Three impact investment companies: Dao Ventures, Moonspire Social Ventures, and New Crop Capital have partnered to launch Dao Foods International Inc., (DFI) a collaborative effort to meet China’s rising demand for protein through plant-based and lab-cultured meat. Capitalizing upon expertise and relationships already in place in North America and China, including the nonprofit Good Food Institute, […]
SmartSweets, a Canadian startup that makes candy gummy bears with only three grams of sugar per bag, has raised $3 million in funding from angel investors that include Consumer Private Equity Investors founder Scott Elaine; CEO of Daiya Foods, Terry Tierney; and former chairman of Daiya Foods, Eric Patel. Founded in Vancouver in 2015 by […]
Ankur Capital has provided the first round of funding to India’s Carmel Organics, a supplier of certified organic herbs and spices. Founded in 2012 by Shailendra Dhakad and Rajesh Sagitla in Madhya Pradesh, Carmel Organics was recognized as 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 for its work in developing an integrated supply chain for the traceable […]
Aspire Food Group, the edible insect company behind the world’s first automated cricket farm, has acquired Exo, a maker of cricket-based protein bars for an undisclosed amount. Under the terms of the transaction, Exo will use Aspire’s cricket protein powder in the production of its products, and Exo will become the new consumer brand for […]
Hong Kong-based investment firm Green Leader Holdings Group is investing up to $200 million to develop farmland and establish processing factories for the production and processing of cassava in Cambodia. Due to the ease with which it can be processed into starch, its neutral taste, its thickening capabilities, its favorable textural characteristics, and its low […]
VMG Partners has led a $20 million Series B-2 funding round for Spindrift, a Massachusetts-based sparkling water company that flavors its waters with only real fruit. Other investors participating in the round include Prolog Ventures, KarpReilly, RiverPark Ventures, and additional unnamed existing investors. Founded in 2010 in Newton, Massachusetts, Spindrift makes triple-filtered sparkling water flavored […]
In a market that is growing exponentially, it is no surprise that New Barn Inc., maker of a line of almond milks and almond-based ice cream alternatives, has secured $3.75 million in a Series A round. The round was led by New Food SPV, an investment company created to serve as a funding arm for […]
Abu Dhabi-based Al Dahra Group is close to a 200 million Euro deal (US$245 million) to acquire Agricost Braila, the largest agricultural producer in Romania. Operating on Romania’s Great Braila Island in the Danube River, Agricost is a key Black Sea grain producer, farming 56,000 hectares, or 140,800 acres (the largest farm in Europe), 70 […]
One of the largest North American field tomato growers, Lipman Family Farms, announced it has expanded its operation into greenhouse production through the acquisition of Ontario, Canada-based Huron Produce, a greenhouse tomato and vegetable producer and distributor with operations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Through this deal, which Lipman Family Farms calls “transformative”, the […]
Gladstone Land announced it has acquired a 176-acre blueberry farm in Van Buren County, Michigan, for a total consideration of $2.1 million. At the point of purchase, the operation consists of 100 fully irrigated acres of planted blueberries and includes multiple water sources. Once finalized, under the terms of the deal, Gladstone Land will enter […]
