EXBERRY color supplier GNT has launched an independent investment firm to accelerate innovation and boost sustainability at every stage of the value chain, it says. GNT Ventures was created to invest in start-up companies that have the potential to help pioneer new and improved plant-based coloring solutions. Its focus is on four key areas: raw materials and fermentation, processing, food ingredients, and upcycling. It is part of GNT’s long-term strategy to reshape the plant-based color landscape with innovative new products that can drive a healthier future for the people and the planet. GNT Ventures already has executed some investments, including the recently announced partnership with Plume Biotechnology to create new plant-based EXBERRY color solutions using fermentation technologies. The firm now is aiming to significantly step up its investment activity and is actively seeking out new collaborations with further start-ups worldwide, it says. Finn Rieken, Managing Director of GNT Ventures, stated: “We’re looking to build mutually beneficial relationships with start-ups that dare to dream big and have the drive to shape tomorrow’s planet. We can provide financial, technical, commercial, and regulatory support, using our expertise to not only help bring bold new visions to life but successfully market them worldwide.” GNT Ventures is seeking to collaborate with start-ups by providing them with the tools they need to bring cutting-edge ideas to life. It can provide comprehensive financial support, whether by leading the financing as a sole investor or helping to share the load as co-leads. It is primarily focused on pre-seed to series A funding, with a maximum ticket size of €1 million.

Robertet, a world leader in natural raw materials for fragrances and flavors, announced the signature of an agreement to acquire Phasex, a supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction company for natural products in particular, based in North Andover, Mass. Through this opportunity, Robertet is strengthening its production capacity and expertise in North America, which represents one of the Group’s target growth markets. Phasex is a pioneer in CO2 extraction and focuses mainly on three market segments: natural products, biopharmaceuticals, and polymers. The company was founded in 1981 by Val Krukonis, one of the early adopters and advocates for the use of supercritical CO2 extraction for a broad range of applications in the United States. Supercritical CO2 extraction is an innovative and environmentally friendly method for extracting high-quality aromatic or functional components from a solid biomass or liquid raw material by using supercritical carbon dioxide. Supercritical CO2 is more environmentally friendly than available alternatives, such as hexane, butane, and ethanol. The supercritical process involves using pressure and temperature to reach the supercritical phase, where the CO2 is between a liquid and a gas. In this phase, the CO2 offers unique dissolving powers, which makes it possible to remove certain components from the substrate material. Phasex has remained at the forefront of this technology and has secured multiple patents in the United States covering various supercritical fluid applications. Phasex has 30 employees. It has recorded annual sales of between €5 million and €12 million over the past five years and, with Robertet’s support, it aims to double its sales in the coming years.