A step towards sustainable biotechnology, SMEY, a French-German firm, unveils NOY, the Neobank of Yeasts, as a pioneering venture in the realm of cultivated oils. This digital yeast profile databank is geared to assist industries from food to cosmetics with tailored oil solutions. As the demand for eco-friendly and traceable supply chains increases, SMEY’s innovation stands poised to cater to these evolving needs. By focusing on yeast fermentation and artificial intelligence, SMEY is reducing the time and resources typically required to develop high-performance oils. This approach ensures not only product excellence but also compliance with stringent environmental regulations globally.
Previously, the biotech industry primarily concentrated on genetically modified organisms for oil production, which posed ethical and sustainability challenges. Now, with NOY, SMEY is leveraging naturally occurring yeast strains coupled with advanced technology to achieve similar outputs without the need for genetic modification. This transition marks a significant shift from traditional methods, aiming to achieve economic scalability and environmental sustainability simultaneously.
What Sets SMEY’s Engine Apart?
The heart of the NOY initiative is its integration with the SMEY.AI platform, allowing for quick identification of yeast strains suitable for specific oil characteristics. The technology allows for the acceleration of processes, traditionally stretching over weeks, to just a few hours. SMEY’s oils, like their cultivated high oleic butter (cHOB) and cultivated cocoa butter (cCB), promise sustainable alternatives to regular oils, focusing heavily on stability and traceability.
How Does SMEY Meet Emerging Regulatory Standards?
With the EU Deforestation Regulation becoming stringent, supply chains require validation of deforestation-free practices. SMEY’s oils fit perfectly into these requirements by being lab-grown and not derived from resources contributing to deforestation. Their products, developed with minimal environmental impact, are helping major brands transition rapidly to eco-friendly ingredients.
The SMEY process begins with identifying yeast strains with high stearic acid content, optimizing fermentation, and refining triglyceride composition. This precision aids in producing cocoa butter that rivals traditional counterparts. The approach ensures economic viability while upholding environmental responsibilities. The company’s current focus is on transforming the food and cosmetics sectors with its innovative bioprocessing platform.
Strategically, SMEY targets high-demand areas in cosmetics and foods, crafting oils compliant with evolving market expectations. The company has already developed high-performance cocoa butter alternatives with specific fatty acid compositions that meet both industry and culinary demands. In cosmetics, SMEY positions its oils as premium, sustainable alternatives, offering enhanced sensory profiles and integration ease into existing products.
Predictions for the future of biomanufacturing envision the creation of entirely new categories of high-performance oils. These oils, characterized by precise and rare property profiles, will meet specific application needs while addressing sustainability, local production, and economic factors for industry-wide adoption. SMEY is exploring sectors such as pharmaceuticals and engineered fats for nutrition, aiming to position its cultivated fats as pillars in sustainable supply chains.
SMEY advances innovations such as cHPO, bioidentical to palm oil, and custom blends for precise applications like confectioneries and cosmetics. As the market continues to demand climate-resilient ingredients, SMEY is well-positioned to lead in offering traceable and sustainable solutions across varying industries.
