ADM presents postbiotics insights and science at Vitafoods Europe 2026
21 May 2026 | ADM
June Lin, VP of Global Innovation Marketing at ADM, spotlighted a growing demand for postbiotics as health-conscious consumers seek products that fit into everyday life. She observed that demand and clinical science converge in areas such as women’s health, sleep and stress, and healthy aging, where ADM’s microbiome-based solutions can meet market gaps. Lin tied this into a growing consumer awareness of the gut-brain axis and demand for science-backed products.
This is Yolanda van Hal from Nutrition Insight.
I'm here with June Lin from ADM at Vita Foods 2026 in Barcelona.
Thank you for joining us today.
Thank you, Yolanda.
Looking forward to talking to you today.
Yeah, me too.
And I'm really curious, postbiotics is one of the things that we've been talking about with ADM for a bit now, and I'm curious, how are you advancing the use of postbiotics when you look at personalized, functional foods and supplements, and what types of innovations are driving demand for those solutions.
The thing that I find most exciting about postbiotics right now, it's that the science and the consumer are merging and converging.
So consumers are more proactive than ever about their health.
They're not waiting until something happens.
They're not waiting to get sick.
They're taking steps every single day, and they really want the solutions that fit into their entire life, not just in their medicine cabinet.
And really that's where postbiotics makes that possible and makes that happen.
So what postbiotics have unlocked is that full range of formats.
So we can put them into gummies, we can put them into stick packs, we can put them into foods and beverages, because they're inherently very, very stable.
So they remain stable through harsh heat processing, processing.
They can be put into a wide range of mainstream food and beverage applications.
So that means we're able to add that science into those functional formats that consumers want and that they're willing to take.
And what we're also seeing is that more consumers are becoming aware of postbiotics.
So through our proprietary research, our outside voice, we actually recently did a study in Europe and we asked consumers if they're aware of postbiotics.
So only 4.
4 % of consumers were aware of what probiotics are, but then we exposed them and we explained to them and gave them some education around it.
And once they understood what the product is and does, that purchase interest went up to 77%.
And then further in Spain, where we are today, that purchase interest went to 80%.
So what that means is that, you know, the consumer demand is there, like they are aware, but more importantly, they're willing to buy it and try it once they know what it does.
And that's really why we're here today, and that's the innovation that we're showcasing.
So we've got three postbiotic streams, Elgasari, CPT 305.
Which is for stress, sleep, and mood, our BPL1 postbiotic, which is for metabolic health and weight management, and our Slorin one.
And so that's really a multi-functional postbiotic.
It's for digestive, general wellness, and we've recently done some new research and science behind it for the allergy, allergic rhinitis sufferer.
So what we're really doing is targeting where consumers are going in their lifestyle, and those three products are really.
Hitting those needs from sleep, stress, metabolic health, and digestive wellness.
And so what we're seeing is that postbiotics are not the next probiotics, you know, they're really that new ingredient that's going to be the root of wellness.
Like microbiome is becoming more important, and using postbiotics actually make it more viable for our customers as as their consumers.
OK, really exciting things, and Also, what I love to talk about with ADM is what you're seeing in terms of different health areas.
So, how is ADM addressing emerging wellness needs in things like women's health, sleep, stress, mood, healthy aging with your microbiome-based solutions?
You know, these are areas where we're seeing the science, and it's really exciting because it's where the consumer demand and the clinical evidence are converging, and it's all rooted in the microbiome.
So let's start with stress, sleep, and mood.
And so this is really one of the most pressing unmet needs in the category.
So 75% of consumers say that their sleep affects them in their everyday life.
75% say they also can't get enough good sleep.
So what that shows is that there's also a gap, because we also asked them, what are they doing to improve their sleep, and only about 30% of consumers are trying to look for a solution.
So this is a real moment and an opportunity for brands to deliver on that unmet need.
So CP2305 or postbiotic, it really impacts that, you know, it's supported by 8 clinical studies overall, and.
One of the key areas we studied was stress, sleep, and mood.
So it's been able to show that it supports emotional -being, better sleep efficiency, both the duration as as latency, and it also may support stress.
Now, another area that is very exciting and growing really is women's health, and that's an area that we've been leaning into across our portfolio, and specifically with postbiotics.
So I mentioned CPT 305 and 8 clinical studies.
We also have specific data for women.
And we addressed women in different life stages.
So we started with women in their 20s, that are really dealing with premenstrual symptoms, as as women between 40 and 60 that are dealing with menopause, because they had different needs across those different life stages.
So in women with meno younger women, we were able to show both physical as as emotional benefits.
So physically, we We were able to reduce symptoms like vaginal discharge, improved skin health, as as occasional constipation.
And for women in menopause, we were also able to help them with physiological, as as emotional -being during that transition.
So it's really important though, that you address those two different needs and have different science and studies to support them, because they're in the different life stages.
And then when we look at even further out, looking at healthy aging and lifespan, it's really around the framework of the micro microbiome organ axis, and understanding that the microbiome is what's connecting it all.
So it's connecting to every, every system in your body, from your brain.
Your metabolic system, the immune system, your skin, and, and even your muscles.
So really, if you're able to support the microbiome, it's the foundation for whole body health.
And that's really the lens that we're looking at when We look at building our next generation of innovation and microbioscience, and it's about connecting what is that clinical science, how do we address those consumer needs, and then really delivering those solutions to that consumer and customer.
Awesome.
And I'm also curious, because you have like a, as you mentioned, several biotics, a broader ingredient library as.
How do those support the connections between the gut and other organs that you were talking about?
So, really that's the insight that's shaping everything.
It's the microbiome just isn't in your gut.
It talks to the brain, it influences how we metabolize food.
It affects our immune system, and it responds, connects to our skin as as our muscle health.
So again, it's really central to our entire system, and what happens in the microbiome shows up everywhere in your body.
And that's how we've really built our portfolio.
So talking about the gut-brain access, our CPT 305 has 8 clinical studies that support it.
It's been clinically shown to support emotional -being, sleep quality, latency and duration, as as stress reduction.
And we have specific clinical data in women's health categories, both in premenstrual as as menopausal women.
So those are two life stages where that gut-brain connection is really meaningful, both from a physical as as an emotional standpoint.
So this really results in outcomes that consumers, they can feel, and not just numbers that researchers are reporting and measuring on.
Now when we talk about the metabolic connection, that's where BPL1 really targets metabolic health and weight management, which is really becoming more important, especially as we're seeing this overall trend with GLP-1 usage, and we're seeing the dynamic change with how GLP-1 users view food and nutrition.
In addition, we have another product, which is Fibersol, which is a prebiotic dietary fiber.
And again, we've got clinical data and science that shows, for those, you know, it actually helps to decrease hunger and satiety when it's taken with a meal.
So for consumers that are on GLP-1 or, you know, looking to maintain healthy body weight, these are great options to help really deliver and drive that.
And finally, around digestive health, which is really the core, you know, of microbiome wellness, we actually are showing today a combination product.
So it's our S4N1 postbiotic, plus our DE-111, which is a spore foaming probiotic.
So we created really this comprehensive solution for digestive wellness.
So it addresses a wide range of.
Symptoms so that consumers will actually feel a benefit, whether it's reduction in bloating and or constipation.
So it's addressing all of those for that complete digestive wellness.
And that's really the difference, because if a consumer feels that it's working based on their needs, it really shows how that microbiome has become really central to whole body wellness.
You've been talking about lots of different health areas, so I'm really curious if you can highlight some market trends that are influencing consumer demands for postbiotics.
Yeah, yeah.
So there are a couple of big trends that we're seeing in the market.
First overall, it's that consumers are shifting from being like reactive to really being proactive, so they're not waiting to get sick, to have a problem, to invest in health and -being.
And they're thinking about it as being interconnected.
So how does sleep, stress, weight, digestive all work together, and they're looking for solutions that deliver on that.
And that's really where microbiome plays a key role in meeting those needs.
So what's really also driving a lot of growth and interest too and trends is that consumers, no matter what products you ask, what they're looking for in everything is.
A couple of things.
Number 1, they want to know that their product works.
There has to be efficacy behind it.
So having clinical science helps support that.
Number 2, they don't know who to trust.
And so coming from a trusted brand, also where a brand is using science to support it, really helps to elevate and reinforce that with consumers.
So they feel that they can trust the brand, they know where the science comes from.
And today's consumer is so sophisticated, they are doing the research, not just in what the brand is saying, but they're looking behind the scenes.
They're reading the back of the panel, they're looking at the ingredients, they're looking up clinical studies behind it, because they are very, very informed of what they do, and they want to make sure their products actually work for them.
And we're starting to see that in the marketplace.
So over the past 5 years, when we look at new product launches, postbiotics in food and beverages have grown over 100% in the marketplace.
When we look at some of the forms that are growing that consumers love, such as gummies, gummies are growing.
15% in the marketplace too with postbiotics, and the overall postbiotic category at an ingredient level over the next 56 years is expected to grow almost 9% in the marketplace.
So again, we're seeing the demand is there, it's growing, so that's really going to drive, you know A lot of new innovation today and then into the future as.
This is awesome, really interesting.
Last question that I have for you is more to look at some of the challenges in formulating probiotic-based solutions for these different health segments, and how to ensure that those meet scientific standards.
Yes, yes.
So, At ADM we don't look at the microbiome as a one size fits all.
So if you are a woman who's in her 30s, and you're navigating premenstrual syndromes, that's a very different relationship with your body and different expectations of what a product should do.
But if you're looking at a man in his 50s for metabolic health, again, he's looking for a very different, different options and solutions.
And then even going forward, looking at someone in their 60s, they had different needs from cognitive wellness, as as healthy aging.
So the science that you do has to reflect that personalization, that specificity, and so every clinical study.
Has to support that specific solution.
So, let me talk about women's health and, and CPT 305, because overall it does have 8 studies behind it.
And we have specific data both for that younger target with premenstrual syndromes.
So again, we've shown that it helps support both positive mood and anxiety, as as improvements in physical parameters.
Such as skin health, vaginal discharge, as as the constipation.
But in women that are older and in menopause, we did a different clinical study with a different group, with women 40 to 60, to really address those needs that they have.
And we measured both physical impact as as emotional impact, to see how the product, the ingredients, affected them during this transition.
So it's really, it's the same ingredient, but tested, you know, over multiple studies to make sure that we are testing, you know, specific endpoints for a specific audience with a very specific outcome associated with that.
So, taking another example, when we look at consumers on GLP-1 medications, and this is really a new consumer group, you know, 23 years ago, you were just starting to hear GLP-1, but now it's become, you know, a growing and emerging target.
So those consumers have specific needs around weight management, whether they're on the product or going off the product, and that's where our BPO1 postbiotic 2 addresses different areas of weight management.
So whether it's reducing visceral fat, improving BMI, as as overall waist circumference.
So again, a very unique product targeted for a specific benefit and a specific consumer.
So, across everything that we do from a scientific standpoint, we really apply the same rigor, no matter what.
So we always look at, you know, human data, we do clinical studies in human populations, they're backed by randomized double-blind placebo control.
So we really do that to build credibility with our brands and with consumers, and also really helps to protect the credibility in the category.
