Nourish Ingredients to establish European hub as animal-free fats scale globally

Canberra-based biotech Nourish Ingredients is expanding its global footprint with plans to establish a commercial hub in the Netherlands, a move designed to accelerate the rollout of its animal-free fats across European and global markets.

The company, which uses precision fermentation to produce specialty lipids that replicate the taste and texture of meat and dairy, said the facility will be based at BioPartner 5 in Leiden. The site will host innovation labs, product development spaces, a demonstration kitchen, and commercial operations, positioning Nourish at the center of Europe’s food manufacturing ecosystem.

Co-founder and chief technology officer Anna El Tahchy has relocated to the Netherlands to lead the new hub. She joins CEO and co-founder James Petrie in steering the company’s next phase of growth, which follows regulatory progress in the United States. In August, Nourish secured recognition for its primary Tastilux ingredient, Mortierella alpina biomass (S11), as safe for use as a flavoring in food. The designation opened the door to immediate commercial sales in the US.

“Setting up a hub in Europe represents an enormous opportunity for Nourish Ingredients as we scale our animal-free fats globally,” Petrie said. “The region is home to the world’s largest food manufacturers, brands and provides unparalleled support for sustainable food innovation. Establishing our commercial hub in the Netherlands allows us to work directly with European customers and partners, tapping into local networks that will accelerate our growth.”

Tastilux, Nourish’s flagship product, is designed to bring the sensory richness of animal fats to plant-based and cultivated foods, making meat alternatives taste closer to conventional products. Its sister product, Creamilux, provides the creamy qualities associated with dairy fats. Together, the ingredients aim to solve one of the persistent challenges in alternative proteins: creating authentic flavor and mouthfeel without animal inputs.

BioPartner 5, where Nourish will base its operations, is recognized as the first energy-neutral laboratory in the Netherlands. The facility was designed to be energy-efficient, circular, and aligned with the climate goals of the Paris Agreement, aligning with Nourish’s sustainability commitments.

El Tahchy, who holds a master’s degree in food chemistry from the French National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts in Paris, said the Leiden hub will give the company proximity to both talent and partners. “Europe offers an ideal environment for the next stage of our growth, with a highly supportive ecosystem and some of the world’s leading food companies based here,” she said. “Combined with a deep pool of scientific and commercial talent and its reputation as a hub for food innovation, Europe is the natural next step in our global journey. We’re looking forward to building our team here and working closely with local partners.”

The facility’s demonstration kitchen will be a centerpiece for collaboration with food manufacturers. By allowing prospective customers to experience Nourish’s fats in finished products, the company hopes to accelerate adoption and custom formulation. Specialized food and sensory laboratories will support rapid product development tailored to different markets.

The Leiden site also positions Nourish alongside other high-profile players in the alternative protein space. Its neighbor at BioPartner 5 will be Vivici, a company backed by dsm-firmenich and Fonterra that produces animal-free dairy proteins. Both organizations see potential for collaboration within the ecosystem.

“We’re excited to welcome Nourish Ingredients as our neighbor at BioPartner 5,” commented Vivici CEO Stephan van Sint Fiet. “Having innovative companies focused on sustainable food solutions working side by side creates tremendous opportunities for knowledge sharing and potential projects. We have found having a base in the EU to be incredibly advantageous, opening us up to some of the most influential food and beverage companies globally.”

The sentiment was echoed by Thijs De Kleer, director of BioPartner at Leiden Bio Science Park. “We’re delighted to welcome Nourish Ingredients to BioPartner 5,” he said.

For Nourish, the move into Europe comes at a pivotal moment. With regulatory clearance in the USA and a new base in one of the world’s most dynamic food innovation regions, the company is positioning itself for broader commercialization. The Netherlands facility is expected to be fully operational by 2026, when Nourish plans to host a formal opening and customer showcase.

Founded by former CSIRO scientists, Nourish Ingredients has sought to bridge the gap between plant-based proteins and the sensory experience consumers expect from animal products. Its precision fermentation approach allows the company to reproduce specific lipids that contribute to flavor, aroma, and texture in foods. By producing these compounds without animals, Nourish aims to offer sustainable alternatives that appeal to both consumers and manufacturers.

As the company scales production, its dual focus on Tastilux and Creamilux reflects a strategy to target both the meat and dairy alternatives markets. With Europe’s reputation as a hub for food innovation and its concentration of global food companies, Nourish’s choice of Leiden as a commercial anchor highlights the region’s pull for emerging biotech companies seeking international reach.