FoodTech 500 2022 official list of most groundbreaking agri-foodtech start-ups in the world is unveiled
Inspired by Fortune magazine’s Fortune 500, FoodTech 500 is an annual list of the most groundbreaking start-ups in the agri-foodtech landscape compiled by consultancy firm Forward Fooding. FoodTech 500 2022 sees a number of start-ups working in the vertical farming, alternative proteins and fermentation realms, all striving to create a fairer and more sustainable food system.
To rank the top 500 companies, Forward Fooding processes the information from the start-ups own applications to the list using its own data intelligence platform, FoodTech Data Navigator. The Navigator utilises a unique set of algorithms to provide the digital footprint score, sustainability score and the business size score before aggregating the data to provide the final ranking.
The FoodTech 500 2022 list saw applications from over 2000 companies from 67 countries. Applicants have more than 2,300 patents filed and employ over 21,300 individuals.
Altogether, the finalists have received over €10.7 billion of funding over time, 100% of them have had investment in their businesses, seven are public traded companies, eight are valued at $1bn or more, and 23 are part of the Foodtech $100M Club. Some 28.6% work in agtech, 28.6% in next gen food and drink, followed by surplus and waste management, food delivery, food processing, food safety and traceability, kitchen and restaurant tech and finally consumer apps and services. 32.4% have been founded by women, 16.8% by black, asian and ethnic minorities, 1.8% by founders with a disability and 1.6% were founded by LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.
FoodTech 500 2022 top 10 start-ups
- Bowery Farming: the largest vertical farming company in the US, building indoor farms near cities
- Ÿnsect: the French start-up is a world leader in insect protein production
- Plenty: an indoor vertical farm based in San Francisco that can grow fresh produce anywhere, all year round
- Infarm: the Berlin-based start-up builds a network of climate resilient vertical farms
- ProducePay: the Los Angeles-based start-up provides financial solutions for farmers, gives them easy access to the market and connects buyers with growers
- Nature’s Fynd: the Chicago start-up uses fermentation to grow a fungi protein named Fy, originating from Yellowstone National Park. The company then uses the protein in a variety of healthy vegan foods
- Protix: hailing from the Netherlands, the start-up turns food waste into sustainable insect ingredients to be used as an alternative to soy or fish meal
- JUST: US company JUST is well known for its plant-based JUST Egg product
- Choco: the Berlin start-up has created a platform to connect restaurants with suppliers, to save money, time and simplify the ordering process
- Heura: the Barcelona company makes delicious and healthy plant-based meat products
To view the full list, visit Forward Fooding’s website.
