The Week in AgriFoodTech: New Forests fund makes $300m first close, the EU invests in alt protein

This week — the last before the AgFunderNews team takes a holiday break — saw several announcements for new funds and grants, including a $300 million first close for New Forests fund and the proposed €50 million ($55 million) the European Union wants to channel into alternative protein investment. But not all of the EU is onboard, it seems. Also this week, lawmakers in France proposed a ban on cultivated meat, with some referring to it as “junk food.”

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The team at food redistribution startup Munch. Image credit: Munch

Agtech & foodtech funding news

NewLeaf Symbiotics bags another $45m to bring its ‘new class of microbial amendments’ to more row crops AgFunderNews

Tallinn-based Arbonics gets €5.5 million to build the highest-quality forest carbon platform to fight climate change EU Startups

Nexus Development Capital Adds Carbon Removal to Growing Portfolio with a $5M Investment in Maine-based Standard Biocarbon PR Newswire

Deep Agro raises $2M for AI-based agtech expansion to Brazil and the US Latamlist

Food saving app Munch anounces Series A funding Tech.eu

The Bushel mobile app. Image credit: Bushel

M&A, IPOs & partnerships

Loveland Products and Ascribe team up to launch biofungicides for U.S. row crops Crop Life

Terviva Announces Strategic Partnership With Mitsubishi Corporation NewsWire

Bushel expands ERP partnership network with integration of Oakland Corporation’s FarmerData Feed & Grain

Highlander Partners announces acquisition of Fuerst Day Lawson Holdings Ltd Highlander Partners

Image credit: Brightseed

Funds, grants & accelerators

New Forests makes first close of ANZ-focused forestry fund at over $300m Deal Street Asia

The EU invests €50M to help startups scale up alternative proteins Tech.eu

Springdale Ventures closes $40m fund for early-stage consumer brands: ‘As investors, we’re here to help remove obstacles’ AgFunderNews

$11M grant aims to develop scions and rootstocks to fight HLB The Packer

Libre Foods wins €335K grant to pioneer low-cost mycelium for meat alternatives Vegconomist

Brightseed receives grant to improve EED outcomes in undernourished mothers Nutraceuticals World [Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor in Brightseed.] 

HYDROCOW’s $6m project to make whey protein from CO2 & hydrogen: ‘It’s high-risk, high-reward’ AgFunderNews

Image generated by DALL·E with prompts from AgFunderNews

People moves

Dustin Sapp Named CEO of Traction Ag Crop Life

Local Bounti replaces CEO after 6 months as the indoor farming company restructures Food Dive

TRACT appoints Allison Kopf as new CEO Vertical Farm Daily

Other news

Delivery Hero closes hubs in Taiwan, Turkey in push to cut costs Bloomberg

Dutch startup Pieter Pot declared bankrupt: All you need to know Silicon Canals

‘Blending tradition and innovation’: Senara emerges from stealth as Europe’s first cultured dairy startup Green Queen

French parliamentarians propose law to ban cultivated meat, calling it “junk food” Vegconomist

 

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