1. BASF’s AI-driven peptide discovery augurs well for sports nutrition
BASF launched PeptAIde at the recent HiE show in Europe. The ingredient, which is described as the world's first bioactive ingredient discovered and delivered through artificial intelligence (AI), is the culmination of a partnership between BASF and Nuritas dating back to January 2017.
Neil Foster, head of strategic partnerships at Nuritas, thinks sports nutrition could really benefit from AI and machine learning, with lessons potentially applying to the personalized, healthy ageing and infant nutrition sectors.
“The challenge of using AI in the area is the challenge of biology,” he said. “What Nuritas aimed to build, apart from the AI and deep learning, was the real-world and in-vitro validation.
“PeptAIde is a world first, but there will be many others that follow, possibly in personalized, healthy ageing and infant nutrition. We can take the data gathered and put it to good use.”
PeptAIde is said to contain a set of plant-based peptides that help modulate inflammation, the resulting immune-modulating effect is the effect of amino acids with low allergenic potential, relevant to the muscle stress response after physical exercise.
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2. Holistic health
New research from Mintel suggests that consumers around the world are choosing food and drink to boost their mood and clear their mind, both physically and ethically.
The data, presented at HiE in Frankfurt recently, found that consumers, and females in particular, are most interested in food and drink that can improve their holistic health, including everything from their energy levels to their ability to relax and sleep, to their brain function.
As reported by our European edition, a representative from Innova Market Insights also presented research that correlated with Mintel's findings.
“Consumers are interested in products that are beneficial to their own health as well as the health of the environment,” said Irene Kersbergen, market analyst for Innova Market Insights
“Mintel research has shown that people are more likely to sight environmental concerns as a reason for limit the amount of meat they eat, over their own personal health concerns.
“As such, there’s an increase in the number of brands making environmental health call-outs on pack."
3. New nutraceutical brand from NZ targets the US
Our final news of the week comes from New Zealand, where ingredient supplier Sanford is eying the US and Asia with its new nutraceutical brand centered on marine ingredients.
The company is known for its greenshell mussel powder, but recently announced the launch of its own consumer brand, Sea to Me.
Sanford's business development is “predominantly focused creating new opportunities for mussel derivatives and finding new uses for marine resources” that are typically considered waste products, explained CEO Volker Kuntzsch and chairman Paul Norling.
Speaking with our Asian edition, business development manager Adrian Grey said launching the Sea to Me brand was a "natural progression" for Sanford, especially since it had doubled its production capacity at Enzaq, the Blenheim-based mussel powder manufacturer and exporter the firm acquired in 2017.
