Shiru, an AI-driven ingredient discovery company, has commenced the commercial production of two new plant-based ingredients, uPro™ and OleoPro™, following successful development and customer feedback. These ingredients, both designed to address key challenges in food formulation, are now available for commercial orders.
“AI can rapidly identify natural ingredients to solve critical formulation challenges”
uPro™ is a structured protein derived from potato protein, offering texturizing and emulsifying properties suitable for a wide range of food applications. OleoPro™, a protein-based fat alternative, delivers a substantial reduction in saturated fat content, while maintaining the functional properties of traditional fats.
Dr. Jasmin Hume, founder and CEO of Shiru, explained, “uPro™ and OleoPro™ demonstrate how AI can rapidly identify natural ingredients to solve critical formulation challenges. Our Flourish™ platform’s ability to analyze millions of proteins quickly and precisely means food companies can immediately implement clean-label, sustainable solutions.”
The launch comes amid growing regulatory pressure in Washington D.C., where policymakers are pushing for the removal of artificial ingredients and added sugars from food products. Shiru’s AI-powered platform, Flourish™, allows for the rapid discovery of natural ingredients, a factor that positions the company to meet evolving market demands for cleaner, more sustainable ingredients.
Accelerating ingredient development process
Last year, the company raised $16 million in a Series B funding round, bringing its total funding to $36 million. This has enabled Shiru to scale its production capabilities to meet the growing demand for these ingredients, with the capacity to produce thousands of metric tons annually. The company’s ability to quickly move from discovery to commercial production is underpinned by the speed of its ProteinDiscovery.ai platform, which shortens the traditional ingredient development timeline from years to months.
Both ingredients are made with Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) components, ensuring their market readiness. uPro™ is designed to structure various oils, including olive, canola, and soybean oils, improving their stability and absorption properties. In contrast, OleoPro™ provides a solid fat alternative that is both functional and clean-label, offering significant benefits for products requiring creamy textures, while reducing saturated fat content by over 90%.
