What Phytowelt does

Phytowelt GreenTechnologies GmbH is a German biotechnology contract research organization (CRO) and ingredient producer operating across plant (green) and industrial (white) biotechnology. Founded by Dr. Peter Welters in 1998 through the later merger (2006) of Phytowelt GmbH and a Max Planck Institute spin-off (GreenTech GmbH), the company is headquartered in Nettetal with research and pilot fermentation operations at BioCampus Köln. Approximately 30 employees serve industrial customers in flavor, food and beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and plant breeding sectors.

The company operates a portfolio of six platform technologies: Phytomining (biotechnological extraction of high-purity substances from renewable biomass using fermentation, biotransformation, and biocatalysis), Phytoediting (CRISPR-Cas-based plant genome editing), Phytomass Vision (bioraffinery for converting plant biomass and side streams into value-added chemicals), Somatic Hybridisation/Protoplast Fusion, Double Haploid Breeding (accelerating breeding cycles up to 20-fold), and Plant Tissue Culture Services. These are deployed both as fee-for-service contract research and, since 2018, as the production foundation for the company's proprietary (R)-alpha-Ionon natural raspberry flavor ingredient, which is protected by patents in Europe, Japan, Canada, and the USA.

The business model combines project-based contract research with proprietary product sales and infrastructure rental. Service contracts are custom-quoted (genome editing projects estimated at EUR 20,000–30,000 per CRISPR-Cas event plus regeneration), with no public pricing. Phytowelt reaches customers through direct enterprise sales, the annual Plantdustrials symposium co-hosted with IHK Köln, industry conferences (Bio International Convention 2024), biotech network memberships (BioRiver, CLIB 2021, BioSC, DIB/VCI, EuropaBio), and the 'greendustrial' podcast. The company is also an active participant in multiple Horizon Europe and BMBF-funded research consortia, generating supplementary grant and collaboration revenue.

Name

Phytowelt

Legal name

Phytowelt GreenTechnologies GmbH

Website

https://phytowelt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Phytowelt GreenTechnologies GmbH is a German biotech CRO and ingredient producer combining plant and industrial biotechnology to deliver contract research, plant breeding services, and a patented natural raspberry flavor ingredient to flavor, food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and seed industry clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Research & Biotechnology Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Biological Formulation, Fermentation & Scale-Up Manufacturing (AFABAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Phytogenics & Botanicals (Essential Oils, Plant Extracts) (AFADAKAF), Organic & Biological Input Retail (Biostimulants, Biopesticides, OMRI) (AFABAJAK)

Keywords

• Contract research services
• Plant biotechnology
• Industrial biotechnology
• Natural flavor production
• Genome editing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nettetal

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services (Industrial Biotechnology): Phytowelt develops custom processes and products for clients in the industrial biotechnology space. They optimize or develop fermentation, biotransformation, and biocatalysis processes to enable sustainable production of high-purity substances from renewable raw materials and side streams.
2. Contract Research Services (Plant Biotechnology): Plant breeding and tissue culture services for plant breeders, pharma, and food companies. Services include genome editing, somatic hybridisation, double haploid production, virus elimination, mass propagation, and in vitro conservation of plants.
3. Proprietary Product Sales: Natural Flavors: Since 2018, Phytowelt produces and sells its own natural ingredient: enantiomerically pure (R)-alpha-Ionon, a high-purity natural raspberry flavor. This is their own manufactured product sold directly to flavor, food, beverage, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical companies. The product is protected by patents in Europe, Japan, Canada, and the USA.
4. Plant Variety Sales: Phytowelt sells proprietary registered poplar varieties developed for phytoremediation applications, including deployment in EU research projects such as EDAPHOS and pHYBi.
5. Pilot Fermentation Facility Rental: A fully equipped pilot fermentation facility at BioCampus Köln is available for rent or purchase, providing fermentation services to biotech companies and research institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Phytowelt GreenTechnologies GmbH is a contract research organization (CRO) and producer that combines industrial (white) biotechnology with plant (green) biotechnology. The company develops custom fermentation, biotransformation, and biocatalysis processes for clients in the flavor, food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries, and provides plant breeding acceleration services (genome editing, double haploid production, tissue culture) to plant breeders and seed companies. In addition to CRO services, since 2018 it manufactures and sells its own patented natural raspberry flavor ingredient (R)-alpha-Ionon, and rents a pilot fermentation facility at BioCampus Köln.

Product overview

Phytowelt GreenTechnologies GmbH is a contract research and production biotechnology company offering a suite of platform technologies and services in both green (plant) and white (industrial) biotechnology. The core offering includes Phytomining (industrial biotech production), Phytoediting (genome editing), Phytomass Vision (bioraffinery), Somatic Hybridisation/Protoplast Fusion, Double Haploid Breeding, and Plant Tissue Culture Services. As a product producer, the company manufactures natural raspberry flavor (R-alpha-Ionon) since 2018. Services include process and product development, plant breeding, and a pilot fermentation facility at BioCampus Cologne.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Biotechnology Contract Research (Phytomining / Process & Product Development) Custom contract research services that develop or optimise fermentation, biotransformation, and biocatalysis processes to enable sustainable, cost-efficient production of high-purity flavours, active pharmaceutical ingredients, cosmetics, and food supplements from renewable raw materials and side streams. Sold to flavour, food & beverage, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical companies.
• Plant Tissue Culture Services Stand-alone tissue culture service line providing virus elimination, mass propagation, in vitro conservation, polyploidization, ploidy level determination by flow cytometry (DFLC), and custom protocol development for plant breeders, pharma, and food companies. Backed by 20+ years of proprietary protocols.
• Double Haploid Breeding Services Contract service that produces fully homozygous plant lines from heterozygous parents in a single generation, shortening breeding cycles to as little as 1/20th of conventional duration. Offered to plant breeders and seed companies for crops such as wheat, barley, and triticale.
• Somatic Hybridisation / Protoplast Fusion Service Contract service that fuses protoplasts from different plant species to overcome crossing barriers, enabling transfer of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and creation of new genetic diversity for plant breeders and seed companies.
• Phytoediting (CRISPR-Cas Genome Editing) Service CRISPR-Cas-based genome editing service that enables precise modification of plant genomes without foreign DNA insertion. Sold to plant breeders and seed companies; genome editing services are estimated at EUR 20,000–30,000 per CRISPR-Cas cut plus plant regeneration.
• Natural Raspberry Flavor (R)-alpha-Ionon Phytowelt's own manufactured product: enantiomerically pure (R)-alpha-Ionon, the primary component of raspberry aroma, produced via proprietary biotechnological fermentation. Sold to flavour, food, beverage, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical companies. Protected by patents in Europe, Japan, Canada, and the USA (US patent granted December 2022).
• Pilot Fermentation Facility (BioCampus Köln) A fully equipped pilot fermentation plant at BioCampus Köln available for rent or sale to biotech companies and research institutions for fermentation research and production.

Quantifiable outcome

• Plant breeding cycles can be shortened to 1/20th of conventional duration using double haploid production and tissue culture acceleration techniques
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Moral Food Game ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 November 2024Phytowelt participates in the interdisciplinary 'Moral Food Game' research project led by ecotoxicologist Sonja Floto-Stammen. The consortium includes Fontys University and Maastricht University, investigating the values behind food consumption decisions.
• pHYBi Consortium (Horizon Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2024Phytowelt participates in the Horizon Europe pHYBi project focused on developing sustainable biobased lignocellulosic raw materials for textile applications through phytomanagement. The project addresses how bioeconomy can function without competing with food production land, given that ~80% of European land is already used for settlements, agriculture, and forestry.
• BIMOTEC ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2024Phytowelt participates in the BIMOTEC project aimed at strengthening buckwheat cultivation in Germany by creating improved conditions for breeding local varieties. Buckwheat contains large quantities of industrially usable secondary metabolites with health-promoting effects for food and pharmaceutical industries.
• Bio.NRWminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2024Bio.NRW reported on Phytowelt's participation at Bio International Convention 2024, providing media coverage and industry visibility within the North Rhine-Westphalia biotech ecosystem.
• INGRAIN NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 2024Phytowelt is one of over 80 project partners in the INGRAIN network, working with actors from business, science, and society to reintegrate waste streams from one industry as nutrients or value streams in another. The project aims to establish a biobased circular economy in the Heinsberg region. Phytowelt attended the INGRAIN Bündnistag in April 2024.
• EDAPHOS Consortium (Horizon Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Phytowelt participates in the Horizon Europe EDAPHOS project developing a framework for soil remediation and ecological restoration of contaminated areas in the EU. The project focuses on nature-based solutions (NBS) with 13 partners and 7 test sites across France, Greece, Italy, and Spain. Phytowelt contributes registered poplar varieties for phytoremediation and expertise in biomass production and bioraffinery concepts. Coordinated by Prof. Michel Chalot (Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté) and Samy Strola (LGI Sustainable Innovation).
• Perspective Project (BMBF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Follow-up project of 'Aspirant', part of the BMBF initiative 'Customized biobased ingredients for a competitive bioeconomy'. The research consortium focuses on producing cyclic triterpenoids with diverse bioactive functions (antimicrobial, antioxidant, medical applications) through biosynthesis in yeast bioreactors. Coordinated by Fraunhofer IME, with partners including TU München and VivaCell Biotechnology GmbH. Midterm meeting held June 2024 at BioCampus Cologne.
• Plantdustrials Symposium Partners (IHK Köln, BioRiver, CLIB 2021, BioSC)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2017Phytowelt co-hosts the annual Plantdustrials symposium with IHK Köln, BioRiver e.V., CLIB 2021, and BioSC. The symposium focuses on plant biotechnology and industrial biotechnology, featuring keynote speakers from academia and industry practitioners. This is an annual event that has been held 11+ times since 2017.
• BioRiver e.V.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBiotech industry network in the Rhine-Ruhr region. Phytowelt is a member and participates in events and photo credits.
• DIB – Deutsche Industrievereinigung Biotechnologie (VCI)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPhytowelt's CEO Peter Welters serves as Chairman of DIB's Biotechnology Technical Committee. DIB is a key part of VCI (Verband der Chemischen Industrie), representing ~90% of the German market for biotechnological products. The DIB's objective is to create reliable and internationally competitive framework conditions for the biotechnology industry.
• Fraunhofer IMEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinator of the Perspective research project (BMBF-funded). Fraunhofer IME leads a consortium of academic and industry partners developing triterpenoid biosynthesis in yeast bioreactors.
• TU MünchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the Perspective project (BMBF), contributing expertise in chemistry and biology to the triterpenoid biosynthesis research consortium.
• VivaCell Biotechnology GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in the Perspective project (BMBF), contributing expertise from chemistry, biology, and engineering sciences to the triterpenoid biosynthesis research consortium.
• EuropaBiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerEuropean biotechnology industry association. Phytowelt won the EuropaBio Biotech SME Award in 2018 and maintains membership in this pan-European biotech organization.
• CLIB 2021 (Cluster Industrielle Biotechnologie)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustrial biotechnology cluster. Phytowelt has been a member since 1998 and co-organizes the Plantdustrials symposium.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KeyGene: Dutch plant biotech CRO specializing in molecular breeding, double haploid production, and tissue culture for global seed companies — directly overlapping with Phytowelt's plant breeding and tissue culture service lines.
• c-LEcta: German industrial biotech CRO specializing in enzyme engineering, biocatalysis, and fermentation process development for food, pharma, and industrial customers — directly comparable to Phytowelt's contract research and fermentation/biocatalysis service line.
• Conagen: US-based synthetic biology and fermentation company producing natural flavor and ingredient ingredients (including aroma compounds) via proprietary bioprocesses — the closest direct comparable to Phytowelt's (R)-alpha-Ionon production line.
• Isobionics: Dutch biotechnology company (acquired by BASF) producing natural flavor and fragrance ingredients via fermentation. Highly comparable to Phytowelt's natural raspberry aroma production platform and target customer base.
• Tropic Biosciences: UK-based plant biotechnology company applying CRISPR-Cas genome editing to crop improvement, directly comparable to Phytowelt's Phytoediting platform and tissue-culture-enabled breeding services.
• BRAIN Biotech AG: German industrial biotech company combining proprietary enzyme/microorganism discovery with contract research for food, cosmetics, and industrial applications. Listed peer in the same German Mittelstand industrial biotech CRO category as Phytowelt.

Broad incumbents

• Amyris: US-listed synthetic biology company producing fermentation-based ingredients for flavors, fragrances, and cosmetics. Comparable to Phytowelt's fermentation-derived natural ingredients business model but at materially larger (and currently distressed) scale.
• Codexis: US-listed enzyme engineering and biocatalysis company providing protein optimization services and ingredient manufacturing — a larger, broader incumbent comparable to Phytowelt's biocatalysis and fermentation process development capabilities.

Regional players

• AB Enzymes: German industrial enzyme manufacturer (Associated British Foods group) supplying enzymes to food, beverage, and industrial customers. Comparable as a Germany-based industrial biotech operator with overlapping food/industrial customer base.

Emerging players

• Hudson River Biotechnology: Dutch plant biotechnology CRO focused on genome editing and plant trait development — a smaller emerging peer in the same CRISPR-Cas service niche as Phytowelt's Phytoediting offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Phytowelt-GreenTechnologies-GmbH-1831986947061717

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Phytowelt