May 18, 2023

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and Air Protein, a pioneer in and developer of air-based nutritional protein, have forged a strategic development agreement to collaborate on R&D for the advancement of new and novel nutritional proteins. 

“Food security and sustainability are two of the enduring trends driving the growth and evolution of protein demand, and ADM is at the forefront of expanding the entire protein ecosystem,” said Ian Pinner, senior vice president, Strategy and Innovation, ADM.

Founded in 2019, Air Protein is a producer of protein that requires no agricultural practices or farmland. The company’s first state-of-the-art Air Farm facility, located in San Leandro, California, uses only air, water, and energy as inputs to make ingredients that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and include flavor proteins, color proteins, and functional proteins that deliver on a range of texture applications. 

This process decouples protein production from traditional supply chain risks such as geopolitical instability and climate change, and accelerates food production toward a sustainable, ecologically friendly model. 

Under the terms of this agreement, the collaboration would combine ADM’s wide nutrition, formulation, and research expertise with Air Protein’s novel landless platform to determine ways to scale cost-effective ingredients that enable meat substitutes to better deliver on cost, nutritional profiles, flavor, and texture. 

“We are proud to be a strategic investor in Air Protein, and with today’s agreement, we’re expanding our partnership to bring ADM’s industry-leading expertise in flavors and complete nutrition solutions to help expand the universe of applications in which Air Protein’s technology can be used,” said Pinner.

“To sustainably feed a growing global population, we need a broad protein ecosystem, from animal to plant to other novel sources,” Pinner continued. “ADM is proud to work with both startups and major consumer brands to leverage our full pantry of capabilities and expand opportunities that innovative technologies present.”

There’s Something in the Air

Air Protein is not the only startup working to spin protein from thin air. In Europe, Solar Foods is using a novel bioprocess similar to that used to make beer or wine to create natural protein using only air and electricity as raw materials. The result is Solein®, an entirely novel nutrient-rich protein with the potential to revolutionize food production.

And this is not ADM’s first foray into air-based protein either. Prior to entering this agreement, ADM had been a strong supporter of Air Protein, participating in the company’s Series A and SAFE funding rounds. 

Through this funding, and with additional backing from the Ford Foundation, Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital, Plum Alley, and GV (formerly Google Ventures), Air Protein has raised $107 million in cumulative capital to-date, which it used to expand its scientific team, add manufacturing and food experts, and to construct its cutting-edge Air Farm in California. 

“Air Protein is excited to extend our relationship with ADM, which has been a strong supporter and collaborator in our mutual mission to provide innovative protein solutions that can sustainably feed the growing global population,” said  Dr. Lisa Dyson, founder and CEO, Air Protein.

“Their continued commitment to building a more sustainable food system has helped us significantly accelerate and scale our Bay Area Air Farm and other growth initiatives.” 

Dr. Dyson also added that Air Protein has concluded an important FDA review confirming their protein is generally recognized as safe (GRAS), commenting that it “represents one more important milestone on our journey to provide consumers with the protein of the future.”

~ 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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