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Ingredion has announced a global research and development collaboration with Shiru, a US-based ingredient discovery firm, to accelerate the development and commercialisation of novel functional proteins. The partnership aims to integrate Ingredion’s global distribution and formulation expertise with Shiru’s advanced artificial intelligence platform to identify and scale natural ingredients with targeted health benefits.

Artificial intelligence

The collaboration centres on Shiru’s proprietary AI technology, which is capable of analysing more than 77 million natural protein sequences. This data-driven approach allows for the identification of ingredients with specific functional properties far more efficiently than traditional laboratory methods.

By utilising these computational capabilities, the partners intend to bypass the lengthy timelines typically associated with ingredient R&D. The focus will be on identifying high-performance natural proteins that meet rising consumer demand for functional nutrition, specifically in the areas of immunity, metabolic health, and cognitive function.

Next generation of prebiotics

A primary objective of the partnership is the development of next-generation prebiotics derived from natural sources. These ingredients are designed to support gut microbiome health, a sector seeing increased investment as clinical evidence links digestive health to broader systemic wellness.

Ingredients developed through this joint effort will be commercialised via Ingredion’s extensive network, which spans more than 18,000 customers across 120 countries. This collaboration aligns with Ingredion’s broader strategy to expand its Texture and Healthful Solutions portfolio through external innovation and digital transformation.

The leadership of both companies emphasised the role of technology in meeting modern food industry challenges. Jasmin Hume, founder and CEO of Shiru, noted that the traditional model of ingredient discovery has been fundamentally altered.

"We have broken the mould on how ingredient discovery is done," said Hume. "Disrupting the speed at which we can identify high-performance natural proteins has opened the floodgates for healthy, targeted nutrition. What once took a team of 50 scientists a decade and a healthy dose of serendipity, we can now do strategically and efficiently in months."

Michael Leonard, Chief Innovation Officer at Ingredion, highlighted the need for speed in a competitive market. "As consumer expectations rise, food companies need new ways to move faster and innovate smarter," Leonard said. "Shiru helps us discover better natural ingredients more quickly so we can help our customers deliver new products at a pace the market expects."

Expanding the functional ingredient pipeline

The agreement builds on Shiru’s recent commercial successes, including the launch of AI-discovered ingredients uPro and OleoPro. For Ingredion, the partnership represents a significant step in diversifying its source of innovation, moving toward a more tech-integrated supply chain.

As the industry shifts toward "precision nutrition," the ability to map specific protein sequences to functional outcomes in the human body is becoming a critical competitive advantage for global ingredient suppliers.