Swiss biomanufacturing company Planetary SA has acquired the core assets of Libre Foods, a Barcelona-based startup specialising in fungi-based meat alternatives. This acquisition includes Libre’s brand, intellectual property, commercial agreements, and research and development capabilities. The move will significantly strengthen Planetary’s presence in the fungi-based ingredient sector, particularly in industrial fermentation and ingredient development.
“This milestone marks the start of a new era for Libre”
Libre Foods, known for developing Europe’s first fungi-derived bacon, has been an industry leader in the creation of scalable, mycelium-based products. The company’s proprietary platform, Fungi.AI, enables high-throughput screening and real-time monitoring of fungal strains and fermentation conditions. In 2024, Libre expanded its capabilities with pilot-level technology and began industrial trials, broadening its focus beyond its original bacon formulation.
Integrating cutting-edge tech
With the acquisition, Planetary will integrate Libre’s technological innovations into its existing infrastructure. The company operates the only active industrial mycoprotein production facility in continental Europe, located in Aarberg, Switzerland. Planetary is building a comprehensive fermentation platform designed to leverage agro-industrial complexes, and the addition of Libre’s expertise will complement its efforts in AI-powered ingredient discovery and high-throughput biomanufacturing.
Libre’s CEO, Alan Iván Ramos, expressed his satisfaction with the acquisition, noting that it marks a pivotal moment in the company’s journey. In a statement, Ramos reflected on the progress made since the company’s inception four years ago, citing the development of technology, products, and commercialization efforts.
He stated, “I sincerely believe Libre Foods won a long time ago. Yet I cannot deny that today’s news makes the journey feel that much sweeter, because the destination is exactly where we wanted to reach since Day 1: consumers’ plates far and wide.”
Pivoting for growth
Despite the success, Ramos confirmed that he and other team members would not be permanently joining Planetary. He explained to Green Queen that moving towards manufacturing would represent a pivot away from the company’s core specialization. The decision to collaborate with Planetary was driven by their advanced biomanufacturing capabilities and the potential to effectively scale Libre’s technology.
Libre’s new chapter
Planetary has positioned itself as a key player in the field of fermentation-based production. The company’s BioBlocks™ fermentation technology supports the creation of sustainable bio-based products, including foods and materials. Through this acquisition, Planetary intends to continue expanding its capabilities and focus on the development of fermentation-based bio-materials.
In a statement from Libre Foods, the company positioned the acquisition as a milestone in its growth and commitment to the mainstream adoption of fungi-based alternatives. “This milestone marks the start of a new era for Libre,” the company said, noting that the technology developed over the past few years is now closer than ever to achieving widespread market integration.
