Robertet’s BioPod offers an AI cultivation of natural plant-based ingredients

02 Oct 2023 --- The BioPod introduced by Robertet in collaboration with Interstellar Lab is a type of greenhouse that promises to accelerate production cycles and increase the production of bioactive compounds in plants while also utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict potential challenges and the environmental impact of producing natural ingredients.

Jérôme Bruhat, CEO of the French flavor and fragrance manufacturer Robertet, says, “The arrival of this BioPod in Grasse illustrates Robertet’s innovation strategy – using cutting-edge technologies to offer our customers the best natural products for a more sustainable industry.” 

“We are doing this with a recognized pioneer in biofarming,” he adds.

“We are delighted to bring BioPods to market with Robertet, our first partner. With the BioPod, we are offering a solution to the industry’s ecological transition,” says Barbara Belvisi, founder and CEO of Interstellar Lab – a leading specialist in AI biofarming. “We harness technology to benefit the living.”

AI greenhouse
 The BioPod constitutes a mobile greenhouse that can be installed without a foundation. It is 11 m long, 5 m wide and 6 m high in size. However, it offers a total of 100 square meters of controlled growing space.The AI-controlled cultivation inside a BioPod supports the bioactive compounds in plants.

Robertet states that the technology used for the pod was initially developed for NASA, and it offers an optimized water cycle and the capturing of ambient CO2 through a semi-closed circuit.

Equipped with AI, it provides optimal climate conditions for crops, promising a new process for growing natural ingredients sustainably. 

According to the company, the soil-less cultivation can further reduce the environmental impact of growing natural ingredients. 

Optimized molecular composition
The company promises that cultivating crops in an AI-controlled environment accelerates the production cycles and the production of bioactive compounds in plants by optimizing the plant’s molecular composition. 

AI greenhouse cultivation has the capacity to bring about a leap in agronomic research in the flavors, fragrance and well-being industries. 

“We look forward to kicking off our collaboration with Interstellar Lab. We are already engaged in several research programs to prepare the future of aromatic plant agronomy, and we are excited to accelerate this research thanks to the performance of the BioPod. 

We are determined to continue transforming our industry,” states Julien Maubert, director of the raw materials division and in charge of the Interstellar project.

Robertet’s partnership with Interstellar comes alongside 14 existing research and creation centers working on researching natural ingredients. 

By Milana Nikolova