Climate change, food security, and the material transition demand urgent action — and entrepreneurs are leading the charge. At Value Factory Ventures, we invest in founders who drive this movement forward. These are four trends we see every day — with examples from our own portfolio.
- 🌿 From Imitation to Clean Label
The plant-based revolution is entering its next phase. While the initial focus was on meat alternatives with long ingredient lists, attention is now shifting toward nutritious, locally produced options with a clean label. Think: short supply chains, minimal processing, and maximum nutritional value.
Cano-ela produces oil, protein, and fiber from European rapeseed — 100% of the seed is used, so there’s zero food waste. The result: sustainable, healthy, and locally sourced ingredients for the next generation of plant-based foods.
- 🧱 Sustainable Construction, Future-Proof Building
The construction sector is responsible for no less than 40% of global emissions (McKinsey). The solution? Transitioning to sustainable building practices is essential — with circular design, biobased materials, and shorter chains at the core.
Dealin.Green connects farmers and builders through a digital platform, accelerating access to flax and hemp.
FC-I develops biobased insulation materials from agricultural residues — circular, reusable, and carbon-storing instead of emitting.
- 🚜 Smarter Agriculture with Data
AI, sensors, and data analysis are making precision farming more accessible than ever. Farmers gain greater control over growth, usage, and yields. According to the FAO (2023), digitalization is crucial for making agriculture more climate-resilient and efficient.
Growficient is the smart assistant for greenhouse growers: a user-friendly platform that helps optimize irrigation — resulting in higher yields and lower consumption of water, fertilizers, and labor.
Corvus Drones automates crop monitoring with drones that autonomously fly through greenhouses and analyze plants. This gives growers continuous and objective insights into growth stages, germination, and quality — no manual measurements required.
- 💨 Transparent CO₂ Markets Are Becoming Essential
The CO₂ credit market is growing rapidly, but without transparency and reliable data, real impact remains out of reach. According to the World Bank (2024), trust in measurements and claims is key to scaling up.
Proba offers a platform that accurately measures and verifies CO₂ reduction, supporting insetting projects — where emissions are reduced within the supply chain itself: real, measurable impact.
💡 Sustainability is not a side issue; it’s the core of successful innovation
