Ajinomoto and Nippon Rika to set up cysteine hydrochloride production company

Japan-based food and chemical manufacturer Ajinomoto has agreed to set up a company for the production of cysteine hydrochloride through a joint venture with Nippon Rika.

Cysteine hydrochloride is an amino acid that is used as a raw material in food products, pharmaceuticals and flavourings.

The two companies signed a joint venture business agreement on 2 February.

The joint venture company is scheduled to begin operations in the second half of fiscal year 2017.

Cysteine extract is mainly produced in China from raw materials of animal origin.

Several factors such as exchange rate fluctuations, rising labour costs and stronger environmental regulations are threatening the supply of the extract.

Though consumers demand cysteine of non-animal origin to be used in products, especially for flavourings, its supply has been insufficient worldwide.

In 2013, Ajinomoto used a fermentation process to produce a raw material of cysteine, called Cystine.

Nippon Protein, an Ajinomoto Group company, has been using cystine to produce cysteine derivatives to meet growing market demand.

Nippon Rika has been manufacturing cysteine derivatives for pharmaceutical raw materials since 1960.

The joint venture will enable the companies to use the fermentation technologies of Ajinomoto and cysteine production technologies of Nippon Rika to increase production of non-animal origin cysteine hydrochloride.

Founded in 1909, Ajinomoto operates in 26 countries.

---

Image: In 2013, Ajinomoto used a fermentation process to produce a raw material of cysteine. Photo: courtesy of MASA / Wikipedia.