Michroma teams up with CJ CheilJedang to bring natural colorants to global scale

Michroma, a San Francisco-based biotechnology company developing sustainable natural colorants, has entered into a strategic partnership with CJ CheilJedang (CJCJ), the South Korean food and biotechnology conglomerate. The agreement, announced on 24 September, marks a significant step toward scaling Michroma’s fermentation-derived colorant technology into full commercial production.

The collaboration will see Michroma’s precision fermentation platform aligned with CJCJ’s manufacturing network, which spans Indonesia, China, Malaysia, the United States, Brazil, and South Korea. By tapping into CJCJ’s global footprint, the companies aim to establish a reliable and diversified supply chain for Michroma’s colorants, reducing the risk of production bottlenecks and ensuring availability for customers across multiple sectors.

For Michroma, the partnership represents an inflection point in its journey from laboratory innovation to commercial relevance. “Our mission at Michroma is to set a new standard for sustainable, natural colorants, and this partnership with CJ CheilJedang is a critical step in that journey,” said Ricky Cassini, CEO of Michroma. “Partnering with CJ CheilJedang allows us to bring our innovations to market at scale, offering reliable, high-performance natural solutions that address the needs of global manufacturers.”

The startup’s debut product is a natural red colorant designed to perform under the harsh conditions of industrial processing. Unlike many plant-derived or synthetic alternatives, Michroma’s ingredient demonstrates strong thermal and pH stability, making it suitable for applications ranging from beverages and confectionery to cosmetics. This robustness is intended to help manufacturers move away from artificial colorants while maintaining consistent performance.

CJCJ, best known globally for its food brands and as a leader in fermentation technologies, sees the partnership as a way to expand into the high-growth natural colorant category. “We are excited to collaborate with Michroma to revolutionize the natural colorant industry,” a company official said. “CJ CheilJedang’s expansive manufacturing footprint and operational excellence make us the ideal partner for Michroma’s innovative products. Our ability to operate across key global markets and maintain consistent output aligns with Michroma’s vision to redefine performance standards in the natural colorant sector.”

The demand for natural and clean-label ingredients has risen sharply in recent years, fueled by consumer concerns over synthetic additives and regulatory scrutiny, particularly in the USA and Europe. For food and beverage companies, switching to reliable, high-performance natural alternatives has become both a brand imperative and a supply chain challenge. By leveraging CJCJ’s procurement expertise and compliance capabilities, Michroma expects to navigate this shift more effectively.

Under the agreement, the two companies will conduct technology validation and other preparatory steps to ensure seamless integration into CJCJ’s production lines. This phase will lay the groundwork for broader commercialization and future expansion of Michroma’s product portfolio beyond red. Although details of the rollout timeline were not disclosed, both parties emphasized that the collaboration is designed to accelerate market entry while building long-term capacity.

The partnership also reflects a broader trend in biotechnology, where startups with novel platforms increasingly seek industrial partners to overcome the hurdles of scaling. While small companies often bring agility and scientific breakthroughs, established players like CJCJ offer the infrastructure, raw material access, and regulatory know-how needed for reliable global distribution.

For Michroma, founded with the goal of replacing synthetic dyes with bio-based alternatives, the tie-up with CJCJ provides the means to demonstrate its technology at a commercial scale. For CJCJ, which already has deep expertise in fermentation and global supply chains, the collaboration expands its portfolio into a sector projected to grow significantly in the coming decade.

The agreement underscores how natural colorants are moving from niche to mainstream. With consumer brands under pressure to reformulate, the ability to offer scalable, stable, and cost-competitive natural solutions could reshape how manufacturers approach product development. If successful, Michroma and CJCJ’s partnership could establish a new benchmark for consistency and reliability in an industry long challenged by variability in natural ingredients.

While no financial terms were disclosed, the companies signaled that the partnership extends beyond immediate production goals. Both sides described it as a platform for future growth, with opportunities to broaden Michroma’s range of biotech-based ingredients and further strengthen supply resilience.

“Our goal is not only to bring a better red colorant to market, but to open the door to an entirely new generation of natural solutions,” Cassini said. “With CJ CheilJedang, we have a partner that shares our vision for sustainable innovation and the capabilities to make it a reality on a global scale.”

As Michroma prepares its first commercial launch, the partnership provides the infrastructure and credibility to meet demand from multinational customers. For CJCJ, it signals a strategic commitment to expand beyond its core businesses into emerging areas of biotechnology that align with shifting consumer expectations.

Together, the companies say they are aiming to redefine what performance and reliability mean in the natural colorant sector. By combining startup innovation with established manufacturing expertise, they hope to create a model that can scale globally while reducing reliance on synthetic ingredients.