Alternative Protein

Alexander Kalis and Brian Ruszczyk say the time is right to deploy capital in agtech and offer their view on the future of the alternative protein sector.

The vehicle has received backing from Farm Credit Canada and will target C$75 million.

Tengelmann Growth Partners led the round, with participation from existing investor Emil Capital Partners.

The agtech start-up is one of many new companies using precision fermentation to develop alternative protein products.

A confluence of events could lead to increased food scarcity in 2023, with knock-on effects for prices and an increase in the attractiveness of controlled environment production in hot countries.

A renewed focus on the importance of diet and nutrition, as well as enthusiasm for more sustainable crop inputs and alternative materials, continue to provide opportunities for agtech investors.

Retained EU regulation means Impossible Food's flagship burger still can’t be served in the UK while cultivated meat is regulated by rules that were created before the technology existed, says Jeremy Coller.

The company still needs regulatory approval from the USDA to sell its products but it is now one step closer to realizing that goal.

Cell-cultured meat fundraising rose to $1.38bn in 2021, up from $60m in 2019, as Agronomics backs the tech to leave plant-based behind.

Adoption of cultured meat and precision fermentation dairy ‘will start very slowly and then go boom’, Agronomics co-founder Anthony Chow says.