Lygos validates a fermentation process for sustainable cannabinoids

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. 

Lygos, Inc. has announced the successful validation of a novel cannabinoid production pathway using its proprietary fermentation and processing technology. 

Press release: “Lygos Successfully Validates Novel Fermentation Process for Sustainable and Rare Cannabinoids”, 17/8/2020. 

Figure 1. Librede’s cannabinoids platform (taken from Librede website) 

Lygos has created a biological engineering platform focused on organic acid specialty ingredients. A direct result of the recent Librede acquisition and integration of additional Lygos technology advances, the new fermentation process enables the production of cannabinoids and cannabinoid-based products of interest in an environmentally safe, sustainable and cost-effective manner at industrial scale (>100 kg) for numerous consumer markets. 

Librede (now, wholly owned subsidiary of Lygos) had primarily operated on grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH, part of the US Department of Health and Human Services) prior to the Lygos acquisition. This company has developed a yeast-based cannabinoid production platform to create chemical compounds that target the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Focusing on the natural cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, Librede’s modular technology enables large scale production of natural cannabinoids in a more economic and environmentally sustainable way. Fermentation enables low cost production of rare cannabinoids that are not accessible through agricultural production at an industrial scale. This technology allows access to these therapeutic compounds in a way that is environmentally friendly using no fertilizers or pesticides and less water, land and energy.