Image Credit: AgFunder News

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.

Aleph Farms has recently received approval to sell its lab-grown steaks in Israel, marking a significant milestone. The company aims to introduce its cultivated steaks to restaurants within the next few months, with plans to expand into food service and retail in the future. In a parallel development, the USDA emphasizes the crucial role of cellular agriculture in achieving climate and food innovation goals. It expressed the need for sustained government support and transparent scientific research, highlighting their landmark grant to Tufts University’s National Institute for Cellular Ag program as a catalyst for advancing research and garnering attention from the private sector.

In other news, we’ve wrapped the first season of 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, and be sure to subscribe and share!

Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work. 

1. Aleph Farms Gets Approval to Sell Cultivated Steaks in Israel – Reuters

Within a few months it hopes to start selling to restaurants, and eventually for food service and retail.

2. USDA: ‘We Will Need Cellular Agriculture to Reach Climate, Food Innovation Goals’ – Food Navigator

Sustained government support and transparent scientific research, such as USDA’s landmark grant to Tufts University’s National Institute for Cellular Ag program, can energize cellular agriculture R&D and renew attention from the private sector.

3. Turning Down Food Aid for Millions of Children Reflects Shocking Political Callousness – New York Times

Fifteen states skipped the deadline to apply for a new federally funded program that will provide $120 per child for groceries during the summer months to families of children who already qualify for free or reduced-price lunch at school.

4. In the Ozempic Age, Has ‘Craveable’ Lost Its Selling Power? – New York Times

The food industry has long touted its products as impossible to resist. But with a spotlight on the perils of compulsive eating, that tactic is getting another look.

5. Delivery Workers Won a Mandated Raise From NYC. Now They Say the Apps Figured Out a Way to Undermine It – Fast Company

The 65k workers who make deliveries for Uber Eats, Grubhub and DoorDash now earn nearly $18 an hour. But some drivers say companies have made getting tips and scheduling shifts more challenging.

6. Sweetgreen Wants to Be the ‘Mcdonald’s of Its Generation.’ This Rival Salad Chain Could Beat It – CNBC

Salad and Go wants to provide a healthier, cheap fast-food option with its $7 salads and wraps. The chain has expansion plans that could mean thousands of locations eventually.

7. This Farm Bill Could Rein in Big Agriculture’s Lobbying Power – Civil Eats

Including the new Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act in the upcoming farm bill would go a long way toward fixing the USDA’s commodity checkoff programs.

8. Australia: Aussie Vegan Meat Maker v2food Acquires Ready Meal Brands as Plant Based Sector Undergoes Consolidation – Green Queen

V2foood is diversifying into whole-food plant-based options with the acquisition of Soulara, which offers an extensive range of nearly 40 ready meals.

9. Tiny Gaza Is Home to Most of the World’s Hungriest People – WSJ

As war grinds on, the already desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza is deteriorating into chaos.

The post USDA Says Cellular Ag Is Necessary to Reach Climate Goals, Aleph Farms to Sell Cultivated Steaks in Israel + More appeared first on Food+Tech Connect.