The international FEED-X program selected Unibio as one of the top ten selected innovators for their non-GMO, non-land- or non-ocean-based and organic protein, the Uniprotein® product. The objective of the FEED-X program is to replace 10% of the conventional protein in the feed mix globally by adopting sustainable alternatives that will significantly reduce feed-related environmental impacts. FEED-X counts with the support of the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), EIT Climate KIC and other mission-aligned partners, such as IKEA and Skretting.

The expectations for Unibio’s contribution to the FEED-X program are high. Thanks to the Uniprotein® product, Unibio has the capacity to undertake the core task for which FEED-X has been designed: tackle the sustainability challenges of producing feed for animals and fish at a fast-paced global level. This is exactly the potential of the Uniprotein® product produced on Unibio’s U-Loop® technology; the unlimited amount of methane on this planet can be turned into an unlimited amount of proteins. FEED-X’s long-term goal is to provide the world’s growing population with food produced in a more sustainable and environmentally conscious way.

“We are thrilled to be moving forward with such a talented innovator. This is a company that has four of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals woven into its DNA. Unibio has demonstrated an incredible potential for sustainable performance and an inspiring commitment to making a positive difference on this planet. The idea behind the Uniprotein® product is incredible, and we are very much looking forward to seeing Unibio’s potential unfold through FEED-X,” said Marcela Navarro, CEO of Project X.

“In a future where we have to reduce the global environmental footprint of feed production significantly, we believe that Unibio delivers a game-changing technology. Imagine applying the global abundance of methane to produce an almost unlimited supply of protein. No need to add additional stress to the world’s oceans or agricultural systems. No need to clear more rainforest. This is the opportunity presented by the Unibio technology,” said Henrik Busch-Larsen, Unibio CEO. “Slipping through the FEED-X loophole was a stamp of approval. The collaboration holds big potential for Unibio in terms of taking us to the next level of becoming a significant worldwide supplier of non-polluting and environmentally friendly protein.”

The Uniprotein® product is produced based on fermentation of a microbial culture using any type of methane as feedstock – it is an organic product and can easily be produced at a very large scale. The Uniprotein® product also boasts excellent standards of quality. It has a 70% protein content that easily replaces high-value proteins like super-prime fishmeal and highly concentrated soy products, especially in aquaculture feeds and as starter feed for piglets. The Uniprotein® product creates less stress for life on land and less stress for life below water.

Unibio, a leading industrial biotech company headquartered in Denmark, has developed a fermentation method for producing a sustainable organic and highly concentrated protein for the food and feed markets, decoupling protein production from farming and fishing. The sustainable organic protein will be sold through a network of distributors as well as directly to large key accounts around the world. The company is owned by the founding Busch-Larsen family, a group of private investors and Mitsubishi Corporation.

NovoNutrients, a Silicon Valley based innovator making protein through carbon capture and utilization, has been selected to test at Skretting’s Aquaculture Research Centre facilities, bringing ever closer their shared objective of removing barriers to sustainably fed, affordable food by 2025. NovoNutrients is among a handful of sustainable innovations given a pioneering level of support within Skretting. The explicit goal is striking a procurement contract through which Skretting would commit to purchases of NovoNutrients’ feed ingredients.

“Through cooperation with industry leader, Skretting, NovoNutrients’ path to large-scale manufacturing and adoption is greatly smoothed and shortened. We are thrilled to see this deep push for nutrition innovation. We can feed fish and also push quickly to offer our protein to plant-based meat companies, supplementing or replacing their use of soy and peas,” said NovoNutrients CEO, David Tze.

Now, NovoNutrients is progressing forward with the testing of their protein product within Skretting’s ingredient development process. In September 2020, the first product sample of bacterial protein meal is being shipped to Skretting from NovoNutrients’ Silicon Valley lab. In 2021, samples will originate from one or both of NovoNutrients’ emissions pilot projects, which are planned for the US and Japan, in the value chains for energy, steel, and concrete.

Jenna Bowyer, Skretting’s Category Manager Novel Ingredients, says “We recognize that it’s difficult for a start-up to have a product that is developed enough to enter our ingredient development pipeline and to meet the requirements needed for Skretting to start purchasing any volumes. Our evolving ingredient development pipeline is designed to identify the most promising innovations from these companies and ensure that they get the resources and attention needed to excel within Skretting’s rigorous and incredibly selective evaluation process. We know that financing first-of-a-kind ingredient factories is hard for start-ups and, via the range of different agreements we can apply, we hope to break that limiting cycle and signal to the world which innovators we think have what it takes to go commercial and get big.”

“At Skretting, we have seen that the biggest limitation in the implementation of novel ingredients is scale and a resulting competitive price,” said Robert van den Breemer, Procurement Director, Skretting. “This work allows a game-changing discussion to enable the necessary resources and highlights why we’re involved. We can make a real impact to global sustainability and we see a direct link with supporting our mission of Feeding the Future.”

NovoNutrients transforms industrial emissions that are primarily carbon dioxide (CO2) into additives and high-performance protein ingredients, initially for fast-growing fish and shrimp feed markets. Brian Sefton, CTO and founder, explains. “Aquaculture often relies on feeding fish to fish, in the form of fish meal and fish oil ingredients. That supply is limited, volatile, and expensive. To keep aqua feed production from being undersupplied with the nutrients it needs and potentially limiting growth in the aquaculture sector, less costly additives and proteins are needed to make fish feed. Our gas fermentation process is anchored by low blended-cost, massive-scale feedstocks: waste CO2, as well as mixed gas containing hydrogen. The gases grow up our fast-doubling bacterial meal strains, which are natural, have 70%+ protein, and, optionally, integrated additives.”

Skretting’s attention was seized when NovoNutrients was chosen by a panel of 13 fully independent subject matter experts in the fields of nutrition, feed, environment, alternative protein, aquaculture innovation, finance, and assurance at a September 17, 2019 event held by Project X in London. With a systems approach, that event called on innovators in the feed and aquaculture sectors to come forward with sustainable alternatives to transform the industry’s performance. The expert judging panel included representatives from Skretting, IKEA, DTU Aqua, WWF, Cambridge University, Surrey University, DNV GL, and the World Bank, as well as private wealth and impact investment partners, with EIT Climate Kic providing independent observation.