The future of nutrition won’t be grown in a field. It will be designed in a lab, powered by light, and shaped by the growing demand for sustainable, science-backed solutions.

As our Consumer Wellness Index reveals that sustainability and science-backed health claims continue to rank top of mind for consumers, this presents a dual challenge for brands: to innovate in ways that meet these shifting expectations while also supporting the long-term health of the planet.  

At Nutiani, we believe the next big leap in nutrition lies in synthetic biology, a field rapidly transforming how we produce high-performance ingredients with far less environmental cost.
 

Synthetic biology is the technology that enables precision fermentation.

Precision fermentation is the process where microorganisms that are genetically modified via synthetic biology to achieve new capabilities are then cultivated under carefully controlled conditions during the precision fermentation process to produce specific ingredients such as proteins. 

What Is Synthetic Biology?   

Synthetic biology is rapidly advancing, drawing from biology, engineering, computer science, and chemistry to revolutionize biomanufacturing . By creating new microorganisms or modifying existing ones, synthetic biology is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the nutrition space.  

A core aspect of this field is achieving “unprecedented cellular control” (UCC), which allows for precise dictation of cellular functions, opening up vast potential for innovation and efficiency.

Among the most exciting advancements in synthetic biology is the emerging field of light-powered cellular control. This groundbreaking approach uses light to precisely guide how, when, and what cells produce. While light sensors have long been used in fields like neuroscience to manipulate neuron functions, their applications in nutrition are relatively new. When applied to nutrition, light-powered cellular control has the potential to revolutionalise the creation of nutritional ingredients offering greater precision, efficiency, and scalability than before.  

Embracing the Next Wave of Biotech Innovation

One of the most exciting breakthroughs in this space is light-powered cellular control. By harnessing one of our most abundant resources, light, it has the potential to replace large-scale animal agriculture and resource-intensive fermentation in producing nutritional ingredients. Whether it’s dairy proteins for infant formula or precision peptides for sports nutrition, this technology is not only rigorously tested for safety but also cost-effectived reversible, offering numerous advantages over traditional methods.  

As this technology evolves, it holds immense potential for personalisation – a feature that global consumers increasingly seek in their nutrition solutions. With light-based control, functional ingredients can be tailored to a molecular level to match individual dietary needs and preferences across various health aspects.  
 
However, it is critical to note that light-powered biomanufacturing is still an emerging field with its own set of challenges and untapped opportunities. Brands should focus on applications with significant impact and collaborate strategically to navigate this promising yet complex landscape. Guiding principles for brands at this early stage would include:

1. Focus on high-impact applications where light-powered cellular control can truly shine

The innovative technology excels in producing specialty or high-purity ingredients that are traditionally challenging to extract from natural sources or require intensive, energy-heavy processing. By prioritising these areas, brands can leverage the clear commercial value of scalability and sustainability, setting themselves apart from the competition.

2. Collaboration is key in this highly specialized field 

The most effective way to engage with light-powered biomanufacturing is through strategic partnerships. Whether co-developing with startups like Prolific Machines or working with ingredient manufacturers to integrate these systems into existing supply chains, collaborations provide valuable access without the need for substantial in-house research and development investment.

Future-Proofing with Prolific Machines’ Transformative Innovation

In a highly specialised and rapidly evolving field, strategic partnerships are essential. Working with pioneers like Prolific Machines, a biotechnology firm based in California, allows brands to access cutting-edge science without reinventing the wheel.  

Their unparalleled precision of light allows for extensive control over cellular protein production, enabling longer production windows, improved quality consistency, and increased energy for protein synthesis. As an early investor through the Ki Tua Fund – the corporate venture arm of Fonterra – we see this technology as a promising blueprint for the future of nutrition.

Building Tomorrow’s Nutrition Ecosystem, Today 

At Nutiani, we are deeply committed to anticipating what’s next. Light-powered synthetic biology is more than an exciting development, it’s part of a broader shift toward regenerative, resilient nutrition systems. When combined with AI, bioengineering, and systems-level thinking, it gives us the tools to meet health challenges at scale, without compromising the future of the planet.

By investing early in technologies like this, we are future-proofing our portfolio, and helping our partners deliver what today’s consumers demand: evidence-based, ethical, and personalised nutrition that works for them and for the world they live in.