Cover In a bid to tackle climate change, billionaire Jeff Bezos and former CEO of Amazon set up the Bezos Earth Fund and committed $10 billion to advancing solutions for climate change and environmental preservation (Photo: Getty Images)
In a bid to tackle climate change, billionaire Jeff Bezos and former CEO of Amazon set up the Bezos Earth Fund and committed $10 billion to advancing solutions for climate change and environmental preservation (Photo: Getty Images)
1 / 1
Part of the Bezos Earth Fund’s $1 billion commitment to transforming our food systems, the money will go towards building the Bezos Centers for Sustainable Proteins to improve the taste and affordability of alternative protein products
At the recent multi-day event, Aspen Ideas: Climate, Lauren Sánchez, fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and the vice chair of the billionaire’s philanthropic fund, Bezos Earth Fund, announced a $60 million investment to improve the availability and quality of alternative proteins such as plant-based foods.
The alternative protein market has been struggling in recent times, with retail sales in the US declining 12.2 percent year-over-year to $76.7 million in September 2023, according to Circana data crunched by 210 Analytics. With the capital injection from the fund, several Bezos Centers for Sustainable Protein will be set up to address the technological challenges of producing better quality, nutritious, tasty and more affordable alternative proteins, including plant-based and cultivated meats.
The goal is to do this within the next five years, says Andy Jarvis, director of the fund’s Future of Food arm.
Read more: Plant-based sisig? This Filipino food entrepreneur shares why plant-based alternatives are important
Above The Good Food Institute reported that plant-based meat and seafood hit sales of $1.4 billion in the US in 2022 (Photo: Getty Images)
The Good Food Institute reported that plant-based meat and seafood hit sales of $1.4 billion in the US in 2022 (Photo: Getty Images)
1 / 1
“We need to feed 10 billion people with healthy, sustainable food throughout this century while protecting our planet. We can do it, and it will require a ton of innovation,” said Sánchez in a press statement. “Our world is poised for transformation, for a future not constrained by compromise. Solutions to our greatest challenges often come from the quiet persistence of those willing to question, reimagine and innovate.”
The Bezos Earth Fund was established in 2020 and has pledged to distribute $10 billion to tackle climate change and protect nature.
It is well-documented that food production is the second-leading contributor to climate change, driving deforestation and loss of biodiversity. Raising livestock for human consumption contributes around 15 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Of the $10 billion it has pledged, the Bezos Earth Fund has allocated an initial $1 billion to specifically transforming global food systems into more sustainable operations.
Read more about innovations in Asia and beyond here.
NOW READ
Out of step: Why sneakers and sportswear still lag on sustainability
Of SWOT and synergy: How corporate jargon and buzzwords determine social status
Real-life startup lessons from movies ‘Ghostbusters’, ‘Jerry Maguire’, ‘Citizen Kane’ and more
Topics
Work
Based in Singapore, Valerie Lim is the digital editor for Tatler Power and Purpose, Tatler Asia’s dynamic platform spotlighting industry leaders across the region. Valerie leads the charge in shaping the platform’s digital presence, from overseeing and producing website content to curating social media strategies.
With a finger on the pulse of the region, she keeps an eye out for news and trends in business, innovation and leadership, ensuring the brand stays ahead of the curve in delivering stories that inspire and inform its community of changemakers.
About
Prior to this role, she worked in marketing and communications. She considers herself Singaporean at heart and international by passion. You may recognise her from her 15 minutes of fame when she was crowned Miss Universe Singapore 2011. When she is not at her desk, you can find her in the gym or at a yoga studio.
Connect with her via Instagram @msvalerielim, LinkedIn or send press materials, and media invites to valerie.lim@tatlerasia.com
