Amyris to acquire sweet-protein maker Oobli for undisclosed sum
What's the deal? Amyris, a vertically integrated biomanufacturing company, said it will acquire Oobli, a maker of fermentation-based sweet proteins that help brands cut sugar without losing taste. The companies did not disclose terms. The deal is expected to close in the coming weeks.
What's the endgame? The acquisition pairs Oobli's protein fermentation expertise with Amyris's strain engineering and manufacturing scale. Amyris plans to use the combined platform across food and beverage, personal care, flavor and fragrances, and agriculture.
Why now? Amyris expanded capacity earlier this year at its fermentation plant in Barra Bonita, Brazil. The acquisition could help Oobli scale production while broadening Amyris's ingredient portfolio.
Oobli has spent the past decade refining a process to produce sweet proteins found naturally in rare equatorial fruits and berries. Its portfolio — Oubli Fruit, Serendipity Berry, and Katemfe Fruit sweet proteins — holds FDA GRAS status as an ingredient and FEMA GRAS affirmation as a natural flavor. The proteins are hundreds to thousands of times sweeter than sugar and are metabolised as protein, avoiding blood sugar spikes.
"In Oobli, we see a commercial and technology platform that is a great complement to our own," said Amyris chief executive officer Kathy Fortmann.
Oobli chief executive officer Ali Wing said the deal gives the company "the scale and resources to realize our ambition of making sweet proteins the global standard in sweetness solutions." Existing customer commitments and brand partnerships will continue uninterrupted.
What could go wrong? Execution is the risk. Amyris emerged from Chapter 11 in 2024 and was still not profitable as of May 2026, so the deal's value will hinge on financing, integration, and turning customer interest into recurring sales.
The signal: Sweet proteins are drawing growing commercial investment, with Oobli already partnered with IngredionDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and other suppliers building capacity. As consumers focus on metabolic health and sugar reduction, the category is shifting from novelty to a scaling ingredient business — if the biomanufacturers behind it can fund the ramp-up.
Read more: prnewswire.com
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
