by Angela Mao

In our modern-day society, there is a tremendous appetite for food all across the world, yet we are facing unprecedented challenges within the industry, such as food waste and lack of traceability. With populations rapidly growing, there is a need for technology and agricultural practices to keep pace in a sustainable manner. Luckily, now, more than ever, consumers are paying close attention to where their food is sourced from and search for companies that emphasize health and sustainability. According to a CGS survey, buyers want sustainable products, and over ⅓ of them are willing to pay 25% more for them. Thankfully, there are companies charged with innovation and purpose who have tackled this mission with new technology and strategies while keeping sustainability at the core of their mission.

Here’s a list of some sustainable food companies and how they are helping out both the environment and our love for food:

Apeel Sciences

This company was founded in 2012 by James Roger and focuses on addressing the dire issue of food spoilage and waste. Apeel Sciences is a group of plant-derived coatings that can be used to cover fruits, vegetables, and other produce to extend their shelf life by keeping in moisture and preventing oxygen from entering. So far, Apeel avocados can be found in many grocery stores, but you can expect to see more and more Apeel sections pop up around grocery stores near you! By keeping the produce fresh, Apeel encourages more sustainable farming practices, less food waste, and high quality food that lasts longer. 

Improved Nature

Recently, we’ve been seeing a boom in the plant-based meat industry as a response to the expected increase in demand for food, and Improved Nature is one of them. They specialize in offering simple and tasty non-GMO chicken alternatives as a sustainable, healthy, and delicious way to get protein in your diet. Their method involves soy protein, as it is considered the most efficient production source of quality protein in the world, which means that they also limit their impact on the environment!

Full Harvest 

Full Harvest is another company that combats food waste through an online marketplace where oddly-shaped and surplus produce is sold. They work with local farms to get extra produce and sell them to food and beverage companies, who purchase from their marketplace to save money. Their mission is to empower sustainability at the root level by making sure that valuable resources are not wasted. 

Renaissance BioScience

Renaissance BioScience specializes in creating yeast-based technology for food and beverage companies around the world. Using whole organism and gene-targeted engineering, they have pinpointed specific issues, such as the carcinogen acrylamide that is naturally produced in carbohydrate-rich foods and coffee, and developed sustainable and environmentally solutions. Their current products include two strains of yeast that prevent the formation of acrylamide and hydrogen sulfide in wine, beer and cider. 

Bowery Farming 

Bowering Farming’s indoor farms are an innovative solution that is definitely a frontrunner for the future of farming. Their farms are at the heart of urban centers that usually have to wait weeks for produce to arrive but now get fresh produce within days. Not only do they use over 95% less water than traditional agriculture, they save valuable space and can farm at all times of the year.