Ingredion and Shiru Announce Partnership to Accelerate AI-Powered Functional Protein Discovery
MWN-AI** Summary
On March 18, 2026, Shiru, recognized as a TIME Best Invention of 2024 for its innovative AI-driven approach to ingredient discovery, announced a collaboration with Ingredion Inc. (NYSE: INGR), a premier global ingredient solutions provider. This partnership aims to expedite the discovery and commercialization of novel functional proteins applicable across food, beverages, supplements, and specialized nutrition sectors.
The collaboration will leverage Shiru's cutting-edge AI discovery platform, which comprises the industry's largest database of functional protein ingredients, cataloging over 77 million natural protein sequences. Dr. Jasmin Hume, founder and CEO of Shiru, emphasized that their AI technology drastically reduces the time for ingredient discovery from years to mere months, enhancing the market entry of high-performance, natural proteins.
Focusing on next-generation prebiotics derived from natural sources to support healthier microbiomes, the partnership responds to growing consumer demand for clinically credible and scalable ingredients. As the connection between gut health and overall wellness becomes more established, food and beverage companies are pressured to innovate rapidly and align with consumer expectations for healthier products.
Ingredion's Chief Innovation Officer, Michael Leonard, noted that this partnership enhances the company’s ability to respond to these demands swiftly. The ingredients harnessed from this collaboration will be available to Ingredion's expansive customer base of over 18,000 across 120 countries.
This strategic alliance follows Shiru's successful launch of AI-discovered ingredients like uPro™ and OleoPro™ and supports Ingredion’s objective of broadening its Texture & Healthful Solutions portfolio through external innovations. Both companies are committed to transforming the landscape of food and nutrition through advanced ingredient innovations, marrying technology with consumer needs.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The recent partnership between Shiru and Ingredion marks a significant strategic advancement in the food and beverage sector, particularly concerning the development of innovative functional proteins. As the shift towards healthier, more sustainable ingredients accelerates, this collaboration positions both companies to leverage cutting-edge AI technology in a highly competitive market.
Shiru's AI-driven discovery platform, with its vast database of over 77 million natural protein sequences, represents a breakthrough in food science, enabling rapid identification and commercialization of novel proteins. This efficiency not only reduces the traditional lengthy research and development timeline but also aligns perfectly with current consumer demands for transparency and health-focused nutrition. With health and wellness being key drivers in consumer purchasing decisions, the ability to innovate quickly and effectively is paramount.
For Ingredion shareholders, this partnership is promising. Ingredion’s established global distribution channels, serving over 18,000 customers in 120 countries, indicate that new ingredients produced from this collaboration can reach the market swiftly, potentially enhancing revenue streams and market share. The focus on prebiotics and gut health is particularly timely, reflecting rising consumer awareness of microbiome health's role in overall well-being.
Investors should monitor how this collaboration unfolds, especially considering the increasing pressure on consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to adapt and reformulate their offerings. As Shiru’s technology allows for the efficient discovery of these clinically-backed ingredients, Ingredion is well-positioned to meet this demand.
In conclusion, this partnership between Shiru and Ingredion is likely to enhance both companies' competitive positioning. Despite potential market volatility, the innovation brought by this collaboration could lead to growth opportunities for investors in the wellness and nutrition sectors. Therefore, maintaining a bullish outlook on Ingredion could be prudent as they capitalize on these trends.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
BERKELEY, Calif. and WESTCHESTER, Ill., March 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shiru, named a TIME Best Invention of 2024 for its AI-powered approach to ingredient discovery, and Ingredion Inc. (NYSE: INGR), a leading global ingredient solutions provider, today announced a global R&D collaboration aimed at accelerating the discovery and commercialization of novel functional proteins for food, beverage, supplements and specialized nutrition.
Ingredion and Shiru will engage in the joint pursuit of a targeted R&D program enabled by Shiru's proprietary AI discovery platform — the industry’s broadest searchable database of functional protein ingredients, with more than 77 million natural protein sequences catalogued and analyzed.
“We have broken the mold on how ingredient discovery is done,” said Dr. Jasmin Hume, founder and CEO of Shiru. “Disrupting the speed at which we can identify high-performance natural proteins has opened the floodgates for healthy, targeted nutrition. What once took a team of 50 scientists a decade and a healthy dose of serendipity, we can now do strategically and efficiently in months. Pairing that capability with Ingredion's scale and customer relationships creates a direct path from discovery to market.”
The collaboration will focus on the development of next-generation prebiotics derived from natural sources to promote healthier microbiomes, an area where AI-driven protein discovery is creating new possibilities that conventional R&D cannot easily access.
As the evidence linking gut microbiome health to immunity, metabolic function and cognitive performance expands, CPG companies face increasing pressure to reformulate with ingredients that are both clinically credible and manufacturable at scale. This strategic partnership is directly focused on meeting that demand.
Ingredients developed through the joint research will have a path to Ingredion's 18,000+ customers across 120 countries.
“As consumer expectations rise, food companies need new ways to move faster and innovate smarter,” said Michael Leonard, chief innovation officer at Ingredion. “Shiru helps us discover better natural ingredients more quickly so we can help our customers deliver new products at a pace the market expects.”
The partnership follows Shiru's commercial launch of uPro™ and OleoPro™ (two AI-discovered natural ingredients now on the market for use in food and personal care) and builds on Ingredion's strategic push to expand its Texture & Healthful Solutions portfolio through external innovation.
About Shiru
Shiru is transforming ingredient innovation through AI-powered discovery. Its AI-enabled discovery platform, FlourishTM, maps the performance of 77 million unique, natural proteins for applications in food, beverage, personal care, agriculture, and advanced materials. Named a TIME Best Invention of 2024, Shiru's technology accelerates discovery from years to months, enabling brands to bring cleaner, more functional ingredients to market without compromising performance. Shiru is based in Berkeley, California. Visit shiru.com.
About Ingredion
Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR), headquartered in the suburbs of Chicago, is a leading global ingredient solutions provider serving customers in nearly 120 countries. With 2025 annual net sales of approximately $7.2 billion, the company turns grains, fruits, vegetables and other plant-based materials into value-added ingredient solutions for the food, beverage, animal nutrition, brewing and industrial markets. With Ingredion’s Idea Labs® innovation centers around the world and more than 11,000 employees, the company co-creates with customers and fulfills its purpose of bringing the potential of people, nature and technology together to make life better. Visit ingredion.com for more information and the latest company news.
Media contactmedia@shiru.com
FAQ**
How will the collaboration between Shiru and Ingredion Incorporated (INGR) impact the speed of innovation in the food and beverage industry regarding functional proteins?
What specific benefits do you anticipate from Shiru's AI-powered ingredient discovery platform for Ingredion Incorporated (INGR) and its customers?
With the increasing focus on healthier microbiomes, how do Ingredion Incorporated (INGR) and Shiru plan to prioritize the development of prebiotics derived from natural sources?
In what ways can the partnership between Shiru and Ingredion Incorporated (INGR) address the growing consumer demand for cleaner and more functional food ingredients by 2026?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR).
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