Source: Civil Eats

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.

As current polls gravitate toward a scenario in which former Vice President Joe Biden wins the presidency, advocates are predicting the ways in which his administration’s policy agenda could mirror that of Mrs. Obama’s as well as extend into some new public policy areas that have arisen in recent years.

The CDC has unveiled a new report that reveals thousands of undisclosed Covid-19 cases amongst food and agricultural workers. Public health experts are concerned about a possible resurgence of Covid-19 in food production plants this fall, calling for more comprehensive testing, as meatpackers insist that the worst of the pandemic has passed.

In plant-based news, Impossible Foods plans to hire 100 more scientists in its quest to accelerate product development and venture into plant-based dairy. Just Eat has partnered with Proterra to open a $120 million plant protein facility in Singapore.

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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. Elections Have Consequences: How a Biden Win Could Reshape the Food Policy Agenda – Food Dive

If the former vice president wins the White House, there will be significant changes in regulatory priorities and a new focus on larger issues impacting the industry.

2. CDC Report Reveals Thousands of Previously Undisclosed Covid-19 Cases in Food Workplaces – The Fern

The report tallied workplace outbreaks, cases, and deaths by sector across food manufacturing and agricultural workers.

3. Impossible Foods Looks to Hire More Than 100 Scientists in Quest for Dairy-Free Milk and Meat Alternatives – CNBC

The company unveiled a prototype for dairy-free milk, though it has no plans to launch at this time. It wants to double its R&D team over the next year and accelerate product development.

4. Singapore: Eat Just Partners with Proterra to Launch a New Subsidiary in Asia – TechCrunch

As part of the deal, Proterra will invest up to $100m in the Singapore facility, while Eat Just will invest $20m. Eat Just Asia will focus on creating a fully-integrated supply chain for Just Egg.

5. BrightFarms Raises $100M to Fund Greenhouse Expansion – Food Dive

Cox Enterprises led the round. The funds will help expand BrightFarms’ network of hydroponic greenhouse farms to all major US markets and grow existing and new retailer partnerships.

6. Kiss the Ground Film Review – Farmer Rishi

The racism of the film runs deeper than its lack of BIPOC representation. It fails to acknowledge present day issues land access, reparations for Black and Indigenous communities, and the dismantling of our current economic system.

7. Uber Founder Turns Real-Estate Mogul for Ghost Kitchen Startup – Wall Street Journal

A WSJ analysis shows entities tied to ’s CloudKitchens have bought more than 40 properties for more than $130m.

8. Australian Fake-Meat Maker Raises $55M from Goldman, Temasek – Bloomberg

Funding came from Esenagro, China Renaissance Holdings, Huaxing Growth Capital and others, bringing total raised to A$113m. Funding will fuel V2food’s expansion into Asia.

9. India: Walmart, Flipkart Invest $30M in Indian Farmer-to-Business Platform Ninjacart – AgFunder

While financial terms were undisclosed, funding was believed to be in the region of $30m. Investment will go towards market expansion and enhancing supply chain tech.

10. China: Alibaba Group Will Spend $3.6B to Take Control of Chinese Supermarket Giant Sun Art – TechCrunch

All of Sun Art’s 484 physical retail locations in China are now integrated into Alibaba’s platforms for groceries and on-demand food delivery app and logistics businesses.

11. Whole Foods Will Now Get Your Groceries Ready for Pickup in One Hour – CNN

Amazon is expanding one-hour grocery pickup across all of its nearly 500 Whole Foods stores in the United States. The free service is available for Prime subscribers on orders $35 or more.

12. 1.5M New Yorkers Can’t Afford Food. Pantries Are Their Lifeline. – New York Times

Tens of thousands of New Yorkers have shown up at the city’s food banks since the pandemic began. People who were already going to the pantries have grown more reliant on them. But there is relief and hope when they are at home cooking.

13. Instacart and Aldi Rolling Out SNAP Online Payment at More Than 600 Stores – Grocery Dive

The integration marks the first time SNAP participants will be able to use their EBT cards on Instacart as retailers look to combat food insecurity.

14. School Meal Programs Have Lost More Than $483M So Far During the Pandemic – The Fern

The survey points to the crippling costs of adapting to pandemic-related constraints, and significant losses due to a drop in participation in the school-lunch program.

15. Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump Plan to Slash Food Stamps for 700K Unemployed Americans – Washington Post

The move to end state waivers for a work requirement, suspended during the pandemic, is part of the Trump administration’s plans to restrict the food safety net.

16. Chipotle Could Exceed $2.5B in Digital Sales in 2020 – Restaurant Dive

The company’s digital sales grew 202.5% to $776.4m and accounted for 48.8% of total sales during Q3 2020. About half of these sales were from delivery with the other half coming from order ahead.

17. 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.

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