MOA Foodtech: Turning Food Industry Side Streams into Valuable Ingredients

MOA Foodtech: Turning Food Industry Side Streams into Valuable Ingredients

Every year, the global food industry generates millions of tonnes of side streams rich in carbohydrates, proteins, fibres, and other nutrients. While much of this biomass is currently directed toward low-value uses, disposal, or energy recovery, it represents a largely untapped resource for high-value ingredient production. At the same time, food manufacturers face increasing pressure to reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, and secure alternative ingredient sources. Spanish biotechnology company MOA Foodtech addresses these challenges through a combination of artificial intelligence, fermentation science, and industrial biotechnology. By identifying viable fermentation routes for complex side streams, the company converts food-processing side streams into commercially relevant ingredients through tailored microbial conversion processes.

Technology and Product

The composition of agricultural and food-processing side streams can vary significantly depending on origin and processing conditions, making fermentation development a complex optimisation challenge. MOA Foodtech has developed Albatros™, an AI-driven platform designed to combine metabolic modelling and process simulation to identify suitable microorganisms and fermentation conditions for a given side stream. According to the company, this approach can reduce development timelines from months to significantly shorter evaluation cycles. According to the company, the system combines machine learning, metabolic modelling, microbial screening, and process simulation to support strain selection and fermentation design. By integrating computational process development with fermentation, downstream processing, and scale-up, MOA aims to accelerate the development of functional ingredients from diverse biomass streams.

Fermentation development and process optimisation support the conversion of agri-food side streams into functional ingredients. (© MOA Foodtech)

Industrial Fit and Applications

As food manufacturers seek new ingredient sources and more resilient supply chains, fermentation is emerging as a route to diversify raw material inputs. MOA focuses on developing functional ingredients from agri-food side streams, targeting applications across food and feed markets. Working alongside food producers and ingredient companies, the startup evaluates how different biomass sources can be converted into commercially relevant products through tailored fermentation processes. The resulting ingredients are designed to integrate into existing manufacturing and distribution networks.

Food-industry side streams can serve as feedstocks for the production of protein-rich and functional ingredients. (© MOA Foodtech)

Founding Team

MOA Foodtech was founded in 2021 by Bosco Emparanza (CEO) together with Susana Sánchez (CSO) and José María Elorza (CFO). The founding team combines expertise in biotechnology, fermentation, food innovation, and industrial process development. Today, the company brings together specialists in artificial intelligence, microbial fermentation, ingredient development, and scale-up engineering.