bitBiome, MEGMILK SNOW BRAND, and On-chip Biotechnologies Launch Joint Development of a High-Throughput Screening System for Beneficial Microorganisms in Food Applications
Toward the Development of a Versatile Platform for the Food Sector Through High-Throughput Screening Using Microfluidic Droplet Technology
bitBiome, Inc. (“bitBiome”), MEGMILK SNOW BRAND Co., Ltd. (“MEGMILK SNOW BRAND”), and On-chip Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. (“On-chip”) are pleased to announce that they have initiated a joint research and development project to establish a screening system for beneficial microorganisms in the food sector.
In this joint research and development project, the three companies aim to significantly increase the throughput and systematize the exploration process for beneficial microorganisms, which has traditionally been time-consuming and highly dependent on individual expertise. This will be achieved by combining On-chip’s Droplet Selector technology for single-cell-level separation and dispensing of microorganisms with bitBiome’s expertise and development capabilities in constructing high-throughput evaluation systems for microbiological research. MEGMILK SNOW BRAND will provide the application field based on its long-standing microbial resources and functional evaluation expertise in the dairy products and fermentation fields.
In recent years, expectations have been rising in the food sector for microorganisms with specific functions and fermentation-related capabilities, driven by growing interest in personal health and the need to address increasingly diverse dietary needs. Until now, the exploration of beneficial microorganisms remained a process that was highly dependent on individual expertise and required considerable time, making it difficult to efficiently identify candidates that meet specific objectives. Additionally, in order to appropriately evaluate the functions of selected microorganisms and connect them to research and development or commercialization efforts, it is important to establish a screening system that can proceed consistently from exploration through evaluation without fragmentation.
The functional food market continues to expand alongside increasing social interest in extending healthy life expectancy, and the need for exploration targeting diverse microbial groups—including lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria, yeasts, koji molds, and plant-derived fermentation bacteria—is growing among food manufacturers and research institutions. At the same time, the need to reconstruct exploration systems for each target microbial species, and the absence of an industry-wide common platform, have long been challenges.
MEGMILK SNOW BRAND, which sells a variety of long-selling products including “Snow Brand Hokkaido Butter”; On-chip, which develops droplet-related instruments based on microfluidic chip technology; and bitBiome, a biomanufacturing company that maximizes and utilizes the hidden potential of Earth’s microorganisms, will bring together their respective expertise to develop a screening system for identifying promising microorganisms with target functions and characteristics from among the target microbial groups. Looking ahead, the companies also aim to develop products using the beneficial microorganisms identified and expand their applications to food uses, including functional foods.
Future Outlook
The screening system aims to be used as a versatile platform applicable not only to the dairy field, but also to a wide range of food sectors, including fermented foods, functional foods, probiotics and prebiotics, health support foods, seasonings, and ingredient development. The three companies will accelerate the practical implementation of this platform while actively exploring opportunities for collaboration and joint development with a diverse range of partners, including other food manufacturers, research institutions, and startups.
Comments from the Companies
MEGMILK SNOW BRAND Co., Ltd.
Toshihide Kabuki, Executive Officer and General Manager of the Milk Science Research Institute
We are greatly encouraged by the opportunity to work with bitBiome and On-chip Biotechnologies to build a new foundation for the screening and identification of beneficial microorganisms in the food sector, drawing on the microbial resources and our expertise in evaluating physiological functions, both of which we have cultivated over many years through our work in dairy products and fermentation. By integrating microfluidic droplet technology with our evaluation expertise, we aim to establish a screening system that enables a seamless and highly efficient workflow from discovery to evaluation — something that would have been difficult for us to establish on our own. Beyond dairy products, we will work toward the creation of new ingredients and products that deliver both health benefits and great taste across a wide range of food applications.
On-chip Biotechnologies Co., Ltd.
Yu Fujimura, President and CEO
“Droplet technology has evolved mainly for research applications to date, and we are extremely honored to be able to begin full-scale development toward industrial applications in the food sector through this joint research. Through our collaboration with MEGMILK SNOW BRAND and bitBiome, we will advance the exploration of beneficial microorganisms in the food sector to a new stage and develop the results obtained into a platform that can be widely returned to other food manufacturers.”
bitBiome, Inc.
Yuji Suzuki, President and CEO
“Microorganisms hold great potential for creating health value and new functionality in the food sector. At the same time, to efficiently identify beneficial microorganisms suited to specific objectives from among their diversity and connect them to evaluation and product development, it is important to have a technological foundation that can proceed consistently from exploration through evaluation. We are very pleased to work with MEGMILK SNOW BRAND and On-chip Biotechnologies on increasing the throughput of beneficial microorganism exploration. By leveraging its biomanufacturing development capabilities that connect microbial functions to industrial applications, bitBiome will contribute to the creation of new food value, including functional foods and fermentation-derived ingredients.”
About MEGMILK SNOW BRAND Co., Ltd.
MEGMILK SNOW BRAND Co., Ltd. was founded in 1925 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025. Looking ahead to the next 100 years, the company has reinterpreted its founding spirit of “Kendo Kenmin,” meaning “Healthy Soil and Healthy People,” as a commitment to solving social issues. It is working to strengthen the foundations of dairy farming and the dairy industry, improve people’s health, and achieve the sustainability of food, an increasingly important social challenge.
With its Milk Science Research Institute in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, as its hub, the company conducts research and development on functional ingredients such as lactic acid bacteria and “MBP,” and aims to expand its functional foods business in Japan and overseas. The company is also strengthening collaboration in the field of food tech, including new materials, alternative foods, and the use of digital technologies. Through open innovation with diverse partners, it is taking on the challenge of solving social issues and creating new value in food, beginning with milk.
Headquarters: Toranomon Alcea Tower, 2-2-3 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
URL: https://www.meg-snow.com/
About On-chip Biotechnologies Co., Ltd.
On-chip Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. is a bioanalytical instrument manufacturer founded in 2005, with microfluidic technology at its core. The company has provided flow cytometers, cell sorters, and other instruments to research institutions and companies in Japan and overseas. Its flagship product, the “On-chip Droplet Selector,” is being adopted in the fields of synthetic biology, biofoundries, drug discovery, food, and the environment as an instrument that enables microorganisms and cells to be cultured in droplets generated on a microfluidic chip, and individuals with target functions or morphologies to be observed and picked on a one-droplet basis. Through its annual user conference “DROPLET” held in June 2025 with approximately 300 participants, the company is also focusing on building a user community.
Headquarters: 1F, 2-16-17 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo 184-0012, Japan
TEL: +81-42-385-0461
URL: https://on-chip.co.jp/
【Technical Inquiries and Demo Requests for the On-chip Droplet Selector】
Sales Department, On-chip Biotechnologies Co., Ltd.
E-mail: sales@on-chip.co.jp
TEL: +81-42-385-0461
About bitBiome, Inc.
bitBiome is a biotechnology company unlocking the full potential of our planet’s microbes to power the future of the bioeconomy. bitBiome’s platform is built on their proprietary single-cell microbial genome analysis technology, bit-MAP ®, which has enabled the creation of bit-GEM: an extensive and groundbreakingly diverse and growing microbial database of over 3 billion sequences, sourced primarily from environmental samples and predominantly containing sequences not present in public databases. Leveraging their expertise in bioinformatics, machine learning and unique use of AI technologies, the company practices a comprehensive enzyme discovery and enzyme, pathway and diversified strain engineering platform, to rapidly develop and manufacture bio-based products. bitBiome is committed to improving existing biomanufacturing industries and creating new ones by delivering unique nature-inspired bio-based products that cannot be enabled elsewhere.
To learn more about bitBiome’s platform and services, visit www.bitbiome.bio.
Contact: info@bitbiome.bio
Inquiries
On-chip Biotechnologies: info@on-chip.co.jp (Corporate Planning Office)
bitBiome: info@bitbiome.bio