Cargill invests in venture capital fund aimed at transforming microbiome and life sciences R&D

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Cargill (Minneapolis, MN) has made a significant investment in the Seventure Partners’ Health for Life Capital II fund. The fund supports microbiome research and development in the areas of health and nutrition. Cargill joins Danone, Novartis, and Lesaffre in a network of strategic investors, and will serve as a limited partner with a member appointed to the fund’s Advisory Investment Committee.

“We’re thrilled to invest with Seventure Partners, given their deep expertise and knowledge of the rapidly evolving microbiome ecosystem,” said Chuck Warta, president of Cargill’s health technologies business, in a press release. “Together, we will expand the existing suite of health solutions available to consumers and bring more relevant products to market in the functional food arena. Ultimately, our goal is to help humans and animals live more healthy days.”

“Microbiome innovations are now impacting many industries such as food, pharma, healthcare, retail, agriculture and animal feed and health, providing great opportunities for growth. In addition to the classic financial investors, our funds also include strategic corporate investors,” said Isabelle de Cremoux, CEO and managing partner of Seventure, in a press release. “I am delighted to start this collaboration with Cargill. Cargill joining our fund will accelerate our mission to transform fascinating science into great products, improving people’s lives.”

As part of the agreement, de Cremoux will join four other experts on an internal Cargill advisory board, tasked with providing strategic guidance and insight as Cargill grows its health technologies portfolio. The advisory board also includes Bruce German, PhD, a professor at UC Davis and co-founder of a startup focused on infant nutrition; Mary Ellen Sanders, PhD, founding president of the International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP); and Scott Bush, a probiotics commercial leader with more than 30 years of experience.

“Bringing the outside in is critical as we grow in this emerging field,” said Warta. “Our advisory board members bring a critical mix of commercial and scientific expertise to challenge our assumptions and broaden our thinking.”