Tag: Food

A robot removes algae from ships’ hulls autonomously. Now, a Norwegian startup is using automated technology to combat mildew and fungal mould on grapevines. Here, too, there is no need for chemicals, as the electrically-powered robot doesn’t employ oil or sulphur, but soft UV-C light. The latter specifically breaks up the DNA of pests and viruses while protecting the...

Rapidly spreading algae makes construction materials more sustainable. High numbers of shore crabs likewise disrupt the maritime ecosystem. Which is why a Danish startup is collecting the invasive beach- and ocean-dwellers using crab baskets or passive fishing nets. Once caught, crab flesh and shell are processed separately into flour and used as animal- or fish-feed supplements. Crab meal powder...

Coffee grounds are a versatile thing: used in everything from sustainable concrete to glasses frames, even offering natural oils for cosmetics. But as a cocoa alternative? It might sound far-fetched, but that’s exactly what a USA-based startup is trying to achieve. The logic is simple enough: from a taste perspective there are similarities between coffee and cocoa. First the...

Mushrooms are suitable for sound insulation. Spent coffee grounds, as a Chinese university research team just discovered, could be used to deliver sustainable thermal insulation. Initially, the grounds were converted into biochar at 700°C, increasing the granules’ porosity from 40% to 70%. These cavities were then filled with a mix of environmentally-friendly solvents. This in turn prevented ethylcellulose, the...

A maze-like material keeps insects away from plants. In France, meanwhile, a startup is creating sustainable pesticides from plant scents as around 80% of harmful insects are drawn to by these odours. The team deciphers which scents are particularly attractive for different species, and replicates the molecules in the lab. These can be used for the targeted defence of...

Small villages can inspire innovation for the circular economy in cocoa production. Now an Oxford-based startup is working on a sustainable substitute to the cocoa bean. Sound familiar? This time rather than cell cultures the team is using the plant’s pod. First, the shells are chopped up and, using an age-old Japanese method, fermented with the help of fungi. The...

Prison libraries help residents gain new perspectives. Now, a non-profit organisation in the US is supporting communities with libraries of a different kind. Founded by a 17-year-old female high school student, the organisation uses public libraries and food banks to address the impact of ‘food deserts’, providing residents with seed packs free of charge. Locals thus have the opportunity...

The future of salmon could lie in cell cultures. Meanwhile, a California-based startup is betting on a similar process for cacao in a bid to avoid further deforestation. A reduction in rainforests not only causes drought, but increases the likelihood of flooding - both harming cacao yields. In a bioreactor, cell cultures from the cacao plant are naturally fermented...