Mars Snacking and Unreasonable Group Welcome New Companies to Unreasonable Food Initiative

Introduction

On September 11, 2025, the collaboration between Mars Snacking and the Unreasonable Group marked a significant milestone with the addition of fourteen new companies to the Unreasonable Food initiative. This program, which aims to build a more sustainable food system, exemplifies a commitment to transforming the challenges within our food chain into unprecedented opportunities.

The Vision Behind Unreasonable Food

Unreasonable Food was conceived in 2024 as part of a bold partnership aimed at supporting entrepreneurs who are focused on enhancing the resilience of our food systems. Amanda Davies, the Director of R&D, Procurement, and Sustainability at Mars Snacking, emphasized the need for collaboration, stating, "Addressing challenges in our food system transcends any single organization. Therefore, it is essential to create a collaborative ecosystem that connects the brilliant minds behind pioneering projects with industry leaders to discover new possibilities and accelerate the transformation towards a more resilient future."

2025 Cohort Overview

The newly welcomed cohort features companies that not only embody a strong commitment to sustainability but also represent the forefront of advancements in this field. Following the groundwork laid by the 2024 cohort, the 2025 companies will strategically focus on reducing emissions tied to dairy cattle and expanding the use of sustainable ingredients, while also exploring sustainable colorant solutions. Here’s a look at the innovative players joining the Unreasonable Food family this year:

1. Alpine Bio: Engineering crops like soybeans to produce dairy-like proteins, allowing for the texture and creaminess without the need for cows.
2. Standing Ovation: Producing casein without animal ingredients using precision fermentation, aiming to replicate authentic dairy textures for cheese and more.
3. Oobli: Harnessing sweet plant proteins to create sugar-like flavors without using sugar, scalable through fermentation.
4. Debut Biotechnology: Fermenting high-value ingredients, including alternative natural colorants to replace unsustainable or synthetic sources.
5. Octarine Bio: Producing a vibrant palette of natural colors through fermentation, providing reliable and sustainable options for food and textiles.
6. DE3PBIO: Utilizing AI and biotechnology to discover functional plant-based ingredients that enhance food cleanliness, healthiness, and nutritional value.
7. NuCicer: Developing new varieties of chickpeas that offer up to 75% more protein while enhancing flavor, texture, and climate resilience.
8. Plantible Foods: Extracting Rubi protein from lemna (water lentils), a highly sustainable plant that can replace eggs, dairy, and additives.
9. Hydrosome Labs: Utilizing ultra-fine bubbles to improve fermentation yield and nutrient delivery, enhancing the efficiency of biofabrication.
10. Pow.bio: Pioneering continuous fermentation technology that reduces costs and boosts the production capacity of biological resources.

Achievements of Past Cohorts

The inaugural cohort from 2024 has showcased remarkable achievements as part of the Unreasonable Food program, demonstrating what is possible when high-growth companies are backed by a connected ecosystem of shared sustainability ambitions. Since joining the initiative, the cohort has reported almost $200 million in additional revenue, avoided emitting 140,000 tons of CO2e, conserved 310 million liters of water, and sold 1.14 million kilograms of food. They reached an additional 24 million people with safe and nutritious food and educated 2 million more individuals on climate change adaptation and mitigation, creating job opportunities and improving working conditions in their communities.

Collaborative Goals Moving Forward

Daniel Epstein, CEO of Unreasonable Group, expressed pride in welcoming these entrepreneurs to the Unreasonable Food family. He stated, "Their work reflects our shared ambition to evolve the food system sustainably and inclusively. Together with Mars, we are poised to provide mentorship, convene stakeholders, and create opportunities that can accelerate their trajectories."

The companies from 2024 and 2025 will collaborate with Mars teams across the organization, Unreasonable Food mentors, and a global network of investors to advance their cultural transformation efforts. Their primary focus will be to redefine food supply chains and shape the future of food.

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars, Incorporated operates under the belief that the world we desire tomorrow starts with how we conduct business today. As a family-owned enterprise valued at approximately $55 billion, the company is committed to producing beloved products while ensuring a positive impact on the lives of pets and people alike. Their renowned brands include ROYAL CANIN®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, and BEN’S ORIGINAL™.

About Unreasonable Group

Based in Colorado, Unreasonable is an international company that supports growth-stage entrepreneurs, channels exclusive business flows with investors, and collaborates with leading global brands to ensure a fairer future. With involvement in over 180 countries, Unreasonable has collectively generated $20 billion in revenue and positively impacted over a billion lives.

For more information about Unreasonable Food and the second-year cohort, visit Unreasonable Food's official website.