NovoNutrients, a Silicon Valley, Cal.-based innovator making protein through carbon capture and utilization, has been selected as one of the 11 sustainable innovations that are active in the culmination of the FEED-X programs.

The company is dedicated to capturing carbon dioxide and transforming it into bulk protein and food and feed additives through proprietary precision fermentation, according to an announcement.

FEED-X is one of several Project X programs designed to tackle sustainability challenges at an industry level.

"NovoNutrients is very proud to be a FEED-X innovator," NovoNutrients chief technology officer and founder Brian Sefton said. As for making nutrition from greenhouse gases, particularly for seafood production, he said, "Aquaculture relies on feeding wild fish to farmed fish. Less costly additives and proteins are needed to make feed with wild fish ingredients in it and more of everything else. Our gas fermentation process is anchored by low-blended-cost, massive-scale feedstocks: waste carbon dioxide, as well as hydrogen. The gases grow up our fast-doubling bacterial strains, which can be natural, have 70%-plus protein and, optionally, integrated additives."

James Rose, Skretting operations and procurement director, said, "At Skretting, we have seen that the biggest limitation in implementation of novel ingredients is scale. This project allows a game-changing discussion to mobilize the necessary resources and highlights why we're involved in FEED-X: We can make a real impact to global sustainability. Of course, we see a direct link with our mission of Feeding the Future."

FEED-X innovators were chosen by a panel of 13 fully independent subject matter experts in the fields of nutrition, feed, environment, alternative protein, aquaculture innovation, finance and assurance at a Sept. 17, 2019, event in London, U.K., the announcement said. With a systems approach, that event called on innovators in the feed and aquaculture sectors to come forward with sustainable alternatives to transform the industry's performance. The judging panel included representatives from Skretting, IKEA, DTU Aqua, WWF, Cambridge University, Surrey University, DNV GL and World Bank, as well as private wealth and impact investment partners, with EIT Climate Kic providing independent observation.

Through proprietary microbial biotech, NovoNutrients transforms industrial waste carbon dioxide into alternative protein ingredients and food/feed additives. The carbon dioxide is utilized from untreated waste emissions from cement plants, ethanol factories, pulp and paper, refineries or a variety of other industrial sources. The products will feed fish, pets and people. NovoNutrients is a pre-sales, venture-funded company that is moving quickly to commercialization.

Project X is a WWF-founded corporate accelerator that makes sustainability happen quickly and at scale. Its unique methodology helps large companies adopt the very best sustainable innovations after a comprehensive risk assessment. That, in turn, helps entire industries become more resilient and resource efficient.