Equinom, a food technology company, is now transforming the plant-based food sector by offering top-notch, non-GMO ingredients made with artificial intelligence (AI). 

The tech uses an automated matching concept where plant-based food developers are matched with optimized, high-quality ingredients. 

Established in 2012, Equinom combines its AI and food development expertise with its patented Manna technology. The Manna Ingredient Platform utilises AI to analyse more than 50 million breeding combinations inside the company’s seed vault. The vault house over 250,000 varieties of seeds. 

The Matchmaking Process

Food companies can send their requests for plant-based ingredients with the sensory traits they wish to develop for their food products. The Manna tech will start analysing the breeding combinations and recommends seeds for cross-breeding. 

Chosen seeds undergo breeding. Equinom collaborates with farmers to plant, test, and harvest crops. These Equinom grains will be transformed into food ingredients with the help of ingredient processors. 

Since most seeds are of high quality, they require minimal processing, resulting in excellent, non-GMO ingredients that plant-based enthusiasts can enjoy. 

The company, with headquarters in the US and Israel, has several partners they’ve been collaborating with to bring only the best plant-based products to the market. What used to take years to perfect can now be done much faster, with minimal trial and error. The Manna platform is critical in helping companies develop and improve their product line by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence.

“As a result of minimal processing, Equinom ingredients tend to have more beneficial nutrients intact (e.g. fibre) and less detrimental ones (e.g. sodium),” Equinom founder Gil Shalev shares.  “They also have a much better carbon footprint, using no chemicals and significantly less water and energy in their production.”

What food developers lack, such as understanding the biochemical properties of crops to attain their preferred flavours, is what the Manna technology addresses. 

“Food developers rely on anecdotal experience and much trial and error to hone in on a successful ingredient for any given application,” Shalev explains.  “We saw an opportunity to provide metrics that correlate to desired functional and sensory traits to make the application development process more efficient and turnkey—and that unique ability remains a core differentiator for us today.”