BELGIUM – Belgian chocolate giant Puratos’ food tech venture arm, Sparkalis, has made a strategic investment in California Cultured, a US start-up pioneering plant cell cultivation to produce sustainable cacao.
The collaboration seeks to revolutionize the chocolate industry by creating high-quality chocolate without the environmental and ethical challenges tied to traditional cacao farming.
While the financial details of Sparkalis’ investment were not disclosed, the partnership highlights a shared vision of transforming cocoa production.
California Cultured’s innovative technology allows cacao cells to be grown in controlled environments, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional farming practices.
This innovation is poised to reduce the industry’s reliance on traditional cocoa, which is often plagued by environmental degradation and labor-related issues.
California Cultured CEO Alan Perstein expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “We are on a mission to reimagine chocolate – making it more sustainable, ethical, and delicious than ever before. This investment from Sparkalis will allow us to scale our operations and bring our cell-cultured chocolate to more consumers who care about both quality and the planet.”
Filip Arnaut, managing director of Sparkalis, noted, “We seek out visionary start-ups like California Cultured that are creating transformative solutions for the food industry. Its innovative approach to cocoa production aligns perfectly with our mission to foster a healthier and more sustainable future for the global food ecosystem.”
In February this year, Japanese food group Meiji made a second investment in California Cultured, following its original investment in 2021.
The partnership between Meiji and California Cultured aims to advance cocoa cell cultivation technology and integrate it into products across the US and Japanese markets.
This approach comes at a crucial time for the cocoa industry, which has been hit by severe weather and rising prices.
Droughts in key producing countries like Ivory Coast and Ghana have led to an 11 percent drop in global cocoa supply, driving prices to nearly US$10,000 per metric ton.
With the demand for sustainable alternatives growing, California Cultured’s cell-cultured cacao offers a promising solution for the future of chocolate production.
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