Motif Ingredients scores start-up spot on Givaudan innovation platform

24 May 2019 --- Food science company Motif Ingredients has been selected as one of only 20 start-ups to partner with MISTA, Givaudan’s new innovative platform that aims to bring all aspects of the food system together to address global challenges.

Motif has been established by Ginkgo Bioworks, one of the world’s leading organism companies. Using a process similar to how insulin, vitamins and beer are made, Motif’s team of biotech experts harnesses state-of-the-art genetic science and fermentation technology to recreate and sell animal-free proteins and food ingredients, including those similar to dairy ingredients.

Coined MISTA, Givaudan’s new platform, which was announced at the end of 2018, is seeking to help start-ups and established corporations to optimize ideas and products, scale-up projects, search for partners and build dynamic teams to meet the constant challenges of the food industry.

MISTA is more than an incubator or accelerator, according to Givaudan, as it advances innovation by helping companies develop new ways of thinking through a hyper-connected platform with a more collaborative and inclusive approach. Other founding members of MISTA are Danone, Mars Inc. and Ingredion Inc.

From alternative protein to health and well-being and biotechnology, MISTA helps companies develop new strategies, says Givaudan. Opened in San Francisco in early 2019, the MISTA Optimization Center (MOC), provides access to a product development facility, equipment for pasteurization and fermentation, experts providing market and leadership development strategies, as well as input from world-renowned culinary and food scientists.

“MISTA, which means ‘tasty morsel’ in Sanskrit, is all about the creation of a new business model focused on product innovation and development for the food and beverage industry, with the intention and capabilities to create the future of food,” says Scott May, Vice President of Innovation at Givaudan and Head of MISTA. “Today’s food systems are so complex, and the challenges so large that no single company can address them alone, and that’s where the concept of MISTA really comes to life.”

According to Motif, MISTA’s mission is well aligned with theirs. For context, Motif launched this spring with US$90 million Series A financing round in investment and will leverage deep food science expertise and exclusive access to parent company Ginkgo Bioworks’ biological engineering platform to produce new ingredients that will help food producers replicate the taste, texture, and nutrition of animal-based products using plants. They will also uncover entirely new properties of food in nature that can help us make the foods we eat more nutritious or enticing.

In February, FoodIngredientsFirst reported that Fonterra, the world’s largest dairy exporter, had made its first foray into alternative proteins by being among the US$90 million Series A financing round for Motif Ingredients. 

“Fonterra's stake in Motif will help us be part of the emerging next-generation fermentation-produced nutrition sector,” says Judith Swales, Head of Fonterra’s Global Consumer and Foodservice business.

Other investors in the Ginkgo Bioworks food ingredients spin-off, are Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Louis Dreyfus Companies (LDC), Viking Global Investors, as well as Gingko itself. Motif has been started  to “provide next-generation alternative proteins to global food companies.”

Biotechnology is indispensable for catalyzing the next generation of foods. Vital food ingredients, including vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, and flavors, are made through fermentation with genetically engineered yeasts and bacteria. Identifying and developing new fermented ingredients – particularly new proteins – that are historically derived from animals requires deep technical resources and experience. 

With Ginkgo, Motif claims to be accelerating the R&D process for manufacturing new ingredients at a price, taste and quality in line with what is already available at an everyday food market. Crucially, food companies will be able to outsource this costly and time-intensive R&D process to Motif as a trusted and innovative supplier, while dedicating more time and resources to bringing products and new brands to consumers.