LESAFFRE INTERNATIONAL

Their core work

Lesaffre International is a large French industrial company with deep expertise in fermentation, yeast, and biological ingredients for food, feed, and industrial applications. In H2020, they contributed industrial-scale manufacturing know-how and commercial market access to projects addressing mycotoxin contamination in cereal crops and second-generation biorefinery technologies. Their participation in feed additives research (MycoKey) and bioethanol production from biomass (BIOSKOH) reflects a core business built around fermentation-based solutions at industrial scale. As a private company rather than a research institution, they bring the manufacturing credibility and commercial pathway that academic-led consortia need to demonstrate real-world impact.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Lesaffre's early H2020 engagement (MycoKey, 2016) centered on food and feed safety — specifically detecting and managing mycotoxins in cereal crops using ICT-based tools and feed additive interventions. Their second project (BIOSKOH, also starting 2016 but running to 2022) shifted focus toward industrial biorefinery: second-generation ethanol, biomass valorization, and cascading bioeconomy approaches. While both projects launched in the same year, the thematic arc is clear: from food chain contamination control toward sustainable industrial production systems and broader biotechnology applications.

Lesaffre is moving from food safety monitoring toward sustainable industrial biotechnology — a trajectory consistent with growing demand for fermentation-based biorefinery solutions and the broader shift in the agri-food sector toward circular bioeconomy models.

How they like to work

Lesaffre has participated exclusively as a consortium partner across both H2020 projects, never taking a coordination role — typical of large industrial companies that contribute technical capacity and market expertise without managing project administration. Their 49 unique partners across 19 countries in just 2 projects indicates they joined large, multi-partner research consortia where industrial validation was a key deliverable. This pattern marks them as selective but well-connected participants who add commercial credibility and industrial scaling potential rather than research leadership.

Lesaffre has connected with 49 unique consortium partners across 19 countries through just 2 projects, reflecting their participation in large, broad European research consortia rather than tight bilateral partnerships. Their geographic spread is substantial relative to their project count, signaling strong cross-European research connectivity.

What sets them apart

Lesaffre stands apart as one of the few large industrial companies in the H2020 food and agriculture space with active expertise spanning both food chain safety (mycotoxin management) and industrial biorefinery (second-generation ethanol), making them a rare bridge between contamination prevention and sustainable production. As a non-SME private company, they bring commercial-scale manufacturing capability and distribution networks that academic partners cannot replicate — critical for projects needing a credible route to market. For consortium builders requiring an industrial validation partner in fermentation, biorefinery, or food and feed ingredients, Lesaffre offers genuine market-facing credibility.

Highlights from their portfolio

• BIOSKOH
  The largest funding allocation in Lesaffre's H2020 portfolio (EUR 360,300) and the longest duration (2016-2022), targeting flagship-scale second-generation bioeconomy with a cascading biorefinery approach — Lesaffre's clearest statement of industrial commitment to sustainable fermentation-based production.
• MycoKey
  An integrated multi-hazard mycotoxin management project spanning ICT detection tools, risk characterization, and feed additive solutions across five major mycotoxin families and three key cereal crops — directly aligned with Lesaffre's food and feed ingredient business.