Arcadia Biosciences to commercialize GoodWheat technology in China and Israel

07 Aug 2020 --- Arcadia Biosciences is set to collaborate with Corner Foods, an affiliate of Corner Capital Group, to bring the former’s GoodWheat portfolio of specialty wheat ingredients to China and Israel. Importantly, the coronavirus pandemic has heightened health concerns – an opportunity that the collaboration aims to seize by helping end-consumers incorporate stable high-fiber, nutritious wheat ingredients to their diets. Arcadia and Corner Foods are expected to execute the definitive agreements in due course.

Arcadia’s GoodWheat provides higher fiber, improved protein quality and reduced allergenic gluten, which “reimagine the health benefits” around traditional bakery items, the company affirms. Suitable applications include pasta and other wheat-based food products, as well as alternative starch solutions to the pharmaceutical industry.

The company’s wheat ingredient portfolio is available in North America through Bay State Milling as part of the HealthSense portfolio. The company is also working on other naturally-produced, proprietary wheat varieties that deliver health benefits for consumers and brand-differentiating attributes for consumer packaged goods companies.

Arcadia expects strong demand for healthy, ready-made products, such as pastas and specialty baking mixes.For example, the company released GoodWheat Reduced Gluten Wheat Flour. Developed for those with sensitive stomachs, the flour contains 65 percent less allergenic gluten than traditional flour and is higher in fiber. In April 2018, Arcadia shared with NutritionInsight that the reduced-gluten segment was a “vast untapped market potential.”

“Our high fiber Resistant Starch GoodWheat ingredients contain up to ten times the dietary fiber of traditional wheat, enough fiber to meet US Food and Drug Administration thresholds for a “Good Source” of fiber or “High in Fiber” designation on packaging,” the company affirms.

Engaging the consumer
Through Corner Foods, Arcadia’s GoodWheat products will be introduced directly to Chinese consumers via popular e-commerce site TMall and cooking and lifestyle network Tastemade China. The partnership also plans for introductions into food retail and foodservice markets in Israel, “long known for food tech innovation focused on healthful ingredients,” Arcadia highlights. 

“Tastemade is known for beautiful and engaging food, travel and lifestyle content that lets users explore cuisine from around the world through a mix of original content and user-submitted videos,” says Wayne Chen, CEO of Tastemade China. The partnership with Corner Foods to introduce viewers to Arcadia’s “impressive portfolio of good-for-you wheat flours, pastas and baking mixes” this upcoming fall.

“This collaboration with Corner Foods has the potential to open key international markets for products made with our GoodWheat ingredients,” adds Matthew Plavan, President and CEO of Arcadia Biosciences. Together, Tastemade China and TMall reach an estimated eight million consumers in China per month. 

On the other side of the Asian continent, Israel is home to more than 50 agriculture and food technology start-ups. In 2018, annual investment in Israel’s food tech sector rose to US$100 million, according to a report by Start Up Nation Central. 

Edited by Anni Schleicher