Article 34 filed
Our PCT Chapter II filing, including Article 34 amendments, was submitted on 4 September 2026 for PCT/IB2025/061059.
About
About La Grace Bio: Cape Town Biotechnology Company & Founder
South African roots. A practical ambition to make biological inputs more measurable, reproducible and usable.
La Grace Bio (Pty) Ltd
La Grace Bio is based in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. The company develops a whole-biomass bioconversion platform focused on cultivated watermelon (Citrullus lanatus).
The project developed through earlier La Grace Unique and La Grace Global work before the biotechnology company La Grace Bio was established in February 2026.
In September 2026, La Grace Bio advanced to the Top 3 of the Eastern Cape NCIC Waste-to-Value Challenge, adding innovation programme recognition to the platform's development record.
Brand and platform identity
La Grace Bio brings together a scientific development style with a clear natural-origin identity. The visible brand language reflects the company's focus on biotechnology, cultivated watermelon biomass and evidence-led development.
The company uses a clean, research-oriented communication style while remaining accessible to partners across cosmetics, ingredient development, innovation programmes and licensing discussions.
Founder
Pierre van der Merwe
Pierre van der Merwe is the founder of La Grace Bio and leads its technology development, partner engagement, IP pathway and commercialisation programme.
He has pursued the question of how variable plant material can become a useful, characterisable input for industry through process development, analytical work and an international patent application. The early project operated under the La Grace Unique and La Grace Global names before La Grace Bio (Pty) Ltd was incorporated.
Progress and recognition
Milestones behind the platform.
GCIP-SA semifinalist
La Grace Bio's development journey includes semifinalist recognition in the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme South Africa.
Eastern Cape NCIC Top 3
Top 3 in the Eastern Cape NCIC Waste-to-Value Challenge, 2026.