French fermentation leader Lesaffre has acquired a 70% stake in Biorigin, the natural ingredient arm of Brazilian agribusiness Zilor, finalizing a joint venture aimed at transforming yeast-based ingredient solutions for food and feed markets globally.
At the core of this collaboration is Biorigin’s production facility in Quatá, São Paulo—recognised for its carbon-neutral operations powered by biomass. This plant, now part of the joint venture, will play a central role in scaling manufacturing while maintaining a low environmental footprint.
The newly formed partnership combines the technical expertise and production strength of Lesaffre’s Biospringer business unit with Biorigin’s capabilities in natural ingredients derived from sugarcane processing.
Together, the companies aim to accelerate the development of clean-label, yeast-derived savory ingredients and nutritional solutions for humans, pets, and livestock.
Lesaffre will benefit from Biorigin’s established presence in Latin America, while Zilor gains access to Lesaffre’s global distribution network and advanced R&D. Zilor will continue operating its ethanol and brewer’s spent yeast production facilities in Lençóis Paulista and Macatuba, maintaining full control over its animal nutrition business.
The joint venture builds on a shared commitment to sustainability, supply chain transparency, and innovation—leveraging decades of complementary expertise in fermentation and agricultural processing.
The deal, first announced in October 2024, marks a significant milestone in both companies’ growth strategies and signals a broader shift toward collaboration in sustainable bioingredient development.