Todd Boyman

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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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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ADM sees challenges ahead in 2025, USDA announces federal order to test milk for the bird flu, and Oatly loses legal dispute over ‘milk’ trademark. JBS to build meatpacking plant in Nigeria, a Dutch suburb where they grow their own food, and are lab-grown meats a luxury product? Entrepreneurs play a delicate game of push and pull. Sometimes they initiate the push, often it is initiated upon them. The best, and most successful, entrepreneurs in #agtech know how to be a force of [insert adjective]. But this is not imposing yourself. There is so much more to it and we'll explore how in this week’s newsletter. #agtechfriday #startups #agriculture #forcefor #forceful #innovation #agtwitter #forceof https://lnkd.in/gUAfQzcE

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Rising costs for eggs is prompting food companies to consider egg substitutes. Exhibitors at the recent Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) IFT FIRST 2024 Expo showcased egg replacements from enzymes to yeast proteins. Check out my show recap for The Food Institute - link in Comments! dsm-firmenich - Talking Nutrition used a clean label enzyme (CakeZyme Smart) to enable up to 20% egg reduction in its Peach-Perfect Mini Muffin recipe while “delivering the same great flavor, texture, and appearance as traditional full-egg baked goods.” MGP Ingredients states that its Arise 5000/8100 wheat protein isolate can replace 50 -100% of eggs in muffins and cakes by offering binding and aeration properties. At the IFT FIRST Startup Pavillion, three startups offered egg replacement solutions. revyve, a foodtech startup from The Netherlands, launched its egg replacement ingredient at IFT FIRST by serving vegan brioche made with its yeast protein. The company uses a patented technology to transform upcycled brewer’s yeast from beer production into “unique combination of functional proteins and fibers” that acts as a clean, minimally processed plant-based egg white alternative. Revyve offers heat-set gelling, binding, and emulsification properties so that the burgers brown on the grill and retain their shape without the use of starches, binders, or emulsifiers like methylcellulose. Revyve has raised over $15 mn from industry leaders Anheuser-Busch InBev and Royal Cosun and venture capital firms. Onego Bio, a US-Finnish food-biotech company, uses precision fermentation to produce real egg protein without chickens. The company states that its ingredient “Bioalbumen is bio-identical to the ovalbumin egg white protein. It has the same exact nutritional profile and taste.” with the functional properties of eggs – foaming, coagulating, emulsifying, and binding. Onego Bio uses a patented fungal fermentation technology to train microflora called Trichoderma reesei to produce ovalbumin, the main protein found in egg white, instead of its own enzymes. On July 17, Onego Bio announced that it had secured €14 mn ($15.2 mn) in new funding from the European Innovation Council Accelerator Program and additional Series A investors. The company has raised $70.8 mn in total funding. The EVERY Company, who created the world’s first commercialized egg proteins made without chickens using precision fermentation, featured EVERY EggWhite in donuts and meringues at IFT FIRST. The company uses a fermentation process using yeast (Komagataella phaffii) strains to make proteins found in eggs. The company’s EVERY EggWhite is “a 1-to-1 egg white replacer containing ovalbumin (the most prevalent protein in egg white) which delivers functional properties including aeration, whipping, gelling, binding, and foam stability.” EVERY has raised over $233 mn from notable investors including AB InBev and Grupo Bimbo. Photos: Virginia Lee and revyve (via LinkedIn)) #IFTFIRST

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 Preserving Family Farming in Sonoma County: The Measure J Debate As food industry professionals, you’re likely aware of the critical role family farms play in our communities. Today, I want to shed light on an important issue centered in Sonoma County, California. Measure J, which will appear on the November ballot, aims to make Sonoma County the first in the nation to outlaw so-called factory farming. While the initiative frames itself as a step toward better animal welfare, it has far-reaching implications. 1.     Economic Impact: Measure J threatens economically viable family farming. By restricting Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), it could make egg and milk production unaffordable for local farmers. These operations are essential for meeting consumer demand while maintaining ethical standards. 2.     Weather Considerations: Measure J limits farms to moving animals fromopen fields to covered structures to a maximum of 45 days per year. Sonoma County experiences rainy winters, albeit not as much as Seattle or Portland. Ranchers move cattle indoors during inclement weather to ensure their comfort and health. Keeping cattle inside also prevents runoff into rivers and minimizes land damage caused by muddy fields. 3.     Local Agriculture: Having moved to Santa Rosa three years ago, I fell in love with our local agriculture scene—dairy, eggs, and wine, though possibly not in that order. Sonoma County farmers and ranchers lead the way in animal husbandry. Sonoma County egg producers were following cage-free practices before the rest of the country even heard about cage free.   4.     National Implications: Measure J’s impact extends beyond our county borders. The deep pockets behind this activist campaign are starting in Sonoma County but will push into other areas with positive signals. 5.     Take Action: Visit NoOnMeasureJ.com to learn more and sign your name in support of the “No on Measure J” effort. Talk to your company management about this issue—it’s not just about Sonoma County; it’s about preserving family farming nationwide. Let’s stand together to protect our agricultural heritage. 🌾🐄🥚

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Food Dive delves into TurtleTree' recent pivot from cultivated milk to a dairy additive called lactoferrin, with insights from CEO Fengru L.. The company is shifting focus to producing lactoferrin, an ingredient with excellent benefits for adult nutrition, using precision fermentation. With this move, Turtle Tree is positioning itself in a profitable niche within the dairy sector. Read the full article to learn more about their innovative approach. https://lnkd.in/erEamuXr #FoodTech

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The push for electronic identification in cattle could improve disease traceability, but it raises deeper issues for small and regenerative farmers. As demand for U.S. meat rises in Asia, large meatpackers see increased profits, driving export incentives that may pressure small farms out of the market. Farmers now face: 1. Higher Costs: RFID equipment is costly, especially for small operations. 2. Data Privacy: Concerns over secure storage and access. 3. Unequal Impact: Small farms bear a heavier burden while large packers benefit. While traceability matters, we must balance it with fair policies that protect smaller farms at the heart of sustainable agriculture. How much do you care about the food you consume? It is time for us consumer to wake up to what is going on with our consumption habits. As much as I support leather because it is a byproduct of the food industry, we need to be conscious on how much meat we produce and eat and how it is being done. #packers #farmers #usda

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Looking forward to participating in this panel discussion focused on seafood traceability. Thanks to Seafood2030 for including TraceChain.ai.

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As the cannabis industry matures, we are starting to get reliable data. This can help make decisions based on real sales figures and not predictions. 10 years ago, there was only one state with adult use sales (#colorado) and a handful of states with medical seals. Now there is 24 sates with adult use sales and an additional 15 states with medical seals. At the moment #california leads with total seals but #michigan leads with per capita seals. #florida leads in medical seals. #missouri with a relatively small population and only 17 months since they launched their adult-use market, is already in fifth place. Thank you Debra Borchardt from Green Market Report for the financial update. #cannabisindustry #cannabiscommunity #cannabisnews #cannabiseducation #cannabispolicy #cannbislaw https://lnkd.in/gc96gcCh

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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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Insights from the Top: Logan Ipsen on Industry Dynamics⠀ Dive into this week's commentary by WLJ President Logan Ipsen, as he provides a critical analysis of Beyond Meat's latest quarterly performance. #WLJ #LogansComments #IndustryInsights #FoodMarket https://loom.ly/5UvnsO4

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Going Seed Oil Free will be a significant movement in the health-conscious food space over the next decade. Julia Mills, Mintel's analyst for U.S. Food and Drink Reports, notes a 150% increase in "made with olive oil" claims and an 825% surge in "made with avocado oil" claims from 2019 to 2023. However, studies from the FDA and UC Davis reveal that over 25% of extra virgin olive oil and nearly 70% of avocado oil in the US supply chain are adulterated with cheaper seed oils (https://lnkd.in/ev57JBuy) like soybean, corn, or canola, underscoring widespread cooking oil fraud. As the food industry evolves and more brands and consumers are choosing premium oils, The Seed Oil Free Alliance will ensure this shift is transparent and verified through rigorous independent lab testing, auditing, and more. #seedoilfreecertified #cookingoils #ingredient #integrity

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Agrifood Giants Make Strides in Emissions Cuts, but Scope 3 Lags Behind A new report from sustainability advocate Ceres has shed light on the climate action efforts of major agrifood corporations, revealing a mixed bag of progress. While many companies are making strides to reduce their scope 1 and 2 emissions—those dire https://lnkd.in/ekadcCg7

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"Wholechain’s work in traceable seafood aligns with the urgent needs of the industry as it seeks to comply with the FDA Food Modernization Act’s new traceability rule for high-risk food items effective January 2026." Thanks Forbes and Matthew Keller at Algorand Foundation for highlighting real-world examples of how we're implementing blockchain-based #traceability to simplify compliance for #foodsafety, #workerwelfare and to enable routes to market for small scale producers with the Global Seafood Alliance. https://lnkd.in/ew_kMFXe

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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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I'm not sure how we suddenly found ourselves at the end of July, but here's my #fridayfive: 1. As the industry continues to explore alternative food production methods, here's a new one: CO2 butter. Backed by Bill Gates, Savor is focused on creating "real fats from carbon." All of these efforts are interesting, but what happens when the most fundamental thing that connects humans to the earth - eating real foods - ends? Is there such a thing as human terroir? https://lnkd.in/eDjTMd89 2. But while there is something to be said about the disconnection of humans from whole foods, there's also a strong case for how cultivated meats and other tech-based products can help address food insecurity and - as is the case with Singapore - national security. https://lnkd.in/e9R3mWCB 3. While some companies are looking to science and the future, others are pulling from our past. This article (https://lnkd.in/eZcwU8rW) details how Arthur Watkins' extraordinary seed bank, which was collected a hundred years ago, are helping scientists rediscover "lost" crop genetics which are, in turn, being used to create hardier and more nutritious varietals. 4. Speaking of historic, how about this Ellia Kassof began resurrecting discontinued products. I've got to say, and not to age myself, but I recognize - and enjoyed - a lot of these brands. In fact, we had a cat named Hydrox! https://lnkd.in/erFyexCR 5. Finally, move over cocaine bear because cocaine sharks are the new drug addled predator to avoid. And while this may seem like a throw away topic consider what this may mean if we need to be concerned not just about overfishing and heavy metal contamination but also the possibility that seafood and fish may be strung out on coke. How much more complicated can eating possibly get? https://lnkd.in/e9W8X2xg #innovation #trends2024 #consumerbehavior #foodservice #foodandbeverageindustry #restaurants #brands #technology #agriculture #cpg #consumerinsights #menumattersllc

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In a recent episode of The Plantbased Business Hour, Director at Food System Innovations, Tim Dale, and Director at NECTAR Research, Caroline Cotto, join me to discuss how innovation will increase the adoption of diversified proteins. Listen to the full podcast with the link in the comments! #foodsystemstransformation #innovation #diversifiedproteins

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