Better Bioeconomy

🇮🇳 Zydus Group acquired a 50% stake in Sterling Biotech from Perfect Day for ₹550 crore ($66M) This strategic move converts Sterling Biotech into a joint venture (JV) focused on animal-free protein production, combining the expertise of both companies. Zydus’s acquisition comes at a 70% premium over the price Perfect Day paid two years ago when it purchased Sterling Biotech for $78M. Zydus and Perfect Day plan to set up a dedicated precision fermentation facility as part of the JV. This facility will be designed to cater to the growing global demand for animal-free proteins, particularly for use in the health and nutrition sectors. This partnership marks Zydus’s entry into the specialized biotech products market, aligning with consumer trends toward animal-free proteins and addressing issues like lactose intolerance. The collaboration is seen as a strong signal to the broader biopharma industry, with experts like Aiyanna Belliappa from The Good Food Institute India calling the partnership “extremely encouraging” for the sector’s future. Sharvil Patel, Narayan T M ✉️ Hungry for more updates on biotech shaping the future of food? Devour the free subscription: betterbioeconomy.com

Here's what you can find in issue #71 of the Better Bioeconomy newsletter: BIO BUZZ: 🍗 A breakthrough study by Believer Meats explored how continuous manufacturing can bring down cultivated chicken prices to $6/lb | Yaakov Nahmias 🇦🇪 NUOS partnered with Abu Dhabi Growth Fund to establish the ‘world's most advanced’ facility for large-scale alt protein production | Badr Al-Olama, Bjoern Witte 🐶 Calysta's air-based protein is now available for pet food manufacturers across Europe | Herman Sloot 🐾 Mars Petcare and Big Idea Ventures launched a program aimed at startups to create sustainable pet food through novel proteins and fats | Andrew D Ive, Elise Malandain 🇵🇹 Researchers at Técnico Lisboa created cultivated sea bass fillets using 3D bioprinting with microalgae inks | Afonso Gusmão, Diana M. C. Marques 🇮🇳🇦🇺 India and Australia have opened applications for a Climate Smart Agritech cohort, offering up to $50,000 for eligible startups | Rose Roche, Tamara Ogilvie, Pramit Dash 🧠 Pythag Tech launched the Clean Meat Terminal, a new all-in-one market intelligence platform for cultivated meat | Sami William Nabulsi 🏭 Inari marked its largest expansion with the opening of a new 42,000 ft2 facility in Indiana | Ponsi Trivisvavet MACRO STUFF: 📈 The booming alt protein sector in Catalonia includes 103 companies and generates €269M in revenue 🇦🇺 Australia could be the next biotech hotspot | Katia Tarasava, PhD BIO BUCKS: 🇫🇮 Solar Foods plans to go public with a technical listing on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market in Helsinki | Pasi Vainikka 💰 NAPLASOL acquired Mycorena | Wim Slee, Ramkumar Nair 🍼 De Novo Foodlabs secured $1.5M in fresh funding for precision-fermented lactoferrin protein | Jean Louwrens, Dr Leah Bessa 🧬 Investment in agriculture gene editing increased 206% YoY in H1 2024 SOUND BITES: 🛍 The role of bio strategy in shaping the future of consumer products | Messaginglab Join the APAC Agri-Food Innovation Summit: 🤝 Meet 1000+ global leaders accelerating climate adaptation strategies for food security in Asia. Use the discount code ‘BIO10’ to save SGD $650 – offer ends August 29. Register here: https://bit.ly/3VRFdRc Check out the latest in biotech shaping the future of food:

🇦🇪 NUOS partnered with Abu Dhabi Growth Fund to establish the ‘world's most advanced’ facility for large-scale alt protein production As part of this partnership, the Swiss alt protein producer will establish its headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The strategic location is intended to leverage the region’s resources and connectivity, aiming to serve Europe, North America, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The partnership is expected to make NUOS a leading contract development and manufacturing organization for alt proteins, focusing on achieving scale, quality, and price parity with conventional meat products. NUOS will collaborate with Abu Dhabi-based R&D institutes and universities to advance sustainable food technologies and develop talent in the sector. Badr Al-Olama, Bjoern Witte ✉️ Hungry for more updates on biotech shaping the future of food? Devour the free subscription: betterbioeconomy.com

🇵🇹 Researchers at Técnico Lisboa created cultivated sea bass fillets using 3D bioprinting with microalgae inks The team at Técnico Lisboa, part of the University of Lisbon, initially produced thin, sashimi-like slices of cultivated sea bass. However, they've now advanced to creating fillets that are up to six centimetres thick. These fillets successfully replicate the texture and aroma of traditional sea bass, thanks to the innovative use of microalgae-based bioinks. The researchers used 3D bioprinting to assemble cells into larger biomass, creating products like fish fillets. To improve the consumer experience, the researchers are developing bioreactors that apply small electric shocks to align the cell cultures, enhancing the fillet's fibrous texture. Afonso Gusmão, Diana M. C. Marques ✉️ Hungry for more updates on biotech shaping the future of food? Devour the free subscription: betterbioeconomy.com

🧠 Pythag Tech launched the Clean Meat Terminal, a new all-in-one market intelligence platform for cultivated meat CMT provides a comprehensive data source tailored to industry stakeholders. It includes detailed metrics on companies, access to academic and industry research, tools for locating products and facilities, and the latest industry-specific news. Unlike traditional, more expensive options, the platform is designed to be affordable and accessible to a broad audience, including individuals, businesses, and academic institutions. CEO Sami William Nabulsi noted that while scepticism about cultivated meat persists, Pythag Tech is committed to providing the tools and data necessary to support the industry's long-term development. ✉️ Hungry for more updates on biotech shaping the future of food? Devour the free subscription: betterbioeconomy.com

🧬 Investment in agriculture gene editing increased 206% YoY in H1 2024 Agriculture-related gene editing startups have raised over $161 million in the first half of 2024, marking a significant improvement compared to just $46 million raised in the same period of 2023. The H1 2024 figures also exceed H1 2022 by 140%. However, it remains to be seen if the total for 2024 will surpass the $241 million raised in the full year of 2022. While the recent uptick is promising, the investment levels are still below pre-COVID peaks, except for a notable low in 2017 when only $58 million was raised. ✉️ Hungry for more updates on biotech shaping the future of food? Devour the free subscription: betterbioeconomy.com

📈 Inari marked its largest expansion with the opening of a new 42,000 ft2 facility in Indiana The facility will focus on advancing SEEDesign™ technology, which combines AI-powered predictive design with multiplex gene editing to develop higher-yielding seeds. CEO Ponsi Trivisvavet called the expansion a key step in scaling operations to deliver innovative seed products to a wider market. The new facilities will allow the company to target a broader range of crops. The $20 million expansion includes doubling greenhouse space, adding advanced LED lighting, and increasing office and warehouse capacity, which will lead to more job opportunities at the site. ✉️ Hungry for more updates on biotech shaping the future of food? Devour the free subscription: betterbioeconomy.com

💰 Mycorena acquired by biomass fermentation company NAPLASOL Following financial difficulties and a bankruptcy filing, Mycorena, a Swedish pioneer in mycoprotein production, has been acquired by Naplasol, a company within the VEOS Group. Naplasol, which specializes in biomass fermentation for producing mycoproteins, plans to integrate Mycorena’s technologies and products, particularly focusing on producing Mycorena’s flagship product, Promyc. Established in 1974 and headquartered in Belgium, VEOS Group is a global leader in the animal protein market. The group operates extensive production facilities worldwide and serves diverse industries, including food, pet, and animal feed, supported by a robust global sales network. Wim Slee ,Ramkumar Nair ✉️ Hungry for more updates on biotech shaping the future of food? Devour the free subscription: betterbioeconomy.com

📈 The alt protein sector in Catalonia includes 103 companies and generates €269M in revenue With the global market for alt proteins expected to reach $1 trillion by 2040, Catalonia is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth. The region's diverse ecosystem includes food innovators from startups to established companies, ingredient suppliers, and research centres. The sector is in an ‘expansion’ phase, with 36.9% of the companies being less than ten years old and over two-thirds classified as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Almost 70% of these companies are exporting, with a significant portion regularly exporting their products. Catalonia's government actively supports the sector through substantial investments, including €7 million for Spain's first Center for Innovation in Alternative Proteins (CiPA) and €12 million for a pre-industrial facility in Alcarràs. ✉️ Hungry for more updates on biotech shaping the future of food? Devour the free subscription: betterbioeconomy.com

🐶 Calysta's air-based protein is now available for pet food manufacturers across Europe The multinational biotech company has introduced FeedKind Pet, an air-based protein designed for pet food, to the European market. The product caters to growing consumer demand for nutritious and sustainable pet food. The first large batch of FeedKind Pet, originating from Calysseo’s production facility in China, has been shipped to Poland. Calysseo, a joint venture between Calysta and Adisseo, operates two of the ‘world’s largest’ fermenters, each with a 10,000-ton capacity. FeedKind Pet provides a complete amino acid profile and is highly digestible, making it suitable for various pet food products, including dry kibble, canned food, and treats. It also contains postbiotic properties that promote gut health. Herman Sloot ✉️ Hungry for more updates on biotech shaping the future of food? Devour the free subscription: betterbioeconomy.com