UK —Deep Branch and BioMar have signed a long-term technical and commercial partnership to optimize salmon feed using Proton, a single cell protein developed by Deep Branch for the feed industry, as a primary protein source.
BioMar is a leading supplier of aquaculture feed that operates 17 feed factories across the globe. It has set targets for the minimum inclusion of circular and restorative ingredients in its products.
It is also aiming to decouple feed supply chains from environmental degradation and from directly competing with food for human consumption.
“At BioMar, we’re constantly seeking innovative raw materials that don’t compete with human food production and using nutrients from by-products that minimize waste,” said Paddy Campbell, VP Salmon at BioMar Group.
UK-based biotechnology company, Deep Branch, uses clean and renewable carbon and hydrogen energy sources to create sustainable, high-value food and feed ingredients for a more sustainable food system.
By collaborating with local providers of strategic raw materials, Deep Branch ensures demand for food and feed can be met sustainably, without customers compromising on nutrition or quality.
Commenting on the partnership, Deep Branch’s CEO Pete Rowe said in a press release: “Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We have a unique opportunity to create new value chains and ensure this is a net positive for all stakeholders.”
“Our partnership with BioMar will create a powerful message for potential upstream partners that supplying hydrogen and carbon dioxide to our facilities can directly decarbonize our food systems,” he added.
Deep Branch will transport Proton from its facility in the Netherlands to BioMar’s Technology Centre in Denmark to produce Proton-based feed until the end of 2022.
The companies will conduct a full suite of nutritional assessments in Denmark, Norway and the UK to test the protein-rich ingredient.
These tests will focus on performance, digestibility and other parameters essential for fish health and growth.
Paddy Campbell, VP of salmon at BioMar Group, added: “Deep Branch is a company that shares our vision and passion for a sustainable food and aquaculture system. Driving a breakthrough innovation such as Proton requires collaboration across the value chain, and we look forward to working together to make Proton a commercial reality in our aquafeeds.”
It is imperative to develop feeds that provide adequate nutrition for animals’ growth, while reducing to minimum the use of traditional sources of protein.
With Proton as an example, scientific researchers and feed manufacturers have made significant progress in looking for alternative protein sources for use in fish diets.
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