Danisco turns to snakes, spiders for potent enzymes

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Danish food ingredients and enzymes maker Danisco said on Wednesday it would investigate whether snakes, spiders and carnivorous plants could provide new powerful enzymes to improve consumer goods.

Danisco said such overlooked species could be key to discovering new potent enzymes for use in everyday products such as laundry detergents and food.

"When a spider catches a fly in its web, it injects digestive enzymes into its prey to liquefy it," Danisco said in a statement. "This makes it easy for the spider to devour the fly."

"The digestive enzymes are highly effective and we are very keen on looking into the dynamics of these enzymes," the company said, adding that similar mechanisms occur in snakes and carnivorous plants.

It said a research project, which it would conduct together with domestic rival Novozymes and Swedish-Danish dairy group Arla Foods, would run for four years.

"The commercial possibilities are endless," Danisco said.

More powerful enzymes could, for example, enable laundry to be washed at lower temperatures, saving on energy.