Nourish Ingredients, an Australian startup dedicated to producing innovative fats through fermentation, has entered into a strategic partnership with Chinese biomanufacturing company CABIO Biotech. This collaboration aims to scale the production of Nourish’s debut product, ‘Tastilux,’ commercially.
Tastilux is designed to deliver an “authentic animal taste and aroma” to various food products, including meat alternatives, prepared meals, snacks, and seasonings, even at low inclusion rates. It is made using the fungi Mortierella alpina, the same organism CABIO utilizes for the production of arachidonic acid (ARA), commonly found in infant formula.
Nourish CEO James Petrie emphasized the partnership’s advantages, noting that CABIO’s established expertise in manufacturing not only reduces supply chain risks but also enhances the company’s capacity to provide high-quality, innovative food solutions. “By leveraging CABIO’s established expertise, we’re enhancing our ability to deliver high-quality, innovative food solutions at scale,” he explained.
Under the agreement, CABIO will handle the distribution and sales of Tastilux in the Chinese market while Nourish will manage sales in other regions. Petrie highlighted the challenges Western companies face in entering the Chinese market, making a strong local partner essential.
Production of Tastilux is set to begin next year, with hopes for expanding into additional product categories, including Creamilux, a lipid designed to replicate the properties of dairy fat.
Nourish aims to utilize phospholipids derived from the fermentation process rather than relying heavily on traditional purification methods. This approach allows the company to create a crude extract that aligns with their product goals.
