Galy, a biotechnology company based in Boston, is advancing plans to biomanufacture cocoa rather than farm it. It’s the first commercial application of a biocrafting platform the company hopes to extend to other crops.
Founded in 2019, Galy grows plant-based products in controlled bioproduction environments. The approach combines plant cell biology, fermentation and bioprocess optimization. The company says its biomanufacturing platform can achieve production 10 times faster than conventional methods. It’s targeting roughly 80% reductions in land, water and carbon use.
Cocoa is the company’s first commercial target. Rising prices, climate pressures and supply-chain disruptions have made the ingredient a growing concern for chocolate makers. Galy aims to produce cocoa through plant-cell cultivation instead. It uses brewery-style bioreactor tanks to do this.
The company says its bioprocess gives it control over four factors that shape cocoa flavor. These are genetics, elicitation, fermentation and roasting. Galy has built a library of more than 200 seed cell lines. They span 14 genotypes, aiming for more consistent and traceable supply.
Galy has completed its self-GRAS process and filed its FDA GRAS dossier.
The company plans to use retrofitted fermentation infrastructure near breweries and sugar mills. This is intended to keep capital costs down as bio-production scales. Galy projects revenue growing from around $4 million in 2027 to $422 million by 2032, according to company estimates.
Beyond cocoa, Galy has also tested its biotechnology in cotton. It identifies coffee, vanilla, citrus and saffron as future biomanufacturing targets.
The company is currently raising a $25 million Series B2 round to fund its bio-based expansion. The targeted first close is $15 million. It has raised approximately $65 million to date.
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