Opinion

Ali Morpeth, co-founder of the Planeatry Alliance, suggests that alternative proteins have reached a pivotal moment, and how the food system adapts them is the next big hurdle. For much of the past decade, the alternative protein…
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The Ultra-Processed Food (UPF) narrative has gone viral by weaponizing the innate human fear of the unknown, also known as neophobia, inadvertently grouping sustainable and necessary novel food innovations with nutritionally poor junk…
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Sara Ayech, UK director for Madre Brava, believes retailers in the UK have faltered by focusing on animal proteins in their new GLP-1 product lines. Checking out the new supermarket ranges for January, it’s interesting to see several of…
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Building a technology moat is hard for any company, but especially for alternative protein producers, which have considerably less funding available. But they can build moats through a strategic approach to co-manufacturing, ingredient…
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Simo Ellilä, co-founder and CEO of Enifer, argues why the self-affirmed GRAS pathway – set to be eliminated by the US FDA this year – is worth preserving. As the FDA reviews its framework for self-affirmed GRAS determinations, many in…
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James Petrie, co-founder and CEO of Nourish Ingredients, argues why the processed food discourse lacks nuance, and how the food tech industry can provide winning solutions. The food industry is at a crossroads marked by confusion,…
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Regulatory expert Stephen O'Rourke explains why the global future food industry could learn a thing from Dubai's RegLab model. If foodtech is going to scale globally, the next breakthroughs will not come from bioreactors or cell lines.…
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Aline Baroni, country director of ProVeg Brasil, makes a case for why COP30 could bring about a pivotal shift in the fight for a better agrifood system. Brazil’s ecosystems are a kaleidoscope of life. According to UNEP, the…
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Maddy Haughton-Boakes, senior campaigner at the Changing Markets Foundation, on how the Big Ag lobby is flooding COP30, and how to curb its greenwashing efforts. As COP30 enters its final days, an unfortunate takeaway is the…
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Didier Toubia, co-founder and CEO of cultivated meat pioneer Aleph Farms, believes alternative proteins are bouncing back as business models mature and regulators take notice. For several years, complementary proteins have followed a…
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Regulatory expert Stephen O'Rourke suggests that for food tech founders, the real advantage isn’t speed – it’s knowing what regulators expect before you apply. Ask any food tech founder what keeps them up at night, and regulation is…
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Gali Artzi, partner and CTO at VC firm PeakBridge, suggests that science is finally catching up to ancient tradition with functional mushrooms – and investors are watching. While consumers wade through wellness trends and superfood…
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Wichayapat Piromsan, Thailand director for Madre Brava, sheds light on Thailand's animal protein overconsumption and why more plants need to be on the plate. Browsing the aisles of a Bangkok health food store recently, I saw something…
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Compassion in World Farming's Christopher Browne argues how factory farming both contributes to – and is impacted by – the climate crisis. And the vicious cycle must stop. 17,000 dead cattle. 1.2 million dead chickens. And a 342 million…
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Regulatory consultant Stephen O’Rourke argues why the EU's current novel food regulation is slow, and what it can learn from competitors. When startups develop novel food ingredients, from precision-fermented proteins to algae-based…
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Owen Ensor, co-founder and CEO of British cultivated pet food startup Meatly, on why political bans shouldn't deter investors from the alternative protein ecosystem. The past year has witnessed a surge in media attention surrounding…
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Dr Sarah Ison, global director of research at Madre Brava, argues that the ultra-processed food discourse is helping worsen climate change. Ultra-processed foods, or UPFs, are dominating news sites, opinion pages and influencers’ social…
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Robert Dupree, general partner at VC firm Alwyn Capital, argues that future foods and alternative proteins are key to winning the AI race. If artificial intelligence (AI) is going to be the new determining factor for global hegemony,…
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I love coffee. I drink it every day. It’s part of my culture, my mornings, my memories. But behind each cup is a fragile system, and that system is breaking. Coffee and cocoa are daily rituals for many of us, but behind every cup or…
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James Murdock, founder of circular tech firm Alchemy, argues that circularity isn't just good for the planet – it makes business sense too, and smart tech brands know it. The circular economy – the infrastructure by which we collect…
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What's the best way to relatably communicate the carbon footprint of food products on their packaging? What do a running man, a banana, and a footprint all have in common? No, it’s not the start of a bad joke, but each of these items…
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