A UK biotech company is engineering microbes to turn sugar-refinery wastewater into a key ingredient for soaps and cosmetics, replacing palm oil. The problem is that conventional palmitic acid—a fatty acid used in detergents, shampoos, and industrial chemicals—comes almost entirely from palm oil. Expanding palm plantations drives deforestation, destroys habitats, and releases greenhouse gases. Twig Bio’s approach uses synthetic biology and an AI-driven design cycle to reprogram bacteria to feed on sugary industrial waste and produce palmitic acid instead. This turns a costly disposal problem into a feedstock. If the process scales, it could break the link between everyday consumer goods and tropical deforestation. The company plans to create 40 jobs and generate over £10 million in revenue within five years, while stabilising supply chains that currently depend on a single, environmentally destructive crop. The work is applied and commercially focused—there is no fundamental science component here. Success would mean a cleaner, more resilient manufacturing system for products most people use daily without thinking about their origin.
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Twig Bio is pioneering a sustainable future for chemical manufacturing with its innovative bioprocess for producing palmitic acid (PA), derived from Palm Oil (PO) and a critical ingredient in a wide range of consumer products, from cosmetics to detergents. Traditional PA production relies heavily on palm oil, contributing significantly to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. Our solution replaces this environmentally damaging process with a bio-based alternative that is efficient, scalable, and sustainable. Our approach leverages cutting-edge synthetic biology and AI-driven innovation. Using our proprietary Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) cycle, we engineer microbial strains to produce PA from sugar-rich industrial waste streams, such as those produced in sugar refining. This process transforms a disposal challenge into a valuable resource, drastically reducing production costs and environmental impact. The project aims to develop and scale a commercially viable biomanufacturing process that supports global Net Zero ambitions and creates a new model for sustainable industrial chemistry. Through partnerships with industry leaders, Twig Bio is poised to accelerate the adoption of bio-based PA, ensuring market relevance and a strong route to commercialization. By displacing traditional palm oil-derived processes, our innovation will mitigate environmental harm, stabilise supply chains, and foster economic growth. Over the next five years, Twig Bio plans to create 40 high-value jobs, generate £10+ million in revenue, and support the UK's position as a leader in sustainable biotechnology. This project exemplifies how cutting-edge science can address global challenges while driving economic and environmental progress.
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