Unlocking the Future of Ingredient Discovery: An Exclusive Q&A with Nuritas CEO Nora Khaldi on AI Innovations

With food insecurity on the rise, Nuritas is stepping up. This food tech company harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to discover plant-based peptides that can change lives for the better. Founded in 2014, Nuritas just secured $42 million in funding and has two products on the market, with more in development.

In a recent conversation, Nuritas Founder and CEO Dr. Nora Khaldi shared the company’s mission and how AI is reshaping the food industry.

What is Nuritas all about?

Dr. Khaldi explained that at Nuritas, the focus is on creating ingredients that truly matter. Many ingredients in food today were developed years ago, mainly for taste and cost. They often don’t meet the current demands for health and nutrition. Nuritas wants to change that. By using AI, they develop ingredients that offer health benefits while being affordable and sustainable.

How does AI help in finding new ingredients?

Traditionally, discovering new food ingredients took a long time and cost a lot. Nuritas is a pioneer in this area, using AI to speed up the process. Their platform, Magnifier, uses machine learning and a detailed dataset to find natural peptides with health advantages. This technology ensures the ingredients are stable and suitable for use in food.

Can you share a success story from your AI research?

One standout example is PeptiStrong, derived from fava beans. Many old ingredients focus mainly on taste. However, there’s a growing demand for health-boosting ingredients. Nuritas uses AI to extract peptides from fava beans that promote muscle health and improve strength and bone density. Their technology ensures these peptides are stable and effective for people.

Do your ingredients only focus on health, or do they improve taste and texture too?

Nuritas’s platform tackles both health and sensory experiences. They create products aimed at health improvements, such as enhancing muscle health or reducing sugar impacts, while also improving taste and texture. For example, they work with brands to replace artificial ingredients with natural, functional alternatives.

What challenges do you face in discovering new ingredients?

The process can be complex. Traditional methods are often slow and linear, leading to frustration after years of research. AI changes this game by analyzing millions of variables at once, identifying promising ingredients quickly. Dr. Khaldi mentioned that creating PeptiStrong without AI would have taken an estimated 30 million years!

What trends do you see shaping the future of ingredients?

Consumers increasingly seek ingredients that promote muscle health and overall well-being. After age 28, muscle loss can start, affecting strength and vitality. Addressing this through nutrition can improve quality of life. Other trends include solutions for anxiety, sleep issues, and managing the effects of high-glycemic foods on health.

Who are your main partners, and what products use your ingredients?

Nuritas partners with brands across various sectors like dietary supplements, sports nutrition, and cosmetics. For instance, PeptiStrong is found in bars and supplements, while PeptiYouth is utilized in skincare products.

What’s next for Nuritas?

Nuritas aims to enhance the lives of billions by integrating health and nutrition into everyday products. While they already impact tens of millions, their goal is to make functional ingredients a common presence in all food products, transforming the global food and health landscape.