Nat4Bio

Nat4Bio is an Argentine startup developing naturally sourced coatings that protect produce from spoilage and decay. The company’s edible coating for citrus fruits is a replacement for synthetic waxes and fungicides and is made of 100% food-grade and Generally Recognised As Safe (GRAS)-approved compounds. The coating is transparent, odorless, tasteless, leaves zero residue, and is vegan, kosher, halal, and celiac-friendly. Its application is also compatible with existing equipment used by packing facilities as it is applied as a liquid that dries into a thin biofilm.

Nat4Bio’s coating is made from two compounds that are obtained through microbial fermentation of native and non-GMO strains. It combines a glucose-based polymer with very small quantities of other food-grade excipients that provide the coating film with properties such as viscosity, adherence, and elasticity. The company claims its solution is the first developed using non-genetically modified microorganisms, and only requires a bioreactor, Nat4Bio’s microbes, and a simple source of sugar to ferment a batch of these compounds anywhere.

The coating regulates the gas exchange between the fruit and the atmosphere to slow the ripening process while also containing antimicrobial agents that are effective against a variety of pathogens. Nat4Bio claims its main value proposition is that its coating maintains the same level of effectiveness against spoilage as synthetic solutions while maintaining zero pesticide use, thereby letting its customers access a price premium for their produce.

The company is yet to commercialize its product as of February 2023, and it has prototype coatings for pears, avocados, blueberries, and strawberries under development. Nat4Bio focuses primarily on produce growers in the Latin American region, including Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Mexico, and is also working to set up mid-term research and development agreements with US lemon packers as of February 2023.

Funding and financials

Nat4Bio raised USD 250,000 in July 2022 and USD 275,000 in February 2022 in pre-seed funding rounds led by SOSV, with participation from IndieBio. The company also raised USD 200,000 in a pre-seed round led by Grid Exponential in January 2022.