From Hive to Lab: Why MeliBio Is Changing How We Make Honey

What if honey could be made without bees—and still taste just like the real thing? In this episode of FoodTech Junkies Sharon Cittone speaks with Darko Mandich, CEO and co-founder of MeliBio, about disrupting a $10B industry with science, sustainability, and storytelling.

This isn’t just a conversation about alternative ingredients—it’s about rethinking how we produce food in a way that works better for the planet, for pollinators, and for people. From navigating skeptics to building partnerships that scale impact, Darko shares what it takes to launch a biotech startup that’s breaking conventions and opening minds. Whether you’re into food tech, sustainability, or just love a good founder story—this one’s for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Food Systems Complexity

00:13 Meet the Host and Guest

00:31 Reinventing Honey Without Bees

01:08 Darko’s Journey and Company Vision

02:12 The Science Behind Bee-Free Honey

06:56 Challenges and Market Perception

07:58 Engaging with Skeptics and Traditionalists

17:32 The Reality of Fake Honey

23:38 Personal Journeys and Food System Dependencies

30:59 Building a Food Tech Company on a Budget

37:21 Partnerships and Market Expansion

41:52 Future Vision and Final Thoughts

About Darko Mandich

Darko started his career in the European food industry in 2012 and worked on managing and growing honey companies in more than 5 countries. By pursuing his dream to reinvent the honey industry and make it sustainable, Darko immigrated from Serbia to the United States in 2019 to launch MeliBio.

Darko is now an impact entrepreneur on a mission to sustainably feed 10B+ people with delicious and nutritious foods while saving Planet's keystone species - wild and native bees.

Darko is passionate about the future of food and ways to advance science to make the food system sustainable, scalable and animal-free.