Ayana Bio Awarded National Institutes of Health Grant to Harness Neuroprotective Benefits from Plant Cell-Cultivated Saffron
May 1, 2024 Ayana Bio, the plant cell technology company dedicated to creating sustainable bioactives for consumer products, has received a grant from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to support Ayana Bio’s research into the production of saffron’s neuroprotective bioactives through plant cell cultivation.
READ THE ARTICLEAyana Bio and Wooree GREEN SCIENCE Partner to Develop Plant-Cell Derived Saffron for Health & Wellness Products
January 24, 2024 Ayana Bio, the plant cell technology company dedicated to creating sustainable bioactives for consumer products, today announced a seven-figure joint development agreement with Wooree Bio to develop plant cell-derived saffron and other important bioactive ingredients for health and wellness products for distribution in the South Korean market.
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Can Ultra-Processed Foods Be Made Healthier Without Compromising Taste and Convenience?
January 4, 2024 Processed foods have long been associated with negative health effects, primarily due to the presence of additives and preservatives. However, a recent survey conducted by Ayana Bio, a plant cell technology company, revealed that taste, ingredient quality, and convenience are the primary factors influencing Americans' choices and willingness to pay more for processed foods. In fact, 74% of the surveyed participants stated that they would try an ultra-processed food if it offered health benefits such as improved sleep, immunity, or energy levels.
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‘Healthy’ additives make ultra-processed foods more appealing
January 4, 2024 Taste, ingredient quality and convenience are the most important factors to participants when it comes to choosing and paying more for processed foods, according to a survey of 2,000 American adults conducted by plant cell technology company Ayana Bio.
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Start-up spotlight: Ayana Bio
January 4, 2024 In this instalment of The Cell Base's ‘Start-up spotlight,' we speak to Weslee Glenn, head of innovation at Ayana Bio, a US-based plant cell technology company and producer of sustainable bioactives for consumer products.
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Ayana Bio appoints Jim Hamilton to board of directors
January 4, 2024 Ayana Bio, a plant cell technology company dedicated to creating sustainable bioactives for consumer products, has announced the appointment of Jim Hamilton to the company’s board of directors.
READ THE ARTICLEThis year's top 10 news stories on The Cell Base
December 29, 2023 Ayana Bio opens new laboratory to commercialise cultivated ingredients - July saw plant cell technology company Ayana Bio announce the opening of a new lab situated in Boston’s Seaport district in Massachusetts, US.
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2023 in review: Beyond Meat in ‘survival’ mode, ‘jaundiced’ indoor ag investors, AI in every pitchdeck…
December 29, 2023 2023 has been a tough year for agrifoodtech startups, with high interest rates, inflation, fundraising challenges, banking scares, and souring investor sentiment in sectors from indoor ag to alt proteins, prompting pivots, layoffs, and business failures.
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What wellness trends will be big in 2024? The Ozempic "ripple effect" and more expert predictions
December 28, 2023 The new year means new opportunities for wellness trends. After a year dominated by mental health discussions, COVID variants and weight-loss drugs hitting the market, we're looking toward 2024 and what health topics will capture consumers most.
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Ayana Bio Welcomes Industry Veteran Jim Hamilton to its Board of Directors
December 20, 2023 Jim Hamilton’s extensive experience in the health and wellness ingredient business will help catapult Ayana Bio to success with plant cell-derived bioactives.
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Ayana Bio Appoints Jim Hamilton to Board of Directors
December 20, 2023 The industry expert formerly served as president of DSM Nutritional Products USA, and CEO of OmniActive Health Technologies.
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Ayana Bio Welcomes Industry Veteran Jim Hamilton to its Board of Directors
December 19, 2023 Jim Hamilton's extensive experience in the health and wellness ingredient business will help catapult Ayana Bio to success with plant cell-derived bioactives
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Ayana Bio Names Jim Hamilton to Board of Directors
December 19, 2023 Ayana Bio has named Jim Hamilton, former President of DSM Nutritional Products USA and CEO of OmniActive Health Technologies, to the company's board of directors.
READ THE ARTICLEAyana Bio Welcomes Industry Veteran Jim Hamilton to its Board of Directors
December 19, 2023 Jim Hamilton’s extensive experience in the health and wellness ingredient business willhelp catapult Ayana Bio to success with plant cell-derived bioactives
READ THE ARTICLECan Ayana Bio’s Plant Cell Cultivation Technology Overcome the Limits of Conventional Agriculture?
November 27, 2023 Frank Jaksch has been chief executive officer of the startup Ayana Bio since 2022. Jaksch left the publicly-traded ingredient company ChromaDex, after building it from the ground up and taking the company public on the Nasdaq stock exchange. His background includes more than 25 years in life sciences, food and beverage, and dietary supplement consumer products.
READ THE ARTICLEAyana Bio launches Plant Cell Advantage ingredient portfolio
October 26, 2023 Plant cell technology company and producer of sustainable bioactives for consumer products, Ayana Bio, has launched its Plant Cell Advantage (PCA) ingredient portfolio.
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Ayana Bio launches Plant Cell Advantage portfolio
October 24, 2023 Ayana Bio has expanded its Plant Cell Advantage ingredient portfolio with the addition of plant cell-cultivated dog rose, hedge nettle and sage ingredients.
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Ayana Bio Introduces New Plant Cell Advantage Ingredient Portfolio
October 24, 2023 Ayana Bio, the innovative company revolutionizing the production of sustainable bioactives for consumer products, has launched its novel Plant Cell Advantage™ (PCA™) ingredient lineup. This newly introduced suite of ingredients highlights the Dog Rose PCA™, Hedge Nettle PCA™, and Sage PCA™ as the freshest additions to its repertoire of health and wellness ingredients derived from plant cells.
READ THE ARTICLEAyana Bio Launches Plant Cell Advantage™ Portfolio with Three New Health and Wellness Ingredients
October 23, 2023 Ayana Bio will debut Plant Cell Advantage™ Dog Rose, Hedge Nettle, and Sage ingredients to deliver the health benefits of high-quality plant bioactives
READ THE ARTICLEFood Forward: Nourishing the World
October 18, 2023 Nourishing the World is a captivating and thought-provoking show dedicated to exploring the fascinating and ever-evolving world of food and its future. Each week, we delve into various aspects of the food industry, culinary trends, cutting-edge technologies, sustainable practices, and innovative solutions that are shaping the way we produce, consume, and interact with food.
LISTEN NOWConsumers Are More Accepting of Ultra-Processed Foods if They Contain Healthier, More Nutritious Ingredients: Ayana Bio
October 18, 2023 More than half of Americans (57%) believe ultra-processed foods have a negative impact on health.
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Consumers are willing to pay more for ultra-processed foods if they are healthier
October 18, 2023 A recent survey found that consumers are willing to pay more for healthier ultra-processed foods, with younger generations and parents being the most interested.
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Consumers are willing to buy ‘healthier’ ultra-processed foods, but will the industry deliver?
October 17, 2023 Food and beverage industry stakeholders are debating the role and importance of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) as consumers signal a willingness to try healthier versions of these products.
READ THE ARTICLEConsumers Would Eat More, Pay More for Healthier Ultra-Processed Foods
October 17, 2023 A new survey by Ayana Bio broke down how consumers perceive the role of processed foods in their lives.
READ THE ARTICLESurvey data reveals two-thirds of American adults would eat more and pay more for ultra-processed foods that include more nutritious ingredients
October 16, 2023 New consumer survey conducted by Ayana Bio determines Americans' openness and values related to ultra-processed foods
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Biotech startup Ayana Bio wants to make junk foods healthy. Here’s how.
August 8, 2023 The company, which opened a lab in the Seaport last month, creates lab-grown plant materials for commercial use.
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Ayana Bio opens a new plant cell-to-product lab
July 12, 2023 Ayana Bio’s plant cell technology is a means to create plant materials without growing plants in the ground. As we reported previously, the plant cell cultivation technology starts by identifying the best plant cell lines—just like traditional plant breeding.
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Ayana Bio opens "Plant Cell-to-Product Laboratory" for nutraceutical ingredients
July 13, 2023 Ayana Bio has opened a new "Plant Cell-to-Product Laboratory" in Boston Seaport to commercialise multiple cultivated wellness and nutrition ingredients
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Ayana Bio opens Boston facility
July 12, 2023 Ayana Bio has opened a new laboratory in Boston’s seaport district. The lab will serve as the company’s nucleus for formulating plant cell-cultivated production systems to formulate health, wellness and nutrition ingredients.
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Ayana Bio opens new lab for cacao bioactives
July 12, 2023 Ayana Bio, the plant cell technology company, opened a new lab in Boston’s Seaport District. The new laboratory space supports the expansion of plant cell-cultivated ingredients into the dietary supplement, food & beverage, and sports nutrition markets.
READ THE ARTICLEAyana Bio Launches New ‘Plant Cell-to-Product’ Laboratory in Boston’s Seaport District
July 13, 2023 Boston Seaport‘s burgeoning biotech landscape welcomes a significant addition with the opening of a state-of-the-art laboratory by Ayana Bio. The new facility, dubbed the ‘Plant Cell-to-Product’ lab, is set to commercialize a range of cultivated ingredients, pushing the boundaries of biotechnology.
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Ayana Bio Opens a New Plant Cell-to-Product Laboratory in Boston Seaport to Commercialize Multiple Cultivated Ingredients
July 12, 2023 The new laboratory space supports the expansion of plant cell-cultivated ingredients into the dietary supplement, food & beverage, and sports nutrition markets
READ THE ARTICLEAyana Bio and Robertet Unveil Functional Gummies with Plant Cell Cultivation Technology
May 22, 2023 Ayana Bio’s Plant Cell Advantage™ Lemon Balm and Echinacea-purpurea clean label gummy prototypes developed for SynBioBeta
READ THE ARTICLEAyana Bio’s Chief Science Advisor, Dr. Sarah O'Connor, Elected as Fellow of the Royal Society
May 19, 2023 Dr. Sarah O'Connor, Director of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, recognized for her significant contributions to scientific research
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Ayana Bio's Chief Science Advisor, Dr. Sarah O'Connor, Develops Tools to Better Understand Bioactive Biosynthesis
May 17, 2023 Li et al.'s multi-pronged study generated high-quality genome sequence, chromatin assembly, single-cell transcriptomics, and single-cell metabolomics data that aided the discovery of a missing enzyme and transporter involved in the biosynthesis of anticancer molecules. This breakthrough will advance the field of plant-based medicine.
READ THE ARTICLEAyana Bio unveils first ingredients made using plant cell culture as cracks show in strained botanical supply chain
April 19, 2023 Ayana Bio has launched its first ingredients (lemon balm and echinacea) made via plant cell culture, an approach it claims can provide a consistent supply of botanicals without the supply chain headaches associated with traditional agriculture.
READ THE ARTICLEAyana Bio launches plant cell-derived echinacea & lemon balm
April 19, 2023 Boston-based plant cell tech company Ayana Bio has announced the first-ever launch of plant cell-cultivated lemon balm and echinacea ingredients, to use in supplement formulations for sleep, mood, and immune support.
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Ayana Bio launches “first-ever” plant cell-cultivated lemon balm and echinacea
April 19, 2023 The process will yield products with the same bioactive composition of conventionally-grown botanicals and can directly replace their counterparts in food supplements for sleep, mood and immune support, says the plant cell technology company.
READ THE ARTICLEAyana Bio Launches First Plant Cell-Derived Health and Wellness Ingredients
Boston, April 19 Ayana Bio, the plant cell technology company making sustainable bioactives for consumer products, today announced the first-ever launch of plant cell-cultivated lemon balm and echinacea health and wellness ingredients, starting with the U.S. market. These products have the bioactive composition of conventionally-grown botanicals and can directly replace lemon balm and echinacea in dietary supplement formulations for sleep, mood and immune support.
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The role of ingredients in the future of the industry
February 9, 2023 To understand how we can feed and nourish the planet and her people, Agatha Wong speaks with Frank Jaksch, CEO of Ayana Bio, to understand how ingredients play a crucial role in shaping the food and beverage industry. See p. 34-35 of the publication.
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Ayana Bio invests $3M to create healthy ingredients from chocolate
January 19, 2023 The biological research company will cultivate polyphenol-rich cacao cells to add nutrition to a variety of food and drink items — but will not make candy.
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Ayana Bio leverages cellular cultivation to extract high-value cacao polyphenols to fortify F&B
January 19, 2023 Plant cell tech firm Ayana Bio is pledging US$3 million to accelerate cacao bioactive production using cellular cultivation, part of a strategy to boost efforts in curbing the many challenges plaguing the cacao industry, such as climate change, deforestation and child labor.
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Ayana Bio targets cacao bioactives production, ‘upgrades’ plant cell culture with synthetic biology and metabolomics
January 18, 2023 Ayana Bio – one of a new wave of startups seeking to unlock the potential of plant cell culture in the food and nutrition industry – is turning its attention to cacao bioactives with a $3m investment it claims will also benefit the wider industry.
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Ayana Bio Pledges $3M to Accelerate Cacao Bioactive Production Using Cellular Cultivation
January 18, 2023 The initiative uses biotechnology to sustainably produce cacao bioactives and support genetic research to improve cacao plant varieties.
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Key trends for 2023’s food and drink industries
January 4, 2023 With the last several years including a series of unprecedented events and challenges, Food Manufacture seeks the expertise of several food and drink leaders to find out what’s on the cards for 2023. Ayana Bio's CEO, Frank Jaksch, on trends regarding health beneficial products.
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Front cover story - Ayana Bio’s CEO Frank Jaksch in an interview with the Orange County Business Journal
September 27, 2022 In an interview with the Orange County Business Journal, our CEO Frank Jaksch discusses how Ayana Bio accesses plant molecules that people have long co-opted as medicines and nutritional supplements. “Grow[ing] plants without having to grow plants,” complements traditional agriculture and bolsters supply chains hard hit by climate change and overharvest.
READ THE ARTICLEHow Ayana Bio will use science and technology to make more nutritious ingredients
August 25, 2022 As he takes the helm of the Ginkgo Bioworks spinoff, CEO Frank Jaksch said its plant cell culture tech to create bioactive compounds from ginseng, berries, cocoa and ginger could be a game changer.
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Frank Jaksch joins Ayana Bio as CEO: ‘I’m really excited about being back in the exploration mode’
August 24, 2022 Plant cell technology company and Ginkgo Bioworks spin off Ayana Bio has appointed ChromaDex founder and former CEO Frank Jaksch as its new CEO.
READ THE ARTICLEAyana Bio appointed Frank Jaksch as CEO
August 24, 2022 Ayana Bio, the plant cell technology company making sustainable bioactives for consumer products, today announced the appointment of Frank Jaksch as the company's Chief Executive Officer.
READ THE ARTICLEAyana Bio Announces Appointment of Frank Jaksch as Chief Executive Officer
August 24, 2022 Health and wellness industry veteran will lead the company to scale sustainable bioactives using plant cell technology instead of agriculture.
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Engineering Plant Bioactive Diversity
August 11, 2022 Iridoids can be found in thousands of bioactives from plants. But the ones most often found in nature make up only about a fourth of what is possible in theory. The work presented in this text--from the laboratory of Prof. Sarah O’Connor, Ayana Bio’s Chief Science Advisor--opens up the possibility of producing iridoids with geometries not often found in nature. These new molecules may have unique and interesting properties.
READ THE ARTICLEAyana Bio's Chief Science Advisor Unlocks One of the Longest-standing Biochemical Mysteries in Plants
July 6, 2022 Prof. Sarah O’Connor and her team uncovered enzymes that complete the bioactive pathways of strychnine, diaboline, and brucine--molecules whose biosynthesis has eluded the broader scientific community for over 200 years. Her team then expressed the enzymes they identified in Nicotiana benthamiana to reconstitute the pathways in a living system as a case study to show that complex phytochemicals can be produced from a biotech chassis.
READ THE ARTICLEAyana Bio Launch Press Release
September 9, 2021 Ginkgo Bioworks ("Ginkgo"), which is building the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, today announced the launch of Ayana Bio to enable a healthier future by harnessing bioactive compounds for use as complementary medicine to support human health and wellness.
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