3Mins Read Vienna’s Fermify has concluded a pre-seed undisclosed funding round led by Übermorgen Ventures and Backbone Ventures, with participation noted from Bitburger ventures, Kale United and Push Ventures. Fermify is finalising a digital platform that can produce casein proteins via precision fermentation, with identical or superior performance and nutrition to conventional dairy proteins. Pre-seed funding will […]
3Mins Read Israel’s E-FISHient Protein is a joint startup project between BioMeat and The Volcani Institute. The project will look to develop, produce and market cultivated tilapia fish meat, using non-animal serums. Such serums are being considered for commercial sale, if they prove effective. BioMeat will act as controlling partner in the arangement, snaring 76 percent of […]
3Mins Read Estonia-based Gelatex claims that it has scaled its nanofiber scaffolding system to become capable of supporting 300 tonnes of cultivated meat per year. Using plant-based polymers, the startup has been able to drastically reduce the cost of substrates, removing another obstacle to commercial availability of cell-based protein products. Conventional meat production has tripled in the […]
4Mins Read Animal agriculture contributes to climate change to such an extent that there’s no question alternatives need to be embraced. As the second-largest human-caused contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, the industrial animal protein industry is demanding disruption. Thankfully, motivated founders are rising to the challenge, and new alternative protein startups are launching every day across the […]
4Mins Read Lewis Hamilton’s Neat Burger chain is branching out, stateside. The vegan fast-food startup has announced that following a pop-up location this month, it is opening a permanent Manhattan location. To date, Neat Burger is solely London-based. The move to New York is a significant marker of success for the brand, as is Leonardo DiCaprio coming […]
4Mins Read Hot on the heels of a $120 million Series B raise in January, Israel’s Remilk has announced ambitious construction plan: the precision fermentation dairy startup will create a full-scale factory on a recently acquired 750,000 square foot plot in Denmark, which would make it it the world’s largest animal-free dairy production facility. No construction deadline […]
4Mins Read A study conducted by the University of Helsinki suggests that diets that include cultivated meat and dairy could offer water, land and carbon emissions savings of more than 80% when compared to conventional European diets. The study further claims that the inclusion of novel foods would offer a more complete nutrient package than vegetarian and […]
3Mins Read Singapore’s Hoshay Food has released a line of plant-based ready meals designed to cater to local tastes. Crispy fried chicken and freshwater eel alternatives are included in the range which is claimed to be sustainable and health-focused. All ingredients in the new Hoshay line are natural and minimally processed, with tofu and shitake mushrooms taking […]
4Mins Read McDonald’s is serving OmniPork Luncheon meat, affectionately called ‘vegan Spam’, in its Hong Kong restaurants again. First introduced in late 2020, as part of the breakfast menu, it was rolled out through 280 locations, plus additional McCafés. Limited mainland China restaurants trialled the dish, representing the first time McDonald’s added plant-based options to its Chinese […]
Soy can be a contentious ingredient. As an allergen, it isn’t suitable for everybody, however, as a source of plant protein, it is a valuable addition to the diets of those who can tolerate it. Confusion can arise when discussing soy protein and protein isolate. Though they sound almost identical, the two products are distinct from one another and offer consumers different benefits. They have wildly different applications as well.
Soybeans, also known as edamame, are a protein-rich legume that can be easily processed. As well as being the building block of tofu and tempeh, beans can be processed into highly-refined ingredient forms. These are commonly observed in chunk and powder formats.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about both forms of protein and their uses.
Textured soy protein meat.
What is soy protein?
A dietary additive that includes a certain amount of carbohydrates, associated sugars and fibre.
How its made: In soy protein, all the constituent fat is removed from soybeans before extracting any water-soluble non-protein elements. This leaves a highly concentrated form of soy protein that contains carbohydrates and fibre as well.
What it’s used for: Standard soy protein is generally used in concentrate and textured formats. The first is commonly added to cereals, baked goods, baby formula and even beer. In recent years, it has been increasingly used in meat substitutes, to create a realistic texture and dense mouthfeel. A common allergen, some vegan meat companies are now seeking alternatives, such as pea protein.
Textured soy protein takes the form of larger chunks and pieces. It is often used in place of meat in recipes. It is sold as a dry product that needs to be rehydrated ahead of use.
Edamame served as a snack.
The benefits: Zero cholesterol, low saturated fat, and an excellent source of dietary protein that is easy for the body to digest. Some research has suggested that soy protein lowers bad cholesterol levels.
The downsides: Reports of lowered testosterone levels in men have led to some consumers becoming wary of soy protein. Similarly, elevated oestrogen has been floated as a cause of breast cancer. Both issues have been widely discredited by scientific research, but the rumours still persist.
As an allergen, soy can cause severe discomfort for consumers. Symptoms include gastrointestinal discomfort, breathing difficulties and a rash.
Nutritional info per 28 gram serving: 94 calories, 0.1 grams saturated fat, 16.5 grams protein, 8.8 grams carbohydrate and 1.6 grams fibre.
Soy-based meat alternative.
What is soy protein isolate?
The highest-quality version of soy it’s possible to source.
How it’s made: Soy protein isolate is processed in exactly the same way, but everything is removed, except the protein. All carbohydrates and fibre are extracted from eth already defatted beans. This leaves an all-protein end result that is more ‘pure’ than its counterpart.
What it’s used for: More refined and processed than standard soy protein, isolate has a high biological value. This means it is easily absorbed by the body and most of it is used. This makes it ideal for athletes and very active people. As a result, it is commonly found in supplements such as protein bars and shakes, fortified dairy products, and meat substitutes.
Gym goers favour soy isolate.
The benefits: Soy isolate is a perfect addition for those looking to cut fat and generate lean muscle. Without any carbohydrates, it fits into a calorie deficit diet plan easily. As with soy protein, it contains zero cholesterol and can contribute to a lowering of existing cholesterol levels.
Zinc is easily absorbed from soy isolate, as is vitamin B, calcium, iron, and magnesium. Together they impart energy, allowing for better sports performance.
The downsides: Soy isolate still falls prey to stereotypes of not being as effective in building muscle as whey protein. This is largely unfounded, as it contains all 9 essential amino acids and contains leucine in large amounts, which drives muscle growth.
See above for allergen information.
Nutritional info per 28 gram serving: 95 calories, 0.1 grams saturated fat, 25 grams protein, 0 grams carbohydrate, and fibre.
Soy milk and beans.
Debunking myths about soy protein
Vegan protein has been proven to be as effective at building muscle as animal-based counterparts. Recent research conducted in Brazil categorically revealed that there is no difference in the ability of plant-based or meat-eating men to build muscle and bulk up.
Similar findings were revealed in the 2019 documentary The Game Changers. The film took things a step further and made the case that animal protein is ineffectual for enhanced performance, due to the necessary fat digestion.
3Mins Read Seattle’s Rebellyous Foods has produced restaurant-quality vegan chicken nuggets that are equal in price to meat thanks to proprietary technology, dubbed the Mock 1S. The company says it took three years to get to what they describe a ‘world first’. Produced at scale, Rebellyous Foods’ nuggets offer attractive pricing, which remains a hurdle to consumer […]
There’s no disputing the industrial dairy complex is problematic, particularly when it comes to fighting the climate crisis. Dairy farms across the world are a major contributor to the total greenhouse gas emissions over the life cycle of milk and other dairy products. We’re profiling four alternative dairy startups from around the world that are looking to take cows out of the equation while creating milk for a sustainable future. From precision fermentation to cellular agriculture specialisms, these companies are using the latest technologies to reshaping how milk is produced.
All four companies participated in the Mylkcubator programme, a six month incubation programme by Pascual Innoventures. Alternative dairy is becoming a highly competitive field, thanks to success stories such as California-based Perfect Day, which has pioneered animal-free dairy ice cream, cream cheese and milk. As demand rises for conventional products, the race to bring new ethical and climate-friendly alternatives to market is firmly on.
Photo by Cats Coming at Pexels.
Consumers’ love affair with dairy
Though some individual countries, including Germany, say demand for dairy products is slowing down, overall global consumption is trending upward.
The environmental implications of such a surge come at a pertinent time, after a damning IPCC report that stated a categorical need for new food systems based on alternative proteins. Animal agriculture uses vast amounts of land, water, and energy. This generates emissions, both carbon and methane, that contribute significantly to the earth’s warming.
Though there is widespread acceptance that alternatives are needed, certain countries appear reluctant to embrace animal-free terminology. New Zealand recently opposed a motion to have ‘plant-based diets’ referred to in the IPCC Action Plan summary. It was supported by India and Kenya. Milked, a 2022 documentary, shines a light on the ethical and environmental disasters of the New Zealand dairy industry and makes the case for alternatives succinctly.
De Novo dairy co-founders. Phtot by De Novo.
1. De Novo dairy
A South African startup leveraging precision fermentation. The company was founded by the same people that launched Gourmet Grubb, an insect protein-based ice cream brand. De Novo has previously cited a desire to be the continent’s first precision fermentation-powder dairy setup capable of producing everything including milk and cheese.
The startup bagged an undisclosed amount of pre-seed funding in December last year, to support its R&D phase. It is now manufacturing high-value proteins for B2B supply.
2. Zero Cow Factory
India’s first bioengineering and microbial fermentation dairy company, Zero Cow Factory aims to differentiate itself from the myriad of domestic plant milk companies. It is currently working on developing proteins that act and taste identical to dairy ones.
The company cites its positive impact as being four-fold: healthier dairy, animal welfare and climate friendliness. It uses 98 percent less water than conventional dairy during production.
Photo by Real Deal Milk.
3. Real Deal Milk
Based in Spain, Real Deal Milk uses precision fermentation to create casein and whey proteins that function the same as conventional dairy ones. It aims to offer ingredients that will give alternative dairy products comparable taste and texture qualities, thus elevating the sector to new levels. It hails itself as creating “authentic dairy” with no animals.
The startup draws focus on the environmental and ethical downsides of dairy farming. It claims that of 7.6 billion people on earth, six million consume conventional dairy. Instead of increasing dairy production to meet the demands of a growing population, it suggests precision fermentation as a clean and sustainable alternative.
4. Pure Mammary Factors
Based in the U.S., Pure Mammary Factors is a 108Labs offshoot that seeks to reduce the cost of producing cultivated milk by developing affordable growth factors. Added to culture media, the factors allow for a faster production process, thereby costing less overall. Final products are slated to be food-grade growth factors that can be supplied globally to cultivated outfits. Milk produced can be ingested “straight from the cell” without being pasteurised, unlike most animal milk.
3Mins Read Good Food Technologies has unveiled its first plant-based brand, Plant Sifu. Offering meat-free alternatives to conventional dumplings and pork, the brand aims to undermine Asia’s demand for animal protein. Developed using proprietary fat technology, Plant Sifu’s pork analogue is cited as juicy and fragrant, making it appropriate for dumpling applications. Last month, Good Food closed […]
5Mins Read Shanghai-based CellX has announced that the China Cellular Agriculture Forum has held its first event. Hosted on April 19 the panel was attended by approximately 30 companies within the cultivated sector. These represented meat producers, research teams, and infrastructure partners from both within and outside of China. The aims of the forum centred around the […]
3Mins Read OneRare, builder of the first food-centric metaverse platform has revealed LA-based mini-chain Honeybee Burger will be joining its world. The plant-based brand sees the joining of the ‘foodverse’ as a new way to make meat-free menu items recognisable, desirable and universally accessible. By joining OneRare, Honeybee will create a virtual location that can be accessed […]
3Mins Read California’s Perfect Day has been confirmed as the winning bidder in an auction for Mumbai-based Sterling Biotech. The reported final figure was Rs 638 crore, with the reserve set as Rs 548.46 crore. Sterling entered into the liquidation process following insolvency and a failure to provide any resolution plan. Proceedings were started in 2018 by […]
3Mins Read Early years nutrition giant Gerber has launched a new all plant-based range. Plant-tastic is a selection of organic pouches, snacks and meals made using only plant protein sources. The move comes after Gerber announced in 2021 that it will be striving to create more climate-friendly products. Plant-tastic has been certifed as carbon neutral by the […]
7Mins Read Last month, on an early spring afternoon, I was seated inside the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills for a lunch dubbed “Taste the Future: A Luncheon Celebration of the Future of Food.” The “future of food” is a popular mantra for the times as food tech companies and farmers alike aim to fix a […]
3Mins Read Wicked Kitchen has unveiled a range of plant-based ice creams and frozen novelties powered by lupini beans. The brand says it has used the protein powerhouse in a way that no other ice cream manufacturer has, to date. The result is ‘extraordinary creaminess’ and mouthfeel. The chef-founded brand is heralding the development as a significant […]
4Mins Read Food service provider Sodexo has pledged to cut its carbon footprint by 34 percent, by 2025. In a bid to expedite the process, it plans to turn 42 percent of its menus across colleges and universities plant-based. Hundreds of U.S. educational establishments are set to feature new plant-forward menus. The Humane Society of the United […]
3Mins Read The legal battle between Motif FoodWorks and Impossible Foods is intensifying. The former has just announced it has filed a petition to challenge the validity of the patent at the centre of the contentious case. Motif claims that Impossible’s patent, connected to its alternative beef products, was falsely granted, and has asked a panel of […]
3Mins Read South Korea’s cultivated seafood startup CellMEAT has closed an $8.1 million Series A funding round. Investors included NaulB, BNK Venture Capital, Strong Ventures and Ryukyung. An extension of the round is being considered for later in 2022 following the raise’s success. The new funding will allow CellMEAT to continue its R&D activities to perfect its […]
3Mins Read ProVeg International supported a large-scale study into the effects of different types of canine nutrition. Findings show that nutritionally complete vegan diets are the healthiest option and expose dogs to the least food-related hazards. Research was conducted by a team of scientists across the U.K. and Australia. The project was the largest of its kind […]
4Mins Read San Francisco startup Nowadays has closed an oversubscribed $7 million seed round. Led by Stray Dog Capital, with meat processing operation Standard Meat Co, VegInvest Trust, FoodHack, and others participating, the round will support production scale-up. Total funding to date now totals almost $10 million since the company’s inception in 2020. Nowadays seeks to make […]
3Mins Read A new partnership between Conscious Eating Brazil, the Humane Society International, and Salvador’s city hall will see plant-based meals rolled out to Brazilian schools. In total, more than 10 million sustainable, plant-based meals are scheduled to be dished up in Salvador each year. Legumes, vegetables and grains will take the place of conventional animal protein […]
4Mins Read The Netherlands’ Upfield has disclosed its corporate methane footprint. It marks the first large food company in the world to do so. It claims to have released the data in a bid to push methane transparency into the food industry, alongside carbon declarations. To date, only the energy industry has been called on to offer […]
4Mins Read The Netherlands’ Upfield has disclosed its corporate methane footprint. It marks the first large food company in the world to do so. It claims to have released the data in a bid to push methane transparency into the food industry, alongside carbon declarations. To date, only the energy industry has been called on to offer […]
3Mins Read Planetary has confirmed it has raised $8.1 million in a seed financing round. Astanor Ventures led the investment, with XAnge, Blue Horizon, Nucleus Capital and more participating. The Geneva-based food tech is planning to use the money raised to complete the design and construction of a flagship site in Switzerland. And transplantable industrial-scale microbial fermentation […]
4Mins Read Dao Foods International has released the names of the latest six alternative protein companies to be welcomed into its incubator programme. They represent the third cohort since the project launched in 2020. The incubator scheme is intended to support and invest in 25-30 alt-protein companies that are China-specific, by the end of 2023. Companies do […]
4Mins Read Singapore’s Next Gen Foods has announced it is bringing its TiNDLE brand of vegan chicken to the U.K. Starting this month, the plant-based poultry alternative will be available through 11 restaurants and groups, covering 50 locations throughout London with notable hotspots such as as sketch and Aqua Shard. U.K. distribution follows a record-breaking Series A […]
