Edible Garden and Square Roots Announce Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Farm-to-Formula® Functional Nutrition Platform

BELVIDERE, NJ, Aug. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Edible Garden AG Incorporated (“Edible Garden” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: EDBL, EDBLW), a leader in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), locally grown, organic, better-for-you, sustainable produce and products, and Square Roots, an agricultural innovation company founded on the belief that controlled-environment agriculture could empower a new generation of farmers while using technology to produce fresher, locally grown food with enhanced taste and nutritional attributes, today announced a strategic product development partnership to develop a new generation of clean-label, functional ready-to-drink ("RTD") beverages. The collaboration combines Square Roots' expertise in plant science, precision agriculture and agricultural innovation with Edible Garden's proprietary Farm-to-Formula® platform, Zero Waste Inspired® mission and advanced Tetra Pak® aseptic manufacturing capabilities to develop premium functional beverages using nutrient-dense crops optimized for naturally occurring bioactive compounds that support cognitive health, metabolic wellness, healthy aging, inflammation management GLP-1 support and performance nutrition.

Under the partnership, Square Roots will utilize its controlled environment agriculture platform, plant science expertise and precision growing technologies to identify, screen and cultivate nutrient-dense crop varieties optimized for naturally occurring bioactive compounds, while Edible Garden will leverage its Farm-to-Formula® platform and advanced Tetra Pak® manufacturing capabilities to transform those agricultural innovations into premium clean-label functional beverages. Future commercialization of products developed through the partnership is expected to be supported by the Company's Prairie Hills facility in Webster City, Iowa. Together, the companies aim to create a scalable pipeline of differentiated products that can be commercialized through Edible Garden's manufacturing platform while expanding into attractive, higher-value functional nutrition categories. The collaboration reflects Edible Garden's broader strategy of expanding its Farm-to-Formula® platform through differentiated clean-label nutrition products that combine agricultural innovation, scientific validation, and sustainable manufacturing to address growing consumer demand for functional wellness solutions.

Initial product concepts are expected to target rapidly growing segments of the functional nutrition market, including cognitive wellness, metabolic health, healthy aging, GLP-1 support and performance nutrition. Product formulations are expected to align with leading nutritional protocols, including the MIND Diet, while emphasizing clean-label ingredients, transparency, sustainability, and science-backed wellness benefits.

The collaboration will also benefit from the participation of Charles E. Sizer, Ph.D., Advisor to Edible Garden and an internationally recognized food scientist whose pioneering work at Tetra Pak helped advance modern aseptic food processing and packaging. Dr. Sizer will help guide product formulation, scientific validation, and commercialization.

"Integrating Square Roots' specialized agricultural innovation capabilities into our Farm-to-Formula® ecosystem expands our ability to create differentiated clean-label nutrition products," stated Jim Kras, Chief Executive Officer of Edible Garden. "Our Farm-to-Formula® platform transforms sustainably grown crops into premium functional nutrition products. By combining Square Roots' agricultural innovation platform and our advanced Tetra Pak® manufacturing capabilities, we are building a clean-label supply chain that extends from farm to bottle, creating a differentiated pathway from seed to shelf. This partnership strengthens our ability to develop premium, science-informed products that meet growing consumer demand while expanding our presence in attractive, higher-value nutrition categories."

"This partnership represents an innovation opportunity for controlled environment agriculture to be leveraged for high-quality ingredients in functional and nutraceutical applications," commented Tobias Peggs, Chief Executive Officer of Square Roots. "By screening varieties and tailoring crop growing environments to optimize naturally occurring bioactive compounds, we can provide an uncompromised base of nutrient-rich ingredients that power meaningful wellness for consumers."

About Square Roots

Founded by entrepreneurs Kimbal Musk and Tobias Peggs, Square Roots is an agricultural innovation platform that helps partners accelerate R&D and bring new food and farming solutions to market. Combining modular controlled-environment research facilities, crop science, software and AI, Square Roots enables partners to screen varieties, develop and validate crop recipes, optimize production systems, and translate results into commercial applications. Square Roots works with growers, food companies, research organizations, and governments on programs spanning nutrition, climate resilience, food security, and agricultural automation.

ABOUT EDIBLE GARDEN®

Edible Garden AG Incorporated is a leader in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), delivering organic, better-for-you, sustainable produce and products through its Zero-Waste Inspired^® next-generation farming model. Available in over 6,000 retail locations across the United States, Caribbean, and South America, Edible Garden is at the forefront of the CEA and sustainability technology movement, distinguished by its advanced safety-in-farming protocols, sustainable packaging, patented GreenThumb software, and innovative Self-Watering in-store displays. The Company operates state-of-the-art, vertically integrated greenhouses and processing facilities, including Edible Garden Heartland in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Edible Garden Prairie Hills in Webster City, Iowa; and its headquarters at Edible Garden Belvidere in New Jersey. It also partners with a network of contract growers strategically located near major U.S. markets to ensure freshness and reduce environmental impact. The Company is also expanding its Prairie Hills facility in Webster City, Iowa, into a dedicated ready-to-drink (RTD) clean nutrition manufacturing hub, supporting its Farm-to-Formula® strategy and its transformation into higher-margin, shelf-stable nutrition categories.

Edible Garden’s proprietary GreenThumb 2.0 software—protected by U.S. Patents US 11,158,006 B1, US 11,410,249 B2, and US 11,830,088 B2—optimizes vertical and traditional greenhouse growing conditions while aiming to reduce food miles. Its patented Self-Watering display (U.S. Patent No. D1,010,365) is designed to extend plant shelf life and elevate in-store presentation. In addition to its core CEA operations, Edible Garden owns three patents in advanced aquaculture technologies: a closed-loop shrimp farming system (US 6,615,767 B1), a modular recirculating aquaculture setup with automated water treatment and feeding (US 10,163,199 B2), and a sensor-driven ammonia control method utilizing electrolytic chlorine generation (US 11,297,809 B1).

The Company has been recognized as a FoodTech 500 firm by Forward Fooding, is a multi-year participant in Walmart’s Project Gigaton and a Giga Guru designee and has received NRG’s Excellence in Energy Award for its commitment to measurable environmental performance and energy stewardship. Edible Garden also develops and markets a growing line of nutrition and specialty food products, including Vitamin Way^® and Vitamin Whey^®—plant and whey protein powders—and Kick. Sports Nutrition, a premium performance line for health-conscious athletes seeking cleaner, better-for-you options. The Company’s offerings further include fresh, sustainable condiments such as Pulp fermented gourmet and chili-based sauces, as well as Pickle Party, a collection of fermented fresh pickles and krauts.

Learn more at https://ediblegardenag.com.
For Pulp products, visit https://www.pulpflavors.com.
For Vitamin Whey® products, visit https://vitaminwhey.com.
For Kick. Sports Nutrition products, visit https://kicksportsnutrition.net/.
Watch the Company’s latest corporate video here.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as "expand," "extend," "transform," "strategy," "advance," "create," "initiative," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's partnership with Square Roots, the development and commercialization of premium clean-label functional beverages thereby expanding the Company’s Farm-to-Formula® platform and collaboration with third parties such as Charles E. Sizer, Ph.D. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section and other sections of the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contacts:

Crescendo Communications, LLC
212-671-1020
EDBL@crescendo-ir.com