<div>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        Tofurky, a subsidiary of Morinaga Nutritional Foods, plans to launch plant-based hot dogs and an updated version of its deli slices targeted at foodservice customers at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) show in Chicago.
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        The new hot dogs are mainly aimed at entertainment venues like amusement parks and stadiums and offer a firm bite and a meaty, smoky texture. On the other hand, the updated deli slices claim to closely resemble animal-based meats and provide 13 g of protein per serving. Both products are vegan and free from allergens, cholesterol, GMOs, gluten, and soy.
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        <b>Analyst QuickTake: </b>
        In 
        <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16403">
          February 2023
        </a>
        , Morinaga Nutritional Foods (MNF) acquired Tofurky from its parent company, Turtle Island Foods. This acquisition, built on a long-standing relationship between the companies, was to help MNF with its expansion plans in the US and beyond.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    <a href="https://vegconomist.com/fairs-and-events/tofurky-deli-slices-emulate-whole-muscle-cuts-nra/">
      Vegconomist
    </a>
  </p>
</div>


Plant-based Meat

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 <p>Tofurky, a subsidiary of Morinaga Nutritional Foods, aims to introduce plant-based hot dogs and a revised version of its deli slices for foodservice clients at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) show in Chicago.</p>
 <p>Primarily, the new hot dogs target entertainment entities like amusement parks and stadiums, offering a firm bite and a meaty, smoky texture. Conversely, the updated deli slices claim to closely mimic animal-based meats and offer 13 g of protein per serving. These two products are vegan and free from allergens, cholesterol, GMOs, gluten, and soy.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> In <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/16403"> February 2023 </a> , Morinaga Nutritional Foods (MNF) acquired Tofurky from its parent company, Turtle Island Foods. This acquisition, built on a long-standing relationship between the companies, was to help MNF with its expansion plans in the US and beyond.</p>

Tofurky to unveil plant-based hot dogs and updates deli slices at NRA Show

Novel therapies to reboot cells and organs

Cell & Gene Therapy

<div>
 <p>Waypoint Bio, a developer of novel cell therapies, has raised USD 14.5 million in a seed funding round. The round was led by Hummingbird Ventures, and also saw participation from Recode Ventures and Fifty Years.</p>
 <p>The company plans to use this funding to develop CAR T-cell therapies with demonstrated efficacy against tumor microenvironments. These will be developed using in vivo spatial pooled screening technology. Following this, the company's focus will shift to developing Treg therapies aimed at autoimmune diseases.</p>
 <p>Waypoint Bio is a biotechnology firm that creates cell therapies for solid tumors. The company utilises a proprietary platform that combines high-resolution spatial biology with pooled screening techniques for fast, precise in vivo testing. Through this method, cell therapies can be evaluated in three-dimensional tissue environments, taking into account the complexities of solid tumor microenvironments.</p>
</div>

Waypoint Bio raises USD 14.5 million in seed funding to develop CAR T-cell therapies for oncology

<div>
 <p>Artiva Biotherapeutics, a company that develops natural killer-based cell therapy, has announced an IPO aiming to raise USD 100 million. This announcement comes following a previous IPO attempt in 2021 that the company withdrew in 2022. Artiva Biotherapeutics is set to start trading on the Nasdaq under the symbol "ARTV."</p>
 <p>The company has not provided specifics on how the funds from the IPO will be used but it is known that it is presently conducting Phase I/Ib trials for its primary candidate, AlloNK, targeting autoimmune diseases like lupus nephritis. Results from these trials are expected to be disclosed in 2025.</p>
</div>

Artiva Biotherapeutics to raise USD 100 million in initial public offering

Leveraging personal data for custom-fit diagnosis and treatment

Precision Medicine

<div>
 
 <p>Thirona and AI solutions provider Blackford have formed a partnership to integrate Thirona's LungQ solution into the Blackford Platform. </p>
 <p>The LungQ software aids in effective diagnosis and treatment planning for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), providing accurate diagnoses, personalized treatment plans, and disease progression tracking to enhance patient outcomes.</p>
 <p>Thirona, a Netherlands-based company, specializes in medical image analysis using AI. They develop software tools for thoracic CT scans, chest X-rays, and retinal images analysis. Their flagship product, LungQ, uses AI to offer detailed segmentation and analysis of lung structures, assisting in the diagnosis and treatment planning of lung-related diseases such as COPD and lung cancer.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake</b> :<br>
 The latest version of LungQ (v3.0.0) <a href="https:<br>
//thirona.eu/press-release/lungq-3-0-0-receives-fda-510k-clearance/"> received FDA 510(k) clearance </a> in January 2024. It is one of the only FDA-cleared solutions capable of segmenting the pulmonary segments and subsegments found in the lung's internal anatomy using AI.</p>

Thirona partners with Blackford to integrate Thirona's LungQ solution on Blackford platform

Reinforcing recycling, rerouting refuse, and reducing wasteflows

Waste Recovery & Management Tech

<div>
 
 <p>Honda announced plans to enhance recycling initiatives as outlined in its 2024 ESG Data Book. These plans focus on recycling vehicle parts, including car batteries, bumpers, and floor carpet mats, particularly when the vehicle's lifecycle ends. The initiatives extend to batteries in new light electric vehicles launching within the year.</p>
 <p>The automaker intends to improve battery monitoring functions. These enhancements aid in identifying component wear and tear, promoting resource efficiency, and reducing costs for car owners through the conversion of onboard batteries to stationary use, and better lifecycle management.</p>
 <p>In addition to these initiatives, Honda has unveiled the "Imakore+(Plus)" program in Japan and a software upgrade service for the Accord model in the US. These services are aimed at revitalizing used cars with new accessories, thereby extending the car's lifespan and ensuring efficient resource utilization.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake</b> :<br>
 In <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/17642"> April 2023 </a> , Honda also partnered with POSCO Holdings, a South Korean steelmaker, to explore the supply of materials for cathodes and anodes (the core components of batteries) and battery recycling technology. The company claims its recycling-oriented approach will ensure efficient use of resources and reduce the economic burden on car owners.</p>

Honda outlines recycling initiatives and new material usage in 2024 ESG data book

Sustainably solving the food shortages of the future

Smart Farming

<div>

<p>Monarch Tractors, a firm specializing in automated farming machinery, has teamed up with Verizon Business to implement connectivity solutions in the agriculture sector using an autonomous tractor. Verizon Business, serving Verizon's business and government clientele, supports this endeavor by providing a SIM card for Monarch's autonomous tractors, enabling connection with Verizon's wireless networks and Monarch's Wingspan Ag Intelligence platform. The goal of the initiative is to broaden network coverage in agricultural activities while cultivating a conducive environment for data and AI-enabled farming.</p>

</div>

Monarch Tractors partners with Verizon Business to enhance autonomous tractor connectivity

<div>
 
 <p>Siemens AG and Boson Energy have entered into an agreement to develop technology for converting non-recyclable waste into renewable energy. This partnership aims to provide stability in local energy and build infrastructure for hydrogen-powered electric vehicle charging, without putting strain on the energy grid or raising consumer costs.</p>
 <p>Siemens will help Boson Energy in designing a scalable waste-to-energy solution, with the objective to set up over 300 plants and generate 1 million tons of hydrogen from waste by 2030, this would in turn reduce CO2 emissions by up to 30 million tons annually. The project is set to start in Sweden, Poland, and Germany, with plans for a global expansion.</p>
 
</div>

Siemens partners with Boson Energy to convert waste into clean energy for EV charging

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

<div>
 
 <p>AGCO, an agricultural machinery and technology leader, has created an improved autonomous grain cart retrofit. This technology allows one operator to control multiple tractor carts.</p>
 <p>The autonomous grain carts aim to make the harvesting process more efficient by allowing operators to set the cart's location and direction, call the cart toward the combine, send a full cart to the unloading area, and control its speed, all without a continuous data connection.</p>
 <p>AGCO suggests that their new technology could solve labor problems leading to harvesting delays, enhancing efficiency and precision. The company expects the upgrades to aid farmers in maintaining their crops' value.</p>
 
</div>

AGCO launches upgraded autonomous grain cart retrofit

<div>

 <p>Plast Nordic, an enterprise that has specialized in commissioning chemical recycling facilities within the Nordic areas, has decided to join forces with gr3n, a chemical recycling firm based in Switzerland, and Norner, a Norwegian R&amp;D centre for industrial polymers. The collaboration is set to construct a PET chemical recycling facility within the Nordic region.</p>
 <p>The goal of this joint endeavor is to set up a plant that will employ gr3n's exclusive chemical recycling solution to transform consumer PET waste into high-grade recycled PET (rPET) resin. They intend to use the rPET resin produced at this plant to create a variety of products, replacing the use of fossil-fuel-based raw materials.</p>
 
</div>

Plast Nordic, gr3n, and Norner to build PET chemical recycling plant in Nordic region

<div>

 <p>Precision agriculture company Rantizo, which provides agricultural spray drone services, has been granted approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to have its service hub operators manage up to three drones weighing over 55 lbs without the need for a third-party visual observer, including during night time. </p>
 <p>The FAA exemption allows operating multiple drones simultaneously such as three DJI T30 or two XAG P100 Pro units, without a visual observer. This enables operation even in dark conditions, improving productivity by covering a larger land area more quickly and providing agricultural operators with a flexible schedule to better support their farmer clients.</p>

</div>

Rantizo receives FAA approval for agricultural spray drone swarming

Natural Fertilizers

<div>
 
 <p>Lavie Bio Ltd, a subsidiary of Evogene, developing bacterial compositions for plants, has announced the commercial expansion of its product, Yalos, to winter wheat. During field trials, Yalos demonstrated enhancements in early vigor, biomass, root and shoot development, nutrient availability, and feed quality in winter wheat. The product, developed through advanced biological technologies, aims to decrease crop abandonment rates and enhance farm productivity.</p>
 
 <p>The company's expansion is expected to double the potential market for Yalos. The plan is to expand Yalos to other key crops such as soybeans and canola, with field trials currently underway in North America. Commercial launch is expected in 2025. Winter wheat growers in the US are anticipating access to Yalos for the 2024–2025 season.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Lavie Bio expects the US winter wheat market to be between USD 5 billion and USD 10 billion annually. The US soybean market size is also estimated at approximately USD 56.2 billion in 2024.</p>

All Updates

Tofurky to unveil plant-based hot dogs and updates deli slices at NRA Show

Waypoint Bio raises USD 14.5 million in seed funding to develop CAR T-cell therapies for oncology

Artiva Biotherapeutics to raise USD 100 million in initial public offering

Thirona partners with Blackford to integrate Thirona's LungQ solution on Blackford platform

Honda outlines recycling initiatives and new material usage in 2024 ESG data book

Monarch Tractors partners with Verizon Business to enhance autonomous tractor connectivity

Siemens partners with Boson Energy to convert waste into clean energy for EV charging

AGCO launches upgraded autonomous grain cart retrofit

Plast Nordic, gr3n, and Norner to build PET chemical recycling plant in Nordic region

Rantizo receives FAA approval for agricultural spray drone swarming

Lavie Bio expands bio-inoculant Yalos to winter wheat across US

Plant-based Meat

Tofurky to unveil plant-based hot dogs and updates deli slices at NRA Show

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