- Food Brewer has raised 11.1 million.
- The startup uses plant cell culture to produce cocoa biomass in bioreactors, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional cocoa farming.
- Food Brewer plans to scale up production by retrofitting brewing facilities or partnering with clients, aiming for large-scale plants with 50,000-liter bioreactors.
- The company is targeting the U.S. market and plans to file GRAS notifications with the FDA, with a goal of market entry by late 2026.
Zurich-based startup Food Brewer, which specializes in producing cocoa through plant cell culture, has secured CHF 5 million (11.1 million), marking a significant milestone in its mission to revolutionize cocoa production.
The funding round underscores growing interest in plant cell culture as a sustainable solution to address the global cocoa supply crisis, exacerbated by climate change and increasing demand. Food Brewer’s innovative approach involves growing cocoa biomass from plant cells in bioreactors, bypassing traditional agricultural methods that rely on sunlight, water, and soil.
“The commitments of Lindt & Sprüngli and Sparkalis are a further validation of our business and of the market need for what we’re building,” said Food Brewer CEO Christian Schaub. He emphasized that Lindt & Sprüngli’s expertise in chocolate production will accelerate the company’s go-to-market strategy, while Sparkalis’ focus on disruptive, planet-positive technologies aligns with Food Brewer’s mission.
Scaling Up Production
Food Brewer is currently operating at pilot scale, using 800-liter bioreactors to produce kilos of cocoa biomass. The company plans to scale up to demo-scale production by retrofitting brewing facilities or partnering with clients who have adaptable production capabilities. The long-term goal is to establish large-scale plants with bioreactors of up to 50,000 liters, leveraging equipment from the brewing industry to keep costs low.
“We’re already at pilot scale, and our next goal is to get to demo-scale either by retrofitting a brewing facility or partnering with clients with production capabilities that can be adapted,” explained CFO Mathilde Dupin. She added that plant cell culture has already been proven commercially at a 75,000-liter scale in other industries, such as pharmaceuticals.
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Advantages of Plant Cell Culture
Unlike precision fermentation, which requires costly downstream processing to extract and purify ingredients, plant cell culture allows Food Brewer to harvest the entire biomass, simplifying production and reducing costs. The company’s growth media, composed primarily of sugars, minerals, vitamins, and plant growth hormones, costs only a few cents per liter, making the process economically viable.
“We don’t have to get rid of the host microorganism; we’re basically just growing cells, collecting the biomass, and drying it,” Schaub noted. This approach not only ensures cost efficiency but also aligns with the growing demand for sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural solutions.
Regulatory and Market Strategy
Food Brewer is targeting the U.S. market and plans to file Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notifications with the FDA this year, aiming for market entry by late 2026. The company emphasizes that its goal is not to replace traditional agriculture but to bridge the gap between rising demand and limited agricultural supply.
“We’re not trying to replace agriculture or even compete with it; we’re just closing the gap between demand and agricultural supply,” Schaub said.
The investment from Lindt & Sprüngli and Sparkalis highlights the growing recognition of plant cell culture as a viable solution to futureproof the cocoa supply chain. As climate change continues to threaten traditional cocoa-growing regions, Food Brewer’s innovative approach offers a promising alternative to ensure a sustainable and resilient future for the chocolate industry.
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