During a time of food insecurity and disruption, Nuritas, a food tech company, is dedicated to improving the lives of billions worldwide by utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance and streamline the discovery process for plant-based peptide ingredients.
Established in 2014, the company recently concluded a $42 million Series C funding round and currently has two products on the market with more in the pipeline.
Nuritas’ Founder and CEO, Dr. Nora Khaldi, discussed with Food Dive how the company believes AI can revolutionize the food industry.
FOOD DIVE: Can you share a bit about Nuritas and its mission?
DR. NORA KHALDI: At Nuritas, our aim is to provide essential ingredients in everyday products. We use AI to create new, functional ingredients that cater to modern consumer demands for health and nutrition, while also being cost-effective and sustainable.
How does AI factor into your ingredient discovery process?
AI accelerates the discovery and development process of new ingredients by utilizing advanced machine learning to identify natural peptides with specific health benefits, optimizing them for stability and scalability.
Can you provide an example of how your AI technology has discovered a new ingredient?
An example is PeptiStrong, derived from fava beans, which improves muscle health, strength, and bone density. AI enabled the isolation and optimization of these peptides for human consumption.
Are your ingredients solely focused on functional health benefits, or do you also improve taste and texture?
Nuritas’ platform addresses health benefits such as muscle health, sleep improvement, and reduced sugar impact, while also enhancing taste, texture, and shelf life through natural alternatives.
What are the biggest challenges in ingredient discovery?
The complexity of traditional methods is overcome by AI, which processes millions of variables simultaneously to pinpoint viable ingredients quickly and efficiently.
What trends are shaping the future of ingredient development?
Consumer demand is increasing for ingredients that support muscle health, longevity, energy, and solutions for anxiety, sleep, and metabolic health.
Who are your key partners, and what products use your ingredients?
Nuritas collaborates with brands in dietary supplements, sports nutrition, medical foods, and cosmetics, with products like PeptiStrong in bars and supplements, and PeptiYouth in skincare.
What does the future hold for Nuritas?
Nuritas aims to reintroduce health and nutrition into everyday consumption, reaching billions globally and reshaping the food and health landscape.