At a glance
Publicly launched: 2021
Headquarters: Noáin, Spain
Technology: Artificial intelligence–guided fermentation to create ingredients from food industry by-products
Founders: José María Elorza, Bosco Emparanza, and Susana Sánchez-Gómez
Funding or notable partners: €12 million ($14 million) from investors like Icos Capital, Swanlaab Venture Factory, European Innovation Council Fund, and Viscofan
With 300 strains of microorganisms to keep alive, the team of biochemists and bioinformaticians at Moa Foodtech have their work cut out for them, often working late into the night. Taking care of microbes is like taking care of small kids, cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer Susana Sánchez-Gómez says. “We have our favorites, let’s say.”
Inside Moa’s fermentation tanks, microbes selected by artificial intelligence break down the food industry’s trash and turn it into nutritious treasure.
