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INVESTING IN FOOD TRANSFORMATION

Our global food systems are broken.

They are suffering the escalating impacts of climate change, water stress, soil depletion and deforestation. At the same time, the way we produce our food is exacerbating these very issues.

The global food industry has become locked in a self-perpetuating cycle of resource loss and resource destruction.

On top of this, the global population is growing at the fastest rate in history, meaning almost 10 billion people will need feeding by 20501. This will require 56% more food than we have today.

Current food production methods produce 1/3 of global greenhouse gas emissions and will push Earth beyond the Paris Climate Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, even if we halted all other emissions2.

How do we generate more food while using fewer resources & lowering emissions towards net-zero?

1 United Nations, 2 University of Oxford, November 2020

The strategy

Mirabaud Regenerative Growth I invests in companies that are creating solutions to our broken food system.

These companies are breaking the mould to redesign how agricultural land is preserved, food is produced, and to reinvent what we eat. The more sustainable, regenerative food systems these companies are creating provide a cornerstone for achieving net-zero by 2050.

The strategy taps into a wave of cross-sector, nature-positive tech innovations to deliver a target return of 25% IRR over a 5-6 year investment horizon. Capital is deployed across 20-25 companies with:

1. A core focus on growth-stage ventures with proven technology, post-revenues and commercial traction.

2. An opportunistic approach to game-changer, early-stage ventures offering transformational solutions.

3. Predominantly Europe (60-80%) and US (10-20%) exposure, complemented by selected emerging hubs.

Investment highlights
DEAL SOURCING100+ identified deals from diversified proprietary sources
(network, CVCs, top-tier VC funds, FOs, incubators).
GROWTH FOCUS>.70% of portfolio invested in companies with proven technological, post-revenue and commercial traction. 
DE-RISKING APPROACHMultiple opportunities via growth equity and optimised corporate connections. 
INTRA-PORTFOLIO SYNERGIESCreating synergies between companies across investment sectors, bridge technologies and the markets where they are most needed.
DEVELOPMENTGuidance and monitoring to management teams, backed by our successful entrepreneurship DNA.
SFDR ARTICLE 9The strategy has sustainable investment as its core objective.

The strategy focuses on three key regenerative food system sub-sectors:

Precision Farming

Precision farming utilises AI, robotics, big data and the internet of things (agriculture 4.0), to improve resource efficiency, productivity and carbon sequestration while reducing pesticide use.

Alternative Nutrition

Alternative nutrition is the development of new food sources that are as attractive as today’s mainstream animal proteins. The focus is on plant, insect and algae-based meat and dairy substitutes, alongside precision fermentation techniques, such as cell-agriculture.

Waste & Circularity

There are plenty of opportunities throughout the product lifecycle to ensure that food does not go to waste and for packaging to be sustainable. Food waste reduction can range from more intelligent logistics, warehousing and supply chains to more nuanced demand understanding and more resistant foodstuffs. There are also opportunities to upcycle food waste.

Explore the portfolio

Precision Farming

Pachama

Pachama is evolving the carbon credits marketplace to standardise verification and efficiently connect supply and demand. It trains machine-learning models using satellite imagery, radar and field plots to estimate the carbon stored in forests today and into the future.  

Precision Farming

CleanGreens

CleanGreens develops an aeroponic system designed for greenhouses, for different species of leafy greens and herbs. An automated robot directly sprays a nutrient-mix solution on roots.

 

Precision Farming

Micropep

Micropep has developed a solution based on micropeptides to modulate existing plant gene expression through RNA. The startup currently focuses on herbicides and fungicides’ active ingredients.

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Precision Farming

AgroSpheres

AgroSpheres develops an encapsulation technology for agricultural biologicals and active ingredients leveraging another mode of action, such as proteins and RNAi. It has the potential to reduce pesticide use and avoid the damage to biodiversity.

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Alternative Nutrition

BettaF!sh

BettaF!sh makes seaweed-based fish alternatives, allowing consumers to save the ocean while enjoying their favourite foods. With BettaF!sh, coastal communities can continue their livelihoods with regenerative and sustainable seaweed cultivation instead of fishing.

Waste & Circularity

KOA

Koa's upcycling process reduces the on-farm waste associated with cocoa fruit production, generates additional income for farmers and brings new ingredients to the food and beverage industry.