Creo is an ingredient company that produces rare and novel cannabinoids using the age-old natural process of fermentation, coupled with cutting-edge technological innovation. Creo has a platform for producing cannabinoids as ingredients developed exclusively with its joint venture partner, biotech industry leader Genomatica. Creo’s partner has successfully commercialized fermentation-based processes for plastics, cosmetics and apparel. Creo has the technology to deliver a reliable, high-quality and consistent supply of cannabinoid ingredients at commercial scale.

Creo was formed and continues to be based in the US, with headquarters in Southern California.

Creo’s mission is to enable the creation of cannabinoid products that help people everywhere while doing less harm to the planet.

Creo’s brand is built on three core pillars: sustainable innovation, access to abundance and being a trusted partner to customers. Creo makes its cannabinoid ingredients using one of the world’s oldest natural processes - fermentation. Fermentation requires less water, energy and land than the plant-based approaches typically used to extract cannabinoid ingredients. This gives Creo the ability to support the development of innovative new products without causing unnecessary harm to the planet. Creo’s ingredients are of the very highest quality, containing none of the contaminants often associated with plant-derived ingredients.

Cannabinoids are molecules that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). Phytocannabinoids are those cannabinoids that occur naturally in plants, most commonly the cannabis plant. THC and CBD are the most common phytocannabinoids but there are over 100 additional phytocannabinoids that have been identified. The body also produces its own cannabinoids known as endocannabinoids.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) within the human body is made up of cannabinoid receptors and endocannabinoids. The receptors are located throughout the body including in the brain, nervous system, skin, immune cells, bone, fat tissue, blood vessels and various organs. The ECS is involved in the regulation of pain, stress, inflammation, appetite, energy, cardiovascular function, reward, sleep and other processes.

CBG, sometimes called the “mother cannabinoid” or “skin cannabinoid,” is the parent molecule from which other cannabinoids are made in the cannabis plant. But since it’s mostly converted into other cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, very little of it remains intact in the plant (typically <0.5% by weight). Due to its scarcity, up until now, customers and patients have struggled to access the benefits of this important non-intoxicating cannabinoid. Plant cannabinoids are naturally produced in the acid form. Prior to consumption, they are typically converted into their non-acid form (“decarboxylated”) by heating. In this way, CBG is made from CBGA.

Scientific research

Plant extraction presents a number of challenges and uses large amounts of land, water and often electricity. Additionally:

The process Creo has developed provides pure, consistent, single molecules that it can produce at scale, contaminant free, with a smaller environmental footprint all year round.

No. Through Creo’s fermentation process it produces natural CBG without the use of the cannabis plant.

Yes, there are more than 100 cannabinoids known in the plant but only two are currently being actively exploited (THC & CBD). Creo specializes in producing a wide variety of rare and novel cannabinoids, beginning with CBG (Cannabigerol).

Creo’s technology and process are patented and proprietary with freedom-to-operate, so customers can rely on Creo to be a trusted supplier.

Creo’s products are manufactured and packaged in an FDA registered food grade facility in the US.