The hidden hand

The NASA space food now in baby formula

A microalgae technology developed for astronauts became the dominant omega-3 ingredient feeding millions of infants globally.

The number

1.09billion dollars paid for acquisition

Producer

Producer · dsm-firmenich AG

dsm-firmenich AG (Kaiseraugst, Basel-Land, Switzerland; formed by merger of DSM NV Netherlands and Firmenich SA Geneva, completed May 2023; combined revenue ~€12B of which fragrance ~€3-4B) is the world's third-largest fragrance company. Firmenich (private, Geneva; founded 1895 by Philippe Chuit and Martin Naef) was the world's largest private fragrance house and the only major fragrance company to remain independent until the DSM merger. Firmenich's fragrance heritage includes Chanel No. 5 (Firmenich supplies the fragrance compound to Chanel — one of the most carefully guarded commercial relationships in the fragrance industry; the Chanel No. 5 formula is a Firmenich-originated formula from 1921). DSM contributed nutrition, health, and biosciences (vitamins, carotenoids, animal feed enzymes) to the merger. The combined dsm-firmenich operates manufacturing at Geneva (Switzerland), Haverhill (UK), Neuvy-sur-Barangeon (France), and Florham Park (USA). The Firmenich name is retained in the merged entity's fragrance operations branding.

Surprise score

92 / 100

Martek Biosciences began in 1985 with NASA funding to grow nutrient-dense algae in bioreactors for long-duration space missions—a program that never launched. Instead, the Schizochytrium microalgae DHA technology became life'sDHA, now mandated in infant formula across over 75 countries and added to billions of bottles annually.

Source: DSM-Firmenich life'sDHA · DSM-Firmenich · Dec 31, 2023

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The NASA space food now in baby formula

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