Propelling plant-based: Brightseed scores US$27m for AI-powered phytonutrient R&D

16 Sep 2020 --- Biosciences company Brightseed has landed US$27 million in financing, bringing its total funding to US$52 million. The company will use the investment for the R&D and commercialization of clinically-proven, plant-based discoveries in the F&B, nutraceutical and supplement industries.

The company is a 2020 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer and developer of Forager, the world’s first and only artificial intelligence (AI) technology for phytonutrient discovery.

Forager maps novel plant nutrients to human health, identifies nutrients and validates their impact so these can be used to support the body’s natural defenses.

Moves for growth
The investment, which was led by Lewis & Clark AgriFood, follows Brightseed’s debut discovery of a powerful phytonutrient with the potential to support metabolic health. This discovery has profound implications for people suffering or at risk from chronic metabolic conditions including diabetes, obesity and fatty liver disease.

The Forager platform also currently powers multiple partnerships with industry leaders. This included Brightseed’s landmark, multi-phased partnership with Danone North America to find previously unknown health benefits of plant-based ingredients in Danone’s consumer products portfolio.

The investment will be used in the R&D and commercialization of plant-based discoveries in the F&B and nutraceuticals industries.Recently, the company announced that it is working to identify potential molecular connections between certain compounds present in Danone’s raw soy and newfound health benefits.

“Phytonutrients are tiny molecules found in plants that promote human health, including anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and neuroprotective activities. They are so powerful that two-thirds of small-molecule medicines developed for human health are originally derived from them. However, only 1 percent of these plant molecules have been identified and applied for health purposes,” a spokesperson of the partnership previously told our sister website FoodIngredientsFirst.

The total US$52 million includes US$25 million in previous funding from Seed 2 Growth Ventures, Horizons Ventures, CGC Ventures, Fifty Years, Germin8 Ventures and AgFunder.

“We’re happy to work with visionary partners to accelerate innovation in food, health and wellness,” says Dr. Jim Flatt, Brightseed co-founder and CEO.

“We’re in an unprecedented public health crisis and people are looking for plant-based products that will contribute to a healthier life. With millions of phytonutrients hidden in plants, it’s crucial that we discover these compounds and understand how they help us.”

“Much like mapping the human genome opened up a new era for medicine, using Forager AI to map the connections between plants and people is one of the most exciting new frontiers of science,” Flatt notes.

Plant-based interest skyrockets
Brightseed’s new funding comes at a time when the demand for plant-based health and wellness solutions is skyrocketing.

According to Innova Market Insights data, plant-based claims for F&B launches are experiencing strong growth globally with a CAGR of 57 percent over the 2015 to 2019 period, compared with 13 percent for vegetarian claims and 22 percent for vegan positionings.

Innova Market Insights pegged the “Plant-Based Revolution” as one of its Top Ten Trends 2020, with three in five global consumers incorporating more plant-based ingredients into their diets.

Plants produce phytonutrients to support their growth and protect against pathogens or predators. In humans, phytonutrients support health with anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and neuroprotective activities.

Examples of phytonutrients include resveratrol, which can be found in red grape skins, or lycopene, found in tomatoes. Less than one percent of the world’s phytonutrients have been identified.

Edited by Kristiana Lalou

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