- Background
- What we're looking for
- What we can offer you
- Who we are
- Q&A
iFAB (the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Hub), a U.S. Regional Innovation Hub led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and anchored by the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL), has joined with Kraft Heinz to accelerate the transition of nature-identical food ingredients produced through precision fermentation from lab-scale proof-of-concept to pilot and demonstration scale. With a consortium of more than 30 members, iFAB provides the infrastructure for startups and ingredient suppliers to translate laboratory breakthroughs into viable industrial solutions. Kraft Heinz, a founding industry partner, contributes its formulation expertise and market perspective to ensure that new fermentation-enabled ingredients meet performance, cost, and consumer expectations.
Across sweeteners, colors, preservatives, and antioxidants, there is growing momentum to replace synthetic additives with natural alternatives. However, many naturally derived ingredients face challenges that limit their broader adoption, including high production costs, unreliable supply chains, variability in quality, and performance limitations. Precision fermentation offers a promising pathway to overcome these limitations by enabling the production of nature-identical compounds with consistent quality, scalable supply, and improved economic feasibility.
Through this joint request, iFAB and Kraft Heinz aim to catalyze collaborations that leverage precision fermentation to create sustainable, scalable, and clean-label ingredient solutions that strengthen supply resilience and support a healthier, more transparent food system.
We are looking for fermentation-based ingredient technologies that have demonstrated lab-scale feasibility and are ready for pilot-scale production, focusing on nature-identical sweeteners, colors, preservatives, and antioxidants. The challenge lies in identifying technologies capable of producing these compounds economically and at scale.
We are also open to solutions that enhance the production of existing precision fermentation–derived ingredients through improvements in yield, cost efficiency, or supply reliability. Of particular interest are approaches that isolate and replicate active compounds from complex natural systems; for example, identifying the specific antioxidant molecules within plant extracts and demonstrating their production via precision fermentation. We welcome proposals across the ingredient categories described below.
- Sweeteners (e.g., stevia, monk fruit, sweet proteins)
- Colors, especially FD&C dye replacements that are heat- , light-, and pH-stable
- Preservatives (e.g., antimicrobials)
- Antioxidants with clear mechanisms of action such as free radical scavengers, metal chelators, or singlet oxygen quenchers
- Enables production of nature-identical compounds within target categories: sweeteners, colors, preservatives, or antioxidants
- Bench-scale experimental validation or proof of concept demonstrating feasibility of ingredient production
- Preliminary assessment or evidence of consideration for economic and scalability feasibility of production
- Equipment or process innovations related to ingredients already established in precision fermentation must demonstrate measurable improvements in yield, recovery, or production efficiency
- Potential to produce multiple classes of food ingredients
- Use of upcycled or low-cost feedstocks or integration of side streams that add sustainability or economic value to the process
- Clear pathway to cost competitiveness and supply security supported by preliminary technoeconomic data
- Natural flavors and mouthfeel modifiers
- Bulk food ingredients such as proteins, carbohydrates, texturizers, or fats that are typically used in large quantities
We are driving transformation at The Kraft Heinz Company, inspired by our Purpose, Let's Make Life Delicious. Consumers are at the center of everything we do. With 2021 net sales of approximately $26 billion, we are committed to growing our iconic and emerging food and beverage brands on a global scale. We leverage our scale and agility to unleash the full power of Kraft Heinz across a portfolio of six consumer-driven product platforms. As global citizens, we're dedicated to making a sustainable, ethical impact while helping feed the world in healthy, responsible ways. Learn more about our journey by visiting www.kraftheinzcompany.com or following us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Learn moreThe Q&A is now closed.
Other recommended requests
delivered to your inbox.