MOA Foodtech, a European biotechnology company, has launched Albatros, a microbiology platform powered by artificial intelligence. The platform is engineered to transform how food and feed manufacturers develop fermentation-based ingredients by significantly reducing the time and cost associated with traditional research and development. According to MOA Foodtech, Albatros can compress product development timelines from six months to just two weeks. This is achieved by replacing manual, trial and error processes with predictive modelling, resulting in faster prototyping and decision making.
Enhanced Efficiency Through Predictive Modelling and Data Analysis
Albatros integrates AI driven modelling techniques to forecast the most suitable microbial strains and fermentation pathways for specific production goals. The system uses characterisation data from byproducts and cross-references this information with a proprietary dataset covering metabolic models, enzymes, microbial genomes, and fermentation outputs. In one use case during testing, the platform produced a new ingredient derived from upcycled starches 75% faster than conventional R&D practices, while incurring only 5% of the associated costs. These results underscore the platform’s ability to optimise efficiency while maintaining performance.
Utilisation of Food Industry Byproducts as Feedstocks
One of the distinguishing features of Albatros is its capability to support the use of food industry byproducts as fermentation substrates. Unlike conventional fermentation methods that rely on costly refined sugars or specialised inputs, Albatros is designed to work with lower cost, widely available byproducts. The platform has access to a digital library containing data on 200 different food byproducts. This enables precise matching of each byproduct to the most appropriate fermentation strategy, taking into account specific objectives such as improving nutritional composition or increasing biomass yield. By doing so, MOA Foodtech’s solution helps manufacturers upcycle waste streams, thereby reducing raw material dependency and improving cost-efficiency and environmental impact.
Rapid Microbial Profiling and Fermentation Optimisation
The core of Albatros’ functionality lies in its proprietary protocols, which can analyse the DNA of microorganisms and predict their nutritional needs and metabolic pathways within 10 minutes. This allows MOA’s laboratory team to select the most promising microbial candidates and execute targeted fermentation experiments, guided by AI-generated insights. This capability substantially reduces trial-and-error experimentation and speeds up the entire product development cycle. The system’s data-driven approach ensures consistency, reliability, and scalability in fermentation outcomes.
“We developed our groundbreaking technology to speed up the development of new bio-based sustainable products. Using proprietary protocols, Albatros can analyse a microorganism’s DNA and, in just 10 minutes, predict its nutritional needs and how to reprogramme its metabolism. This unlocks huge possibilities with fermentation, and it has the power to transform the food industry.”
Microbiology-as-a-Service Delivery Model
To further simplify adoption, MOA Foodtech is offering Albatros under a ‘Microbiology as a Service’ (MAAS) model. This end to end service model enables food and feed companies to access advanced microbiological tools without needing to build internal capabilities. From identifying suitable raw materials to configuring optimal production conditions, the MAAS offering covers the full spectrum of fermentation innovation. By making sophisticated microbiological processes more accessible, MOA Foodtech aims to support a wider range of industry players in transitioning to more sustainable and value driven production models.
Commercial Calculator for Byproduct Valuation
In addition to the core Albatros platform, MOA Foodtech has introduced an online calculator tool designed to help manufacturers assess the commercial potential of their byproducts. By submitting details of side stream materials, users receive tailored feedback on how those inputs could be converted into high-value ingredients using MOA’s directed fermentation technologies. The company reports that, through this process, byproducts can be transformed into ingredients that generate up to 20 times the revenue of traditional low value applications. This tool is intended to support companies in evaluating waste-stream economics and exploring new revenue channels.
Alignment with Industry Trends in Fermentation and Sustainability
The introduction of Albatros aligns with broader shifts in the food and feed industries toward fermentation as a mechanism for improving sustainability, circularity, and profitability. Fermentation technologies are increasingly seen as effective tools for reducing food waste, lowering environmental footprints, and introducing novel, functional ingredients to the market. MOA Foodtech’s AI powered platform is positioned to support this transition by offering tailored solutions that accelerate time to market while optimising cost structures and resource utilisation.
By harnessing artificial intelligence and a comprehensive microbiological dataset, Albatros provides a structured yet flexible framework for advancing fermentation innovation. Through its multifaceted offering, which includes predictive modelling, laboratory validation, service integration, and byproduct valuation, MOA Foodtech aims to streamline product development and enable new applications for underutilised resources in the agri-food value chain.
