Top 20 startups in FoodTech 2022

Introduction

FoodTech 500: Barometer of Innovation in the Food Industry

FoodTech 500 — This is an annual ranking compiled by the consulting company Forward Fooding, which identifies the most promising and innovative startups in the field of agritech and food. This ranking is inspired by the famous Fortune 500 list and serves as an Oscar of sorts in the world of FoodTech. It covers a wide range of segments including vertical farming, alternative protein sources, fermentation and many others. Companies are assessed on a number of criteria, including innovation, sustainability, business size and digital footprint.

Purpose of the article: Detailed analysis of the top 20 startups

In this article, Allfoods Market provides a detailed analysis of the top 20 startups from the 2022 FoodTech 500 list. Our goal — not just introduce these companies, but also understand what technologies and innovations they bring to the food industry. We'll start at number 20 and work our way up to the top of the rankings, looking at each company to gain a deeper understanding of their performance and potential contribution to the future of the food industry.

Rating methodology: how Forward Fooding evaluates startups

Forward Fooding uses a comprehensive approach to evaluate startups in the FoodTech 500 ranking. The basis for the analysis is its own data platform — FoodTech Data Navigator. This platform uses a unique set of algorithms to analyze three key indicators:

Digital Footprint Score

This indicator evaluates a company's visibility and activity in the digital space. It includes analysis of social media, web traffic, online reputation and other factors that reflect digital visibility. company.

Sustainability Score

This criterion evaluates how sustainable and environmentally friendly the methods and technologies used by the company are. It includes analysis of resource use, emissions, waste management and other factors affecting a company's environmental footprint.

Business Size Score

This indicator evaluates the scale of a company's activities, including sales volumes, number of employees, geographical presence and other financial indicators.

After analyzing these three indicators, the data is aggregated to form the final ranking. This integrated approach allows you to get a multifaceted picture of the activities of each startup and determine its place in the ranking with the greatest accuracy.

20. Upward Farms

• General information
  • Location and year of foundation: USA (Brooklyn, New York). Founded in 2013
  • Field of activity: Agricultural technologies, vertical and indoor farming
• Innovation and technology
  • Upward Farms uses unique agroponic technology for vertical farming, offering a portfolio of fresh and nutritious products.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company is a certified organic producer and is committed to creating an environmentally sustainable food system.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 241.72.
• Social and cultural influence
  • The company is actively working to address tensions between food and climate, which is one of the key challenges of the 21st century.
• Prospects and plans
  • According to its website, Upward Farms has closed its Brooklyn farm and ceased its vertical farming operations. However, a small part of the team will continue to work towards studying the microbiome.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Official website of Upward Farms
  • Page on FoodTech 500

19. Algama Foods

• General information
  • Location and year of foundation: France (Paris), 2013
  • Field of activity: New generation food, functional foods and drinks
• Innovation and technology
  • Algama Foods specializes in using algae to create food products that are healthy and environmentally sustainable.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company is actively working to create sustainable alternatives to animal products such as eggs and meat and is committed to environmental sustainability.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 245.36, which includes scores for business size, digital footprint and sustainability.
• Social and cultural influence
  • Algama Foods focuses on creating products for vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians, actively influencing the food industry to adapt to healthy and sustainable alternatives.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company has a strong emphasis on research and development, including the selection of algae strains and the creation of new products.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Official website of Algama Foods
  • Page on FoodTech 500

18. CrowdFarming

• General information
  • Location: Spain (Madrid)
  • Field of activity: Grocery delivery, e-commerce, organic products
• Innovation and technology
  • CrowdFarming offers a scalable farm-to-consumer solution that allows farmers and consumers to benefit from custom farming and organic consumption.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company focuses on sustainable farming and reducing food waste by offering consumers the opportunity to "adopt" a family. tree or animal and receive products directly from farmers.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 245.4.
• Social and cultural influence
  • CrowdFarming actively raises awareness of sustainable farming and environmentally responsible consumption by offering alternative ways to purchase food.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company is developing a mobile application to simplify the process of purchasing products directly from farmers and supporting sustainable agricultural projects.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Official website of CrowdFarming
  • Page on FoodTech 500

17. AGRIVI

• General information
  • Location and year of foundation: Great Britain (London), 2013
  • Field of activity: Agricultural technologies, farm management, precision farming
• Innovation and technology
  • AGRIVI develops farm management software, providing real-world insights to improve the agribusiness value chain.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company is actively working to solve the global food problem through the digitalization of agriculture, observing the UN principles of sustainable development.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 245.7.
• Social and cultural influence
  • AGRIVI actively cooperates with large companies such as Nestlé to achieve sustainable development and food safety goals.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company offers solutions for various participants in the agribusiness value chain, including professional farmers and large agribusiness companies.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • AGRIVI Official Website
  • Page on FoodTech 500

16. Monarch Tractor

• General information
  • Location: USA (California)
  • Field of activity: Agricultural technologies, electric tractors, autonomous systems
• Innovation and technology
  • Monarch Tractor offers the world's first all-electric autonomous tractor, delivering electrification, automation and data analytics to optimize farm operations.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company focuses on reducing its carbon footprint, increasing field safety and improving environmental sustainability.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 246.65.
• Social and cultural influence
  • Monarch Tractor actively works with farmers in a variety of areas, including viticulture, orchards and dairy farms, offering solutions to improve efficiency and safety.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company offers solutions to reduce operating costs, reduce fuel costs and increase productivity on the farm.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Official website of Monarch Tractor
  • Page on FoodTech 500

15. Square Roots

• General information
  • Location: USA (New York)
  • Field of activity: Agricultural technologies, vertical and indoor farming
• Innovation and technology
  • Square Roots provides solutions to adapt agriculture to climate change using controlled growing environments.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company focuses on creating sustainable and climate-resilient farming systems while minimizing the risks associated with climate change.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 247.9.
• Social and cultural influence
  • Square Roots partners with food distributors and consumer goods manufacturers to provide solutions to ensure a consistent, quality supply of products.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company offers "Farming as a Service," allowing customers to instantly begin growing crops in modular, climate-controlled farms.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Square Roots Official Website
  • Page on FoodTech 500

14. Rohlik

• General information
  • Location and year of foundation: Czech Republic (Karlin), 2014
  • Field of activity: Online grocery delivery, technology and logistics in food retail
• Innovation and technology
  • Rohlik offers a wide range of products (more than 17,000 SKU) and fast delivery — In some countries, orders are delivered within 90 minutes or in 15-minute windows throughout the day.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company focuses on using environmentally friendly transportation and creating efficient internal operations.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 249.61.
• Social and cultural influence
  • Rohlik actively cooperates with consumers, offering high-quality products and services, and strives for dynamic growth, achieving the status of "unicorn" in 2021
• Prospects and plans
  • The company already operates in five international markets, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Germany and Romania, and continues to grow rapidly.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Official website Rohlik
  • Page on FoodTech 500

13. AgriWebb

• General information
  • Location: Australia (Sydney)
  • Field of activity: Agricultural technologies, farm management and precision agriculture
• Innovation and technology
  • AgriWebb provides digital solutions for farmers and ranchers that transform everyday data into valuable business insights to create a more profitable, efficient and sustainable future.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company focuses on sustainability by providing granular data on every grazing decision and securely storing data in the cloud.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 250.28.
• Social and cultural influence
  • AgriWebb is trusted by 16,000 farmers and ranchers around the world and actively partners with them to provide solutions to improve productivity and sustainability.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company offers solutions for livestock management, feed inventory management, task management and much more, working both online and offline.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • AgriWebb official website
  • Page on FoodTech 500

12. Naio Technologies

• General information
  • Location: France (Toulouse)
  • Field of activity: Agricultural technologies, farm robotics and mechanical engineering
• Innovation and technology
  • Naio Technologies specializes in creating robots for agriculture and viticulture. Their robots are equipped with GPS RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) for centimeter precision in tillage.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company offers 100% electric and lightweight robots that promote sustainable and healthy agriculture.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 251.79.
• Social and cultural influence
  • Naio Technologies focuses on the security of users, cultures and systems as a key aspect of their business.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company has been active in the market since 2011 and continues to develop innovative solutions for modern farmers and winegrowers.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Official website of Naio Technologies
  • Page on FoodTech 500

11. 80 Acres Farms

• General information
  • Location: USA (Hamilton, Ohio)
  • Field of activity: Agricultural technologies, vertical and indoor farming
• Innovation and technology
  • 80 Acres Farms uses robotic systems and artificial intelligence to grow food in enclosed spaces. The company offers "on-the-go salads" made from safe and environmentally friendly ingredients.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company grows food without the use of pesticides or chemicals, focusing on environmentally sustainable methods.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 257.49.
• Social and cultural influence
  • 80 Acres Farms actively promotes the concept of locally grown food, offering fresh and shelf-stable produce.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company is committed to expanding its product range and increasing the availability of environmentally friendly products for consumers.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • 80 Acres Farms Official Website
  • FoodTech 500 Page

10. Heura

• General information
  • Location: Spain (Barcelona)
  • Field of activity: New generation food products, plant-based analogues of meat and fish
• Innovation and technology
  • Heura develops nutrient-enriched plant-based meat and fish analogues. The company is committed to accelerating the transition to a more sustainable protein production system.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company focuses on creating a sustainable, healthy and delicious food system using only plant-based ingredients.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 257.58.
• Social and cultural influence
  • Heura actively raises awareness of sustainability and health issues, calling for active participation in the food revolution.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company continues to develop new recipes and products to make plant-based nutrition accessible and attractive to a wide audience.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Heura official website
  • Page on FoodTech 500

9. Choco

• General information
  • Location and year of foundation: Germany (Berlin), 2018
  • Field of activity: Technologies for kitchens and restaurants, restaurant management systems and POS systems
• Innovation and technology
  • Choco offers a platform to digitalize and optimize ordering processes between restaurants and suppliers. The service allows you to reduce time and errors when placing orders.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company is committed to creating a more efficient and sustainable food system by connecting restaurants and suppliers on one platform.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 257.8.
• Social and cultural influence
  • Choco is actively working to improve efficiency and sustainability in the foodservice industry by providing solutions for restaurants and suppliers.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company plans to further expand and optimize its services to meet the needs of a growing number of customers.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Official website of Choco
  • Page on FoodTech 500

8. JUST Egg

• General information
  • Location: USA (Alameda)
  • Field of activity: New generation food products, plant-based analogues of eggs
• Innovation and technology
  • JUST Egg offers plant-based egg alternatives that look and taste like chicken eggs. The company's products use 98% less water, 86% less land and produce 93% less carbon dioxide compared to chicken eggs.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company focuses on creating products that significantly reduce their environmental footprint using plant-based ingredients.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 259.8.
• Social and cultural influence
  • JUST Egg actively raises awareness of sustainability and environmental issues by offering alternative protein sources.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company strives to expand the range and improve the quality of its products, making them available to a wide audience.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • JUST Egg official website
  • Page on FoodTech 500

7. Protix

• General information
  • Location and year founded: The Netherlands (Dongen), 2009
  • Field of activity: Agriculture, insect farming and aquaculture
• Innovation and technology
  • Protix converts food waste into highly sustainable insect-based ingredients that can serve as alternatives to soybean and fish cakes.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company focuses on creating products with a low environmental footprint. Insect-based ingredients require less land, water and produce fewer CO₂ emissions.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 259.9.
• Social and cultural influence
  • Protix is actively working to solve the problem of food waste and create a more sustainable food system.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company plans to expand internationally and further optimize its products to improve global nutrition.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Official website of Protix
  • Page on FoodTech 500

6. Nature's Fynd

• General information
  • Location: USA (Chicago)
  • Field of activity: New generation food products, vegetable proteins based on mushrooms
• Innovation and technology
  • Nature's Fynd uses a unique fermentation method to produce the nutritious mushroom protein Fy™. The protein is made from a microorganism found in Yellowstone National Park.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • Protein production Fy™ Requires significantly less water, land and energy compared to animal protein sources.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 260.93.
• Social and cultural influence
  • Nature's Fynd is committed to creating products that combine great taste, health benefits and environmental sustainability. This approach not only enriches the health food market, but also reduces the environmental footprint since the production of this protein requires less water, land and energy compared to traditional protein sources.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company plans to expand its product range and introduce its innovative solutions to the global market.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Official website of Nature's Fynd
  • Page on FoodTech 500

5. ProducePay

• General information
  • Location: USA (Los Angeles)
  • Founders: Not specified
  • Field of activity: Financial solutions for farmers, digital trading platform for agricultural products
• Innovation and technology
  • ProducePay offers a unique digital marketplace that connects farmers and buyers, giving them access to financial solutions and transaction security.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company is committed to creating a more sustainable and efficient supply chain, reducing economic and food losses.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 263.84.
• Social and cultural influence
  • ProducePay is actively working to create transparent and trusting relationships between farmers and buyers on a global level.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company plans to further develop its digital platform and expand its geographic presence.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • ProducePay official website
  • Page on FoodTech 500

4. Infarm

• General information
  • Location: Germany (Berlin)
  • Field of activity: Vertical and indoor farming, AgTech
• Innovation and technology
  • Infarm is developing a global network of climate-resilient vertical farms that produce high-quality food in a more sustainable and efficient way.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company is focused on creating a system that is resilient to climate change. Their farms are not affected by floods or droughts.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 264.89.
• Social and cultural influence
  • Infarm actively works to create products that are not only tasty, but also good for health and the environment.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company collects more than 50,000 data points throughout the life of each plant to improve its technology and increase yield.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Infarm official website
  • Page on FoodTech 500

3. Plenty

• General information
  • Location: San Francisco, USA
  • Field of activity: Vertical and indoor farming, AgTech
• Innovation and technology
  • Plenty uses an indoor vertical farming technology platform that allows you to grow fresh food anywhere in the world, year-round. Yields per acre are 350 times higher than traditional farms.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company focuses on environmentally sustainable methods, using significantly less water and land compared to traditional farming.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 265.63.
• Social and cultural influence
  • Plenty is not limited to just producing delicious products; the company strives for a holistic approach in which taste, health and ecology go hand in hand. Using modern indoor vertical farming technologies, Plenty ensures high yields and quality products without the use of chemicals. This not only makes their products healthier, but also reduces their environmental footprint since their methods require less land and water. 
• Prospects and plans
  • The company recently opened a new farm in Compton and is continuing its innovative research into vertical farming.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Plenty Official Website
  • Page on FoodTech 500

2. Ÿnsect

• General information
  • Location and year of foundation: France (Evry), 2011
  • Field of activity: Insect protein production, AgTech, aquaculture
• Innovation and technology
  • Ÿnsect is a world leader in the production of natural protein from insects. The company processes insects into premium ingredients for the entire food chain.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company's protein production significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions. This is an innovative approach to sustainability and the environment.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 267.99.
• Social and cultural influence
  • Ÿnsect doesn't just focus on the taste of its products; she strives for a global approach in which taste, health and sustainability are closely intertwined. As a global leader in insect protein, Ÿnsect offers an alternative to traditional protein sources such as meat and fish.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company is committed to creating alternative food sources that are safe, healthy and respectful of the planet's environmental boundaries.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Official website Ÿnsect
  • Page on FoodTech 500

1. Bowery Farming

• General information
  • Location: USA (New York)
  • Field of activity: Vertical and indoor farming, AgTech
• Innovation and technology
  • Bowery Farming is the largest vertical farming company in the United States. It uses proprietary technology to grow pesticide-free, high-tasting produce that is available year-round.
• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
  • The company uses 90% less water and takes up less land compared to traditional farming. All processes are completely transparent and traceable.
• FoodTech Rating
  • The overall FoodTech 500 score is 270.28.
• Social and cultural influence
  • Bowery Farming doesn't just produce delicious food; the company strives for harmony of taste, health and ecology. Using innovative vertical farming technologies, Bowery Farming provides high yields and quality products without the use of pesticides. This not only promotes healthy eating, but also reduces the environmental footprint as it requires 90% less water to grow compared to traditional farming. Thus, the company actively influences the formation of new standards in the food industry, making it more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
• Prospects and plans
  • The company is committed to creating alternative food sources that are safe, healthy and respectful of the planet's environmental boundaries.
• Link to the official website and additional resources
  • Official website of Bowery Farming
  • Page on FoodTech 500

Conclusion: results and conclusions

After a detailed analysis of the top 20 startups from the 2022 FoodTech 500 list, several key conclusions can be drawn:

The most promising startups

Bowery Farming: This company is a leader in vertical farming in the United States. Their technology allows them to grow high-tasting foods that are available year-round, making them the most promising in this category.

Ÿnsect: A startup from France that is a world leader in the production of protein from insects. Their innovative approach to sustainability and ecology makes them one of the most promising players in the market.

Plenty: San Francisco-based vertical farming company with a focus on sustainability and high yields.

General trends

• Sustainability and environmental friendliness: Almost all startups in the top 20 actively focus on sustainable and environmentally friendly production methods.
• Innovation: All companies on the list use innovative technologies and methods, which confirms their high potential for further development and introduction to the market.
• Geographic diversity: Startups in the top 20 are from different countries, indicating the global significance and influence of the FoodTech industry.

Overall, each of the startups reviewed makes a unique contribution to the development of the food industry and offers innovative solutions to current and future challenges. These companies not only follow trends, but also actively shape the future of the food market.