From foreign dominance to the rise of domestic brands

04/03/2024

Chips, hailed as the "heart" of smart devices, are of paramount importance. Probiotics, as guardians of gut health, are often referred to as "biological chips," truly embodying the pinnacle of high-tech innovation. In recent years, driven by relentless efforts from both the scientific community and industry, China's probiotics industry has emerged as a rapidly growing "sunrise industry" under the "Healthy China" initiative.

According to data from the China Health Products Association, from 2018 to 2022, the domestic probiotic market will grow from 64.77 billion yuan to approximately 109.38 billion yuan, with an average annual compound growth rate of 14%, showing strong growth momentum.

However, key links such as the research and development of probiotic strains and the production of probiotic powder have long been controlled by foreign-funded enterprises, forming a certain monopoly in China's probiotic industry. With their huge advantages in research and development, these foreign-funded enterprises not only dominate the domestic probiotic raw material market, but also divide up a large share of the market. This has forced the domestic probiotic industry to rely on foreign probiotic enterprises for raw materials for a long time.

Fortunately, China's probiotics industry has been catching up rapidly. Today, public demand for probiotics continues to grow, and domestic research on probiotics is gradually deepening. The market size of China's probiotics industry is thriving. Take Gongshengyuan Group as an example. Gongshengyuan is an international listed group company with a complete industrial chain in the health industry, integrating strain research and development, technology application, production and sales of probiotics and lactic acid bacteria products, and providing comprehensive product solutions.

Deepening the core of science and technology between fungus and enterprises, breaking foreign technical monopolies, Gongshengyuan Group has been steadily advancing on the path of exploring "Chinese fungi".... On September 12, 2023, Gongshengyuan Group integrated its superior resources and established Gongshengyuan (Beijing) Biological Research Institute on the basis of Gongshengyuan Health Technology Co., Ltd. in Beijing to promote the group's vigorous development with scientific research.

As of now, the results of the strain collection are as follows: A total of 359 biological and environmental samples have been collected in four phases, with nearly 60,000 strains isolated and cultured. Seven technical and process patents have been obtained, along with two strain invention patents. From sampling and research screening to functional assessment and experimental application, these efforts not only contribute to the protection of biodiversity but also lay a solid foundation for the rise of the domestic probiotic industry.

The moon abroad is not rounder than in China, and foreign strains may not necessarily suit the Chinese gut. Breaking the international technological monopoly in the probiotics field and cultivating a true "gut guardian" for the Chinese people— Symbiogen Group is forging ahead on the national probiotics track with the power of Chinese strains...