Adisseo’s sustainable feed joint venture starts construction in China

International animal nutrition group Adisseo and protein innovator Calysta have created a joint venture in China, to create “FeedKind”, a new alternative protein that uses no arable land and almost no water in its production.
Construction started this week in Chongqing on the site for the joint venture, which will trade as Calysseo. FeedKind is produced by fermenting natural gas with a naturally occurring bacteria, producing a non-GMO feed ingredient, which the company describes as a safe, nutritious, traceable and affordable protein. Production is expected to be up and running in 2022, as the world’s first commercial-scale production facility of single-cell protein. The first phase will see annual production of 20,000 tonnes, which will supply the Asian aquafeed market.
Jean-Marc Dublanc, CEO of Adisseo, stated at the ceremony to mark the start of construction: “Today’s groundbreaking is a landmark moment in the delivery of a disruptive technology that can provide benefits on several levels for Asian aquaculture. We are proud to bring the world’s first commercial-scale FeedKind production facility to China in partnership with Calysta.
“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.”
Thomas JG Huot Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer of Calysta and Executive Director of Calysseo, said: “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. After a year unlike any other in living memory, I passionately believe this announcement is a hugely positive development and marks the beginning of a new era of sustainable food production.”
The strategic partnership between Adisseo and Calysta is aimed at providing high quality seafood without adding extra pressures to the environment, on land and at sea with wild fisheries coming under strain in many parts of the world.
The global aquaculture market is experiencing strong growth and is expected to become the third largest animal protein source, with the production representing more than 100 million tonnes.
The company estimates that, if it is used as substitute for fishmeal, 100,000 tonnes of FeedKind could mean that between approx. 420-450k tonnes of wild-caught fish could be saved. If replaces soy, the same quantity of FeedKind could free up as much as 535 km2 of land and would save nine billion litres of water.
Jean-Marc Dublanc added: “On top of the significant environmental benefits of FeedKind,it is important to recognize the full value of the nutritional characteristics and the extra health benefits verified through live academic trials, which will create additional value for the aquafeed producers via nutritional formulation at a more precise and advanced level.”