BioHarvest Sciences Finalized Olive Cell Production
The company has achieved GRAS status for its lab-grown olive fruit ingredient.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Biotech
Live Poll
Do you trust lab-grown or synthetic ingredients for use in your food and personal products?
BioHarvest Sciences Inc. has reached commercial readiness for its Olive Cell plant-cell ingredient following a successful bioreactor scale-up. The company also confirmed that the product has achieved self-affirmed Generally Recognized as Safe status in the United States.
Why it matters
This milestone positions the company to begin commercial manufacturing and distribution of its standardized olive fruit powder. The ingredient is produced using the proprietary Botanical Synthesis technology previously utilized for other assets.
The ingredient is a standardized powder derived from Olea europaea that contains higher levels of Verbascoside than natural fruit. In lab tests, it achieved a 37% reduction in lipid accumulation and a 50% reduction in collagen type I accumulation in liver cells.
The players
BioHarvest Sciences Inc.
This biotechnology company develops plant-based ingredients using its proprietary Botanical Synthesis platform to create and scale botanical assets.
The details
BioHarvest uses its Botanical Synthesis platform to create and scale assets without conventional farming, offering the powder through its contract development business. The company intends to pursue various business models including licensing, royalties, and co-development for its proprietary portfolio.
Timeline
BioHarvest announced the commercial readiness of Olive Cell on October 13, 2026.
The Tech Race
This development follows a precedent set by the company's previous commercialization of its red grape-derived compound VINIA. The expansion into olive cell production marks a strategic scaling of the proprietary Botanical Synthesis technology used to compete in the ingredient market.
Once a partner is signed, this ingredient will enter production at a GMP facility, potentially appearing in consumer health products. The use of lab-grown ingredients may offer a more standardized nutritional profile compared to traditional agricultural sourcing.
The takeaway
Companies are increasingly relying on cellular-based synthesis to produce standardized botanical ingredients at scale. This shift could lead to more consistent supply chains for nutritional additives compared to conventional crop-based harvesting.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in the industry in our United States Biotech section.
Live Poll
Do you trust lab-grown or synthetic ingredients for use in your food and personal products?
