Plantopia News
5 articlesPlantopia turns to sprouted oats for cost-effective production of animal-free dairy
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מי תצלח את המשבר בהייטק? נבחרת הסטארטאפים 2023
TheMarkers technology writers have selected 20 innovative Israeli startups that have stood out in a challenging year for the tech industry. Despite the global crisis and a local decline in investments, these startups are contributing to the growth of the Israeli tech industry. TheMarkers annual list aims to identify the startups that are interesting and promising. The article discusses the new reality faced by tech employees, the pursuit of happiness, and the path to success and health.
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Israeli agrotech startup pulls in $6m for cow-free milk and cheese made from lettuce
Israeli startup Pigmentum has raised $6 million in a seed round to develop its gene-modified plant-based technology that can create milk proteins from lettuce. The company aims to produce dairy duplicates, including cheese, using its technology. The genetically modified lettuce is grown in greenhouses and then harvested to extract the milk-like juice, which is mixed with natural ingredients for taste and smell. Unlike other non-dairy milk alternatives, Pigmentums lettuce can produce casein, a key protein in cheese production. The funding will be used to expand the R&D team, build a laboratory, and launch a market pilot.
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Dairy grown in lettuce? Meet the start-up triggering protein, pigment, and aroma production in a greenhouse
Israeli ag-tech company Pigmentum is using transgenic modification and molecular farming techniques to produce high yields of natural compounds for the food industry. The companys technology allows for the inducible expression of specific desired compounds in plants, resulting in more efficient and sustainable production. Pigmentum is growing compounds in romaine lettuce, including pigments, aromas, and proteins, such as casein. The company aims to commercialize its products for the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Pigmentum faces challenges in obtaining regulatory approval for genetically modified foods and gaining market acceptance, particularly in Europe. However, the company believes its sustainable approach to protein production and the advantages of its technology, such as lower capital expenditure and ease of scale, will drive market adoption.
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Pigmentum raises $1 million from FreshStart to advance genetical concentration of color and flavor in plants
FreshStart has welcomed Pigmentum, an Israeli agro-tech startup, into its food-tech incubator and has provided a $1 million investment. Pigmentums technology modifies the genetic components of plants to enhance the production of natural flavor and color substances. The company aims to transform each plant into a small factory of natural flavor and aroma compounds. The global market for food coloring, flavoring, and aroma substances is estimated to be a $16 billion industry, and Pigmentums solution has the potential to reduce land, irrigation, and cultivation costs. Pigmentum was co-founded in 2018 and is an alumnus of FaculTech, the Students Entrepreneurship Club of the Hebrew Universitys Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
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