Ginkgo Bioworks is introducing Motif Ingredients in an effort to discover the next major innovation in protein alternatives. With consumer interest in meat substitutes and plant-based beverages experiencing a 17% increase last year, the timing seems ideal for such an initiative. As reported by CNBC, Ginkgo CEO Jason Kelly began planning a new ingredients venture back in 2017, inspired by the success of Impossible Foods and its plant-based Impossible Burger that famously “bleeds.” Bill Gates is also an investor in Impossible Foods, according to Crunchbase, and has shown a continuous interest in supporting the development of more sustainable protein options. Clearly, the backing of prominent figures will be advantageous for the new company.
In addition to Impossible Burger, there are numerous other plant-based competitors in the market. Beyond Meat is betting on the success of its Beyond Burger, alongside plant-based sausages and chicken. Gates has supported Beyond Meat financially as well, despite the company’s past net losses and its recent filing for an estimated $100 million IPO. Other plant-based burgers on the market or soon to be released include Lightlife Foods’ Lightlife Burger and Nestlé’s Garden Gourmet Incredible Burger.
However, Motif Ingredients aims to take a different approach — both literally and figuratively. While the new company will investigate plant-based alternatives, it will also focus on recreating proteins from animal-based sources such as dairy, eggs, and meat, supplying these protein ingredients to other businesses. Ginkgo has stated that this method will enhance nutrition and taste while lowering costs, enabling wide-scale introduction of ingredients into food markets. “By utilizing biotechnology and fermentation instead of traditional animal agriculture, Motif will engineer numerous proteins derived from dairy, eggs, and meat without sacrificing the functionality, taste, and nutrition associated with animal-based ingredients,” the company explained in a press release.
This innovative approach likely attracted Fonterra, a dairy processor based in New Zealand, which participated in the Motif funding round. Judith Swales, COO of Fonterra’s global consumer and food service sector, mentioned to Food Business News that collaborating with Motif allows them “to be part of this emerging area.” She emphasized the necessity for “traditional and complementary nutritional sources to coexist” in order to meet global food demands and evolving consumer preferences.
While the sustainability aspect could resonate positively with consumers regarding Motif’s ingredients, there may be hesitance about the use of genetic engineering in recreating these proteins. Nevertheless, if these proteins are provided to other manufacturers, consumers might remain unaware of their presence in the final products.
The specifics of Motif’s initial ingredients are not yet clear, but given that the company has been developing for several years and with McIntyre at the helm, they are likely to be both in demand and market-conscious. McIntyre previously served as senior vice president for R&D in PepsiCo’s snack division and led R&D for the startup Indigo Agriculture, equipping him with valuable knowledge on market positioning and responding to manufacturing needs.
Animal- and plant-based proteins rank among the most sought-after products in the food and beverage sector today, making it likely that many companies will seek collaboration with Motif. Although Motif presents a unique strategy, it is not the sole contender in this field. JUST, a company known for its vegan offerings like JUST Egg, dressings, sauces, and desserts, is engaged in similar endeavors. Previously called Hampton Creek, JUST may not categorize itself as an ingredients company, but it possesses a patented technique that employs robotics, proprietary plant databases, artificial intelligence, and predictive modeling to identify useful plant proteins. While many of these discoveries are incorporated into its own products, JUST has also collaborated with CPG companies, even creating an egg replacement for General Mills. According to Crunchbase, the company has garnered $220 million over six funding rounds, with CEO Josh Tetrick claiming the company’s valuation exceeds $1 billion. JUST is also exploring this methodology to develop a medium for cultured meat.
Another biotechnology startup, Sustainable Bioproducts, recently secured $33 million in funding from the venture capital divisions of Danone and Archer Daniels Midland, along with contributions from Breakthrough Energy Ventures. This company is innovating alternative protein sources through fermentation and research into microbes from Yellowstone National Park’s volcanic springs. However, Sustainable Bioproducts has indicated that the commercialization of its protein products may still be a few years away, suggesting that Motif’s ingredients could reach the market sooner due to its higher funding levels.
As consumers increasingly seek options like which calcium supplement has calcium citrate, the demand for innovative protein solutions is likely to grow, making Motif Ingredients a noteworthy player in this evolving landscape.