ADM has partnered with Brightseed, a company specializing in the discovery and development of bioactive ingredients, to create functional synbiotic products for the microbiome. The companies aim to use artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze molecular interactions between dietary plants and gut microbes to identify bioactives that could have a potential impact on human health. This collaboration comes at a time when there is a growing interest in the gut microbiome’s role in human health and nutrition science, and precision gut health benefits from prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and synbiotics.
Brightseed’s AI program, Forager, will be used to discover bioactives in plants and map them to specific modes of action with greater accuracy and speed than was previously possible. Brightseed has already launched Bio 01, a hemp fiber standardized to contain two bioactive compounds that support gut barrier integrity in preclinical studies.
ADM’s president of global health and wellness said that consumer trends have shifted towards natural and plant-based solutions targeting immune function, metabolic health, and mental well-being. He expressed excitement about the partnership with Brightseed and the potential to bring science-backed solutions that empower consumers towards proactive and individualized health. The co-founder and chief operating officer of Brightseed added that ADM’s advanced understanding of natural compounds’ untapped potential combined with their microbial libraries would redefine the future of ingredients for a healthy microbiome.
