Corbion joins forces with BRAIN Biotech to accelerate bio-based preservation

Corbion, the Amsterdam-based sustainable ingredients company, has announced a collaboration with BRAIN Biotech AG of Zwingenberg, Germany, to develop novel bio-based antimicrobial compounds and derivatives. The agreement, made public in late August, is designed to strengthen Corbion’s portfolio of natural preservation solutions while helping food manufacturers respond to growing consumer demand for clean-label products.

The partnership will combine Corbion’s expertise in food systems, preservation technologies, and large-scale production with BRAIN Biotech’s strengths in specialty enzyme technology, microbial strain development, and bioprocess engineering. Together, the two companies expect to accelerate innovation and bring new antimicrobial tools to market more quickly.

Domenico Vulcano, Vice President of Global Innovation at Corbion, said that joining forces with other specialists is essential to advancing the science of nature-based ingredient technologies. “At Corbion, advancing the state of the art in nature-based ingredient technologies, proving and expanding on their value and efficacy, is essential to preserving what matters,” he said. “One of the ways we continue to strengthen our investment in innovation is through establishing partnerships with other experts like those at BRAIN Biotech. We believe this kind of collaboration will help us bring the next paradigm-changing breakthroughs to market sooner.”

For Corbion, the alliance is a continuation of its long-standing focus on fermentation-derived preservation solutions, including vinegars, ferments, and plant-based antioxidants. These are widely used across food categories such as meat, poultry, bakery, sauces, and confectionery to extend shelf life, improve food safety, and maintain sensory qualities.

BRAIN Biotech brings complementary skills to the table. In addition to its work in microbial and enzyme development, it operates as a technology licensing company, extending the reach of its innovations across multiple industries. By combining these capabilities with Corbion’s applied knowledge of food systems and its piloting and scale-up capacity, the partners hope to deliver technologies that are both scientifically robust and commercially viable.

Dr Martin Langer, Managing Director and Executive Vice President at BRAIN Biotech, emphasized the natural fit between the two companies. “We are very pleased to partner with Corbion in expanding what’s possible with sustainable, bio-based solutions,” he said. “We see a very strong affinity between our team at BRAIN and our collaborators at Corbion. Given our respective strengths, shared vision, and complementary areas of expertise, we expect this to be a fruitful collaboration that will deliver real impact for the world’s food manufacturers.”

The collaboration comes at a time when food manufacturers are under pressure to replace artificial preservatives with alternatives that consumers recognize as safe, natural, and sustainable. Interest in clean-label products has been rising steadily, with shoppers increasingly scrutinizing ingredient lists for transparency.

Corbion said the agreement with BRAIN Biotech is directly aligned with its mission of 'preserving what matters', which balances food safety, sustainability, and sensory quality. The aim is to provide antimicrobial compounds that can extend shelf life and reduce food waste while meeting both regulatory requirements and consumer expectations.

While neither company disclosed specific product details at this stage, they said the collaboration is intended to yield a new wave of bio-based preservation solutions over the coming years. These would build on Corbion’s existing capabilities in lactic acid, functional blends, and algae-based ingredients, and on BRAIN Biotech’s advances in microbial and enzyme science.

Corbion has also invested heavily in technical support for its customers, including predictive modeling and laboratory services that help manufacturers select and optimize preservation strategies. By combining these applied services with new compounds developed in partnership with BRAIN Biotech, the company expects to strengthen its position as a leading provider of natural preservation technologies.

The collaboration also ties into broader sustainability goals. Bio-based preservation methods not only reduce reliance on synthetic additives but can also contribute to lowering food waste – a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. For food manufacturers, these solutions promise both operational benefits and alignment with corporate environmental commitments.

With the first results expected in the coming years, the Corbion–BRAIN Biotech partnership represents another step in the shift toward using biotechnology to solve some of the most pressing challenges in food production. As Vulcano noted, advancing preservation technologies is critical to ensuring that food remains safe, appealing, and sustainable.