Amyris acquires Oobli to scale sweet protein solutions
Biotech firm Amyris has acquired sweet protein pioneer Oobli, accelerating its commercial expansion into protein-based sugar alternatives amid high consumer demand for sugar reduction.
Amyris has acquired Oobli, a pioneer in precision-fermented sweet proteins, to accelerate its commercial and technological expansion in protein-based sweetness solutions. The deal, expected to close in the coming weeks, marks a strategic commercial and technology expansion for Amyris, accelerating its footprint in protein- and peptide-based solutions across end-markets. Oobli CEO Ali Wing stated that joining forces with Amyris gives them the scale and resources to realize their ambition of making sweet proteins the global standard in sweetness solutions.
This transaction is the latest consolidatory move in the alternative protein space. Amyris plans to acquire Oobli to expand the use of fermentation-derived sweet proteins in food and beverage. The acquisition comes more than two years after Amyris filed for bankruptcy protection and entered restructuring, having since sold off consumer brands and fully pivoted to a B2B model.
Oobli's sweet protein innovation and science
Oobli uses precision fermentation to produce high-intensity sweet proteins derived from natural sources, which are metabolized as proteins without affecting blood sugar or gut health. The company developed sweet proteins like brazzein, monellin, and thaumatin via precision fermentation and formulates them into food and beverage products.
These proteins are hundreds to thousands of times sweeter than sugar, bind directly to sweet taste receptors, and are metabolized by the body as protein. This delivers sweetness without gut disruption or blood sugar spikes. Oobli has secured 'no questions' letters from the FDA for its proteins, with brazzein and monellin affirmed as GRAS for use as sweeteners. The company is awaiting a similar FDA letter for its thaumatin ingredient.
| Protein | Relative Sweetness (vs. Sugar) | Key Status |
|---|---|---|
| Brazzein | Up to 1,000 times sweeter | FDA GRAS as sweetener |
| Monellin | Even sweeter than brazzein | FDA GRAS as sweetener |
| Thaumatin | Up to 3,000 times sweeter | Self-determined GRAS, FDA letter expected |
| Miraculin | Makes sour flavors taste sweet | , |
Sweet proteins offer a new dimension to sugar reduction, avoiding the gut disruption and blood sugar spikes sometimes associated with other alternatives like stevia and monk fruit. Oobli’s proteins are inspired by African fruits including Oubli fruit, serendipity berries, katemfe fruit, and miracle fruit.
Manufacturing and commercial integration
The acquisition combines Amyris's strain engineering and biomanufacturing capabilities with Oobli's protein production platform. Amyris boosted its manufacturing capacity earlier this year by installing a new 2x80m³ production line at its advanced fermentation facility in Barra Bonita, Brazil. This is Amyris's fourth independent operational production line, equipped with advanced instrumentation, process controls, and automation to maximize efficiency, flexibility, and reliability.
Oobli’s production will remain with its current contract manufacturer, with no immediate plans to bring production in-house to Amyris’s Brazil facility. Amyris CEO Kathy Fortmann stated the company intends to keep Oobli’s manufacturing partners and maintain current prices and lead times. Amyris’s post-bankruptcy model allows flexible partner options, including royalty-based licensing and selective manufacturing deployment.
Oobli’s primary markets include beverages, sports nutrition, dairy, chocolate, bakery, and confectionery. The company works with food and beverage manufacturers including Ingredion, Grupo Bimbo, and Cosun Ingredients. It also sells chocolates made from its sweet proteins under its own brand as a marketing tool to demonstrate feasibility.
Consumer and market context
Rising consumer preference to reduce sugar shows the relevance of non-impact sweeteners. Forty-five percent of consumers cited sugar as the top item they want to consume less of this year. Americans eat an average of 17 teaspoons of sugar daily, higher than recommended levels, against a backdrop where 42% of Americans are obese and over 11% have type 2 diabetes.
Biomanufactured solutions win when they align with consumer demand and market needs. Since September 2024, more than 90 companies in the alternative protein space have been acquired, merged, fallen into insolvency, or shut down. The acquisition positions Amyris, a biomanufacturing specialist with over 20 years of experience, to leverage Oobli’s technology in a growing market.
Oobli’s team will join Amyris at its Emeryville headquarters to determine integration roles and collaboration pathways. Sweet protein development will be supported by Amyris’s extensive R&D labs in Emeryville, California.
