Fooditive unveils licensable biotech platform to power global sustainable ingredients

Dutch biotech innovator, Fooditive Group, has launched its new licensable precision fermentation platform, the Fooditive Engine, alongside a novel enzyme for sugar reduction, FAOX-C. The move marks a strategic shift for the Rotterdam-based company – from product developer to technology platform provider – as it opens up its proprietary tools to food manufacturers worldwide.

Described by Moayad Abushokhedim, Founder & CEO, as “a pivotal moment for Fooditive and, we believe, for the industry”, the modular platform consolidates years of research and development into a unified solution. It is now available for global licensing, offering partners access to a suite of scalable, sustainable ingredient technologies.

These include Fooditive’s validated animal-free casein, its next-generation zero-calorie sweetener 5-KDF, and the newly introduced FAOX-C enzyme. Together, they represent Fooditive’s ambition to accelerate innovation in sustainable food production by removing R&D barriers and offering proven, ready-to-deploy biotech solutions.

The company’s new enzyme, FAOX-C (Fructosyl Oxidase-C), was developed within the Fooditive Engine and is designed to convert fructose – including from fruit by-products – into 5-KDF. The process enables sugar reduction in food applications while enhancing ingredient functionality and supporting circular production through upcycling.

“FAOX-C showcases the ongoing power and versatility of our platform,” said Abushokhedim. “It directly supports the creation of healthier, cleaner-label products without sacrificing taste or efficiency.”

Fooditive’s precision fermentation platform is built for scalability and backed by six patent families. Its animal-free casein technology, already supported by a four-year off-take agreement with a global FMCG company, uses up to 76 times less water and emits 29 times less CO₂ than conventional dairy, according to company estimates. Its 5-KDF sweetener – Fooditive Sweetener – achieved self-affirmed GRAS status in the USA in late 2024 and is now undergoing full FDA review, with US manufacturing already in place.

The company says licensing the platform offers multiple advantages, including access to de-risked technologies, reduced R&D costs, and compatibility with upcycled feedstocks. Licensees will also benefit from continuous upgrades and new applications as the Engine expands.

Fooditive is actively seeking partners across the food industry, from multinationals and ingredient suppliers to startups and regional manufacturers, to co-develop applications using the platform.

“The future of food will be co-created,” said Abushokhedim. “We’re offering the technological key to unlock that future – and FAOX-C is just the beginning.”