FOOD FOCUSED BIOTECH
Natural fungal biotechnology solutions for a healthy and sustainable food future
Myconeos is a biotech company that specialises in research related to fungi and their use in the food industry. We use innovative techniques and proprietary technology to facilitate the sexual reproduction of Penicillium and Aspergillus fungal strains, which were previously believed to be asexual.
Our new strains of fungi are bred for characteristic targets and can be used as small bio-manufacturing factories to produce unique natural fermentation strains and new food ingredients.
Our technology helps food manufacturers create new and improved quality products by avoiding poor strain performance so improving their customers loyalty and thus their profitability.
OUR TECHNOLOGY EXPLAINED
Our technology can be applied to many other industrially valuable asexual fungal species used in food chains such as Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Fusarium.
Fungal strains are used in the manufacture of cheese, fermented meats and plant-based food, providing the characteristic flavours, appearance and features of these foods.
Products are made from historic cell banks. These are subject to genetic drift, prone to contamination that causes quality problems in manufacturing and act as a barrier to innovation.
Our discovery of strain breeding technology for asexual Penicillium species allows the creation of new targeted strains for maturation and fermentation of food products.
This technology provides better control of product specification, causes fewer manufacturing problems, and can deliver new flavours, colours, enzymes, and textures to enable innovation. Our new strains can be harnessed as tiny, efficient natural biofactories.
HOW WE WORK
We isolate fungal strain from both the natural environment and established food production chains. We have a comprehensive strain bank of over 300 strains, and this is increasing all the time.
ISOLATE FUNGAL STRAINS
We analyse the strains using classical and DNA approaches and breed strains together. We then screen the sexual offspring for desired characteristics, allowing us to select new strains with beneficial properties.
BREED NEW FUNGAL STRAINS
We sell our strains and apply our expertise to other culture houses and manufacturers allowing them to create innovative and exciting new products with new improved or new functional benefits.
ENABLE INNOVATION
WHAT WE DO
MYCOFORTI PENICILLIUM ROQUEFORTI CULTURES
Announcing a breakthrough discovery to the cheese industry.
The launch of a ‘natural’ range of novel and unique Penicillium roqueforti cultures, providing cheese producers the opportunity to differentiate within the blue cheese market.
FUNGAL CONSULTANCY AND BIOPROTECTANTS
Our strains help customers to create unique product offerings to retain current and attract new customers. Myconeos allows the recapture of the diversity of curated strains used traditionally without genetic manipulation.
The company’s initial focus is on launching new better performing strains for the blue mould-ripened cheese market to increase strain performance reliability, improve maturation, eliminate bitterness and reduce waste, thus saving cost as well as providing the first new strains that will allow product differentiation opportunities.
NOVEL STRAIN DEVELOPMENT
We work with customers to develop strains with specific characteristics of interest and currently have a strain-bank of over 300 unique Penicillium strains, which is growing all the time.
Myconeos are happy to provide sets of key strains for fermentation projects for secondary metabolites, colours or protein development, under partnering agreements for culture and specialist ingredient manufacturers with an interest in Penicillium roqueforti as an option for their customers.