Ohalo Takes Over Agriculture

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Excited to have you join us: We’re Chris & Nolan (@chrisnolansf), and welcome to SF Whisper - a newsletter covering the most interesting business and local news of San Francisco.

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Dave Friedberg’s Ohalo Shakes Up the Agriculture Industry

Breeding breakthrough:

After 5 years in stealth, Dave Friedberg, the All-in podcast host, has recently unveiled his new startup Ohalo and is shaking up the agricultural world.

• Ohalo introduces a "boosted breeding" technology that allows for the creation of 'polyploid' plants that possess multiple sets of chromosomes, leading to significantly higher yields in crops. This is a game-changer, Ohalo says, promising to transform crop breeding by allowing for the full genome from each parent plant to be passed on to their seeds, ensuring uniformity, and eliminating the unpredictability of current methods.

Starting with spuds:

Ohalo has now 2 patents under its belt, 1 for potatoes and 1 for corn. The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has concluded that Ohalo's modified potatoes can be cultivated and sold in the U.S. without the stringent oversight typically applied to genetically modified foods. This approval suggests that the modifications pose no greater plant pest risk than traditional cultivation methods, clearing the path for Ohalo to advance these potatoes to market.

Decade after his last sale:

Ohalo is Friedberg’s second AgTech start-up. His first one, The Climate Corporation, was sold to Monsanto for $1.1 billion 10 years ago.

Go deeper: Friedberg explaining Ohalo

Higher Sea Levels = Embarcadero Changes

Shaping San Francisco's future shoreline:

Federal planners and San Francisco officials are collaborating on a transformative plan to adapt the city's bay shoreline to anticipated sea level rise. The proposed $13.5 billion project, the city's largest infrastructure endeavor to date, envisions significant alterations within the next 20 years. Plans include elevating portions of the Embarcadero and Ferry Building, deploying flood barriers, and demolishing warehouses along Islais Creek, all aimed at mitigating future flood risks and ensuring resilience against climate change impacts.

Navigating transformation and the road ahead:

The ambitious shoreline project, spearheaded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Port of San Francisco, marks a shift from studies to tangible actions to combat rising sea levels. If approved by Congress in 2026, completion is targeted for 2040, with ongoing adaptations planned through 2090. While challenges loom, including potential disruptions to iconic landmarks and logistical hurdles, the initiative underscores a proactive approach to climate resilience, emphasizing the importance of long-term planning and adaptive strategies to safeguard San Francisco's coastal future.

Catch up on the latest:

• Oakland to sell the coliseum (Link)

• TikTok cuts 1,000 employees in global ops, content, and marketing (Link)

Today’s whisper:

^{Juniper dominates French croissant competition awards. Go check them out!!}

^{Read more about their win}