Investment
Sofinnova leads $12 M round for soil biologicals maker IMIO
IMIO has raised $12 million to scale up its freeze-dried soil microbes. Sofinnova Partners led the round. Chipotle’s Cultivate Next, Starshot Capital, Grow Together Salinas, Earth Foundry and Serra Ventures also invested. The funds will support a new headquarters, lab…
Those Vegan Cowboys takes casein to athletes
Those Vegan Cowboys is taking its precision-fermented casein into sports nutrition. The Dutch startup has won a €1.2 million subsidy to explore the protein's potential for athletes. The company makes recombinant caseins through precision fermentation. This involves inserting specific DNA…
Cotierra raises €2.6M for coffee biochar
Zurich-based climate technology company Cotierra has raised €2.6 million in an early-stage round. PINC, the venture arm of food and beverage group Paulig, and Carbon Removal Partners co-led the round. The sum is roughly $3 million. Cotierra builds decentralised biochar…
EU-funded projects push algae into industrial production
European projects are turning algae into a serious industrial resource. The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), an EU public-private partnership, backs the work. It spans microalgae biorefineries, seaweed farming and algae-based proteins. Algae hold proteins, lipids, pigments and…
Singapore invests S$118 million to grow its bioeconomy
Singapore is investing S$118 million (about US$92 million) to grow its bioeconomy. The new Bioeconomy Funding Initiative (FI) sits under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2030 Plan. It aims to help energy and chemicals companies develop and commercialise bio-based solutions.…
UMass Amherst launches $120M biofood innovation initiative
The University of Massachusetts Amherst has launched a $120 million Future of Food Initiative. The bio-focused program will fund new research facilities and accelerate biomanufacturing and interdisciplinary bioscience solutions to global food system challenges. Funding comes from four tranches of…