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New vegan, climate-neutral, and land-use free protein-source targeting aquaculture and pet-food feed market needs to be tested

Summary

Profile Type
  • Business request
POD Reference
BRDE20250224005
Term of Validity
19 March 2025 - 19 March 2026
Company's Country
  • Germany
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement
  • Outsourcing agreement
  • Supplier agreement
  • Investment agreement
Targeted Countries
  • Germany
  • Denmark
  • Norway
  • Vietnam
  • India
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General information

Short Summary
CO2 is fermented into biomass through a patented Carbon Capture and Utilization bioprocess under development by a North German startup.
The biomass has a high protein content and aminoacid patterns comparable to fishmeal and soy meal, which is commonly used as protein source for feed produtction.

Partners from the pet food and aquaculture industry are sought that can further analyse the the biomass‘ chemical and mechanical characteristics to then share product requirements with the startup.
Full Description
In 2025 the CCU pilot plant #1 with a 100 L volume can produce up to 300 g of biomass per week. In 2026 the CCU pilot plant #2 with 1000 L volume can produce up to 400 kg of biomass per week. Main input to the process are the gaseous molecules CO2, O2 and H2.

The downstreaming process of the biomass is in its infancy. The cells can be lysed (cell walls destroyed to release the proteins) and the whole biomass then is dried. Dried lysed and unlysed biomass powder will be shipped to respective R&D partners including a safety data sheet.

Scope of work may be the supply of biomass in exchange for product development activities like chemical and physical quality analysis of the biomass by the partner, which will help to identify additional product requirements, which will lead to product-market fit when met by the startup.
The goal is to adapt the production process until product-market fit is reached. Production of trial feed batches and field tests to determine feed conversion ratio and other metrics may follow.
The partner may benefit from innovation lead position, supply agreements, and more.
Advantages and Innovations
The new feedstock is vegan, climate-neutral, and land-use free. Its supply may be less prone to risks like supply gaps and price hikes (El Nino causing production drops in fishmeal, wars causing disrupted logistics), because it can be produced anywhere where CO2 and electricity, respectively H2 is available.
Additional health benefits may be expected due to naturally ocurring beta-glucan and mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) in the biomass.
A joint development agreement incl. IP creation can be discussed.
Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
Partners may be able to identify nutritional profille, fit for purpose, and regulatory compliance (e.g. EFSA). Fit for purpose may be identified by process tests (e.g. extrusion or other means of feed formulation), shelf life time tests, toxic analysis (mycotoxins, heavy metals), in vitro and vivo digestibility trials, and more.
Stage of Development
  • Available for demonstration
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
IPR status
  • Secret know-how

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
The partner may be experienced in feed science for salmons, being our beachhead marked.
Type and Size of Partner
  • SME 11-49
  • Other
  • SME <=10
  • SME 50 - 249
  • Big company
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement
  • Outsourcing agreement
  • Supplier agreement
  • Investment agreement

Dissemination

Technology keywords
  • 04005012 - Waste to energy - other
  • 06002004 - Protein Engineering
  • 10002003 - Capture and Storage of CO2
Market keywords
  • 09005 - Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Animal Husbandry & Related Products
  • 05009001 - Food & feed ingredients
Sector Groups Involved
  • Energy-Intensive Industries
  • Maritime Industries and Services
  • Agri-Food
Targeted countries
  • Germany
  • Denmark
  • Norway
  • Vietnam
  • India