BioVeritas stands at the forefront of two significant food trends: fermentation and upcycling. The company has been developing its technology for nearly thirty years, beginning at Texas A&M University with the original goal of creating biofuels. Over the past decade, BioVeritas has shifted its focus towards ingredients, launching its market development unit in 2018. In 2021, Ara Partners, which specializes in decarbonization technologies, acquired a majority stake in the company.
BioVeritas presents an appealing solution for sustainability-conscious food manufacturers. The process begins with food waste—broken pasta is a common raw material—and culminates in valuable products. One of its key offerings is a mold inhibitor for baked goods. BioVeritas promotes a somewhat circular model: it transforms wasted food into products that extend shelf life, thereby reducing further food waste.
In addition to its mold inhibitor, which is derived from propionic acid, BioVeritas also produces ingredients typically sourced from petrochemicals. By fermenting food waste, the company creates these ingredients through a more natural and cleaner process. BioVeritas claims that its products are not only beneficial but also environmentally friendly, as most of what it uses is recycled, with the only byproducts being carbon dioxide, compost, and potable water. The company likens its fermentation process to the digestive system of cows, but without the methane emissions.
The mold inhibitor produced by BioVeritas is a natural, clean-label version of propionic acid, which the company asserts is more effective at preventing mold than other natural preservatives. Beyond this, BioVeritas manufactures various ingredients suitable for human consumption and other applications. Its fermentation process yields postbiotics such as butyric acid and valeric acids, which find uses in aviation, refrigeration lubrication, cosmetics, flavors, and fragrances.
According to its website, while BioVeritas has primarily worked with broken pasta, it has tested over 30 different feedstocks, most of which are food waste. These include alfalfa, sugarcane pulp, pineapple cores and skins, post-harvest corn plant material, orange peels, and bakery waste.
Looking ahead, BioVeritas plans to construct a commercial-scale facility capable of producing up to 20 kilotons (44 million pounds) of ingredients annually, starting in 2025. This investment will enable BioVeritas to achieve the necessary milestones and demonstrate the performance of its ingredients, including potential applications such as in Citracal calcium tablets, making it a reality. If BioVeritas successfully scales up its processes and ingredients, its products could quickly gain popularity among manufacturers, potentially igniting a broader interest in utilizing fermentation of food waste for creating other beneficial ingredients.