U.S.-based Calysta has chosen Teesside, United Kingdom, as the base for its state-of-the-art facility to manufacture sample quantities of its FeedKind protein, a proprietary, competitively priced new fish and animal feed ingredient targeted at replacing fishmeal.
Produced using the world’s only commercially validated gas fermentation process, FeedKind protein is a natural, traceable and safe non-animal source of protein. FeedKind protein is approved for sale and use in many animal feeds in the EU and has been tested on multiple fish species, including salmon. The facility will become fully operational in the fourth quarter of 2016.
This year, Calysta partnered with Cargill for production of FeedKind protein in North America and entered into a global joint marketing agreement. A world-scale plant is expected to open in the United States by 2018.
“The opening of this plant represents the end of a decade of development and heralds a new era in the race to sustainably feed the world’s growing population,” said Alan Shaw, Calysta president and CEO.
The plant is supported by a conditional Exceptional Regional Growth Fund (EGRF) award and represents a potential investment of GBP30 million (US$39 million). When completed, the facility is expected to provide employment for 35 to 40 people.
Based in Menlo Park, California and established in 2011, Calysta brings together experts in biotechnology and product innovation to focus on commercializing disruptive, sustainable technologies
In February 2016, Calysta announced $30 million in Series C funding including an investment from Cargill. To date, the company has raised approximately $50 million.
