Beyond Carbon Neutral, Biden’s Biotech Priorities For Food & Ag + More

Image Credit: Food Dive

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.

A new report from the Biden administration states its desire for the country to use biotechnology to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability, create more nutritious and safer food, and protect food animals and plants from pests and environmental harm. Cultivated pork startup New Age Eats has announced that it is shutting down after 5 years in operation and $32 million raised since it launched in 2018. Last but not least, Uber Eats is taking down thousands of virtual kitchens from its food delivery platform to focus on quality over quantity.

In other news, we are excited to spotlight our podcast in partnership with AgFunder: New Food Order, a nuanced investigation into the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. Read all about why we launched the podcast.

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1. Biotechnology Should Be Used to Improve Nutrition, Sustainability and Resiliency of Food, Biden Report Says – Food Dive

The new document sets out “bold goals” to improve areas that include human health and supply chain management. It follows a September executive order that made this kind of technology a national priority.

2. Cultivated Pork Startup New Age Eats Shuts Down After Five Years Amidst ‘Recent Market Turmoil’ – Green Queen

The startup was focused on bringing cultivated pork sausages to market and had raised over $32m dollars since its founding in June 2018.

3. Uber Eats Is Shutting Down Thousands of Virtual Restaurants to Make the App Less Spammy – The Verge

The food delivery app is cracking down on the ghost kitchens that have identical menus.

4. A $24B Wave of Climate Losses Faces Meat and Dairy Firms – Bloomberg

Half of 40 major meat and dairy companies may see operating losses by 2030, a new estimate suggests.

5. Moving Beyond Carbon Neutrality in Food & Ag – New Food Order

As we increasingly learn about the industry’s potential to be a solution to reversing climate change through carbon sequestering farming practices, the question quickly became: is carbon neutrality enough?

6. The Meat Industry Blocked the IPCC’s Attempt to Recommend a Plant-Based Diet – Quartz

A leaked draft revealed how the meat industry is obstructing efforts to curb climate change.

7. FDA Knew of Positive Test Months Before Latest Infant Reform Recall – Politico

The lag time, which mirrors the agency’s slow response ahead of last year’s historic recall, shows the agency still isn’t vigilant enough in protecting infants.

8. The Tragic Blown Promise of Amazon Go – Fast Company

Eight of Amazon’s ‘just walk out’ stores are closing, including all the ones in San Francisco. The one I shopped at never lived up to its potential, but I’ll miss it anyhow.

9. The Rise of the Founder-Influencer – ModernRetail

As more influencers launch their own brands, founders feel like they too need to build a large social media following in order to compete.

10. Forget Luxury Goods, US Shoppers Are Now Using Buy-Now-Pay-Later Services to Pay for Groceries – Insider

Consumers are switching up their grocery shopping habits because of soaring food prices.

11. A New Anti-Drag Bill Could Fine Texas Restaurants and Bars That Host Drag Events with Children Present – Eater

The latest in a series of anti-trans bills could result in fines and misdemeanor charges.

12. OpenTable Partners with ChatGPT – Restaurant Dive

ChatGPT will provide restaurant recommendations as part of an OpenTable plugin, which will initially be available to select ChatGPT Plus subscribers.

13. Seedless Lemons Are the Next Big Bet From the Billionaires Behind Halos, Pom Wonderful and Fiji Water – Forbes

A rare peek inside their agricultural empire shows how Stewart and Lynda Resnick are going all in on the innovative citrus fruit.