Fonterra is teaming up with US natural ingredient manufacturer Superbrewed Food to advance the start-up’s biomass protein technology and produce more sustainable food ingredients.
According to a statement, the partnership combines Superbrewed’s biomass protein platform with Fonterra’s dairy processing, ingredients, and applications expertise to develop additional nutrient-rich, functional biomass protein.
The collaboration builds upon Superbrewed’s commercial launch of their patented biomass protein, called Postbiotic Cultured Protein. According to the company, Postbiotic Cultured Protein is a non-GMO, allergen-free, nutrient-dense bacteria biomass protein that recently received US market green light from the FDA.
In ingredient evaluations, Fonterra determined that the function and nutrition of Postbiotic Cultured Protein complemented dairy ingredients in food applications with growing consumer demand.
Superbrewed also said that it has demonstrated that its non-GMO, fermentation platform could be adapted to ferment other inputs.
The multi-year joint effort seeks to develop new biomass protein solutions based on the fermentation of multi-feedstocks, including Fonterra’s lactose permeate, which is produced during dairy processing. The objective is to add value to Fonterra’s lactose by converting it into high-quality, sustainable protein with Superbrewed’s technology.
Bryan Tracy, CEO of Superbrewed Food, said, “We are excited to be partnering with a company of Fonterra’s stature, as it recognizes the value in bringing Postbiotic Cultured Protein to market, and is a pivotal step towards expanding our offerings of biomass ingredients that further contribute to sustainable food production.”
Bars made with Postbiotic Cultured Protein. Image via Superbrewed Food.
Chris Ireland, GM Innovation Partnerships, Fonterra, also commented on the collaboration, saying, “Partnering with Superbrewed Foods is a fantastic opportunity. Their cutting-edge technology aligns with our mission to provide sustainable nutritional solutions to the world and respond to the global demand for protein solutions, thereby creating more value from milk for our farmers.”
Fonterra’s partnership with SuperBrewed is the latest in a series of efforts to produce novel, animal-free ingredients for the company’s dairy products via fermentation technology.
Fonterra recently announced it was working with Australia’s Nourish Ingredients to accelerate development of dairy products with fats produced by precision fermentation, or the use of programmed microorganisms to produce specific, functional food ingredients.
Fonterra also recently launched its own precision fermentation-produced whey powder product by way of Dutch startup Vivici, which the NZ dairy giant founded with Dutch nutritional product company DSM in 2022.
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