Sweet revolution: Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition partners with Shiru to develop sweet proteins

Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America (AHN), a leader in amino acids, and Shiru, a pioneering protein discovery company, have joined forces to develop and commercialize a new generation of natural sweeteners: sweet proteins. This groundbreaking partnership marks a significant leap in the quest for healthier sugar alternatives and leverages the unique strengths of both companies.

AHN boasts a century-long legacy in the ingredient space and a strong presence in the sweetener market. Meanwhile, Shiru brings its cutting-edge AI platform, Flourish, which excels at identifying novel protein solutions in nature.

Sugar consumption has been linked to a string of global health concerns like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Sweet proteins offer a promising alternative, with the potential to replace sugar and other sweeteners in beverages and specialty products without triggering blood sugar spikes. Remarkably, these proteins can deliver up to 5,000 times the sweetness of sugar, meaning they can significantly reduce the amount of sugar needed in products.

The benefits extend beyond sweetness. Unlike sugar, sweet proteins are digested like dietary proteins, posing no threat to gut health. Additionally, they offer a more sustainable option compared to high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and conventional sugar production.

Existing natural sweet proteins, mostly derived from fruits and berries, present some challenges. These include potential lingering or off-putting taste profiles and limitations in stability. This is where Shiru's Flourish platform comes in.

This AI-powered tool can scour a vast database of natural proteins, unearthing previously unknown sweet proteins with desirable characteristics. By leveraging AI, the partnership aims to overcome the limitations of currently known options and develop truly exceptional sweet proteins.

This collaboration positions both companies at the forefront of functional ingredient innovation, specifically in the ever-growing protein category. AHN's established market presence and customer base, including leading food and beverage companies, provide a perfect platform for launching these new sweeteners.

"Our partnership with Shiru reflects our commitment to innovation," commented Ryan Smith, Chief Growth Officer & Executive Vice President at Ajinomoto Health and Nutrition. "We believe this collaboration, with its combined strengths, will allow us to identify natural sweet proteins for numerous applications, meeting the evolving demands of the food industry and consumer expectations."

Shiru's expertise extends beyond sweet proteins. They maintain the world's largest database of natural proteins, complemented by their AI engine, Flourish. This platform acts as an 'Amazon for proteins', where companies can explore, pilot, and purchase protein solutions for diverse applications across food, agriculture, personal care, and advanced materials.

Shiru has already partnered with global giants like Puratos and Griffith Foods to develop sustainable food ingredients. Their portfolio includes OleoPro, a high-performance structured fat replacing unhealthy fats, and uPro, the active protein ingredient in OleoPro.

Dr Jasmin Hume, Shiru Founder & CEO, expressed her enthusiasm: "We share Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition's vision of promoting well-being for people and the planet. Together, we are excited to leverage AI and accelerate the development of natural, scalable sweet proteins that will positively impact human and planetary health."

This partnership marks a significant step towards a healthier future. By harnessing the power of AI and fermentation, AHN and Shiru are paving the way for the next generation of sweeteners, offering consumers a guilt-free way to indulge their sweet tooth.