Planetary Expands into Fungi-Based Protein with Acquisition of Libre Foods
Swiss biomanufacturing company Planetary SA has acquired the core assets of Libre Foods, a Barcelona-based startup specialising in fungi-based meat alternatives. This acquisition includes Libre’s brand, intellectual property, commercial agreements, and research and development capabilities. The move will significantly strengthen Planetary’s presence in the fungi-based ingredient sector, particularly in industrial fermentation and ingredient development. Libre Foods, known for developing Europe’s first fungi-derived bacon, has been an industry leader in the creation of scalable, mycelium-based products. The company’s proprietary platform, Fungi.AI, enables high-throughput screening and real-time monitoring of fungal strains and fermentation conditions. In 2024, Libre expanded its capabilities with pilot-level technology and began industrial trials, broadening its focus beyond its original bacon formulation. Integrating cutting-edge tech With the acquisition, Planetary will integrate Libre’s technological innovations …