Nourish says Cabio partnership links “Australian innovation with China’s manufacturing might”

Canberra-based food technology company Nourish Ingredients, which has developed a method to create specialty fats for plant-based foods through precision fermentation, has signed a joint commercial agreement with China’s Cabio Biotech.

In a statement from Nourish on Tuesday, the company said it is combining “Australian innovation with China’s manufacturing might” and exposing its flagship product Tastilux to “the vast potential of the APAC market.”

Tastilux – which is described as offering a “meaty flavour, aroma and cooking experience” – will be produced by Cabio under the deal for Chinese and other markets. It will also see the product distributed with increased reach, thanks to Cabio’s “local knowledge and networks”.

A key advantage cited was in the Chinese partner’s “extensive experience in navigating China’s complex regulatory landscape”, which will ideally “facilitate rapid market access for Nourish Ingredients’ products in China and potentially other Asian markets”.

Nourish was founded in 2019 by former CSIRO scientists Dr James Petrie and Dr Ben Leita. It raised $14.5 million in seed funding in 2019 and $45 million through a Series A round in 2022. Its backers include CSIRO’s venture fund, Main Sequence.

According to an article from Capital Brief on Tuesday, Nourish is beginning to raise again as an extension to the Series A.

“This collaboration combines our cutting-edge product development with CABIO’s manufacturing excellence and market insights, positioning us to meet the surging global demand for superior food ingredients,” said CEO Petrie. 

“Together, we’re set to efficiently produce top-tier products, opening doors to both the dynamic Chinese market and broader international opportunities.”

Cabio, established 2004 and based in Wuhan’s East Lake High-tech Development Zone, claims one of the world’s largest LCPUFA (long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids) factories, “with a full set of capabilities ranging from bio-fermentation, non-solvent extraction, refining, winterization, and microencapsulation”.

Cabio’s Vice President Jimmy Wang added that, “This collaboration aligns perfectly with our commitment to advancing biotechnology and delivering cutting-edge products.

Picture: credit Nourish Ingredients

Picture: supplied

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