Kia ora from Callaghan Innovation,

Welcome to the latest edition of Global Signals, your regular update of new and interesting signals in the world of AgriFoodTech. 

This newsletter is designed to inform New Zealand agritech of the latest global sector developments, and spark new ideas. You can join us on LinkedIn to join the discussion. 

Co-author Melissa Clark-Reynolds recently hosted a BOMA webinar outlining 10 big signals from across the technology sector. If you missed joining live, you can still check it out here:

Kia pai te rā,

Melissa (FutureCentre.nz) and Shane (Callaghan Innovation)

Al-powered robots raising insects

For a while, the next big thing in alternative proteins was insects, which has been largely forgotten by Western consumers as hemp- and pea-based ‘meats’ have hit the market. 

But UK company Entocycle is on a mission to change that with their facility that uses AI-powered robotics to raise billions of insects at a time. Their focus is the black soldier fly, which has more zinc and iron than lean meat, and more calcium than milk.

The main hurdle Entocycle faces is how to get the West on board with consuming insect proteins. Given two billion people already regularly eat insects, how might we make insect protein more palatable to the other five billion?

Where are your roses from?

Most consumers are unaware that many flowers sold in New Zealand are imported. Wrapped in cellophane and freighted quickly via air, the ecological impact of many supermarket bouquets is higher than you’d think.

The ‘slow flower’ movement is on the rise in places like the US, where a register of florists who use seasonal, local blooms is gaining popularity. This emphasis on localism mirrors what we’ve seen in the past few decades with food.

Could we ever see flowers be labelled with their country of origin, like we do with bacon and cheese? And would that make a difference with consumers?

Tell us what you think about this signal on LinkedIn ►

The new cotton

Woolchemy is a New Zealand start-up that has developed an innovative way to process wool so that it can be used in place of cotton in nappies and sanitary products. They’ve recently raised NZD$1.5M in a seed round.

Woolchemy’s technology is  sustainable in a couple of ways. One, by reducing waste and, two, by providing a future-proofed alternative to cotton (cotton production is threatened by climate change). 

There’s an opportunity here for New Zealand coarse wool producers to create  another revenue stream. What other traditional industry could we find new opportunities in as we innovate to mitigate climate change?

Coming to a gym near you

Silicon Valley’s biotech company TurtleTree unveiled their latest product: animal-free lactoferrin. Created using precision fermentation technology, TurtleTree's product will go up against products derived from bovine milk and sold by the NZ dairy industry (including Fonterra). TurtleTree claims lactoferrin will enhance the nutrition of just about every food product you can think of, from baby formula to sparkling water.

If lactoferrin is to be the next big thing, I wouldn’t be surprised if it emerged in the North American bodybuilding scene. We have seen many trends originate here, paleo AND keto to name just two!

At what point (if ever) will we see animal milk, its derivatives, and dairy farming as we know it today become unviable in the face of lab-synthesised alternatives?

What I'm Reading: Zespri Climate Adaption Plan

How will we produce food in the coming climate change affected years? The recent flood events in the central North Island have forced us to reckon with this as so many businesses, homes and lives have been devastated.

Zespri, alongside the kiwifruit industry, is the first major industry player that I know of to develop an adaptation plan. The plan references serious weather events, including hail, floods and drought, and addresses how the kiwifruit sector can adapt to successfully growing products in the new era.

It outlines three Big Goals (future-proof growing and breeding; maintain fruit quality and manage supply; protect industry profitability), and utilises mātauranga Māori alongside other science to outline 29 specific actions. The report outlines risks to where the fruit can be grown, impacts of weather on current locations, and the  market expectations for emissions.  

Agritech leaders take note,there are big opportunities here for technology providers to help kiwifruit growers make change.

Thanks for reading this month's Global Signals!

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Don’t forget to share with us any signals or interesting innovations you’ve come across so we can spread the word. We enjoy seeing NZ companies be creative, innovative and push the boundaries, it makes for insightful reading.