Vegan-BioMaterials-TechReport – Edition 20 Jul 2025

This week saw monumental strides in both regulatory and commercial spheres for vegan biomaterials. Novel foods made from air gained FDA approval, while major luxury and automotive brands committed to next-gen mycelium and plant-based leathers, signaling a significant market shift.

Top Stories This Week

• Solar Foods (Impact: 10) – 25 Jun 2025 – The company's innovative 'air protein' Solein, created from carbon dioxide, has received "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) status from the FDA, clearing its path for commercial sale in the United States. Link
• MycoWorks (Impact: 10) – 21 May 2025 – In a landmark deal for the luxury sector, MycoWorks has entered an exclusive, multi-year agreement to supply its Reishi mycelium leather to powerhouse LVMH for use across its portfolio of prestigious brands. Link
• Mosa Meat (Impact: 9) – 29 Apr 2025 – The company has achieved a major breakthrough with a new animal-free growth medium that reduces the cost of its cultivated beef by 90%, a critical step toward making it competitive with conventional meat. Link
• Perfect Day (Impact: 9) – 08 May 2025 – The precision fermentation pioneer has closed a substantial $400 million Series E funding round, which will fuel the construction of new production facilities to scale up its animal-free whey protein globally. Link
• Bolt Threads (Impact: 9) – 30 Jun 2025 – The company has officially opened the world's largest manufacturing plant for mycelium-based materials in South Carolina, enabling the production of millions of square feet of its Mylo™ leather alternative per year. Link
• Natural Fiber Welding (Impact: 9) – 09 Jul 2025 – Automaker Volvo has committed to using NFW's plastic-free Mirum exclusively for its vegan leather interiors in upcoming electric vehicle models, marking a significant move away from petroleum-based options. Link
• Upside Foods (Impact: 8) – 15 Jul 2025 – Following its regulatory approvals, the company's cultivated chicken is now featured on the menu at all US restaurants operated by the renowned chef José Andrés, making it widely available to consumers. Link
• Biohm (Impact: 8) – 22 Apr 2025 – The company's carbon-negative mycelium insulation has passed all regulatory hurdles to gain full CE marking, certifying it for use in the European construction industry as a sustainable building material. Link
• HelioProtein (Impact: 7) – 05 Jun 2025 – A new player has emerged from stealth, securing a $50 million seed round to advance its gas fermentation technology that upcycles industrial methane emissions into a valuable protein source. Link
• Sway (Impact: 7) – 12 Jun 2025 – The seaweed-based bioplastics startup has raised a significant $80 million in Series A funding to construct its first commercial-scale factory, aimed at replacing single-use plastic packaging films. Link

This period marks a clear inflection point, with foundational technologies now achieving critical regulatory and commercial milestones. Watch for accelerated consumer adoption and new product launches as these companies leverage massive new funding and production capacity to move from pilot to industrial scale.