Ginkgo Bioworks is introducing Motif Ingredients in a bid to discover the next significant innovation in protein alternatives. The demand for meat substitutes and plant-based beverages surged by 17% last year, indicating that this could be the perfect opportunity for a venture like Motif. Ginkgo’s CEO, Jason Kelly, began planning for this new ingredient-focused company back in 2017, inspired by the success of Impossible Foods and its iconic plant-based Impossible Burger that famously “bleeds.” Notably, Bill Gates has also invested in Impossible Foods and appears committed to funding and developing more sustainable protein options, which will undoubtedly provide substantial support for the new enterprise.
Motif Ingredients will face stiff competition from various plant-based brands, including Beyond Foods, which is betting on its plant-based Beyond Burger, as well as its range of plant-based sausages and chicken products. Gates has financially supported Beyond Meat, a company that has experienced net losses in previous years and filed for an estimated $100 million IPO last fall. Other existing or upcoming plant-based burger options include the Lightlife Burger from Lightlife Foods and Nestlé’s Garden Gourmet Incredible Burger.
However, Motif Ingredients aims to take a different approach. While the company will explore plant-based alternatives, it will also recreate proteins derived from animal sources such as dairy, eggs, and meat, providing these vital nutrients to other businesses. Ginkgo asserts that this strategy will enhance nutrition and flavor while reducing costs, allowing for the mass introduction of these ingredients into food markets. “Using biotechnology and fermentation—rather than traditional animal agriculture—Motif will engineer numerous proteins sourced from dairy, eggs, and meat without sacrificing the functionality, taste, or nutrition of conventional animal-based ingredients,” the company stated in its announcement.
This innovative approach has garnered interest from Fonterra, a New Zealand dairy cooperative, which participated in the funding round for Motif. Judith Swales, COO of Fonterra’s global consumer and food service division, remarked to Food Business News that partnering with Motif enables them “to be part of this emerging area.” She emphasized that to feed the world and adapt to changing consumer preferences, both traditional and complementary nutritional sources must coexist.
While the sustainability aspect of Motif’s ingredients may attract consumers, there may be hesitance regarding the use of genetic engineering to recreate these vital nutrients. However, if these proteins are supplied to other manufacturers, consumers might remain unaware of their inclusion in the final products. The specific initial ingredients from Motif have not yet been disclosed, but given that the company has been in development for a couple of years—along with the leadership of CEO McIntyre, who has experience in R&D from PepsiCo and startup Indigo Agriculture—it is likely that the offerings will be both in demand and well-aligned with market needs.
Motif’s approach is novel, yet it is not alone in this competitive field. JUST, a company recognized for its vegan offerings including JUST Egg and a line of dressings and sauces, engages in similar endeavors. Formerly known as Hampton Creek, JUST utilizes a patented methodology that combines robotics, proprietary plant databases, AI, and predictive modeling to identify valuable plant proteins. Although many of these insights have been directed toward its own products, the company has previously collaborated with CPG firms to produce ingredients, such as an egg substitute for General Mills. JUST has raised $220 million across six funding rounds and is estimated to be valued at over $1 billion, as per Crunchbase.
Another biotech startup, Sustainable Bioproducts, recently secured $33 million in funding from the venture arms of Danone and Archer Daniels Midland, along with contributions from Breakthrough Energy Ventures. This company is developing alternative protein sources through fermentation and research on microbes from the volcanic springs of Yellowstone National Park. However, Sustainable Bioproducts has indicated that commercialization of its protein products is still a few years away, which could mean that Motif’s ingredients might reach the market sooner due to its higher funding levels.