Evonik and AMSilk partner to produce sustainable silk proteins at industrial scale

Evonik's site in Slovakia. Image supplied.

Materials

Evonik & AMSilk Extend Partnership to Produce Vegan Silk Proteins at Industrial Scale

Chemical company Evonik has announced an extension of its partnership with AMSilk, a producer of advanced biomaterials based on silk proteins. Building on their original agreement from 2023, the two companies have commissioned a manufacturing line at Evonik’s Slovakian biotech production hub. This will produce AMSilk’s high-performance vegan silk proteins, which are made using precision fermentation. The Slovakian facility is equipped with advanced infrastructure, upgraded systems, and renewable energy, enabling …

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Clean Food Group

© Clean Food Group

Company News

Clean Food Group Gains a Million Litres of Fermentation Capacity by Acquiring Assets of Algal Omega 3 Ltd

Clean Food Group (CFG), a UK company creating sustainable oils and fats through fermentation, has acquired the assets of Algal Omega 3 Ltd from administration. The acquisition will grant CFG access to a million litres of fermentation capacity, along with extensive R&D facilities and the opportunity for future expansion. The company claims that the 12-acre site in Knowsley, Liverpool city region, could position it as the world’s largest manufacturer of …

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Food innovation park to be established in the Netherlands

Image courtesy of NIZO

R&D

New Food Innovation Park for Sustainable Proteins to Be Established in the Netherlands

Contract research company NIZO has announced that its site in Ede, the Netherlands, is set to be transformed into a food innovation park. The site will enable collaborations between startups, scale-ups, corporates, and knowledge institutions who are working towards the food transition and the development of sustainable proteins. The innovation park will feature facilities such as a food-grade pilot plant and the recently established Biotechnology Fermentation Factory (BFF). These resources …

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Tetra Pak New Food Technology Development Centre

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Studies & Numbers

Report Says European Alternative Protein Research Has Tripled Since 2020

A new analysis by GFI Europe has found that alternative protein research in Europe is growing at a rapid rate. Since 2020, the number of studies published and the levels of public funding received have almost tripled. Last year, 798 academic research papers were published examining plant-based foods, fermentation-made foods, and cultivated meat or ingredients; this figure is up 282% compared to 2020. Furthermore, public funding for the field expanded …

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Solar Foods mayo

© Solar Foods

Protein

Solar Foods Develops Mayonnaise Using Solein Protein as Egg Yolk Replacement

Solar Foods, a company specializing in microbial protein production, has created a mayonnaise product using Solein®, a protein derived from air, that replaces traditional egg yolk. This new formulation demonstrates the versatility of Solein, which can be used in a wide variety of food applications, including those that require protein sources like dairy or egg yolk. Solein, which is produced via fermentation, offers significant production advantages. When used in mayonnaise, …

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BeneMeat

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Pet Food

BeneMeat Begins EU Program to Test Lab-Grown Dog Treats with Pet Owners

BeneMeat, a biotechnology company specializing in cultivated meat, has introduced a new trial program for dog owners across the European Union. Through the “Try & Share” initiative, participants will have the opportunity to test BeneMeat’s cultivated dog treats, a product made from lab-grown animal cells, and provide feedback on its taste, safety, and quality. The program is designed to gather consumer input on these novel pet food products, which are …

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Tetra Pak

© Tetra Pak

Fermentation

Tetra Pak Partners With Swan Neck Bio to Expand Scaling Opportunities for Fermentation-Derived Food Companies

Tetra Pak has partnered with Danish biotechnology company Swan Neck Bio to simplify and expand scaling opportunities for companies developing biomass or precision fermentation-derived food products. The collaboration will provide producers with the option of seed as an ingredient, creating a turnkey solution for commercial fermentation processes. Through the partnership, companies will gain access to Swan Neck Bio’s DIRINOC™ technology, which is described as a storable, concentrated, viable, and quality-certified …

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Adamo Foods' fungi-based steak

© Adamo Foods

Fermentation

Research Says New Fermentation Methods Could Add Almost £10B to UK Economy by 2050

New research conducted by Systemiq, with support from GFI Europe, has estimated that innovative methods of producing food using fermentation could add £9.8 billion to the UK economy by 2050. However, this will only hold true if the right support is in place. The analysis modelled a range of scenarios to assess how fermentation techniques could fuel economic growth in the UK food and drink sector. It estimated the potential …

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Typcal

Image courtesy of biotope

Startups, Accelerators & Incubators

Brazilian Mycoprotein Producer Typcal to Receive a €350K Investment Through Biotope Incubator

Typcal, a Brazilian startup growing mycoprotein using biomass fermentation, has been accepted into the seventh cohort of the biotech incubator biotopeby VIB. The company has reportedly developed proprietary fungi strains that grow faster and on more diverse feedstocks than competing technologies, enabling scalable, sustainable protein and fiber production. Through the program, Typcal will receive €250,000 in direct funding and €100,000 in non-cash tailored support, including mentoring and access to knowledge …

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The Protein Brewery

© The Protein Brewery

Investments & Finance

The Protein Brewery Secures €30M to Advance Its Proprietary Mycoprotein

The Protein Brewery, a Dutch company producing fungi-based food ingredients, has secured €30 million in Series B funding. The round saw participation from new investors Invest-NL and the Brabant Development Agency (BOM), alongside existing investors Novo Holdings, Unovis Asset Management, and Madeli. The Protein Brewery will use the capital to advance its proprietary mycoprotein, Fermotein®, and strengthen its commercial presence. This will include expanding production capacity at the company’s Mijkenbroek …

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