🌏 Raphael Fellmer

Of ears of corn and alliances: The agricultural policy of Germany, France and the EU in the field of tension between food security and sustainability Good read from Kristina Mensah and Bettina Rudloff for insights into what drives EU policies

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💡 Europe’s Spending Paradox: Thrifty Yet Thirsty for Life’s Luxuries?  Europeans are threading the needle between saving and splurging. Here’s a glimpse into their spending psyche: 🇪🇺 Europe’s cautious cheer: Amidst global unease, a delicate balance of hope and pragmatism prevails. 🎢 Spending rollercoaster: From cautious climbs to adventurous drops, the pursuit of value and values defines the journey. 🛠️ DIY and travel: The dual darlings of European wallets, reflecting a yearning for home comforts and wanderlust. 🤑 Generational splurge: Gen Z’s fashion splurge contrasts with Boomers’ travel indulgence, showcasing diverse priorities. 🛍️ Shopping mantra: Save where you can, splurge where you must—Europeans navigate the high seas of retail with a savvy compass. ❓ Do you resonate with this spending duality? ❓ Where are you cutting back, and where are you indulging? Join the conversation! Share your thoughts below 👇 To learn more, read the full article here: https://buff.ly/3yfK2eX #SpendingDuality #ConsumerBehavior #EuropeEconomy #GenZ #Boomers #TravelBoom #DIYProjects #FashionSplurge #RetailAdaptation #SavvySpenders

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Are We Missing Out on Agtech in Africa? Concerning insights from the latest Africa: The Big Deal report! Overall, start-ups in Africa have raised $780m (excluding exits) in H1 2024. However, this represents a -31% drop compared to H2 2023 and an even starker -57% decline compared to H1 2023, even when accounting for seasonality. Two-thirds of this funding was in the form of equity, with a third as debt—much higher than the 17% average since 2019. The Big Four countries continue to dominate, with 4 out of 5 dollars going to ventures based there. A third of all funding went to Kenya alone. Transport & Logistics attracted the most funding (28%), followed by Fintech. Notably, Fintech led in the number of start-ups raising $1m+ during the period (30). Alarmingly, only a fraction of the funding went to female-founded and female-led start-ups, with 85% going to ventures without a single female founder and 92% to companies with a male CEO. Despite the vibrant activity, I'm deeply concerned about Agtech funding not even making it into the top sectors. This sector is crucial for sustainable development and food security in Africa. We need more Agtech-focused LPs to bridge this gap. I'm looking forward to Africa: The Big Deals live event on the 23rd to dive deeper into these trends and discuss the way forward. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! What are your concerns about the current funding landscape in Africa? How can we drive more investment into Agtech?

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🚨 NEW REPORT ALERT! 🚨 At Regenerative Food Systems Investment (RFSI) we constantly get asked: When will we get more capital at scale into the space? The most common answers to this that we hear are: 📊 The space is too nascent. 🕵️ We need more data, case studies, and pilots. 🏗️ We need more financial infrastructure to support it. Yes, the space is nascent and we are still learning about and innovating around how to finance it. But there are people and entities who have been working on this - some for the past few years, some for more than a decade - who are leading the charge to learn more, do more, get more data, share case studies, and build that necessary infrastructure. So excited to read this brand new report - Financing for Regenerative Agriculture - from Transformational Investing in Food Systems, Pollination and The Rockefeller Foundation, which digs into what we’ve learned so far and where we can go next. 📖 More on this soon but for now: enjoy this weekend reading! (Link in comments 👇) #regenerativeagriculture #foodsystems #investing #foodfinance #agfinance

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"European food tech startups focused on climate change solutions attracted $2B in investments last year, overtaking the US for the first time. Despite a global downturn in VC funding, funding in this sector matched the levels of 2022, when European companies raised $2.1B." "European food tech startups focused on climate change solutions attracted $2B in investments last year, overtaking the US for the first time. Despite a global downturn in VC funding, funding in this sector matched the levels of 2022, when European companies raised $2.1B." Europe has surpassed the US in investments in foodtech startups for the first time, but this seems to be temporary. One reason is Europe's rightward shift and the gradually growing skepticism around the green agenda. Another reason is European regulation (surprise!), which hinders the development of #foodtech and #agtech startups... https://lnkd.in/gf7ragr3

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🌏 Could Alternative Proteins solve the climate crisis? The livestock sector is responsible for 12-20% of all greenhouse gas emissions, with meat making up 60% of the food system’s emissions — twice as much as plant-based foods. This urgency necessitates a change, and Alternative Proteins provide a viable solution. Do you want to be part of this change? 👉 Read the latest Tälist blog post to find out how. #AlternativeProteins #ImpactJobs #Sustainability

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If you are trying to understand climate and investment in agriculture, I recommend you read Emily Bass and Alex Smith's recent report on GHG, Agriculture, and R&D investment. When you add the health benefits of food, climate and health, and the GDP impact of US technology exports, it is worth thinking about how an order of magnitude increase of public and private investment may improve climate, health, and GDP. And may serve as a hedge in global stability.

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Germany's Society for Nutrition (DGE) recently published new nutritional guidelines. According to the DGE, a “healthy and environmentally friendly diet” is at least 75 percent plant-based. This is in keeping with a growing body of research that confirms plant foods are better for human health, the planet, and animals. Similar to how Norway has led the EV transition, Germany seems to be leading the way on plant based diet. Price parity between meat and plant based alternatives along with mounting evidence of the health benefits of plant-based diets, which include better cardiovascular health, lower Alzheimer’s risk, and slower aging seem to be key to behavioral change....at least in Europe. According to another article, benefits of plant based diets are so great that some German hospitals are even offering plant-based meals by default. https://lnkd.in/g5Yq62Rf

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Beef & Climate - Why do climate scientists ask us to significantly limit our meat consumption?   🔳 Meat overconsumption, mainly in developed economies 🔸 An average European consumed 78 kg and an American – 127 kg (!) of meat in 2021 (FAO). Check the link in the first comment to see the consumption numbers in your country. 🔸 Overall, global consumption of meat per capita grew from 27 kg per year in 1970 to 43 kg per year in 2021 (FAO) 🔳 Related emissions, especially methane 🔸 Agriculture accounts for nearly 40% of global methane emissions (UNECE) 🔸 Main sources of these emissions include cows’ burps and farts (results of a digestive process called 'enteric fermentation'), as well as emissions from manure and rice production   Check some of the companies working on tech solutions addressing this problem. CH4Global Sea Forest Number 8 bio Rumin8 ArkeaBio™ Rize CarbonFarm Windfall Bio N2 Applied Vaulted Deep

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🦋 🌳 What are Nature-Based Solutions? 🌱🌸 This month, our Blog: https://shorturl.at/KY4lJ is all about Nature-based solutions - how Seeds To Thrive is working with businesses to find ways to work with nature for their sustainability strategies in business.   📌 Nature-based solutions refer to strategic actions that harness the power and processes of natural ecosystems to address various environmental, social, and economic challenges. ▶ The food industry is well aware of how fast the world is changing. Food industry businesses understand that they must make steps towards sustainability and offset any environmental impact.   📌 Nature-based solutions work synergistically with the economy, ecosystems and society. They involve the sustainable management and use of nature in ways that create benefits for the planet, and therefore the well-being of people.   📌 They aim to contribute to biodiversity resilience, reduce risks from environmental hazards, and support sustainable economic development while helping businesses to mitigate and adapt to climate change. By enhancing the planet's biodiversity, it is possible to harness the power of nature so that it begins to work for us once more. 🦋🌳🌻🦉🐞 If you are looking at ways to reduce your company's carbon footprint & to build a better future for our planet, Seeds To Thrive is waiting to hear from you. Reach out to us on 📧 hello@seedstothrive.com 📲 or send a DM

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🌍 🌱 As the world faces the pressing threat of climate change, it's crucial to examine how we interact with one of the most fundamental aspects of our lives: food. According to Edelman’s 2023 Climate Trust Report, a staggering 93% of people worldwide recognize climate change as a significant threat. 🌍 🌱 Our recent article delves into Edelman's enlightening report, "Food x Warming World," which sheds light on how individuals are responding to this crisis with adaptability and innovation. Read more on 9 key themes that emerge. What are your thoughts on these key themes? How do you envision our collective efforts shaping the future of food in a warming world? Let's discuss! 🤔 💬

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I believe that the current definitions of nature do not reflect the growing scientific evidence and overwhelming consensus that humans are part of Nature and a wider ecosystem. If you feel part of Nature and agree that we need to change how we talk about it to help restore our connection with the natural world please sign this petition. #proudtobeorganic #IGrowYourFood #IFOAMorganicseurope #regenerativefarming #ofgorganic #sustainability #agriculturebiologique #health #sustainablefarming #organicfarming #organic #organicfood #organiclife #UKorganic #organicresearchcentre #biodynamic #sustainabledevelopment #farmingforthefuture Paul Holmbeck Eric Gall Vicki Hird Sarah Compson James Cashmore Cristina Dimetto Maria Taffurelli Steven Jacobs Christopher Stopes Becky George Roger Baird Debs Roberts Jo Barron

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Shocking report by Changing Markets Foundation right? STOP WORKING IN SILOS. We need a COP on regulating the petrochemical industry in all its forms and sectors ! - covering the influence, all impacts and the regulations of the petrochemical industry as a whole, producing for Agro, Tobacco, Pharma, Plastics, Energy (and what else). Stop working in silos and tackle their lobby in one overarching COP, all is related to oil & gas and the whole industry pollutes in all sectors, harms ecosystems and human health, and aggravates climate change. #GlobalGovernance #TheRightsOfFutureGenerations

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📍 Muizenberg, Cape Town 🪰 nutrisek 👨‍🌾 Cobus Kotze Cobus has a unique experience in the market, because he is one of the founding members of #AgriProtein, one of the first movers in the #blacksoldierfly industry and still to this day one of the best financed business's out there. We spoke about its huge rise and spectacular fall. The story in a nutshell is that it raised heaps of capital, which it invested in completely groundbreaking #innovation. This included a lot of test-measure-learn feedback loops, which can be costly when there is a lot to figure out. But, that's ok, because they raised some more, until they found a good formula for success. So much so that they started to expand worldwide and at this point lost their identity and their investments stopped generating the cashflow in order to survive. The runway eventually ran out and Agriprotein was no more. This is the very brief story of what happened with Agriprotein. Cobus has learned from this experience and now focuses on developing #modular insect farming systems that can be replicated more easily. His company builds standardized modules, each producing around 5 tonnes of larvae per day. This allows for more controlled growth by adding modules as demand increases. The system is designed to be robust, using simple hydraulics rather than complex robotics. On the #business model, Cobus believes the industry needs to focus more on the fundamentals like feedstock sourcing and reliable production. He sees big potential in using #foodwaste as a feedstock in developed countries to get high value. However, food waste brings contamination risks versus cleaner feedstocks. Cobus recommends #entrepreneurs focus first on securing a low-cost feedstock supply, then choose #technology to match. Centralized breeding with decentralized grow-out hubs is one hybrid model. "Growing Larvae isn't the problem, growing larvae at low cost is" Overall, Cobus is positive on the industry long-term, with increasing need for #sustainableprotein and waste re-use. But he cautions against over-promising, emphasizing the need to prove reliable production. He is keen to use data to sell his product, rather than making wild aspirations. His modular insect farming systems aim to "de-risk" projects for investors by enabling small-scale replication of a working module. I had some lunch at Muizenberg and watched the surfers take the waves. It isn’t a bad life down in South Africa. In part anyway - more on the bad side in later posts… Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust Fly2Feed

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Elise Bijkerk This is the core problem with our food. Ultra processed food has to much sugar and salt hidden in the product and it is not done for the taste. It is done so you overeat by confusing the body into a high sugar rush and the salt makes you drink more soda´s with sugar. We are now at a point that we large groups of people are addicted to these levels of sugar and salt. That natural whole plant based foods don´t taste good to these people. Like in Japan only intervention by government through rigger regulation/legislation will this change. Food manufactures of ultra processed foods with high sugar and salt, will not do so because, it would not fit with their business model. PS. not all food that is manufactured by plants are to high in sugar and salt. It is mainly the cheaper and low cost C or D brands. That is why obesity is so much higher for people with low income. They see a product they like on a eye level self and think that A brand, it to expensive for me, let´s get the C or D brand on de lowest shelf which looks the same. An associated problem is that the rest of the ingredients of these C or D brands are of low nutritional value and produced with lot´s of chemicals. #degrowth #plantbasedfoods #organicfoods #regenerativefarming #fruitsandvegetables Plant Based Foodie Forever

🌱✨ To all our #investors and #stakeholders, we are super #thrilled to showcase our #social return on #investment! Social #impact is in our #DNA, and as a #socialenterprise and public benefit corporation, we’re on a @mission to empower 1 million farmers out of poverty within their generation. Here’s our second impact report! While we are not yet close to impacting a million #farmers, we are proud to be taking baby steps early on without compromise! 🚀 Running a #business is hard, and balancing #financial returns versus social returns is easier said than done! We constantly face dilemmas on what to prioritize and when, and it is not always black and white. However, we truly believe that the new model of business cannot be sustained without protecting and empowering our most vulnerable stakeholders—in our case, the farmers! Hence, we’re proud to #report several #achievements in our #journey so far! 🌍💪 ✨ Here are some highlights of 2023: ✅ 723 farmers impacted ✅ 48.07% increase in earnings for the farmers since inception ✅ 48 customers visited Nepal for our tea tours ✅ $49K returned to communities through tourism ✅ 14 farmer trainings on food safety, sustainable agriculture and production ✅ 2 farms assisted in organic certification ✅ $3985 (for the year 2022) given back through the 1% give-back program. Please find the full version here: https://lnkd.in/eFyhGcb3 As with everything in life, our work and this impact report are works in progress, so please do not hesitate to give us your #feedback and #advice. 📈💬 Special mentions and thank you to some of our guides throughout this journey. 🙏🌟 Amigo Khadka Pratik Rijal Nishu Acharya Raj Paul Brendan Amy Aubrey Brin Rob Abhinav Eric Mohit Carrie Manolo Zak Shefali Kajina Manjil and the entire team at Nepal Tea Collective, PBC. Nepal Tea Foundation Watson Institute The Global Good Fund Wild Gift UPEACE Centre for Executive Education University for Peace (UPEACE) - UN Mandated #SocialImpact #Sustainability #Empowerment #FarmersFirst #ImpactReport #NepalTeaCollective

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Global agricultural systems produce around 4 million metric tonnes of food every year, more than enough to feed 10 billion people. So why does hunger and malnutrition still exist? 🤔 Find out the real reason behind this paradox here: https://lnkd.in/dD5DyXtu In this episode of Sustainable Tea with Shreya, co-founder of Robin Hood Army, neel ghose and I discus how hunger goes beyond missing a meal and has the less fortunate in its grip, why the NGO won’t accept money, the purpose behind the altruistic work they do, and how they developed a humanitarian network of good samaritans in India and across the world to solve the global hunger crisis. 🤍 #GlobalHunger #FoodInsecurity #RobinHoodArmy#NonProfit #Humanitarians #ZeroHunger #Community #FoodForAll #SocialGood #Sustainability 

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Meat and dairy products are priced artificially low because they receive significant subsidies, and because their health and environmental costs are passed onto society. That must change, according to The World Bank. From the article: "Wealthy nations should reduce financial support for livestock farming to help tackle pollution caused by consuming red meat and dairy, according to the World Bank. Ensuring that environmental and health costs are fully priced into emissions-intensive foods made from animals would curb consumer demand for those products. That would mean shifting subsidies from the livestock sector toward lower-emissions foods like poultry, fruit and vegetables. Full-cost pricing of animal-source foods would make low-emission options more competitive, while meat products would be 20% to 60% more expensive, the bank said." Factory farming conglomerates are not going to be happy about this. The rest of us should celebrate, because this is a prerequisite for a more livable planet. Best of all? It will help bring better and healthier foods into our diets. #ClimateChange #FactoryFarming #ClimateSolutions #MeatAndDairy #FoodSystem #Sustainability https://lnkd.in/edsyiarw

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