AgFunderNews reports on the evolution of the global food and agriculture system. By going beyond the headlines, we analyze the people, companies and technologies aiming to improve human and planetary health. Publishing daily, our team of award-winning journalists delivers deeper insight on the growing foodtech, agtech and climate tech industries. A multimedia publication, AgFunderNews is a division of AgFunder, one of the world’s most active agrifoodtech venture capital firms.
'Significant push back' on self-GRAS rule, Miyoko’s back on shelf in May, Pepper’s $50m raise, Iran war's global impact, David Protein lawsuit latest
Express interest in investing in Fund V. AgFunder is a top 100 VC, according to TIME and Statista. Is your business ready for AI analytics? Find out more here.
This week: A proposed rule that would eliminate the self-affirmed GRAS pathway is coming soon. But what does it mean in practice, does HHS have the legal authority to make these changes without Congress, and how should firms be preparing now? Elsewhere, rising fertilizer prices triggered by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz “raise the risk of widespread demand destruction,” warns Rabobank. Plus:
And finally... more highlights from Future Food-Tech as Kawa Project replaces cocoa with spent coffee grounds, Bettani Farms shares its new strategy, and Fermelanta rejigs microbes’ internal wiring to produce rare plant metabolites. Have a fantastic week! Louisa, Jenn, and Elaine "Word is there was a significant push back on this, both directly to FDA/HHS and at OMB," says Bob Durkin at law firm Amin Wasserman Gurnani. Elaine Watson Miyoko’s plant-based butters, cream cheeses, will return to shelves in May, says new owner "Supply chain partnerships are in place, and we're preparing to bring back distribution over the next few weeks," says Scott Fischer. Elaine Watson Fertilizer spike adds up to $35/acre for US corn as Iran crisis deepens Farmers will reduce application rates, delay purchases, or shift crop choices, warns Rabobank. Elaine Watson David has created an artificial monopoly in a new market segment: protein bars with 50-75% calories from protein, allege plaintiffs. Elaine Watson Inside Pepper’s push to digitize foodservice’s long tail, armed with $50m and agentic AI "The independent segment of this industry has been kind of a black box from a sales and marketing analytics perspective," says Bowie Cheung. Elaine Watson Why regen ag producers can’t get capital—and what alternative lender Steward is doing about it Steward's alternative financing model builds creative financing options for farmers outside of the traditional system. Jennifer Marston Plus: Beyond Meat strikes new supply deal with Roquette. Elaine Watson 🎥 As cocoa prices swing, Kawa Project offers an upcycled alternative from spent coffee grounds "One of the smart ways to bring in cash to the business is to do paid pilots," says Aaron Feigelman. Elaine Watson "We took a step back and asked what are the biggest areas of the market that make sense for us to focus on," says CEO Sandeep Patel. Elaine Watson 🎥 Fermelanta introduces “unprecedented’ number of genes into microbes to make rare plant compounds Fermelanta produces rare plant metabolites via engineered microbes where extraction from plants is costly or not viable. Elaine Watson SEADLING founder Simon Davis on bringing long-term economic benefit to SEA's seaweed farmers - AgFunder portfolio co! SEADLING addresses challenges in the seaweed value chain. Jennifer Marston 🎥Beyond glyphosate: Quercus Bio targets weeds with designer proteins Designer proteins could account for half of the crop protection market within the next 10-15 years, predicts Dr. Jon Lightner. Elaine Watson In the first instance, Bindbridge is looking to develop a new broad spectrum non specific herbicide that can replace glyphosate. Elaine Watson 🎥 Digital twins: Heritable Ag combines AI, genomics and environmental data to slash R&D timelines Theoretical physicist turned agtech entrepreneur Brad Zamft is on a mission to make plant breeding faster and cheaper. Elaine Watson 🎥 21st Bio on strains, scale, and the valley of death: Fixing precision fermentation’s weak links Can tiny biological production factories ever give petrochemicals or animals a run for their money? 21st Bio weighs in. Elaine Watson 🎥Totality Biosciences bets on plants to scale human milk oligosaccharides for a wider audience Several firms now use microbes to produce HMOs for infant formula. But could producing them in plants unlock a broader audience? Elaine Watson
President's budget would slash USDA spending by $4.9B Agri-Pulse Failed AI tractor company lays off all employees, abandons Bay Area headquarters SF Gate eFishery statement: From Aqua-Spark's founders Epic winter drought creates a bleak situation for farmers — and your food The Washington Post ‘India is going to face a food crisis’: Farmers panic over fertiliser shortages amid Iran war The Guardian A year on: Four ways Trump's tariffs have changed the global economy BBC Will AI be a net positive for aquaculture? Civil Eats
America's top greentech companies of 2026 - Featuring Kula Bio! TIME NEW! 2026 Global AgriFoodTech Investment Report 2025 Developing Markets AgriFoodTech Investment Report 2025 Global AgriFoodTech Investment Report 10 years in agrifoodtech: an 83-page e-zine Climate Capital: Financing Adaptation Pathways for Smallholder Farmers IntegriCulture (Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) Sales account manager (US west coast) Chinova Bioworks (US west coast) Varaha (Bengaluru, India) Research technician (open call) Resurrect Bio (London, UK) Eratani (Indramayu, West Java, Indonesia) Klim (Berlin, Germany) Phagos (Le Mans, France) ♥️ our newsletter? Forward to a friend or subscribe here |
AgFunderNews
AgFunderNews reports on the evolution of the global food and agriculture system. By going beyond the headlines, we analyze the people, companies and technologies aiming to improve human and planetary health. Publishing daily, our team of award-winning journalists delivers deeper insight on the growing foodtech, agtech and climate tech industries. A multimedia publication, AgFunderNews is a division of AgFunder, one of the world’s most active agrifoodtech venture capital firms.
Express interest in investing in Fund V. AgFunder is a top 100 VC, according to TIME and Statista. Is your business ready for AI analytics? Find out more here. This week: A proposed rule that would eliminate the self-affirmed GRAS pathway is coming soon. But what does it mean in practice, does HHS have the legal authority to make these changes without Congress, and how should firms be preparing now? Elsewhere, rising fertilizer prices triggered by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz...
Express interest in investing in Fund V. AgFunder is a top 100 VC, according to TIME and Statista. Is your business ready for AI analytics? Find out more here. This week: Anxiety is mounting over the ripple effects of the war with Iran, with experts warning that while domestic energy production may offer some buffer, it won’t shield US farmers, food companies, or consumers from global price shocks. Elsewhere, Beyond Meat says its foray into beverages is a logical move—and not an admission of...
Express interest in investing in Fund V. AgFunder is a top 100 VC, according to TIME and Statista. Is your business ready for AI analytics? Find out more here. This week: Anxiety is mounting over the ripple effects of the war with Iran, with experts warning that while domestic energy production may offer some buffer, it won’t shield US farmers, food companies, or consumers from global price shocks. Elsewhere, Beyond Meat says its foray into beverages is a logical move—and not an admission of...