- PTAB finds “reasonable likelihood” Motif will prevail in challenge of key Impossible patent
- Second setback for Impossible in effort to secure monopoly on use of heme in plant-based foods
BOSTON, June 20 2023 – In a highly-anticipated ruling by its Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced Friday it would institute inter partes review (IPR) of Patent 9,943,096 B2 claimed by Impossible Foods. The ruling commences an administrative trial, expected to take about a year, on the validity of one of Impossible Foods’ most important patents.
Motif FoodWorks petitioned for review of the patent after Impossible sued Motif in federal court last year, alleging patent infringement in using heme to create plant-based meat substitutes.
In the PTAB’s ruling on Friday, Administrative Patent Judge Donna M. Praiss wrote that Motif “has demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of prevailing with respect to at least one claim of the ’096 patent, and we institute inter partes review of all claims and all grounds asserted in the petition.”
The Impossible patent now under review – titled “Methods and Compositions for Affecting the Flavor and Aroma Profile of Consumables” – seeks to “better replicate the aromas and flavors of meat, particularly during and/or after cooking,” according to filings at the Patent and Trademark Office.
“We are pleased with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s decision to institute inter partes review (IPR) for Patent 9,943,096 B2, finding that Motif has shown a reasonable likelihood we will prevail,” said Michael Leonard, CEO of Motif FoodWorks. “Statistics show the PTAB invalidates one or more claims in 80 percent of the patents that reach a final decision in IPR, so we look forward to seeing this process play out.“
“This is not just a victory for Motif – it’s a victory for consumers,” added Leonard. “For us, this whole process is about protecting innovation and consumer choice in plant-based foods.”
Friday’s ruling marks Impossible’s second significant setback in its effort to secure a monopoly on using heme – a naturally occurring protein – to flavor plant-based meat substitutes. Late last year, the European Patent Office revoked an EU patent held by Impossible. Meanwhile, its lawsuit against Motif is still pending in federal district court in Delaware.
Motif and Impossible both use heme proteins in plant-based meat alternatives. Impossible’s heme protein is identical to soy leghemoglobin, a protein found in nodules attached to the roots of nitrogen-fixing plants like soy. Motif’s heme protein, HEMAMI™, is identical to bovine myoglobin, which is found in the muscle tissue of cows.
Motif argues that these ingredients, which have been used to develop the taste and smell of meat and meat alternatives in food products for decades, are not patentable by Impossible. Indeed, Motif argues that the ingredients that Impossible claims to have discovered have existed and been sold in everyday food products for decades and that the claims are a legally and factually baseless attempt to stifle innovation and limit consumer choice.
“Impossible is wasting resources, creativity, and opportunities through a failing litigation strategy,” Leonard said. “The company seems more concerned with securing monopoly power over a protein than with growing this sector.”
“Since our founding in 2018, Motif has reinvented plant-based meat, making it better tasting, more nutritious and sustainable,” added Leonard. “Impossible is determined to stop that innovation – hurting consumers, our industry and, ultimately, our planet. We will continue to fight Impossible’s aggressive actions to limit competition and are gratified that the PTAB found merit in our position.”
About Motif FoodWorks
Motif FoodWorks is creating the next generation of food. We are a food technology company developing breakthrough ingredients that unleash the promise of plant-based foods and transform the eating experience – from first bite to lasting impact. With food as our passion and innovation coded into our DNA, we are driven by the science of more. More taste. More texture. More choices for consumers. That is why our work has gone beyond the lab. We have taken it all the way to the plate with products grown from the universal experience of what great food should be: tantalizing, satiating, and nourishing. Our ecosystem of ingredients and finished products are designed for people of all habits and beliefs and with the health of our planet always in mind. Because at Motif, we believe the food of the future should set you free. For more information, visit www.madewithmotif.com.
Media Contacts
Julia Dacri
Motif FoodWorks
- PTAB finds “reasonable likelihood” Motif will prevail in challenge of key Impossible patent
- Second setback for Impossible in effort to secure monopoly on use of heme in plant-based foods
BOSTON, June 20 2023 – In a highly-anticipated ruling by its Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced Friday it would institute inter partes review (IPR) of Patent 9,943,096 B2 claimed by Impossible Foods. The ruling commences an administrative trial, expected to take about a year, on the validity of one of Impossible Foods’ most important patents.
Motif FoodWorks petitioned for review of the patent after Impossible sued Motif in federal court last year, alleging patent infringement in using heme to create plant-based meat substitutes.
In the PTAB’s ruling on Friday, Administrative Patent Judge Donna M. Praiss wrote that Motif “has demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of prevailing with respect to at least one claim of the ’096 patent, and we institute inter partes review of all claims and all grounds asserted in the petition.”
The Impossible patent now under review – titled “Methods and Compositions for Affecting the Flavor and Aroma Profile of Consumables” – seeks to “better replicate the aromas and flavors of meat, particularly during and/or after cooking,” according to filings at the Patent and Trademark Office.
“We are pleased with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s decision to institute inter partes review (IPR) for Patent 9,943,096 B2, finding that Motif has shown a reasonable likelihood we will prevail,” said Michael Leonard, CEO of Motif FoodWorks. “Statistics show the PTAB invalidates one or more claims in 80 percent of the patents that reach a final decision in IPR, so we look forward to seeing this process play out.“
“This is not just a victory for Motif – it’s a victory for consumers,” added Leonard. “For us, this whole process is about protecting innovation and consumer choice in plant-based foods.”
Friday’s ruling marks Impossible’s second significant setback in its effort to secure a monopoly on using heme – a naturally occurring protein – to flavor plant-based meat substitutes. Late last year, the European Patent Office revoked an EU patent held by Impossible. Meanwhile, its lawsuit against Motif is still pending in federal district court in Delaware.
Motif and Impossible both use heme proteins in plant-based meat alternatives. Impossible’s heme protein is identical to soy leghemoglobin, a protein found in nodules attached to the roots of nitrogen-fixing plants like soy. Motif’s heme protein, HEMAMI™, is identical to bovine myoglobin, which is found in the muscle tissue of cows.
Motif argues that these ingredients, which have been used to develop the taste and smell of meat and meat alternatives in food products for decades, are not patentable by Impossible. Indeed, Motif argues that the ingredients that Impossible claims to have discovered have existed and been sold in everyday food products for decades and that the claims are a legally and factually baseless attempt to stifle innovation and limit consumer choice.
“Impossible is wasting resources, creativity, and opportunities through a failing litigation strategy,” Leonard said. “The company seems more concerned with securing monopoly power over a protein than with growing this sector.”
“Since our founding in 2018, Motif has reinvented plant-based meat, making it better tasting, more nutritious and sustainable,” added Leonard. “Impossible is determined to stop that innovation – hurting consumers, our industry and, ultimately, our planet. We will continue to fight Impossible’s aggressive actions to limit competition and are gratified that the PTAB found merit in our position.”
About Motif FoodWorks
Motif FoodWorks is creating the next generation of food. We are a food technology company developing breakthrough ingredients that unleash the promise of plant-based foods and transform the eating experience – from first bite to lasting impact. With food as our passion and innovation coded into our DNA, we are driven by the science of more. More taste. More texture. More choices for consumers. That is why our work has gone beyond the lab. We have taken it all the way to the plate with products grown from the universal experience of what great food should be: tantalizing, satiating, and nourishing. Our ecosystem of ingredients and finished products are designed for people of all habits and beliefs and with the health of our planet always in mind. Because at Motif, we believe the food of the future should set you free. For more information, visit www.madewithmotif.com.
Media Contacts
Julia Dacri
Motif FoodWorks
Motif BeefWorks™ and Motif PorkWorks™ Plant-Based Products now available for shipping.
BOSTON, May 9, 2023 – Motif FoodWorks, the food technology company making plant-based foods more delicious, launches its foodservice portfolio of Motif PorkWorks™ Plant-Based Ground and Motif BeefWorks™ Plant-Based Burger Patties and Grounds at NRA. The company will also be showcasing a limited preview of Motif ChickenWorks™ Plant-Based Cutlets, which will launch later this year. Motif’s portfolio of plant-based foodservice products gives restaurant owners and operators menu options that mimic the taste and texture of real meat, satisfying consumer demand for better plant-based alternatives.
Taste and texture are the top two barriers to consumer adoption of plant-based meats. Fifty-three percent of consumers said they would eat more meat alternatives if they tasted better and were more akin to the animal meat experience1. Motif has transformed the plant-based industry with its pork, chicken, and beef alternatives by recreating the meaty flavor and springy, juicy texture found in animal products with their first two commercialized ingredient technologies. For taste, Motif created HEMAMI™, a heme protein that provides a rich meaty flavor and aroma to plant-based meat alternatives. For texture, Motif created APPETEX™, which simulates the connective tissue found in animal meat products with plant-based ingredients and offers the chewiness, springiness and juiciness found in animal meat. The combined use of HEMAMI™ and APPETEX™ delivers a range of more authentic, finished options for foodservice distributors and retailers.
“Motif answers operators’ desire to meet consumer demand for great-tasting plant-based food by creating alternatives that truly mimic the taste and texture of animal meat,” CEO Michael Leonard said. “With APPETEX™ and HEMAMI™, we have refined our portfolio of products to meet the needs of foodservice customers and are eager to share samples of what is the new benchmark in plant-based meats at NRA.”
Motif FoodWorks will be sampling its new plant-based pork in several dishes, including Bahn Mi Meatball Toast and Kofta Kebab, in addition to its other plant-based meats at NRA from Saturday, May 20 – Tuesday, May 23. Motif will be located at booth 490 in South Hall, Organic & Natural Pavilion.
For more information or to request a sample, visit www.madewithmotif.com/foodservice.
About Motif FoodWorks
Motif FoodWorks is creating the next generation of food. We are a food technology company developing breakthrough ingredients that unleash the promise of plant-based foods and transform the eating experience – from first bite to lasting impact. With food as our passion and innovation coded into our DNA, we are driven by the science of more. More taste. More texture. More choices for consumers. That is why our work has gone beyond the lab. We have taken it all the way to the plate with products grown from the universal experience of what great food should be: tantalizing, satiating, and nourishing. Our ecosystem of ingredients and finished products is designed for people of all habits and beliefs and with the health of our planet always in mind. Because at Motif, we believe the food of the future should set you free. For more information, visit www.madewithmotif.com.
1 Mintel Reports US, Plant-based Proteins, 2022.
About Motif FoodWorks
Motif FoodWorks is creating the next generation of food. We are a food technology company developing breakthrough ingredients that unleash the promise of plant-based foods and transform the eating experience – from first bite to lasting impact. With food as our passion and innovation coded into our DNA, we are driven by the science of more. More taste. More texture. More choices for consumers. That is why our work has gone beyond the lab. We have taken it all the way to the plate with products grown from the universal experience of what great food should be: tantalizing, satiating, and nourishing. Our ecosystem of ingredients and finished products are designed for people of all habits and beliefs and with the health of our planet always in mind. Because at Motif, we believe the food of the future should set you free. For more information, visit www.madewithmotif.com.
Media Contacts
Julia Dacri
Motif FoodWorks
The first-of-its-kind texture technology brings new quality to the chewdown attributes of plant-based foods
BOSTON, March 7, 2023 – Motif FoodWorks, the Boston-based food technology company creating the next generation of food, today announced that its second food technology ingredient, APPETEX™, is now commercially available for large-scale distribution. APPETEX™ is a breakthrough ingredient that enhances the eating experience of plant-based foods, providing the springy, juicy chewdown typically found in meat products.
When surveyed, 67% of consumers said they would eat more meat alternatives if they tasted better and were more similar to the meat experience.1 Texture is a critical piece of the taste experience. However, texture is often cited as a top barrier for consumer acceptance of plant-based foods and meat alternatives, along with flavor and juiciness. While plant-based proteins like texturized soy or pea protein can mimic the fibrous structure of meat, these ingredients fall short in creating the springy chewdown sensation. That springy feel when chewing results from proteins that comprise muscle and connective tissues in meats.
In partnership with the Rhizome Network, Motif leveraged advancements in materials science and production to recreate the texture of animal connective tissue using a combination of plant proteins and plant-based carbohydrates. APPETEX™, appropriately named after the “appetite” and “texture” combination the technology provides, is an edible plant-based hydrogel capable of replicating the bite associated with animal-based connective tissue. It provides game-changing solutions for the springy, juicy chewdown experience consumers have been looking for.
“As an innovation partner, Rhizome Network and its global innovators have been delighted to contribute to the commercial launch and distribution of APPETEX™,” stated Edward Jung, CEO of Rhizome Network. “From providing technical insight, solutions and prototype samples since its inception, to assisting Motif operationalize and commercially launch in less than two years, we are grateful to the Motif team for giving us the opportunity to work closely with their scientists and for being a model client for open innovation.”
Using their holistic food design expertise, Motif created a showcase plant-based burger to validate how APPETEX™ performs in a food formulation. 63% of people surveyed preferred the Motif burger containing APPETEX™ to the other market-leading plant-based burgers.2
“We are excited to bring APPETEX™ to market,” stated Michael Leonard, CEO of Motif FoodWorks. “Our team continues to innovatively enhance the consumer experience of plant-based foods. Texture has been a big hurdle in that experience. APPETEX™ provides a critical ingredient solution to advance consumer adoption of plant-based meat alternatives. We look forward to providing a better bite as we create the next generation of food.”
To enable consumers to taste the benefits of APPETEX™ and its other breakthrough food ingredients, Motif is planning a series of finished format product launches throughout the year. As of today, a waitlist is open for consumers to sign up for the company’s first limited-time direct-to-consumer sale (D2C). During the sale, which is scheduled to launch in early April, customers will be able to purchase a 4-pack of Motif BeefWorks™ Plant-Based Burger Patties, made with both HEMAMI™ and APPETEX™. The waitlist is available at: https://bit.ly/3SUnias
APPETEX™ is now currently available for purchase and distribution. Contact Motif’s sales team for more information: https://madewithmotif.com/contact/
About Motif FoodWorks
Motif FoodWorks is creating the next generation of food. We are a food technology company developing breakthrough ingredients that unleash the promise of plant-based foods and transform the eating experience – from first bite to lasting impact. With food as our passion and innovation coded into our DNA, we are driven by the science of more. More taste. More texture. More choices for consumers. That is why our work has gone beyond the lab. We have taken it all the way to the plate with products grown from the universal experience of what great food should be: tantalizing, satiating, and nourishing. Our ecosystem of ingredients and finished products are designed for people of all habits and beliefs and with the health of our planet always in mind. Because at Motif, we believe the food of the future should set you free. For more information, visit www.madewithmotif.com.
Media Contacts
Julia Dacri
Motif FoodWorks
- Companies will partner on exploratory project utilizing plant breeding to create Motif’s ingredient heme
BOSTON, March 1, 2023 – Motif FoodWorks, the Boston-based food technology company creating the next generation of food, today announced its partnership with IngredientWerks, an ag-tech ingredient company developing high value plant-based proteins for alternative protein markets. Through their research partnership, the two companies will explore innovative ways to optimize heme protein production through molecular farming.
IngredientWerks, which recently completed its seed funding round, specializes in molecular farming and crop protein production to enable plants as factories to produce high value proteins. The company utilizes a proprietary crop protein production system that is an environmentally sustainable, cost-effective supply chain-capable way of powering the scale-up of alternative proteins globally.
Motif’s debut ingredient, HEMAMI™, gives plant-based meats the same meaty flavor and aroma as their animal-derived counterparts. This breakthrough innovation is made utilizing precision fermentation technology. While precision fermentation is and will remain a driving force of the plant-based and alternative food protein industry, the number of companies leveraging this approach outnumbers the available production capacity. This has encouraged innovators like Motif to expand their technology portfolio approach to grow with scale and keep operating costs under control. When evaluating long-term solutions, Motif began conversations with IngredientWerks to determine the viability of molecular farming as an additional technology solution for ingredient production.
“Precision fermentation is an incredible process that allows us to create breakthrough ingredients without using animals,” said Michael Leonard, CEO of Motif FoodWorks. “As we continue to grow our business, we’re exploring multiple solutions to expand our production capabilities. Leveraging molecular farming and crop-based protein production to produce our ingredients could be a critical addition to our toolbox of approaches and allow us to leverage the right solution at the right time to create the next generation of food.”
Utilizing broad acre crops such as corn, IngredientWerks will set out to produce Motif’s HEMAMI™, which is bioidentical to the bovine myoglobin heme protein found in beef. Through their partnership, the two companies have begun an exploratory study aimed at recreating Motif’s bovine myoglobin in corn. If successful, enabling crop protein production for use in Motif’s ingredient strategy will lower both production costs and the carbon footprint created by manufacturing the ingredient. We are not manufacturing technologies.
“We recognize that companies developing alternative proteins through large-scale manufacture may face capacity challenges,” stated Matt Plavan, CEO of IngredientWerks. “By exploring the opportunities that molecular farming can provide, Motif is one step ahead of the game. The alternative protein industry has the potential to build an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective supply chain capable of closing the parity gap. I look forward to continuing to work together with Motif to create a growing ecosystem.”
About Motif FoodWorks
Motif FoodWorks is creating the next generation of food. We are a food technology company developing breakthrough ingredients that unleash the promise of plant-based foods and transform the eating experience – from first bite to lasting impact. With food as our passion and innovation coded into our DNA, we are driven by the science of more. More taste. More texture. More choices for consumers. That is why our work has gone beyond the lab. We have taken it all the way to the plate with products grown from the universal experience of what great food should be: tantalizing, satiating, and nourishing. Our ecosystem of ingredients and finished products are designed for people of all habits and beliefs and with the health of our planet always in mind. Because at Motif, we believe the food of the future should set you free. For more information, visit www.madewithmotif.com.
About IngredientWerks
IngredientWerks is a leader in Molecular Farming using genetic engineering and advanced plant breeding. Recently spun out of Agrivida, Inc (a subsidiary of Novus International), IngredientWerks leverages over 15 years of plant transformation, recombinant protein cultivation, processing and deregulation expertise to develop customized, high value protein ingredients to the alternative protein market.
Media Contacts
Julia Dacri
Motif FoodWorks
Change Foods, The EVERY Co., Helaina, Imagindairy, Motif FoodWorks, New Culture, Onego Bio, Perfect Day, and Remilk are founding members of the Precision Fermentation Alliance
February 16, 2023 – Today, nine precision fermentation leaders across the globe announced they have joined forces to establish the Precision Fermentation Alliance, a new trade organization created to champion precision fermentation as a trusted solution for a more resilient and sustainable food system. The group will serve as an industry voice and global convener for the precision fermentation industry.
The Precision Fermentation Alliance founding members have aligned on the following goals:
- Promote understanding of precision fermentation technology. Establish global transparency around ingredients and foods made with precision fermentation to build trust and familiarity.
- Educate and engage key stakeholders throughout the food industry value chain to establish best practices regarding regulatory, manufacturing, food safety, and communications standards and compliance.
- Develop market access and the ability to operate and market products effectively by engaging with regulators. Unlock public funding and public-private partnerships to accelerate industry growth.
“There is a direct line between food production, climate, socioeconomic opportunities, and equity. How we make our food is one of the foundational ways to change the world around us, and just the beginning of the vision for this group,” said Nicki Briggs, MS, RDN, Vice President of Corporate Communications, Perfect Day and Chair, Precision Fermentation Alliance. “This alliance codifies what we’ve always believed: a kinder, greener tomorrow is possible through collaboration. This ecosystem of mission-aligned leaders stands to exponentially accelerate what any one member could do alone.”
The Precision Fermentation Alliance will also focus on ensuring that science-based decision making and informed public policy are used in the regulation of precision fermentation products and technology that are used in food. The Alliance will also provide a forum to discuss global issues relevant to precision fermentation industry.
“Most of us have consumed foods that contain ingredients made using precision fermentation for decades, such as vitamins, enzymes and natural flavors, without much fanfare,” said Irina Gerry, Chief Marketing Officer, Change Foods and Vice Chair, Precision Fermentation Alliance. “As we look to extend the use of this technology to produce an ever-expanding list of food ingredients, such as proteins and fats, we will be able to produce a wide variety of our most beloved foods animal-free, and with a much lower environmental footprint. Ushering in this new era in food requires clear communication, thoughtful policy, consistent regulation and stakeholder engagement, which this alliance is positioned to do.”
Precision fermentation creates nature-identical, sustainable versions of ingredients and products consumers love by combining the natural ability of microorganisms to turn sugars into proteins and other complex organic molecules with modern biology.
About the Precision Fermentation Alliance
The Precision Fermentation Alliance is the global industry coalition of leaders in precision fermentation. Founded in 2023 by Change Foods, The EVERY Co., Helaina, Imagindairy, Motif FoodWorks, New Culture, Onego Bio, Perfect Day, and Remilk this group shares a singular vision of championing Precision Fermentation as a trusted solution for a more resilient and sustainable food system. Members have committed to accelerating the growth of the precision fermentation industry through communications, research, advocacy, regulation, and global stakeholder outreach. Together, this coalition is accelerating their shared path towards a more sustainable future for generations to come. To learn more about the Precision Fermentation Alliance, visit pfalliance.org.
Media Contacts
Julia Dacri
Motif FoodWorks
- The company also celebrates the grand opening of their new market research development center, Motif’s Plant Base
BOSTON, February 7, 2023 – Motif FoodWorks, the Boston-based food technology company creating the next generation of food, today announced the company will be expanding their ingredient development and innovation business by offering their fermentation and bioprocessing services to customers. This added offering comes as the company celebrates the grand opening of their second facility, a 65,000 sq. ft. market development and research center dubbed “Motif’s Plant Base,” which will house the company’s fermentation, ingredient, and finished-product production.
Bioprocessing as a Service
Motif has experienced first-hand the challenges that come with scaling up a product for commercialization. The difficulty of taking a product through optimization at bench scale and translating that into a pilot scale is a timely and costly process that many start-ups don’t have the capabilities for in-house. After the successful commercialization of the company’s first product HEMAMI™, a yeast-derived heme protein that provides umami flavor and meaty aroma to plant-based meat alternatives, Motif saw a unique opportunity to leverage their knowledge, technology capabilities and production facilities to assist other companies in the commercialization process.
Motif will be offering their bioprocessing services to companies in various industries looking to scale-up. The company is currently offering their services at bench-scale, while planning to build out pilot-scale capabilities in the future.
“We are thrilled to be able to utilize our experience and offer help to companies that are in a similar position that we were in a few years back,” said Philippe Prochasson, Motif’s Vice President of Biosciences and Analytics. “By using our holistic innovation process, we are able to help companies rapidly develop and commercialize their technologies.”
While offering their bioprocessing as a service to companies, the Motif team will also offer consulting services to these clients, allowing the processes to be a collaboration between the two entities. Motif is already assisting their first customer Arcaea, a biotech-for-beauty company developing nature-inspired ingredients and products.
“Arcaea has worked closely with Motifs team on validation and process development. Motif has delivered excellent work,” stated Jaide Jensen, Head of Biotechnology at Arcaea. “Motif’s guidance has been incredibly valuable as we prepare for scale-up.”
Learn more about Motif’s bioprocessing capabilities online on Capacitor, a database resource for bioprocess service platforms.
Motif’s Plant Base
In addition to adding a new service to their repertoire, Motif has kicked off the new year with the unveiling of their new market development center, Motif’s Plant Base. Motif first broke ground on their new facilities in late 2021 with renovations to the office space and R&D facilities being completed in the latter half of 2022. Located in Northborough, MA, the new facility features state-of-the-art food technology, analytical and bioprocessing labs. The 65,000 sq. ft. facility is currently equipped to house over 55 employees, with additional office and lab facility expansions planned as the company and their services continue to grow.
About Motif FoodWorks
Motif FoodWorks is creating the next generation of food. We are a food technology company developing breakthrough ingredients that unleash the promise of plant-based foods and transform the eating experience – from first bite to lasting impact. With food as our passion and innovation coded into our DNA, we are driven by the science of more. More taste. More texture. More choices for consumers. That is why our work has gone beyond the lab. We have taken it all the way to the plate with products grown from the universal experience of what great food should be: tantalizing, satiating, and nourishing. Our ecosystem of ingredients and finished products are designed for people of all habits and beliefs and with the health of our planet always in mind. Because at Motif, we believe the food of the future should set you free. For more information, visit www.madewithmotif.com.
About Arcaea
Arcaea is pioneering innovation through expressive biology, by building a new foundation for the beauty industry. Using tools like biological engineering, fermentation, and formulation, Arcaea’s new ingredients and product experiences reduce supply chain dependence on harvested natural resources.
Media Contacts
Julia Dacri
Motif FoodWorks
- European patent related to the inclusion of heme in plant-based meat is revoked
- In the U.S., Motif FoodWorks files invalidity challenges against four related Impossible patents
BOSTON, December 7, 2022 –The Opposition Division of the European Patent Office (“EPO”) recently announced that it has revoked a key Impossible Foods’ European Union patent, No. 2,943,072 B1 (‘072).
At the same time, Motif FoodWorks, the Boston-based company making plant-based food better tasting and more nutritious, today announced the filing of four additional challenges to U.S. patents held by Impossible Foods. These challenges share similarities with the European Union (EU) patent recently overturned.
Both Impossible’s ‘072 EU patent and its U.S. patents that Motif is challenging address meat alternative products containing heme protein, sugars and sulfur compounds. Motif argues that these ingredients, which have been used to develop the taste and smell of meat and meat alternatives in food products for decades, are not patentable by Impossible, and hence concurs with the EPO decision finding Impossible’s claimed inventions obvious.
“We agree with the European Patent Office’s ruling that Impossible’s patent is obvious and look at it as a win for the industry – and a sign of things to come,” said Michael Leonard, CEO of Motif FoodWorks. “At the same time, we continue to challenge additional Impossible patents in the U.S. that also limit plant-based innovation and consumer choice.”
Motif Challenges Four Additional Impossible Patents
In March of this year, Impossible sued Motif, claiming Motif violated one of its patents, No. 10,863,761, directed to the use of heme in plant-based meat products. Motif has vigorously fought this claim, arguing that the ingredients that Impossible claims to have “discovered” have existed and been sold in everyday food products for decades and that the claims are a legally and factually baseless attempt to stifle innovation and limit consumer choice to preserve their own profits. While the U.S. patent office declined to review the patent in question on Motif’s first attempt, the company intends to continue challenging it at the patent office and the parallel lawsuit is expected to go before a jury in a Delaware court.
Since then, Impossible has added four additional patents related to plant-based meat formulations to their lawsuit. Motif is now challenging these patents too, arguing they never should have been granted in the first place. Motif has filed four new petitions with the U.S. patent office to challenge the validity of these patents.
- The four Impossible Foods US patents that Motif is challenging (US11,224,241, US11,013,250, US10,039,306, and US9,943,096) relate to the generation of flavors and aromas in meat alternative products that contain heme proteins, sugars, and sulfur compounds.
“Since our founding in 2018, Motif has reinvented plant-based meat, making it better tasting, more nutritious and sustainable,” said Leonard. “Impossible is determined to stop that innovation – hurting consumers, our industry and, ultimately, our planet. We will continue to fight Impossible’s aggressive actions to limit competition through every avenue available, including via the patent challenges we are announcing today.”
About Motif FoodWorks
Motif FoodWorks makes plant-based foods so desirable that people actually crave them. Motif provides companies with a range of food ingredients and finished food forms, from solutions for meat and dairy alternatives to experiences that inspire new categories. By pioneering breakthrough approaches to food science and the culinary arts, Motif is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in plant-based foods – delivering innovations for taste, texture and nutrition that benefit people and the planet. For more information, visit www.motif-wp.mocla.us.
Media Contacts
Julia Dacri
Motif FoodWorks
Companies announce plans to create the next-generation of animal-free proteins through precision fermentation
BOSTON, October 20, 2022 – Motif FoodWorks, the Boston-based food technology company making plant-based food better tasting and more nutritious, today announced a partnership with Vectron Biosolutions, a microbial strain development and protein production company. Building upon their existing partnership, the two companies will work together to develop the next generation of animal-free proteins through precision fermentation.
Motif will use Vectron’s deep expertise in strain development and their proprietary gene expression technologies to create food-technologies that improve the taste and texture of dairy alternatives, as well as to improve the nutrition levels of plant-based foods. These projects are the result of the companies’ ongoing work over the past 2 years.
“Precision fermentation has the capability to create better tasting, more sustainable food-tech that can radically change plant-based foods for the better,” said Dr. Philippe Prochasson, vice president of Biosciences and Analytics at Motif FoodWorks. “We’ve been impressed with Vectron’s cutting-edge capabilities, including their unique expression systems, and look forward to exploring new ways to create breakthrough animal-free proteins together.”
Vectron’s precision fermentation system, which includes bioinformatics tools for protein discovery and engineering as well as an evolutionary approach to strain development, adds another impactful method for Motif’s range of food-tech products. Motif is “platform agnostic” when it comes to the creation of its products. This means that some of its food-tech, like HEMAMI™, is produced through precision fermentation. While other products, such as its alternative meat texture enhancer APPETEX™, are created through innovations in platform areas like materials science that are non-precision fermentation based.
“Collaborating with Motif as they create the next wave of alternative proteins has opened doors for Vectron,” said Trond Erik Vee Aune, CEO of Vectron Biosolutions. “Our company has historically been focused on the pharmaceutical space, so breaking into the food sector with Motif has been a welcome – and tasty – change.”
About Motif FoodWorks
Motif FoodWorks makes plant-based foods so desirable that people actually crave them. Motif provides companies with a range of food technologies and finished food forms, from solutions for meat and dairy alternatives to experiences that inspire new categories. By pioneering breakthrough approaches to food science and the culinary arts, Motif is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in plant-based foods – delivering innovations for taste, texture and nutrition that benefit people and the planet. For more information, visit www.motif-wp.mocla.us.
About Vectron Biosolutions
Vectron Biosolutions is on a mission to leverage outstanding microbial technologies and know-how to support researchers and manufacturers in realizing higher success rates, greater yields, and reduced cost of goods when developing and producing proteins.
Find out more at https://www.vectronbiosolutions.com.
Media Contacts
Julia Dacri
Motif FoodWorks
Leonard, previously Motif’s CTO, brings strong experience in driving R&D and commercialization. Will focus on accelerating Motif’s go-to-market initiatives for its breakthrough plant-based products
August 4, 2022 – Boston, MA – Motif FoodWorks, the Boston-based food technology company making plant-based foods better tasting and more nutritious, today announced that Michael Leonard has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
Leonard has served as Chief Technology Officer at Motif since 2019, and brings extensive experience in driving commercialization, transformational R&D and innovation across global markets. He will lead the company’s focus on the acceleration of its go-to-market initiatives, including its recently launched meat-alternative finished formats. Jonathan McIntyre, Motif’s previous CEO, will transition to an advisory role with the company.
“Motif has developed unique approaches to analyzing, discovering, and designing both plant-based ingredients and foods to better address unmet customer needs and tastes,” said Dr. Leonard. “I look forward to leading this business as we strengthen our position in the market and deepen our organizational focus on commercialization, technology development, and growth. The entire team at Motif thanks Jon for his outstanding leadership and contributions over the past three and a half years, and for his continued support of the company as we enter this new phase.”
Under McIntyre’s leadership, Motif has achieved several major milestones, from the development of the startup’s breakthrough food-tech, HEMAMI™ and APPETEX™, to its finished meat alternative formats and Motif’s successful series A and B fundraising rounds that raised a total of $345 million.
Leonard brings nearly two decades of experience in senior industrial science and technology roles in the specialty food ingredient and fast-moving consumer goods industries, with an emphasis on combining innovation, commercial execution, and organization-wide collaboration to deliver business results across developed and emerging markets. Prior to joining Motif, Leonard served as vice president for White Space Innovation and Springboard R&D at Kraft Heinz, where he led product, packaging and process development strategy and execution for emerging growth platforms across all categories of the business. Previously, Leonard was vice president of Process Technology for Global Snacks R&D at PepsiCo, in addition to leadership roles at DuPont Nutrition & Health and International Flavors & Fragrances in process and protein ingredient research, business development and strategy. He holds a PhD in Polymer Science & Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a BS in Chemistry from Roanoke College.
“It has been a privilege to lead Motif since its founding as we have pushed the boundaries of breakthrough food-technology development and pioneered new approaches to plant-based foods,” said Dr. McIntyre. “I am immensely proud of the work we have accomplished to advance Motif’s mission and propel the broader industry, and I look forward to my continued involvement with the team in an advisory capacity.”
About Motif FoodWorks
Motif FoodWorks makes plant-based foods so desirable that people actually crave them. Motif provides companies with a range of food-technologies and finished food forms, from solutions for meat and dairy alternatives to experiences that inspire new categories. By pioneering breakthrough approaches to food science and the culinary arts, Motif is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in plant-based foods – delivering innovations for taste, texture and nutrition that benefit people and the planet. For more information, visit www.motif-wp.mocla.us.
Media Contacts
Julia Dacri
Motif FoodWorks
• FootPrint Coalition invests in Motif and its work on the next generation of
plant-based foods
• Motif to offer alternative beef, pork and chicken products for foodservice providers, distributors, and retailers with private labels
BOSTON, May 18, 2022 – Motif FoodWorks, the Boston-based food technology company making plant-based food better tasting and more nutritious, today announced an investment by Robert Downey Jr.’s FootPrint Coalition Ventures. Along with the investment, the companies will partner on the development of new-to-the-world plant-based food forms.
Separately, Motif also unveiled an expanded product portfolio—in addition to its food technologies—for foodservice providers, distributors, and retailers with private labels. The new products include finished alternative beef, pork and chicken formats that feature its breakthrough food-technologies HEMAMI™ and APPETEX™.
FootPrint Coalition Ventures Partnership
FootPrint Coalition’s investment in Motif comes as the plant-based food category continues to grow. In 2021 alone, U.S. retail plant-based food sales grew three times faster than total food sales to $7.4 billion¹. And investments in the category reached a record of $5 billion, up 60% from 2020².
Motif’s approach as a different kind of food technology company—reinventing the way science and the culinary arts are applied to make plant-based foods better tasting, more nutritious and sustainable—is what caught the celebrity investor’s and FootPrint Coalition’s attention.
“If plant-based foods are going to make a real impact on sustainability, we need an approach that’s both delicious and nutritious,” said Robert Downey Jr., founder of FootPrint Coalition Ventures. “By focusing on both better tasting and healthier options, Motif is not only making a difference in products today but reimagining the future of tomorrow’s plant-based foods.”
In addition to the investment in Motif, the two parties will work together to shape the next wave of innovation in plant-based foods. This includes moving beyond animal mimicry to create new product categories that provide consumers with healthier, better tasting plant-based options.
“Whether on the store shelf or a menu, we’re focused on making our customer’s plant-based foods so desirable that people actually crave them,” said Jonathan McIntyre, CEO of Motif FoodWorks. “We couldn’t be more excited to have Robert and FootPrint Coalition on board as an investor and a partner in our work to grow the category.”
Products for Foodservice Providers, Distributors, and Retailers with Private Labels
The FootPrint Coalition investment comes as Motif continues to expand its product portfolio. Motif also announced the availability of three finished products for foodservice providers, distributors, and retailers with private labels, providing a range of options for any menu or product line.
The products include alternative beef, pork and chicken options featuring Motif’s breakthrough food technologies—HEMAMI™ and APPETEX™—that provide rich meaty flavor and texture. Called “Motif BeefWorks™,” “Motif PorkWorks™” and “Motif ChickenWorks™,” Motif BeefWorks™ Plant-Based Burger Patties are available now. Motif BeefWorks™ Plant-Based Ground and Motif PorkWorks™ will arrive later this year. And Motif ChickenWorks™ will be available in 2023.
Using its holistic food design expertise, Motif originally created alternative burgers and sausages to showcase the performance of its food technologies. Due to an overwhelmingly positive reception—both with consumers and restaurant customers—Motif decided to offer its finished formats to foodservice operators, distributors, and retailers with private labels.
“With our Motif BeefWorks™, Motif PorkWorks™ and Motif ChickenWorks™ options, chefs, retailers and distributors can offer the absolute best plant-based experience, with umami, mouthwatering flavor and a meaty bite that consumers have been asking for from products in the category,” said McIntyre.
Try Motif BeefWorks™ Plant-Based Burger Patties and Ground
Motif will showcase its Motif BeefWorks™ Plant-Based Burger Patties and Ground at the upcoming National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago May 21-24. For a chance to take a bite out of the future of plant-based foods, stop by booth #9724, or Flavor Foray’s Championship BBQ and Cook-off on the evening of May 22 for a special dish—featuring Motif BeefWorks™ Plant-Based Ground—created by vegan Chef Chloe Coscarelli.
About Motif FoodWorks
Motif FoodWorks makes plant-based foods so desirable that people actually crave them. Motif provides companies with a range of food technologies and finished food forms, from solutions for meat and dairy alternatives to experiences that inspire new categories. By pioneering breakthrough approaches to food science and the culinary arts, Motif is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in plant-based foods – delivering innovations for taste, texture and nutrition that benefit people and the planet. For more information, visit www.motif-wp.mocla.us.
About FootPrint Coalition Ventures
Founded by Robert Downey Jr, Steve Levin, and Jonathan Schulhof, FootPrint Coalition Ventures is bringing individuals access to the venture backed companies creating the next generation of climate friendly power, food, transportation, fashion, and homes. The firm uses media and storytelling to accelerate the adoption of the products and services addressing our climate crisis. Find out more at www.footprintcoalition.com/investments.
Media Contacts
Julia Dacri
Motif FoodWorks
Sources:
¹ Source: SPINS – Total MULO + Natural Enhanced L12W Ending Jan 23, 2022
² GFI State of the Industry reports; April 2022