News

Natáur Receives Competitive SBIR Phase II Grant

September 27, 2023 · BALTIMORE, MD

Natáur announced that it has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Natáur’s technology produces the essential nutrient, taurine, in a biological system (microbes) replacing synthetic taurine made from petrochemicals. The technology employs clean and renewable resources to produce the nutrient crucial for human and animal health. This project aligns with the USDA NIFA goal to contribute to the nation’s energy independence through the sustainable production of bio-based products.

“Our technology uses the fermentation of safe microbes to make taurine—a completely novel approach to taurine production,” states Frank Turano, Natáur’s Chief Research Officer. “Our process avoids the use of hazardous and toxic chemicals, as well as fish or animal parts, and our bio-based taurine can be produced in the US.”

“We are happy to receive the competitive SBIR Phase II award from the USDA,” says Natáur’s CEO, Kathleen Turano. “This grant will help us develop new technologies to increase taurine yield, thereby lowering production costs. This, in turn, will make our bio-based taurine an even more attractive ingredient for enhancing the nutritional value of food and feed, including alternative protein products.”

About Natáur

At Natáur, we believe that healthy products should be produced in healthy ways. Natáur’s proprietary technology creates sustainable, healthy, petroleum-free ingredients; enabling our customers to improve their own environmental footprint while serving today’s health and eco-conscious consumers. Natáur is based in Baltimore, Maryland.

TEDCO Invests in Natáur

September 25, 2023 · COLUMBIA, MD

TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a recent $200,000 investment into Natáur. This recent investment came from TEDCO’s Social Impact Funds.

“Natáur is creating bio-based taurine, an essential nutrient for brain development, healthy aging, heart health, and microbiome balance,” said Kathleen Turano, Natáur’s CEO. “Taurine occurs naturally in animal products but it is missing in plants. With shifts towards more plant-based diets, taurine will need to be added as an ingredient or taken as a supplement to maintain healthy taurine levels. With TEDCO’s investment, we move closer to launching our bio-based taurine.”

Natáur, based in Baltimore, Md., is a company working to provide bio-based solutions for nutrient production. Taurine is used extensively in the nutrition, food, feed, and personal care sectors. Currently, the market is primarily filled with synthetic taurine made from petrochemicals, posing risks to humans, animals, and the environment.

“As diets shift to be more plant based, it can be difficult to ensure certain nutrients are consumed, leading many to take supplements,” said Jean-Luc Park, senior director of TEDCO’s Social Impact Funds. “Natáur is working to support this process and allow individuals to get the needed nutrition through safer and more natural means.”

TEDCO’s Social Impact Funds were purposefully designed to engage and invest in economically underserved founders and communities.

About TEDCO

TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland.

TEDCO funding opportunities

Natáur Announces USDA Grant to Produce Cost-Competitive, Non-Petroleum-Based Taurine

July 8, 2022 · BALTIMORE, MD

Natáur today announced it has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to produce a cost-competitive, non-petroleum-based source of taurine. This product addresses the USDA NIFA goal to contribute to the nation’s energy independence through sustainable production of bio-based products.

Taurine is an essential nutrient, needed for cardiovascular, skeletal muscle, vision, and nervous system function. It is naturally occurring in meat and other animal products, but not in plants. As we shift to more plant-based diets, taurine must be added as an ingredient or taken as a supplement to ensure good health.

“Today, nearly all supplemental taurine is produced from a petroleum-based process that uses carcinogenic and hazardous compounds,” states Frank Turano, Natáur’s Chief Research Officer. “Our proprietary technology uses safe microbes as factories to produce taurine from a simple sugar and natural compounds.”

Natáur’s CEO, Kathleen Turano, adds, “We are pleased to receive the USDA’s competitive SBIR grant. This grant will help us to develop new and improved technologies to increase taurine production and lower its cost making it an attractive ingredient to enhance the nutritional value of food and feed products, including alternative protein products.”

About Natáur

At Natáur, we believe that healthy products should be produced in healthy ways. Natáur is a privately held company that produces a non-petroleum-based source of taurine with renewable resources by fermentation for manufacturers to make safer and more sustainable products. Taurine is an essential nutrient for humans and animals and used in everyday products, including infant formula, pet food, animal feed, energy drinks, nutrition supplements, and personal-care products. Natáur is located in Baltimore, Maryland.