July 7, 2023

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Based in Vienna, Austria, Arkeon is an ingredients company leveraging ancient microbes to convert CO2 into amino acids and functional peptides as a regenerative way to produce food and lifestyle products. 

Built upon more than a decade of research by co-founders Dr. Simon Rittmann, Dr. Guenther Bochmann, and Dr. Gregor Tegl, Arkeon’s proprietary technology takes a new, innovative approach to address food security and climate change. 

Fermentation, a metabolic process carried out by microorganisms, can be engineered to transform CO2 into valuable proteins by feeding carbon dioxide to specific microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeast, which are genetically modified to produce targeted proteins ranging from enzymes and therapeutic agents, to food ingredients and animal feed.

Given our rate of population growth, finding sustainable protein sources is crucial. Fermentation allows for the production of proteins with a smaller environmental footprint compared to traditional methods, making it a viable solution to meet the growing demand for nutritious and sustainable food.

This approach not only helps mitigate climate change by capturing and utilizing carbon dioxide, but it also offers a scalable and environmentally friendly solution to meet the increasing global demand for protein-rich products.

Having raised more than EUR10 million to-date, Arkeon is now in the position to commission a 150L pilot production plant to be located in Vienna’s Seestadt Innovation Hub, marking a noteworthy advancement for the further development of its production process and the expansion of its infrastructure. 

“The successful implementation of our pilot production plant represents a solid basis and illustrates that our company has set up the technical  foundation to unlock our production technology at large scale,” said Dr. Günther Bochmann, technological  project lead, Arkeon. “It is an essential step on our way  to scale to large commercial production outputs.”

Built in cooperation with  Steamtec, Böhm Stadtbaumeister & Gebäudetechnik GmbH, Kanzler-Dach, Bioengineering, RW Serviceteam, and others, and equipped with a 150-liter bioreactor system, the company stated that the plant will be key in progressively improving its processes and will create a solid biotechnological foundation for future large-scale production. 

Arkeon also noted that in recent weeks, the Vienna Business Agency initiated the construction of the Technology Centre Seestadt – a project designed to provide additional production and office space for innovative startups, including Arkeon, that also will be home to the company’s upcoming demo facility.

The commissioning of the 300-liter bioreactor is scheduled for the end of 2024, and is expected to mark the company’s shift into commercial production capacity. Concurrently, Arkeon expressed that it intends to expand its production to full-scale bioreactors with volumes of 800-1,000 m3.

Toward this goal, the startup stated that partnerships have already been established with global companies to develop new and innovative protein applications for in-demand functional foods and beverages.

Consumers are becoming more proactive in managing their health and are seeking out products that can support their well-being. Additionally, the aging population and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases have also contributed to the demand for functional ingredients like omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, antioxidants, and vitamins that can help manage or prevent conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline. 

As health and well-being continue to be prioritized, the market for functional products is expected to continue expanding, offering new opportunities for innovation and growth in the food and beverage industry with growth expectations at a CAGR of 8.9 percent between 2023-2030 to reach a market value of $532.98 billion.

~ Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor in chief with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and  Agtech Intel News, as well as HighQuest Group’s Unconventional Ag. She can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com.

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