Packaging can improve food safety and reduce waste - sounds pretty crazy, right? Absolutely not, if we are talking about intelligent packaging and Oscillum, a standout startup in the Desafía program, dedicated to changing the industry with their innovative technologies.

Their active packaging extends the shelf life of fresh foods by delaying ripening in fruits and vegetables and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. This smart labeling system provides real-time monitoring of food quality and safety, changing color to indicate bacterial growth or loss of freshness. This ensures that consumers have access to the freshest and safest products, while also significantly reducing food waste. We talked with Sofía Riera Vidal to learn more about Oscillum.

Have you ever wondered how the agri-food industry could turn its waste into a valuable resource, and how this could transform the way we feed animals sustainably? Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Bioprocesia, a standout startup in the Desafía program, which is dedicated to fostering innovative solutions in the agri-food sector.

Bioprocesia stands out with its cutting-edge microbial fermentation technology, which transforms by-products of the agri-food sector into high-protein, natural ingredients for animal feed. Their mission is to promote a more circular and sustainable agri-food industry, benefiting animals with special nutritional needs and reducing environmental impact. Guiomar Sánchez, CEO of Bioprocesia answered our questions. 

Hemp is hip — almost nobody in Germany has escaped the recent discussions about cannabis legalization. But did you know that hemp has much more to offer and even holds considerable potential as a climate-friendly alternative to other crops? Scientists, politicians, and  the industry have renewed interest in Cannabis Sativa, one of the oldest cultivated plants in human history.

Imagine a world where your favorite steak or bacon is created not in a farm but through a printer, crafted with precision from plant-based ingredients or even the trims of real meat. This is not science fiction — this is Cocuus. Cocuus was founded on two main inspirations: a profound concern for science and a desire to satisfy creative needs. The founders, self-confessed science fiction enthusiasts and tech geeks, envisioned a future where food could be created in ways never before imagined. They drew inspiration from iconic sci-fi elements, such as the transporter machines from Star Trek, to conceptualize food production as a process of turning physical ingredients into data and back into food. The FoodTech startup transforms food production with industrial solutions for alt-protein analogues using 2D/3D laser printing, bioprinting, and robotics. Their patented MEATMETHICA technology is a new era of protein innovation, enabling the large-scale production of plant-based meats and seafood that match animal products in taste and nutrition. 

The Desafía FoodTech Germany program is an initiative facilitated by ICEX Spain and RootCamp, spanning six months from April to October 2024. On June 24th we will host our Virtual Mentors day, and in the meantime we want to tell more about participants of this program. Libre Foods transforms the food system to be more sustainable for the future by creating innovative products made from fungi. Using fungi fermentation technology, they are developing a range of fungi-based ingredients that satisfy consumers' needs for taste, nutrition, and affordability.

The Desafía FoodTech Germany is almost half-way there, and we're happy to introduce our first startup of the program. NUCAPS is revolutionizing industries with its technology, developed in collaboration with professionals in the field. Since its establishment, NUCAPS has been dedicated to providing innovative solutions for human health challenges in Food Nutrition, Nutraceuticals, Feed, Pharma & Cosmetics. Their latest innovation showcases the world’s first platform for functional ingredients, utilizing protein-based microencapsulation for bioactives and probiotics. NUCAPS' technology offers up to 30 times increased absorption compared to traditional methods, seamlessly integrating functionality into food matrices with a clean-label and a sustainable approach. We talked with Mariano Oto, CEO of NUCAPS to learn more about this promising startup.

The Desafía FoodTech Germany program is an initiative facilitated by ICEX Spain and RootCamp, spanning six months from April to October 2024. This collaborative effort aims to catalyze the growth and success of Spanish startups in the FoodTech sector by providing unparalleled opportunities for collaboration, networking, and resource access within the competitive German market. We´re thrilled to announce 10 promising startups which were selected to participate in the Desafia program.

Women are underrepresented in the AgTech industry, as is the case in many other technology-related fields. However, the number of female founders in AgTech and AgriFood is growing. Despite the challenging fundraising landscape, female founders and emerging fund managers in Europe have demonstrated resilience. The recently published "The State of Gender Diversity in European Venture report 2024" by Female Foundry, highlights this resilience. According to the study, in 2023, European startups co-founded by women secured a total of €5.9 billion in funding. After the peak years of 2021 and 2022, this amount marks 2023 as the third-highest year on record in terms of funding raised. PitchBook's European VC Female Founders Dashboard reveals mixed companies currently claim the largest share of capital at 19.2%, reaching its highest level in over a decade.

The year has started strong with events like Grüne Woche in Berlin, where Lower Saxony showcases its pioneering role in food production, innovation, and sustainability within an expansive exhibition area organized by Startup Niedersachsen. But there are still plenty more events to come in the world of AgTech and AgriFood. Navigate through the sea of opportunities with this curated list of 10 must-attend AgTech and FoodTech startup events.

NEW FOOD FESTIVAL, STUTTGART

FEBRUARY 28th - MARCH 1st, STUTTGART

The largest gathering in German-speaking Europe for startups and innovators across the food value chain features over 100 exhibitors along with a lineup of international speakers and experts. Expect interesting talks and discussions on topics such as “Can we still master the agri-food transformation before the climate changes our food system?” or “Pimp my Business - startups as an innovation driver for SMEs”.It is the perfect opportunity for you to network with fellow startups and innovators in food, agriculture, gastronomy, and retail from the DACHLI (Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein) region.

The AgTech landscape is experiencing remarkable growth, underscored by a staggering 305 applications originating from 61 countries for Batch #5 at RootCamp. This blog article shines a spotlight on the most promising AgTech startups within our latest application phase.