Ingredient supplier ADM has entered into an agreement with the Japan-based Asahi Group Foods Corporation, to exclusively market and distribute Asahi Group’s proprietary lactic acid-based postbiotic, Lactobacilllus gasseri CP2305.

The postbiotic is backed by eight human clinical trials which respectively support its potential in supporting stress, mood, and sleep. Citing Euromonitor, products targeting mood or relaxation grew at a CAGR of 13% from 2018 to 2023.

“Stress, mood, and sleep are among the fastest-growing wellness segments, and, as the cornerstone to physical and emotional health, they are also some of the most disruptive factors to everyday life and overall well-being if not properly supported,” said Mark Lotsch, president of global health and wellness at ADM. “Our agreement with pioneering Asahi Group to bring science-backed L. gasseri CP2305 postbiotic into our robust health and wellness solutions library is a critical step in advancing new product development to support consumers’ quality of life around the world.” 

Asahi Group owns L. gasseri CP2305, which was discovered through years of research on Calpis-derived lactic acid bacteria. The agreement enables Asahi Group to strengthen its business in the area of lactic acid bacteria materials, and meet increasing demand for diverse functional food products through ADM’s global network and R&D centers. Asahi group will continue to use the ingredient in supplements and beverages sold in Japan. Beginning in March, ADM will expand distribution of the postbiotic to food manufacturers in North America, Europe, and Asia.

“Asahi is committed to solving global food and health challenges, especially those contributing to mental and physical well-being for consumers. We’re excited to enter a supply agreement with ADM for Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305, leveraging their expertise in microbiology and global scale to effectively expand the reach of this innovative solution,” said Kazuhiro Hayashi, corporate officer and senior general manager of Asahi Group Foods.

Across eight randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trials, the postbiotic appears to support emotional well-being and reduced stress, better sleep efficiency, reduced time to fall asleep, healthier overall sleep quality, and improved total duration of sleep. As a postbiotic, it can withstand challenging formulation conditions like high heat or moisture associated with functional foods or supplements like gummies.