Mars and the Unreasonable Group have welcomed fourteen new ventures into their Unreasonable Food initiative, aiming to foster innovation in the food industry. Announced on September 11, 2025, this collaboration seeks to address significant challenges within the food system while promoting sustainability and economic resilience.
Unreasonable Food, established in 2024, focuses on supporting entrepreneurs who tackle pressing issues in the food chain. The initiative emphasizes the importance of collaboration, as noted by Amanda Davies, Chief R&D, Procurement and Sustainability Officer for Mars Snacking. She stated, “Addressing the challenges in our food system is a task bigger than any one organization. That’s why it’s so important to build a collaborative ecosystem.”
The newly selected ventures are designed to push the boundaries of sustainability in food production, with a particular focus on reducing emissions from dairy cattle and scaling sustainable ingredients. This year’s cohort includes innovative companies such as:
– **Alpine Bio**: Engineering soybeans to produce dairy proteins, mimicking traditional dairy textures without cows.
– **Standing Ovation**: Utilizing precision fermentation to create animal-free casein, offering authentic textures for cheese and similar products.
– **Oobli**: Extracting sweet proteins from plants to deliver a sugar-like taste without using actual sugar.
– **Debut Biotechnology**: Developing natural color alternatives through fermentation to replace less sustainable sources.
– **Octarine Bio**: Creating a range of sustainable natural colors for food and textiles.
These ventures represent the next frontier of sustainability advancements, building on the groundwork laid by the inaugural cohort in 2024. That group reported impressive outcomes, including nearly $200 million in additional revenue, avoidance of 140,000 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions, and the conservation of 310 million liters of water.
The 2025 cohort is expected to continue this momentum, focusing on transforming food supply chains and shaping the future of nutrition. Daniel Epstein, CEO of Unreasonable Group, expressed enthusiasm for the new entrepreneurs, stating, “Their work reflects our shared ambition to evolve the food system in ways that are sustainable and inclusive.”
Both the 2024 and 2025 cohorts will engage with Mars teams, mentors from Unreasonable Food, and a global network of investors to enhance their impact. This collaborative approach aims to accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable and nutritious food system, benefiting communities worldwide.
Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned business with approximately $55 billion in revenue, is committed to sustainability through its diverse portfolio of food and pet care products. The company’s mission aligns with the Unreasonable Group’s vision of leveraging entrepreneurship for positive global change.
For more information about Unreasonable Food and the latest cohort, visit Unreasonable Food’s official website.
