UC Davis Institute and AG1 to advance metabolic health with precision nutrition

The Innovation Institute for Food & Health (IIFH) at the University of California (UC) Davis, US, has partnered with AG1 to accelerate new product development in nutrition and metabolic health.

The organizations will combine advanced omics analytics with product development to match nutrients from ingredients with a target population’s specific needs. 

They will develop science-based innovations based on precision nutrition to address diet-related diseases at scale while prioritizing sustainability. 

“UC Davis is world-renowned for its highly collaborative approach to driving breakthroughs in nutrition science,” says Kat Cole, CEO of AG1. “They are an important and valued strategic innovation partner for AG1 as we develop new products to help more people optimize their metabolic health and achieve their physical and mental performance potential.”

New product development

The partnership will leverage UC Davis’ food, health, and data science expertise with AG1’s product development process. 

AG1 continuously upgrades its all-in-one supplement powder mix formula, which is based on the concept of foundational nutrition. It includes a range of micro- and phytonutrients and biotics to prioritize gut health and well-being. 

Earlier this year, the company unveiled its AG1 Next Gen product in North America, its first major product upgrade. 

“AG1 is a pioneer in the category of nutrition, as they embrace complexities in 21st-century nutrition innovation through a science-led approach,” says Dr. Justin Siegel, faculty director of the IIFH and professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Molecular Medicine at UC Davis. 

IIFH partner summit fireside chat with AG1 at UC Davis (Image credit: IIFH).“AG1 is an outstanding partner as we pursue breakthroughs at the intersection of nutrition and metabolic health that leverage world-class capabilities, such as the Periodic Table of Food Initiative we developed with the Rockefeller Foundation and the American Heart Association.”

The Periodic Table of Food Initiative develops tools to standardize global research to map food quality and improve human and planetary health. IIFH is one of the initiative’s Centers of Excellence. These centers focus on food quality research, strengthening capacities, and translating science into regional landscapes. 

Precision nutrition partnerships

IIFH aims to foster nutrition innovation by combining research with commercialization. The UC Davis institute is also collaborating with Denmark’s Novo Nordisk Foundation to develop future food and health leaders. In this program, biotechnology-focused students can apply their research to companies to accelerate positive societal impact. 

Moreover, IIFH and Novo Nordisk Foundation’s BioInnovation Institute also recently launched the Amplified African Food project to address malnutrition and stunting in Africa with precision nutrition. The project partners told Nutrition Insight that they aim to launch a company to market products rooted in culture with improved protein digestibility.