At the recently concluded second Precision Nutrition Industry Conference held in Harbin from August 21st to 23rd, a central theme emerged: how biotechnology can empower the creation of high-quality nutritional solutions that precisely match the needs of individuals at every stage of life. The event was hosted by the Precision Nutrition Industry Branch of the Chinese Nutrition Society, bringing together industry leaders to tackle the challenge of moving beyond one-size-fits-all supplements toward personalized dietary strategies.

During the conference, an exclusive interview was conducted with Dr. Ross Crittenden, Global Dairy Ingredients Director for Food & Beverages at Novonesis. Against the backdrop of rapidly advancing biosynthesis technology and the successful domestic development of self-produced protein ingredients, a key industry question was raised: how can biological technology transform quality nutritional raw materials into solutions tailored for the diverse life stages of the Chinese population? Dr. Crittenden consistently anchored his response to a single core principle—using biosynthesis to drive the growth of China's precision nutrition sector.

In his view, microbial and biosynthesis technologies open up entirely new possibilities for the large-scale production of premium dairy proteins and functional ingredients. However, he acknowledged that industrial-scale implementation still faces considerable practical hurdles. With different nutritional demands from infants, the elderly, and athletes, microbial solutions offer unique technical advantages, presenting a fresh pathway for delivering personalized nutrition based on specific scenarios. Furthermore, he emphasized that collaborative innovation between local dairy companies and technology firms would be essential for integrating raw material R&D with process engineering, thereby enabling China's precision nutrition industry to complete its full transition from technological breakthrough to marketable product.

When asked about the most critical application value of microbial and biosynthesis technology, and the key challenges for its industrial rollout, Dr. Crittenden responded: "Thank you for the question. I believe the achievements and progress we are witnessing in biological solutions today are truly remarkable. A significant highlight is our ability to combine our understanding of nutritional needs across different age groups with the capacity to deliver precise nutritional solutions." He explained that traditional food manufacturing has always depended on agriculture and animal husbandry, which increases pressure on land, water resources, and carbon emissions as protein demand grows. Biotechnology, however, enables the production of precise nutritional components in a highly efficient manner with a lower environmental cost. "The progress we are making lies in our ability to supply high-quality ingredients with nutritional precision that meet the needs of people at different life stages."

On the subject of challenges, he stressed the importance of not compromising on the sensory experience of food. "We must ensure our products meet consumer expectations," he said. "This requires extensive cooperation, spanning consumer science and nutrition science, as well as working with regulatory bodies to help consumers understand how these ingredients function. This ensures we provide the nutritional quality and enjoyment people expect."

Commenting on Chinese companies' launch of high-end protein ingredients and their achievement of self-developed core dairy proteins, Dr. Crittenden expressed strong admiration. "When China decides to enhance both quality and scale to meet protein supply needs, the pace of action is always rapid and exceptional," he noted. "I am deeply impressed by the level of investment within the industry; they are truly leading innovation in applied science, investment, and research. It's quite remarkable." He added that Novonesis is keen to participate in this growth and stressed that collaboration across the entire value chain—from universities and enterprises to regulators—is essential for driving this transformation forward.

Discussing how biosynthesis supports the distinct nutritional needs of infants, adults, and the elderly, Dr. Crittenden highlighted infant nutrition as a prime example. "We need to provide both high-quality protein and components like human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)," he explained. "As our understanding of infant nutritional needs deepens, we realize we must supplement cow's milk used in formula to make it more closely match what a baby receives from breast milk." HMOs are an excellent illustration of using precision biotechnology to produce components vital for infant development—something that is now achievable and represents a great example of precise application.

He also pointed to the growing demand for whey protein, which has tripled in price over the past two years due to supply chain constraints. "This is a perfect case where precision fermentation and nutritional development of such proteins can alleviate supply pressure and ultimately achieve cost-effectiveness," he said. The technology can be applied across different stages: for adults needing metabolic and bone health support, and for the elderly whose protein requirements increase. "By applying biological solutions derived from nature, we can integrate these proteins into a wider range of foods while maintaining the desired functional properties and ensuring great taste. We must ensure that adding protein doesn't create a gritty texture or other negative mouthfeel. Biotechnology allows us to not only improve nutritional quality but also enhance processing performance and the overall consumer eating experience."

Looking to the future and the potential synergies with local partners in technology, co-creation, R&D, and product development, Dr. Crittenden highlighted Novonesis's deep roots in China. "Novonesis has been collaborating with the Chinese industry for over three decades. We have three offices, three production plants, and over a thousand employees here, making us highly localized." He emphasized that understanding the needs of Chinese customers and consumers is of paramount importance. "We invest heavily in R&D locally, working with Chinese industry partners and universities to develop solutions for the local market."

He observed that Chinese companies are heavily investing in vertical integration, focusing not only on product innovation but also on supply chain innovation. "This is precisely where we can genuinely help and support these enterprises. Working closely and collaboratively across the entire value chain is key to providing our support. This customer intimacy—truly understanding consumers, understanding clients, and understanding how we can support them—is what we excel at. We believe this is the important pathway to finding solutions that support the growth of the local industry."