Blue Diamond, the world's leading almond marketer and processor, and Brightseed, the bioactives company and a World Economic Forum Global Innovator, today announce their partnership to discover the untapped health potential of nonpareil California almonds. The results of this collaboration will inform Blue Diamond's health innovations and programs, including consumer education initiatives to link almond consumption with specific health benefits.
Brightseed's AI Forager profiled Blue Diamond's whole-natural almonds and identified 188 predicted bioactive compounds.
Brightseed is a pioneer in exploring the potential of bioactives, the health-benefiting molecules produced by plants that trigger specific health benefits – through its proprietary AI, Forager. Through a collaborative research program, Forager profiled Blue Diamond's whole-natural almonds and identified 188 predicted bioactive compounds that could impact human health, including mental wellness, metabolic health, and immunity.
"As an almond-focused grower cooperative and an innovation leader in almond-based ingredients and consumer products, we are thrilled to collaborate with Brightseed to gain a deeper understanding of this unique superfood," said Blue Diamond's Senior Director of R&D Kurt Waananen.
"Almonds are already well-studied, but this collaboration gives us a deeper understanding and new ways to view future exploration of nutritional benefits and clinical studies."
Almonds are widely considered one of the most nutrient-dense foods and have been linked to various health benefits, including heart health,1,2 blood glucose management, three satiety/weight management4, and gut health.5 Initial research also suggests almonds may reduce wrinkles and skin pigmentation and help protect skin from UVB light.6,7
Nevertheless, despite extensive research on the nutrients within almonds, the results from this partnership suggest that additional bioactive compounds in almonds may impact human health in new ways.
Blue Diamond Growers' Senior Director of Consumer Insights, Sarb Dhanjal, applauded the opportunity to discover additional, untapped health benefits for almonds.
"At Blue Diamond, we closely monitor trends and conduct consumer research to understand how people feel about their food, diet, and eating and drinking habits," said Dhanjal.
"We've found that consumers today want to lead healthier lifestyles but need help prioritising nutrition as a daily habit. The Global Future of Food Survey by McKinsey & Company confirms that consumers worldwide desire to eat better, but nearly half struggle to find the right way."
Dhanjal continued that today's consumers view Blue Diamond as a trusted brand and the leader in almond product innovations.
Consumers are also navigating a highly crowded marketplace with the proliferation of plant-based food and beverage options claiming holistic health benefits.
"To that end, I am excited for this collaboration with Brightseed to bring forward the health benefits of almonds in new and differentiating ways to our well-poised portfolio of consumer brands and ingredients."
Science has long known that bioactives are essential, health-driving components within plants. However, pinpointing their underlying mechanisms of action has been a largely intractable problem for the food, health, and nutrition industries, said Brightseed Co-Founder and COO Sofia Elizondo.
Brightseed's' work with Blue Diamond enabled Forager to tap into a global food staple and illuminate the almond health story for consumers worldwide. This is a significant leap for the industry to champion food and functional ingredients as robust and accessible modalities for precision nutrition for proactive health.
Brightseed's Forager connects compounds in nature and human biology at a rate, speed, and scale that was previously impossible. Brightseed and Blue Diamond will be assessing options for further research to expand the scientific understanding of how almonds contribute to human health, including new areas previously unattributed to almond consumption.
