NEW TECH FOODS

Harmony Baby Nutrition, a biotech company specialising in infant formulas inspired by human milk, has received $5.9 million (BRL 30 million) in funding from Ação Conjunta FINEP–BNDES Chamada Pública 755.

The investment will support the creation of a research and development centre in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, focused on developing a range of infant formulas, including hypoallergenic options.

The FINEP–BNDES programme is part of Brazil’s Nova Indústria Brasil policy, which aims to strengthen domestic innovation capacity. Harmony was selected for the funding in recognition of its scientific expertise and potential to contribute to Brazil’s industrial and technological development.

Harmony’s new R&D centre will serve as the company’s global hub for research in advanced infant nutrition. The facility will focus on creating formulas that closely resemble human milk, including hypoallergenic products for infants with allergies or sensitivities.

“There is currently no domestic infant formula industry in Brazil; the market has been dominated for decades by large multinational companies,” said Wendel (Del) Afonso, founder and CEO of Harmony. “This funding allows us to establish a world-class research and production ecosystem right here in Belo Horizonte."

He continued: "In doing so, we are also positioning Brazil as a global leader in humanised infant formula innovation. We’re honored that Harmony has been chosen as a company capable of shaping the country’s technological future.”

Harmony’s first product, Melodi, a toddler formula inspired by human milk, has shown a 61% higher sensory preference compared with standard hypoallergenic products in independent studies. The company’s formulas avoid added sugars and dairy-based ingredients, aiming to improve nutritional quality while reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional cow’s milk formulas.

The new R&D centre, expected to open in the first half of 2026, will occupy approximately 250-square-metres and include laboratories for research, quality control and an application plant with high-precision production technologies. Harmony plans to hire 25 professionals, including at least five scientists with master’s or doctoral degrees specializing in infant nutrition.

Research at the centre will focus on developing new formulations tailored to different clinical and nutritional needs and investigating bioactive ingredients to achieve compositions closer to human milk.

Harmony Baby Nutrition is also raising funds through a community round on Wefunder to support its US launch and expansion of R&D operations in Brazil.