The big news this week? Two high-profile alt protein startups have called it quits, with Planetarians blaming a "mismatch between the capital intensity required to scale breakthrough manufacturing innovation and the current investor appetite for foodtech" and NovoNutrients blaming the "shifting investment climate.”

Both hope their tech finds a new home, however. Planetarians founder Aleh Manchuliantsau insists that "We’re specifically seeking acquirers who will actively utilize and develop this technology further.”

There was also uplifting news, with fresh funding for Provectus Algae's livestock methane reduction tech, a hot new deal in ag robotics, a production milestone for Helaina on human lactoferrin, and a regulatory green light for Mission Barns' cultivated pork fat from the USDA and Believer Meat's chicken from the FDA.

Finally, there was more drama in the David Protein/Epogee litigation, and a looming deadline for ag drone market leader DJI.

Have a great weekend! Louisa, Elaine, and Jenn

P.S. AgFunder principal Sofia Ramirez Calvo asks if AI can fix retailer challenges in category management ahead of AgFunder's webinar with portfolio company Lumi AI on July 30 (next Wednesday!) Learn more and sign up here.

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EXCLUSIVE: Alt meat co Planetarians is shutting down, seeks buyer looking for ‘de-risked, market-validated technology’

According to founder and CEO Aleh Manchuliantsau: "This isn't a liquidation; it's a strategic transition. We're specifically seeking acquirers who will actively utilize and develop this technology further." Elaine Watson

Breaking: Believer Meats secures FDA ‘no questions’ letter for cultivated meat, completes NC facility

CEO Gustavo Burger explained: “This is more than just progress, it’s a defining moment, a bold leap forward in our vision to lead food innovation that cares for the planet." Elaine Watson

Bonsai Robotics acquires farm-ng to herald new era of ‘AI-first machines that will transform crop management’

Tyler Niday: “Our vision is to be the world leader in autonomy for software for intelligent outdoor machines in adverse environments." Elaine Watson

Gas fermentation startup Novonutrients calls it quits, seeks buyer for assets: ‘The technology’s potential remains unchanged’

“The technology works," says former CEO David Tze. "We were proving that in our pilot phase. The challenge was capital intensity in a shifting investment climate.” Elaine Watson

Ag spray drone market disruption looms as deadline approaches for gov’t review of DJI models

If the US government does not review the security of Chinese drones soon, new DJI models could be blocked from the US market, warns the firm. Elaine Watson

Provectus Algae nets fresh funds to scale methane reduction seaweed tech platform

Provectus Algae claims it can transform the unit economics of growing Asparagopsis for livestock methane reduction. Elaine Watson

Mission Barns secures USDA green light for cultivated fat, plans Q3 launches

Mission Barns believes its tech can be competitive with conventional pork fat when produced in 20,000-L bioreactors, says CBO Cecelia Chang. Elaine Watson

10 million servings per run: Helaina scales human lactoferrin production

Helaina has struck deals with multiple partners who have launched with effera, including Kroma Wellness, Levelle, Healthgevity, Kepos, and Young Gut Ultra, with additional launches planned for later this year. Elaine Watson

More EPG customers share tales of woe in David Protein, Epogee litigation

Snack Owl claims it has been “forced to discontinue” low-calorie kettle chips formulated around EPG and “dispose of $70k worth of stranded materials, including perishables that cannot be repurposed.” Elaine Watson

With trials underway in multiple markets, OlsAro takes salt-tolerant wheat closer to market- AgFunder portfolio co!

OlsAro, which is on a mission to “enable farming on otherwise unfarmable land,” says it can help partners deliver meaningful increases in yield vs elite local varieties in saline soil. Elaine Watson

The short-term vacation rental industry has a $2.3bn food waste problem

Almost half of short-term rental consumers surveyed said they would like more information on how to donate food waste. Jennifer Marston

The Week in AgriFoodTech: Fresh funds for Quorn, Mara Renewables, NZN; Barry Callebaut explores plant cell culture

Plus... Barry Callebaut revealed plans to explore the potential of cocoa made via plant cell culture. Elaine Watson

Category management x AI: real fix or just another buzzword?

Category management—the not-so-glamorous engine behind what ends up on a retail shelf—has been stuck in first gear for years. Can AI help? Sofía Ramírez Calvo

Could plant cell culture pave the way for the next generation of antioxidants and antimicrobials?

Novella is also targeting the dietary supplement sector, “where we plan to launch products that offer a completely new approach to bioactive delivery and efficacy,” says cofounder Itay Dana. Elaine Watson

Guest article: How your AI undermines your innovation investments in subtle ways

Organizations can preserve innovation capacity while leveraging AI efficiency, but it requires intentional design choices. By guest contributor Dr Joseph Byrum

Guest article: Why agtech adoption fails… and how a Minimum Viable Ecosystem (MVE) can fix it

Agtech’s adoption issues are not due to rejection by farmers or poor investor fit. The problem lies in how new technologies are introduced. By guest contributor Rob Ward

Webinar: Advancing agtech with satellite connectivity

How does satellite connectivity bridge the digital divide in remote areas, enabling data transmission from even the most rugged environments? Join Globalstar, Spotter, and AgFunder at 10am EST on August 20 for an exclusive look at how satellite connectivity can assist with livestock and remote asset tracking, environmental sensing, smart irrigation, and logistics management with a special case study in Central Asia equine management.

Find out more and register here!

From record Series A to market reset: Where TiNDLE Foods—and plant-based meat—go next

“The fundamental issue is that there is no real underlying consumer demand to shift away from meat,” says TiNDLE cofounder Andre Menezes. Elaine Watson

Competition, price jumps expected as demand outpaces supply of European forest carbon credits

2025 is "a critical window for forward-looking companies to take action" on forest carbon credits, says project developer Arbonics. Jennifer Marston

Freight Farms customers find a new home as vertical farming co Growcer acquires the former’s assets

Freight Farms ceased operations on April 30 after a period of financial strain that included layoffs and a scrapped merger. Jennifer Marston

How are cutting-edge analytics and AI reshaping the retail and supply chain landscape? Join guest speakers from Deloitte, Boston Consulting Group, and the former CEO of Daisy Intelligence at noon ET on July 30 in the latest installment of a new webinar series hosted by AgFunder and portfolio company Lumi AI to explore real AI use cases delivering ROI in the supply chain.