
As demand from UK food businesses for cricket protein increases - Edibl, led by UKEIA’s co-MD, Geoff Knott - is leading the way in trying to meet that need.
After five years of small-scale cricket farming research and development, Edibl managed to raise enough pre-seed funding in April 2024, to build its first commercial cricket farm and hire the core Edibl team. Now they’re looking to scale up in 2025, with a target of £460k in mind by April 2025, and a total of £1m over the next 18 months.
Backed by the Government Enterprise Investment Scheme, the venture capital offer gives tax relief to individual investors who buy shares in the business. With £200k already on the cards, Edibl is edging ever closer to its target ideal.
Geoff commented: ‘There is no hard closing date but superior deal terms will be offered for investment funds received within the current financial year – that is by 5 April 2025 via an Advance Subscription Agreement, and for ticket sizes of £50k or more.’
Alongside fundraising, Edibl also has two exciting PhD opportunities available, the first - based out of Aberwystyth University - closes this week (31 January) so if you’re a researcher who’s into the idea of reducing the carriage of pathogens in the food chain using myxobacterial biological control, then get on and apply now.
The second opportunity, with the University of Reading, is quite possibly even more appetising! Edibl is looking for research applicants to advance sustainable cricket protein, specifically to help combat growing problems with obesity.
The study will involve creating recipes, assessing the sensory properties to improve consumer acceptance, conducting human trials to test impact on satiety, appetite and calorie intake, and analysing digestion response. The deadline to apply is 3 February 2025, so hop to it! For more information contact Geoff or Edibl via LinkedIn.
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