Image: Business Insider

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.

We launched our 2018 U.S. Food & Beverage Startup Investment Report today, which finds that $1.45 billion dollars was invested across 200 reported deals in 2018. Read the full report here.

News about alternative proteins continues to take center stage – this week, Barclays announced a report stating insect protein is expected to become an $8 billion business by 2030. McDonald’s Israel is now piloting Nestle’s vegan patties in Tel Aviv. UK brand Meatless Farm has established an exclusive partnership with Whole Foods as it expands into the U.S.

In CPG news, Dirty Lemon’s parent Iris Nova has announced plans to spend $100 million on launching and investing in beverage brands. Danone has launched a coalition dedicated to promoting regenerative agriculture called Farming for Generations.

And lastly, Trump’s USDA has refused to publicize dozens of government-funded studies that warn of the effects of climate change.

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

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1. Eating Insects Will Soon Go Mainstream As Bug Protein Is Set to Explode into an $8B Business – Business Insider

The insect protein market could be worth $8b by 2030, up from less than $1b in 2019. Restaurants and supermarkets are already serving up edible insects, making the category increasingly attractive to food industry giants.

2. Dirty Lemon Parent Iris Nova Will Fund and Distribute Third-Party Beverages – TechCrunch

The Coca-Cola-backed startup that creates Dirty Lemon beverages plans to spend $100m over the next three to five years. The money will go towards launching new beverage brands and investing in beverages created by other companies.

3. Danone Leads Coalition of AgriFood Leaders to Transition Dairy Farming to Regenerative Practices – AgFunder

Farming for Generations aims to make the global dairy industry more sustainable by helping dairy farmers transition to regenerative agriculture practices.

4. Future Positive Capital’s Vision for the Future of Farming and Food – AgFunder

Armed with $57m, Future Positive Capital intends to place more bets on wonky tech ideas that have the potential to drive systems change while reaping profits in long-established markets, like food and agriculture.

5. 2018 U.S. Food & Beverage Startup Investment Report

Over $1.45B was invested across 247 deals in 2018, according to the research in our second annual investment report produced in partnership with Ryan Willams.  Check out the report for a deep dive into the investor and investment trends. We also share a complete list of deals and acquisitions.

6. McDonalds in Israel to Start Selling Nestlé’s Meatless Incredible Burger – The Spoon

McDonald’s Israel will start selling its own meatless burger featuring Nestlé’s Incredible patties. Called the Big Vegan, it will start off as a pilot in Tel Aviv.

7. Walmart Now Accepts SNAP for Online Grocery Orders at All 2,500+ Pickup Locations – TechCrunch

The retailer is planning to accept the SNAP payment option at over 3,100 Walmart stores by the end of the year.

8. UK: Meatless Farm Breaks into Booming US Market with Whole Foods Deal – CNN

The company has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Whole Foods to sell its products at US stores for six months starting this summer.

9. Agriculture Department Buries Studies Showing Dangers of Climate Change – Politico

The Trump administration has stopped promoting government-funded research into how higher temperatures can damage crops and pose health risks.

10. Israel: Personalized Nutrition Co DayTwo Raises $31M – Globes

The company has developed a microbiome human discovery platform that offers a glycemic control solution for people with type II diabetes. The round was led by aMoon and the Ofek fund. It plans to expand marketing into the US.

11. 400K Housholds Could Lose Food Stamps Under Trump Plan Expected Soon – The Washington Post

Democrats are critical of potential guidelines that Republicans favor to tighten eligibility requirements.

12. 15 Inspiring Women Leading in the AgTech Sector – Foodtank

Although women face barriers in this sector, a new generation of leaders is emerging to reshape the food system using their innovative technologies.

13. Private Label Could Be the New Online ‘Challenger Brand’ – Grocery Dive

CPG private label sales now account for 3% of online dollar sales, up from 1.3% two years ago. Household and baby products are leading store brand e-commerce sales.

14. Kroger Is Testing 30-Minute Delivery – Grocery Dive

Kroger Rush launched earlier this spring and is currently available to a limited number of customers who live within a three-mile radius of two stores near its Cincinnati headquarters.

15. Women, Women of Color & Gender Non-Conforming Innovator Database

We created this open-source list to increase representation, support and investment in women, women of color & gender-nonconforming innovators in food. Join the list & help us spread the word using #womxninfood

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