The dairy industry has seen a rise in the demand for precision fermentation-derived ingredients such as non-animal casein or whey. To meet this demand, Konica Minolta is developing a novel AI-powered camera-based sensing technology to optimize the fermentation process and improve bioprocessing data in real-time. Planetary, a Geneva-based company, is at the forefront of industrial-scale fermentation and is partnering with Konica Minolta to bring this innovative technology to market.
Planetary’s director of business operations, Julian Iacovelli, highlighted the need for efficient production in the non-animal dairy space. The company is actively working with scale-ups and large multinational consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to develop and scale-up non-animal derived dairy ingredients. They aim to drive meaningful change in the food system by making commodity foods such as dairy proteins more accessible and cost-effective.
Konica Minolta, known for its expertise in camera and printing, has made significant strides in precision agriculture solutions and is now applying its sensing technology to the bioprocessing industry. Through this collaboration, Planetary and Konica Minolta are poised to make advancements in the precision fermentation dairy market, anticipating a potential cost reduction of up to 30% through superior bioprocess monitoring and control.
The goal is to bring production costs closer to price parity with traditional animal and fossil-based production systems. By leveraging advancements in strain engineering, bioprocess innovations, and strategically-designed production facilities, the bioeconomy can achieve market readiness and bring innovative products to consumers.
The partnership between Konica Minolta and Planetary represents a shift in the food and beverage industry towards sustainable and innovative solutions. With a focus on food processing technology and the adoption of AI-powered tools, both companies are driving food manufacturing trends and embracing food distribution innovation. Additionally, they are aligning with food and drink regulations and consumer trends while prioritizing sustainability and packaging in the food and drink industry.
