Praise for microbial protein
The Carbon Trust has complimented Calysta’s FeedKind protein for dramatically reducing the need for two increasingly scarce resources - water and agricultural land - in the production of aquafeeds.
In addition, the Trust’s report, which was issued today, points out that the microbial protein does not rely on use of wild caught fish, reducing pressure on global fish stocks.
The report provides a detailed analysis of FeedKind protein, taking into account a variety of environmental sustainability criteria, and concludes that it offers significant advantages over current fish feed ingredients. It was shown to use 77-98% less water than alternative ingredients, including soy and wheat proteins. It also requires almost no agricultural land to produce, freeing that land for other food crops. In fact, one commercial scale FeedKind protein plant, if used to replace soy products for fish feed, would free up enough land to feed as many as 250,000 people. The land area represented is equal to an area the size of Chicago, Birmingham or Seoul.
Further, as FeedKind production moves toward greater use of renewable biogas and electric power, the report concludes that it will have “a carbon footprint comparable to or better than many other feed sources.”
“FeedKind protein provides a new path to sustainability for the aquaculture industry,” said Alan Shaw, Calysta’s President and CEO. “The global population is expected to reach nine billion by 2050, requiring up to 70% more food. Fish, as an important source of protein, will play a major role in ensuring food security. Food production to meet this need must be sustainable, and lower water use and land use are keys to reaching that goal. Today’s report shows that FeedKind protein meets that test.”
Tom Cumberlege, a senior consultant at The Carbon Trust and one of the report’s authors, added: “Aquaculture is growing at an astonishing rate and has now overtaken beef production. But it is essential that the industry manages its growth sustainably by finding innovations to reduce environmental impacts. Agricultural land and fresh water are becoming increasingly valuable resources as the climate changes and we need to find ways to feed a growing population. FeedKind protein meets these requirements by requiring minimal land and water resources with the added potential of a low carbon footprint when using renewable sources of energy and biogas.”
In January, Calysta announced it will open an R&D and market introduction facility in the United Kingdom for further development of the commercial production process for FeedKind protein. The facility is expected to open in early 2017. In February, Calysta announced $30 million in Series C funding with Cargill, the Municipal Employee Retirement System (MERS) of Michigan and Old Westbury Global Real Assets Fund LLC. Also participating were current Calysta investors Walden Riverwood Ventures, Aqua-Spark and Pangaea Ventures. In addition to the funding, Calysta and Cargill will collaborate in the North American manufacturing and global marketing of FeedKind protein.
