Food Brewer, a Zurich-based start-up specialising in cocoa production through plant cell culture technology, has successfully closed a CHF 5 million ($5.6 million) seed extension funding round.

This round was bolstered by investments from renowned chocolate manufacturer Lindt & Sprüngli and Sparkalis, the corporate venture arm of Puratos, a producer of bakery ingredients and chocolate.

This latest funding brings Food Brewer’s total investment to CHF 10 million ($11.1 million), as the company seeks to scale its innovative approach to cocoa production amid growing concerns about supply shortages exacerbated by climate change.

CEO Christian Schaub told AgFunger: “The commitments of Lindt & Sprüngli and Sparkalis validate our business and the market need for what we’re building”.

The cocoa industry faces increasing pressures from climate change, which threatens traditional growing regions and could lead to significant supply shortfalls.

In response, Food Brewer is pioneering a method that cultivates cocoa biomass in controlled environments using plant cell culture techniques. This innovative process involves growing plant cells in bioreactors, where they are nourished with sugars, vitamins and minerals, rather than relying on conventional agricultural methods.

The startup’s approach is part of a broader trend in the food and beverage sector, where companies are exploring alternative methods for producing key ingredients.

The plant cell culture method is already established in pharmaceutical production, notably for producing the breast cancer drug Taxol, and is now being adapted for agricultural commodities like cocoa and coffee.

Food Brewer aims to position itself as a business-to-business (B2B) supplier of cocoa ingredients. The company is currently operating at a pilot scale with an 800-litre bioreactor and is working towards larger demo-scale production by retrofitting existing brewing facilities or partnering with clients that have adaptable production capabilities.

The collaboration with Krones, a beverage production equipment manufacturer, is pivotal for Food Brewer. By adapting brewing technology rather than biopharma systems, the company aims to reduce costs and enhance operational efficiency.

Unlike precision fermentation, which requires costly downstream processing, Food Brewer's technique allows for the harvesting of the entire biomass, significantly lowering production costs. The company reports that its media costs are minimal, primarily consisting of inexpensive sugars and essential nutrients.

With a targeted entry into the US market, Food Brewer plans to submit GRAS notifications to the FDA this year, aiming for market launch by late 2026.