'Unique' fermentation process wins Isobionics an innovation award

Combining fermentation with biotransformation, the new process is said to guarantee the supply of consistently high-quality and low-cost Valencene Pure; a natural flavour molecule for orange notes.

"Isobionics can rightly claim to be the first company to have targeted a molecule rationally for synthesis using biotransformation technology​," said Dr Kaushik Shankar, Frost & Sullivan research analyst.

Natural extracts​

Valencene Pure can be used to create natural orange and grapefruit notes in food products without worries about quality that plague natural extracts, he added. "While concentrations of the active molecules are consistent, there are little or no associated impurities with the product like insecticide residues, which are common in natural products. This results in greater customer confidence​."

In recreating the exact molecule that is obtained from Valencia oranges, company is said to have added value to a product that is normally dependent on agricultural production cycles. "Standardisation is achieved both on molecular consistency and pricing," said Shankar.

Developed by Isobionics researchers, the controlled fermentation method uses the commonly available feedstock, glucose allowing a near 10-fold cut in the cost of producing Valencene Pure compared with orange-derived valencene.

The scalability of the process also allows for quick upgrades of production capacities, which is impossible from agriculture derived ingredients and much higher concentrations than available from valencene,

The Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation Award is presented to the company that has excelled in the following criteria: Uniqueness of technology, impact on new products/applications, impact on functionality, impact on customer value and relevance of innovation to industry.

Superior performance​

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognise companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.