Fermenta Biotech, a manufacturer of APIs, intermediates and nutritional premixes for global markets, has entered into an exclusive licence agreement with Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, for the commercialisation of a technology enabling natural in-situ vitamin B12 fortification in fermented foods.

Developed by Dr. Krishnan Venkataraman and his team at VIT Vellore’s Centre for BioSeparation Technology (CBST), the technology is covered under Indian Patent Application No. 202441015300. It is designed to enhance vitamin B12 levels directly within fermented foods during the natural fermentation process, rather than adding the vitamin to the finished product.

Vitamin B12 deficiency remains a nutritional concern, particularly among vegetarian and vegan populations that have limited access to natural dietary sources of the vitamin. Growing interest in vegetarian diets, ageing populations and fortified foods is also contributing to demand for accessible vitamin B12 solutions.

The technology uses selected nutrients and cofactors during fermentation to support the formation of vitamin B12 within the food matrix. According to the companies, the process can be integrated into existing fermentation methods without substantial changes to conventional production processes. Laboratory studies showed approximately 80 percent retention of enhanced vitamin B12 levels after cooking, indicating potential applications in fermented foods that are subsequently cooked.

Commenting on the agreement, Prashant Nagre, Managing Director, Fermenta Biotech, said the collaboration combines VIT’s scientific capabilities with Fermenta’s industrial expertise to develop scalable nutrition solutions. He added that the technology expands the company’s food fortification capabilities beyond customised vitamin and mineral premixes and could support the development of market-ready applications.

G. Viswanathan, Chancellor, VIT, said the agreement reflects the institute’s focus on translating academic research into solutions for real-world challenges, particularly in healthcare. He added that the collaboration could contribute to India’s capabilities in nutritional science and efforts to address micronutrient deficiencies.

The next stage of the collaboration will focus on application development, nutritional validation, assessment of final vitamin B12 concentrations, regulatory evaluation and development of commercially viable food applications.

The technology could have applications across FMCG, food and nutrition, nutraceutical and broader health-related sectors. Fermenta Biotech plans to leverage its existing capabilities to support scale-up into accessible premixes and fortified food solutions.