A UK biotech startup is converting waste bread into a high-performance cosmetic oil, offering the beauty industry a credible alternative to palm oil. CleanOil 25 has already received regulatory approval in the UK, EU, and US, and was co-developed with major industry partners THG Labs and Croda. The technology, rooted in a decade of university research, cuts greenhouse gas emissions by over 95% compared to conventional agricultural oils.

A UK startup is using an ancient fungal fermentation technique to transform discarded cocoa shells into a lower-cost, lower-carbon cocoa replacement. Fermtech's Koji Cocoa can reduce production emissions by 98% and cut ingredient costs for manufacturers by up to a third. With £2.5M in fresh funding, the Oxford-based company is moving towards commercial scale at a moment when cocoa prices and supply volatility are at historic extremes.

Consumer interest in Lion's Mane specifically has surged by 450% in Google searches, reflecting growing awareness of its neurocognitive potential.

Too long to read? Go for the highlights below. Joyn Foods has secured K-12 approval in South Carolina, allowing school districts to purchase its 50Cut blended meat—combining beef with mushrooms and mycelium—through a statewide procurement scheme. The product uses solid-state fermentation to grow mycelium in just eight days, requires 95% less land and 99% less water than conventional beef, and adds fibre, potassium, iron, and vitamin D to an otherwise nutritionally limited pro

Too long to read? Go for the highlights below. Fable Food Co has launched shiitake mushroom-beef blended products at Central Market stores in Texas, achieving sales of 20 units per hour during in-store sampling with 50% conversion rates The blended protein, comprising 89% shiitake mushroom stems, delivers 35% lower saturated fat, half the cholesterol, and 17% fewer calories than conventional 80/20 beef mince whilst costing 10-15% less Sensory testing by non-profit Nectar demo