Imagine using a special kind of yeast that eats air pollution and carbon dioxide instead of sugar. This process turns greenhouse gases into high-quality milk proteins and healthy fats. It is essentially like brewing beer, but the ingredients are captured gases and renewable energy.
Current food systems rely on land-intensive and carbon-heavy agriculture, making them vulnerable to climate change and supply chain disruptions.
Three TRL6 demonstrators producing whey protein, casein, beta-alanine, and beta-palmitate. It also includes an AI knowledge base and an economic assessment platform.
If you are a dairy alternative manufacturer dealing with high land use and animal welfare concerns — this project developed a way to produce whey and casein proteins from CO2 that provides a climate-positive alternative to cow's milk.
If you are a supplement producer dealing with unstable supply chains for amino acids — this project developed a process to create beta-alanine from gas fermentation that reduces reliance on traditional imports.
If you are a formula manufacturer dealing with the high cost of human milk fat substitutes — this project developed a method to produce beta-palmitate directly from CO2 and renewable energy.
Based on available project data, specific price points are not listed, but the project is developing a browser-based economic assessment platform to determine viability.
The project aims to advance three demonstrators to TRL6 and is establishing shared pilot infrastructures to ensure the processes are scalable.
Based on available project data, the project focuses on creating an innovation hub and a regulatory sandbox to reduce barriers for SMEs, though specific licensing terms are not detailed.
The project is creating a regulatory sandbox and providing regulatory foresight to ensure the genetically engineered microorganisms and their outputs are socially and legally acceptable.
The project runs from 2026-09-01 to 2029-08-31, focusing on reaching TRL6 by the end of the period.
The consortium is well-balanced for commercialization, featuring 12 partners across 9 countries. With a 42% industry ratio and 5 SMEs, there is a strong focus on market application rather than just academic research. The mix of 4 universities and 2 research institutes ensures the technical foundation is robust while the industrial presence drives the TRL6 goal.
Contact the Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine
Contact us to connect with the AIR2FOOD innovation hub for pilot access.
