Impact
Evaluating the Promise of Microbiome-Targeted Ingredients for Market Growth
Objective
To identify pre-, pro-, and postbiotic ingredients that support consumers' health goals and present opportunities for new growth.
Approach
Partner with clients to identify interactions between their products and microbiomes, determine relevant biotic technologies, and discover potential partners and suppliers.
Impact
RTI International is helping clients in the food, consumer packaged goods, and personal care industries navigate the fast-moving microbiome science space and make science-based investment and partnership decisions.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated consumer awareness of the microbial world and the critical role that personal and environmental microbiomes play in gut health, skin function, immune balance, and mood regulation. Today’s consumers are seeking new ways to nurture their microbiomes through:
- Consumption of nutraceuticals or biotically fortified foods
- Application of topical prebiotics and probiotics for skin and scalp health
- Use of home, cleaning, and air care products designed to support healthy microbial balance
As microbiome science evolves, food, beverage, personal care, and home product manufacturers are asking key strategic questions, such as:
- Should we focus on prebiotics, probiotics, or postbiotics? Or a combination of all three?
- Is biotics an opportunity for a line extension or a gateway into new categories or markets?
- What level of scientific evidence supports biotic ingredient claims? Where are the gaps?
At RTI, we help clients across consumer packaged goods (CPG), food, and personal care categories identify where and how microbiome-targeted ingredients can deliver new growth. Our work connects biotechnology, formulation science, and innovation strategy to accelerate product development grounded in evidence and differentiation.
Understanding Microbiome Science for Product Innovation
The research process begins by helping clients understand how human and environmental microbiomes interact with their product categories, from skin and scalp care to household cleaning and indoor air quality. This foundation ensures that product innovation aligns with both consumer health benefits and credible science.
Scouting and Applying Emerging Biotic Technologies
Our experts continuously track and assess emerging pre-, pro-, and postbiotic technologies across adjacent industries. This includes novel strain development, biotechnological fermentation, and postbiotic metabolite applications. Our evaluations highlight where science supports efficacy and where technologies are still in early development.
RTI helps clients define how these ingredient technologies can be incorporated into existing formulations or new product extensions by assessing functional stability, regulatory positioning, and claim substantiation across applications, whether in food, beverage, skin care, or surface care products.
Identifying Partners and Ecosystem Opportunities
Through our global innovation and supply chain network, we identify potential technology partners and suppliers, highlight emerging start-ups and patent activity, and support collaboration and investment strategies to strengthen microbiome innovation pipelines.
Turning Microbiome Innovation into Market-Ready Solutions
RTI’s innovation experts can help CPG, food, and personal care companies
- Translate emerging science into clear product and brand opportunities
- Expedite development of safety and claims data through expertise in omics, ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity), and efficiency
- Build a strategic pipeline of microbiome-supporting technologies
- Strengthen research and development partnerships and investment strategies
- Maintain a competitive edge in an increasingly science-driven market
Learn more about RTI’s food innovation solutions and sign up for The Growth Brief Newsletter to get insights in your inbox.
