Brightseed, the developer of an AI-powered phytonutrient discovery solution, has raised $27 million in a funding round led by Lewis & Clark AgriFood.

Founded in 2017, Brightseed has developed Forager, an AI solution that can reportedly search for undiscovered compounds in plants which provide proven health benefits, as well as searching for new benefits in existing plant-based products and ingredients.

In humans, phytonutrients such as lycopene and resveratrol support health by boosting anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and neuroprotective activities. Brightseed claims that this latest investment follows Forager’s “discovery of a powerful phytonutrient” with the potential to support metabolic health, helping those at risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, liver diseases and weight management issues.

This new financing round means Brightseed has now raised $52 million in total funding, after factoring in the $25 million raised in previous a funding round led by Seed 2 Growth Ventures, Horizons Ventures, CGC Ventures, Fifty Years, Germin8 Ventures, and AgFunder.

Brightseed has partnered with a number of major food companiesto trial the Forager platform. This includes a multi-phased partnership with Danone North America to find previously unknown health benefits of plant-based ingredients in Danone’s consumer products portfolio.

David Russell of Lewis & Clark AgriFood and Elaine Leavenworth, former SVP, and chief marketing and external affairs officer at Abbott, will join Brightseed’s board of directors.

Jim Flatt, Brightseed co-founder and CEO, said: “We’re thrilled to work with visionary partners to accelerate innovation in food, health, and wellness.

“We’re in an unprecedented public health crisis, and people are looking for plant-based products that will contribute to a healthier life. With millions of phytonutrients hidden in plants, it’s crucial that we discover these compounds and understand how they help us.

“Much like mapping the human genome opened up a new era for medicine, using Forager AI to map the connections between plants and people is one of the most exciting new frontiers of science.”

Elaine Leavenworth, added: “Brightseed’s Forager AI is leading the search for natural phytonutrients that will provide dramatic health benefits.

“Given today’s health crises this has even greater urgency. Brightseed has the strong support of their investors and advisors as they move forward on this path.”

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