From functional foods and science-based beauty products to personalised prevention concepts – food, healthcare and beauty are converging to create a new market worth billions. This transformation, driven by the latest research findings and technological innovation, is creating completely new value-creation networks and providing companies with unique opportunities to position themselves in this growth market.
The following five visionary start-ups and leading industry figures are driving this transformation.
Nuritas: AI-precision peptide discovery in food and drinks innovation
Nuritas has developed an AI-based platform enabling bioactive peptides from natural sources to be identified and validated. These peptides possess the potential to improve various aspects of human health – from muscle regeneration to skin ageing. One example is PeptiStrong™, a plant-based peptide that has proven effective at enhancing muscle health during clinical studies.
Nora Khaldi, founder and CEO of Nuritas, is one of the leading innovators in the bio-tech sector. With a background in maths, IT and a Ph.D. in molecular biology, she has been a pioneer in deploying AI in food and drinks innovation.
Khaldi underlines the importance of combining scientific research with artificial intelligence in order to efficiently discover natural ingredients and maximise their health benefits. Nuritas' technology is based on a commitment to making scientifically validated, health-promoting ingredients accessible to everyone. “Good health shouldn’t be a luxury,” Khaldi often says. Based on Nuritas' commitment, the start-up is helping to bridge the gap between nutrition, health and beauty and develop innovative solutions for people’s wellbeing. Khaldi’s work has attracted great interest from the industry and has been recognised by institutions such as the European Commission as well as leading publications, including Forbes and Wired.
Abolis Biotechnologies: sustainable bio-production and microbiome research
The start-up Abolis Biotechnologies’ mission is to develop eco-friendly biological processes for the production of chemicals and proteins which can be used in the food, health and cosmetics industries. Abolis provides bio-tech solutions that reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and traditional manufacturing processes. Cyrille Pauthenier, co-founder and CEO of Abolis Biotechnologies, reveals what the future of bio-tech may look like in an age marked by growing demand for sustainability and eco-minded innovations.
Provenance Bio: animal-free collagen for a sustainable future
Provenance Bio’s mission is developing ethical and sustainable alternatives to animal-based products. The firm is a leader player in alternative proteins and has developed animal-free collagen for food, beauty and pharmaceutical applications. Michalyn Andrews, CEO and co-founder, reveals how innovative bio-tech solutions are opening up fresh opportunities in nutrition and beauty. Their activities not only help to reduce demand for animal-based products, but also provide ethical alternatives that meet the needs of a generation of consumers who are more aware.
ORF Genetics: cell cultivation for food, pharmaceutical and beauty innovations
ORF Genetics focuses on developing growth factors from barley for the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries and is working on innovative solutions, including cell cultivation for cultured meat. Deploying cell cultivation methods and bio-tech innovations, ORF Genetics is not only changing the way in which we produce food, but is also creating new opportunities for the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. In this context, Björn Örvar, co-founder, Chief Scientific Officer and EVP Business Development, highlights the importance of sustainable innovations that enable a brighter future for all industries.
EcoBean: circular economy for sustainable beauty and food products
Marcin Koziorowski, CEO and co-founder of EcoBean, has created a company committed to the circular economy. EcoBean has developed a technology that converts used coffee remnants into valuable chemical fractions that can be used in the food, animal feed, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and packaging industries. Focusing heavily on sustainability and resource conservation, Koziorowski shows how valuable products can be obtained from what would seem to be waste. EcoBean’s activities are a prime example of how innovation in the circular economy is creating sustainable solutions for a wide range of industries.
The future of food, health and beauty - explore it now
Get inspiration live from these and other visionary pioneers. The International Food Innovation Conference – whose maxim is ‘Beyond Nutrition: The Convergence of Food, Health, and Beauty’ – provides the ideal opportunity to explore the convergence of these dynamic industries. Companies seeking to operate successfully in the food, health and beauty sectors will gain valuable insights into the latest research findings, future-minded business models and technological innovations.