Robertet, an industrial player in fragrances and flavors, acquired a BioPod. This first contract with the biotech startup Interstellar Lab, a visionary player in biofarming, will enable Robertet to accelerate its knowledge of the living while reducing its environmental footprint for precision agriculture.
This investment comes in addition to the 14 research and creation centers dedicated to exploring the world of natural ingredients to offer products and solutions to Robertet Group customers.
Jérôme Bruhat, CEO of Robertet, explains: « The arrival of this BioPod in Grasse illustrates Robertet’s innovation strategy: using cutting-edge technologies to offer our customers the best natural products for a more sustainable industry. We are doing this with a recognized pioneer in biofarming. »
»We are looking forward to kick-off our collaboration with Interstellar Lab, an exceptional partner. We are already engaged in several research programs to prepare the future of aromatic plant agronomy, and we are excited to accelerate this research thanks to the remarkable performance of the BioPod. We are determined to continue transforming our industry, » explains Julien Maubert, Director of the Raw Materials Division and in charge of the Interstellar project.
« We are delighted to be bringing BioPods to market with Robertet as our first partner, a leading French natural ingredients group with unrivaled experience and expertise in cultivating Earth’s natural resources. We share many common values, such as the preservation of biodiversity. With the BioPod, we are offering a solution to the industry’s ecological transition. We harness technology to benefit the living. » adds Barbara Belvisi, founder and CEO of Interstellar Lab.
How does the BioPod work?
Thanks to triple expertise in a controlled environment, artificial intelligence, and biology, BioPod accelerates production cycles and increases the production of bioactive compounds in plants while offering a sustainable cultivation tool that anticipates the challenges of sourcing plants and the environmental impact of producing natural ingredients.
BioPod is an 11m long, 5m wide, and 6m high deployable greenhouse, which can be installed without foundation and offers up to 100 m2 of highly controlled growing space. This autonomous cocoon, a terrestrial adaptation of a system originally developed for NASA, operates in a semi-closed circuit, optimizing the water cycle and capturing ambient CO2.
Its transparent membrane captures sunlight and reduces the energy consumption of artificial light. Equipped with sensors and its artificial intelligence, BioPod recreates climates autonomously, enabling the production of high-value-added plants and natural ingredients in a sustainable and replicable way. Thanks to technologies and automated control using an algorithmic approach, BioPod maintains ideal conditions for plant growth and molecular composition while significantly reducing cultivation surface, water, and energy.
Source: Hortidaily
