Essential nutrient supply is the most important challenge for the 21st century.  Currently, over one billion people are chronically undernourished world-wide – a number expected to increase to three billion by 2050.  The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that at least $200 billion is needed to provide the nutritional needs of 2050.  At the same time, the global food system is responsible for ~30% of all greenhouse gas emissions and >70% of the global fresh water consumption. Fundamentally, current approaches are not scalable to meet the global demand.  Essentient is a Flagship VentureLabs company, founded to transform global nutrition. 

Noubar Afeyan is Chairman, David Berry is CEO, and Geoffrey von Maltzahn is Vice President of Corporate Development.