US pizza maker American Flatbread has announced the launch of a new line of flash-frozen pizzas, Meatless Evolution, featuring vegan and vegetarian options. The company says that the new range is made with pea protein and provides consumers with a ‘healthy serving’ of both protein and fibre. Each pizza features homemade tomato sauce and fresh herbs, while hand-stretched dough made from 100% organic wheat is used to make the bases. The line offers two vegan options, featuring dairy-free mozzarella-style shreds: Vegan Pepperoni, topped with plant-based pepperoni; and Vegan Meat Lovers, with plant-based pepperoni and vegan sausage crumbles. The Meatless Evolution range also contains two vegetarian options: Plant-Based Pepperoni, featuring mozzarella, asiago and parmesan, as well as vegan pepperoni; and Plant-Based Supreme, with plant-based pepperoni, as well as broccoli, mushrooms, mozzarella, asiago and feta. Retailing at $8.99 per ten-inch pizza, the Meatless Evolution line is launching at select Harris Teeter locations, as well as on the brand's website, in mid-September. The pizzas will also be available to purchase via American Flatbread's Amazon storefront page starting in October.

Protein Industries Canada has announced that it is investing CAD 7.4 million ($5.6 million approx.) into a new platform aimed at increasing the efficiency of farmer decision making. A further CAD 13.6 million ($10.3 million approx.) is being provided by digital agriculture solutions companies Farmers Edge and OPIsystems, who are leading the project. Farmers Edge and OPIsystems are capturing farm-level data related to crop and storage health management. This data will be used to develop predictive models that use artificial intelligence and machine learning to help farmers enhance production practices, make better storage and marketing decisions, and therefore increase return on investment. Following the completion of the initial phase, Farmers Edge and OPIsystems will partner with the Standards Council of Canada to improve traceability along the plant protein value chain. The partners will use a comprehensive digital platform – which leverages the data captured on farms – to show consumers and commercial customers how the products they’re buying were produced and managed. When completed, the final products from both phases of the project are expected to provide full traceability along the entire plant protein value chain. “The markets this platform could open for the plant protein sector is incredible to think about,” said Protein Industries Canada CEO, Bill Greuel. “From a single sign in, our buyers will be able to access all of the compliance information they need related to the plant protein commodities they’re buying. And our consumers can check in to rest assured the food they’re eating was produced in the manner they value most.” Farmers Edge CEO and co-founder, Wade Barnes, added: “We’re excited to work with OPIsystems, the federal government and Protein Industries Canada on this important project. “The expertise OPIsystems brings in remote grain monitoring combined with our robust data sets, comprehensive platform and AI-driven technologies will forever transform the plant proteins sector, ensuring high-quality crop production and complete traceability from field to market. “The value of data is priceless for growers and consumers alike; growers will be able to share verified crop records with a simple click, opening doors to new market opportunities, and consumers will gain transparency on the origin of their food, enhancing their level of trust with farms across Canada.” Protein Industries Canada is a not-for-profit organisation created to help position Canada as a global source of high-quality plant protein. Together with its industry partners, it has invested more than CAD 163 million ($123.9 million approx.) into projects that will advance Canada’s plant protein sector. #Canada #plantprotein #OPIsystems #FarmersEdge #ProteinIndustriesCanada

Protein Industries Canada has announced that it is investing CAD 7.4 million ($5.6 million approx.) into a new platform aimed at increasing the efficiency of farmer decision making. A further CAD 13.6 million ($10.3 million approx.) is being provided by digital agriculture solutions companies Farmers Edge and OPIsystems, who are leading the project. Farmers Edge and OPIsystems are capturing farm-level data related to crop and storage health management. This data will be used to develop predictive models that use artificial intelligence and machine learning to help farmers enhance production practices, make better storage and marketing decisions, and therefore increase return on investment. Following the completion of the initial phase, Farmers Edge and OPIsystems will partner with the Standards Council of Canada to improve traceability along the plant protein value chain. The partners will use a comprehensive digital platform – which leverages the data captured on farms – to show consumers and commercial customers how the products they're buying were produced and managed. When completed, the final products from both phases of the project are expected to provide full traceability along the entire plant protein value chain. “The markets this platform could open for the plant protein sector is incredible to think about,” said Protein Industries Canada CEO, Bill Greuel. “From a single sign in, our buyers will be able to access all of the compliance information they need related to the plant protein commodities they’re buying. And our consumers can check in to rest assured the food they're eating was produced in the manner they value most.” Farmers Edge CEO and co-founder, Wade Barnes, added: “We're excited to work with OPIsystems, the federal government and Protein Industries Canada on this important project. "The expertise OPIsystems brings in remote grain monitoring combined with our robust data sets, comprehensive platform and AI-driven technologies will forever transform the plant proteins sector, ensuring high-quality crop production and complete traceability from field to market. “The value of data is priceless for growers and consumers alike; growers will be able to share verified crop records with a simple click, opening doors to new market opportunities, and consumers will gain transparency on the origin of their food, enhancing their level of trust with farms across Canada.” Protein Industries Canada is a not-for-profit organisation created to help position Canada as a global source of high-quality plant protein. Together with its industry partners, it has invested more than CAD 163 million ($123.9 million approx.) into projects that will advance Canada's plant protein sector.

Phytolon has raised $4.1 million in funding to commercialise its fermentation-based technology for the production of food colours. The Israel-based company was founded in 2018 following a collaboration between The Trendlines Group and the Weizmann Institute of Science. Phytolon claims that the use of natural food colours – in growing demand – has presented a ‘huge challenge’ for the food industry, due to the lack of reliable alternatives to synthetics. The company uses a proprietary, fermentation-based technology to produce ‘high-quality’ plant-based food colours. “This round will enable us to reach the market with our healthy and sustainable food colours that offer a high-quality and cost-efficient solution to the food industry,” said Phytolon CEO, Dr. Halim Jubran. “The new round will also promote our collaborations with our potential clients, with whom we have been in communications during the past year and a half.” Among the participants in the round were European food innovation initiative, EIT Food, and Millennium Food-Tech, a new R&D partnership dedicated to investing in food-tech companies. Chanan Schneider, CEO of Millennium Food-Tech, said: “It is clear to us that consumers are looking for products with more natural and healthier ingredients and are even willing to pay a premium for them. Phytolon brings a patented solution, perfect for the food colour sector, and has garnered a lot of interest in its technology and products.” Consensus Business Group, The Trendlines Group, former Elbit Systems CEO Yossi Ackerman, and the Israel Innovation Authority also backed Phytolon’s latest financing push. “We are extremely pleased that the company, managed by Dr. Halim Jubran, secured this over-subscribed round in the mist of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Trendlines Incubators Israel CEO, Barak Singer. “We look forward to the commercialisation of its technology to provide healthier, more ecological and cost-effective colouring to the food technology market.” #fermentation #Israel #Phytolon #TheTrendlinesGroup

Brightseed, the developer of an AI-powered phytonutrient discovery solution, has raised $27 million in a funding round led by Lewis & Clark AgriFood. Founded in 2017, Brightseed has developed Forager, an AI solution that can reportedly search for undiscovered compounds in plants which provide proven health benefits, as well as searching for new benefits in existing plant-based products and ingredients. In humans, phytonutrients such as lycopene and resveratrol support health by boosting anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and neuroprotective activities. Brightseed claims that this latest investment follows Forager’s “discovery of a powerful phytonutrient” with the potential to support metabolic health, helping those at risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, liver diseases and weight management issues. This new financing round means Brightseed has now raised $52 million in total funding, after factoring in the $25 million raised in previous a funding round led by Seed 2 Growth Ventures, Horizons Ventures, CGC Ventures, Fifty Years, Germin8 Ventures, and AgFunder. Brightseed has partnered with a number of major food companiesto trial the Forager platform. This includes a multi-phased partnership with Danone North America to find previously unknown health benefits of plant-based ingredients in Danone’s consumer products portfolio. David Russell of Lewis & Clark AgriFood and Elaine Leavenworth, former SVP, and chief marketing and external affairs officer at Abbott, will join Brightseed’s board of directors. Jim Flatt, Brightseed co-founder and CEO, said: “We’re thrilled to work with visionary partners to accelerate innovation in food, health, and wellness. “We’re in an unprecedented public health crisis, and people are looking for plant-based products that will contribute to a healthier life. With millions of phytonutrients hidden in plants, it’s crucial that we discover these compounds and understand how they help us. “Much like mapping the human genome opened up a new era for medicine, using Forager AI to map the connections between plants and people is one of the most exciting new frontiers of science.” Elaine Leavenworth, added: “Brightseed’s Forager AI is leading the search for natural phytonutrients that will provide dramatic health benefits. “Given today’s health crises this has even greater urgency. Brightseed has the strong support of their investors and advisors as they move forward on this path.” #AI #Brightseed #ingredients #phytonutrients

Phytolon has raised $4.1 million in funding to commercialise its fermentation-based technology for the production of food colours. The Israel-based company was founded in 2018 following a collaboration between The Trendlines Group and the Weizmann Institute of Science. Phytolon claims that the use of natural food colours – in growing demand – has presented a ‘huge challenge’ for the food industry, due to the lack of reliable alternatives to synthetics. The company uses a proprietary, fermentation-based technology to produce ‘high-quality’ plant-based food colours. “This round will enable us to reach the market with our healthy and sustainable food colours that offer a high-quality and cost-efficient solution to the food industry,” said Phytolon CEO, Dr. Halim Jubran. “The new round will also promote our collaborations with our potential clients, with whom we have been in communications during the past year and a half.” Among the participants in the round were European food innovation initiative, EIT Food, and Millennium Food-Tech, a new R&D partnership dedicated to investing in food-tech companies. Chanan Schneider, CEO of Millennium Food-Tech, said: “It is clear to us that consumers are looking for products with more natural and healthier ingredients and are even willing to pay a premium for them. Phytolon brings a patented solution, perfect for the food colour sector, and has garnered a lot of interest in its technology and products.” Consensus Business Group, The Trendlines Group, former Elbit Systems CEO Yossi Ackerman, and the Israel Innovation Authority also backed Phytolon’s latest financing push. "We are extremely pleased that the company, managed by Dr. Halim Jubran, secured this over-subscribed round in the mist of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Trendlines Incubators Israel CEO, Barak Singer. “We look forward to the commercialisation of its technology to provide healthier, more ecological and cost-effective colouring to the food technology market."

California-based company Cedarlane Foods has expanded its Simply Plant Powered line with four new frozen vegan entrees. Vegan Lasagna features organic pasta, vine-ripened tomatoes, vegan beefless crumbles and vegan mozzarella-style cheese. Each serving is said to contain 10g of protein. Also containing 10g of protein per serving, Cedarlane Foods’ new enchilada entrees feature black beans, roasted red peppers and zucchini, as well as vegan cheeses, all wrapped in corn tortillas. Vegan Enchiladas in Green Sauce are topped with a tomatillo sauce; Enchiladas in Red Sauce are topped with a vine-ripened tomato sauce. Vegan Lentil Shepherd’s Pie offers a ‘twist on the classic dish’, with lentils, carrots and green beans topped with creamy mash. According to Cedarlane Foods, each serving contains 25g of protein. “As veterans in providing consumers with easy, convenient, and most importantly, clean, food options for nearly four decades, we know our health-conscious consumers are always looking for new products that not only taste great, but provide unparalleled nutritional benefits,” said Cedarlane Foods CEO, Robert Atallah. “We’ve been championing the importance of a diet rich in vegetables since our founding, and are proud to continue providing families and individuals with a diverse new variety of delicious, nourishing options you can prepare in just minutes.” The new products are available from Sprouts Markets nationwide, with a roll out to additional grocers expected to follow later this year. #CedarlaneFoods #US

Brightseed, the developer of an AI-powered phytonutrient discovery solution, has raised $27 million in a funding round led by Lewis & Clark AgriFood. Founded in 2017, Brightseed has developed Forager, an AI solution that can reportedly search for undiscovered compounds in plants which provide proven health benefits, as well as searching for new benefits in existing plant-based products and ingredients. In humans, phytonutrients such as lycopene and resveratrol support health by boosting anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and neuroprotective activities. Brightseed claims that this latest investment follows Forager's "discovery of a powerful phytonutrient" with the potential to support metabolic health, helping those at risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, liver diseases and weight management issues. This new financing round means Brightseed has now raised $52 million in total funding, after factoring in the $25 million raised in previous a funding round led by Seed 2 Growth Ventures, Horizons Ventures, CGC Ventures, Fifty Years, Germin8 Ventures, and AgFunder. Brightseed has partnered with a number of major food companiesto trial the Forager platform. This includes a multi-phased partnership with Danone North America to find previously unknown health benefits of plant-based ingredients in Danone’s consumer products portfolio. David Russell of Lewis & Clark AgriFood and Elaine Leavenworth, former SVP, and chief marketing and external affairs officer at Abbott, will join Brightseed’s board of directors. Jim Flatt, Brightseed co-founder and CEO, said: “We’re thrilled to work with visionary partners to accelerate innovation in food, health, and wellness. “We’re in an unprecedented public health crisis, and people are looking for plant-based products that will contribute to a healthier life. With millions of phytonutrients hidden in plants, it’s crucial that we discover these compounds and understand how they help us. "Much like mapping the human genome opened up a new era for medicine, using Forager AI to map the connections between plants and people is one of the most exciting new frontiers of science.” Elaine Leavenworth, added: “Brightseed’s Forager AI is leading the search for natural phytonutrients that will provide dramatic health benefits. “Given today’s health crises this has even greater urgency. Brightseed has the strong support of their investors and advisors as they move forward on this path.”

California-based company Cedarlane Foods has expanded its Simply Plant Powered line with four new frozen vegan entrees. Vegan Lasagna features organic pasta, vine-ripened tomatoes, vegan beefless crumbles and vegan mozzarella-style cheese. Each serving is said to contain 10g of protein. Also containing 10g of protein per serving, Cedarlane Foods’ new enchilada entrees feature black beans, roasted red peppers and zucchini, as well as vegan cheeses, all wrapped in corn tortillas. Vegan Enchiladas in Green Sauce are topped with a tomatillo sauce; Enchiladas in Red Sauce are topped with a vine-ripened tomato sauce. Vegan Lentil Shepherd’s Pie offers a 'twist on the classic dish’, with lentils, carrots and green beans topped with creamy mash. According to Cedarlane Foods, each serving contains 25g of protein. “As veterans in providing consumers with easy, convenient, and most importantly, clean, food options for nearly four decades, we know our health-conscious consumers are always looking for new products that not only taste great, but provide unparalleled nutritional benefits,” said Cedarlane Foods CEO, Robert Atallah. “We’ve been championing the importance of a diet rich in vegetables since our founding, and are proud to continue providing families and individuals with a diverse new variety of delicious, nourishing options you can prepare in just minutes.” The new products are available from Sprouts Markets nationwide, with a roll out to additional grocers expected to follow later this year.

Beyond Meat has announced that it is launching Beyond Meatballs in grocery stores in the US this week. Pre-seasoned with a signature blend of Italian spices, the ready-to-cook balls can be enjoyed as part of a pasta or soup dish, on a pizza, or in a sandwich. The company says that Beyond Meatballs are made from simple ingredients and are free from GMOs, soy, gluten or synthetic ingredients. With 19g of plant-based protein derived from peas and brown rice, the ‘nutritious’ meat-free balls are said to contain no cholesterol, antibiotics or hormones. Sold in the fresh meat section of grocery stores, Beyond Meatballs reportedly have a ‘juicy, meaty’ taste and texture. According to Beyond Meat, the plant-based balls contain 30% less saturated fat and sodium compared to a leading brand of animal-based Italian-style meatballs. “We’re thrilled to introduce Beyond Meatballs as they deliver on consumers’ growing demand for delicious and nutritious plant-based meat options without GMOs or synthetic ingredients,” said Stuart Kronauge, chief marketing officer at Beyond Meat. “We are proud to introduce our newest innovation at retailers nationwide and know our fans will be excited about the great taste and convenience of Beyond Meatballs.” With an RRP of $6.99 for 12 meatballs, Beyond Meatballs will be available at grocery stores including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Kroger and Albertsons by early October. Beyond Meatballs are the third new retail product introduced by the company in 2020, following the launch of Beyond Breakfast Sausage and Cookout Classic. #BeyondMeat #meatalternatives #US

Beyond Meat has announced that it is launching Beyond Meatballs in grocery stores in the US this week. Pre-seasoned with a signature blend of Italian spices, the ready-to-cook balls can be enjoyed as part of a pasta or soup dish, on a pizza, or in a sandwich. The company says that Beyond Meatballs are made from simple ingredients and are free from GMOs, soy, gluten or synthetic ingredients. With 19g of plant-based protein derived from peas and brown rice, the ‘nutritious’ meat-free balls are said to contain no cholesterol, antibiotics or hormones. Sold in the fresh meat section of grocery stores, Beyond Meatballs reportedly have a ‘juicy, meaty’ taste and texture. According to Beyond Meat, the plant-based balls contain 30% less saturated fat and sodium compared to a leading brand of animal-based Italian-style meatballs. “We’re thrilled to introduce Beyond Meatballs as they deliver on consumers’ growing demand for delicious and nutritious plant-based meat options without GMOs or synthetic ingredients,” said Stuart Kronauge, chief marketing officer at Beyond Meat. “We are proud to introduce our newest innovation at retailers nationwide and know our fans will be excited about the great taste and convenience of Beyond Meatballs.” With an RRP of $6.99 for 12 meatballs, Beyond Meatballs will be available at grocery stores including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Kroger and Albertsons by early October. Beyond Meatballs are the third new retail product introduced by the company in 2020, following the launch of Beyond Breakfast Sausage and Cookout Classic.

Snack and appetiser brand Farm Rich has expanded its portfolio with the introduction of two new products: Breaded Zucchini Sticks and Cauliflower Bites. Providing ‘healthy and easy’ snack alternatives, the products join Farm Rich’s Garden Inspirations line of frozen, plant-based foods. Breaded Cauliflower Bites feature whole cauliflower florets rolled in a wheat flour and crispy rice coating, and come with a sweet sesame dipping sauce. The bites offer a quarter cup of cauliflower per serving, according to Farm Rich. The brand’s new Breaded Zucchini Sticks feature zucchini slices in a savoury coating, with a ‘tangy’ marinara sauce for dipping. The sticks can be enjoyed as an appetiser or side, as well as for a snack. “The response to our first Garden Inspirations products…was so positive, and we’re excited to expand the line with these new vegetable products,” said Ciera Womack, Farm Rich senior marketing manager. “No matter what diet you follow – vegetarian, flexitarian or, as we like to say, ‘snackitarian’ – this innovative new line gives shoppers more plant-based options to enjoy at ease from the comfort of home.” The new bites and sticks are available in the US, priced at around $7.99, from Kroger and online via Instacart. At the end of last year, Farm Rich launched a line of microwavable single-serve snacks with custom dipping sauces, Time Outs. #FarmRich #US