We're excited to have Novonesis join us! What motivates Novonesis to participate in Bridge2Food North America 2025?
I have had the privilege of attending Bridge2Food sessions before, and I was thoroughly impressed by the novelty, technical depth, and quality of work presented. Given the significance of biosolutions technology in today’s market focused on clean labels, it is an excellent opportunity to share this knowledge in a venue where industry and academic researchers converge.
Your session focuses on textural challenges in plant-based yogurt. Why is achieving a smooth, non-gritty texture such a critical challenge in plant-based yogurt today?
In yogurt, high protein, low sugar, and “good for you” claims are what consumers are willing to pay a premium for. Achieving high protein claims with plant-protein is a challenging feat due to its low functionality and solubility. Upon fermentation, these proteins form large aggregates which is perceived as grittiness in plant-based yogurt.
What can attendees expect to take away from your session on plant-based yogurt at Bridge2Food North America 2025?
The primary purchase driver for food is taste and texture. Plant-based yogurt manufacturers rely on texturizing agents and elevated fat content to mask the grittiness of plant proteins, yet they face challenges in attaining a smooth texture. Attendees will discover biology-based tools that enable Greek-style or higher protein claims (~16g protein per serving) in plant-based yogurt without compromising taste, stability, or ease of use in industrial yogurt applications.
What makes Novonesis uniquely positioned to help food companies develop better plant-based dairy alternatives?
In today's market, consumers increasingly prioritize a simple ingredient list while maintaining sensory expectations. Our biosolutions effectively functionalize ingredients and rectify textural defects in plant-based foods without the long ingredient list. Ease of adoption of a technology is key in it being used, Vertera® Smooth and Vertera® cultures are drop-in solutions and do not require any additional capital investment. Partnering with Novonesis equips brands with a comprehensive toolbox encompassing technical expertise, consumer trends and market insights to develop innovative products.
What do you see as the biggest opportunities in North America's plant-based dairy market right now?
The most significant opportunity currently lies in addressing unmet consumer needs within the plant-based dairy sector. This includes fulfilling sensory expectations, providing a short and clean ingredient list, delivering on nutritional claims and maintaining affordability. By focusing on these critical areas, we can effectively meet consumer demands and drive growth in this evolving market.
