Cargill raises the bar on gut and immune health innovation with investment in life sciences venture capital fund

02-Dec-2020 - Last updated on 02-Dec-2020 at 14:56 GMT

Cargill aims to push the boundaries on microbiome innovation. Pic: GettyImages/RyanKing999

Cargill has joined a network of investors in Seventure Partners’ Health for Life Capital II fund – which includes Lesaffre, ADM’s corporate venture capital arm, Danone and Novartis – to drive the creation of next generation ingredient solutions that will support the microbiome revolution.

The global ingredients specialist’s extensive research has already established the vital interconnection between the microbiome with immunity and gut integrity and a host of other health issues.

Cargill’s move into the digestive and immune health space began in 2017 with its acquisition of Diamond V, along with an investment in phytogenics pioneer Delacon. It recently became a minority shareholder with a $25m investment in BioGaia, a Swedish biotechnology company that develops a range of products with probiotics.

Fastest growing segment in nutrition

Cargill forecasts functional ingredients to be one of the fastest growing segments in nutrition and believes its financial boost in the Seventure’s fund will accelerate its product innovation. It will also give the company insight into the latest technologies and trends in the digestive and immune health space through the fund’s evaluation of nearly 1,000 innovative startups per year.

“We’re thrilled to invest with Seventure Partners, given its deep expertise and knowledge of the rapidly evolving microbiome ecosystem,” said Chuck Warta, president of Cargill’s health technologies business.

Together, we will expand the existing suite of health solutions available to consumers and bring more relevant products to market in the functional food arena.”

Transforming science into great products

Isabelle De Cremoux, chief executive officer and managing partner of Seventure, added, “Microbiome innovations are now impacting many industries, providing great opportunities for growth. Cargill joining our fund will accelerate our mission to transform fascinating science into great products, improving people’s lives.”

Under the agreement, De Cremoux will join an internal Cargill advisory board tasked with providing strategic guidance and insight to grow its health technologies portfolio.

The advisory board also includes Dr Bruce German, a professor at UC Davis and co-founder of a startup focused on infant nutrition; Dr Mary Ellen Sanders, a 30-year veteran probiotic industry consultant and founding president of the International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP); and Scott Bush, a probiotics commercial leader with more than 30 years of experience.