The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has partnered with sustainable protein producers The EVERY Company and Vivici to establish a protein fermentation facility in the city.
The four-million-litre industrial-scale site will reportedly meet the highest standards of food safety and Halal certification. It will be designed to be multi-tenanted, allowing for the participation of other fermented protein companies. Furthermore, the facility will support the creation of a regulatory framework for fermented proteins in the UAE.
Together, the partners will explore opportunities for export through the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs). Additionally, they plan to collaborate with local universities, research institutions, and training providers to build a skilled national workforce in biotechnology and food science, while facilitating global knowledge exchange.
The partnership is said to mark a significant milestone for Abu Dhabi’s AgriFood Growth and Water Abundance (AGWA) cluster, which works to address food security and water scarcity through advanced technologies and international collaboration. The new facility could help to boost regional food resilience and expand Abu Dhabi’s presence in global protein supply chains.
Resilient food ecosystem
The news comes after Vivici secured €32.5 million in Series A funding earlier this year for its dairy proteins made using precision fermentation. The company has also launched animal-free beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) protein in the US, and recently secured US production for the ingredient in partnership with Liberation Labs.
Meanwhile, The EVERY Co gained a foundational US patent last year for its precision‑fermented ovalbumin, which is the dominant protein in egg whites. The company is now expanding its ingredient applications across the food and beverage sector.
“Abu Dhabi is building a resilient food ecosystem rooted in science and sustainability,” said Fatima Al Dhaheri, Head of AGWA at ADIO. “By partnering with global leaders in fermented proteins, we are catalysing an entirely new industry for the region, one that delivers high-quality nutrition, attracts investment, and creates skilled jobs. This collaboration is a clear signal of our commitment to technologies that generate long-term economic value.”
