New Growth Factor Facility Opens and More Ingredient News

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

New Growth Factor Facility Opens

Cultivated meat production processes are relatively expensive, making it a challenge to scale up and reach price parity with animal-based counterparts. To help reduce production costs, BioBetter is transforming tobacco plants into natural bioreactors for the production of growth factors (GFs), which play a key role in the proliferation and differentiation of cultured meat cells, allowing for the formation of authentic and well-structured muscle tissue.

Designed for both environmental safety and efficiency, these bioreactors will be grown in a large-scale, net house cultivation system. The tobacco plants are carefully engineered to prevent the escape of any transgenic material. They are induced to express growth factors only when chemically triggered, and the company exclusively uses non-food, non-feed tobacco plants to eliminate any risk of inadvertent consumption or cross-contamination of food crops.

BioBetter has opened its first food-grade pilot facility to accelerate the production of key growth factors for the cultivated meat industry. The newly established pilot plant has the capacity to process 100 kg of tobacco plant–derived GFs daily. The company is moving through the process of securing approval from the Israel Ministry of Health for food manufacturing licensing. BioBetter is targeting commercial production of five tons of GFs annually by the end of 2025.

NEW PRODUCTS

Anton Paar launched Litesizer DIA 500, a state-of-the-art dynamic image analyzer. Users can reliably characterize the size and shape of particles between 0.8 µm and 8000 µm via analysis of their direct images. Anton Paar has designed the instrument to be compatible with three powerful dispersion units—Liquid Flow (wet), Dry Jet (compressed air), and Free Fall (gravitational fall).

Fuchs North America introduced an Indian Inspiration Collection, a limited-edition line that features three seasoning blends: Aloo Tikki Seasoning, Kolmi/Kalmi Fry Seasoning, and Rose Water and Cardamom Seasoning.

Novozymes launched Vertera ProBite, an ingredient based on the enzyme MTGase; it is designed to enhance the texture of plant-based products. It requires no labeling, marking a significant breakthrough for the plant-based meat industry. Approved as a processing aid, its technological function is fully realized during the food processing stage.

NutriOriginal introduced TurmiMax Bio, a 95% standardized turmeric extract ingredient that enables efficacious lower dosing and is a cost-effective and efficient formulation solution for supplements, functional food products, and beverages.

Martin Bauer is offering a new line of premium tea and botanical syrups for use in beverage applications in the foodservice industry. Free from artificial colors and flavors, the syrups provide appealing flavors, enhanced functionalities, and vibrant colors to a wide range of beverages—from lemonades and lattes to cocktails and more. The new collection consists of six syrups: Black Tea, Green Tea, Matcha, Butterfly Pea Flower, Hibiscus, and Energy Blend. Thoughtfully designed to be shelf-stable and concentrated, these syrups require just a single pump, eliminating the need for intricate brewing processes, powder scooping, or the use of multiple ingredients.

Sensegen’s new biobased Fall Flavors lineup features seven curated flavors chosen as a tribute to the moods of warmth, comfort, and energy that define the autumn season. The flavors include vanilla, caramel, chocolate, hazelnut, pistachio, coffee (espresso and cappuccino), and lavender. Created through precision fermentation, the new line offers precise control over the production process, ensuring that flavors are consistent in taste and quality.

Kemin Industries introduced ButiShield, an encapsulated form of calcium butyrate for humans that can help fortify overall gut health by supporting the strength and integrity of the intestinal wall. Kemin produces ButiShield using a proprietary MicroPEARLS spray freezing technology to encapsulate the butyric acid, allowing for sustained and controlled release along the gastrointestinal tract. The MicroPEARLS encapsulation technology neutralizes butyric acid’s typically off-putting odor and helps to ensure its benefits are being delivered to the gut.

INDUSTRY UPDATE

ICL Group announced that its agrifood innovation and investment platform, ICL Planet Startup Hub, has led an investment round in Agrematch, an artificial intelligence (AI) agritech startup. The two companies agreed to launch a joint, multiyear program to use Agrematch’s AI system for the discovery of novel crop nutrition solutions, to bring innovative products to ICL’s global offerings. The Agrematch platform is expected to produce proprietary compounds developed as unique biostimulants and plant nutrition products, ultimately optimizing overall plant and soil health and maximizing plant yield, quality, and resilience.

Brenntag agreed to acquire Colony Gums, a U.S.-based manufacturer of stabilizer blends and a blending services provider. The acquisition is expected to complement and expand Brenntag’s product portfolio and services in life sciences, primarily in nutrition.

Red Star Yeast (Lesaffre) marked the completion of a new fermenter in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in late August.

Brightseed announced that its first bioactive-containing ingredient, Brightseed Bio Gut Fiber, is now Upcycled Certified and Non-GMO Project Verified. Bio Gut Fiber is made only from upcycled hemp hulls, a part of the plant that is typically unused, through a proprietary, gentle process with no added chemicals. It is also the only fiber ingredient containing N-trans-caffeoyltyramine (NCT) and N-trans-feruloyltyramine (NFT), two pre-clinically studied bioactives for gut support.

Kemin Industries was granted a patent by the European Patent Office for its method to promote the growth of new neural cells using Neumentix, a water-soluble spearmint extract that supports working memory, which is now available for inclusion in European-made food supplements, foods, and beverages.

Alland & Robert obtained Fair For Life (FFL) certification for its gum acacia (seyal and senegal qualities). FFL certification is an international standard for Fair Trade and responsible supply chains. The certification is also a guarantee of strict economic, social, and environmental standards set by the Ecocert group.

Bartek Ingredients is on track with its new malic and fumaric acid manufacturing facility, which will double capacity and cut emissions by 80%. The project, which broke ground in January 2023, is on schedule to deliver product to customers by the end of September 2024.

Kyowa Hakko USA commemorated the 20th anniversary of its branded ingredient, Cognizin citicoline. The ingredient is backed by extensive research and has garnered recognition for its role in supporting mental acuity and concentration.

Nosh.bio, a German startup developing highly functional ingredients from fungal biomass for animal-free food products, and biotech company Ginkgo Bioworks announced a new partnership to create a single-ingredient, animal-free product that tastes and feels just like red meat. Nosh.bio will leverage Ginkgo Strain Optimization Services to screen for protein-producing fungi strains with superior sensorial profiles. The program aims to produce a mycoprotein that delivers a rich, savory, and natural meaty taste in food products.

OC Flavors and Novotaste unveiled their transformative rebrand as Mosaic Flavors. This reimagined brand represents the harmonious fusion of artistry, scientific excellence, and a customer-centric approach to flavor creation, the companies say.

GEA inaugurated its extended and modernized homogenizer production site in Parma, Italy. This investment will enable production capacity expansion of up to 50%. The new facility is equipped with advanced testing capabilities and additional assembly areas aimed at accelerating delivery times. GEA Parma’s new site focuses on sustainability through environmentally friendly practices such as photovoltaic panels, water reuse systems, and innovative air conditioning technology.

Aurochemicals achieved a perfect Safe Quality Food (SQF) rating from the Safe Quality Food Institute. The 100% score follows seven straight years of achieving a 99% Safe Quality Food E-Excellent rating. The SQF Food Safety Code for manufacturing is a food safety plan based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative.

dsm-firmenich announced that two of its human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) ingredients have been approved as fortifiers for infant nutrition in China. The two HMOs that received approval in China are GlyCare 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL), the most prevalent HMO in human breast milk, and GlyCare lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), a complex sugar in human milk that is biologically relevant in the early development of the infant gut flora.ft

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