IIFH Partner Update – Partnerships, Capital & the Future of Metabolic Health

March 18, 2026

This year has started off with a lot of momentum and we are excited to share what we have been up to so far from new partners and an angel investor network, to the 2026 IIFH Partner Summit, and leading GLP-1 discussion. We are grateful for your partnership and engagement in continuing to shape the future of food and health.

📌 At-a-Glance: Executive Summary

Two New Strategic Collaborations: Partnerships with ofi and ScottsMiracle-Gro will focus on decoding the molecular health potential of global food portfolios and soil ecosystems.
Food & Health Angel Network: We are excited for the launch of a new angel network directly connecting early-stage founders to the capital and connections required to scale.
2026 IIFH Partner Summit: An intimate gathering of partners to examine emerging signals shaping the future of food and health systems.
Derisking the Future of Food and Health: IIFH leads mainstage discussions on the GLP-1 revolution and faculty leadership join industry giants, like AG1, to advise on the future of science-based innovation.

🔹 Major Announcements

Now Hiring: IIFH is seeking a Foundation Partnerships Manager to lead high-impact partner engagement, develop science-driven funding proposals, and steward strategic relationships advancing innovation in food and health. Apply here
Two New IIFH Partnerships — ofi & ScottsMiracle-Gro
- ofi x IIFH Partnership: Uncovering the health potential of global ingredients that support metabolic health—helping guide future food innovation and investment in science-backed products.
- ScottsMiracle-Gro x IIFH Partnership: Exploring how soil health influences the nutritional quality of garden-grown produce, informing future innovation in sustainable gardening and nutrition-forward growing practices.
- Read More
Food & Health Angels Network — We are excited for the launch of Food & Health Angels (FH Angels) with the mission of creating a healthier society by investing in much-needed innovations at the interface of food and health. The FH Angels charter membership of 25 investors is composed of a selective group of investors, veteran entrepreneurs, leaders from top food companies, and world-class scientists. This team has a track record of scaling high-growth ventures in biotechnology, food innovation, and consumer goods and will be investing together in early-stage companies that apply science, data, and technology to improve metabolic health, performance, and healthy longevity.

How to Engage:

- For Investors: We welcome new members who bring specific domain expertise and a commitment to active engagement and investment. You can learn more and apply for membership here: fhangels.org/#member.
- For Start-ups: We provide catalytic capital, expertise, and connections that accelerate innovation. If you are seeking to raise money for your early-stage company focused on food and health, you can learn more and apply for funding here: fhangels.org/#funding
- For general inquiries, or to learn more, visit fhangels.org or contact Kim Fisher ([email protected])

Google.org Selects PTFI among 12 AI for Science Awardees to tackle complex global challenges and revolutionize global food systems.
PTFI kicked off a workshop at UC Davis on February 9 for the “Swap It Smart” project, supported by the Bezos Earth Fund, launching a new initiative to accelerate healthier, more sustainable food innovation.

🎤 IIFH Events

IIFH Partner Summit | May 12–14, 2026 | Pacific Grove, California
- This invitation-only, retreat-style Summit convenes corporate leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and researchers shaping the future of food and health. Together, we’ll explore the macro forces transforming the industry—from policy shifts and AI-driven discovery to GLP-1 therapies—examining their implications for product development, investment, and long-term growth while engaging in focused discussions on what comes next and how to plan for success. Event Agenda

California-Denmark Innovator Colloquium | June 15 & 16 | Copenhagen
- The California-Denmark Innovator Fellowship brings together leaders from Denmark and California for two days of panels, talks, and networking focused on cutting-edge innovation advancing human and planetary health. Learn More
Women’s Health Innovation Summit | November 17 & 18 | Aggie Square, Sacramento, California
- In partnership with Wexford, IIFH is proud to support this two-day summit bringing together leaders across sectors to explore how food innovation and nutrition science can better advance women’s metabolic health.

🎤Ecosystem Events & Engagement

Big Bang! Business Competition | March 03, April 6 and May 11 2026 | UC Davis Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- The Big Bang! Business Competition at UC Davis is a flagship annual event that empowers student, IIFH fellows and alumni entrepreneurs to turn innovative ideas into successful ventures. Learn more
Natural Products Expo West, UC Davis Education Series | March 4, 2026 | Marriott, Orange County, LA
- The UC Davis Education Series at Natural Products Expo West 2026 will feature leading experts discussing advances in food fermentation, probiotics, prebiotics, and food as medicine, highlighting how microbes and bioactive components influence gut, brain, and metabolic health and shape the future of functional foods and personalized nutrition. Learn more
MISTA Symposium on Healthspan | March 18, 2026 | San Francisco
- MISTA will host an invite-only symposium in San Francisco focused on nutrient-dense foods, healthy aging, and the evolving role of food across the lifespan. IIFH Director of Programs Kim Fisher will be moderating the “Beyond weight loss, GLP1 as a longevity tool” panel. Learn more
Future Food-Tech San Francisco 2026 | March 19-20, 2026 | San Francisco
- IIFH Director of Programs Kim Fisher will speak on the main stage at Future Food-Tech San Francisco, joining industry leaders to discuss how GLP-1 therapies are reshaping food innovation and consumer behavior. Learn more
UC Davis Career Fair | April 15, 2026 | University Credit Union Center, UC Davis
- A valuable opportunity to engage emerging talent and build recruiting pipelines at UC Davis. Learn more
UC Davis Research Expo | April 29, 2026 | UC Davis Conference Center
- The UC Davis Research Expo is an annual event that celebrates the breadth and impact of research across the biological sciences. Read more

🌱 Startup Highlight

One.bio — Following the launch of its invisible, clean-label fiber ingredient delivering targeted health benefits without impacting taste or texture, One.bio is supporting the growing “fibermaxxing” trend and now bringing innovation directly to consumers through its new Goodvice product line. Learn more
PIPA – PIPA is contributing its AI expertise to the Swap it Smart project—a collaborative effort with the Periodic Table of Food Initiative (PTFI) and other partners to develop an AI-powered tool for sustainable, nutritious food design. Learn more
NuCicer – NuCicer has been selected to participate in MBOLD’s 2026 Bold Growth protein innovation cohort, bringing its advanced genomic-bred chickpea varieties to the mentorship and scaling program. Learn more
amplifye – amplifyeP24 has been awarded a U.S. patent for its patented digestive enzyme that supports blood sugar regulation by helping manage blood glucose levels and potentially lowering the glycemic impact of foods. Learn more

🌍 Partner Spotlight

AG1 Science and Innovation Advisors — AG1 has expanded its independent Science and Innovation Advisors to strengthen scientific rigor, transparency, and third-party validation across its nutrition and product innovation efforts. New advisors include IIFH Faculty Director Dr. Justin Siegel, an expert in novel bioactive discovery and functional foods, and IIFH-affiliated faculty member Dr. Keith Baar, a leader in exercise physiology, muscle health, and healthy aging. Their appointments reflect AG1 and IIFH’s continued commitment to independent science, academic partnerships, and research-backed nutrition. Read more

🧬 Faculty Collaboration Spotlight: Dr. Bethany Cummings

GLP-1, Up Close: A Pancreatic Perspective on Metabolic Health

Dr. Bethany Cummings, Professor of Physiology & Membrane Biology at UC Davis, is advancing our understanding of pancreatic islet biology and how GLP-1, glucagon, and dietary nutrients shape metabolic health. From uncovering alpha cell plasticity to exploring sex differences in hormone signaling, her work is helping inform next-generation metabolic therapies and more precise, nutrition-informed strategies for improving human health. Read the full story

🎓 IIFH Fellow Updates

IIFH Inaugural “Translator’s Circle” hits the ground running — IIFH has launched its inaugural Translator’s Circle, a pilot cohort bringing together PhDs, postdocs, faculty, founders, and investors to translate cutting-edge science into real-world impact while gaining hands-on experience evaluating early-stage food and health ventures. Learn more
Class: Innovation for Impact Food Systems — IIFH is sponsoring the inaugural “Hacking4Food” course, where interdisciplinary student teams tackle real-world food system problem statements—spanning agriculture, sustainability, and metabolic health—by working directly with IIFH partners, alumni and startups to validate needs, engage stakeholders, and develop practical, impact-driven solutions. Learn more
California–Denmark Innovator Fellowship — The California–Denmark Innovator NNF Fellowship has officially launched, initiating a six-month, fully immersive exchange between UC Davis and Danish PhD and postdoctoral researchers to advance use-inspired research, strengthen innovation ecosystems, and accelerate commercialization alongside global partners including the Novo Nordisk Foundation, BioInnovation Institute, and UC Investments. Read more