French dairy giant Danone has partnered with Michelin, Crédit Agricole, and DMC Biotechnologies to invest in precision fermentation, a process that creates bio-sourced materials for industry innovation and decarbonisation. This initiative, known as the Biotech Open Platform, aims to develop healthier products in the food industry.
The project, announced on June 13, will see an initial investment of €16m ($17.3m) at a location in Clermont-Ferrand. It will take place within the Parc Cataroux Center for Sustainable Materials, an innovation accelerator supported by Michelin and other public and private institutions.
Precision fermentation uses microorganisms to produce proteins, enzymes, and other molecules, driving innovation in the agri-food and materials sectors. Danone sees this process as a potential solution to many of the challenges facing the food industry.
CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique emphasized the company’s commitment to investing in the future of food through this partnership. He stated, “We look forward to working with our partners to develop cutting-edge fermentation technologies, which will accelerate innovation, health benefits, and decarbonisation in the food industry.”
Danone, known for its Activia yogurt, boasts the largest ferment library globally, with 4,000 identified. The Biotech Open Platform project aims to scale up tested products and processes, with plans to establish a demo-scale production line by 2025 and expand further in the coming years.
DMC Biotechnologies specializes in developing chemicals and ingredients through precision fermentation. Their Dynamic Metabolic Control technology platform aims to standardize, robustify, and predict fermentation processes.
One unique aspect of precision fermentation is its focus on designing microorganisms to create specific end products. For example, it can be used to produce chymosin, a type of rennet used in cheese production.
