The pilot facility, located at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in the Netherlands, will produce 200 kg of Proton, a novel single-cell protein, per month.
UK biotech company Aerbio, previously known as Deep Branch, has announced significant strides in its project to create animal feed from carbon dioxide and hydrogen with the inauguration of its first pilot facility.
The project, which aims to revolutionize food production and supply chains, is part of the REACT-FIRST initiative, a collaboration involving the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) and other key industry and academic partners.
The pilot facility, located at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in the Netherlands, will produce 200 kg of Proton, a novel single-cell protein, per month. This protein can be used as feed for salmon and chickens. “The opening of our pilot facility is a significant step forward for our technology. It proves its scalability—both in terms of production and the operations of the sites,” said Pete Rowe, co-founder and CXO of Aerbio.
Aerbio’s approach involves converting gases into protein using a fermentation system, requiring no arable land. This method could reduce the carbon footprint of protein production by up to 90% compared to traditional fishmeal or soy. Initial small-scale trials suggest that Proton offers the same nutritional benefits as conventional feed ingredients. The company plans to begin larger feed trials by the end of the summer, with results expected in early 2025.
Heather Jones, CEO of SAIC, highlighted the potential impact of this innovation on the aquaculture industry: “The innovation of React First could ultimately help the global fish farming sector to grow sustainably. All of the projects we support aim to enhance the sustainability of aquaculture, while maximizing its economic impact—this project is a great example of how you can do both, creating a more resilient food system in the process.”
The REACT-FIRST initiative is funded through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Transforming Food Production Challenge and includes partners such as BioMar, Drax, and the University of Nottingham, among others.
Aerbio is also preparing for a larger ‘Market Launch Facility,’ set to produce 250 tonnes of Proton annually, with future sites expected to reach 100,000 tonnes per year. As the project progresses, Aerbio hopes to contribute to global food security by providing sustainable protein sources for animal feed.
