Press Release: October 11, 2020 | London, United Kingdom
Biokind selected in the Feed-X global search for innovations in sustainable feed ingredients
- Biokind selected as 1 of top 10 innovators globally by Feed-X
- Their innovative process produces a high-protein animal-feed ingredient from bacteria cells
- Feed-X is the brainchild of Project X whose goal is to remove the barriers to sustainably fed, affordable food 2025
- Biokind will engage with Skretting on testing their innovation to quickly bring it to market
Biokind – a UK-based company producing sustainable protein ingredients for aquaculture feed – was selected among the top ten sustainable innovations that will progress to latest round of the Feed-X programme.
Biokind was chosen among a group of ten challenger innovations by a panel of 13 subject matter experts in the fields of nutrition, feed, environment, alternative protein, aquaculture innovation, finance, assurance.
Now, the Feed-X innovators including Biokind will have the opportunity to test their innovations in Skretting sites globally, bringing Project X and its mission aligned partners closer to their goal to remove the barriers to sustainably fed, affordable food by 2025.
Biokind previously responded to a ‘call for innovations’ run by Project X and its mission aligned partners, including Skretting, WWF, IKEA and EIT Climate-KIC, who wanted innovators to come forward with sustainable alternatives to transform the performance of the animal feed industry.
This call was a part of Feed-X, launched last year as one of several programmes designed and run by Project X to tackle sustainability challenges at an industry level.
Sourcing sustainable protein ingredients is a major challenge for the animal feed industry, including the aquaculture feed sector which is rapidly growing worldwide, and changing this is a core focus for Feed-X.
Biokind’s innovation very much aligns with this goal, by allowing the production of high-protein bacteria cells using crop waste, like stems and leaves, as the input material. The bacteria can be used as a sustainable alternative to current ingredients like fishmeal and soy protein concentrate.
Biokind presented their innovation at a London to a high calibre panel including representatives from Skretting, IKEA, DTU Aqua, WWF, Cambridge University, Surrey University, DNV GL, The World Bank, as well as private wealth and impact investment partners, with EIT Climate KIC providing an independent observation.
The competition was tough, with the initial call for innovations receiving more than 133 expressions of interest from innovators around the world. Marcela Navarro, CEO of Project X, is delighted with the quality of the finalists. “We are thrilled to be moving forward with such a talented roster of innovators; each and every finalist has demonstrated an incredible potential for sustainability performance and an inspiring commitment to make a positive difference in this planet. Biokind should be very proud to be a finalist in Feed-X,” she said.
Max Swinscow-Hall, CEO of Biokind, said: “It is an incredible boost for us to be selected by such a prestigious panel to participate in this vital programme. Feed-X is working with key stakeholders in this challenge, such as Skretting, and we are absolutely excited to be a part of it.”
James Rose, Operations & Procurement Director, Skretting said: “At Skretting, we have seen that the biggest limitation in implementation of novel ingredients is scale.”
“This project allows a game-changing discussion to mobilise the necessary resources, and highlights why we’re involved in Feed-X – we can make a real impact to global sustainability. And of course we see a direct link with our mission of Feeding the Future.”
About Project X
Project X is a catalyst that makes sustainability happen, quickly and at scale. We use a unique methodology to help companies adopt the very best sustainable innovations that have undergone a comprehensive risk assessment. This, in turn, helps entire industries become more resilient and resource efficient, rather than just individual companies.
This fundamentally changes the way things are made, sold and consumed – reducing environmental, ethical, social, financial impacts where they are needed most and creating better outcomes for people and planet.
About Biokind
Biokind is a multi-award winning startup working to replace unsustainable protein ingredients, like fishmeal and soy protein concentrate, in aquaculture feeds worldwide.
Biokind has developed a process which processes crop waste, like stems and leaves, as a feedstock to grow bacteria which are dried to give a high-protein, nutrient dense ingredient for aquaculture feed.
For more details contact
Project X
Jan Gilbert, jg@projectxglobal.com / JV@projectxglobal.com
Skretting
Sophie Noonan, Sophie.noonan@skretting.com
Climate Kic
Catherine Laurent-Polz, Catherine.Laurent-polz@climate-kic.ork
For further information on the innovation please contact
Biokind
Max Swinscow-Hall, max@biokind.co.uk
