🥛 The World’s First Watermelon Seed Milk

Californian startup Força Foods is making watermelon seed milk to combat the water footprint of traditional dairy alternatives.

• Watermelon seeds are high in protein and antioxidants, and the company says they provide a creamy texture similar to traditional dairy while avoiding allergens like nuts or soy.

• The product uses significantly less water compared to other plant-based alternatives, particularly almond milk, reducing environmental strain from water usage.

• Força Foods’ milks are sugar- and carb-free, have 42% fewer calories than low-fat milk, and are fortified with calcium, potassium, and vitamins A, D and E - appealing to health-conscious consumers.

• Initially focusing on the foodservice sector, Força Foods plans to collaborate with cafes and restaurants before expanding into retail, aiming to reach a broader consumer base.

• Milk alternatives alone make up 36% of all plant-based sales in the US, and almond still reigns supreme - but sales have been dropping. Could this new milk turn the tide for the category and keep consumers invested?

📈 Must-Read Headlines

🇩🇰 The Danish government is pouring 15 billion kroner ($2.1 billion) into green research and innovation, which includes a focus on climate-friendly agriculture and alternative proteins.
💡The Danish government is also aiming to fast-track documentation and regulation, and namechecked precision fermentation and gas fermentation among the key future of food solutions.

🇺🇸 US-based Voyage Foods   received a $25 million loan from the US Department of Agriculture to open a large-scale manufacturing facility for its ethical pantry staples.
💡Voyage Foods is the best-funded player in both the cocoa-free chocolate and beanless coffee sectors, and its new facility will come in handy for its exclusive distribution deal with Cargill.

🇬🇧 UK startup MicroLub   raised £3.5 million ($4.5 million) to replace fats and oils with its plant-based microgels, which release water when chewed to create the creamy mouthfeel associated with fats.
💡Texture and health are at the forefront of consumers’ minds; this technology could meet expectations on both.

🇩🇪 Infinite Roots and the Hamburg University of Technology   received a €2.6 million grant from the German government to develop tech that transforms whey into a feedstock to grow mycelium.
💡The project offers a solution to waste disposal and creates new revenue streams for an abundant byproduct, win-win.

🇦🇺 The Aussie Plant Based Co has been acquired by Queensland-based Smart Foods , eight days after entering liquidation due to cashflow problems.
💡It continues to be an uphill battle for plant-based brands, but this new strategic alliance should strengthen Smart Foods’ market presence.

💡 Hot Topic: New & Potential Approvals

🫛 Moolec Science received what it claims is the first USDA approval for genetically engineered peas , which can produce iron-rich beef protein via molecular farming.
💡It is the third instance of regulatory clearance achieved by Moolec in the last 18 months, joining its nutritionally rich GLASO safflower oil and Piggy Sooy.

🍄‍ Californian startup The Better Meat Co   received regulatory approval for its Rhiza mycoprotein ingredient in Singapore, paving the way for its international debut.
💡The startup has already signed multiple letters of intent and offtake agreements with major consumer brands in both the US and Asia.

🍗 French cultivated chicken startup Vital Meat showcased its ingredient in a public tasting in Singapore , where it expects regulatory approval “very soon”.
💡Vital Meat’s decision to host the tasting at Hue – a welcoming, accessible establishment – reflects its commitment to making cultivated meat accessible to everyone, not just fine dining experiences.

🐶 Californian startups Friends & Family Pet Food Company and Novel Farms are collaborating to develop cultivated meat for pets , and are already engaging with regulators.
💡The companies have earmarked a 2025 launch for the product line.

🧫 Everything Else In Future Food

🌱 Plant-based meat pioneer Impossible Foods launched a Health Hub to battle misinformation about the industry and has attained a new health certification for its Lite Beef.

🍔 Czech startup Bene Meat Technologies has produced its first cultivated burger, which it says will be available at price parity with premium beef . Unlike its previous products, which were aimed at pets, this one is intended for humans. As of yet, it has no filed for regulatory approval for the beef.

🇮🇳 New analysis from the Good Food Institute India shows that plant-based meat and egg alternatives in the country meet the government’s standards for ‘high-protein’ products.

🛒 German supermarket Lidl has extended its target to reduce Scope 3 emissions, which nearly make up its entire climate footprint, making it a ‘frontrunner’ in the protein transition. And Lidl GB announced that it will make a quarter of its meat and fish sales vegan by 2030 .

📝 The World Wildlife Fund launched a methodology for supermarkets to help them align their sales with their climate goals. Here’s how it works .

🇬🇧 1,200+ health experts and climate activists are calling on the UK’s public health service to make plant-based food the default option in hospitals. Here’s why .

📈 Whole Foods Market published its annual list of food trends for the upcoming year, highlighting ‘plant-based aquatic ingredients’ as a key category to watch.

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🌱🍔  Future Food Quick Bites 

In our weekly column, Future Food Quick Bites , we round up the latest news and developments in the alternative protein and sustainable food industry. This week, Future Food Quick Bites covers a new oat milk dessert brand, Next Level Burger’s holiday feast, and price parity for plant-based milk.

📆 Scene & Heard

Save on your ticket to the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit

🌏 The Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit will unite over 1000 leaders accelerating greater food security and nutrition in Asia. Join companies like Unilever, Good Food Institute, Jollibee, Mondelēz, Food Navigator Asia and Temasek in Singapore for three days of exclusive panels, start-up pitching, Networking Hub and app to help you book essential 1-1 meetings with industry leaders. Register now using our code GREEN10.

🇩🇪 Vireo Advisors and New Harvest are launching a series of working sessions focused on cultured meat and seafood safety research with the support of the National Science Foundation. The first working session will be held on December 12th in Austin, Texas; find out more here.

🌍 Plan ahead for the Africa Future Food Summit, taking place June 30th to July 1st 2025, where you will meet and network with investors, CEOs, innovators and change makers defining the future of sustainable food systems in Africa. Sign up here.

Want More? Check out Green Queen’s Deep Dive series: 

• Blended Meats Are Here  

• Meat Misinformation Deep Dive

• Ozempic & the GLP-1 Revolution

• Policy Matters: Regulating Future Food Innovation