SynBioBeta Speaker

Michael Hershkowitz

IFF

Dir., Sustainable Innovation

Michael Hershkowitz works at the intersection of industrial biotech, product development, and sustainability. Over the course of his career, he has worked across enzymes, bioproducts, and consumer applications, including roles at IFF, Novozymes, The Clorox Company, and Cobalt Technologies. He brings a practical perspective on how enzyme technologies can improve performance, reduce resource intensity, and open new possibilities in cleaning, food production, and biomaterials. He holds a degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from NC State.

Sessions Featuring

Michael

This Year

Breakout Session

•

3:30 PM

-

4:15 PM

Biomanufacturing

Bio-Sharpened: Enzymes Transforming Cleaning, Processing, and the Industrial Food System

Enzymes are becoming the precision tools behind cleaner, more efficient, and more sustainable production across both home-care and food manufacturing. In cleaning products, next-generation enzymes replace harsh chemicals with biodegradable, high-performance biocatalysts that work at lower temperatures and deliver superior stain, odor, and grease removal. In food processing, engineered proteases, lipases, amylases, and fiber-modifying enzymes are unlocking new textures, cleaner labels, better stability, and reduced energy use—reshaping how everything from dairy and bakery to beverages and plant proteins are made.

Featuring

Michael Hershkowitz

IFF

Dir., Sustainable Innovation

Alex Rosay

Cascade Bio

Co-founder & CEO

Made enzymes last months with “Body Armor.”

Trevor Nicks

Caravel Bio

Founder & CEO

Matthew Thompson

Biomatter

VP - Industrial Biotech

Reimagining enzymes for industrial biomanufacturing with AI

Karl Schmieder

Messaging Lab

CEO

Breakout Session

•

3:30 PM

-

4:15 PM

Biomanufacturing

Bio-Sharpened: Enzymes Transforming Cleaning, Processing, and the Industrial Food System

Enzymes are becoming the precision tools behind cleaner, more efficient, and more sustainable production across both home-care and food manufacturing. In cleaning products, next-generation enzymes replace harsh chemicals with biodegradable, high-performance biocatalysts that work at lower temperatures and deliver superior stain, odor, and grease removal. In food processing, engineered proteases, lipases, amylases, and fiber-modifying enzymes are unlocking new textures, cleaner labels, better stability, and reduced energy use—reshaping how everything from dairy and bakery to beverages and plant proteins are made.

Featuring

Michael Hershkowitz

IFF

Dir., Sustainable Innovation

Alex Rosay

Cascade Bio

Co-founder & CEO

Made enzymes last months with “Body Armor.”

Trevor Nicks

Caravel Bio

Founder & CEO

Matthew Thompson

Biomatter

VP - Industrial Biotech

Reimagining enzymes for industrial biomanufacturing with AI

Karl Schmieder

Messaging Lab

CEO

Previous Speakers Include