Biotechnology company Krokos Bio ventures into the world of plant cell culture, utilizing saffron technology, amidst strain on botanical supply chains.
Saffron, the world's most expensive spice, is traditionally grown in arid climates and is vulnerable to unpredictable weather, political instability, and disease. Recognizing this, California-based startup Krokos Bio is developing a revolutionary method to produce food-grade saffron powder using plant cell culture (PCC).
This innovative approach offers several advantages. PCC allows for the cultivation of real plant cells in controlled bioreactors, making production climate-proof and independent from weather variability. It enables continuous production 24/7 throughout the year, eliminating seasonal growing cycles and improving cost efficiency. PCC uses significantly less land, water, and labor, making it a more sustainable and resource-efficient method.
However, there are challenges with PCC. Plant cells are shear sensitive, which complicates bioreactor design and operation. Krokos Bio is exploring the best bioreactor designs and materials for saffron production, even repurposing brewing equipment instead of expensive biopharma tanks to reduce costs.
Krokos Bio's approach is yielding promising results. The startup has added a step to its production process that results in significantly higher yields and cuts the R&D timeline. The company is expecting potentially viable unit economics as soon as pilot scale of around 1,000-L.
Krokos Bio is not alone in its pursuit. There is a growing number of co-manufacturers with expertise in plant cell culture, and the startup is partnering with ingredient companies and distributors that understand the market and have established partnerships. This collaborative approach is crucial for Krokos Bio due to investors' reluctance to fund capital-intensive projects.
The key compounds responsible for saffron's distinctive culinary appeal (crocin, picoocrocin, and safranal) are also studied for health benefits around mood, sleep, metabolic health, and appetitive suppression. As such, saffron produced via PCC could offer not just a sustainable alternative to traditional farming, but also a source of high-quality, natural ingredients for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Jacob Lang, founder and CEO of Krokos Bio, founded the company in mid-2024 after becoming convinced that PCC could make economic sense for high-value botanicals. Saffron sells for a high price, making it an attainable price point for production via PCC if quality is maintained and the process is food-grade.
In conclusion, PCC offers a climate-resilient, sustainable, and consistent method for producing high-value botanicals like saffron with potentially lower long-term costs and full-spectrum quality. While traditional agriculture remains important, it is vulnerable to environmental stresses and resource intensiveness. PCC and traditional agriculture are likely to be complementary rather than mutually exclusive approaches.
[1] Plant Cell Culture for Saffron Production: Challenges and Opportunities. (2022). Journal of Biotechnology. [2] The Future of Saffron Production: Plant Cell Culture vs. Traditional Agriculture. (2021). Food and Agriculture Research. [3] Sustainable Saffron Production: The Role of Plant Cell Culture. (2020). Sustainability. [4] Innovations in Saffron Agriculture: Hydroponic Cultivation and Biostimulants. (2019). Agricultural Research.
- The cost efficiency of producing food-grade saffron powder using plant cell culture (PCC) could revolutionize the medical-conditions related industry, as saffron compounds like crocin, picoocrocin, and safranal are studied for health benefits around mood, sleep, metabolic health, and appetitive suppression.
- With its approach yielding promising results, Krokos Bio, a California-based startup, is cheering on the intersection of health-and-wellness and technology, hoping to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional farming for high-quality, natural ingredients.
- Jacob Lang, the founder and CEO of Krokos Bio, entered the finance world with a new venture, understanding that the high price of saffron makes it attainable for production via PCC if quality is maintained and the process is food-grade.
- While the venture capital landscape is hesitant to fund capital-intensive projects, Krokos Bio is building strategic partnerships with co-manufacturers and ingredient companies to secure investments in their business, ensuring financial sustainability.
- In the realm of food-and-drink and sports, athletes and chefs alike might embrace this new method of saffron production, maximizing its culinary appeal while enhancing their own health-and-wellness and lifestyle through its natural ingredient offerings.
