CHINA – Calysseo, an alternative protein joint venture between worldwide animal nutrition leader Adisseo and protein innovator Calysta, is building a first facility in Chongqing, China.
In a joint release, Adisseo and Calysta said that upon completion in 2022, the China facility is expected to become the world’s first commercial-scale production facility of single-cell protein.
The facility is a paradigm shift in protein production as it uses no arable land and almost no water in its production, making it a completely new sustainable way of making alternative proteins.
“Calysseo’s facility will be the first in the world to deliver a reliable, high-quality alternative protein ingredient using innovative gas fermentation technology, using no arable land and almost no water.”
Thomas JG Huot Ph.D. – Chief Operating Officer of Calysta and Executive Director of Calysseo
According to the statement, the facility will deliver 20,000 tonnes of FeedKind® protein in its first phase while the second phase will bring extra tonnes of capacity to the market to meet market demand.
The plant will supply the Asian aquafeed market, which represents more than 70% of the world’s aquafeed market.
“Adisseo is committed to making strategic investments that can improve the sustainability and security of the Asian feed ingredient market, in the context of continuous growth of world’s population and demand for high quality protein, ” Jean-Marc Dublanc, CEO of Adisseo, stated
The investment in the state-of-the-art facility comes at a time when the global aquaculture market is experiencing strong growth.
Analysts project that this market would become the third largest animal protein source, with production representing more than 100 million tonnes.
Meanwhile, the human population is set to grow to 10 billion by 2050, meaning an increasing demand for proteins.
FeedKind which will be made at the facility is produced by fermenting natural gas with a naturally occurring bacteria, producing a non-GMO feed ingredient, a safe, nutritious, traceable and affordable protein.
Its production according to its proprietors will directly address one of the most important opportunities in aquaculture – to provide high quality seafood without adding extra pressures to the environment.
The alternative protein will also help to reduce pressure on wild fisheries and if used instead of fishmeal, 100,000 tonnes of FeedKind could mean that between approx. 420-450k tonnes of wild-caught fish could be saved.
Used instead of soy, Calysseo projects that the same quantity of FeedKind could free up as much as 535 km2 of land and would save 9 billion litres of water.
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