Valley partner CleanGreens Solutions and the GreenLife Company, a leading agricultural innovator in the Middle East, have signed an agreement to expand their collaboration and build the world’s largest Aeroponics Greenhouse farm in Abdali, Kuwait.

Setting a new standard in sustainable farming

Following the success of its 7,500m² Aeroponics facility, GreenLife is scaling up its operations adding 16,500m² more of aeroponics system provider CleanGreens’ technology to reach an unprecedented scale. This project will seek to boost food security in the region and drastically reduce water and land consumption compared to traditional farming. Additionally, this demonstrates the CleanGreens system’s successful adaptation to harsh climates in the Middle East, allowing year-round production without interruption and delivering high-quality greens. 

“We’ve been using CleanGreens technology for nearly three years, two years in operations. We have got very positive, even impressive experience. We’ve learned and developed a lot, confirmed the business model and we have decided to expand our project to supply exceptional quality greens to our customers across the region. This technology is the future! I’m looking forward doing more together with CleanGreens,” said Adel Al Shamali, Chairman of GreenLife. 

The companies report that the project has validated the potential profitability of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and related emerging technologies.

Swiss technology for the future of food 

CleanGreens’ patented technology allows for higher efficiency with fewer resources, reducing water use by up to 96% and eliminating pesticides, allowing ideal growing conditions for plants and predictable, high-value local product all year round at competitive price. This expansion further solidifies CleanGreens’ position as a global leader in precision agriculture. 

“We are proud to collaborate with GreenLife on this historic expansion. GreenLife is an amazing partner. They have done a tremendous job analyzing the market’s needs, operating the farm, validating the business model in the region. The upcoming 24,000m² aeroponics greenhouse will be our largest installation globally. It will reaffirm the expertise and commitment of CleanGreens’ team in transforming agriculture on a large scale. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with GreenLife with the goal of addressing the needs of the entire Gulf region,” highlighted Bruno Cheval, CEO of CleanGreens Solutions. 

About CleanGreens

CleanGreens Solutions is a Swiss B Corp, incorporated in 2013. The CleanGreens developed GREENOVA, a unique aeroponics farming system for greenhouses, featuring a patented irrigation method where a rolling robot sprays water and nutrients directly to the roots suspended in air. By reducing phytosanitary risks, increasing oxygenation, using zero pesticides, 96% less water than traditional farming, and notably less than hydroponics, this one-of-a-kind system uses mobile modules that allow for multi-harvesting of herbs, achieving higher yields with fewer resources. 

About GreenLife

GREEN LIFE Company is the first Aeroponic Farming solution in GCC founded by visionary investors in year 2021, to bolster food security by producing healthy, high-quality agricultural products. Green Life Company has achieved global (G.A.P) Fruit & Vegetables certification for Lettuce from SGS. This milestone marks Green Life Company as the first Farm in Kuwait to obtain this prestigious certification, setting a new benchmark for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in the region.

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Kemptthal (Switzerland), December 3, 2024 –The Cultured Hub officially opens its doors today, marking a milestone for the global cellular agriculture and food industry communities. The pioneering scale-up and growth service aims to revolutionize the cultivated food and beverage sector by accelerating the development and market penetration of cellular agriculture products. These innovations can address increasingly complex food system challenges, reducing environmental impact and improving food security.

Equipped with advanced product development labs, cell culture, and fermentation capabilities and equipment, and with its ecosystem of partners, the Hub is designed to empower start-ups and organizations to scale up and accelerate the development of market-ready, sustainable, healthy, and affordable products. The Hub offers a technology platform that extends beyond food and can support the development of diverse products, such as meat, fish, dairy, pet food, and plant-based cells like cocoa – as well as materials like cosmetics and selective pharma applications.

“The launch of The Cultured Hub is a pivotal moment in the global push for sustainable food production,” said Yannick Gaechter, CEO of The Cultured Hub. “The opening of this facility is not just an achievement for our team, but a landmark moment for the industry. We are excited to open a facility that will enable start-ups to scale up without heavy capital investment and contribute to global food system improvements.”

Unique scale-up capabilities

At the Hub, companies can now scale up their processes from small-scale laboratory experiments (e.g., shake flasks) to 1,000-liter pilot operations without investing in expensive assets or diluting equity. This unique capability bridges the gap between research and commercial production, enabling companies to demonstrate and refine their processes efficiently. The Hub can host three companies working simultaneously, each in fully separated suites, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation. This organization accelerates market entry by saving time and resources, allowing actors to focus on creating great-tasting food products at a competitive cost.

Industry expertise and collaboration

A joint venture between Migros, Givaudan, and Bühler Group, The Cultured Hub leverages centuries of collective experience in food processing, product development, production, marketing, and market launches. All three companies have shown a strong commitment to sustainability. This combination makes the Hub a unique access point for knowledge, skills, technology, and retail and consumer understanding.

“The Cultured Hub is designed to bridge the scale-up gap for companies, enabling them to retain equity, protect intellectual property, and fast-track their journey to market without high capital investment,” said Ian Roberts, Chief Technology Officer of Bühler Group. “We are thrilled to bring together industry players and create a collaborative environment that will drive significant advancements in the industry.”

“As a global leader in flavours, taste, functional and nutritional solutions, with deep expertise in biotech, Givaudan is committed to unlocking new opportunities in the cellular agriculture space and contributing to the transformation of the global food system,” said Fabio Campanile, Global Head of Science & Technology Taste & Wellbeing at Givaudan. “Through the Cultured Hub, and the ecosystem we are building with start-ups, partners and customers, we look forward to co-creating new, game-changing solutions that meet consumer demand for healthier, more planet-friendly products.”

“The Cultured Hub represents a paradigm shift in how we approach food production,” said Matthew Robin, CEO, Elsa Group at Migros Industries. “As Switzerland’s largest retailer, Migros is dedicated to offering choice to consumers, including innovative, sustainable food solutions.”

Strategically located in Kemptthal, Switzerland – a burgeoning hub of innovation in Europe, the Hub provides a vibrant working environment where start-ups and established companies can spearhead breakthroughs.

About The Cultured Hub

The Cultured Hub collaborates with a global network of start-ups to find answers to the food industry’s most pressing questions and develop foods of the future. The Cultured Hub enables start-ups in the cultivated foods sector to reach industrial manufacturing more quickly and cost-effectively. The organization’s aim is to accelerate the development of sustainable proteins – specifically cultivated meat, fish, seafood, and precision fermentation products – by providing state-of-the-art scale-up facilities, cutting-edge technologies, expert guidance, and an extensive network.

www.theculturedhub.com

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B’ZEOS, a European blue-tech innovation company, has closed its seed round led by Faber with participation from ICIG Ventures, the venture capital unit of International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG). The development marks a significant milestone in the company’s plans to scale up its innovative compostable seaweed-based packaging solutions.

The latest round contributes to previous funding from pre-seed biotech investor biotope by VIB, and ocean-tech accelerator Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA), as well as private and public grants provided by the Research Council of Norway, Global Seaweed Coalition, Innovation Norway and the Eureka Network’s Eurostars programme.

The partnership with Faber and ICIG will empower the company to accelerate product development, swiftly meet industry demands, and initiate commercial production for corporate partners. Faber’s commitment to advancing ocean-based technologies makes them an ideal investment partner for B’ZEOS. In addition, the strategic collaboration with ICIG, a privately owned industrial group with an interest in biotechnology and novel materials, will enable B’ZEOS to fine tune its products and increase production by leveraging ICIG’s expertise in
compounds.

B’ZEOS’ seaweed-based solutions are not only fully bio-based and home-compostable but also compatible with existing packaging production lines. Seaweed’s rapid growth rate, ability to sequester CO2, and lack of dependence on land or fresh water, without releasing microplastics, make it an ideal raw material for sustainable packaging. The material’s versatility is complemented by B’ZEOS’ variety of applications, catering to a broad range of sectors and enabling the company to address diverse packaging needs while supporting corporate partners’ sustainability goals.

The viability and scalability of B’ZEOS’ packaging has been validated in five paid pilots to date, in collaboration with fellow Valley partners like Nestlé and other key industry players. B’ZEOS will participate in additional pilot schemes to further demonstrate the value of its solution, with the potential of reaching a test-shop with its partners.

“We’ve developed a truly sustainable seaweed-based packaging solution, derived from a variety of seaweed species. We’re not just focused on developing an eco-friendly solution; we are providing an industry-ready, scalable alternative for packaging manufacturers globally. Backed by strategic investors and leveraging our extensive experience in the packaging sector, B’ZEOS is poised to lead the way in transforming the industry with our innovative materials.” said Guy Maurice, Founder & SeaEO of B’ZEOS.

Rita Sousa, Partner at Faber added: “As global demand for sustainable packaging solutions accelerates, we’re excited to partner with B’ZEOS and support their mission of transforming the packaging industry at scale. Our investment aligns with our commitment to back ocean-based innovations that have the potential to drive positive environmental change and reshape industries for a
sustainable future”.

“B’ZEOS is pioneering an exceptional approach to sustainable materials, and we recognise that potential” said Dr. Pelin Yilmaz, Investment Director at ICIG Ventures. “Our partnership with B’ZEOS, complemented by the expertise of our compounding platform, allows us to transition towards fossil-free, compostable packaging. We were impressed by B’ZEOS’ tech-oriented team. Their industry expertise enables them to understand the sustainability needs and requirements of the packaging sector, creating solutions that are both robust and versatile.”

B’ZEOS is well positioned to transform the packaging industry with an innovative and truly sustainable alternative to traditional plastics, delivering the functionality of plastic without the environmental cost – offering a distinct advantage over existing bioplastics. Backed by strategic partnerships and new funding, B’ZEOS is set to expand its seaweed-based packaging, providing corporate partners with a scalable and impactful solution that will pave the way for a more sustainable future.

About B’ZEOS

Founded in 2017, B’ZEOS is a European blue-tech company leading the way in sustainable packaging solutions made from seaweed.

B’ZEOS has developed a proprietary seaweed-based technology designed to replace fossil-based packaging. Their solutions are 100% bio-based, home-compostable, and compatible with existing packaging production lines.

B’ZEOS is committed to reducing plastic waste and advancing the circular economy by formulating innovative packaging solutions for various industries including food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

https://www.bzeos.com/

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Valley partner Planted, the Swiss FoodTech trailblazer for clean label plant-based meats, has launched its latest culinary innovation: the planted.steak, a game-changing fermented steak from plants that is already available across numerous foodservice outlets in Europe. The planted.steak is the first product from Planted’s ‘whole-muscle platform’; which also marks the announcement of the company’s strategic expansion of its production capabilities with a cutting-edge fermentation facility in Kemptthal, Switzerland.  

Unveiling the planted.steak

Planted has crafted its first plant-based steak that oozes juiciness, tenderness and a rich distinctive umami flavour, all thanks to their cutting-edge fermentation process. True to the company’s philosophy created exclusively from natural ingredients including soya protein, rapeseed oil, bean and rice flours as well as a proprietary blend of microbial cultures, the steak is testament to sustainable culinary ingenuity. With high protein and fibre, essential micronutrients vitamin B12 and iron, it also has low saturated fats. planted.steak caters to the health-conscious palate and true foodies with a steak packed with juiciness, tenderness and taste.   

The planted.steak is now available across European restaurants for diners to enjoy: In Switzerland, notable restaurants across the nation such as Gartenhof, Kronenhalle, Lindenhofkeller, StudioBellerive at AMERON Bellerive au Lac, NOA Restaurant Bern, Café de Prélaz and KJU have already added the steak to their menus; in Germany the steak is available at Tim Raue’s Michelin starred restaurant as well as Tim Mälzer’s Bullerei in Hamburg and in Austria, the famous burger chain, Le Burger, is offering planted.steak.  

“Our planted.steak is designed to satisfy even the most discerning palate. It’s a true game changer, not only for us but also for the whole category,” said Lukas Böni, co-founder and member of the Executive Board of Planted. “No other plant-based steak on the market uses only natural ingredients, zero additives and displays features such as juiciness as well as tenderness. In the research and development process, we have worked with over 50 gastronomy professionals to achieve a steak that is literally unreal, in taste, texture, application and overall eating experience. We are very proud that so many restaurants have added it to their menus already.” 

“Fulfilling very demanding culinary requirements, the planted.steak allows us chefs to focus on what we are best at: creating and sharing emotions.”, says Peter Schärer, Executive Head Chef of famous restaurant Kronenhalle in Zürich. “The planted.steak reacts beautifully to different cooking styles, already delighting and surprising our guests.” 

Unparalleled sustainability: the planted.steak difference 

The planted.steak isn’t just a culinary innovation; it’s a scalable sustainable solution to the environmental challenges posed by traditional meat production, especially beef production. Creation of the planted.steak needs 97% less CO2e emissions per product weight compared to its animal counterpart. Beef production requires large pasture areas or agricultural land to grow feed and the production of feed for cattle requires significant amounts of energy, land, and other resources. Cattle digestion and manure release more greenhouse gases. Compared to poultry or pigs, cattle have a longer growth period before they are ready for slaughter. During this time, they consume feed and continuously produce methane. In terms of water footprint, planted.steak requires 81% less freshwater than an animal counterpart.   

By significantly reducing CO2e emissions and freshwater consumption, Planted meats are paving the way for a more sustainable future without compromising on taste, quality or eating experience. 

Future of alt-protein: planted.steak is first product from new whole-muscle platform 

Fermentation is one of nature’s most versatile processes with an unparalleled ability to boost and tailor taste, tenderness and wholesomeness of foods. Using fermentation technology allows Planted to continue to strive for clean label and healthy protein sources while doubling down on taste and naturalness – pushing the boundaries of alternative protein. 

In early 2023, the Swiss Innovation Agency Innosuisse acknowledged this and awarded Planted 2 million Swiss francs as part of the Swiss Accelerator Program, aiming to accelerate the development of their whole-muscle platform. This has enabled Planted to launch their fermentation-based steak only a year later with plans for launches across DTC channels as well as in retailers across Europe in 2024.  

Planted aims to create as many different product concepts as possible from its groundbreaking whole-muscle platform, where the muscle grows through proprietary fermentation processes. The whole-muscle is comparable to a full loin, allowing unparalleled versatility and seamless adoption into existing meat processing. This allows Planted to launch new and differentiated meats, while allowing adaptations to local food favourites and taste.   

Leading the way in sustainable food production: the Kemptthal expansion 

In tandem with the launch of the planted.steak, Planted unveils the strategic expansion of its production capabilities with a cutting-edge fermentation facility in Kemptthal, Switzerland. The new production site has created 30 technical and operational jobs. 

“This investment in our expansion stems from a strategic decision to enhance our biotechnology footprint in Kemptthal – from labs to production. Our aim is to introduce innovative products from our fermentation platform to the market fast, particularly our planted.steak, which utilises the most advanced and disruptive fermentation technology today in terms of scalability, taste and product quality.” says Lukas Böni. “We are proud to be one of the few innovators of plant-based meat that takes on all steps in the production process, from R&D to industrial production. The additional and new production site allows Planted a very fast turnaround from pilot stage to industrial production, significantly closing the time gap to market launch.” 

Green technology played a central role in the construction of the new production site. The entire building, shared by various FoodTech companies, has an eco-friendly energy system. This system uses the ambient air as an energy source. The air feeds the heat pumps, which provide environmentally friendly heating and cooling in the buildings. According to EKZ, over a period of 30 years, this will save more than 44,000 tonnes of CO2. 

[1] Groundbreaking whole-muscle platform, where the muscle grows through proprietary fermentation processes. 

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