GNT, Plume Biotechnology partner to develop fermentation-based plant colors 

NETHERLANDS – GNT, a family-owned company known for its pioneering work in plant-based, sustainable ingredients, has announced a partnership with Plume Biotechnology to develop a new plant-based Exberry color for food and beverages using fermentation technology. 

The collaboration aims to expand GNT’s range of plant-based Exberry options. According to GNT, producing colors through fermentation will enhance their functionality and ensure sustainable year-round production.  

Once the raw materials are developed, they may be scaled up in larger bioreactors for industrial production, maintaining consistent conditions to achieve high biomass yield and pigment concentration. 

“We are committed to leading the food coloring industry on sustainability,” said Finn Rieken, Strategy Director at GNT Group.  

“We believe fermentation-based colors have huge potential to tick both those boxes. We are confident that working with Plume will allow us to deliver exciting new plant-based, sustainable solutions for food and beverage manufacturers around the world.” 

Thomas Burns, Chief Executive Officer at Plume Biotechnology, added, “The rapid evolution of fermentation-based technologies is providing unprecedented opportunities within the realms of natural colors.  

Plume is passionate about translating these cutting-edge technological developments into healthy, exciting, and sustainable products for consumers. In GNT, we have found the perfect strategic partner with a shared commitment to delivering excellent products whilst keeping sustainability at the heart of everything we do.” 

The partnership is set to help GNT meet its sustainability ambitions while expanding its Exberry portfolio.  

GNT has been creating Exberry colors from fruit, vegetables, and plants since its foundation in 1978. This move into fermentation represents a new frontier in their efforts to increase innovation and sustainability in plant-based solutions. 

In 2022, GNT announced 17 targets to optimize its environmental and social impacts by the end of the decade.  

In its Sustainability Report 2023, GNT revealed that it had reduced carbon intensity at its factories by 22 percent since 2022, achieving a 13 percent improvement in water efficiency. 

Plume Biotechnology, a UK-based start-up, focuses on innovation in fermentation science and bioprocessing for natural colors. 

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