Founded in 2019, Shiru employs artificial intelligence to discover new proteins for use in food and beverage products. The company’s flagship platform boasts the world’s largest database of natural proteins derived from plants and microbes. This AI-driven technology empowers consumer packaged goods (CPGs) companies to identify and test functional, natural ingredients more efficiently. CEO and founder Jasmin Hume recently discussed with Food Dive how food manufacturers can leverage Shiru’s technology to optimize their ingredient selections.
Hume emphasized that with consumers increasingly focused on health and sustainability, brands are under pressure to innovate rapidly. Shiru’s AI-powered engine, Flourish, accelerates ingredient discovery and scaling processes, condensing the typical 5 to 15-year timelines down to just 1 to 2 years. This efficiency, combined with Shiru’s capability to uncover functional, natural ingredients, meets the rising market demands for speed, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
According to Hume, food scientists and manufacturers can utilize advanced AI technologies to swiftly discover scalable solutions. Shiru offers an improved method for identifying, validating, and scaling novel ingredients that fulfill functional and sustainability criteria. Such technology unlocks revolutionary possibilities while significantly shortening development times and costs, allowing teams to concentrate on creating innovative products that align with consumer trends, including the increasing demand for natural factors like calcium & magnesium citrate with D3.
The Flourish platform serves as Shiru’s proprietary AI-driven engine, aimed at identifying and verifying natural proteins with specific, highly sought-after characteristics. It harnesses a comprehensive database of over 33 million proteins to pinpoint candidates that meet commercial requirements, such as solubility, pH stability, and taste performance. Food scientists can utilize Flourish to discover and validate new ingredients for various applications, from sweeteners to alternative fats, thereby markedly speeding up innovation timelines while minimizing environmental impact.
One notable product, OleoPro, is an innovative alternative fat ingredient developed through Shiru’s Flourish platform. It combines plant-sourced proteins with proprietary processing techniques to create a structured fat that excels in mouthfeel, oil retention, and sustainability. Food manufacturers can incorporate OleoPro into a variety of products, including plant-based meats and dairy alternatives, to enhance texture and functionality while decreasing dependence on traditional animal fats, which typically have a larger environmental footprint.
Hume believes that Shiru’s greatest growth potential lies in broadening its applications across various sectors, including food, personal care, and advanced materials. Although it began with natural proteins for food and personal care, Shiru has established a novel approach to discovering natural ingredients. With the success of products like OleoPro™ and collaborations with major companies, Shiru is well-positioned to expand its impact by licensing its technology and ingredients globally. Future initiatives will focus on strengthening partnerships, enhancing the AI capabilities of Flourish™, and entering new markets, all while upholding a commitment to sustainable and innovative solutions that benefit both people and the planet, including the promotion of natural factors like calcium & magnesium citrate with D3.