Category: Chemicals & Materials

Liberation Labs raises $12.5 million

Liberation Labs raises $12.5 million

April 8, 2024 |

In the Isle of Man, cellular agriculture company Agronomics has invested $10 million in its portfolio company, Liberation Labs Holding, as part of a wider $12.5 million financing round with participation from existing investor Siddhi Capital. Liberation Labs is seeking to become the industrial biotechnology industry’s global fabrication partner through the design, construction and operation […]

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Gaia Biomaterials receives $5 million rights issue to help scale limestone-based bioplastic

Gaia Biomaterials receives $5 million rights issue to help scale limestone-based bioplastic

April 8, 2024 |

In Sweden, bioplastics maker Gaia Biomaterials has secured a $5 million rights issue backed by the Swedish state-owned greentech venture capital fund Almi Invest Greentech and private international and domestic investors. Funds will be used to expand market penetration in the United States, India, and other targeted markets.     Gaia Biomaterials’ home-compostable, limestone-based material, Biodolomer, can […]

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Sparxell raises $3.2 million for biobased pigments

Sparxell raises $3.2 million for biobased pigments

April 8, 2024 |

In the United Kingdom, Sparxell, a developer of plant-based pigments, has completed a $3.2-million funding round. The cash will be used to accelerate development and commercialization of its pigment sin cosmetics, fashion, paint, and packaging applications. Sparxell was founded in 2022 by Cambridge scientists, led by Dr. Benjamin Droguet and Professor Silvia Vignolini, who discovered […]

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NatureWorks and IMA create compostable coffee pod

NatureWorks and IMA create compostable coffee pod

April 8, 2024 |

In Minnesota, a two-year partnership between IMA Coffee and polylactic acid producer NatureWorks has resulted in the development of a compostable coffee pod. Unveiled at the recent AMI Single-Serve Capsules conference in Boston, the pod features a rigid capsule body, filter, and lidding made from Ingeo™️ PLA biopolymer.  Every IMA Coffee pod filling and sealing […]

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Onego Bio raises $40 million for animal-free egg protein

Onego Bio raises $40 million for animal-free egg protein

April 8, 2024 |

In Finland, Onego Bio has completed a $40-million Series A funding round to drive commercialization and manufacturing of egg protein via precision fermentation. Founded in 2022 as a spinoff from VTT, Onego Bio’s Bioalbumen® is bioidentical to ovalbumin, the major protein in chicken egg white, and contains all essential amino acids. Onego says Bioalbumen also […]

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CJ Biomaterials taps Matmerize for biopolymer-optimizing AI

CJ Biomaterials taps Matmerize for biopolymer-optimizing AI

April 8, 2024 |

In Massachusetts, CJ Biomaterials has successfully used Matmerize’s artificial intelligence technology to optimize polyhydroxyalkanoates biopolymers. Spun out of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Matmerize’s PolymRize™ platform uses virtual screening and AI algorithms to identify the most optimal materials, accelerating the materials engineering process and saving valuable time and resources.  In a recent collaboration with Matmerize, […]

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Potatoes: Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew… or use them to grow animal protein

Potatoes: Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew… or use them to grow animal protein

April 1, 2024 |

In Israel, PoLoPo has unveiled SuperAA, a plant molecular farming platform to grow egg protein ovalbumin in potatoes, after raising $2.3 million in 2023. Vegconomist reports that PoLoPo looks to use potatoes as living factories for cruelty-free, lower cost, and more sustainable production of the proteins. Target markets include nutrition applications, such as protein powder. […]

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Belgrade’s Bpack backs bark-based bioplastic

Belgrade’s Bpack backs bark-based bioplastic

April 1, 2024 |

In Belgrade, a packaging startup has developed a bioplastic using bark—an underutilized waste from timber processing—and used coffee grounds. According to AgFunderNews, Bpacks’ material can replace conventional plastics in packaging produce, meat, and other goods.  While capacity remains small, cofounder Mikhail Skalkin believes Bpacks has an edge over other bioplastics when it comes to marketability. […]

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AQUA Cultured Foods taps Ginkgo Bioworks to accelerate alternative tuna and scallops

AQUA Cultured Foods taps Ginkgo Bioworks to accelerate alternative tuna and scallops

April 1, 2024 |

In Chicago, AQUA Cultured Foods has partnered with Ginkgo Bioworks to optimize production of alternative seafood. Specifically, the two companies will jointly optimize AQUA Cultured Foods’ fermentation technology and advance the development and production of AQUA’s 100% fish-free products that emulate the look, feel, and taste of fresh-caught seafood. Leveraging Ginkgo’s microbial characterization and analytics, […]

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Innocent Meat raises €3 million

Innocent Meat raises €3 million

April 1, 2024 |

In Germany, a company developing an automated, end-to-end cultivated meat production concept has raised €3 million despite what it characterizes as a “challenging market environment.”  Founded in 2020, Innocent Meat said participants include anchor investor Venture Capital Fonds MV, which invested €500 thousand, and a new private investor, which invested €2.5 million. Together with the […]

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