Lallemand Specialty Cultures opens R&D lab in France

Lallemand Specialty Cultures inaugurated its new application R&D laboratory in Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine), marking a strategic milestone in the growth of its business unit, the company says. It has been relocated from La Ferté-sous-Jouarre (Seine-et-Marne) to a newly designed facility. “This laboratory is intended as a meeting point between science and application, between our internal teams and external partners, and between development and the concrete needs of the market,” said Lauriane Fillous, president of Lallemand Specialty Cultures business unit.

Founded in 2012, the business unit specialises in food cultures for the dairy, meat, and plant-based sectors. “This relocation project is fully aligned with our ambition to advance R&D in an environment that encourages exchange and collaboration,” added Pablo Alvarez Martin, R&D director.

The site features 200 square metres of laboratories dedicated to the formulation and testing of microorganism-based solutions, as well as the evaluation of their effects on finished product models under conditions similar to industrial production. The site includes offices and meeting rooms as well. It is also part of a broader initiative to strengthen connections with leading agri-food training centres, with the aim of attracting new talent and reinforcing teams, according to Lallemand.

The strain collection of over 2,000 bacteria, yeasts, and moulds has also been relocated to the new site. Initiated more than 100 years ago, this collection is a valuable resource for developing future solutions across a range of food applications. Bioprotection of dairy and cured meat products remains a key focus of the research and development, aimed at enhancing food safety and optimising shelf life. This new laboratory will continue its collaboration with Lallemans’s Blagnac site, which specialises in fermentation processes.