A consortium comprising the Gates Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Topsoe, Nodonesis, universities in Denmark and the United States, among other partners, announced the launch of the second phase of a pioneering project that seeks to transform CO₂ into nutritious food. This development has the potential to generate enough protein to feed 1 billion people each year, addressing the global rise in hunger that affected more than 295 million people in 2024, according to the World Food Program.

The funding, of up to DKK 162.2 million (€21.7 million) for the period 2025-2027, will be split equally between the Gates Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. During this phase, Topsoe and other consortium members will conduct lifecycle assessments of food production pathways, optimize technological processes, and develop food prototypes for consumer testing.

Topsoe, a global leader in energy transition technologies, will contribute its technical expertise and innovative solutions, including its solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) technology and dynamic e-methanol loop, both successfully tested at industrial scale. In the initial phase of the project, the consortium successfully developed microbial strains that grow on 100% acetate with over 40% protein, built pilot facilities at Aarhus University, and determined key cost drivers, such as electricity and infrastructure.

This project introduces a radically new approach by replacing sugar in fermentation processes with CO₂-derived acetate. The current phase will focus on validating the processes in collaboration with Aarhus University in Denmark and paving the way for a future large-scale demonstration phase.

Source and Credits to TOPSOE

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