Microbial feed company Unibio raises US$15m

The investment from existing and new shareholders will enable Unibio to start the global roll-out of its microbial full-scale protein-from-methane production technology. The company uses methanotrophic bacteria to produce protein-rich (72.9%) feed supplements for the aquaculture market, and for cattle, pig and chicken fattening. The process offers an alternative to agriculturural protein production. According to Unibio, protein for human or animal consumption can be produced from methane-rich flared gas without the use of farmland or fishing, leading to a more sustainable feed and food production.

The Unibio technology enables use of methane waste currently produced by the oil industry in the production of single cell protein (SCP) thus offering an option to valorise gas waste and reduce greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere. Gas flaring at many oil and gas production sites protects against the dangers of over-pressuring industrial plant equipment. Nearly 140 billion cubic metres of natural gas are being flared and vented annually. The gas flared annually is equivalent to 25% of the United States’ gas consumption, 30% of the European Union’s gas consumption, or 75% of Russia’s gas exports. The gas flared yearly also represents more than the combined gas consumption of Central and South America.

Currently, Unibio has its pilot and R&D facilities at the Technical University of Denmark near Copenhagen and operates a demonstration plant in Kalundborg, Denmark. The first full-scale production plant, constructed and operated by Unibio’s partner Protelux, is being commissioned in Russia. In August, Unibio and Core Protein LLC began preparations for the establishment of a protein production plant in the United States. With the new proceeds, Unibio plans to initiate full-scale production projects, together with local partners, around the world. Parts of the proceeds will also be used to expand the company's R&D activities. Unibio said it is still in discussion with potential additional corporate and financial investors.

“We have made strong progress in the past few years, with continued productivity improvements in our technology and hence increased cost-effectiveness,” says Unibio Group CEO Henrik Busch-Larsen. “Together we are addressing one of the biggest challenges of our time, how to feed the soon to be 10 billion people, without placing even more stress on our planet.”