Leo Alvarez and his team over at Protera had a busy 2020. Not only did the startup snag $5.5 million in venture capital, it traded its San Francisco digs for a new HQ in the 'City of Lights' — Paris. But what's next on the company's agenda really grabbed our attention here at WSTP: wielding deep learning tech to predict the 3D structure of proteins. The goal is to transform food ingredients to not only rid them of unhealthy additives but also improve their shelf life. Not only that, their method allows our favorite edible treats (Nutella, for example) to maintain their texture and taste but without using ingredients like palm oil, the production of which is devastating for the environment. Leo also schools co-hosts Jonas Donnenfield and Tony Noto on Protera's impressive AI engine (MADI) which wields an expansive knowledge of protein data to design these new functional proteins that can transform foods for the sake of the planet! It's high-tech — but easy to digest. Tune in!