NEW TECH FOODS

Terra Oleo, a Singapore-based biotechnology firm, has officially emerged from stealth mode, announcing a $3.1 million funding round backed by Breakthrough Energy Discovery.

The company aims to revolutionise the production of fats and oils by offering sustainable alternatives to palm oil derivatives and cocoa butter, targeting applications in personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food sectors.

As global supply chains for palm oil and cocoa face mounting pressures from climate change, regulatory scrutiny, and land scarcity, prices and volatility have surged. In 2024, cocoa stocks plummeted by 26%, and palm oil exports fell 5.83% year-over-year, highlighting the urgent need for viable alternatives.

Terra Oleo's innovative approach utilises precision fermentation to convert agro-industrial waste into high-performance lipid ingredients, addressing these challenges head-on.

The company’s tunable platform is designed to produce tailored lipid profiles that meet the specific requirements of various industries while eliminating the energy-intensive refining processes and toxic byproducts associated with traditional methods.

This unique capability positions Terra Oleo to deliver superior unit economics and accelerate market adoption compared to other solutions on the market.

Terra Oleo's technology has the potential to significantly impact the environment, with estimates suggesting it could eliminate up to 900 million tons of CO₂ emissions annually from palm oil and cocoa supply chains.

This aligns with the growing demand for sustainable practices in the personal care and food sectors, where companies are increasingly prioritising eco-friendly ingredients.

The firm has already secured product testing agreements with several leading players in the oleochemicals, food, personal care and cosmetics industries, indicating strong interest and validation of its technology.

With demand on the rise, Terra Oleo is poised to transition from laboratory-scale operations to commercial production, ensuring its products can match or exceed the performance of conventional offerings.

Founded by Shen Ming Lee, Boon Uranukul and Min Hao Wong, Terra Oleo leverages their combined expertise in science, industry and strategy to drive its mission of decarbonising palm oil and cocoa production.

"We founded Terra Oleo to reinvent how we produce the fats and oils that power our everyday lives," stated Lee. "With support from the Breakthrough Energy Fellows programme and our investors, we are excited to bring sustainable, scalable alternatives to market."

The Breakthrough Energy Fellows Program, which supports early-stage innovators in developing technologies capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions at scale, has selected Terra Oleo as a participant for 2025.

This prestigious backing will facilitate the company's transition from lab to pilot while advancing customer formulation testing and validation.