Checkerspot and Huvepharma Join Forces to Scale Sustainable Human Milk Fat Alternative

Courtesy Unsplash, ph. Bastian Alexandre Coleman

Checkerspot, a biotechnology company and Certified B Corporation specializing in renewable oils and fats from microalgae, has partnered with Huvepharma, a global biopharmaceutical and fermentation leader, to produce and commercialize high sn-2 palmitate algal oil at an industrial scale, a precision-fermented alternative to palm-derived oils that closely replicates the triglyceride structure found in human milk fat.

The collaboration brings together Checkerspot’s proprietary microalgae fermentation platform and Huvepharma’s world-class large-scale production capabilities. The result is a new, cleaner, and more sustainable approach to producing one of the most valuable components in infant nutrition, without relying on environmentally damaging palm oil or complex enzymatic modification processes.

At the core of this breakthrough is high sn-2 palmitate, a structured fat known to play a critical role in nutrient absorption, energy metabolism, and digestive comfort in infants. Traditionally, this compound is produced from palm oil through multi-step enzymatic processes. Checkerspot’s innovation bypasses that entirely: by fermenting simple sugars with microalgae, it produces the same key triglyceride structures in a controlled, traceable environment. This eliminates agricultural dependencies, reduces the risk of contamination, and ensures a consistently pure, high-quality ingredient—hallmarks of precision fermentation.

“Checkerspot’s breakthrough high sn-2 palmitate algal oil is a leap forward for infant nutrition, both in terms of nutritional quality and environmental impact,” said Kiril Domuschiev, President and CEO of Huvepharma. “Huvepharma’s deep expertise in fermentation at scale and global market presence ideally positions the partnership to deliver this innovation reliably and competitively to the infant nutrition industry.”

The partnership marks a major milestone for both companies. Checkerspot, a Certified B Corporation, has built a reputation for transforming renewable microalgae oils into high-performance ingredients for nutrition, materials, and personal care. Huvepharma, one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical and fermentation producers, brings decades of experience in precision fermentation and a global distribution network that can bring the innovation to market at scale. Together, they aim to meet rising global demand for next-generation nutritional fats that are not only closer to the fat composition of human milk but also aligned with sustainability goals.

“Partnering with Huvepharma allows us to bring high sn-2 palmitate algal oil to industrial scale and make it accessible to infant formula brands worldwide,” said John Krzywicki, CEO of Checkerspot. “This is a key milestone in redefining how high-performance fats and oils for nutrition are sourced and produced.”

The implications go far beyond a single product. The global infant formula market is projected to exceed $100 billion by 2030, with growing consumer and regulatory pressure to improve both the nutritional profile and environmental footprint of products. Palm oil remains a key but controversial ingredient in most formulas, associated with deforestation, biodiversity loss, and volatile supply chains. Precision fermentation offers a scalable, traceable, and climate-friendly alternative—allowing infant formula companies to deliver improved performance while meeting deforestation-free and net-zero targets.

Checkerspot’s innovation also highlights a broader shift within the alternative fats and oils landscape. A new wave of biotech companies, including C16 Biosciences, Nourish Ingredients, and Xylome, are using microbial and precision fermentation to reimagine how lipids are made, replacing agricultural extraction with biomanufacturing. While many of these focus on food or cosmetics, Checkerspot’s emphasis on functional lipids for human nutrition positions it uniquely within this growing ecosystem.

As infant nutrition brands look for solutions that balance efficacy, safety, and sustainability, the Checkerspot-Huvepharma partnership may set a new benchmark for how essential nutrients are produced. It not only decouples a vital nutritional ingredient from environmentally destructive sources—it also signals the arrival of a new era of precision-crafted nutrition, where biotechnology and biology converge to serve both human health and planetary wellbeing.