Symrise, a global supplier of fragrances, flavorings, cosmetic active ingredients, and functional ingredients, has announced a strategic equity investment in US biotech company Cellibre.
Through the partnership, Symrise will gain preferred access to Cellibre’s proprietary, precision fermentation-based technology. Together, the two companies will develop next-generation manufacturing technologies for globally important ingredients.
This will enable Symrise to accelerate the commercialization of high-value natural flavor ingredients and cosmetic bioactives. The technology could also potentially make supply chains more resilient by mitigating seasonal and cultivation variability.
“This investment accelerates our biotechnology roadmap and strengthens our ability to deliver sustainable, high-quality solutions to our customers,” said Imke Meyer, Project Lead for Biotechnology at Symrise. “Together with Cellibre, we will combine scientific expertise with application know-how and market reach to unlock new growth opportunities.”
“Biology is the future of manufacturing”
Cellibre specializes in sustainable biomanufacturing, and has significant experience in designing and engineering microorganisms for the production of cultured natural products and chemicals. These products are used across a variety of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, functional health, beauty, industrial applications, and more.
Through the collaboration, Symrise hopes to further its ambition to integrate biotechnology across its operations. The technology could help to achieve long-term resilience, portfolio diversification, and competitive advantage. Additionally, it will aid the company in meeting its sustainability commitments.
“Since 2017, we have been led by the belief that biology is the future of manufacturing, and we are committed to creating more resilient supply chains, delivering products that are lower cost and higher quality while limiting the impact on natural ecosystems,” said Ben Chiarelli, CEO of Cellibre. “This partnership represents another external validation of our approach, technology, and team, and will leverage the Symrise team’s global market access and deep expertise in flavors, fragrances, and cosmetics — creating powerful synergies for both companies.”
