BASF Introduces Isobionics® Natural alpha-Farnesene 95, a High-Purity Fermentation-Derived Flavor Ingredient Enhancing Lime Applications

Isobionics® Natural alpha-Farnesene 95
Credit: BASF/Shutterstock

(IN BRIEF) BASF’s Isobionics® has introduced Isobionics® Natural alpha-Farnesene 95, a high-purity natural flavor ingredient designed for lime oil and citrus applications. Produced through fermentation technology using renewable resources, the product ensures exceptional consistency, sustainability, and purity above 95%. It offers a unique aromatic profile with vegetal, citrus, and floral notes suitable for beverages, sweets, and other fruit-flavored formulations. The ingredient meets EU and US food-grade standards and is certified kosher, halal, and pesticide-free. With this launch, Isobionics® completes its natural sesquiterpene ingredient range for lime applications, joining existing products such as Isobionics® Natural beta-Bisabolene 90, trans-alpha-Bergamotene 80, and beta-Caryophyllene 80. BASF executives Steffen Götz and Giovanni D’Andola highlighted that the launch reinforces BASF’s leadership in sustainable aroma solutions and strengthens its one-stop offering for the lime segment.

(PRESS RELEASE) GELEEN, Netherlands, 17-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Isobionics®, the biotechnology-driven aroma ingredients brand of BASF, has unveiled its latest innovation — Isobionics® Natural alpha-Farnesene 95, a high-purity natural flavor ingredient produced through advanced fermentation technology. Developed to enhance lime oil and citrus-based applications, this launch completes Isobionics’ comprehensive natural flavor portfolio for the lime segment and reaffirms BASF’s leadership in sustainable, biotechnology-based aroma solutions.

“We are excited to introduce our new flavor ingredient, Isobionics® Natural alpha-Farnesene 95, to the market,” said Steffen Götz, Senior Vice President of Aroma Ingredients at BASF. “This product represents our strong commitment to providing our customers with innovative, high-quality aroma ingredients. Like all Isobionics® products, it is fermentation-based and derived from renewable resources, ensuring reliable availability independent of weather or harvest conditions. With a purity exceeding 95%, it opens exceptional new opportunities for our customers’ formulations.”

Isobionics® Natural alpha-Farnesene 95 delivers a sophisticated aromatic and flavor profile — combining a vegetable-like scent with celery notes followed by sappy, plant-stem, and fruit-skin nuances. At low concentrations, it offers a slightly floral, citrusy, and waxy apple/pear-skin taste, with subtle white flower and ocimene undertones. This makes it a perfect fit not only for lime oil formulations but also for beverages, sweets, and other fruit-flavored applications where premium purity and consistency are essential.

Produced entirely through Isobionics’ cutting-edge fermentation process, the ingredient guarantees consistent quality, traceability, and pesticide-free production. It complies with EU and US food-grade regulations (FLAVIS number 01.040 and FEMA number 3839), and is certified kosher, halal, EU and US natural, and FSSC 22000. Customers are invited to experience the ingredient’s superior purity through product samples or private demonstrations offered by BASF representatives.

With the addition of Isobionics® Natural alpha-Farnesene 95, BASF Aroma Ingredients now offers a complete lime oil natural sesquiterpene ingredient portfolio, which also includes Isobionics® Natural beta-Bisabolene 90, Isobionics® Natural trans-alpha-Bergamotene 80, and Isobionics® Natural beta-Caryophyllene 80. This range solidifies BASF’s position as a one-stop provider of advanced natural flavor solutions for the lime segment.

“Isobionics® Natural alpha-Farnesene 95 completes our lime oil natural sesquiterpene ingredient portfolio,” said Giovanni D’Andola, Flavor Launch Manager at BASF. “We’re proud to offer this extensive range of flavor ingredients for our customers’ lime applications — a product offering that is truly unique in the market.”

Based in Geleen, the Netherlands, Isobionics® specializes in fermentation-based natural aroma ingredients that deliver consistency, sustainability, and scalability. As part of BASF’s Aroma Ingredients business, it continues to pioneer new standards in biotechnology-driven flavor innovation — providing manufacturers with reliable access to natural ingredients that elevate product quality while supporting environmental responsibility.

About Isobionics^®

At Isobionics^®, we are a highly innovative and strongly customer-driven team focusing on natural aroma ingredients and passionate about the fragrance and flavor industry. We produce our products from renewable raw materials using cutting-edge fermentation technology. The proprietary process is unique in the world and ensures the constant high quality and availability of our products, independent of weather and harvest conditions. We are located in Geleen, the Netherlands, and are part of BASF’s aroma ingredients business. For more information, please visit our homepage www.isobionics.com.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com

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SOURCE: BASF SE