NOVONESIS

Overview

Novonesis is a global biosolutions company formed in January 2024 through the merger of Novozymes A/S and Chr. Hansen Holding A/S. It develops and manufactures biology-based products and describes itself as a leading global biosolutions partner with a pure-play biological portfolio; the company also states that its purpose is to “better our world with biology.” [1]+3

The company’s activities are organized into two broad areas: Food & Health Biosolutions and Planetary Health Biosolutions, covering food and beverages, human health, household care, and agriculture, energy and tech. Its portfolio is built around fermentation and other biological capabilities, and Novonesis describes itself as the largest-scale producer of cultures and enzymes globally; its biosolutions include products such as cultures, enzymes, proteins, probiotics, yeast and human milk oligosaccharides.[5]+5

Novonesis has more than 10,000 employees and is present in 45 countries, with more than 30 production sites across four continents, about 40 R&D and application centers, and more than 35 customer service and distribution centers. Its footprint is especially strong in Europe, North America and China, with additional production in India, Argentina and Brazil. Net sales were EUR 3,833.5 million in 2024.[11]+6 [1]+15

Products & services

Novonesis’ product portfolio is organized into four main offering areas: Food & Beverages, which includes food cultures and enzymes; Human Health, which includes probiotics, advanced specialty proteins and human milk oligosaccharides (HMO); Household Care; and Agriculture, Energy & Tech, which includes bioenergy, grain and tech processing, agriculture, animal health/nutrition, and plant health solutions. In 2024, these areas generated EUR 1,238.2 million, EUR 429.9 million, EUR 767.7 million, and EUR 1,397.7 million of net sales, respectively, equal to roughly 32%, 11%, 20%, and 36% of group sales based on total net sales of EUR 3,833.5 million.[17]+4

Within food-related products, Novonesis states its biosolutions are used to improve process efficiency and to enhance taste, texture, appearance and nutritional value with simpler labels.[21] Specific launches include SpiceIT M100, described as the world’s first microbial lipase for cheese flavor development that also enables kosher, halal and vegetarian positioning, and Vertera Umami MG, which releases and enhances umami flavors in plant-based foods.[22][23] In Human Health, the company’s offerings are positioned as scientifically researched and tested supplements spanning mental wellness, gut, oral, immune and women’s health; a named product example is PrecisionBiotics Daily Calm capsules for relaxation and emotional balance support.[24][25]

In Household Care, Novonesis supplies biosolutions for laundry, dishwashing and cleaning; it says these products can reduce surfactant content in a standard detergent by up to 30% while maintaining washing performance.[26] Product examples include Luminous, a biological alternative to petroleum-based fabric-care technologies that preserves whiteness and brightness while using renewable ingredients and biodegradable formulations, and Progress Power, which helps soap bars remain stable and active in high-temperature hand-washing conditions.[27][28] In Agriculture, Energy & Tech, examples include Innova Eclipse, an advanced yeast solution for ethanol plants that is designed to increase yields, improve efficiency and reduce ethanol carbon-intensity scores, and TagTeam BioniO, which combines five biologically active ingredients to improve phosphorus and other nutrient availability for peas and lentils.[29]+2 Across the portfolio, Novonesis says it draws on more than 100,000 microbial strains and over six million unique enzyme structures to develop new products.[32] [17]+16

Geographic presence

Novonesis reports its business across four geographic regions: Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), North America, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, with the U.S. identified as its largest single-country market at about 29% of group net sales.[33] In its latest regional sales table, net sales were reported as EUR 1,440.2 million in Rest of Europe, Middle East & Africa, EUR 1,328.8 million in North America, EUR 779.5 million in Asia Pacific, EUR 564.5 million in Latin America, and EUR 44.6 million in Denmark.[34]

Operationally, Novonesis says it has its most extensive presence in Europe, North America, and China, with smaller-scale production facilities in India, Argentina, and Brazil, alongside multiple distribution centers worldwide.[16] The company states that it has more than 30 production sites across four continents and around 40 R&D and application centres.[13][14] At year-end 2024, Novonesis had 10,582 employees, including 4,645 in Denmark, 2,141 in Asia Pacific, 1,991 in North America, 1,236 in Rest of Europe, Middle East & Africa, and 569 in Latin America.[11]+5

Its official contact details list headquarters in Lyngby, Denmark, while the annual report gives a registered address in Bagsværd, Denmark.[40][41] Novonesis also maintains regional subsidiary and office pages covering North America, Europe, South America, Africa, Middle East, Asia, and Oceania, indicating a broad commercial footprint beyond its core production hubs.[42]+6 [33]+19

Business segments

Novonesis reports two operating segments: Food & Health Biosolutions and Planetary Health Biosolutions [49]. Food & Health Biosolutions comprises the Food & Beverages and Human Health sales areas, while Planetary Health Biosolutions comprises Household Care and Agriculture, Energy & Tech [50]. The segment structure covers manufacturing, sales, distribution, and R&D, and segment profitability is measured on adjusted EBITDA [51].

The focus areas within those segments are defined fairly specifically: Food & Beverages combines Novozymes’ Food & Beverage business with Chr. Hansen’s Food Cultures & Enzymes; Human Health combines Novozymes’ Human Health and Advanced Specialty Proteins with Chr. Hansen’s Human Health activities including HMO [17][18]. Household Care corresponds to Novozymes’ Household Care business, while Agriculture, Energy & Tech combines Novozymes’ Bioenergy, Agriculture & Animal Health/Nutrition, and Grain & Tech Processing with Chr. Hansen’s Animal & Plant Health [19][20].

In FY2024, Food & Health Biosolutions generated EUR 1,668.1 million of net sales, about 43.5% of total revenue, and Planetary Health Biosolutions generated EUR 2,165.4 million, about 56.5% [52]. At the sales-area level, Food & Beverages contributed EUR 1,238.2 million, Human Health EUR 429.9 million, Household Care EUR 767.7 million, and Agriculture, Energy & Tech EUR 1,397.7 million, equivalent to roughly 32.3%, 11.2%, 20.0%, and 36.5% of total revenue, respectively [5]. Novonesis also describes the portfolio at a high level as roughly 45% of sales supporting healthier lives and 55% supporting a healthier planet [53]. [49]+9

Company history

Novonesis was created on January 29, 2024 through the statutory merger of Novozymes and Chr. Hansen. The combination was first announced on December 12, 2022, won approval at the companies’ extraordinary general meetings on March 30, 2023, and the Novonesis name was introduced in December 2023 before the merger was formally completed in January 2024.[54]+2

The company’s history therefore draws on two much older Danish bioscience businesses. Chr. Hansen traces its origins to 1874, when it began producing cheese coagulants. Novozymes traces its heritage to the 1920s, says its enzyme production began in 1941, and became an independent company in 2000 through a demerger from Novo Nordisk.[57][58] [54]+4

Sources

• NOVONESIS — Press release (2024 Y)[1][2]
• NOVONESIS — Full financial report (2024 Y)
  38 citations

  [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][35][36][37][38][39][41][49][50][51][52][53]
• NOVONESIS — Presentation (2024 Y)
  4 citations

  [13][14][15][56]
• NOVONESIS — Full financial report (2025 Y)[33][34]
• www.novonesis.com[40]
• www.novonesis.com[42]
• www.novonesis.com[43]
• www.novonesis.com[44]
• www.novonesis.com[45]
• www.novonesis.com[46]
• www.novonesis.com[47]
• www.novonesis.com[48]
• NOVONESIS — Full financial report (2023 Y)[54][55]
• www.chr-hansen.com[57]
• www.novozymes.com[58]