IIFH and Lawrence National Laboratory partner on food and health innovation

The Innovation Institute for Food & Health (IIFH) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have announced a strategic partnership to translate scientific discovery into technology and innovations across food systems and human health. 

IIFH, at the University of California (UC), Davis, US, and LLNL aim to create a hub to speed the development of next-generation ingredients, technologies, diagnostics, computational tools, and biotechnology platforms. 

“Lawrence Livermore’s mission has always been to apply cutting-edge science and technology to society’s most complex challenges,” says Kim Budil, LLNL’s director. 

“This collaboration creates new opportunities to combine scientific excellence with entrepreneurship and technology translation. Together, we can build stronger pathways for innovation to reach the people and communities it is intended to serve.”

Scientific and technological development

The partnership will launch talent and discovery programs for students and researchers. The institutions will also organize joint events and share scientific and technological advances.

Through this, they aim to accelerate the development and commercialization of science-based solutions and technologies that “could transform the food and health sector.”

LLNL’s mission is to enable US security and global stability and resilience through innovative science and technology, with expertise in AI, supercomputing, synthetic biology, biosecurity, and advanced engineering.

“The next generation of breakthroughs in food and health will come from intentionally connecting the world’s best scientific capabilities,” says Justin Siegel, IIFH faculty director and professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Molecular Medicine at UC Davis.

“By combining Lawrence Livermore’s expertise in advanced science and technology with UC Davis’ leadership in food and health, IIFH serves as the catalyst that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and industry partners to turn discoveries into technologies, companies, and solutions that improve lives.”

Expanding UC Davis collaborations

UC Davis and IIFH have been expanding partnerships with other research organizations and companies in the past year.

For example, IIFH partnered with Food Frontier and Nestlé Health Science to commercialize nutrition science innovations. The institute is also collaborating with ScottsMiracle-Gro and ofi to make healthier products for people and the planet.

Last year, Nutrition Insight spoke with IIFH’s Siegel and AG1 CEO Kat Cole about the organizations’ work to create products that support metabolic health by merging UC Davis’ scientific expertise with AG1’s market access.

The institute also set up a program to develop future food and health leaders with the Novo Nordisk Foundation. With this foundation’s BioInnovation Institute, the IIFH launched the Amplified African Food project to address malnutrition and stunting in Africa through precision nutrition.