microTERRA

What microTERRA does

microTERRA is a Mexican biotechnology company that produces functional food ingredients from Lemna (duckweed), an aquatic plant cultivated on agricultural wastewater. The company's core product platform, branded MAS (Modulador de Aromas y Sabares), comprises three specialized variants: MAS U (umami) for meat-content reduction, MAS A (alpha) as a general-purpose flavor modulator, and MAS B (beta) for masking bitterness in sugar-reduced formulations. The proprietary extraction process converts Lemna biomass into clean-label flavor-modifying ingredients that can be declared as natural flavorings, enabling food manufacturers to reduce sugar, sodium, and animal protein content while preserving sensory quality.

The company operates a circular production model in which Lemna absorbs nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients from greenhouse agricultural wastewater in high water-risk regions such as Colon, Queretaro, generating both functional ingredients and environmental impact metrics (85.5 tonnes of CO₂ avoided and 7 million liters of water saved per tonne of MAS U produced). microTERRA holds a GRAS FEMA 5104 regulatory designation from the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association for U.S. food and beverage use, and the company is pursuing additional regulatory approvals for European market entry. Recognition includes World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer 2022 and inclusion in the Norrsken 100 impact list.

microTERRA generates revenue through B2B ingredient sales to consumer packaged goods companies, food formulators, and product developers across applications including beverages, dairy, confectionery, processed meats, frozen foods, sauces, and alternative proteins. The company sells directly to enterprise customers via a quote-based pricing model, supported by direct outreach and industry association membership (ANFPA). As of the most recent reporting, microTERRA has raised approximately $13.5M in cumulative venture funding across six rounds (2020-2024) and maintains a lean team of 1-10 employees.

Name

microTERRA

Legal name

microTERRA

Website

https://microterra.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

microTERRA is a Mexican biotechnology company that produces clean-label functional food ingredients from Lemna (duckweed) cultivated on agricultural wastewater, selling MAS flavor-modifying ingredients to CPGs and food formulators for sugar, sodium, and meat reduction applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plant-Based Food Ingredients

NAICS

Spice and Extract Manufacturing (311942)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAJADAA

Flavor Houses & Compound Flavor Manufacturing

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Ingredients & Additives/Flavors & Flavor Enhancers (Natural/Artificial Flavors, Umami Enhancers)

Keywords

• Plant-based food ingredients
• Functional flavor ingredients
• Natural flavor extracts
• Lemna biotechnology platform
• Food reformulation ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Mexico City

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. B2B ingredient sales: microTERRA sells its MAS functional ingredients (MAS U, MAS A, MAS B) directly to food and beverage companies (CPGs) under a B2B model. These ingredients enable product reformulation — reducing sugar, sodium, meat content, and animal protein — while maintaining or improving sensory experience. Revenue is generated through product sales to formulators, manufacturers, and distributors in the food industry.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

microTERRA produces and sells natural functional flavor-modifying food ingredients under the MAS brand (MAS U, MAS A, MAS B), derived from Lemna (duckweed) cultivated on agricultural wastewater. These ingredients enable food and beverage manufacturers and formulators to reduce sugar, sodium, and animal protein content in their products while maintaining or improving taste, texture, and mouthfeel. The ingredients are sold as natural flavorings with GRAS FEMA 5104 approval for use across beverages, dairy, confectionery, meat products, baked goods, and alternative protein applications.

Product overview

microTERRA operates as a biotechnology platform offering functional food ingredients derived from Lemna (duckweed), with its core product line branded as MAS (Modulador de Aromas y Sabores). The portfolio consists of three specialized sub-products: MAS U (Umami) for meat product optimization enabling up to 10% meat reduction while maintaining sensory quality; MAS A (Alpha) as a premium flavor modulator for diverse applications including alternative proteins, baking, and confectionery; and MAS B (Beta) for sugar-reduction formulations that masks undesirable notes from high-intensity sweeteners. All MAS products are positioned as natural, clean-label ingredients that can be declared as natural flavorings, supporting the food industry's transition toward healthier and more sustainable products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MAS U: Functional umami system for optimizing meat product formulations, reducing meat content up to 10% while improving flavor, texture, and aroma.
• MAS A
• MAS B

Products and services

• MAS (Modulador de Aromas y Sabores) MAS is a natural extract derived from Lemna (duckweed) that serves as a flavor-modifying ingredient (FMP) for the food industry. It enhances sensory experience by boosting flavor intensity, masking undesirable notes, improving mouthfeel, and integrating taste profiles across various food and beverage applications. The umbrella product line encompasses MAS U, MAS A, and MAS B variants, each targeting distinct formulation challenges.
• MAS U (Umami) MAS U is a functional umami system designed to optimize meat product formulations, enabling up to 10% reduction in meat content without compromising sensory quality. It improves flavor, texture, aroma, and juiciness in sausages, hot dogs, ham, bacon, and chorizo products. In sensory tests, more than 67% of consumers preferred products with MAS U for taste, texture, and bite experience. Per tonne of MAS U produced, 85.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions are avoided by displacing pork, beef, and chicken proteins 1:1.
• MAS A (Alpha) MAS Alpha is a premium functional flavor designed to enhance, modulate, and integrate flavor profiles across diverse food applications including sausages, plant-based proteins, bakery, confectionery, frozen foods, and sauces. It intensifies desirable notes, improves ingredient integration, eliminates unwanted flavors from functional ingredients, and optimizes texture and mouthfeel while maintaining clean labels. It specifically masks vegetable and flour notes and optimizes seasoning integration in baked goods, frozen foods, alternative proteins, and confections.
• MAS B (Beta) MAS Beta is a natural extract designed to improve flavor profiles in products with high-intensity sweeteners. It masks bitterness, metallic notes, and unpleasant aftertastes while enhancing sweetness perception without additional sweetener. Available in powder and liquid forms (25 kg packaging), it targets beverages, dairy, and confectionery applications, helping reduce sugar content while maintaining the expected taste experience for consumers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85.5 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided per tonne of MAS U, displacing pork, beef, and chicken proteins 1:1
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• ANFPA (Asociación Nacional de Fabricantes de Productos Aromáticos)minorOthersmicroTERRA is an active member of ANFPA, the National Association of Manufacturers of Aromatic Products in Mexico, indicating industry standing and compliance with regulatory standards for flavor and extract manufacturers.
• World Economic ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnermicroTERRA was selected as a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer in 2022, gaining access to global innovation networks and platforms that support high-impact ventures.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Takasago: Japanese-headquartered flavors and fragrances company with a savory and functional ingredients portfolio. Comparable because it serves CPG buyers with umami-enhancing and off-flavor-masking solutions similar to microTERRA's MAS line.
• International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): Major global ingredients and flavors company with a Health & Biosciences division covering cultures, enzymes, and natural flavor systems. Comparable as a direct competitor supplying natural flavor-modifying ingredients to the same CPG customers.
• Symrise: Global flavor and nutrition house with strong presence in savory taste, plant-based proteins, and natural flavor solutions. Comparable as a direct competitor in natural savory flavor modulation and meat-reduction formulations.
• DSM-Firmenich: Combined nutrition, health, and flavors giant with deep CPG relationships across taste, texture, and functional ingredients. Comparable because it competes for the same sugar/sodium reduction and clean-label formulation budgets.
• Givaudan: World's largest flavors and fragrances house, serving global CPGs with natural flavor modulators, taste solutions, and clean-label ingredients. Comparable because it directly competes for the same B2B taste-modulation wallet with CPG buyers that microTERRA targets.

Emerging players

• MycoTechnology: US-based food tech using fermentation to produce natural flavor and texture ingredients (ClearCut, FermentIQ) for sugar and sodium reduction. Comparable as a venture-stage competitor leveraging biotechnology to deliver clean-label flavor modulation to CPGs.
• Motif FoodWorks: Food-tech ingredient company developing biomimetic and fermentation-based ingredients for plant-based foods, including flavor and texture solutions. Comparable because it targets the same sensory-gap problem in plant-based and reformulated foods.
• Plantible Foods: US-based company producing functional protein from Lemna (duckweed) using an aquatic cultivation platform. Comparable as a direct Lemna-based ingredient supplier with overlapping biological feedstock and clean-label positioning.
• Hinoman: Israel-based company cultivating Mankai (a Lemna/duckweed variant) as a protein and functional ingredient source. Comparable as a Lemna-based ingredient producer targeting plant-based and functional food applications.
• Parabel: Florida-based company cultivating water lentil (Lemna) protein ingredients for human nutrition applications. Comparable because it shares the same Lemna feedstock, aquatic cultivation approach, and plant-based ingredient positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/microTERRA.mx
• LinkedInmx.linkedin.com/company/microterramx
• Instagraminstagram.com/microterra.mx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors19 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 microTERRA