Fresh pork
BeeTechnology extended the commercial shelf life of fresh pork from approximately 6 to 9 days under refrigeration at 3 ± 2 °C, in a trial with microbiological and sensory analysis run by an accredited laboratory.
Nature already solved it. We are learning to read it.
BeeTechnology is a Chilean biotechnology company that discovers, characterizes and produces naturally occurring molecules with antimicrobial activity for the food industry. Our platform starts from bacteria isolated from bees, identifies the molecules they produce, and manufactures them by fermentation, with validated applications in shelf-life extension and microbial load reduction in meat and grains.
See the resultsTalk to our team
13.3%of food is lost between harvest and point of sale, a figure that hasn't dropped since 2015FAO, SDG 12.3.1, 2023
14%of meat and animal-source products is lost in the supply chainFAO, 2023
US$2.5Mis the cost of a single listeriosis case in the United States — 150 times more than a salmonellosis caseUSDA ERS, 2023
A platform, not a product
The antimicrobial arsenal the food industry uses today comes from a closed catalog of molecules discovered between the 1920s and the 1990s, applied to matrices, pathogens and processes that didn't exist when those molecules were found. We work from the other end: we search microbial diversity for molecules that aren't in that catalog yet, characterize them, and produce them by fermentation — so we can answer a specific food-safety problem, with a specific matrix and process condition, instead of offering the same molecule for everything.
- Bioprospecting
- Characterization
- Production
- Application & validation
Why we're called BeeTechnology
A hive is a warm, humid, densely populated environment, with thousands of individuals in permanent contact and stored food — it should be the ideal place for an infection to spread unchecked. Healthy colonies, however, hold on. Part of the explanation lies in the bacteria that live associated with bees and the molecules those bacteria produce to control other microorganisms. That's where our research started, and that's where the company's name comes from. No bee takes part in our production — we explain why in the FAQ.
Results
Maize
The treatment reduced the mesophilic aerobic count in maize by approximately 3 orders of magnitude, applied by spraying on batches of up to 1.5 tonnes under real industrial conditions.
Listeria monocytogenes
Direct bactericidal activity against Listeria monocytogenes was confirmed via minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration in laboratory assays. Food-matrix validation is in progress.
Adds to your process. Doesn't replace it.
The formulation is liquid and acts on the surface of the food. It's applied by immersion, spraying or tumbler massaging depending on the line. It doesn't require changing packaging, the cold chain, or the plant layout. It doesn't replace existing sanitation protocols or the plant's food-safety programs — it's an additional barrier within them.
FAQ
Do you kill bees to produce this?
No, none. The bacteria we work with were isolated from bees a single time and have lived in our culture collection ever since. Production happens by fermentation: we grow those bacteria in a fermenter and they generate the molecules. The process never goes back to the hive, doesn't consume bees, and doesn't depend on them.
What does BeeTechnology do?
BeeTechnology discovers and produces naturally occurring molecules with antimicrobial activity for the food industry. They're applied to the surface of food to extend shelf life and reduce microbial load, without synthetic preservatives and without modifying the customer's packaging or process.
How much extra shelf life do you get?
It depends on the matrix. In fresh pork, a trial with an accredited laboratory showed an extension of approximately 6 to 9 days under refrigeration at 3 ± 2 °C. In chicken breast, a proof of concept estimated 5 to 6 additional days. Results aren't extrapolable between matrices.
Is it effective against Listeria monocytogenes?
Direct bactericidal activity against Listeria monocytogenes was confirmed in laboratory assays via minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration. Validation in a real food matrix is in progress, and until that data exists we do not claim efficacy against Listeria in food.
Does it replace synthetic preservatives?
Our goal is to offer a naturally derived barrier with bactericidal action on the surface of food. Common synthetic barriers are largely inhibitory: they slow microbial growth without reducing the initial load present in the product.
What development stage is this at?
The technology is at the industrial validation stage, with trials run by ISO 17025-accredited laboratories in pork, chicken breast and grains. The regulatory pathway is under evaluation in target markets. We do not claim an approved, registered or authorized product.