COPENHAGEN, Denmark, August 12, 2026
Novonesis announced the launch of Optiva® Triticum, a new biosolution designed to help pasta manufacturers increase flexibility in wheat sourcing while maintaining the texture, firmness and eating quality expected by consumers. The solution is being introduced as fluctuations in durum wheat availability and pricing create increasing pressure on pasta producers to manage raw material costs and supply resilience. Optiva® Triticum enables manufacturers to increase the use of soft wheat flour in pasta applications while supporting consistent product performance across different flour qualities and protein levels. According to Novonesis, the solution is designed to strengthen and connect proteins within the pasta matrix, creating a more robust structure that can help manufacturers achieve greater formulation flexibility. The company said the technology could provide pasta producers with an additional tool to reduce exposure to wheat price volatility while maintaining the quality characteristics consumers value.
Optiva® Triticum Improves Pasta Firmness and Cooking Performance
Optiva® Triticum is specifically designed for pasta production and works by strengthening the protein network within the pasta matrix, helping improve structural integrity when different wheat flours are used. In pilot-scale evaluations, pasta produced with the biosolution demonstrated firmness improvements of up to 25% in spaghetti compared with control samples, while short-cut pasta showed improvements of up to 11%. Novonesis also reported that the technology reduced cooking water turbidity by approximately 25%, indicating lower starch release during cooking. These performance improvements are important because firmness and stickiness are among the characteristics consumers commonly use when assessing pasta quality. Traditional pasta production relies heavily on durum wheat to provide desirable texture and cooking properties, but changes in wheat availability and cost can make sourcing more challenging. By improving the structural performance of pasta made with different flour types, Optiva® Triticum is intended to give manufacturers greater flexibility while maintaining a consistent consumer experience.
Biosolution Supports More Flexible Wheat Sourcing
The launch of Optiva® Triticum comes as food manufacturers increasingly seek ways to strengthen their supply chains and make more efficient use of available raw materials. Pasta is an important staple food because of its affordability, versatility and long shelf life, making reliable production particularly important when agricultural commodity markets become volatile. Novonesis said its solution allows pasta manufacturers to explore a broader range of wheat flours while maintaining key quality attributes. Greater sourcing flexibility could potentially help producers respond more effectively to fluctuations in durum wheat prices, availability and protein levels. The technology may also support manufacturers seeking to optimize formulations without sacrificing firmness or cooking performance. Rather than depending exclusively on a specific wheat input, producers can use enzyme-based functionality to help manage variability in raw materials. This approach reflects a wider movement in the food industry toward biosolutions that improve production resilience, optimize raw material utilization and support consistent food quality.
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Novonesis Targets Resilience in Everyday Food Production
Novonesis said Optiva® Triticum is intended to help future-proof pasta production by providing manufacturers with another tool for managing changing wheat conditions. The solution combines food biotechnology with formulation flexibility, addressing both manufacturing challenges and consumer expectations for consistent pasta quality. The reported improvements in firmness and reduced cooking water turbidity indicate potential benefits across different pasta formats, although the results cited by the company come from pilot-scale evaluations and may vary depending on flour characteristics, formulation and processing conditions. The launch also highlights the broader role of biotechnology in helping food manufacturers adapt to raw material volatility and supply-chain pressures. By enabling greater use of alternative wheat flours while maintaining important product characteristics, Optiva® Triticum could help pasta producers improve sourcing flexibility, protect production margins and continue delivering affordable, high-quality staple foods. Novonesis is positioning the biosolution as part of a more resilient grain-to-food system capable of adapting to changing agricultural and market conditions.
Source: Novonesis press release
