Over 8 Overseas Bio-manufacturing Companies Raise Total of RMB 1.872 Billion, Highlighting Strong Momentum in Alternative Protein Sector

From the recent situation of the overseas biomanufacturing market,More than8Several companies completed financing, with the total amount exceeding RMB18.72100 million yuan.

Last quarter saw a significant surge in financing activity within the field of innovative foods produced via biomanufacturing. The “small yet refined” positioning and business model have gained market recognition, with larger-scale early-stage venture capital funds also showing increasing interest in this sector recently.

In certain sectors that had already reached the scale-up stage in previous years, the market landscape is now beginning to diverge. Some companies are mired in difficulties, struggling for survival or resorting to asset sales and layoffs; others are steadily advancing and consolidating their positions; while still others, as new entrants, are attempting to strategize by standing on the “shoulders of giants.”

Agfunder: Innovative Food Sector2025Q3Financing1.65billion USD, quarter-on-quarter growth42%。

Innovation in the food sector is shifting from consumer-centric plant-based meat and cultured meat to“Behind the Scenes”a supplier of raw materials and technologies, yet its financing situation remains far below2021~2022At the year’s peak, the top players in this category are startups focused on fungi, egg alternatives, and fungal proteins. Arguably, many of these companies operate behind the scenes, supplying ingredients, technologies, or both to other food companies, rather than targeting consumers directly.

Companies to Watch This Quarter:

1、The Protein Brewery: Cultivating fungi in bioreactors to provide versatile raw materials, not limited to meat alternatives; fundraising3500USD 10,000.

2、Revyve: Focused on egg alternatives, with products applicable to multiple food categories such as baking and plant-based meat; financing2800USD 10,000.

3、The Better Meat Co: itsRhizaProtein Products Expand into Flour and Dairy Alternatives, Securing Financing3100USD 10,000.

GFI：The Asia-Pacific Region Could Become the Global Hub for Future-Oriented Biomanufacturing of Proteins, Fats, and Other Ingredients

Researchers have evaluated key site-selection drivers for biomass and precision fermentation across nine countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including raw material and labor costs, ease of doing business, and regulatory readiness. It is recommended that alternative protein stakeholders prioritize Thailand, Vietnam, and Australia when selecting locations for establishing biomanufacturing facilities.

EU Parliament Supports Ban on Plant-Based Meat“Vegetarian Burger”Label

The European Parliament by355Votes in favor,247Votes Against,30abstained from voting, passing an amendment that supports prohibiting plant-based meat products from using traditional meat terms such as “burger,” “sausage,” and “steak” for labeling purposes. Proponents argue“Meat Terminology”Labels may mislead consumers, but multiple surveys indicate that most consumers do not feel confused. For example,2020A 2026 survey by European consumer organizations shows that,80%Respondents support the use of traditional meat terminology for plant-based meat;2023YearSmart ProteinIn the survey, only9%The respondent stated that they were unable to identify plant-based meat alternatives.ProVeg InternationalOrganizations such as the European Vegetarian Union have criticized the proposal for restricting consumer freedom and hindering sustainable development. The proposal will now enter into trilogue negotiations among the European Commission, the Council, and the Parliament, with completion expected by the end of the year.

TIME Magazine’s List of the World’s Best Inventions of the Year Features a Range of Alternative Proteins and Future Food Innovations

Listed companies include:

Cell-Cultured Seafood.WildtypeCultured Coho Salmon CatchFDAApproved and launched in restaurants across six states, it is the world’s first commercially available cultured seafood product.

Carbon-Derived Butter.SavorUtilizing point-capture carbon dioxide, green hydrogen, and methane to produce agriculture-free fats, replacing dairy products and palm oil. The products are already being sold in Michelin-starred restaurants, with preparations underway to construct an annual production capacity of10,000Ton-scale facilities.

Fungal protein.The Better Meat CoofRhizaProtein produced by microbial digestion of sorghum and potato by-products has been approved3,100USD financing, projected annual revenue1,300$10,000.

Vegetarian Bubble Gummies.Orkla SnacksofubsAfter going viral on social media last year and causing supply shortages, four new flavors were launched in the United States this year.

Cultured Chicken Nuggets. A research team at the University of Tokyo has produced meat pieces the size of chicken nuggets using hollow-fiber bioreactors, exploring the feasibility of cultivating whole-cut meats.

Lactose-free cheese.Rebel CheeseUtilizes cave aging and proprietary cultures to mimic traditional cheese flavors.

France's Former Star of Insect ProteinŸnsectThe restructuring plan is still ongoingStruggling to Survive

ŸnsectAfter failing to secure the financing approved by the court last year, this year2entered bankruptcy proceedings in [Month] and is currently under judicial administration. The court has extended its "observation period" to2026Year1Month12day, allowing it to continue operations and evaluate restructuring options. The company claims to have reduced the production cost of insect larvae through new breeding methods70%The above. ŸnsectTwo bridge loans have been secured (totaling approximately21800,000 euros) and carried out large-scale layoffs. It is testing a production model with lower technological content and lower levels of automation to reduce costs. It is still seeking approximately2440€10,000 in additional funding to support long-term recovery plans.

InnovafeedWith U.S. Agricultural GiantsADMCollaboration: Preparing for Scale

InnovafeedIn FranceNesleIts black soldier fly farming facility is considered one of the largest insect protein factories in the world, and possibly the largest insect breeding base globally. It has established innovation centers and pilot plants in the United States. Recently, it suspended operations at its pilot plant in Decatur, Illinois, but stated that plans to build a commercial-scale black soldier fly facility at this location remain in place.“Highly Active”。InnovafeedIt stated that the adjustments were based on the achievement of pilot program objectives, ensuring process validation, and that it was preparing to collaborate with agricultural giants.ADMCollaborate to expand scale. The company has been testing ADM corn by-products as raw materials for its U.S. facilities. It has successfully validated the use ofADMProcesses using corn by-products as raw materials will focus on the pet food market in the next phase. Previously,InnovafeedObtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture1180A grant of tens of thousands of U.S. dollars was allocated for the construction of an insect frass fertilizer plant.

No alternative protein is perfect, and blended products can overcome their respective limitations

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Tufts University have proposed a new strategy: developing next-generation high-protein foods that are more delicious, affordable, and sustainable by blending multiple protein sources, including plants, fungi, insects, microbial fermentation products, and cultured animal cells. The study highlights the advantages and disadvantages of five categories of protein sources: plant-based proteins are low-cost and scalable but suffer from suboptimal flavor and texture; mycelium can enhance structure and mouthfeel; insect proteins offer high nutritional density with minimal environmental impact; and microbial fermentation can contribute pigments, enzymes, and flavors. The research outlines the benefits and evolutionary pathways of hybrid food products. In the short term, plant+Mycelium composites are the most viable option; in the long term, plant-based+Cultivated meat blends can achieve an optimal balance of flavor, texture, and nutrition. Insect protein can be incorporated into products in powder or paste form to enhance consumer acceptance.

Maia VenturesThe First Agri-Food Tech Fund, Focused on Early-Stage Investment

Italy Impact Fund Maia Ventures Announced the establishment of its first agri-food tech fund, with a size of5500€10 million dedicated to investing in early-stage projects to enhance the health, resilience, and efficiency of food systems. The fund is fully operational and has made six investments to date.Maia Categorize investments into three major impact areas:

üHealth: Including gut health, sugar reduction, weight management, etc. Invested projects such as Lembas(Enhanced GLP-1 reactive peptides),Cappellini(Ready-to-eat plant-based products),Exolab(Plant-derived exosomes for use in cosmetics and supplements).

üEfficiency: Focusing on Agricultural Digitalization,AI, waste reduction, etc. Representative projects include GenoGra(Genomic Analysis Platform),Biorsaf(Food Safety Compliance SaaS）。

üResilience: such as Foreverland Developed Carob “Chocolate” Alternative.

Ansa Biotechnologies Completed5440$10,000BRound of financing, reshaping synthesisDNAMethod of Acquisition.

As of now,Ansa Biotechnologies the total financing amount is approximately8340Wanmei.AnsaUtilizing a proprietary enzymatic platform to overcome the limitations of traditional chemical synthesis, enabling the synthesis of longer (up to50kb), more complexDNAsequence, avoid irritating chemicals, maintainDNAIntegrity.AnsaLaunch the "On-Time Delivery Guarantee" service, offering orders free of charge if not delivered on schedule; and establish a new pricing model for low-complexity sequences to enhance cost-effectiveness.Ansaplatform enables scientists to design new pathways, accelerating breakthroughs in gene and cell therapies, vaccines, agricultural genomics, and synthetic biology.

Agri-Tech GiantCortevaandAIProtein Design PublicCompanyProfluent BioCo-development of Gene Editing Tools

Profluent BioitProGen3Platform Integration intoCortevaofGenlytixGene Editing Ecosystem. This initiative aims to accelerate the development of more resilient and sustainable crops. The two parties will combineCortevaExpertise in Plant-Based Testing andProfluentInAITechnical advantages in protein structure modeling and high-throughput screening to jointly develop next-generation gene editing tools. This collaboration is led byCortevaVCBeat's Venture Capital ArmCatalystPromotion.CortevaIt is the agricultural business of Dow and DuPont. 2017As a result of the annual merger, it will be split into an agrochemicals entity New Cortevaand seed businessSpinCo。

ArzedaAwarded by the National Science Foundation780$10,000 in funding to advance bioelectrochemistry research

Arzeda Will lead a project costing780a project worth tens of thousands of U.S. dollars, developing an electricity-driven enzymatic cascade system to enhance the production efficiency of sustainable chemicals. The project is affiliated with the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) ofCFIREPlan, with the goal of achieving more than70%energy efficiency, which is significantly higher than that commonly observed in conventional chemical electrocatalysis50%Energy loss.

One of the key focuses of the project is to convert waste carbon dioxide into methanol, a critical fuel and chemical feedstock.ArzedaIts technological core is an intelligent protein design platform that leverages generative artificial intelligence to design enzymes capable of operating directly on electronic devices, thereby bypassing the limitations of living cells. Collaborators include the Missouri University of Science and Technology and industrial enzyme manufacturers.Novonesis A/S. This move also continuesArzedaRecently AcquiredNSF USPRDProject Support, Further PromotionAIAdvances in Enzyme Design and Cell-Free Manufacturing.

UK Biotech StartupScindoObtained400£10,000 Financing Round for ExpansionAIEnzyme Discovery Platform

ScindoEstablished in2020In [year], developed a combinedAIA full-stack platform integrated with experimental data for designing and optimizing enzymes that convert renewable feedstocks into high-value ingredients such as food, flavors, cosmetics, and specialty chemicals. This investment will scale up wet-lab operations and develop novel enzymes, offering cost-effective, petrochemical-free alternatives, with plans to launch two products within the next year.ScindoThis technology offers a sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-dependent manufacturing processes, particularly in the production of natural flavors and fragrances. The platform has attracted partnerships with chemical manufacturers and initiated pilot-scale production.

PhagosObtain3000$10 million in financing to advance the development of antibiotic alternatives for livestock

A biotechnology company headquartered in Paris, FrancePhagos, focusing on the development of phage therapy to combat bacterial infections in animals and humans.Phagosplatform is known as“Alphagos”, combining microbiology with artificial intelligence to diagnose bacterial strains, identify phages capable of combating these strains, and develop phage-based“Ultra-Targeted Bacterial Therapy”. These treatment methods are continuously updated to ensure that subjects remain healthy without leading to drug resistance. They have been deployed in livestock and aquaculture sectors, including chickens, cattle, pigs, and shrimp, and applications have been filed forAIPlatform Patents.

Expected in the future25year, antimicrobial resistance will cause approximately global3900Tens of thousands of deaths. It is also a leading cause of animal mortality, raising concerns not only about animal welfare but also food security and livelihoods.

Fat Substitutes:CheckerspotwithHuvepharma Collaborative Large-Scale Production of Human Milk Fat Substitutes OPO

U.S. StartupCheckerspotFocusing on microalgae fermentation technology to develop high-value lipids. This collaboration with a Bulgarian biopharmaceutical companyHuvepharmaCollaboration aims to produce human milk fat analogs at an industrial scaleOPO(The triglyceride structure is oleic acid-Palmitic Acid-oleic acid).OPOFacilitates calcium and fat-soluble micronutrient absorption in infants, and possesses immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties.CheckerspotClaims that its products aresn-2The palmitic acid content at the position reaches70~75%, higher than the average level in breast milk (approximately65%). Compared with currently commercially available enzymatically modified palm oil or traditional vegetable oils,CheckerspotThe algal oil more closely resembles the fat structure of breast milk and is free from environmental contaminants or risks of processing adulteration. This algal oil is positioned as a premium nutritional solution for infants who cannot be breastfed, and also serves as an alternative to palm oil-derivedsn-2Sustainable Alternatives to Palmitate.

Food SectorGLP-1New Opportunities:EvolvLaunch andGLP-1 Receptor-Binding Peptides, Prescription-Free Dietary Supplements

WithOzempicAmid the drug craze, consumers have shown surging interest in “over-the-counter, side-effect-free” alternatives. U.S. startupsEvolv Passing Through Evolv GLP-1 Aiming for the optimal balance between these two options, this is a type made from baker's yeast“Bionics”Dietary supplements, meticulously designed to produce a GLP-1 and GIP Receptor-binding peptides, with a half-life of 1-2 Day.EvolvSimulation GLP-1 and GIP Hormonal action, rather than inducing the body’s own production. Half-life approximately 24 hours, which is more durable than natural hormones (minutes), but less so than injected drugs (5–7 days), facilitating easier clearance and reducing the risk of long-term retention. It eliminates the need for injections, thereby enhancing user acceptance. Without requiring cold-chain transportation or costly purification processes, it is well-suited for large-scale distribution. Positioned as a dietary supplement rather than a prescription drug, it enables faster market entry with lower regulatory barriers, while bypassing the clinical trial requirements and patent obstacles associated with pharmaceutical approval.Evolv Funds have been raised. 580 pre-seed round financing of tens of thousands of US dollars.

VerleyAcquire FDA First Document“No issues”Letter Regarding Functionalized Dairy Proteins Produced via Precision Fermentation

Verleyis a food biotechnology company headquartered in Lyon, France. The approval coversVerleyTwo Flagship Ingredients:FermWhey NativeandFermWhey MicroStab。FermWhey Nativeby95%ofβ-Composed of lactoglobulin, it reflects the clean amino acid profile of traditional whey, providing high leucine content to support performance and recovery in sports and active nutrition. Meanwhile,FermWhey MicroStabis a patented microgranule-functionalized protein designed to achieve superior thermal stability andpHvalue stability, making it suitable for complex formulations such as ready-to-drink beverages.Verley to be held on 2026 launched its product commercially in the United States this year, and is advancing regulatory approvals in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. This timeFDARegulatory approval serves as a significant signal that the regulatory pathway for functional proteins is becoming increasingly clear, indicating that precision fermentation is ready to scale up and complement traditional dairy products.

A Typical Case of Scaling Failure: Canadian Insect Agriculture CompanyAspireSale of Its Factory

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Canada has approved a deal involving the struggling insect agriculture companyAspire Food Group sell its assets toHalali Group Holdings, the latter being an acquirer with “equity interests in commercial real estate and food and beverage manufacturing.” The facility was once hailed as the world’s largest cricket processing plant, but it failed to meet its planned production capacity targets due to operational efficiency falling well below expectations, equipment issues, and environmental differences. PreviouslyAspireFollowing the successful small-scale pilot in Texas, a large-scale automated factory was constructed in Ontario without undergoing pilot-scale validation, resulting in design instability in the new environment. The Texas-based farming process performed poorly under Ontario’s climatic conditions, particularly in terms of temperature and humidity control, ventilation systems, and automated equipment.AspireOntario plant originally planned to produce crickets annually12,000tons, but actual production fell far short of expectations. The operational failures were attributed to changes in production methods, equipment malfunctions, and differences in the production site environment.AspireOwing approximately4410debt of tens of thousands of Canadian dollars,FCCthis year5The takeover process was initiated in [Month].