What's the Buzz About Plant-Based Honey? (with Darko Mandich @ MeliBio)

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Disclaimer: For full disclosure, MeliBio is a portfolio company at Climate Capital, where Michael works as a General Partner.

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In the latest episode of Climate Capital Podcast, Michael interviews Darko Mandich, CEO and Co-Founder of MeliBio.

Melibio is pioneering food tech company that's transforming the honey industry by producing honey without the use of bees, a venture inspired by Darko's decade-long experience in the traditional honey industry across Serbia, Spain, and Norway.

Honeybees, responsible for pollinating approximately one-third of the food that we consume daily, are facing a global crisis. In the US alone, beekeepers lost 43.7% of their honeybee colonies from April 2019 to April 2020, according to a Penn State study. This alarming decline in honeybee populations, largely attributed to factors like habitat loss, disease, pesticides, and climate change, poses a significant threat to global food security and biodiversity.

In response to this crisis, Melibio is offering an innovative solution: plant-based honey. This product not only replicates the taste and texture of bee-made honey but also relieves the stress on bees, allowing them to fulfill their crucial role in our ecosystems without the added pressure of commercial honey production.

Despite the challenges of scaling up their production and effectively engaging potential customers, Melibio has made notable strides. They even secured their first customer, a three-Michelin-star restaurant, without showcasing any prototypes.

Visit Melibio.com to learn more!

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