Vlaganje v prehrambeno tehnologijo

MAJ 2024

Živilska industrija je pod pritiskom, da proizvaja več hrane na trajnosten in okolju prijazen način, saj naj bi svetovno prebivalstvo do leta 2050 doseglo 9,7 milijarde ljudi. Podnebne spremembe dodatno povečujejo nujnost uvajanja proaktivnih strategij za zagotavljanje prehranske in vodne varnosti. Ker podnebne motnje ogrožajo tradicionalne kmetijske prakse, postajajo inovacije ključne za prilagajanje tem spremembam, tehnologija pa ima potencial preoblikovati živilsko industrijo.

Pri Siemens Financial Services (SFS) smo zavezani podpori razvoja inovativnih prehranskih tehnologij ter izboljšanju kmetijske infrastrukture z financiranjem projektov in podjetij, ki se osredotočajo na bolj trajnostne prakse.

With arable land quickly depleting due to erosion and pollution, alternative ways to produce healthy food without needing acres of quality topsoil are needed. Vertical farming can help contribute to this solution by farming upward rather than outward. Anchored by SFS’s initial investment, Siemens and 80 Acres have partnered to apply technology within the agriculture industry, fostering sustainable, healthy, traceable, and more productive farming practices.

In addition, SFS recently teamed up with Urban Crop Solutions, which supplies end-to-end growth solutions in the fast-emerging global market of indoor vertical farming launching a program where, under certain conditions, its customers can benefit from financing options offered by SFS.

Creative changes can make a big impact. SFS recently provided financing for Restaurant Technologies (RT), a leading provider of bulk cooking oil management services to the food industry. SFS provided financing, which supports RT's core operations, including collecting used cooking oil from customer locations and storing it in depots to then convert and sell it as biofuel feedstock. The loan helps RT achieve their goal of becoming a more sustainable company, promote sustainability in the industry while also providing benefits to food service businesses, such as reducing costs.

Additionally, SFS announced its investment in FertigHy, a company aiming to produce affordable and low-carbon fertilizers for European farmers using green hydrogen. Fertilizers are a linchpin of modern agriculture, and their eco-friendly evolution is paramount in sustaining our environment. Our investment in this project supports the transition towards more sustainable practices in the food industry throughout Europe. Fertilizers are critical in the food industry, and eco-friendly fertilizers are being developed to support sustainable farming practices.

As the demand for sustainable food sources continues to rise, alternative proteins are gaining popularity as a viable solution to meet the needs of the growing population. The production of alternative proteins, including plant-based meat and cell-based meat, requires significantly less land, water, and energy compared to traditional livestock farming. According to a recent report, the plant-based protein market is expected to reach $162 billion by 2030, while the cell-based meat market could reach $25 billion by 2030. These innovations require fewer resources than traditional livestock farming, aligning with the imperative for sustainable food production.

Examples, including companies like Del Monte Foods who identifies itself as “The Original Plant-Based Food Company,” are essential in meeting the needs of a growing population. SFS has been providing corporate lending solutions to Del Monte Foods for over 15 years, enabling the company to overcome periods of uncertainty and strategic transformation to achieve their goals. With help from financing from SFS, Del Monte Foods has been able to achieve growth objectives and has even won awards for product innovation.