180. Fungi in Full Color: Ricky Cassini Reimagines Dye at Michroma

About this episode

Ricky Cassini discusses the challenges and innovations in replacing synthetic food dyes with fermentation-based colorants.

Ricky Cassini, CEO of Michroma and a former logistics professor turned biotech founder, breaks down why replacing synthetic food dyes is harder than it sounds—and why fermentation-based colorants can outperform both petrochemical dyes and many plant-based “natural” extracts. The conversation covers the core technical constraints that matter to food companies (thermal stability, pH stability, coloring power, flavor neutrality, and supply reliability), why fermentation behaves more like manufacturing than farming, and how regulatory shifts are accelerating demand for bio-based reds and whites (including titanium dioxide alternatives). For an audience following the future of materials and biomanufacturing, this episode is a practical look at how industrial fermentation can modernize a legacy supply chain while meeting performance and consumer expectations. Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing? Learn more at…

People in this episode

Hosts: Karl Schmieder, Erum Azeez Khan

Guest: Ricky Cassini

Topics covered

• biotechnology
• food dyes
• fermentation
• biomanufacturing
• supply chain
• bioeconomy

Keywords

• synthetic food dyes
• fermentation
• colorants
• biomanufacturing
• supply chain
• bio-based
• titanium dioxide alternatives

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Michroma

More episodes of Grow Everything Biotech Podcast

• 185. Brick Happens: Chris Maurer of Redhouse Studio Redesigns Remote Living for Earth and Mars · June 12, 2026 · 1h 19m
• 184. The Multiverse of Microbes: Henry Lee on Building Cultivarium and Training with Titans · June 5, 2026 · 1h 14m
• 183. The American Biotech Blueprint: Senator Todd Young on Biodiversity as National Security · May 29, 2026 · 42 min
• 182. SynBioBeta 2026 Recap, It's Biologist Approved · May 22, 2026 · 54 min
• 181. Can Hue Believe It? Gerit Tolborg’s Quest for Pure Color at Chromologics · May 15, 2026 · 51 min
• 179. D.C. Climate Week LIVE: The Road to Remake Everything · May 1, 2026 · 58 min