BioHarvest Sciences (NASDAQ:BHST) is positioning its plant cell culture platform as a way to produce botanical ingredients for multiple industries without cultivating whole plants, CEO and Executive Chairman Dr. Zaki Rakib said at a Canaccord consumer conference.
Rakib said the company uses what it calls programmable plant cell biology to grow ingredients contained in plant cells in large-scale bioreactors. He said the process does not involve genetic modification and is designed to create consistent compositions of targeted molecules from batch to batch.
The company, incorporated in 2007, has invested more than $100 million in developing its platform, according to Rakib. BioHarvest has built a factory with capacity of 20 tons and has registered about 15 patents covering its process technology and certain cell-based compositions, he said.
CDMO Strategy and Customer Programs
Rakib described BioHarvest primarily as a contract development and manufacturing organization, or CDMO, with potential applications in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics and nutrition. The company’s business model includes development, manufacturing, sales and royalties, he said.
BioHarvest is developing two molecules for Tate & Lyle, which Rakib said was recently acquired by Ingredion. Those programs involve proteins from fruits grown in Africa. The company is also developing a saffron-derived product, in which it retains a 25% ownership interest, and a product for the high-end fragrance market.
The company recently announced a 20-ton agreement for fragrance-related production covering 2027 and 2028, with a value of between $20 million and $30 million, Rakib said. BioHarvest retains 20% ownership of the molecule involved in that program.
Rakib did not disclose the specific fragrance ingredient because of a non-disclosure agreement. He said the ingredient comes from an exotic tree that produces certain compounds after being attacked by fungus, and that the material is used in incense and fragrance oils.
He said BioHarvest expects to begin manufacturing products beyond its existing consumer product next year, including fragrance and some saffron-related output. The company expects to manufacture five different products in the following year, he added.
VINIA Provides Commercial Validation
BioHarvest’s existing commercial product is VINIA, a red-grape-cell-based supplement sold directly through vinia.com and Amazon. Rakib said VINIA generated about $33 million in revenue last year and more than $100 million cumulatively. About 20% of VINIA revenue comes from Amazon, he said.
According to Rakib, the company’s process amplifies piceid resveratrol in VINIA by 100 times relative to levels found in nature. He said a 400-milligram capsule can provide an amount equivalent to 1,000 grapes or a bottle of red wine, without alcohol or sugar.
Rakib said BioHarvest has conducted clinical trials on VINIA and uses the product to demonstrate the scalability, economics and efficacy potential of its technology. He said the product is intended to improve blood flow by supporting nitric oxide production and reducing production of endothelin-1, which he described as a vasoconstrictor.
The company has also developed olive and pomegranate programs, with targeted molecules including verbascoside and PGG. Rakib said the company’s cell-based process can create compositions with different ingredient ratios than those found in naturally grown plants, which he said supports its patent strategy.
Capacity Expansion, AI Investment and Outlook
BioHarvest is building a second manufacturing facility in Israel, which Rakib said is expected to be commissioned at the end of 2027 and begin production in early 2028. The company raised funding in November of the previous year that he said was sufficient to support operations and construction of the new facility.
Looking further ahead, BioHarvest is considering U.S. capacity beginning in 2029. Rakib said larger customers could potentially build their own facilities under a licensing model, with BioHarvest receiving royalties.
The company has also invested in artificial intelligence and machine learning over the past three years. Rakib said the technology is being used for discovery, validation of molecule-to-receptor binding and computer vision applications that could reduce the number of experiments and manual observations required during development.
Rakib said BioHarvest began its CDMO business in 2025 and generated $2 million of revenue from that segment. He said the company’s goal for 2026 is $4 million to $5 million of CDMO revenue, all from development work. Separately, he cited consolidated revenue guidance of $37 million to $40 million and said BioHarvest projects EBITDA profitability next year.
About BioHarvest Sciences (NASDAQ:BHST)
BioHarvest Sciences Inc is a biotechnology company that specializes in the development and commercialization of plant-based active ingredients through proprietary cell-culture technology. By growing undifferentiated plant cells in controlled bioreactor environments, the company aims to produce full-spectrum phytonutrients and botanical compounds that are difficult to obtain through traditional farming methods. This approach is designed to deliver consistent, high-purity extracts with reduced environmental impact and supply-chain variability.
The company’s product portfolio focuses on applications across the cosmeceutical, nutraceutical and health-and-wellness markets.
