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How PURIS is Revolutionizing the Plant-Based Food System

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How PURIS is Revolutionizing the Plant-Based Food System


We all know that protein is a critical building block of life. However, the world cannot continue to look to animal protein to maintain growing global demand. Instead, we must look to plant-based food alternatives sooner rather than later.

As the world’s population continues to grow, health — and accessing the nutrients required to maintain that health — remains a critical concern. Likewise, humanity must turn to plants for their primary source of protein. That’s where a company called PURIS enters the picture.

What is PURIS?

PURIS is a plant-based company interested in impacting the entire food system. As a result, this brand’s mission is to create plant-based food alternatives that are high in protein.

Protein is a basic building block of long-term health. Similarly, Harvard Health Publishing describes it as “essential to good health.” The publication adds that the word comes from the Greek word protos which means “first.” This naturally underscores the prioritization of the vital nutrient as a way to remain healthy over time.

MedlinePlus points out that protein isn’t just good for normal health concerns, either. Likewise, it’s a critical part of growth and development for children, teens, and pregnant women.

Protein is an undeniable part of a healthy lifestyle. However, the problem comes from sourcing healthy protein on a regular basis.

Most of the world depends on animal-based protein — which is not the only source of protein.

Of course, you don’t have to be a vegetarian to understand one simple thing. The burgeoning human population can’t be sustained purely on animal-based protein as demand continues to rise.

PURIS is pursuing plant-based protein alternatives that are more sustainable and scalable. Both of these standards are critical needs for the world’s population moving forward.

Additionally, PURIS has gone about accomplishing this mission by spending the last three decades creating an end-to-end food system. That system includes every link in the chain of food production. This innovation has led to a safe and secure source of food.

PURIS relies entirely on crops from the USA. As a result, this reduces food miles and removes the unnecessary (and costly) complexity of moving food around the globe.

The Background Story

PURIS isn’t a recent startup or “late and great” idea.

The company launched back in 1985. This has given its team decades to understand the complexities of the agricultural industry. They’ve become intimately aware of the countless steps and stages that go on behind the scenes in the ever-changing food system.

In our world, pro-GMO science has dominated the agricultural scene. World Food Processing (later known as PURIS) founder Jerry Lorenzen fought against the grain. He created non-GMO seeds that were still able to grow high-yield crops. They were disease-resistant and even improved the land they inhabited.

Lorenzen started with his non-GMO seeds. However, their creator wanted to do more than simply jumpstart the healthy protein process. Lorenzen envisioned an end-to-end food system optimized for health and sustainability.

Along the way, the innovator had discovered that yellow field peas were a particularly beneficial rotational crop. His team obtained genetic patents and developed a network of farmers that spanned throughout the U.S. to help grow his non-GMO crops.

Eventually, Lorenzen’s company purchased a soy protein isolate facility. This made it possible to have complete control of the process from start to finish.

All of this took decades, and when the time came for the original visionary to step aside, Lorenzen’s son, Tyler, took over. At that time, the company shifted to its current PURIS moniker, which is named after its original founder’s desire for a protein sourced from pure, organic ingredients.

What Does PURIS Do?

PURIS has continued to be a guiding light for the development of non-GMO, plant-based proteins around the world.

The growing brand continues to develop North American Peas and similar crops. They are all grown organically. Independent growers continue to harvest these and send them to PURIS facilities in the Midwest where they are transformed into wholesome ingredients.

This allows PURIS to remain fully aware of how its proteins are made, what they’re made of, and how they’re cared for throughout their journey through the food system.

The brand’s signature line is PURIS Pea, made up of various non-GMO ingredients including pea proteins, starches, and fibers. PURIS also continues to sell non-GMO, high-quality soybeans into global markets. They breed seeds for corn, lentils, and pulses. Food suppliers can tap these plant-based ingredients in the future.

This enables PURIS to create everything from energy bars to meat substitutes. If it’s a source of protein that humans like to ingest, PURIS is working to replace it with a highly-nutritious, protein-packed, plant-based alternative.

The enterprise projects that its protein alternative will be able to sustainably nourish upwards of 10 billion individuals by the year 2050.

PURIS’s Recent Upcycling Success

While PURIS is an older company, its venerable history has only fueled its current ambition. The company continues to receive accolades for its accomplishments, particularly in the area of innovation.

For example, PURIS was already named the most innovative food company of 2021 by Fast Company Magazine, reflecting its continued commitment to evolving with the needs of the global food system.

Most recently, PURIS’s closed-loop production system has earned it the Upcycled Certified certification from the Upcycled Food Association (UFA). The certification is for its Non-GMO and organic Native Pea Starches. This makes PURIS one of the first pea starches on the market to receive the prestigious Upcycled Certified label.

PURIS’s mission is to create an abundance of food. They seek to make food supplies plant-based, safe, and sustainable. It’s an objective that hasn’t wavered over the past three decades. The company has gone from a germ of an idea to a full-scale, closed-looped, end-to-end creator of non-GMO, plant-based protein.

PURIS’s ingredients are rapidly becoming the foundation of the nutritional needs of Americans as the food system continues to come under strain. There are more mouths to feed with each passing day, and basic nutrients like protein need to remain available. Rather than fighting for a piece of the limited “animal-protein pie,” PURIS is enabling consumers to live a healthy and happy life today through a sustainable, plant-based solution.

At the same time, the forward-thinking protein producer has developed a scalable system that will continue to cater to the needs of a growing planet far into the future.

Image Credit: Maria Orlova; Pexels.com.

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Fintech Kennek raises $12.5M seed round to digitize lending

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Google eyed for $2 billion Anthropic deal after major Amazon play


London-based fintech startup Kennek has raised $12.5 million in seed funding to expand its lending operating system.

According to an Oct. 10 tech.eu report, the round was led by HV Capital and included participation from Dutch Founders Fund, AlbionVC, FFVC, Plug & Play Ventures, and Syndicate One. Kennek offers software-as-a-service tools to help non-bank lenders streamline their operations using open banking, open finance, and payments.

The platform aims to automate time-consuming manual tasks and consolidate fragmented data to simplify lending. Xavier De Pauw, founder of Kennek said:

“Until kennek, lenders had to devote countless hours to menial operational tasks and deal with jumbled and hard-coded data – which makes every other part of lending a headache. As former lenders ourselves, we lived and breathed these frustrations, and built kennek to make them a thing of the past.”

The company said the latest funding round was oversubscribed and closed quickly despite the challenging fundraising environment. The new capital will be used to expand Kennek’s engineering team and strengthen its market position in the UK while exploring expansion into other European markets. Barbod Namini, Partner at lead investor HV Capital, commented on the investment:

“Kennek has developed an ambitious and genuinely unique proposition which we think can be the foundation of the entire alternative lending space. […] It is a complicated market and a solution that brings together all information and stakeholders onto a single platform is highly compelling for both lenders & the ecosystem as a whole.”

The fintech lending space has grown rapidly in recent years, but many lenders still rely on legacy systems and manual processes that limit efficiency and scalability. Kennek aims to leverage open banking and data integration to provide lenders with a more streamlined, automated lending experience.

The seed funding will allow the London-based startup to continue developing its platform and expanding its team to meet demand from non-bank lenders looking to digitize operations. Kennek’s focus on the UK and Europe also comes amid rising adoption of open banking and open finance in the regions.

Featured Image Credit: Photo from Kennek.io; Thank you!

Radek Zielinski

Radek Zielinski is an experienced technology and financial journalist with a passion for cybersecurity and futurology.

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Politics

Fortune 500’s race for generative AI breakthroughs

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Deanna Ritchie


As excitement around generative AI grows, Fortune 500 companies, including Goldman Sachs, are carefully examining the possible applications of this technology. A recent survey of U.S. executives indicated that 60% believe generative AI will substantially impact their businesses in the long term. However, they anticipate a one to two-year timeframe before implementing their initial solutions. This optimism stems from the potential of generative AI to revolutionize various aspects of businesses, from enhancing customer experiences to optimizing internal processes. In the short term, companies will likely focus on pilot projects and experimentation, gradually integrating generative AI into their operations as they witness its positive influence on efficiency and profitability.

Goldman Sachs’ Cautious Approach to Implementing Generative AI

In a recent interview, Goldman Sachs CIO Marco Argenti revealed that the firm has not yet implemented any generative AI use cases. Instead, the company focuses on experimentation and setting high standards before adopting the technology. Argenti recognized the desire for outcomes in areas like developer and operational efficiency but emphasized ensuring precision before putting experimental AI use cases into production.

According to Argenti, striking the right balance between driving innovation and maintaining accuracy is crucial for successfully integrating generative AI within the firm. Goldman Sachs intends to continue exploring this emerging technology’s potential benefits and applications while diligently assessing risks to ensure it meets the company’s stringent quality standards.

One possible application for Goldman Sachs is in software development, where the company has observed a 20-40% productivity increase during its trials. The goal is for 1,000 developers to utilize generative AI tools by year’s end. However, Argenti emphasized that a well-defined expectation of return on investment is necessary before fully integrating generative AI into production.

To achieve this, the company plans to implement a systematic and strategic approach to adopting generative AI, ensuring that it complements and enhances the skills of its developers. Additionally, Goldman Sachs intends to evaluate the long-term impact of generative AI on their software development processes and the overall quality of the applications being developed.

Goldman Sachs’ approach to AI implementation goes beyond merely executing models. The firm has created a platform encompassing technical, legal, and compliance assessments to filter out improper content and keep track of all interactions. This comprehensive system ensures seamless integration of artificial intelligence in operations while adhering to regulatory standards and maintaining client confidentiality. Moreover, the platform continuously improves and adapts its algorithms, allowing Goldman Sachs to stay at the forefront of technology and offer its clients the most efficient and secure services.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Google DeepMind; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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Politics

UK seizes web3 opportunity simplifying crypto regulations

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Deanna Ritchie


As Web3 companies increasingly consider leaving the United States due to regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom must simplify its cryptocurrency regulations to attract these businesses. The conservative think tank Policy Exchange recently released a report detailing ten suggestions for improving Web3 regulation in the country. Among the recommendations are reducing liability for token holders in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and encouraging the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to adopt alternative Know Your Customer (KYC) methodologies, such as digital identities and blockchain analytics tools. These suggestions aim to position the UK as a hub for Web3 innovation and attract blockchain-based businesses looking for a more conducive regulatory environment.

Streamlining Cryptocurrency Regulations for Innovation

To make it easier for emerging Web3 companies to navigate existing legal frameworks and contribute to the UK’s digital economy growth, the government must streamline cryptocurrency regulations and adopt forward-looking approaches. By making the regulatory landscape clear and straightforward, the UK can create an environment that fosters innovation, growth, and competitiveness in the global fintech industry.

The Policy Exchange report also recommends not weakening self-hosted wallets or treating proof-of-stake (PoS) services as financial services. This approach aims to protect the fundamental principles of decentralization and user autonomy while strongly emphasizing security and regulatory compliance. By doing so, the UK can nurture an environment that encourages innovation and the continued growth of blockchain technology.

Despite recent strict measures by UK authorities, such as His Majesty’s Treasury and the FCA, toward the digital assets sector, the proposed changes in the Policy Exchange report strive to make the UK a more attractive location for Web3 enterprises. By adopting these suggestions, the UK can demonstrate its commitment to fostering innovation in the rapidly evolving blockchain and cryptocurrency industries while ensuring a robust and transparent regulatory environment.

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding cryptocurrency regulations in various countries has prompted Web3 companies to explore alternative jurisdictions with more precise legal frameworks. As the United States grapples with regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom can position itself as a hub for Web3 innovation by simplifying and streamlining its cryptocurrency regulations.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Jonathan Borba; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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