Unicorns Podcast: How N&E Innovations is tackling global food waste

The Unicorns Podcast connects you to some of the best and brightest founders, CEOs, executives, business owners, innovators, entrepreneurs and inspiring leaders who make things happen and inspire others.

Host Justin Kelly, former broadcast journalist and PR veteran, chats with leaders from across Australia and internationally about business strategy, what it takes to build a successful company, how to overcome challenges, and advice for those on a similar journey.

Every year, more than a billion tonnes of food is thrown away around the world.

Fresh fruit and vegetables spoil before they reach supermarket shelves, food goes off in our fridges and enormous amounts of perfectly good produce are lost during storage and transport.

Singapore-based deep-tech company N&E Innovations believes it has developed a solution, using discarded cashew nut husks to create a natural antimicrobial ingredient that can extend the shelf life of fresh food by up to four times.

Its patented ViKANG99 technology extracts naturally occurring compounds from agricultural waste to fight bacteria and mould, with applications ranging from antibacterial food packaging and cling wrap to post-harvest produce treatments and plant-based cleaning products.

The company has already attracted customers including Singapore Airlines and supermarket operators, and recently raised $2.4 million in a Series A funding round led by Australian venture capital firm Tundra Capital, alongside Singapore Government-backed deep-tech investor SGInnovate and other international investors.

The investment will support N&E’s international expansion, including opportunities in Australia, as the company looks to scale its technology through partnerships with food producers, packaging manufacturers and other businesses.

In this episode of The Unicorns Podcast, Justin speaks with N&E Innovations co-founder and CEO, biomedical scientist Didi Gan, about the science behind ViKANG99, the journey from laboratory discovery to commercialisation and the potential to transform how the global food industry protects fresh produce.

They also discuss the company’s Australian ambitions, its licensing model and why turning agricultural waste into valuable food protection technology could represent a significant global business opportunity.

This podcast was developed in collaboration with N&E Innovations.

The interviews and discussions in this podcast are opinions only and not financial or investment advice. Listeners should obtain independent advice based on their own circumstances before making any financial decisions.

The post Unicorns Podcast: How N&E Innovations is tackling global food waste appeared first on Stockhead.