Source: The Spoon

Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.

In the first two quarters of 2020, 20 faux meat startups raised about $1.4 billion. Total agtech investment reached $2.2 billion, while food tech investments reached $4.8 billion.

As lawmakers in Congress work to finalize a second economic stimulus package, Republican leaders are pushing for legislation that would discontinue the $600 unemployment benefits in place of a “return to work” bonus. This puts restaurant workers gravely at risk, especially if liability protections would prevent people from suing their employers if they contract Covid-19 on the job.

While some New York City lawmakers are pushing to make outdoor dining permanent to save struggling restaurants, Hong Kong has banned restaurant dining as it battles a new wave of COVID-19 cases.

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Check out our weekly round-up of last week’s top food startup, tech and innovation news below or peruse the full newsletter here.

1. Food Tech Investment Reached $4.8B in the First Half of 2020 – The Spoon

For the first two quarters of 2020, total agtech investment reached $2.2b compared to the $2.7b raised for the entirety of 2019. Food tech investment reached $4.8b during the first two quarters of 2020 compared to $7b for all of 2019, and that number will continue to rise rapidly.

2. How the Latest Republican Stimulus Would Hammer Jobless Restaurant Workers – Eater

New York hospitality workers could see their monthly earnings slashed by $1.7k or more under the current proposal.

3. Venture Investors Double Their Bets on Faux Meat Startups – Bloomberg

More than 20 faux meat startups raised about $1.4b from venture investors in the first seven months of 2020 with the hopes of finding the next Beyond Meat.

4. The Republican Stimulus Plan Lets Restaurant Owners Who Endanger Workers Off the Hook – Eater

Liability protections would prevent people from suing their employers if they contract Covid-19 on the job.

5. Hong Kong Bans Restaurant Dining As It Battles New Wave of Coronavirus – Reuters

Hong Kong banned gatherings of more than two people on Monday, closed down restaurant dining and introduced mandatory face masks in public places, including outdoors.

6. Why Hunger Can Grow Even When Poverty Doesn’t – New York Times

The two issues are linked, but during the coronavirus pandemic the relationship is not always simple.

7. Almost 30M in US Didn’t Have Enough to Eat Last Week – Bloomberg

Food insecurity for US households last week reached its highest reported level since May.

8. Food & Ag Anti-Racism Resources + Black Food & Farm Businesses to Support

Check out our list of resources to learn about systemic racism in the food and agriculture industries. We also highlight Black food and farm businesses and organizations to support.

9. Investments in Bioproducts Surge As Geltor Nabs New Money – TechCrunch

The manufacturer of vegan collagen has raised $90m from an undisclosed investor. The company aims to make animal-derived proteins used in cosmetics and food products cheaply, efficiently and animal-free.

10. Nice Tuan Nets Another $80M Amid China’s Fresh Food Group Buying Hype – AgFunder

CDH Investments led the round. Nice Tuan will use the new funds to enhance its warehousing and distribution capacity and strengthen its supply chain.

11. James Beard Employees Demand More Diversity in Leadership, Salary Transparency in Internal Letter – Eater

Among other demands, the letter calls to diversify the board of trustees, and make events more equitable.

12. The Great Climate Migration Has Begun – New York Times

Today, 1% of the world is a barely livable hot zone. By 2070, that portion could go up to 19%. An estimated 50m to 300m people will be displaced as a result.

13. 7 Ways the Trump Administration Has Deregulated the Food System During the Covid-19 Pandemic – The Counter

Chickens processed at unsafe speeds, fishing in protected waters, and fewer protections for workers: Experts say the pandemic has made our food system significantly more dangerous.

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