Natural Trace

Natural Trace operates at the intersection of life sciences, food science, and bioinformatics, providing a sophisticated solution to the growing demand for supply chain transparency. The company was conceptualized during the COVID-19 pandemic and founded in 2021 by a team with diverse expertise: Dr. Chantal Roth based in Switzerland, Professor Lukas Muller in the United States, and Singapore-based venture builder CL Goh, who later became the CEO. The idea was inspired by the widespread adoption of PCR testing, leading to the development of a molecular-based traceability solution that could be added directly to products. With its global headquarters established in Singapore in June 2022, the company leverages the nation's robust food innovation and R&D ecosystem.

The core of Natural Trace's business is its patented product, NaturalTag. This technology is a food-grade, DNA-based identifier that serves as a permanent, invisible watermark directly within a product. Available in powder or liquid form, the tag is made from natural, non-GMO, organic, vegan, halal, and kosher ingredients that are tasteless and odorless, ensuring they do not alter the sensory profile of the end product. Unlike external tracking methods like barcodes or QR codes which are susceptible to damage or tampering, NaturalTag is integrated into the product itself, offering a tamper-proof method for authentication. The business model involves providing clients—initially focused on the food and beverage industry but with applications in cosmetics, fragrances, and pharmaceuticals—with these unique tags. The tags are read using a specialized detection kit, NaturalDetect, which uses qPCR testing to identify the unique DNA sequence. This data is then uploaded to NaturalCloud, a digital platform that provides clients with a comprehensive traceability report and supply chain surveillance.

The company serves growers and manufacturers looking to protect their brand, authenticate product origin, and provide verifiable transparency to consumers. By enabling clients to trace individual batches from farm to fork, Natural Trace helps safeguard intellectual property, simplify regulatory compliance, and build consumer trust. The technology has undergone rigorous testing, proving its resilience in high-temperature processes like coffee roasting. Natural Trace has conducted successful proof-of-concept projects with a variety of products including vanilla extract, palm oil, wine, and honey, and is working with partners on applications for plant-based meat and milk powder. After securing pre-seed and seed funding from investors like Blue InCube Ventures, the company has been focused on expansion and scaling its solution across multiple continents.

Keywords: supply chain traceability, food safety, product authentication, DNA tagging, food-grade identifier, provenance tracking, NaturalTag, agrifood tech, supply chain surveillance, anti-counterfeiting, product integrity, bioinformatics, ingredient tracing, food transparency, molecular watermarking, cloud-based traceability, food fraud prevention, brand protection, sustainable agriculture, non-GMO verification, quality assurance, pharmaceutical traceability, cosmetic ingredient tracking