As consumers increasingly seek functional qualities in their food and beverages, companies such as Brightseed are beginning to reap the rewards. “Consumers are more and more interested in natural and accessible solutions to enhance their health, but the industry has faced significant challenges due to a lack of tools and technologies to explore nature’s potential,” stated Sofia Elizondo, co-founder and chief operating officer. Brightseed has developed the Forager artificial intelligence platform, which analyzes and predicts the health impacts of plant-derived compounds. They have already collaborated with firms like Danone, Ocean Spray, and OFI to gain deeper insights into plants and their health advantages, aiming to foster future product innovation.
In 2021, Danone expanded its one-year partnership with Brightseed, leveraging artificial intelligence to uncover hidden nutrients in widely used ingredients such as soybeans. The collaboration has focused on establishing biological links between the bioactive compounds found in Danone’s raw plant materials and their health benefits. As of last August, Forager had identified ten times more bioactives in a single plant than previously documented, along with seven new health attributes, according to an official press release.
Furthermore, OFI has teamed up with Brightseed to investigate which of its U.S. garlic and global black pepper varieties contain the highest concentrations of bioactive phytochemicals and how these relate to specific health benefits. In addition to these partnerships, Brightseed’s initial discovery—two bioactive compounds found in upcycled hemp hulls—is set to launch this year as an FDA GRAS whole-food ingredient aimed at promoting gut health. The company’s new facility in North Carolina will emphasize its ingredient business, and the recent funding will facilitate expansion into new natural realms, such as fungi and microbes.
Just three years ago, Brightseed secured $27 million to upscale its artificial intelligence platform, enabling it to bring its first phytonutrient to market while funding research partnerships. At that time, co-founder and CEO Jim Flatt noted that demand for Brightseed’s offerings surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, as consumers sought healthier options and businesses looked for efficient solutions to meet those demands. “Every company is eager to address these unmet consumer needs, and we certainly have more interest than we can manage as a development-stage firm,” he remarked.
To date, Forager has mapped over two million plant compounds—20 times more than current scientific literature—and numerous compounds are undergoing validation across various health domains, including metabolic health, digestive health, cognitive health, sugar management, maternal health, and immunity. The funds from the latest fundraising round, nearly three times the previous amount, will significantly aid Brightseed in advancing its discoveries from the laboratory to market shelves.
Brightseed is among a growing cohort of companies in the food and beverage sector utilizing artificial intelligence to accelerate development and unveil products that would otherwise be unfeasible or prohibitively expensive. Mars, McCormick & Co., and Conagra Brands are just a few other companies tapping into this technology. Brightseed’s ability to identify value-added ingredients while supporting firms like Danone in the burgeoning plant-based sector could provide these consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies with a substantial edge in attracting consumers and distinguishing themselves from competitors. As the market continues to evolve, the demand for innovations like Brightseed’s is likely to increase, especially as consumers ponder questions such as “does calcium citrate cause constipation” while seeking healthier options.