Yumame launches its first ready meal on SBB Trains

Yumame launches its first ready meal on SBB Trains

Having established its plant-based products at Coop and in food service, Küsnacht-based start-up Yumame Foods is taking the next step: penne with vegan Yumame Bolognese is now served in SBB dining cars as part of Elvetino’s autumn menu. Made from Swiss lentils, mushrooms and grains, it is Yumame’s first ready meal.

“We are incredibly proud that our vegan Bolognese is on Elvetino’s autumn menu,” says Eliana Zamprogna Rosenfeld, founder and CEO of Yumame Foods. “Bolognese is a classic that everyone knows and loves. We give it a twist that is good for people and good for the planet.” 

Clean eating, made tasty and easy

The Bolognese has a hearty, slightly textured bite and deep umami notes from the mushrooms and fermentation. It is familiar and comforting, yet distinctive.

Like every Yumame product, it is made with a few wholesome, recognizable ingredients, gentle processing and no additives. Yumame has developed and optimized its own fermentation process, building on the traditional techniques used to produce foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi and tempeh. This low-energy, low-waste method enhances flavour and texture while supporting digestibility. The result is a naturally rich umami taste and a valuable nutritional profile, with protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. 

Built on Swiss agriculture, designed for the world

The lentils, mushrooms and grains come, whenever possible, from Swiss agriculture. Through long-term partnerships with local producers, Yumame helps establish lentils and other legumes as a new crop in Switzerland, supporting soil health and biodiversity even under climate stress.

“Working with Swiss farmers is how we build a food system that is resilient and transparent, and delivers high quality, with the shortest distance from the field to the plate,” says Zamprogna Rosenfeld.

Their fermentation-based method can also be replicated anywhere in the world, using local crops and regional tastes.

From innovation to industrial production

Yumame is scaling up its production and has partnered with Le Patron, a subsidiary of ORIOR Food AG. Le Patron brings its innovation drive in developing healthy and tasty products, its expertise in convenience food manufacturing, and its distribution capabilities.

This partnership enables new recipes, particularly in the ready-meal segment, to be produced at scale and brought to market. Yumame has already developed several new product formulations, formats and recipes in-house, and the possibilities are virtually endless.

“Our technology platform and fermentation know-how allow us even to design products for specific nutritional needs, which opens up a wide range of new applications,” says Zamprogna Rosenfeld. The company is currently raising capital to expand its product portfolio and accelerate sales growth.

 

About Yumame Foods

Founded in Zurich in 2021, Yumame Foods AG combines expertise in food manufacturing and fermentation science to create a new generation of plant-based foods. Using its optimized fermentation process, the company transforms whole ingredients, including mushrooms and lentils, into foods with a distinctive umami flavour and texture, naturally rich in protein, fibre, minerals and vitamins. Yumame products offer a minimally processed alternative to conventional plant-based foods. Supported by Innosuisse, Gebert Rüf Stiftung and private investors, the company collaborates with Swiss academic institutions. Its products are available across Switzerland at Coop, online and through food service partners.

Bee People secures CHF 1.3 million in new funding round

Bee People secures CHF 1.3 million in new funding round

Swiss health and wellness company Bee People has successfully closed a CHF 1.3 million seed funding round. Investor commitments exceeded the target funding amount by more than 30%.

Bee People develops scientifically backed food supplements based on propolis and other bee-derived
ingredients. The company combines the natural defense mechanisms of bees with modern scientific research,
product development, and Swiss quality standards. Its existing product portfolio is currently undergoing significant
expansion, with new applications being continuously introduced.

Founders Marie So and Daniel Meyer previously built the Swiss e-mobility company EGO Movement,
successfully expanded it internationally, and ultimately sold it to India's TVS Motor Group. Several investors from
that venture are now backing the team once again at Bee People.

The funding round includes several prominent Swiss entrepreneurs and investors, alongside respected medical
professionals and healthcare experts. The investor group also includes experienced individuals who will play a
strategically important role in supporting Bee People's expansion into Asia.

"The fact that several investors are backing us for a second time is a strong vote of confidence. They know how
we work and share our ambition to build businesses with a long-term vision and international reach," say Marie
and Daniel.

Since its market launch, Bee People has been expanding its presence in Swiss pharmacies, drugstores,
specialist retailers, and e-commerce platforms. The company has also established an initial foothold in the Asian
market, where traditional and natural health products have a strong cultural presence and propolis is considerably
better known than in many European markets.

The DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) plays a central role in Bee People's European growth
strategy. The company sees significant potential to bring propolis beyond its traditional niche and establish it as a
modern ingredient for everyday health and wellness. Bee People is entering the German market in September
2026 through its own online store.

"While propolis is already available in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, products often lack consistent quality
standards and a solid scientific foundation. This is exactly where we see an opportunity. By incorporating the
latest scientific findings into our products and maintaining Swiss quality standards, we aim to take propolis to the
next level," the founders explain.

The newly raised capital will be invested in research and development, expanding distribution channels, and
accelerating international growth. In addition to Germany, Bee People plans to enter further markets across
Europe and Asia.

"Over millions of years, bees have developed highly sophisticated mechanisms to protect their hives. We want to
harness this knowledge to create modern health and wellness products. Our ambition is to build a global Swiss
health brand at the intersection of nature and science," the founders conclude.

About Bee People

Bee People is a Swiss health and wellness company headquartered in St. Moritz. The company develops scientifically backed food supplements based on propolis and other bee-derived ingredients. Bee People combines the power of nature with scientific research and Swiss quality standards.

BIOKET 2026: Fribourg Shines on the International Bioeconomy Stage

BIOKET 2026: Fribourg Shines on the International Bioeconomy Stage

For the first time in Switzerland, Fribourg hosted the international BIOKET congress, dedicated to key enabling technologies in the bioeconomy. Over three days, 485 experts from around 30 countries gathered to explore solutions for more sustainable production models. This edition reinforces the canton’s position as a credible and well-connected player on the global stage.

The seventh edition of BIOKET took place from March 17 to 19, 2026, at Forum Fribourg and closed on a highly positive note. Over three days, 485 participants from around 30 countries turned Fribourg into an international hub for key enabling technologies in the bioeconomy. Organised by the Bioeconomy For Change (B4C) cluster, in partnership with the Fribourg Development Agency (FDA), BIOKET featured a dynamic programme of conferences, technical sessions, B2B meetings, workshops and site visits. Around fifty exhibitors and partners also showcased their solutions, providing hands-on insight into ongoing initiatives.

“This edition in Fribourg truly captures the spirit of BIOKET: building bridges between research, industry and regions. We found here a particularly supportive environment, well suited to accelerating collaborative projects,” said Johan De Coninck, Head of Connexions & International at B4C.

A Key Driver in Transforming Production Models

At the heart of the discussions was the bioeconomy – encompassing all activities that use biological resources to produce food, materials, molecules, biopolymers and energy. Sitting at the intersection of industry, research and innovation, it plays a central role in the transition towards a more circular economy.

Recent developments in the Middle East have once again highlighted how dependent our economies remain on fossil resources. In this context, the bioeconomy offers tangible alternatives to reduce this dependence and strengthen the resilience of value chains.

Showcasing Fribourg’s Ecosystem

Beyond the conference programme, BIOKET 2026 offered participants a first-hand look at Fribourg’s ecosystem through visits to key sites: the Liebherr Group and its technologies, particularly in hydrogen engines; the AgriCo campus, dedicated to agri-food innovation and biomass valorisation; and the innovation ecosystem bringing together bluefactory, the ChemTech institute of the School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg, and the Marly Innovation Center. These visits highlighted the canton’s ability to cover the entire value chain, from applied research to industrialisation.

“BIOKET 2026 shows that Fribourg is a place where ideas become concrete solutions. The bioeconomy is no longer just a promise or a potential – it is a fast-growing industrial reality in our canton, as illustrated by start-ups such as Bloom Biorenewables and Seprify. The latter has recently raised more than 12 million Swiss francs,” said Jerry Krattiger, Director of the FDA

A Clear, Long-Term Strategy

Hosting BIOKET 2026 is part of the canton’s enomic development strategy, which identifies the bioeconomy – alongside Industry 4.0 – as a key priority. Following the Bioeconomy Forum in 2024, this international edition marks a new step forward and confirms Fribourg’s strong positioning within European and global bioeconomy networks.

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Vivent Biosignals announces Fernando Derossi as CEO and Partner to lead next phase of global growth

Vivent Biosignals announces Fernando Derossi as CEO and Partner to lead next phase of global growth

Vivent Biosignals, a leading provider of real-time plant feedback and AI-driven insights for agriculture, today announced the appointment of Fernando Derossi as Chief Executive Officer and Partner, effective February 1, 2026.

Fernando joins forces with founders Nigel Wallbridge and Carrol Plummer to lead Vivent Biosignals’ next phase of growth. His appointment follows the company’s recent successful funding round, led by Agri Investment Fund with participation from Pymwymic and Horticoop, and marks a new chapter in its evolution as Vivent Biosignals accelerates its mission to become a global leader in agricultural data and AI-powered insights for plant intelligence. With this strengthened leadership team, Vivent Biosignals is ideally positioned to scale its technology worldwide and amplify its impact across the entire agtech ecosystem.

A strengthened leadership team for global scale

Fernando Derossi brings more than 20 years of proven global leadership in scaling AI-powered and science-driven agricultural technologies. With deep expertise in international growth across North America, Latin America, and Europe, he has led global teams in major business units at industry giants Syngenta, BASF, and UPL Corporation, driving innovation to enhance grower profitability while as a seasoned entrepreneur, Fernando has a strong track record of multiple successful scale-ups and exits across agtech and fintech ventures worldwide.

Carrol Plummer, Co-founder & Co-CEO, said: “Fernando is exactly the strategic and operational leader we are seeking. His experience, proven ability to scale innovation globally, and his deep understanding of growers’ needs make him an ideal partner to take Vivent Biosignals into its next phase of rapid growth. We are excited to build this next chapter together.”

Dr. Nigel Wallbridge, Co-founder & Executive Chairman, commented: “We have developed the world’s most advanced plant biosignals platform—technology that gives farmers unprecedented visibility into crop health. Fernando brings the vision, capability, and leadership needed to transform this breakthrough into the global industry standard. We enter this next stage fully aligned and energised.”

Fernando Derossi, CEO & Partner, added: “It is a privilege to join Carrol and Nigel, two pioneers who have created groundbreaking plant-intelligence technology. My mission is clear: scale Vivent Biosignals globally and deliver a trusted AI- and data-driven standard that helps farmers eliminate hidden crop stress, optimise inputs, and achieve the highest possible return on investment. Together, we are bridging the gap between plant biology and AI to ensure that every grower in the planet can have access to this technology.”

Powering the future of plant-driven agriculture

Vivent Biosignals has built a patented platform that captures and decodes plants’ internal signalling system—detecting early signs of stress from pests, disease, water challenges, and nutrient limitations days before visible symptoms appear. When combined with advanced AI models, these biosignals enable growers and agronomists to intervene earlier, optimise inputs, and improve sustainability outcomes. With strong market traction across multiple crops and continents, Vivent is positioned to accelerate global adoption of plant-driven agriculture, empowering farmers to produce more, while optimising inputs and protecting their crops against an increasingly volatile climate.

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OneAgrix appoints Philippe Chatelain to Board of Advisors

OneAgrix appoints Philippe Chatelain to Board of Advisors

OneAgrix, a Swiss–Singapore headquartered trusted trade infrastructure company, has appointed Philippe Chatelain to its Board of Advisors as it advances its platform for regulated global trade.

Operating across regulated supply chains requires infrastructure capable of delivering end-to-end traceability, verification, and regulatory readiness across the full lifecycle of a product. OneAgrix is building systems designed to embed these capabilities directly into how trade operates, supporting auditability, cross-border execution, and long-term operational resilience.

Philippe Chatelain brings decades of hands-on experience designing and deploying traceability, serialization, authentication, and digital product passport systems across FMCG and industrial supply chains. His work spans full lifecycle monitoring, from production and marking through distribution, consumer verification, and regulatory oversight.

His appointment strengthens OneAgrix’s in-house capability to operate and govern traceability and verification systems at scale, supporting regulated trade across jurisdictions and compliance-intensive industries including food and FMCG.

“Trusted trade depends on infrastructure that works across the entire lifecycle of a product, not fragmented tools,” said Diana Sabrain, Founder and CEO of OneAgrix. “Philippe’s experience reinforces our focus on building systems that support regulatory integrity and execution discipline.”

In his advisory role, Chatelain will work closely with the OneAgrix leadership team on infrastructure strategy, governance priorities, and the scaling of trusted systems across global markets.

About OneAgrix

OneAgrix is a Swiss–Singapore headquartered company building compliance-first infrastructure for regulated food, FMCG, and adjacent industries. The platform enables lifecycle traceability, verification, and cross-border trade readiness across complex regulatory environments.

Find out more: https://www.oneagrix.com/

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The Cultured Hub unveils plant cell culturing for cocoa, coffee, and other ingredients

The Cultured Hub unveils plant cell culturing for cocoa, coffee, and other ingredients

The Future of Food: Givaudan, Nestlé R+D Accelerator Lausanne and FoodHack launch the 2025 FoodTech World Cup
Valley partner, The Cultured Hub, has announced an expansion of its service offering with the addition of plant cell culturing capabilities, broadening its activities beyond cultured meat and leveraging this technology platform to support the growing field of alternative ingredient production. To mark this milestone, the Hub hosted the first Cultured Plant Cell Event 2025, bringing together start-ups, corporate leaders, and researchers to explore how plant cell culture can complement traditional agriculture and strengthen global supply chains for high-value ingredients such as cocoa, coffee, and citrus.

Originally created to accelerate cultivated meat and cellular agriculture technologies, The Cultured Hub now extends its infrastructure and expertise to plant cell-based processes. This expansion comes at a time when rising commodity prices, climate volatility, and increasing pressure on agricultural systems are driving demand for resilient, sustainable sourcing pathways. Plant cell culture offers a promising approach to enabling controlled, year-round production of key plant compounds independent of farmland, weather, pests, or disease.

“Plant cell cultivation represents an important new frontier in sustainable food and ingredient production,” said Ian Roberts, Chief Technology Officer at Bühler Group. “Many of the same challenges we see in cultivated meat – the need to scale, reduce cost, and ensure quality at industrial levels – also apply here. By expanding The Cultured Hub’s offering into plant cell culture, we are supporting innovators in this transition and giving the food industry a unique platform to explore new, climate resilient ingredient pipelines.”

A dynamic ecosystem of innovators

Throughout the event, participants discussed the pressures facing cocoa, coffee, and citrus supply chains, and how plant cell culturing can serve as a complementary production method for stabilizing ingredient availability. Scientific and technical sessions covered the state of the technology, recent breakthroughs, scale-up challenges, and the path from lab to market.

Start-ups actively pitched their technologies and solutions directly to industry leaders specializing in cocoa, chocolate, and coffee processing, fostering collaboration and potential partnerships. Multiple innovators in plant cell culture also presented their work across coffee, cocoa, and next-generation ingredients, including companies such as Ergo Bioscience, Coffeesai, Phyton Biotech, Spicy Cells, Kokomodo, Food Brewer, Celleste Bio, and GALY. Their contributions illustrated the diversity of approaches underway globally – from cocoa biomass grown in bioreactors to stabilized coffee cell lines and high-value plant compounds produced using controlled fermentation.

“Demand for alternative, climate-resilient ingredients is growing rapidly, and plant cell culture is emerging as a credible sourcing platform,” said Yannick Jones, CEO of The Cultured Hub. “Yet the field still faces high costs and complex technical challenges. By providing shared bioprocess infrastructure and a collaborative environment, The Cultured Hub enables both start-ups and corporates to scale more efficiently, shorten development timelines, and explore where strategic partnerships and investments can unlock the next wave of innovation.”

A scientific frontier with commercial momentum

The event also featured a keynote from Prof. Dr. Ing. Regine Eibl-Schindler, ZHAW School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, who introduced the emerging discipline of microbotanics – the cultivation of plant cells to produce targeted metabolites, flavors, and functional compounds with precision and consistency. This global network advancing plant cell research and its applications, connects researchers, start-ups, and industry to accelerate innovation in sustainable plant biotechnology.

“Plant cell factories allow us to produce molecules or biomass that are difficult, slow, or expensive to obtain from fields, while reducing exposure to climate and disease risks,” said Philippe Jutras, Founder of the Plant Cell Institute. “But as with any new technology, scaling is the bottleneck. Events like this create essential alignment between researchers, start-ups, and industry so we can move from promising lab results to meaningful commercial impact.”

A new offering to accelerate the future of ingredients

Plant cell culturing remains an emerging field, with costs driven by sterile bioreactors, energy-intensive controlled environments, and the complexity of plant cell biology. Scaling from flasks to pilot systems is technically demanding and often beyond the reach of early-stage companies. The Cultured Hub’s expansion directly addresses these challenges by providing access to advanced bioprocess equipment, expert process development support, and a neutral platform for collaboration.

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