SFC Symposium 2024

Neo-natural compounds are defined as those not produced by human chemical synthesis, but which also are not found anywhere in the natural environment. Following this definition, neo-natural compounds can only be made through biotechnology. Because they are directly made by living organisms, they cannot be considered synthetic, yet because they are the result of human artifice, they cannot be considered completely natural either. The concept of neo-natural compounds present several opportunities for researchers in the flavor industry, including providing a route to complex designer molecules that would otherwise be very difficult to produce in significant quantities. This presentation provides insights into neo-natural terpenoid esters, including how organisms can be modified to create them, their unique sensory characteristics, and their promising applications in the flavor industry.