#Singapore #Sustainable Technology #Breakthrough Energy #Terra Oleo

Terra Oleo's Mission to Reinvent Fats and Oils

In a significant stride towards sustainability, Singapore-based biotechnology company Terra Oleo has announced its emergence from stealth following the successful closing of a $3.1 million funding round. This move is not only a financial milestone but also marks their selection for the prestigious Breakthrough Energy Fellows Program, a global initiative dedicated to nurturing groundbreaking solutions for climate change.

Terra Oleo aims to revolutionize the production of fats and oils, specifically focusing on offering sustainable alternatives to traditional palm oil derivatives and cocoa butter. The company’s innovative approach utilizes microbial technology to create customized, bio-derived lipids that serve various industries including personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food. Their platform technology significantly reduces the conventional energy-intensive refining processes while eliminating toxic byproducts associated with traditional methods.

Current Industry Challenges

The need for such innovations has never been more pressing. Current supply chains for cocoa and palm oil are faced with profound challenges stemming from climate change, stringent regulatory conditions, and depletion of arable land. Recent data highlights a staggering 26% decline in cocoa's end-of-season stock in 2024, with prices soaring to unprecedented levels. Simultaneously, global palm oil exports saw a 5.83% decrease year-on-year. These challenges have led to increased costs and substantial supply chain instability, necessitating urgent action towards exploring alternative sources of these vital ingredients.

Terra Oleo's Unique Solution

With a keen understanding of these industry pressures, Terra Oleo’s advanced platform cleverly utilizes precision fermentation to transform agro-industrial waste into sustainable replacements for palm oil and cocoa butter. Their approach capitalizes on the strengths of synthetic biology and deep microbial engineering expertise to create tailored lipid profiles which meet high standards required for premium applications in food and personal care sectors.

By sidestepping the restrictions that conventional microbial methods encounter, Terra Oleo is positioned to outperform competitors on both economic and logistical fronts. Its scalability could potentially prevent up to 900 million tons of CO₂ emissions annually from being released by these industries, aligning with broader decarbonization goals spanning personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food production.

Progress and Future Goals

As Terra Oleo continues to innovate, it has secured product testing agreements with key players in the global oleochemicals, food, personal care, and cosmetics sectors. The company is gearing up for major market entry as it transitions from lab-scale operations to broader commercial applicability, ensuring that its products not only match but potentially eclipse the performance of existing conventional alternatives.

The funding from ADB Ventures, The Radical Fund, Elev8.vc, and Better Bite Ventures — alongside contributions from a strategic corporate participant in the palm oil industry — reflects the confidence investors have in Terra Oleo’s mission. The founding team includes industry veterans Shen Ming Lee, Boon Uranukul, PhD, and Min Hao Wong, PhD, who combine their expertise to advance strategies aimed at decarbonizing palm oil and cocoa industries.

Shen Ming Lee, the CEO, expressed enthusiasm: "We founded Terra Oleo to fundamentally transform how we produce essential fats and oils that are pivotal in our daily lives. With the invaluable support from the Breakthrough Energy Fellows program and our exceptional investors, we're committed to bringing sustainable solutions to market and driving change across various sectors."

Together with Breakthrough Energy, which champions pioneering climate technology initiatives, Terra Oleo is set to advance its capabilities from the lab to pilot projects, enhancing product formulation testing and validation efforts.

The announcement of Terra Oleo's involvement in the 2025 Fellows program emphasizes its potential to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. As the company moves forward, it invites partnerships with businesses in oleochemicals and specialty fats, aiming to collaborate on the design of sustainable lipid products that do not compromise effectiveness.

For more detailed information about Terra Oleo and its initiatives, you can visit their website at www.terraoleo.com.

About Terra Oleo

Founded in Singapore, Terra Oleo is at the forefront of sustainable biotechnology, committed to creating microbial alternatives to palm oil and cocoa butter. By leveraging advanced microbial strain engineering, the company is poised to offer cleaner, cost-effective, and scalable solutions to traditional fats and oils.