Ginkgo Bioworks and Robertet announce successful commercial-scale fermentation of flavor and fragrance cultured ingredient

BOSTON and PISCATAWAY, N.J., May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ginkgo Bioworks and Robertet USA are announcing the successful commercial-scale fermentation of a key flavor and fragrance ingredient. The partnership between Ginkgo and Robertet has been an early driver of innovation in cultured ingredients, focusing on products such as rose oil ingredients and a family of lactone ingredients.

Cultured ingredients are a growing sector within flavor and fragrance and other industries, such as food and nutrition or cosmetics and personal care. These ingredients are produced by designer yeasts during fermentation, a process akin to making beer in a brewery. After the fermentation, the ingredient is separated from the yeast cells and can be used like other products.

Ginkgo designs yeast for the production of cultured ingredients and currently has a portfolio of over 40 products under contract with 20 customers. "It's great to see a project go from conception with a customer, through design of the organism and process development, all the way to a 50,000 liter fermentation," said Jason Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks. "Robertet has been a great partner throughout this process and we look forward to building many more successful products together."

From essential oils to cultured ingredients, Robertet has been a leader in natural ingredients for 167 years. "We are thrilled to be working with Ginkgo on the next generation of flavor and fragrance ingredients," commented Bob Weinstein, president of Robertet Ingredients and CEO of Robertet USA. "We're proud to have reached this milestone in commercial scale fermentation and to continue developing innovative ingredients in the future."

This milestone comes on the heels of the news that earlier this week, Ginkgo was named 7th on CNBC's annual Disruptor 50 list, a compilation of forward-thinking companies with innovations that are changing the world. The company was recognized for its technology innovations in biology and ability to scale across consumer and industrial products, "enabling customers to grow rather than manufacture better products." More on the CNBC Disruptor 50 list can be found here.

About Ginkgo Bioworks
Headquartered in Boston, Ginkgo Bioworks uses the most advanced technology on the planet—biology—to grow products instead of manufacturing them. The company's technology platform is bringing biotechnology into consumer goods markets, enabling fragrance, cosmetic, nutrition, and food companies to make better products. For more information, visit www.ginkgobioworks.com.

About Robertet
Robertet is the world's leading source of natural, sustainable and organic ingredients. We are the only fragrance, flavor and ingredient company fully integrated at each step of the creation process, from the source ingredient to the final fragrance and flavor.  Founded in 1850 in Grasse, France, Robertet continues to be privately owned and managed by the fourth and fifth generations of family members.  Our passion for and unparalleled understanding of naturals, together with our creativity and market insight, allows us to provide our customers with world class innovation in scent and taste. 
www.robertet.com

Media Contact:
Bateman Group
Grace Emery
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SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks

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