Food From Thought: April 2021

Our commitment to sustainability, portfolio news and more.

At Unovis, we seek out investment opportunities that allow us to disrupt conventional animal agriculture, make an impact, and provide wellness to all living beings, including present and future generations. A big part of our approach involves Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) concerns, which have guided our investment thesis since day one.

In the recent months we’ve watched Bill Gates talk about climate change on 60 Minutes and learned about the work that Patagonia’s former C.E.O. is doing to save rainforests. Closer to home we’re starting to work with HowGood, the world’s largest product sustainability database, to measure the environmental footprint of our portfolio companies. This is all part of our broader focus on sustainability, and it’s just beginning. Look for more about our ESG efforts in the months ahead.

Oatly

• Oatly’s Dairy-Free Soft Serve is Now Available at These Major League Baseball Stadiums

• Oatly partners with Yeo’s to build $22m plant-based milk factory in Singapore 

• At $10B, Oatly might end up being the largest plant-based IPO in history

Aleph Farms

• Raising the steaks: First 3-D-printed rib-eye is unveiled 

• The entrecote cultivated in the laboratory of the company Aleph Farms 

Beyond Meat

• Beyond Meat clinches coveted deals with McDonald’s, Yum Brands

Matrix Meats

• Cultured meat: Matrix Meats’ exec details nanofiber system that “mimics extracellular matrix found in living animals” 

Miyoko’s Creamery

• Does truly delicious plant-based cheese exist? The search for dairy-free taste-alikes 

Mosa Meat

• Mosa Meat finishes its funding round with $96M 

The Unovis family continues to grow, this time with the addition of Doc Beasley, the founder of NYC Hip Hop is Green. Doc is a global youth culture architect and lifelong creative with over two decades of experience working with at risk youth of all ages. In addition to NYC Hip Hop is Green, which is a vegan movement led by artists and performers to spark positive change in the lives of youth, Doc is also a founding board member of the Compassion Consortium and a resident instructor of The Main Street Vegan Academy. Learn More

The Plantbased Business Hour: Dan Altschuler Malek: How To Pick A Winning Company. Dan talks about valuations, what he looks for in a founder, why he doesn’t invest in public markets, the key to building a successful company and more.

Confectionery Production:James Cadbury unveils latest HiP plant-based chocolate series

Food Dive: Not all food categories have post-pandemic staying power, report reveals

Food Navigator: Alternative Proteins will Account for 11% of Global Protein Market by 2035

Green Queen: From Vegan To Cegan: Could Cellular Agriculture Create A Whole New Kind Of Food Identity?

The New York Times: Is the Burger Nearing Extinction?

Vegconomist: “Cell-Cultured” as the Newly Accepted Term For Lab-Grown Meat in the USA

The Wall Street Journal: What Explains Our Mania for Mushrooms?

AGRI Tech Venture Forum: June 2-3, 2021. The AGRI Tech Venture Forum is an annual event that serves as a converging point for global ag tech leaders. Industry giants, investors, accelerators, and innovators provide insight on the latest sector headwinds, technology milestones, and key challenges facing the future of ag tech.