Next-Gen Food and Drinks

Next-Gen Food and Drinks encompass solutions and processes that leverage science and technology to create new types of foods and beverages. This category includes alternative proteins such as plant-based meat, fermentation, and cellular agriculture, insects-based products, functional food and drinks, as well as meal replacements.

The Role of Next-Gen Food and Drinks in Shaping the Agrifood System

Next-Gen Food and Drinks is reshaping the agrifood system by addressing critical issues such as food security, sustainability, and health. Leveraging advanced technologies and sustainable practices, these innovations offer exciting gastronomic experiences while tackling pressing global challenges.

Trends in Next-Gen Food and Drinks:

Consumer preferences and technological advancements are driving significant trends in the Next-Gen Food and Drinks sector, reshaping how food is produced, distributed, and consumed:

• Advancements in AI and data analytics enable personalised nutrition plans tailored to individual health needs and preferences, integrating a diverse range of next-gen ingredients such as adaptogens and probiotics.
• Biodegradable and edible packaging made from alternative materials like algae, fungi, and plant-based polymers are being used to replace traditional packaging, reducing waste, and environmental impact.
• Advancements in cellular agriculture and fermentation lead to the production of cultured food and drink products, including lab-grown meat, dairy alternatives, and fermented beverages with enhanced nutritional profiles.
• Biofortification techniques are being used to enrich next-gen food and drink products with essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, addressing global malnutrition and dietary deficiencies.
• Continued research into novel bioactive ingredients from sources such as mushrooms, algae, and CBD will lead to the development of next-gen functional food and drink products targeting specific health benefits and wellness trends.

Capital raised from 2014 – February 2024: €20.86 Billion (Source: FoodTech Data Navigator)

Next-gen food and drink companies will develop innovative solutions to repurpose food waste into value-added products, such as upcycled snacks, beverages, and ingredients, contributing to a more sustainable food system. This trend is already gaining traction, with the global market for upcycled food products projected to reach $46.7 billion by 2027, indicating significant opportunities for growth and investment in this emerging sector.

Next-Gen Food & Drinks Domains and Companies Shaping the Industry

The Food Tech Data Navigator shows 2216 actors in Next-Gen Food and Drinks (Source: FoodTech Data Navigator)

Innovative advancements in food and drink domains are reshaping the agrifood system, offering sustainable, nutritious, and cutting-edge solutions. Here’s a glimpse into the different domains of Next-Gen Food and Drink:

Cellular Agriculture

Advancing lab-grown meat production through cellular agriculture techniques, offering sustainable alternatives to traditional meat sources.

• BlueNalu (United States) #40 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Develops premium cell-cultured seafood that is healthy for people, humane for animals, and sustainable for our planet
• Biomilq (United States) #45 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Developed functional human milk components outside the body utilizing the unique potential of human mammary cells and cell culture technology to bring more of the benefits of breast milk to more babies
• Ivy Farm Technologies (United Kingdom) #72 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | An innovative food tech scale-up on a mission to create the best guilt-free, real meat
• CellX (China) #98 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Cellular agriculture startup working to bring cultured meat products to consumers
• Multus (United Kingdom) #114 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Produces key ingredients for the affordable and profitable scale-up of cellular agriculture
• Umami Bioworks (Singapore) #116 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Developing an automated production platform to enable rapid adoption of cultivated, ‘not caught’ seafood by the traditional seafood industry
• GOURMEY (France) #154 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Creates meat delights through cell cultivation that are not only delicious but also environmentally friendly. Their flagship product is cultivated foie gras
• Bluu Seafood (Germany) #231 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Develops cultivated seafood,  offering a sustainable and healthier alternative to traditional seafood products
• Cellmeat (South Korea) #266 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Develops sustainable proteins to maintain the earth and mankind’s coexistence while introducing state-of-the-art food and biotechnology
• Forsea Foods (Israel) #309 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Cultured fish and seafood company with proprietary, breakthrough organoid technology that can produce cultivated meat in an efficient and cost-effective manner – making price parity an achievable reality

Functional Foods & Drinks 

Customizing food and beverage formulations to cater to individual health needs, integrating functional ingredients like adaptogens and probiotics for enhanced well-being.  

• Algama Foods (France) #18 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Creates sustainable and nutritious food products using algae-based ingredients
• FUL Foods (The Netherlands) #33 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Develops and brings to market innovative, delicious, and climate-friendly nutrition from spirulina
• Koa (Switzerland) #42 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Upcycles the entire cocoa fruit to produce natural cocoa fruit products
• Neoh (Austria) #150 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Offers a range of palm oil-free snacks and treats with 100% taste and zero added sugar
• Modern Baker (United Kingdom) #182 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Crafts innovative baked goods with a focus on health and sustainability
• NUU (Brazil) #190 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Produces frozen cassava-based foods
• Tasted Better (Thailand) #314 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Produces the world’s lowest Glycemic Index (GI) Functional Flour that can replace normal wheat flour
• Drype (Italy) #495 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Offers delicious and innovative freeze-dried food products for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers
• Wovo Revolution (f.k.a Mundo Healthy) (Spain) #499 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Creates a new family of products made from a patent developed from egg whites that can act as a lactose-free alternative to dairy products
• Odyssey Elixir (United States) | Crafts unique and flavorful elixirs inspired by ancient Greek ingredients
• Slay Coffee (India) | Provides premium-quality coffee experiences through technology-driven solutions
• Solveat (Israel) | Offers convenient and personalized meal solutions for busy individuals

Insects

Utilizing edible insects and aquaculture for sustainable protein sources fosters environmentally friendly food production while minimizing resource consumption.

• Essento Food (Switzerland) #141 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Develops innovative insect-based products that taste delicious and are accessible to everyone
• Beta Bugs (United Kingdom) #214 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Develops and distributes black soldier fly breeds to the insect farming sector
• Global Bugs (Sweden) #224 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Focuses on insect-based protein products
• GRIG (Czech Republic) #293 in the 2022 FoodTech 500 | Specializes in healthy food made with nutritious cricket flour
• Optiprot (Mexico) #403 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Produces, processes, and distributes Tenebrio molitor, an edible insect high in protein and nutrients
• Small Giants (United Kingdom) #423 in the 2021 FoodTech 500 | Produces planet-positive, high-protein snacks and more made with insect flour

Meal Replacements & Supplements

Providing convenient and personalized nutrition solutions through meal replacement options and tailored supplements, addressing diverse dietary requirements and health goals.

• headstart (Austria) #202 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Produces fruit juice-based drink to promote concentration and performance in everyday life
• LOEWI (acquired by Bioniq) (Germany) #327 in the 2021 FoodTech 500 | Offers tailor-made vitamins based on your blood values and lifestyle
• Athletic Greens (United States) | Offers AG1, a daily Foundational Nutrition supplement designed to support overall health
• Future Biome (Argentina) | Innovates sustainable food solutions inspired by the diversity of the Australian biome
• Huel (United Kingdom) | Provides nutritionally complete, convenient, and affordable food while minimizing its impact on animals and the environment
• Supergut (United States) | Provides science-based and delicious products — shakes, snack bars, and more — that balance the microbiome to improve health

Plant-Based

Revolutionizing the food industry with plant-based meat and dairy alternatives, incorporating a wide variety of plant sources to create nutritious and flavorful products.

• Heura Foods (Spain) #7 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Builds a net positive food system while accelerating the protein transition with plant-based, nutritious, and sustainable products
• Gooddot (India) #51 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Produces plant-based meat alternatives for Indian cuisine
• The Live Green Company (United States) #64 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Leverages plant and ancestral wisdom databases, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Precision Fermentation to produce a wide range of clean and low-carbon food products and ingredients
• Melibio (United States) #124 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Supports bee biodiversity through an alternative, science-driven approach to turn plants into honey
• Juicy Marbles (Slovenia) #142 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Produces plant-based whole cuts using a proprietary protein texturing technology
• Meatless Kingdom (Indonesia) #216 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 Provides ready-to-eat plant-based meat with an Asian taste
• BettaF!sh (Germany) #290 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Develops plant-based seafood alternatives
• Dreamfarm Foods (Italy) #345 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Creates plant-based cheese made from fermenting sustainably-grown Italian almonds
• New School Foods (Canada) #378 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Produces whole-cut seafood made from plants to advance the transition to a sustainable, alt-protein food system
• Pink Albatross (Spain) #425 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Creates functional foods and beverages
• Egg’n’Up (Israel) #467 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Offers revolutionary plant-based, multifunctional, clean-label egg replacement solutions using proprietary ingredients
• Stockeld Dreamery (Sweden) #369 in the 2022 FoodTech 500 | Crafts artisanal plant-based cheeses

Protein Fermentation

Pioneering novel protein sources from plant-based ingredients through fermentation techniques, expanding the range of sustainable protein alternatives for diverse culinary applications.

• Nature’s Fynd (United States) #1 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Grow Fy™, a nutritional fungi protein, into a wide range of truly delicious meatless and dairy-free foods
• Meati Food (United States) #6 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Produces whole-cut steaks and cutlets made from 95% sustainably-produced mycelium
• Onego Bio (Finland) #68 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Produces animal-free egg protein at price and performance parity
• Mycorena (Sweden) #112 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Innovates sustainable protein solutions with mycoprotein technology
• All G Foods (Australia) #164 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Creates dairy proteins — like casein micelles, phosphorylated casein, and lactoferrin — with similar properties as those made from cows
• NoPalm Ingredients (Netherlands) #176 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | Creates sustainable and palm oil-free ingredients for food products.
• Planetary (Switzerland) #209 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | A global infrastructure platform that specializes in designing, building, and operating various capacities for biomass and precision fermentation players
• Libre Foods (Spain) #329 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | A biotech company commercializing a platform of fungi-based products to replace meat
• Maya Milk (Turkey) #459 in the 2023 FoodTech 500 | A precision fermentation company producing animal-origin-free dairy proteins and fats
• Oobli (United States) | Creates sweeteners derived from protein-rich exotic plants

Our Blogs on Next-Gen Food and Drinks

• Taste Innovation: Alternative Flavours to the Rescue
• WTF – What’s The Fermentation: Decoding Precision Fermentation
• Plant Cell Culture: A Revolutionary Approach in the AgriFoodTech Landscape
• The Bioreactor Revolution: Transforming Food Processing and Flavor Development
• The ‘B2B-ization’ of the alternative protein space
• Cellular Agriculture – Where are we heading to?

Interested in deep-diving into the ins and outs of the AgriFoodTech sector? Explore our New Report Series, ‘Decoding the FoodTech Transition,’ providing in-depth analysis and strategic insights into the evolving AgriFoodTech sector. Download a free sample now of the Plant-based Proteins Report HERE.

Explore Our Proprietary Taxonomy

Navigate the market dynamics of the AgriFoodTech sector with our proprietary taxonomy that covers the entire food supply chain, categorized into verticals (‘Activities’) and further divided into subcategories (‘Domains’). Click below the activity you want to explore.