Kerry enters enzyme technology partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks

31 Jul 2017 --- Ginkgo Bioworks has announced a new partnership with Kerry, the global taste and nutrition company. Ginkgo will work with Kerry on a more efficient production of specialty enzymes used in food. The partnership marks Ginkgo's expansion into the enzyme industry, extending the company's market reach beyond its existing work in core strain improvement and ingredient development.

Enzymes are the biological machines powering living cells and are used in a variety of industries to safely and effectively perform chemical reactions, including those that naturally occur in food products. Kerry produces enzymes through fermentation of its proprietary microbial strains and will leverage Ginkgo's technology to improve the production of specific enzymes used in food. 

Brian Brazeau, General Manager for Enzymes at Ginkgo Bioworks told FoodIngredientsFirst: “Through this partnership, Ginkgo and Kerry will develop a more efficient production of specialty enzymes.”

“The tools we use in our automated foundries are enabling Ginkgo’s biologists to learn more about the powerful diversity of enzymes that exist in nature, as well as learn how to better use them in industries from food to textiles to pharmaceuticals. Our ability to discover enzymes and use them effectively is making a difference today across industries and will continue to reach new markets,” explains Brazeau. 

“Working with Kerry is a huge opportunity for Ginkgo,” he adds. “Kerry is the global leader in food ingredients and a market leader in enzymes. Through our partnership, we can demonstrate the value that our technology can bring to the food industry. We can help companies identify the right enzyme for the job, as well as develop methods to efficiently produce that enzyme for use in a wide array of applications.”

“Our company has long been focused on using science and technology to make our processes, ingredients and products better,” says Dr. Albert McQuaid, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Kerry. “Ginkgo Bioworks has a technology platform that we haven't seen in the enzyme industry before now and we look forward to leveraging their technology to improve the work we're doing with enzymes in the food industry.” 

Ginkgo Bioworks' platform uses automated processes and custom software to design and build microbial strains that can produce valuable products during the process of fermentation, including cultured ingredients and enzymes. This partnership marries Ginkgo's technology with the expertise Kerry has already established in enzyme production, creating an efficient, fast and more effective way to create enzymes for the food industry. 

“Our work in food is more than flavors and ingredients; we're working with companies to put biology to work in strain improvement and enzymes as well,” says Jason Kelly, Ginkgo Bioworks CEO and co-founder. “Kerry is an industry leader in food development and a market leader in enzymes – the ability to work with Kerry is a huge step forward for Ginkgo's business. We see this new partnership as a great opportunity to demonstrate the value our technology brings to the food industry.”

by Elizabeth Green