What Renaissance BioScience does

Renaissance BioScience Corp. is a privately held Vancouver-based applied life sciences company founded in 2013 that develops proprietary yeast-based platform technologies for the food and beverage, agriculture, and specialty industrial markets. The company's core technology stack combines whole organism engineering (non-GMO classical breeding and adaptive evolution) with gene-targeted engineering (gene editing and molecular biology), and an integrated design layer that produces yeast strains unachievable through either approach alone. Commercial product lines include acrylamide-reducing baker's yeast (Acrylow/Acryleast, reducing acrylamide by up to 95%), H2S-preventing wine yeast strains (Vivace, Allegro, Andante, Maestoso, Brioso, Ossia Organic), selectively bred premium beer yeasts under the Bright Brewers Yeast subsidiary, a yeast-derived virus-like particle (VLP) platform for RNAi biopesticides, and a renewable bioplastics program in partnership with Biome Bioplastics.

Renaissance operates a licensing-led go-to-market model. The company monetizes its strains primarily through exclusive regional and global license agreements with major industry manufacturers and distributors — Angel Yeast for global wine, cider and craft beer; Orkla Food Ingredients for acrylamide-reducing yeast in Nordic, Baltic and Eastern European markets; Kerry for global food ingredients; Gusmer Enterprises for North America; and Quercus Europe for Spain — supplemented by direct sales through three wholly owned subsidiaries (Renaissance Yeast Inc., Renaissance Ingredients Inc., Bright Brewers Yeast Inc.) and non-dilutive R&D funding from Canadian and UK government programs including NRC IRAP, Mitacs, Genome BC, and Innovate UK. The company holds 16 patents on H2S-preventing yeast across major wine-producing jurisdictions plus granted patents on RNA production and delivery in China, Australia, and Mexico, with multiple provisional and PCT filings on acrylamide reduction and the VLP platform.

Commercially, Renaissance has product-market fit in three distinct verticals: food and beverage (acrylamide reduction for baked goods, snacks and coffee; H2S prevention in wine; quality and consistency in craft beer); agricultural technology (RNAi biopesticides for Colorado potato beetle, canola flea beetle, and a broader fungicide/herbicide roadmap); and emerging specialty markets including bioplastics and plant-based protein flavor solutions. Customers range from global ingredient majors (Kerry, Angel Yeast, Orkla) to mid-market wineries (Chrysalis Vineyards, Swiftwater Cellars, Thornton Winery) and large agribusiness partners (Certis Belchim, VIDO). Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the company remains pre-scale, with 11-50 employees and growth funded primarily by government grants and a C$5M convertible debenture rather than traditional venture capital.

Name

Renaissance BioScience

Legal name

Renaissance BioScience Corp.

Website

https://renaissancebioscience.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Renaissance BioScience is a Vancouver-based biotech founded in 2013 that develops proprietary non-GMO and gene-edited yeast strains for food, beverage, agriculture, and specialty industrial applications, commercialized globally through licensing partners and wholly owned subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Yeast Bioengineering and Fermentation Technology

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311), Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing (312), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Beverages (2080), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultures, Probiotics & Fermentation Ingredients (Starter Cultures, Yeast, Adjuncts) (CRADAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beverage Fermentation Cultures (Beer, Wine, Cider, Kombucha, Fermented Soft Drinks) (AFAJAJAC), Bakery & Baking Yeast (Fresh, Active Dry, Instant, Specialty Yeasts) (AFAJAJAD), Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development) (HLAAAIAD), Enzymes & Industrial Biotechnology Inputs (Enzymes, Microbial Strains, Fermentation Aids) (EUAAAIAL)

Keywords

• Yeast bioengineering
• Wine fermentation
• Baking ingredients
• Biopesticide technology
• Bioplastic production

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: Renaissance licenses its proprietary yeast technologies to global manufacturing and distribution partners. Partners receive exclusive rights to manufacture and sell products in specified regions in exchange for licensing fees and ongoing royalties. Examples include Angel Yeast (global wine/cider/beer), Orkla (Nordic/Eastern Europe acrylamide-reducing yeast), and Quercus Europe (Spain wine yeast).
2. Subsidiary Product Sales: Wholly owned subsidiaries (Renaissance Yeast, Renaissance Ingredients, Bright Brewers Yeast) commercialize products directly in certain markets. These subsidiaries handle global sales, marketing and technical support for specific product lines.
3. Government Grants and R&D Funding: Company receives non-repayable government contributions and research funding from organizations including NRC IRAP, Mitacs, and Genome BC to support R&D activities and platform development.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Renaissance BioScience develops proprietary yeast strains and bioengineering platforms for food, beverage, agricultural and industrial applications. The company designs and commercializes H2S-preventing wine yeast strains, acrylamide-reducing baker's yeast, premium brewing yeasts, a yeast-derived virus-like particle platform for RNAi biopesticides, and renewable bioplastic building blocks. Products are sold via wholly-owned subsidiaries (Renaissance Yeast Inc., Renaissance Ingredients Inc., Bright Brewers Yeast Inc.) and global licensing partners including Angel Yeast, Orkla Food Ingredients, Kerry, Gusmer Enterprises and Quercus Europe.

Product overview

Renaissance BioScience is a yeast technology company that has developed multiple platform technologies commercialized through wholly owned subsidiaries: Renaissance Ingredients Inc. (acrylamide-reducing baker's yeast - Acrylow), Renaissance Yeast Inc. (H2S-preventing wine yeasts - Vivace, Allegro, Andante, Maestoso, Brioso, Ossia Organic), and Bright Brewers Yeast Inc. (premium beer yeasts). The company also operates a yeast-derived VLP platform for RNAi biopesticides and is developing renewable bioplastics through a partnership with Biome Bioplastics. The core technology encompasses whole organism engineering (non-GMO classical breeding and adaptive evolution) and gene-targeted engineering (gene editing and molecular biology).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Acrylamide-Reducing Yeast (Renaissance Ingredients) Non-GMO baker's yeast strains that consume the amino acid asparagine during food processing, achieving up to 80–95% reduction in acrylamide levels in bread, toast, fried potato products, snacks, cereals and coffee. Licensed exclusively to Kerry as Acryleast and to Orkla Food Ingredients as Acrylow in European markets.
• H2S-Preventing Wine Yeast (Renaissance Yeast) Classically bred, non-GMO wine and cider yeast strains including Vivace, Allegro, Andante, Maestoso, Brioso (for Pinot Noir) and Ossia Organic variants. All strains prevent hydrogen sulfide formation during fermentation while preserving normal sulfur dioxide production, eliminating remediation costs and enabling fuller flavor expression for winemakers.
• Bright Brewers Yeast Selectively bred premium beer yeast strains delivering ideal characteristics for distinct beer styles. All strains prevent hydrogen sulfide formation and include hybrid strains capable of creating unique new beer styles, targeting craft brewers seeking consistent quality and distinctive flavor profiles.
• Yeast-derived VLP Platform for RNAi Biopesticides Novel yeast-derived virus-like particle (VLP) platform for RNA interference biopesticides. The platform enables cost-effective dsRNA production and ambient-temperature storage, expanding RNAi pest control beyond chewing insects to fungicides, herbicides and non-chewing insects. Delivered 98% mortality of Colorado potato beetle in independent testing.
• Renewable Bioplastics Technology Sustainable bioplastic building blocks developed through yeast and bacterial fermentation processes. Targets packaging, personal care, health and consumer goods applications as renewable replacements for petroleum-derived materials. Co-developed with Biome Bioplastics Limited under a two-year collaboration supported by Canada's NRC IRAP and UK's Innovate UK.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 95% reduction in acrylamide levels in baked goods, fried potato products and coffee
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and regional.

• Biome Bioplastics LimitedstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2025Two-year collaboration valued at up to C$1.5 million to develop sustainable bioplastic building blocks using yeast and bacterial fermentation. Project supported by Canada's NRC IRAP and UK's Innovate UK. Targets packaging, personal care, health and consumer goods applications with goal to replace petroleum-derived materials.
• Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2024Partnership for innovative development in animal health using yeast-based technologies.
• Certis BelchimstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 November 2023Partnership for innovative biopesticide development. Certis Belchim is a leading provider of biological crop protection solutions.
• KerrycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 December 2018Kerry commercialized Renaissance's acrylamide-reducing yeast technology as Acryleast, gaining organic suitable status in EU. Kerry is a major global taste and nutrition company that integrated the technology into its food ingredient portfolio.
• Angel Yeast Co., Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 January 2018Angel Yeast, a Shanghai Stock Exchange listed company (SSE:600298), signed a global license agreement to exclusively manufacture and supply Renaissance's yeast portfolio for wine, cider and craft beer industries worldwide starting Q4/2017. Angel Yeast has production facilities in China, Egypt and Russia and serves customers in more than 140 countries with over 5,000 employees.
• Orkla Food IngredientscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2017Orkla Food Ingredients holds exclusive license to manufacture and sell Renaissance's acrylamide-reducing yeast (Acrylow) in Nordic and Baltic markets, later expanded to include Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Product launched in Q3/2017 with excellent trial results showing 50-95% acrylamide reduction depending on application.
• Gusmer EnterprisesregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2015Gusmer Enterprises serves as exclusive distributor for Renaissance H2S-preventing wine yeasts for wine and cider in Canada and USA. Gusmer has extensive network of technical sales reps and strong reputation in the beverage industry.
• Quercus Europe, S.L.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2015Multi-year agreement appointing Quercus Europe as exclusive distributor in Spain for Renaissance H2S-preventing conventional and organic wine and cider yeast strains.
• University of California, DaviscoreTechnology or Integration · 7 January 2014Exclusive global license from UC Davis for patented H2S-preventing yeast technology invented by Dr. Linda Bisson. Technology developed through five years of commercial field testing. All Renaissance wine yeasts are based on this licensed technology.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lallemand: Lallemand is one of the world's largest privately held yeast producers, with a portfolio spanning wine, beer, baking, and distilling yeasts as well as yeast-based biopesticides and probiotics. It is the closest direct competitor to Renaissance BioScience's wine, beer, and bakery yeast product lines, with comparable customer base among food and beverage manufacturers.
• Lesaffre: Lesaffre is the world's largest yeast producer, offering baking, brewing, wine, and specialty yeast ingredients under brands such as Saf-instant and Fermentis. It is a direct competitor across virtually every fermentation ingredient category Renaissance addresses.
• AB Mauri: AB Mauri is the bakery ingredients division of Associated British Foods (FTSE 100) and a global supplier of baker's yeast, dough conditioners, and bakery improvers. It is a direct competitor in the acrylamide-reducing and baking yeast categories, and Renaissance's CBDO Dr. O'Cleirigh previously led business development at AB Mauri.
• Novonesis (Chr. Hansen): Novonesis (formed by the merger of Chr. Hansen and Novozymes) is a global bioscience company specializing in cultures, enzymes, and probiotics for food and beverage manufacturers. It overlaps directly with Renaissance's cultures, fermentation ingredients, and probiotic yeast initiatives targeting food and human wellness customers.
• Angel Yeast: Angel Yeast (Shanghai Stock Exchange: 600298) is one of the world's largest yeast producers and is Renaissance's exclusive global manufacturing/distribution partner for wine, cider, and craft beer yeasts. It is both a key channel partner and a competitor with its own branded yeast portfolio across baking, brewing, and animal nutrition.

Broad incumbents

• Kerry Group: Kerry Group is a global taste and nutrition company (NYSE: KRYAY) that commercializes Renaissance's acrylamide-reducing yeast (Acryleast) under an exclusive license. While a critical commercial partner, Kerry's broader portfolio of food ingredients, flavors, and functional solutions places it as a large incumbent that could internalize or compete with adjacent Renaissance technologies.
• DSM-Firmenich: DSM-Firmenich is a large global ingredients and bioscience company with a yeast-derived platform spanning food, beverage, animal nutrition, and personal care. It represents the broader incumbent archetype that Renaissance competes against for major food and beverage manufacturer accounts and for industrial biotech partnerships.

Emerging players

• GreenLight Biosciences: GreenLight Biosciences is a US-based RNA-focused biotech developing dsRNA-based biopesticides. It is the most direct emerging competitor to Renaissance's yeast-derived VLP RNAi biopesticide platform, particularly in the Colorado potato beetle and broader agricultural pest control market.
• Benson Hill: Benson Hill is a US-based food tech company using AI-driven genomics and proprietary platforms to develop improved plant-based food and feed ingredients. It is comparable to Renaissance as a smaller, platform-based biotech applying synthetic biology to the food and ingredient value chain.
• Amyris: Amyris is a synthetic biology company that engineered yeast strains to produce specialty ingredients (squalane, flavors, fragrances). It is comparable to Renaissance as a yeast-engineering platform targeting flavors, fragrances, biofuels, and bioplastics, and serves as a cautionary reference point on the capital intensity of scaling synthetic biology ingredients businesses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Renaissance BioScience