Caroline Cotto

Did you see our feature in the Sacramento Business Journal? We are sharing how Exceedient Foods, the innovation arm of Farmers' Rice Cooperative, is revolutionizing the food industry with single-source gluten-free ingredient solutions. 🌾✨ Dive into the full article to explore our commitment to shaping a future of delicious and sustainable food:https://lnkd.in/gkUarX24

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Indoor farming has attracted over $6 billion in investments since 2019: It's a year-round method of crop production that optimizes space through its use of vertically stacked layers. It’s projected to grow (10% by 2032, reaching $96 billion*), yet many are struggling to deliver returns. Notably, AppHarvest recently filed for bankruptcy after reporting a net loss of $177 million, highlighting the challenges in achieving profitability in this sector. ⬆️On the up - Plenty® is one to watch - they are flush with funding from SoftBank and have formed a JV with Abu Dhabi-based Mawarid Holding Investment .They are building a network of indoor farms, likely starting with an indoor strawberry farm in Abu Dhabi. If successful, it would help elevate indoor farming as a more marketable proposition - particularly in locations that are too dry for traditional farms. Indoor farming has appeal for sure..but they an infrastructure-heavy, pricey endeavor that has proven incompatible with venture exit time frames. This begs the question around the sustainability of funding models in industries focused on longer-term growth. #VentureCapital #IndoorFarming #Investment #Sustainability #Agriculture *Statista

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This resonates and is a terrific introspective piece by Andre Menezes. Love that he ends on an ambitious note: 🌱🍽️ "By focusing on addressing genuine consumer needs, fortifying health claims, and cultivating sustainable demand, the plant-based food industry can chart a course toward resilience and resurgence." 👉🏽As an early investor in both wins and losses in this space, I believe there is much more to come for alt proteins, and a resurgence is around the corner. #AlternativeProteins #Sustainability #FoodInnovation #FutureOfFood #ClimateAction #GlobalFoodSecurity https://lnkd.in/g8FwTivt

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With roots in food systems investing, I know how complex and entrenched the issues are when it comes to ensuring communities have fresh, accessible, nutritional, and sustainable food options. The PATH Foundation’s grant work with 4P Foods is an excellent case study for how to drive meaningful change in local food systems. It also underlines that such transformative efforts require radical collaboration, mission alignment across stakeholders, and various forms of capital. This evaluation report from Hudson Varick Resources is a valuable read for anyone in food systems-oriented impact investing, philanthropy, grantmaking, etc!

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I am delighted to share the culmination of several months time spent studying the CPG industry's commitments to #regenerativeagriculture in conjunction with CREO. Regenerative Agriculture is a movement that is intensely needed at scale across all food systems, and regeneration can also be interwoven at the foundation of almost every single industry and economy in the world. Our findings: - 68 out of the top 100 food companies have shared something centered on regenerative agriculture, more than half have specific commitments. - We don't have enough #agronomists in the pipeline and will continue to need many more as the decade unfolds. Direct work and trust building with farmers is crucial to this effort. Solutions must be built from the soil and up. - We need more incentives for diverse #croprotations as a shift to polyculture and continuous living cover are necessary for local and regional water cycles and aquifer recharge. - Premiums and the lack of willingness to pay them or pass them to the consumer are a concerted issue for the broader movement as CPGs still think of these as "commodity" costs when they are actually foundational "retooling" costs to stabilize future business operations. - Consumers are interested in engaging with regenerative agriculture when they know it is tied to their interests in taste, health, quality and nutrition but brands are lagging in this area. - Life Cycle Assessment methodology gaps are a global risk as it relates to the absolute value of regenerative, organic, perennial, and Indigenous managed lands. We need better data on the already best in class cropping systems. - We need new #mindsets for the work ahead! Collaboration - not competition - is the only way forward to scale the solutions needed! I hope you'll take a look at the report and the outcomes mapped within, then roll up your sleeves even further and dig into the regenerative movement! Reach out if you need further inspiration! With much gratitude to Gabriela Leslie for the wonderful partnership and clear vision in bringing this to fruition!

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It's August, do you have your plan to beat your 2024 fundraising goals? To my #foodrescue #foodwaste #nutrition #foodaccess #soilhealth #regenag #nonprofit colleagues: Reduce the stress and headache of the end-of-year fundraising scramble and join me for the fall cohort of the climate messaging mastery course. This unique 5-week program is designed to empower food-focused nonprofit and fundraising teams with the essential skills and resources to meaningfully connect with climate-focused donors, thereby increasing their impact on our food system and beyond. During the course, you and your team get: 💥 1:1 strategy sessions 📑 a customized funder prospect list 🔎 tons of resources and information to help you reach your fundraising goals 🚀 small group conversations with some very special guests from the funder world I hope to welcome you or relevant colleagues in September. If you have any questions, need additional information before signing up, or financial support, don’t hesitate to reach out. Learn more about the program and enroll here: https://lnkd.in/gjRZdf88 If you need more convincing, check out Jonathan Foley and Project Drawdown: https://lnkd.in/g82_abMF Littlefoot Ventures Eva Goulbourne #climateaction #foodsystemstransformation #philanthropy #climatephilanthropy

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🍓💰 FoodTech 500 alum raises funding to expand build a vertical farm in Japan for its strawberries. Jersey-based vertical farming company Oishii has raised $16 million in additional funding to support its expansion into Chicago and the launch of its first international facility in Tokyo, Japan. Led by Resilience Reserve and Miyako Capital, the investment highlights strong backing for Oishii’s premium strawberries, known for their quality and year-round availability. The company is scaling production with its new 237,500 square-foot smart farm in New Jersey, which increases capacity twentyfold. CEO Hiroki Koga emphasized Oishii’s vision for more accessible, high-quality food, with plans to open an innovation center in Tokyo. While competitors in indoor farming face challenges, Oishii thrives by focusing on strawberries instead of leafy greens. Its Omakase and Koyo berries, sold for $10 per 8-count at Whole Foods in Chicago and featured in Michelin-starred restaurants, have established a luxury niche in the global produce market. More information in the full Food Dive article: https://lnkd.in/e2RYyPY9 #ForwardFooding #FoodTech500 #verticalfarming #sustainability #agtech #innovation

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In today's edition of #CultivatingKnowledge we're unpacking the future economics of cultivated food! 🥩 As the cultivated meat industry gains momentum, scalability remains the key to making it a true alternative to traditional animal farming. A recent Nature Magazine Food study highlights a breakthrough in this journey, focusing on the continuous, cost-effective manufacturing of cultivated chicken using an animal-free medium. 👩‍🔬 The study zeros in on two critical cost drivers: bioreactor sizes with fed-batch processes and culture medium costs. By leveraging tangential flow filtration (TFF) and an animal-component-free (ACF) medium, the research shows that the cost of cultivated chicken could drop to around $6.20 per pound - bringing it closer to the price range of organic chicken. This is a game-changing advancement that could disrupt the meat industry and make cultivated meat more accessible to everyone. 🍽 🍗 Hats off to the Believer Meats research team for this accomplishment! Your contributions bring us one step closer to a world where cultivated meat is not just sustainable, but also affordable and scalable. 👏 👉 Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eqVyKMUV If you're curious about the details and how this can help scale production while reducing costs, it's definitely worth a read. #CultivatingKnowledge #Sustainability #FoodTech #DeepTech #CultivatedMeat #Innovation #FutureOfFood #HoxtonFarms

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We need to empower consumers to make informed choices about the products they purchase if we are to truly have mass adoption of alternative proteins. The USDA's recent update on meat label guidelines is a significant step forward in ensuring transparency and accountability in the food industry. By requiring evidence-based claims for terms like 'climate-friendly' and 'humanely-raised,' this policy change not only helps combat greenwashing but also incentivizes innovation in sustainable and ethical meat production practices. I really believe the future of food depends on our commitment to transparency and accountability. It will be interesting to see how this sparks the industry. I liked this overview analysis in the Green Queen: https://lnkd.in/eZHJGpcG #agrofoodtech #sustainability #ClimateTech #USDA #MeatLabels

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Fundraising in agrifoodtech? I know it's not easy. It's challenging in regular times and is especially hard in today's tricky economic market. That's why I was glad to share my two cents in FoodHack Weekly on how startups can thrive through: 📋Having a solid plan 🎯Focusing on customers ✨Showcasing your unique value 🌿Being ready to adapt While all these tips are essential, I want to emphasize the importance of nailing your pitch by demonstrating how your solution solves real, pressing problems for your target market. This will allow you to frame your solution as a "must-have" for future clients. And combined with a business plan that screams, "I'm scalable and sustainable," it will attract any investor's attention. What other tips would you recommend a fellow entrepreneur that should have been mentioned? https://lnkd.in/eWZaSEHH #AgrifoodTech #InvestorInsights #Startup #Fundraising #Agritech #Foodtech

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Changing Markets Foundation have published "New Merchants of Doubt" a must-read report on Big Meat and Dairy and the tactics they use to maintain the status quo to keep these food systems running to the detriment of animals, humans, and planet.   Factory farming persists as the dominant food system, even though: ➡️ animal agriculture is a major emitter of greenhouse gases, primarily methane, which heats up the atmosphere even quicker than CO2 ➡️ year after year we see unprecedented temperature increases, natural disasters, and parts of the planet literally on fire ➡️ the conditions in factory farms are breeding grounds for the spread of zoonotic disease and antimicrobial resistance – major risks to public health ➡️ animals are subjected to cramped, dark keeping conditions, often without ever having their hooves or feet touch earth   Reading this report is a step towards understanding the depth of the issue and the distraction, delay and derailment tactics that are part of the Big Meat and Dairy playbook. We need an integrated approach food to production that includes the wellbeing of animals, human, and the planet. Changes to farming practices should not be voluntary measures that Big Meat and Dairy can opt for, or not. Let's use this knowledge to push for legislation that ensures sustainable farming practices and prioritises animal welfare, human health, and environmental protection. Together, we can make a difference. #AnimalWelfare #DoBetterForAnimals #Climate #FactoryFarming

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🍷 Big shoutout to Archer Roose Wines, one of our SoGal Ventures portfolio companies, for their groundbreaking collab with Cornell University! They released a research with the Food Science Department on sulfite formation in canned wines and is getting serious attention in the media! 🥂 🔬 This is more than just a win for Archer Roose—it’s a huge moment for the whole canned wine industry. As Co-Founder & CEO Marian Leitner-Waldman puts it, “This study isn’t just about showing how Archer Roose ensures premium quality, it’s about pushing the entire industry forward. We’re breaking old perceptions and driving innovation.” This is how change happens—raising standards, sharing knowledge, and inspiring a whole category to evolve. 🍇🎉 Check out the research here: https://shorturl.re/7frkq #innovation #cannedwine  #foodscience #womeninbusiness #industrydisruption

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Check out this article on Food Cycle Science (a Power Sustainable Lios portfolio company) featuring CEO Bradley Crepeau! We’re very proud of the work Brad and his team are doing to combat #FoodWaste.

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Dairy biomethane digester study for central California concludes: “These results indicate that EJ concerns are not a dominant factor when deciding whether to adopt biogas electricity production in central California. Conclusion - Dairy waste emissions in the SJV make minor contributions to regional O3 and PM2.5 concentrations.” Capturing methane emissions is good for local communities by improving air quality and reducing climate impacts while creating significant investment and job creation in lower income areas.

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Look Ma, we made it to Sprouts Farmers Market ! 🥂 3 flavors are landing in 30+ select locations in Southern California as part of Sprouts’ Innovation Table and we are thrilled! Big shoutout to the team at Pod Foods for including EATABLE INC. in their Box of Innovation which was instrumental in having us be part of this launch alongside other fab CPG brands. As much as we’re celebrating today, I also wanted to take a second to call out (esp to my non-CPG friends who may not realize this)… The road to mass grocery and retail is HARD AF. 😅 It has always been a dream of Vincent Li and I as founders to see EATABLE popcorn on the shelves of major grocery stores. But truth be told, this journey to bridge EATABLE’s brand identity from a premium gift/department store brand to mass grocery brand has been chock full of headwinds. We’ve pivoted countless times over the last 2 years to tweak: - Pricing (one of the BIGGEST hurdles for emerging brands) - Pack size - Pack design and branding - Distribution model - Logistics and supply chain - Channel strategy - Trade marketing support strategy - Balancing a lean marketing budget between online and offline to drive sellthrough and velocity Getting on shelf is an important first step, but there’s lots of heavy lifting to be done to ensure we sell OFF the shelf too! 🛒 Our journey has been full of small tests, lots of failures and rejection along the way, which have resulted in a TON of learnings (for future posts!) In the meantime, if you or someone you know is in SoCal - Please shop EATABLE INC. at your local Sprouts and grab a bag of popcorn that will POP a party in your mouth, and start conversations at your next gathering! How we perform in these next 90 days at their Innovation Table will determine whether we get to stay on the shelves for the long haul! 🥳 Any CPG friends who have experience selling into Sprouts I’d love to connect and learn from you! And if you happen to see us in store, help a girl out and send a quick photo or “shelfie” with EATABLE - it’ll make my day in more ways than you know! 🍿+🥂 #EATABLE #CPGbusiness #CPGfounder #foodstartup #RetailLaunch #Sprouts #SoCal

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Thanks Ryan Daily and FoodNavigator-USA for the insightful interview, and for highlighting Proxy Foods’ contribution to the #FoodTech space. We were delighted to participate in the Future Food-Tech conference and share ideas with leaders in the alternative protein industry. We believe that #AI will have an outsized impact on how we source, produce and consume our food – and #AlternativeProtein is an important part of the changes that are already taking shape. https://lnkd.in/dSwSPF44 

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🌱 Excited to share insights from Nathan McGovern, Co-Founder of Plant-Based Universities, on driving transformative change in sustainable food systems! Here are some key takeaways from todays event: 🔑 Prioritizing Transformative Change: Transformative change seeks to "change what's possible" by introducing symbolic demands that reframe conversations and create moral urgency. In response to climate and ecological crises, Nathan stressed the strategic, practical, and cultural importance of demanding transformative change, inspiring societal shifts. 💡 The Importance of Claiming Wins: Transformative changes take time, so Nathan stressed that it is crucial to define and publicize your wins along the way. Claiming victories helps build belief, buy-in, and a culture of success, ultimately contributing to broader societal change. 🔄 Centralization vs. Decentralization: Nathan discussed the balance between centralization and decentralization in campaign management. Successful campaigns find a middle ground, with clear unified goals while allowing space for innovation and adaptability. 👥 Transformative vs. Transactional Leadership: Nathan contrasted leadership styles, emphasizing the importance of fostering vision-oriented, people-centered cultures over short-term, strategy-focused approaches. ⚖️ Avoiding Binary Thinking: Nathan emphasized the need to recognize nuances in leadership and campaign strategies, steering clear of binary thinking. Thank you Nathan, for sharing your insights and shedding light on the power of transformative campaign asks and the strategies needed to drive impactful results within universities and beyond. Let's keep pushing boundaries and driving sustainability forward! Join us for the final event in our Earth Month series next week on April 23rd to hear from Joost Wouters of The Seaweed Company! #Sustainability #TransformativeChange #Leadership #PlantFutures #PlantBasedUniversities

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💰 Big Idea Ventures’ Global Food Innovation Fund II invested in 6 startups focusing on cultivated meat, fermentation, and gut health The fund builds on Big Idea Ventures' successful New Protein Fund I, expanding investments in proteins, fats, and sustainable ingredients. Supported by major food corporations like AAK and Bühler Group, the fund aims to improve food security and sustainability. MEATOSYS, BiomeMega, Nalca Biotech, and ReNewFood are developing solutions such as on-farm cultivated meat production, sustainable omega fatty acids, modular fermentation, and protein-based flavours for plant-based meats. The other two startups, NANOINGREEN and Future Biome, focus on enhancing gut health through probiotic ingredients with high absorption and advanced prebiotics that address microbiome-related health issues. Andrew D Ive, Henrietta Hearth ✉️ Hungry for more updates on biotech-enabled agrifood businesses and breakthroughs? Devour the free subscription: betterbioeconomy.com

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