News Focus SomaTech aiming to boost nutrition in global food supply through fermentation
The company has Tony Callaghan and Alejandra Omarini, two biotechnologists, at the helm, and already has global ambitions, although they’re starting with the UK and Irish markets first. “There are things called anti-nutrients in plants,” Callaghan, the company’s chief executive, explained. This process turns what used to be “side streams” for food producers into a high-value commodity to incorporate into other food products. Crucially, the company can also apply a so-called clean label.
And scaling up is their plan, with the one-tonne machine only the start of their strategy. “We want to scale that up to 10 or 100 tonnes,” said Callaghan. “Then we’re into really meaningful volumes”. Enterprise Ireland shares this ambition for the firm, Callaghan said, pointing to their extensive range of support.