Sustainable andforward-thinking
food systems

Report 1

Sustainable and forward-thinking food systems
New projections by the United Nations forecast a world population of 8.6 billion
in 2030, and 9.8 billion by 2050. With about 83 million individuals added to theworld’s population every year, constraints on cities, supply chains, and food systems
have never been greater (1).
The challenges we now face are changing the ways in which we produce and eat
our food. Limited resources, shifting consumer behaviors, and technological advances
have encouraged the adoption of new practices, allowing deep tech to slowly gainfooting amidst long-established traditions.
This year, deep tech pioneers have showcased innovations which can be summed
up by three intersecting trends:
1.1 Taking care of our food’s food
Increasing knowledge of our food systems and their impacts on planet and consumer health has raised interest, if not concerns, in agricultural production. Reducing
reliance on chemicals, limiting waste, and efficiently using resources are now someof the biggest challenges agriculture must tackle. The modernization of agriculture
through the use of technology-enabled solutions has propelled the industry towards
what is referred to as “precision agriculture” – the safest bet yet for tending to ourfood and, in the long run, ourselves.
1.2 From lab-to-fork: making cultured everything a reality
With knowledge of planetary boundaries, rising concerns regarding animal welfare
and changes in diets, protein production is on its way towards change. Technological advances in food science have allowed pioneers to showcase what could likely
be the future of food. Cellular agriculture will venture out of the meat field, microbes
will grow specific compounds, and consumer-centricity will peak with personalized
nutrition.
1.3 Food systems as agents of sustainability in the global supply chain
Though fully integrated into our global supply chains, food systems are neverthelessmajor contributors to their own inefficiency. A lack of structure, information, andpolluting habits have exposed the industry's bad practices and the resulting negative impact on consumers. New technologies are already being developed to drivechange by using resources efficiently, limiting – if not eliminating – waste, and monitoring overall agricultural activities, both here on Earth and in space.

2

Sustainable and forward-thinking food systems – Hello Tomorrow | Boston Consulting GroupSustainable andforward-thinking
food systems

Why it matters
Studying our current food systems, the United Nations recently identified three important
challenges the world needs to address over the next decade: eradicating hunger, producing
more food with fewer resources, and feeding ourselves more sustainably.
The world’s population is expected to grow from 7.3 billion to 8.5 billion people by 2030.
As a result, by 2050, global food production will need to increase by more than 70% withjust 5% more agricultural land available. To make things worse, currently 20% of the world’s
protein is consumed by farm animals rather than humans, as the world’s supply of fish, water, and soil resources continues to decline. Therefore, with every intention of feeding theplanet of tomorrow, while also meeting global climate and sustainability goals, there is an
overarching need to increase protein productivity. Individuals can contribute towards thispositive shift by leaving behind society’s oldest dietary habits and adopting a more desirable plant-based or alternative protein diet.

Why is it important to play the ecosystem game?
As we shift towards a more innovation-driven culture, the agricultural industry will needto adapt and take advantage of state-of-the-art practices developed by deep tech startups
to collectively overcome the many challenges ahead. Key players in both the agriculture
and food industries will be at the forefront of the food system revolution by way of leveraging greater data valorization, connectivity, and monitoring, as well as advancing an
ecological transformation through alternative inputs and proteins. With fragmented andhighly-regulated systems in place, the agricultural industry remains a complex market
for deep tech startups. Several of them, such as Ÿnsect (insect-based animal protein) and
Impossible Foods (lab-grown meat), have, in a relatively short time span, managed to cut
through and become key players in complex value chains. To ensure that smart agricultural solutions like these can get to market in a more timely fashion, collaborative relationships
between institutions, stakeholders across the food chain, and deep tech startups will
be necessary. With this unified approach, they will be able to better shape current agricultural regulations, both locally and globally.

3

Sustainable and forward-thinking food systems – Hello Tomorrow | Boston Consulting GroupOverview of trends
This year, deep tech pioneers have showcased at an unprecedented level the possibilities
offered to us by new technologies in food and agriculture. This is exemplified through thedevelopment of novelty feed with maximized nutrition and absorbability properties, as well
as by advancing precision agriculture that has led to a better understanding of crop andsoil wellbeing and longevity (see page 7). Furthermore, the smart thinkers and doers haveallowed us to scale up the production of lab-grown cultured proteins by means of developing more efficient bioinks and bioprinting solutions. This has helped drive consumer adoption through innovative flavor-enhancing technologies, produced from optimized cultivatedfat (see page 11). Overall, deep tech is illuminating potential changes to a more resilient andsustainable global food supply chain, which involves more precise carbon footprint monitoring, microbe protective packaging, and detection of bioactive ingredients from waste
streams (see page 15).

What’s next to watch?
With more than 80 deep tech pioneers addressing Sustainable and Forward-thinking Food
Systems, a clear trend to keep an eye on is the adoption of space and military inventions inagriculture. Solutions covering both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial applications could bringabout new perspectives, as well as provide new market opportunities to both learn and grow.
Interstellar Lab developed
the BioPod, an air-supported
dome equipped with an advanced water, air and crop
cultivation system that automatically regulates air, pressure, water, temperature, andhumidity to recreate ideal
environmental conditions forsustainable food production,
plant cultivation, and biodiversity preservation.

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Sustainable and forward-thinking food systems – Hello Tomorrow | Boston Consulting GroupTrends’ expected time to market (2)page 12-13

2028

From lab to fork:
making cultured
everything a reality
Cultured Decadence» Real crustacean meat
created directly fromanimal cells
Cocuus System Iberica» Plant or cell-based
animal protein analogues
using 2D/3D laser printing,bioprinting and robotics
page 8-92026

Taking care of
our food’s food
BioFeyn » Improving thehealth and sustainabilityof farmed fish through feed

Hoxton Farms » Growing
real animal fat, without the
animals
California Cultured» Lab-cultured cocoa flavanols and edible chocolate

Fotenix » Enabling thesmart operation of agricultural machinery by using
smart cameras
LLEAF » Allowing growers
to harness the power ofsunlight in greenhouses
2024

Soil Carbon » Microbial
seed coating to captureand store stable carbon
forms in agriculture

page 16-17

Food systems as an agentof sustainability in the global
Supply chain
Crover » Underground drone helping
grain storage operators maintain thequality of their stockGreenPod Labs » Active packaging
to extend the shelf life of fruits andvegetables
Kosmode » Extracting bioactive
ingredients from plants and foodwaste-streams to (re)create food

2022

5

CarbonSpace » Satellite-powered
platform for carbon footprint insights

Sustainable and forward-thinking food systems – Hello Tomorrow | Boston Consulting Group

1.1 Taking careof our food’s foodEvery meal we plan, every bite of food we take, connects us to a complex,
global network of farmers, manufacturers, traders, retailers, and countless otherstakeholders. However, the challenges currently facing humanity are changing
the ways in which we eat, as well as produce, our food.
Limited resources, shifting consumer behaviors, and technological advances
have encouraged the adoption of new practices, allowing deep tech to slowly
make an entrance into established traditions.

1.1.1

Why does it matter now?
Agriculture is one of the oldest industries known to humankind, so it’s no surprisethat changes in its practices don’t come easily. Bound by Earth’s biological cycles andconstraints, farmers everywhere depend on centuries-old methods to produce food foran ever-expanding population. Another factor that plays a big role: the spread of consumerism has put immense pressure on already-strained food systems. It is clear that current
production practices are inadequate. The overuse of chemicals, increasing food waste,
and ethical concerns in animal husbandry are just a few of the issues raised by the industry.
Fortunately, recent years have provided crucial insight into the industry’s outdated practices as well as the interconnectivity and circularity of our food systems. This new understanding is now shifting the way in which we view, consume, and also take care of our food.

1.1.2

Applications and market potential
From animal husbandry to arable farming, new technologies are the surest bet for safeguarding our planet and its inhabitants. Because taking care of our food’s food means taking care of ourselves, increasing both awareness and resources is essential to producing
long-term benefits.

Novel animal feed
Most countries are catching up on livestock monitoring to reducestress and disease. At the same time, pioneering technologies
are already one step ahead, developing novelty feed, the largest
and most important component for ensuring safe and adequate
animal proteins. By leveraging synthetic biology and nanotechnology, the global feed market is expected to grow at a 4.2% CAGR
from 2021 to 2025 (3) and will shake up practices from land to sea.

Precision agriculture
Leveraging data, robotics and automation, precision agriculture will
forever change farming practices. With an outstanding 13.1% CAGR
expected from 2021 to 2028 (4), global precision farming is on the vergeof revolutionizing humankind’s oldest industry. Technology-wise, theadoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the use of data scienceand advanced analytics by farmers have enabled the latter to (re)connect with their fields. Those who embraced precision agriculture
in its early days can now go the extra mile and act on inputs.
This newfound ability to understand, forecast, and nurture crops better
than before means farmers worldwide can now increase their yields
sustainably and gives industry leaders the chance to truly transformthe world’s oldest industry.

1.1.3

Key roadblocks to overcome
Adopting various new practices and products to nurture our food systems will depend on
a balanced set of factors. Access to education and funding for farmers, as well as legislative
guidelines, will be key. But it will also require a change in consumer habits worldwide. Additionally, farmers are understandably risk-averse as they might have to wait an entire year toplant a new crop should their experiments fail. To speed up deployment of these solutions,industry stakeholders and deep tech startups need to prove their investment rationale in abudget-constrained industry and focus efforts on experiments aimed
at increasing ROI and lowering the risks perceived by farmers.

7

Taking care of our food’s food – Hello Tomorrow | Boston Consulting Group“Farmers worldwide can
now increase their yields
sustainably and giveindustry leaders the chance
to truly transform theworld’s oldest industry”

1.1.4

Use cases
BioFeyn » According to the FAO, global
aquaculture production increased by 527%
between 1990 and 2018. The rise in demand
for fish protein can only be met with sustainable, healthy practices. BioFeyn has developed a specialized method to protect marine
ingredients in feed pellets while also maximizing their nutritional quality, absorption,and nutrient bioavailability. The startup has
multiple formulations in development and apipeline of products to be released over the
next five years.

Fotenix » Walking through kilometers offields every day looking for signs of disease
and stress visible to the human eye is partof a farmer’s daily routine. Using 3D spectral
imaging, Fotenix proposes a device far moresensitive than the human eye to evaluate
plant health in the field and save time. Able
to detect stress and disease at a cellular level, the company enables optimized input
application and timing, embracing precision
agriculture.

8

Taking care of our food’s food – Hello Tomorrow | Boston Consulting GroupLLEAF » With a 6.6% CAGR increase expected in the commercial greenhouse market
from 2019 to 2026 (5), increasing yields' sustainably has become essential for indoor
farming. The agricultural technology company LLEAF has invented a unique patented
product that enables growers to harness
the power of sunlight to increase yield andboost profits for farmers. The LuminescentLight-Emitting Agriculture Film (LLEAF) canbe retrofitted onto greenhouse ceilings andpossesses light-modifying properties.

Soil Carbon Co » Microbial carbon sequestration is one of the most important scientificendeavors of the 21st century. Selecting theright cohort of microbes, Soil Carbon has
co-developed a microbial seed coating capable of removing CO2 from the atmosphereand storing it in the soil in a stable form.
The company is tackling the challenges ofrestoring soil health and addressing climatechange by optimizing a method well known
to farmers, thereby bridging the gap between
tradition and innovation.

1.1.5

What our startups need
Collaboration opportunities and constraints based on our deep tech pioneers' insights.
Experiment
1

2

Exploration

Develop3

4

Experimental,
proof of concept

Scale

5

6

7

Functional
proof ofconcept

Minimum
viable product9

Industrialization

Commercialization» Ensuring regulation
approval» Ensuring proper pricing
strategy for adoption» Finding talents to ensure
proper development» Protecting IP going forward» Meeting biosecurity
regulations with microbial
transportation» Ensuring technology
adoption by farmers» Confirming manufacturing
capacities

98

Taking care of our food’s food – Hello Tomorrow | Boston Consulting Group

1.2 From lab to fork: making
cultured-everything a reality
According to a study published in the Science journal in 2018, meat and dairy
account for 18% of all calories consumed by humans whereas their productionuses 83% of global farmland, and produces 60% of agricultural greenhouse gas
emissions (6). The road ahead is paved with rising ethical concerns in farming andincreasing pollution, the need to reduce land use for protein production, anda significant shift towards a plant-based diet for many consumers. In response,
food scientists worldwide are now mobilizing to shape the future of food.

1.2.1

Why does it matter now?
The depletion of our agricultural resources calls for a change, one that will start in laboratories. Because while our crops are increasingly limited, our imagination and capabilities arenot. With our extensive knowledge in medicine and tissue engineering, it was no surprisethat the first food substitutes developed in laboratories were focused on conventional
animal-based analogues. Now that excitement has plateaued and the first cultivated meatproducts have been approved for sale, it’s time to scale.

1.2.2

Applications and market potential
Increasing knowledge, capacities, and media attention have popularized alternative foods
to an unprecedented level. Yet only new technologies capable of taking on this nearly $9
trillion industry (7) can tailor food to satisfy a global spectrum of diets.

Flavors
Apart from increasing production capacities using newly acquired
knowledge and machinery, the general ‘red meat-eating’ public is
still reluctant to adopt meat substitutes. Despite ticking every box
in terms of shape, size, and texture, meat substitutes often lacka key component: a sufficiently meat-like flavor to satisfy connoisseurs. As a result, a handful of startups have bet on manufacturing
fat cells to ensure the flavor component finds its way to new meatproducers.

Venturing beyond alternative proteins
Deep tech startups worldwide have grasped the need to act
and now offer solutions across the newly developed lab-to-forkvalue chain. Increasing capabilities in synthetic biology andnanotechnology are raising production levels to an all-time highand allowing scientists to venture outside of animal proteins,tapping into a broad spectrum of sources ranging from algae
to cocoa beans, while industry processes are catching up in
scaling capacities and production yields.

Personalized nutrition
The ‘deconstruction’ of food will pave the way towards isolated
nutrients in diets and the emergence of personalized nutrition,
an industry expected to top $3.3 billion by 2028 (8).

1.2.3

Key roadblocks to overcome
As these ultra-transformed foods get smarter, more accessible and tastier, consumers’
reluctance to adopt is slowly diminishing. Nevertheless, the missing link in establishing
the framework for this new normal will be regulatory. New policies and regulations will
be key while funding, research capacities, and the education of future talents will help
reduce production costs, and overall barriers to mass-scale adoption.

11

From lab to fork: making cultured-everything a reality – Hello Tomorrow | Boston Consulting Group“Increasing capabilities
in synthetic biology andnanotechnology are
raising production levels
to an all-time high”

1.2.4 Use cases
Cultured Decadence » Crustacean harvest
relies on a carbon-intensive model andthreatens both coastal waters and populations living off their bounty. Using in-house IP
around cell isolation, tissue engineering, andmedia development, Cultured Decadence
creates innovative methods to make crustacean products 1,000 miles from the nearest
ocean. The startup aims to expand customer
access to quality products, curb food waste,
and reduce wild harvesting.

Cocuus System Iberica » Startups are taking
3D printing to the next level by joining the
movement to create and use safe, reliablebioinks. Inspired by the morphological structure of various foods, Cocuus System Iberica
uses 2D/3D laser printing, bioprinting, and robotics to produce plant-based and cell-based
meat analogues, aka meat substitutes. Their
Mimethica platform, using proprietary ingredients to formulate and produce printed animal protein, aims to manufacture up to 600kg
of product per minute in the near future.

12

From lab to fork: making cultured-everything a reality – Hello Tomorrow | Boston Consulting GroupHoxton Farms » Demand for alternative
meat has grown by 125% in the last two
years; however, the main roadblock to consumer adoption remains flavor. Tackling thisnext challenge in meat substitutes, Hoxton
Farms uses mathematical modeling, machinelearning, and synthetic biology to produce
optimized cultivated fat. Leveraging the existing value chain, Hoxton Farms will sell customized cultivated fat as a B2B ingredient forthe meat alternative market, allowing for thecreation of all-new product classes.

California Cultured » Despite its expectedmarket size of $61.3 billion by 2027 (9),cocoa production still involves slavery, deforestation, and poverty. Harnessing the latest
advances in the field, California Cultured
is producing cell-cultured chocolate foodgrade upcycled media and high-value cocoa
flavanols as an alternative. Secondary fermentation technology is in the works to add
flavors and other attributes to their products,
expected to range from health to cosmetic
applications.

1.2.5 What our startups need
Collaboration opportunities and constraints based on our deep tech pioneers' insights.
Experiment
1

2

Exploration

Develop3

4

Experimental,
proof of concept» Establishing proper
definitions, regulation
frameworks, and protocols» Confirming support
and funds despite
the uncertainty of thetechnology

13

Scale

5

6

7

Functional
proof ofconcept

Minimum
viable product89Industrialization

Commercialization» Finding support andresources for prototyping» Increasing manufacturing
capacities to keep up withdemandFrom lab to fork: making cultured-everything a reality – Hello Tomorrow | Boston Consulting Group

1.3 Food systems as an agentof sustainability in the global
supply chain
Spanning multiple continents to source and supply goods, the global supply
chain involves a continuous flow of information, processes, and resources. As
globalization and consumerism have increased, food systems have taken on
a major role in the global supply chain, impacting it at every level. Developing
its sustainability – and even resilience – is an ongoing trend and a necessity,
one that has been accelerated by Covid-19 and the ensuing global disruption
from which world commerce is still reeling.

1.3.1

Why does it matter now?
Identified as one of the most polluting sectors in the world, agriculture is nevertheless essential. Therefore, there is a real need to drive its transformation. Traditional food systems
must find ways to achieve global climate and sustainability targets while remaining within
planetary boundaries. Tapping into technologies from various industries, the entire sector
can transform and pave the way towards real change.

1.3.2

Applications and market potential
The ability to adapt and be more resilient has become essential throughout the entire life cycle of food, from production to consumption to disposal. The good news is, there’s no shortage of ways to achieve this. Our data show new technologies are focused on reducing fossil
fuel-dependent energy, limiting waste, and monitoring agriculture’s overall impact globally.

Waste reduction and upcycling
With one-third of global food production going to waste, it’s no surprise that agricultural players have shifted their focus to limiting, if
not eliminating, waste throughout the supply chain. Startups are making use of tools such as sensors, artificial intelligence, and machinelearning to develop smart factories and processes. In addition, they
have become more creative with the use of synthetic biology andnanotechnology to extend shelf life and can even anticipate productexpiration through inspection and smart labels. Taking things one
step further, new solutions in waste upcycling are challenging thestatus quo and creating value in discarded products.

Food traceability
Ensuring transparency involves greater strides in traceability andaccountability. While blockchain and artificial intelligence are commonly used on the ground, satellite imagery borrowed from theaerospace industry offers a new perspective in monitoring impact
on the global supply chain.

1.3.3

Key roadblocks to overcome
There are a myriad of ways in which societies must integrate sustainable food systems into
the global supply chain. However, the obstacles to overcome can be narrowed down to afew. In a heavily regulated industry, commitments (both financial and regulatory) will be
required to facilitate the transformation of food systems as well as a potential change ingovernance in land use. On an individual level, consumers everywhere will need to makedramatic changes in their habits and mentalities regarding food consumption and disposal.
Real change is required regardless of geographic location.

15

Food systems as an agent of sustainability in the global supply chain – Hello Tomorrow | Boston Consulting Group“Tapping into technologies
from various industries, theentire sector can transformand pave the way towards
real change.”

1.3.4 Use cases
Crover » Grain storage accounts for the highest post-harvest losses before consumption as there is currently no way to verify
the condition of grains in storage. Centeredaround the first proprietary technology
for locomotion in bulk solids (i.e. sand, grains,
powders), Crover has developed the world’s
first ‘underground drone’ capable of propelling itself below the surface of dense granular
media. Their first product is a probing device
for the management of bulk-stored cereal
grains like barley in sheds or silos enabling
grain storage operators to identify criticalconditions earlier and maintain grain quality.

GreenPod Labs » According to the FAO, one
third, or 1.3 billion tons, of food produced forhuman consumption is lost or wasted globally every year. Indian startup GreenPod Labs
uses active packaging sachets to trigger adefense mechanism that slows down ethylene production and activates microbe resistance. The resulting slowdown in the ripening
rate and prevention of microbial growth help
extend produce shelf-life and reduce overall
waste.

16

Food systems as an agent of sustainability in the global supply chain – Hello Tomorrow | Boston Consulting GroupKosmode Health Singapore Pte Ltd» Fiber-rich food processing waste streams
can be upcycled into sustainable andeconomical function ingredients and foodfor humans. Kosmode Health Singapore Pte
Ltd extracts bioactive ingredients from waste
streams, customizes bioink formulation, andcan produce new ingredients. This uniqueexpertise enables the production of highfiber and starch-free noodles as well as theprinting of meat tissues.

CarbonSpace » Today, internal solutions forcarbon footprint monitoring are costly, require manual labor, and are provided only annually. CarbonSpace has developed a satellite-powered platform that gives companies
in the food and lumber industries insights
into their carbon footprints. The monitoring
tool brings a new level of transparency tosupply chains via three modules: a monthly
real-time map of greenhouse gas emissions,
automatic estimation and verification of carbon footprints, and carbon analytics for impact estimation and emission reporting.

1.3.5 What our startups need
Collaboration opportunities and constraints based on our deep tech pioneers' insights.
Experiment
1

2

Exploration

Develop3

4

Experimental,
proof of concept

Scale

5

6

7

Functional
proof ofconcept

Minimum
viable product» Funding the next steps» Testing marketing andvalue proposition strategies

89Industrialization

Commercialization» Ensuring on-siteconnectivity» Solid IP strategy
and protection» Need for clear regulatory
procedures and certifications» Efforts for scalability» Consumer acceptancefor adoption

17

Food systems as an agent of sustainability in the global supply chain – Hello Tomorrow | Boston Consulting GroupSources Report 1
1. FAO, 2015
2. Hello Tomorrow Global competition 2021
3. Technavio, 2021
4. Grand View Research, 2022
5. Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence LLP, 2021
6. Reducing food’s environmental impacts throughproducers and consumers, Science, 2018
7. Statista, 2022
8. Grand View Research, 2021
9. Fortune Business Insights, 2020

Authors Report 1
Arnaud de la Tour CEO Hello Tomorrow
Chloé Khalifat Deep Tech & Innovation Consultant Hello Tomorrow
Saurabh Tak Deep Tech Lead Hello Tomorrow
Jean-François Bobier Partner and Director BCG
John Paschkewitz Partner and Associate Director BCG
Anne-Douce Coulin Manager Deep Tech Mission BCG

Hello Tomorrow is accelerating radical solutions to improve human and planetary health, leveraging the powerof deep tech ventures. Its flagship startup competition, the Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge, received morethan 25,000 applications from 132 countries. Thousands of corporates and VCs attend Hello Tomorrow events
every year. Leveraging this international network and knowledge of deep tech trends, Hello Tomorrow partners withprivate and public organizations to help them identify new opportunities, and build new ventures to seize them.

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important
challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was
founded in 1963. Today, we help clients with total transformation – inspiring complex change, enabling organizations to grow, building competitive advantage, and driving bottom-line impact.
To succeed, organizations must blend digital and human capabilities. Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives to spark change. BCG delivers solutions throughleading-edge management consulting along with technology and design, corporate and digital ventures – andbusiness purpose. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of theclient organization, generating results that allow our clients to thrive.
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Sustainable and forward-thinking food systems – Hello Tomorrow | Boston Consulting Group