BENEO, a leading manufacturer of functional ingredients for food, feed and pharma, and WACKER, a European expert in biotechnology solutions for the food and pharma industry, are launching the human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) 2’-Fucosyllactose X(2’-FL) globally. It is the predominant and most extensively studied HMO and will be available to the European market in the coming weeks. The product launch is the first result of a strategic and global partnership the companies entered to collaborate on enhancing early-life nutrition. It will provide additional volumes of HMOs to the market, helping to secure supply and quality for both large and smaller manufacturers of infant formulas.
As an HMO, 2’-FL belongs to a structurally and biologically diverse group of complex indigestible carbohydrates, which are the third major component in breast milk following lactose and lipids. HMOs act as prebiotics in a class of their own, supporting the development of healthy gut microbiota, bolstering infants’ immune systems, and contributing to overall health outcomes such as improved metabolic health and neurodevelopment. These unique components are crucial for the development of milk formulas that achieve a profile as close as possible to breast milk which is widely recognised as the gold standard in infant nutrition. Accordingly, 2’-FL complements BENEO’s portfolio of health promoting ingredients for babies, toddlers and beyond.
Within the partnership WACKER will oversee the production leveraging its reputable expertise in biotechnology. It will produce 2’-FL in Europe using precision fermentation via a patented strain. BENEO will be responsible for the commercialisation, making the most of its comprehensive knowledge in scientific research as well as of the global market for infant nutrition.
Olivier Roques, CEO at BENEO comments: “The launch of 2’-FL and the associated addition of HMOs to BENEO’s established and well recognized portfolio of scientifically proven prebiotics is strategic. Particularly for the infant nutrition market it provides promising opportunities for highly effective combinations. We are pleased about the collaboration with such an experienced partner like WACKER and are looking forward to the joint journey for HMOs.”
Mathias Wiedemann, President of WACKER Biosolutions affirms: “We are excited about this new partnership. It will bring together WACKER’s expertise and production track record with BENEO’s thorough market understanding. Together, we are set to meet the high demands of customers in the infant nutrition sector.”
The global demand for HMOs is expected to grow significantly, from around USD 180 million in 2022 to almost USD 900 million by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 17 percenti. This predicted growth is supported by an increasing number of infant-formula product launches featuring HMOs, which rose from 4 percent to 20 percent between 2018 and 2023ii. This growing prevalence further underscores the critical role and market demand for HMOs.
