Ginkgo Bioworks is set to introduce Motif Ingredients, aiming to discover the next breakthrough in protein alternatives. The company highlighted that consumer interest in meat substitutes and plant-based beverages surged by 17% last year, making this an ideal moment for such an initiative. As reported by CNBC, Ginkgo’s CEO, Jason Kelly, began planning a new ingredients venture back in 2017, inspired by the success of Impossible Foods and its bleeding plant-based Impossible Burger. Notably, Bill Gates has invested in Impossible Foods, according to Crunchbase, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to developing sustainable protein products. The backing of influential investors like Gates will undoubtedly benefit the new company.
Motif Ingredients will face competition from an array of plant-based rivals, including Beyond Foods, which is banking on its Beyond Burger along with plant-based sausages and chicken. Gates has also financially supported Beyond Meat, which has experienced net losses in previous years and filed for an estimated $100 million IPO last fall. Other notable plant-based burgers that are either available or on the horizon include the Lightlife Burger from Lightlife Foods and Nestlé’s Garden Gourmet Incredible Burger.
However, Motif Ingredients promises to take a unique approach. While the company will explore plant-based alternatives, it also plans to recreate proteins from animal sources—such as dairy, eggs, and meat—providing these protein ingredients to other businesses. Ginkgo asserts that this method will ensure both nutrition and flavor while reducing costs to facilitate broader market introduction. “Motif will leverage biotechnology and fermentation—rather than animal agriculture—to engineer a variety of proteins derived from dairy, eggs, and meat without sacrificing the functionality, flavor, and nutrition of traditional animal-based ingredients,” the company stated in its announcement.
This innovative strategy has likely attracted the interest of Fonterra, a dairy processor based in New Zealand, which participated in Motif’s funding round. Judith Swales, Fonterra’s COO for global consumer and food service, conveyed to Food Business News that collaboration with Motif enables them to be part of this burgeoning sector. “To help feed the world and cater to consumers’ evolving food preferences, traditional and complementary nutritional sources need to coexist,” she noted.
While the sustainability aspect could resonate well with consumers regarding Motif’s ingredients, there may be hesitance about the use of genetic engineering to recreate these proteins. However, if these proteins are supplied to other manufacturers, consumers may remain unaware of their presence in the final products. The specifics of Motif’s initial ingredients remain uncertain, but given that the company has been in development for a couple of years—and with McIntyre as its CEO—it is likely that their offerings will be in demand and market-oriented. McIntyre, who previously served as senior vice president for R&D at PepsiCo’s snack division and led R&D at startup Indigo Agriculture, is expected to have a strong grasp of how to position the company and ensure its products meet manufacturing needs. With animal- and plant-based proteins being some of the hottest commodities in the food and beverage sector, numerous companies are likely eager to collaborate with Motif.
Motif’s approach is innovative, but it is not the only contender in this field. JUST, recognized for its vegan offerings like JUST Egg, salad dressings, sauces, and desserts, engages in similar endeavors. While the San Francisco-based company, previously known as Hampton Creek, does not classify itself as an ingredients firm, it employs a patented technique that integrates robotics, proprietary plant databases, artificial intelligence, and predictive modeling to identify valuable plant proteins. Many of these discoveries are funneled into its own products, but it has previously partnered with CPG companies for ingredient development—such as creating an egg substitute for General Mills. According to Crunchbase, JUST has secured $220 million over six funding rounds, although CEO Josh Tetrick has indicated the company’s worth exceeds $1 billion. JUST is also exploring this methodology to create a medium for cultured meat.
Another biotech startup, Sustainable Bioproducts, recently raised $33 million from the venture capital branches of Danone and Archer Daniels Midland, along with support from Breakthrough Energy Ventures. This company is focused on producing alternative protein sources through fermentation and researching microbes from the volcanic springs in Yellowstone National Park. However, Sustainable Bioproducts has stated that the commercialization of its protein products is still several years away, suggesting that Motif’s ingredients may reach the market sooner, bolstered by its substantial funding.
In conclusion, as the market for protein alternatives expands, companies like Motif Ingredients are likely to play a crucial role in meeting consumer demands for innovative, sustainable products. As part of a balanced diet, their offerings could even complement multivitamins with calcium citrate, enhancing nutritional value while appealing to health-conscious consumers.