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🇪🇺 Fermentation is powering Europe’s alternative protein investment growth. In the first half of 2026, European alternative protein companies raised €236 million in private investment—up 56% from the same period last year. 💡 Much of that growth came from fermentation. ⤵️

🔬 Precision fermentation companies raised €100M—more than in all of 2025. 📈 Biomass fermentation companies raised €99M, ⬆️ from €60M last year. 💰 Many ferm. companies also secured grant funding alongside private investment, reducing risk for investors + helping scarce private capital go further.

🔀 The wider investment picture is more mixed. Europe saw half as many deals compared to the same period last year, while investment in plant-based and cultivated meat fell significantly. Globally, alternative protein investment also declined, from €341 million to €306 million.

💡 These numbers point to a challenge that goes beyond any single investment cycle: scaling food technologies is expensive, and venture capital can only take companies so far.