2023-10-22 06:04:17
Investment in Spain in the Foodtech sector reached the figure of 268 million euros in 2022, marking a growth of 9.3% compared to the previous year, according to data collected by the Eatable Adventures study “The State of Foodtech.” This sustained growth has been driven by key initiatives such as the Spain Foodtech Startups Program, a “Country” project led by Eatable Adventures, in collaboration with ICEX Spain Exportation and Investments and CNTA (National Center for Food Technology and Safety). Its mission is to support the construction and development of solid Spanish startups in the field of Foodtech, capable of competing on a global scale and becoming a benchmark in the sector.
The program also stands out for its investment commitment of ten million euros over the next three years. During the program call, more than 120 applications from all over Spain were received and four leading startups were selected:
Bio2coat
Waste is one of the food industry’s biggest challenges, along with reducing single-use plastic packaging. The foodtech Bio2coat promotes an innovative solution that addresses both challenges thanks to its 100% natural coatings that increase the shelf life of foods, such as fruit and vegetables, allowing them to be consumed fresh for longer periods of time. Bio2Coat products extend the nutritional value of food, improve its appearance and reduce the use of plastics. Bio2Coat was born due to the determination of its founders, José Ignacio Velasco and Farayde Matta, two UPC researchers who share the same passion for sustainability and concern about food waste and the excessive use of plastic packaging.
Bio2coat TeamArchive
Neboda
The agriculture of the future will be more efficient and sustainable, guaranteeing the quality of crops for generations to come. Néboda has developed a revolutionary automation technology that, applied to the vertical farming technique, allows the development of a high-density, low-cost cultivation system. This system includes the use of an automated robot whose technology allows optimizing production times, maintaining high quality standards and avoiding possible contamination. “Adding automation with our autonomous robot reduces operational costs while uncovering a wealth of operational data. The health of the plant in real time, its growth and any possible anomaly, contextualized by analysis, allows a single operator to manage more than 100 m2 of production. In this way, high-density, low-cost agriculture is achievable on an industrial scale,” explain its founders, Roberto Estévez Quintela and Iván García Besada.
Néboda TeamArchive
Hmmm
In the traditional food industry, most food colorings are of synthetic origin, which poses a possible risk to the health of people and the planet. This startup has adopted a highly scientific approach that combines techniques such as fermentation, directed evolution and artificial intelligence, to develop new natural ingredients that replace their synthetic analogues in record time and cost. «For decades our world has been increasingly buried in synthetic products. They are everywhere, in our clothes, our hygiene products, even in our food. Synthetic ingredients, many derived from petroleum, are unsustainable, harmful and unethical. At Mmmico we think that, if we want to create ingredients for life, we must be inspired by life. That is why we have turned to the smallest life forms on the planet, microorganisms,” explain its founders.
Mmmico is currently developing its first product, called ROSASTA, a microbial extract with an intense red color, which can be used as a natural colorant.
Sergio Romero, Manuel Leiva and Javier Viña, from MmmicoArchivo
Poseidon
The oceans are tremendously affected by the depletion of marine resources, pollution and the impact of climate change. This startup has managed to transform waste from algae production into innovative ingredients and proteins, revolutionizing the current production system and generating a positive impact on the marine ecosystem.
Óscar Cuéllar, Sònia Hurtado Piñol and Maria Cermeño, from PoseidonaArchivo
Once the acceleration program is completed, these startups will have the opportunity to present their projects to national and international investors during the Demo Day on November 22.
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