Dutch firm produces animal feed from hydrogen and CO2

Dutch company Aerbio has produced animal feed from CO2 and hydrogen gases at its pilot plant as part of project REACT-FIRST, according to reports.

H2 View understands the plant will produce a single-cell protein called proton which can be used as food for salmon and chickens. It is expected that 200kg of protein will initially be produced per month, with the opening of the facility allowing for larger feed trials to begin.

Engineering work is now being conducted on an upcoming Market Launch Facility, which is anticipated to have a capacity of 250 tonnes of proton per annum. Additional commercial sites could reach 100,000-tonne capacities.

Pete Rowe, Co-founder and Chief Experience Officer (CXO) of Aerbio, claimed the opening of the pilot facility represents a step forward for the company’s tech, proving its “scalability – both in terms of production and the operations of the sites.”

Aerbio converts gases via its fermentation system, with the production of proton requiring no arable land allowing for sites to be deployed wherever industrial processes create food-grade CO2 and hydrogen.

The company claimed its proton is up to 90% lower than fishmeal or soy, with early results suggesting that it has the same nutritional benefits as conventional feed ingredients.

Rowe said, “Our small-scale trials have proven the fundamentals of proton – it has strong nutritional profile and is just as good, if not better, than conventional ingredients.

“Once we are in the position to fully roll out the technology, we hope to enable better food security for protein, something high on the list of almost every country.”

Alongside its consortium partner, the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), the companies plan to ship its first products in the next few months.

Initial chicken and fish feed trials will begin soon, with results available by 2025.