Ginkgo Bioworks is tapped by Cargill to help enhance its bioindustrial fermentation processes

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Sep 22, 2016, 12:30 ET

MINNEAPOLIS and BOSTON, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With a successful track record for developing and customizing organisms that can produce ingredients such as scents and flavors, Ginkgo Bioworks, is now collaborating with Cargill to explore strain improvements to optimize Cargill's bioindustrial fermentations.

"We are continually looking for innovative methods to improve our production processes, especially when it comes to efficiency and sustainability," said Jill Zullo, Cargill's North America vice president of bioindustrials. "Partnering with Ginkgo Bioworks allows us to improve our fermentation technology, create a better product for our customers, and continue to accelerate our exploration of the unchartered territory in the bioindustrial arena."

Ginkgo's organism designers work closely with customers across a range of industries, developing microorganisms for the production of cultured ingredients and specialty enzymes for markets such as flavor and fragrance, food and nutrition, and cosmetics and personal care. These organisms are designed and prototyped using Ginkgo's automated foundries, then grown in facilities akin to microbreweries to produce new ingredients during fermentation. This alliance, paired with Ginkgo's latest $100M Series C funding round, further supports the growth and potential of strain development and organism design.

"Cargill's leadership and expertise in fermentation and bioprocessing has long inspired us," said Jason Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks. "Fermentation is vital for the production of many important products, from industrial commodities to food, and our joint work in strain development is indicative of the business impact and potential of bioengineering. We see this partnership not only as a milestone for our business, but also for the future of bioengineering in strain development."

About Ginkgo Bioworks
Headquartered in Boston, Ginkgo Bioworks uses the most advanced technology on the planet—biology—to grow products instead of manufacture 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 Cargill
Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and 150 years of experience. We have 152,000 employees in 67 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks