NovoNutrients, an American-based startup focused on the development of new protein production technologies has recently closed an $18 million Series A funding round. According to Tech Crunch, the funding was supported mainly by Australia’s Woodside Energy and China’s CM Venture Capital. This new funding means that up to now, the firm has received a total of $27 million in funding.
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Transforming Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen into Protein
NovoNutrients employs a groundbreaking approach: microbial conversion of CO2 and H2 to protein. Thus, originally designed to supply feed for cattle and fish, the Californian startup has gone further and addressed the issue of human consumption. This is done by feeding the microbial strains with waste streams rich in gases of different compositions. These strains can be adapted to the particular mixed gases present in the partner sites.
In the case of several products, NovoNutrients does not utilize synthetic biology but rather the process of natural evolution. It also has the advantage of stability and efficiency in genetic modification without extensive alteration. They are slenderer than the large cylindrical tanks traditionally used in breweries and are looped. This design also helps minimize energy consumption for the blending of gasses. The business model of NovoNutrients includes the sale of microbes, as well as building, operating, and maintaining licenses. Another part of their strategy is in the marketing and business development of the products.
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Pilot plant in the Bay Area
NovoNutrients is in the process of building a pilot plant in the Bay Area. This will be a place where they will be testing their gas protein technology and any data collected will be vital in convincing investors. By taking the so-called ‘capital-light’ strategy, the startup should be able to prove the commercial-scale fermenter is feasible.
Environmental Benefits of the Approach
The application of NovoNutrients in protein production has the following environmental advantages. Through this method, NovoNutrients reduces the dependency on conventional protein feedstock like soy, and animal. This lowers the total costs of carbon emissions that are typically attached to the production of proteins. The startup utilizes waste streams that consist of CO2, a resource that otherwise would be released into the environment as greenhouse gases. This underlines NovoNutrients’s efforts towards the circular economy principles and the reduction of waste.
Another way in which NovoNutrients has minimized the use of energy in the production of protein is through the use of efficient methods of gas mixing and fermentation. Unlike traditional practices, they use relatively less energy to achieve similar results. This is because NovoNutrients offers another protein source for feeding livestock and fish, thus decreasing the strain on agro and fish farming industries.
This can result in better practices in animal farming as it would be sustainable. Should it succeed, NovoNutrients’ innovation will be able to grow at a global level, filling the gaps in protein supply and easing the pressure on resources. NovoNutrients also has an environmental impact; as more and more companies aim to cut down their consumption, NovoNutrients creates protein from waste gases, making it environmentally friendly.
Conclusion
To counter this reduced confidence in alternative proteins for humans, NovoNutrients has targeted pet food producers. Starting from this move, the startup enters a new market segment, focusing on sustainability and products’ uniqueness. Thus, NovoNutrients remains one of the most inspiring examples of synergy between science, environment, and nutrition as it progresses further through its development. The vision of CO2 being converted into protein for all living beings including animals can potentially create a better world.
