The innovative facility will enable plant breeding to develop varieties up to four years faster than traditional research facilities
Benson Hill, a food tech company unlocking nature’s genetic diversity with its cutting-edge food innovation engine, has recently made two announcements that further the company’s ability to leverage the combined power of food science, data science and plant biology through its CropOS technology platform to accelerate and scale the delivery of novel plant-based food and ingredient options to meet rising global demand.
Benson Hill maps findings of consumer sensory panels, food formulation testing and farmer fields all the way back to the plant genomic level using advanced data analytics techniques. This enables the company to unlock the genetic diversity within crops and develop ingredients that are better from the beginning, creating new dimensions for food science and a suite of new opportunities for product innovation and differentiation using fewer and simpler ingredients.
With St. Louis-based venture capital firm Lagomaj Capital, Benson Hill is breaking ground on a new Crop Accelerator, a state-of-the-art, controlled environment research facility located near Benson Hill’s new headquarters in the 39 North Innovation District.
The innovative facility will enable plant breeding to develop varieties up to four years faster than traditional research facilities and is part of the company’s contribution to a more responsive food system that reconnects farmers and consumers in more sustainable ways. The Crop Accelerator will allow rapid development of feed, food and ingredients positioning farmers and food companies to grow and deliver products with the attributes consumers are looking for, including improved taste and nutrition.