Weekly Roundup: Solvay Ventures invests in Dynamic Metabolic Control Biotechnologies, Ardent Mills completes Firebird Artisan Mills acquisition

10 Dec 2021 --- This week in industry news, Solvay Ventures invested in Dynamic Metabolic Control Biotechnologies to scale bio-based chemicals for human nutrition. Firmenich was awarded a fourth consecutive Triple “A” status for leadership in transparency and action on climate change, water security and forestry protection and Ardent Mills completed its Firebird Artisan Mills acquisition.

In brief: Business moves
Solvay Ventures has invested in DMC Biotechnologies, a US-based biotechnology company that delivers scalable biocatalysts through microbial fermentation. DMC is Solvay’s first portfolio company in biotechnology. Its core technology addresses a key challenge for biotech companies, considered to be the next wave of a biotechnology paradigm, as it decouples cell growth and production while optimizing metabolic pathways in each phase.

Dalziel Ingredients NPD center.Afyren, a greentech company and Ennolys, business unit of Lesaffre, a specialist in fermentation and natural flavor, agreed to distribute Afyren Neoxy natural acids in the flavors and fragrances market. Ennolys will be the exclusive distributor of products to major European manufacturers. The agreement covers all seven bio-based acids in the Afyren Neoxy product range.

The International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF), which represents stakeholders across the insect production value chains has disclosed the European Union’s decision to approve draft implementing regulations to authorize the commercialization of dried, ground and frozen house cricket (Acheta domesticus) and frozen, dried and powder yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), for the EU market. The move represents a first step towards the authorization of additional products derived from this edible insect species. The decision leads to the second Novel Food authorization of this insect food product, following one in June 2021. 

UK-based food ingredients specialist Dalziel Ingredients has invested £1 million (US$1.32 million) to establish a NPD center at its Felling, Gateshead factory, for the expansion of new product development capabilities. This is the latest phase of a wider £4 million (US$ 5.27 million) expansion program. The new 7,100 square foot center will facilitate R&D, sample preparation areas and a sauce making facility.

The ValuSect consortium has launched its second call for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the edible insect sector, for interest to receive vouchers for different types of services, worth between €10,000 (US$11,290) and €40,000 (US$45,150). The services cover a broad range of activities across the value chain including technological services, food development and innovation, consumer acceptance and strategic business services. In total, €440,000 (US$497,000) worth of services will be made available to SMEs to accelerate the development of the insect-based food sector in North-West Europe.

Motif FoodWorks has debuted Hemami technology, a plant-based offering that provides the same taste and aroma of meat. The Food and Drug Administration also recognized the meat alternative food-technology as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). The company also disclosed plans for a new US-based market development center that will house R&D labs and pilot plants for fermentation, ingredient and finished-product production.Firmenich is one of 14 companies worldwide to achieve a Triple “A” listing in 2021.

Kainos Capital, a food and consumer-focused private equity firm has sold its portfolio company good2grow to Wind Point Partners. The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, good2grow is a branded kids’ beverage company that sells clean label, ready-to-drink fruit juice, fortified water and organic flavored milk.

The Hilton Food Group is on track to acquire smoked salmon producer, Dutch Seafood Company, trading as Foppen. With this move, the company expands its presence in the growing protein category and US markets. Hilton has also launched an equity placing to raise gross proceeds of approximately £75 million (US$99 million) to partly fund the acquisition. The announcement follows the recent full acquisition of Dalco, a vegan and vegetarian food manufacturer, the acquisition of Fairfax Meadow, as well as Hilton’s expansion into Hilton Seafood.

Fuji Oil Holdings has reached an agreement with Fuji Specialties Inc (FSI), and Itochu International Inc (III), to establish a new joint venture company, Fuji Oil International Inc (FII) drafted for March 2022 subject to closing conditions. The new company, FII, will leverage the strengths of both Fuji Oil Group and Itochu Group to expand sales channels, develop new customers and create synergies, and will work to increase its presence in the US vegetable oils market.

In brief: Sustainability strides
Fragrance and taste giant Firmenich has been awarded a fourth consecutive Triple “A” status by CDP for the group’s leadership in transparency and action on climate change, water security and forestry protection. CDP, which is considered the gold standard of corporate environmental reporting, today places Firmenich among only 14 companies worldwide that achieved a Triple “A” listing in 2021, out of more than 12,000 that were scored based on data they submitted to CDP.

Precision farming company Alesca Life entered a partnership with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), Ziyang Water Investment, and Ziyang Airport Economic Zone to deploy 1,000 modular vertical farms in Greater Chengdu, Sichuan Province, to establish the largest indoor farming project in the region. The initiative is expected to produce up to 5,000 metric tons of fresh produce annually, at full capacity, in late 2022. It will supply fresh produce through local hypermarkets and to the airport catering operation in the adjacent Chengdu Tianfu International Airport.  

Firebird brands and products will be fully integrated into Ardent Mills portfolio over the next few months.In brief: Acquisitions
Ardent Mills completed the acquisition of specialty grain and pulse milling company, Firebird Artisan Mills, previously announced in September. Over the next several months Firebird brands and products will be fully integrated into Ardent Mills as the company continues to bolster its emerging nutrition offerings. The acquisition builds on Ardent Mills’ existing portfolio, provides additional supply chain assurance and bolsters capabilities in R&D, technical, food safety and quality assurance teams.

In brief: Other highlights
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a consultation to survey businesses, local authority food teams, healthcare professionals, allergy charities and consumers on the use of precautionary allergen information and labels, often written as “may contain” on food packaging. Recent FSA studies found that food-hypersensitive consumers – people who live with food allergies, intolerances or coeliac disease – appreciate precautionary allergen information or labeling when it clearly tells them about an unavoidable risk of allergen cross-contamination. The studies found that the majority of food businesses are using these labels to try to protect consumers but are confused about when and how they need to do so. 

By Inga de Jong