FRANCE- American startup DMC Biotechnologies has announced a partnership with French food companies Michelin and Danone as well as French investing firm Biotech Open Platform to encourage precision fermentation and other advanced fermentation processes to produce bio-based ingredients.
The platform is supported various private and public institutions, including the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the University of Clermont Auvergne, Greentech and Clermont Auvergne Métropole.
The partnership will invest over €16 million (US$17.36 million) in the initial phase to set up the platform. It will be located in Clermont-Ferrand within the Parc Cataroux Center for Sustainable Materials, an innovation accelerator supported by Michelin.
According to industry experts, biotechnology is the most promising alternatives to fossil-based resources, especially in precision fermentation, as companies strive to find sustainable and innovative solutions to meet supply chain needs.
Precision fermentation uses microorganisms like yeast, fungi or bacteria to produce enzymes, proteins and other important molecules that are used in the food industry.
The new facility is considered an important innovation, especially in supply chain management because it is expected to enable larger-scale adoption of biotechnologies and precision fermentation. It will, therefore, enable scaling up of innovative processes and products in the supply chain.
The partnering firms also announced plans to set a demo-scale production line which will include purification and fermenting equipment by 2025. After a second production line is set up in by 2026, the facility will be open to companies finding it difficult to scale up the industrial manufacturing sector.
The partners praised the move, expressing optimism on the impact the move will have on the food industry’s supply chain.
Antoine de Saint-Affrique, Danone’s CEO said, “We look forward to working with our partners to develop cutting-edge fermentation technologies which will accelerate innovation, health benefits and decarbonization in the food industry.”
Florent Menegaux, Michelin’s President said, “The Michelin group is pleased to announce the creation, with its partners, of the Biotech Open Platform – a unique tool that will enhance the development of bio-sourced materials, a key challenge for the industry of tomorrow.”
Frédéric Baraut, Crédit Agricole Centre France’s CEO said, “By contributing to the Biotech Open Platform, we are helping to develop a new bio-based sector based in Clermont-Ferrand and also adding to the value and the attractiveness of the region.”
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