Wacker and Biosyntia Partner on Biotin
German chemical company Wacker has signed a contract with Danish biotech Biosyntia to develop a large-scale production process for biotin based on the fermentation of plant-based raw materials. This would provide a sustainable alternative to the synthetic version that is currently on the market and made from petrochemicals.
"Demand for more natural products is increasing, and with it the need for companies to use ingredients that are sustainable. Producing active ingredients from advanced fermentation is the future of production," said Biosyntia CEO Martin Plambech.
Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a coenzyme for the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It has a wide range of applications in food & beverages, infant nutrition, nutraceuticals, pet food, animal feed, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
The multi-year program collaboration aims to make fermentation-based biotin that will be sourced in Europe and available for the full range of relevant applications.
The companies said demand for biotin is rising sharply, driven by trends in health and wellbeing. They cited a recent study that forecasts annual growth for biotin of about 10% in the coming years with the global market expected to be worth $376 million in 2026.
Biosyntia was spun out of the Centre for Biosustainability at the Technical University of Denmark in 2012.
Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist
