantly less expensive to produce.

  • Kokomodo is beginning its fundraising process, which will help scale up production of its initial cocoa powder product offering and close the pricing gap between cell cultivated and conventional cocoa.

The Canadian Impact: While cultivated meat garners a lot of media attention, the potential for cellular food extends far beyond animal products. Canadian grown chocolate, anyone?

For more on the topic on YODL: Cellular Food in Canada

Supermarket giant Tesco is trialing laser etching on its extra-large avocados to eliminate plastic barcode stickers and reduce waste. The chain is simultaneously replacing its avocado plastic tray packaging with recyclable cardboard containers, potentially saving millions of plastic pieces annually.

  • Tesco partnered with Westfalia Fruit, refining the laser etching process to ensure it does not affect the fruit's quality, shelf life, or taste.

  • The trial could save over 20 million plastic trays and one million plastic stickers annually if implemented across all stores.

  • Starting in 270 stores, the trial will gauge customer reception before a potential nationwide rollout.

The Canadian Impact: Produce stickers are a notorious problem for compost operators everywhere. Tesco's sustainable packaging innovations could inspire Canadian retailers to adopt similar technologies from CFIN-funded companies like Ag-Tronic Control Systems as the grocery sector strives to reduce single use plastic waste and improve food waste recycling outcomes.

Big players like Amazon and other grocery retailers are increasingly embracing food-as-medicine programs and product offerings. But as an expert panel shared at a Food as Medicine event in Chicago. for these programs to succeed they must first understand the community that they wish to serve to make a lasting impact on the health and lives of consumers.

  • Community, culture, and emotional connections to food shape healthy eating outcomes as much as education and knowledge gained through personalized nutrition technology.

  • Successful food-as-medicine programs must go beyond education, addressing barriers like access and affordability while offering emotional support to encourage sustainable healthy eating habits.

  • Programs need to resonate with consumers' cultural and emotional contexts, debunking myths about low-income consumers' desire and ability to eat healthily.

The Canadian Impact: Food as medicine and personalized nutrition are gaining popularity as an effective intervention to mitigate diet-related health issues. In Canada, organizations like Cronometer Software, Thimus, and Foodshare are bringing innovations to nutrition education, behavioral science, food access, and technology-all essential elements that any successful human-centered food-as-medicine retail program must consider.

For more on the topic on YODL: In 30 – Food as Medicine

Brevel has launched a commercial facility in southern Israel to produce algae protein, aiming to compete with pea and soy proteins in terms of sustainability and functionality. The facility, funded by an $18.5 million seed round, will produce a white powdered microalgae protein concentrate superior in flavor and color, and expects to launch its first products by 2025.

  • The $18.5 million seed round has financed a 27,000 sq. ft plant with scalable bioreactors, increasing production capabilities to meet growing demand.

  • The funding supports extensive research and development labs within the facility, fostering innovation in functional food ingredients and co-products.

  • With this investment, Brevel plans to form global partnerships and develop larger manufacturing facilities, aiming to lower production costs and expand market reach.

The Canadian Impact: Brevel's advancements in sustainable and functional algae protein production illustrate the future potential of similar innovations coming from Canada's coastal regions. CFIN's recent Foodtech Atlantic event featured some of the companies exploring the untapped potential of algae and other marine-based food products as healthy and sustainable ingredient inputs.