Comet Bio
U.S. Headquarters
1051 Perimeter Dr., Ste. 615
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: (317) 750-7158
Website: https://comet-bio.com
Comet Bio is an award-winning food technology company based in London, Ontario, Canada and Schaumburg, IL. The company makes unique, healthy and sustainable products using its patented upcycling technology. Its Arrabina Arabinoxylan Plant Fiber Extract has superior tolerability and functionality within the prebiotic market.
Loula Merkel has more than 15 years of experience in agribusiness and energy industries. Previously the director of project development at Coskata, she was responsible for the development and financing of commercial projects. She also spent eight years at McKinsey & Company, serving clients at the intersection of chemicals and agribusiness industries, including multinational fertilizer, agrochemical and food companies. Merkel has an MA in economics from John Hopkins University SAIS and a BA in economics from Loyola University Chicago.
NIE: Please explain Comet Bio’s patented production process. What makes it unique?
Merkel: Comet Bio’s proprietary production process upcycles crops leftovers—such as straw, leaves and shells—into high-quality ingredients. The proprietary extraction process is innovative and differentiates us from other ingredient manufacturers. We ensure our products are of high quality by first partnering with farmers to understand where our crop leftovers are coming from and how they are being grown and collected. Not only does this help ensure we are sourcing our upcycled materials from organic and non-GMO (genetically modified organism) crops, but it enables us to mitigate any missteps that could occur when purchasing farm leftovers. This partnership also benefits farmers by allowing them to profit from their whole harvest while ensuring the highest quality for our product.
With this approach, we not only close the loop on the food system but also reduce its carbon footprint. According to an independent well-to-wheel analysis, Comet Bio’s dextrose production process emits over 60 percent fewer greenhouse gases than traditional manufacturing.
NIE: In February, Comet Bio announced its partnership with Anheuser-Busch InBev. (AB InBev) What is the goal of the collaboration?
Merkel: We are excited to partner with AB InBev to pilot their saved grains in our process. AB InBev’s Waste to Wellbeing Challenge aligns perfectly with Comet’s core capability of extracting nutrition from food system waste.
NIE: What is the vision for the future of the company?
Merkel: Forty percent of the food produced around the globe currently goes to waste according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. At the same time, nutrition gaps and food insecurity continue to persist, even in the United States, where more than 30 percent of the population is considered undernourished while also either obese or overweight.
This paradox of our food system producing more waste than ever, yet still not providing adequate nutrition demonstrates the need for innovation. At Comet Bio, we are working to address both challenges by extracting nutrition from food system waste. Our proprietary upcycling technology produces novel ingredients with enormous nutritious potential while simultaneously addressing critical environmental challenges.
NIE: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Merkel: Arrabina’s outstanding tolerability makes it unique within the prebiotic market. Prebiotics play a pivotal role in the microbiome by supplying the crucial, non-digestible ingredients that fuel the growth of good bacteria, including probiotics. Unfortunately, many popular prebiotics, such as inulin, can cause GI (gastrointestinal) distress and bloating, making it difficult for consumers to incorporate them into their digestive health regimen. Arrabina provides a solution to this prebiotic problem.
Recent results from a double-blind, randomized clinical trial confirm the superior GI tolerability of Comet Bio’s Arabinoxylan prebiotic, Arrabina. The clinical trial administered by leading research organization Biofortis consisted of 36 healthy individuals who consumed Arrabina at 6 grams or 12 grams per day or a placebo. Participants ranked eight areas for gut and bowel discomfort, including gas, bloating and nausea, to compare any potential differences in GI tolerance of the three treatments. Results show that even at a high dosage of 12 grams per day, there were no statistical differences in GI distress between the participants taking Arrabina versus those taking the placebo.
Despite its exceptional prebiotic benefits, Arabinoxylan has not been widely available for use due to inefficient extraction. Comet Bio saw this market opportunity and utilized its proprietary extraction technology to make it available in an isolated, purified, and fully soluble form. The proprietary water extraction technology makes it possible to extract Arabinoxylan from many crop and food leftovers. The process uses water and pressure to extract the Arabinoxylan and purify it. Through this approach, Comet Bio cannot only produce ingredients that are healthy and sustainable but also of the highest quality possible.
