CHINA- Calysseo, a joint venture between worldwide animal nutrition leader Adisseo and protein innovator Calysta has reported that commissioning and start-up activities have commenced at the partners’ single cell protein (SCP) production facility in Chongqing, China.

In its first phase the plant will produce 20,000 tons annually of FeedKind branded protein for use in aqua feed, a completely new sustainable alternative protein that uses no arable land and almost no water in its production.

The partners outlined how one of the benefits of its SCP is that it helps decouple feed production from land. Its production model relies on a proprietary, commercially validated gas fermentation process using naturally occurring, non-GM microbes that use methane as their energy source.

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, the Calysseo team said they were able to maintain schedule of the facility; they expect the protein ingredient to be delivered to the first customers this year.

Jean-Marc Dublanc, CEO of Adisseo, said: “We have a long-running commitment to improving the security and sustainability of the feed ingredient market and Calysseo fulfils a significant part of that pledge. We will provide Chinese customers with a reliable, domestically available supply of protein that meets their specific needs; produced in China for China.

“We are looking forward to working with our customers as they begin to integrate this product into their supply chains.”

Asked whether the JV has already secured several offtake agreements for the output from the Chinese facility, a spokesperson said the partners would not be disclosing such information. 

The representative did stress though that Calysseo has received strong interest in FeedKind from across the Asian aquaculture sector throughout the construction phase.

While initially, output will be available for use in China’s aquaculture market, a second phase will increase output to 80,000 tons per year to meet demand in the Asian aquafeed market, which represents more than 70% of the world’s aquafeed market.

FeedKind has been validated over several years with trials undertaken in multiple aquaculture species, including seabass, bream, and salmon.

Thailand’s Kasetsart University, recently found distinct benefits of the microbia protein in shrimp, saying FeedKind promotes strong, healthy growth, while also helping activate shrimp’s immune response to Vibrio, the causative agent of Early Mortality Syndrome, which has seen the Asian aquaculture market incur billions of dollars in losses.

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