Combining the Italian company’s strain collection with US-developed generative AI platforms, the partnership introduces a new research approach: large-scale analysis of microbial interactions for food applications
Sacco System, an Italian biotechnology hub and global reference point in the research, development and production of microorganisms and probiotics, announces a strategic partnership with US-based Concerto Biosciences— a leader in microbial ecology— to accelerate the development of next-generation ingredients by integrating biological collections with advanced artificial intelligence models. The collaboration paves the way for faster and more effective discovery in the Food sector.
Bringing together Italian biodiversity and artificial intelligence
The two companies aim to develop new ingredients composed of microorganisms that interact synergistically to deliver desirable functional properties.
Sacco System will provide its long-established library of food-grade cultures along with its expertise in applied microbiology. Concerto will apply its analytical platform to Sacco’s strain collection, using its kChip technology to empirically build and measure millions of co-cultures, and its AI model, kAI, to derive further insights based on these data .
“Our microbial collection represents decades of investment in food microbiology and captures the extensive biodiversity found across diverse food ecosystems worldwide. Each microorganism has been thoroughly characterized at genotypic and phenotypic levels; however, a substantial portion of their functional potential arises from microbial interactions within structured and dynamic communities,” said Fabio Dal Bello, Scientific Director at Sacco.
“Concerto enables us to systematically study these interactions, unlocking innovative solutions for the food industry. Our goal is to identify optimal strain synergies – where 1 + 1 truly equals 3. We strongly believe that kChip technology is the perfect match for our needs, and we are eager to discover which combinations of our microorganisms are best suited to advancing sustainable food production, delivering value to both manufacturers and consumers,” added Federica Volontè, R&D Biology Manager at Sacco.
Setting a new industry standard
kChip technology makes it possible to test millions of microbial combinations simultaneously, identifying the most effective interactions for more sustainable food production that delivers tangible value to both producers and end consumers.
“This collaboration will set a new standard for microbial product innovation,” said Cheri Ackerman Araromi, CEO and co-founder of Concerto Biosciences. “Our platform is designed to generate massive datasets that provide empirical insight into microbial interactions. Sacco System brings deep industry expertise and strong commercial capabilities to this partnership. Together, this combination is enabling Concerto to advance the discovery of microbial ingredients and expand its platform across multiple industrial sectors.”
