Inari is pushing boundaries to develop seeds that meet the world’s needs for a more sustainable and nature-friendly food system through its SEEDesign™ platform. Leveraging artificial intelligence and gene editing, Inari has secured new investment for seed development.

Chef Robotics recently announced that it has secured $14.75 million in funding, with a significant portion of this capital earmarked for its market expansion strategy based on Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) and team expansion efforts.

Coca-Cola has decided to temporarily remove labels from the portable bottles of Sprite and Sprite Zero as part of its efforts to reduce plastic waste. In the single-use 500ml Sprite and Sprite Zero bottles where labels are temporarily removed, a raised logo will be placed on the front. Product and nutritional information will be laser-engraved on the back of the bottle. Green and transparent caps will be attached to differentiate between Sprite and Sprite Zero beverages, respectively. Limited edition designs will be available in eight Tesco Express stores in Brighton and Hove, Bristol, London, and Manchester between January and March 2024.

Munich-based food technology startup, Planet A Foods, utilizes a proprietary fermentation process to obtain its patented ‘ChoViva’ product, which does not contain cocoa beans and is derived from local seeds such as oats and sunflower. Oats and sunflower seeds are transformed into a sustainable alternative to cocoa.

Bluewhite has developed technology that can be adapted to any tractor, enabling the tractor to operate autonomously and be offered as a robotic service. Bluewhite’s autonomous farming platform provides support to producers facing challenges such as labor shortages and rising operational costs at every step.

Researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) and the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) in Brazil have developed a sustainable sensor that can be directly placed on the surface of a vegetable or fruit to detect the presence of pesticides. Described as wearable for the vegetable, this sensor is made of cellulose acetate and possesses biodegradable properties. Seen as a study that could contribute to ensuring food safety, the sensor aims to detect pesticides, aiding in monitoring food quality.

The food technology company Hailia is working on transforming underutilized by-products from seafood into edible products. Their aim is to contribute to sustainability by obtaining fish fillets from these by-products. Introduced to the Finnish market in 2023, their versatility, user-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and most importantly, superior features, led them to be honored with the Seafood Innovation of the Year award in Finland shortly after.

Israel-based Pluri is testing coffee production through plant cell culture in bioreactors to address the increasing demand for coffee and the impacts of climate change on coffee farming. This innovative approach, as an alternative to traditional farming methods, holds potential in terms of sustainability and supply security.

Generation Food Rural Partners I, LP (GFRP), a subsidiary of Big Idea Ventures, has acquired DisSolves, Inc., a producer of biodegradable and edible packaging solutions. DisSolves’ flagship product features a polysaccharide-based film used for packaging individual servings. When immersed in liquids, this film dissolves without altering the taste. GFRP aims to strengthen biodegradable and edible packaging solutions utilizing this technology.

California-based Voyage Foods, a CPG venture producing eco-friendly products, has secured a $22 million investment. Evaluations indicate that Voyage Foods’ cocoa-free chocolate generates 88% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to its traditional counterpart.