The recent merger between two giants of the biosolutions industry, Novozymes and Chr. Hansen, has formed Novonesis and brought together decades of expertise in microbes and enzymes. This unification aims to deliver exponential results, especially in sectors like food production, agriculture, and sustainability.
At the helm of Novonesis in Oceania is Kylie Evans, the company’s head of Food & Beverage Biosolutions and country manager for Australia and the Pacific.
Evans sat down with Food & Beverage Industry News to talk about the merger, the benefits to industry, and the future ambitions of the company.
For Novonesis, the merger represents more than just the combination of two global companies.
It is the amplification of resources, research capabilities, and technological expertise that will drive the future of biosolutions.
This synergy enables Novonesis to apply proven solutions across industries, driving innovation and helping manufacturers optimise processes and enhance quality.
Evans is particularly proud of the company’s investment in R&D, which stands at 10 per cent of revenue, higher than most public companies.
“This commitment shows our dedication to the future of biosolutions,” said Evans.
“By combining our scientific resources, we can address future challenges with biology as a core solution.”
Biosolutions are at the heart of Novonesis, and its application extends throughout the food supply chain, from the farm to the consumer’s table. Evans highlights that the company’s innovations influence not only the production and safety of food but also other industries, including sustainable aviation fuel, household care, and
fabric longevity.
“The sustainability of food is connected to broader biosolutions,” said Evans.
Working with food and beverage manufacturers, the team at Novonesis in the Oceania region use biosolutions to improve the quality, taste, texture, and safety of food products.
Novonesis’ portfolio of biosolutions supports advancements in areas like food safety, where very specific good bacteria act through fermentation to improve product quality, extend shelf-life and safeguard food from pathogens.
A key component of Novonesis’ success is the company’s approach to culture and collaboration, particularly in the context of the merger. By interviewing over 1,000 employees from both organisations, Novonesis identified four key cultural drivers: collaboration, care, ownership, and impact, which are now embedded in the company’s daily operations. Evans reflects positively on the company’s culture since the merger, noting that employee engagement and positive synergy have been key to its success.
“We’ve brought together the entire organisation, from supply chain to sales, and the atmosphere has been incredible,” said Evans. “Employees are even nominating each other for annual awards, which shows the strength of the culture
we’ve built.”
Evans said the focus on collaboration and cultural alignment enables the company to overcome
any hurdles.
“The progress in this first year has been fantastic; we’ve moved forward quickly and effectively,” she said.
As for the future, the food industry faces considerable challenges, particularly in terms of efficiency and sustainability. Novonesis, however, is uniquely positioned to help meet these challenges.
“We don’t just sell ingredients. We help make processes more efficient by improving texture and quality without adding unnecessary ingredients,” said Evans.
“We also work on extending shelf life and valorising waste streams, especially in sectors like meat production.”
The company’s innovation is evident in the dairy, bakery, and meat industries. For example, Novonesis’ Fresh Keeping technology, which uses enzymes to maintain bread freshness, ensures that the texture and softness of bread remain intact over time.
Similarly, the company’s bioprotective cultures are fighting yeast and mould growth in yogurt, ensuring that the product stays fresh despite consumer handling. In the meat and fish industries, Novonesis has partnered with small producers like Harris Smokehouse in South Australia.
The collaboration involved introducing bioprotective cultures to protect the smoked salmon from listeria, without adding artificial preservatives, a technology that has since gained wider acceptance in the salmon industry.
Evans highlighted that this success story is not just about technology but about how collaboration can support small businesses.
“Harris’ story demonstrates how care, exploration, and ownership can transform a business and have a lasting impact on the community,” she said.
Protective cultures are now being used in a wider range of foods, including fresh seafood, processed meats, and even Christmas hams. Evans explains that these biosolutions help address consumer preference for selecting products with clean ingredients lists, address concerns about food safety while maintaining product freshness.
One of the ways Novonesis builds partnerships is through its commitment to education.
The company conducts local consumer research to better understand Australian preferences, which allows it to co-create products with customers.
“We leverage both local insights and global trends to develop innovative, sustainable products that meet consumer needs,” said Evans.
Emphasising its “test-and-learn” mentality, Novonesis has worked with both large corporations and small businesses to innovate new products.
In the craft beer sector, for example, the company helped develop alcohol-free beers, a product that aligns with Novonesis’ philosophy of creating solutions that are “good for people and the planet”.
Ultimately, Evans believes that collaboration is key in all its client relationships.
“We work with our clients to solve big problems together,” said Evans.
This philosophy is helping the company drive not just business success but also meaningful progress toward a more sustainable and resilient global food system.
Novonesis’ focus on biosolutions in both global and local contexts is not just changing the way food is produced and consumed but shaping the future of a healthy planet across industries worldwide.