Patent Status of Alternative Fat Related Companies
At the Foovo seminar, which I introduced in my post at the beginning of the year on the patent status of mycoprotein-related companies, there was also a discussion on the trend of alternative fats, and the organizer’s presentation materials were very well organized (the seminar archives can be viewed by becoming a paid member of Foovo), I would like to start by picking up patents of some companies by technology (fermentation-derived, cell cultured, plant-derived, and CO2-derived).
To begin, alternative fats, as well as alternative proteins such as alternative meats, can be broadly divided into technology-specific categories: those derived from precision fermentation or cell cultured, those derived from plants, and those derived from air, such as CO2 utilization.
In addition to the environmental perspective, such as the destruction of tropical rainforests by oil crops, another complaint about plant-derived meat and dairy products is that they do not taste very good, and alternative fats are attracting attention as a necessary component in the pursuit of good taste.
Fermentation-derived
First, we looked at the patent status of the following companies, which were picked up at the seminar for their development of alternative fats using precision fermentation with genetically modified yeast and other ingredients.
An Australian company developing alternative fats through precision fermentation. They are also involved in the development of dairy fats.
There are 8 applications in the family unit and 21 applications in number.
Main countries of application: U.S.A., Canada, Australia, Europe, South Korea
Applications were filed for “compositions and methods for producing a meat-like aroma,” “compositions and methods for producing an aroma,” “compositions and methods for producing a food with a meat-like aroma,” “production of saturated fat in microorganisms,” “production and utilization of phospholipids in microorganisms,” and “production of short chain fatty acids.” The applications are for “production of short-chain fatty acids”.
A precision fermentation company from the UK specializing in de-palm oil.
The proprietary CLEANOilCell™ technology platform is described below.
Clean Food Group’s proprietary CLEANOilCell™ technology platform uses proven and scalable non-genetically modified yeast strains and food waste as a food source to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional oil and fat ingredients. This robust technology platform was developed as a result of 10 years of pioneering research into the development of proprietary oil-based yeast strains and fermentation processes and was built on over £7.5 million in UK government funding. (Google Translate)
https://cleanfood.group/technology
An application has been filed in the UK for the Metshnikowia pulcherrima strain of yeast.
A company from the Netherlands that develops alternative palm oil by using food waste and precision fermentation technology.
On August 29, 2023, the company filed an application for “Provision of oil composition by fermentation of biomass with yeast”.
WO2024054110A1 – Providing an oil composition through fermentation of biomass with a yeast – Google Patents The invention provides a method for producing an oil co patents.google.com
An American company engaged in the development of alternative palm oil through precision fermentation technology.
Palmless™, a brand with a platform for sustainable palm alternatives.
There are 9 applications in the family unit and 29 applications in number.
Main applicant countries: Europe, USA, Korea, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Israel, Australia, Canada
Applications are filed for “microbial oils,” “palm oil substitutes produced by microorganisms,” “home care compositions containing oils produced by microorganisms and derivatives thereof,” “personal care compositions containing oils produced by microorganisms,” “edible microbial oils,” “enzymatic dissolution for extraction of biological products from yeast,” “microbial Derivatives of palm oil,” “Production of microbial lipids from industrial waste after fermentation,” and “Method of producing lipids”.
Cell cultured
Next, we would like to look at companies that reproduce cultured beef fat, pork fat, milk fat, fish fat, etc. by culturing fat cells, from the aspect of patent applications. Note that since many companies could not be confirmed as having patent applications in this brief survey, we would like to check the patent status of those companies again.
A cultured meat development company from the Netherlands. Along with the development of cultured meat, they are also working on the development of cultured fat.
There are 10 applications in the family unit and 48 applications in number.
In those applications,
Bioreactors and Methods for the Production of Cultured Fat” on May 17, 2023,
WO2023224484A1 – Bioreactor and method for the production of cultured fat – Google Patents A method of forming a hydrogel fibre inside a bioreactor patents.google.com
Methods of Producing Cultured Fat for Animal Consumption” on July 22, 2022,
WO2023003471A1 – Method for producing cultured fat for animal consumption. – Google Patents The invention provides inter alia a method for producin patents.google.com
On July 22, 2022, an application was filed for a serum-free medium for producing adipocytes for animal consumption.
WO2023003470A1 – Serum-free media for producing adipocytes for animal consumption. – Google Patents The invention provides inter alia a method for different patents.google.com
A cultured meat development company from Switzerland. It is also involved in the development of cultured beef and cultured beef tallow.
- Method of preparing a scaffold suitable for the generation of fibrous muscle bundles for cultured meat production and the resulting meat products ” (PCT application)
- Edible microcarriers for preparation of cultured meat and method for their production ” (PCT application)
- Method of operating a bioreactor for cultured meat and corresponding bioreactor ” (European application)
- Methods and compositions for the preparation of fibrous muscle bundles for cultured meat production ” (European application)
The application is filed with regard to the
Plant-derived, CO2-derived
Lastly, we will discuss the patent application status of companies involved in the development of lipids and fats with plant-derived ingredients, CO2 and electricity.
According to the information provided at Foovo’s seminar about an American company developing various ingredients for food tech, the following patent applications indicate that the company is aiming to commercialize oleogel (a solid fat-like state consisting of a gelling agent and liquid fat) in the future.
International application, filed on January 30, 2023, for “Marbled meat analogues and methods of making the same.”
WO2023147546A2 – Marbled meat analogs and methods of making – Google Patents Provided herein are compositions, methods, and systems patents.google.com
Next, the following application was identified for a patent application by a company from Sweden that is developing fats from electricity, carbon dioxide, and water.
A right to ” Concept for the production of food with reduced environmental impact ” has been granted in Europe.
(In addition, the PCT application has been transferred to China, Europe, and the U.S., and the U.S. patent application “US2021/0324301” has been assigned to this company by a Swedish research institute.)
Claim 1 of the European patent is as follows (Note that how fat is produced from water is clearly depicted in the flow chart in Figure 3 of the EP patent).
The use of water and carbon dioxide in a process for the production of edible organic substances, characterized in that said process comprises the steps of
EP 3837236 B1
– electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen and oxygen,.
– capture or recovery of carbon dioxide,.
– conversion of said carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide,.
– subjecting said hydrogen and carbon monoxide to a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to produce a mixture of olefins,
– optionally increasing the proportion of ethylene by coupling of methane to form ethylene, and/or converting higher olefins to form ethylene,.
– isolating ethylene,.
– synthesizing alpha-olefins or fatty acid alcohols from said ethylene, and
– oxidizing said alpha-olefins or fatty acid alcohols to free fatty acids with an even number of carbon atoms,.
wherein the net energy input is in the form of electricity.
We will continue to provide information on the patent status of companies whose patent applications could not be confirmed this time, as well as a deeper look into each company’s patents.
